"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables." (2 Timothy 4:3-4)

We are living in a day and time where we see the meaning of these verses more clearly than ever before. Mankind is searching for answers—spiritual answers. But many are eager for the blessings that come with a life dedicated to the Lord but not the self-discipline, not the self-denial, not the self-abasement, not the humility, not the holy or righteous lifestyle. Many want all the benefits without a life submitted to the Benefit Giver.

So many "Christians" flock to churches and the preachers, evangelists and teachers who will preach to them what they want to hear—riches, power, success, and the list goes on. In essence, they have turned away from the truth and have become comfortable with lies and deception. What has happened is exactly what today's verse is relating . . . they have turned away from truth and have turned truth into fables.

Where do we stand? Do we submit to the preaching of the Word of God regardless how uneasy we feel when confronted with truth? Or, do we search for a more palatable sermon? In order to tell the truth from the lie, the real from the counterfeit, we must be more than just casually acquainted with the truth. When bank tellers are being taught to recognize counterfeit money, they study the genuine bills so when they encounter a counterfeit, they readily recognize it. On the same wise, we must read the Word, study it, and commit it to our heart and memory. Then, when we come in contact with a false doctrine or message, we will immediately know it.

Let's pay particular attention in order to avoid being like those who will not endure sound doctrine. Submit to the whole counsel of God and allow the unadulterated Word of God to do its perfect work in our hearts.

Father, I pray that I will never become one of those who turn away from truth and seek after an easier doctrine. Help me, Lord, to recognize the false doctrine of the world and to cling to the Truth presented in Your Word. Help me never fall to prey to those who preach and teach an ear-pleasing message, amen.

"And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth." (John 17:19)

© Jan Ross
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"And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God. And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with lifting up their hands: and they bowed their heads, and worshipped the Lord with their faces to the ground." (Nehemiah 8:6)

Surrender. Reverence. Humility. Worship.

Worship is a spontaneous response from a heart overflowing with love and emotion. The response can come in many ways such as raising hands, bowing the head, lifting up the head, tears, loud praise, silent praise, and so on.

Your acts of worship will probably change each time you enter into His presence depending on how your heart is touched. The Old Testament high priest, when he entered into the Holy of Holies once a year on the Day of Atonement, carefully lifted the curtain, got down on his knees and crawled in backwards out of total reverence and fear of the Lord. We see evidence throughout scripture that the presence of God – encounters with the Holy One of Israel – were not to be taken lightly. God's presence was and still is an awesome experience for any child of God, whether a new convert or a seasoned saint.

There are many Hebrew words that have been translated as "worship". In today's verse, the word "worshipped" comes from the Hebrew word "shachah" which means to prostrate oneself, to bow down, to fall down flat, to humbly beseech, to make obeisance, do reverence, to worship. You can get a clear picture of the honor the children of Israel paid to the Lord through their acts of worship.

Search the scriptures today to find the references for worship; search out the postures, the responses, the actions, and even silence and see how they all play an important role in the believer's response in worship.

Love Him the way He deserves to be loved and don't be afraid to express your love according to the pattern found in the Word. He's worthy of our praise and worship. He's worthy of our deepest and most sincere worship.

Father, Your love for me is more than I can comprehend, many times I'm overwhelmed by the awesomeness of Your presence. Help me to learn to express my love to you through surrender, reverence, and humility, in ways that bring honor and glory to You and You alone! Amen and Amen!

"And all the congregation worshipped, and the singers sang, and the trumpeters sounded: and all this continued until the burnt offering was finished. And when they had made an end of offering, the king and all that were present with him bowed themselves, and worshipped." (2 Chronicles 29:28-29)

© Jan Ross
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"Moreover the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Take thou also unto thee principal spices . . . of cassia five hundred shekels . . . and thou shalt make it an oil of holy ointment, an ointment compound after the art of the apothecary: it shall be an holy anointing oil." (Exodus 30:22-25)

A few years ago my Pastor did an awesome series of sermons on "The Anointing". Many things stood out to me in that series that have caused me to do further study. The "cassia" as one of the ingredients in the holy anointing oil prescribed by the Lord through Moses is something that has just kept stirring in my heart. In order to walk in God's anointing, we need to understand that each ingredient divinely prescribed by the Lord has a purpose that still speaks to us today. Here is a brief overview of this one spice that obviously had great importance to the Lord.

The word "cassia" is translated from the Hebrew word "qiddah" and comes from the root word "qadad" meaning to bow down the head. A brief study of cassia will lead you to discover that cassia has a delicate yellow flower that "bows down". It comes from a tropical evergreen tree having aromatic bark. The spice was harvested from the bark of these tropical trees and it is a source of senna, a natural purgative or laxative. Keeping that in mind, let's think about the anointing and what it means to be anointed according to what we find in the study of the cassia.

"Cassia" tells us that first we must be humble (bowed down) and our humility is beautiful to the Lord. Beauty bowed low! What could be more beautiful to the Lord than worship? Psalm 95:6 says, "O come let us worship and bow down, let us kneel before the Lord our maker." Cassia is a picture of reverence, worship, and humility!

The bark of the tropical tree is the source of senna, a purgative or laxative agent. Our lives are to be purged of all that is contrary to the Word of God. Psalm 79:9 says, "Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy name: and deliver us, and purge away our sins, for thy name's sake." Purging speaks of cleansing and cleansing is the basis for everyone's relationship with Christ for by His blood we are cleansed and made whole.

Finally, cassia was extracted from the bark of the trees – the bark is stripped from the trees much like we must be stripped of all that is at enmity with God, i.e., our flesh. But even more than that, we must come naked and unashamed unto our God, hiding nothing, without pretense, and without shame – stripped of the veil of our flesh that stands in the way of the glory of God being seen in us and through us.

