Saturday February 16, 2008
Walk As Jesus Walked

1 John 2:5-6 "But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked."
I have always found the above verse very intimidating. It says that if we are truly living in Christ, we ought to walk as Jesus did. How did Jesus walk? He healed the sick. He perceived the needs and situations of others supernaturally. He spoke boldly into the lives of the unsaved. He met the needs of people by leading them to the Kingdom of God. Jesus says we must walk as He did. So, I can only conclude from this verse that if we are each called to live this way, He will also equip us to live this way.

How did Jesus walk? He walked on earth as a human being, not as God, yet He was God. His miracles were done as a human being who tapped into the power of His Heavenly Father. This is why he can exhort us to live like He did not as deity, but as a human being who could appropriate all the Father had for him. This is what He means when He says "live as He lived." We are to exercise obedience and faith just as He did.

I believe we live in a day that requires more than proclamation evangelism to break through in the workplace. We live and work in a skeptical society. It takes more than reasoning to see those in the workplace come to Christ. The workplace is trained to see past phonies. So, it will require the genuine love and power of Christ to be manifested to break through to a Muslim co-worker, a power-driven executive, or a foul-mouthed construction worker.

Jesus modeled a way of reaching the lost. He did not use reasoning to convince a person to follow him. He often operated in the supernatural revelation about a need in that person's life. Such was the case of the Samaritan woman. This encounter not only led to a woman placing her faith in the Messiah, but it led to the transformation of a city.

Challenge:
Next time you have an encounter with an unsaved associate, find out about a need they have and ask God how you can meet it through His power.

Sunday February 17, 2008
If you want to see the King, you've got to be clean

John 13:10 "Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all." (See the context John 13:1-17)

No one enters a royal court unwashed, wearing dirty clothes. To do so would be an insult to the king. Esther spent an entire year in cleansing and beautifying treatments preparing herself for one night with King Xerxes. Joseph was summoned from prison to interpret Pharaoh's dreams. Before appearing in the king's presence Joseph shaved and changed his clothes. Even the king's urgent summons waited until Joseph was presentable.

In the same way, not one of us can enter the presence of the King of kings unprepared. The stench of our sin makes us un-presentable before a Holy God. This is why we need the cleansing of the blood of Jesus and the anointing of the Holy Spirit. These elements remove both the stain and the stench of our sin. The soiled garments of our old sinful nature are removed and we are clothed in the spotless garment of the righteousness of Christ. Only then are we presentable; fit to enter God's presence.
Cleansing must come before anointing. The anointing oil will merely mingle with the dirt if the dirt is not removed first. Jesus made this clear to His disciples (and to us) with an unforgettable example. After the Last Supper, on the night before He was crucified, Jesus wrapped a towel around his waist, took a basin of water and began to wash His disciples' feet. Foot washing was a task assigned to the most menial of house servants. Peter thought it inappropriate for his Lord to perform such a lowly job. “Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me." John 13:8

As Peter learned, we must let Jesus wash us and make us clean or else we have no part with Him. He cleanses us not with water but with His precious blood. After cleansing comes the anointing with His Holy Spirit. Thank heaven that this process happens at salvation. You are now ready to be used by God for ministry. It is important to remember we have a part and that is to maintain a "clean" state before God. The disciples found that staying clean was a process of worship and praise and grew out of continuing in the apostles "doctrine". Which is know to us today as the word of God.

Challenge:
Cleansing and anointing are protocols of the King's palace. Worship allows us to soak in that anointing oil. It prepares us for His presence. Attaining the King's presence is well worth the wait. Don't fret the process!

Monday February 18, 2008
Fulfilling Your Purpose

Psalm 139:1-4 "O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether."

Your purpose in life is chosen by God. It is not negotiable. It is like calling water wet-there is no changing that fact, and there's no changing God's purpose for your life. While you may not fulfill the purpose for which you were made, you still have a purpose that God intends for you to fulfill. This is your blueprint from God. In the same way that He had a specific purpose in mind for Jesus when He sent Him to the earth, He has a specific purpose in mind for your life.

This doesn't mean, however, that there is one highly specific niche for you to fill and that if you miss it, too bad. It is my belief that you can achieve your purpose in many different and creative ways. This should take the pressure off. You won't throw your entire life off course by choosing the wrong college, job or mate. God is much bigger than any miscalculation or disobedience on your part. "The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me…" (Ps. 138:8). Isn't that comforting to know?

Defining your purpose will help you to determine the activities that you should be involved in. Like Jesus, you should not involve yourself in activities that contradict His purpose for your existence. Jesus? His purpose was to do the will of the Father and become the salvation for mankind.
Each of us must ask why we are involved in an activity. Is it a God-activity, or just a good activity? Remember, Jesus only did something if He saw the Father doing it, and He was able to see what His Father was doing because of His intimate relationship with Him.

Challenge:
Today, take steps to insure you are aligned with your purpose.

Tuesday February 19, 2008
One Call- Many Jobs

Psalm 16:5-6 "The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot. The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage."

Most of us will have many jobs over our lifetime. As I look back over my past, I've had quite a varied history of jobs that included being a waiter, shoe salesman, car salesman, a book bindery salesman, a contractor, and an engineer. Today, I am celebrating thirty-five years of ministry. All of these jobs were important because they gave me a level of experience from which I now express God's ministry. I am able to relate to those in the workplace because of my varied work experience throughout my career.

With each of our jobs, God is building something in us that will be used for His purposes now and in the future. Oswald Chambers says "In the beginning we do not train for God, we train for work, for our own aims; but as we go on with God we lose all our own aims and are trained into God's purpose. Unless practical work is appointed by God, it will prove a curse."

Jesus was prepared for His ultimate calling by working with Joseph in his carpentry shop until He was thirty years old. More than 54% of Jesus' teaching arose out of issues in daily life experience. Joseph was prepared to be head of a nation by serving prison time and being a slave in Potiphar's house. Moses was prepared to lead a nation out of slavery by serving in Pharaoh's house and later working forty years as a shepherd.

Do not despise the small jobs-for they are stepping stones to a greater purpose in God's plan for your life and for God's preparation for your ultimate destiny. Some of these jobs are necessary for the message He is forming in you.

Challenge:
Pray that God accomplishes His intended outcome in you through the work you are doing today.