As you can see, the cassia tells a story in itself of worship in humility and beauty, being purged of sin and cleansed by the Blood of the Spotless Lamb, and being naked and unashamed in front of our God, hiding nothing, without pretense, allowing the glory of God to be seen in us and through us.

The beauty of the anointing, the power of the anointing, the cleansing of the anointing, and the cost of the anointing can be found in this one ingredient of the original anointing oil. Let's walk in the fullness of the cassia as revealed to us in the Word of God. As kings and priests were anointed as they were appointed, so too have we been anointed as kings and priests unto our God (Revelation 1:5-6). He which established us is Christ and He that has anointed us is God who also has sealed us and given us as a deposit of what is to come, the Spirit in our hearts (2 Corinthians 1:21-22).

Father, help me to understand all that You have to say to me through the cassia. Teach me to be "beauty bowed low" as I am ever learning humility in my bowing down before You. Father, purge me of all that is not of You; help me to walk worthy of the calling You have on my life. Take away all excess and burn out the dross, Lord, as Your all-consuming fire purges me and purifies me. Lord, help me to come before You without pretense, hiding nothing, naked and unashamed, so that nothing in me will hide the brightness of Your glory shining in me and through me. In Jesus' name, by His blood, and for His glory, amen and amen.

"As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit-just as it has taught you, remain in him. And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming. If you know that he is righteous, you know that everyone who does what is right has been born of him." (1 John 2:27-29)

© Jan Ross
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"Moreover the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Take thou also unto thee principal spices . . . of cassia five hundred shekels . . . and thou shalt make it an oil of holy ointment, an ointment compound after the art of the apothecary: it shall be an holy anointing oil." (Exodus 30:22-25)

A few years ago my Pastor did an awesome series of sermons on "The Anointing". Many things stood out to me in that series that have caused me to do further study. The "cassia" as one of the ingredients in the holy anointing oil prescribed by the Lord through Moses is something that has just kept stirring in my heart. In order to walk in God's anointing, we need to understand that each ingredient divinely prescribed by the Lord has a purpose that still speaks to us today. Here is a brief overview of this one spice that obviously had great importance to the Lord.

The word "cassia" is translated from the Hebrew word "qiddah" and comes from the root word "qadad" meaning to bow down the head. A brief study of cassia will lead you to discover that cassia has a delicate yellow flower that "bows down". It comes from a tropical evergreen tree having aromatic bark. The spice was harvested from the bark of these tropical trees and it is a source of senna, a natural purgative or laxative. Keeping that in mind, let's think about the anointing and what it means to be anointed according to what we find in the study of the cassia.

"Cassia" tells us that first we must be humble (bowed down) and our humility is beautiful to the Lord. Beauty bowed low! What could be more beautiful to the Lord than worship? Psalm 95:6 says, "O come let us worship and bow down, let us kneel before the Lord our maker." Cassia is a picture of reverence, worship, and humility!

The bark of the tropical tree is the source of senna, a purgative or laxative agent. Our lives are to be purged of all that is contrary to the Word of God. Psalm 79:9 says, "Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy name: and deliver us, and purge away our sins, for thy name's sake." Purging speaks of cleansing and cleansing is the basis for everyone's relationship with Christ for by His blood we are cleansed and made whole.

Finally, cassia was extracted from the bark of the trees – the bark is stripped from the trees much like we must be stripped of all that is at enmity with God, i.e., our flesh. But even more than that, we must come naked and unashamed unto our God, hiding nothing, without pretense, and without shame – stripped of the veil of our flesh that stands in the way of the glory of God being seen in us and through us.

As you can see, the cassia tells a story in itself of worship in humility and beauty, being purged of sin and cleansed by the Blood of the Spotless Lamb, and being naked and unashamed in front of our God, hiding nothing, without pretense, allowing the glory of God to be seen in us and through us.

The beauty of the anointing, the power of the anointing, the cleansing of the anointing, and the cost of the anointing can be found in this one ingredient of the original anointing oil. Let's walk in the fullness of the cassia as revealed to us in the Word of God. As kings and priests were anointed as they were appointed, so too have we been anointed as kings and priests unto our God (Revelation 1:5-6). He which established us is Christ and He that has anointed us is God who also has sealed us and given us as a deposit of what is to come, the Spirit in our hearts (2 Corinthians 1:21-22).

Father, help me to understand all that You have to say to me through the cassia. Teach me to be "beauty bowed low" as I am ever learning humility in my bowing down before You. Father, purge me of all that is not of You; help me to walk worthy of the calling You have on my life. Take away all excess and burn out the dross, Lord, as Your all-consuming fire purges me and purifies me. Lord, help me to come before You without pretense, hiding nothing, naked and unashamed, so that nothing in me will hide the brightness of Your glory shining in me and through me. In Jesus' name, by His blood, and for His glory, amen and amen.

"As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit-just as it has taught you, remain in him. And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming. If you know that he is righteous, you know that everyone who does what is right has been born of him." (1 John 2:27-29)

© Jan Ross
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"This is the man upon whom I will look, he that is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word." (Isaiah 66:2)

When was the last time we trembled at God's Word? How seriously do we take our study of the Bible?

These are questions the Spirit of God is leading us to use to examine our own hearts today. These questions are probing my very heart as I pen this devotion.

What does it mean when God says "trembles at my word"?

I love the Word of God! I love to study the Word and learn more about the writer, what he is saying, looking at his words through his own eyes and his own culture. But I find myself asking if I am one who "trembles at [God's] word". How seriously do I take His Word? How careful am I to handle His Word with fear and reverence?

The word "trembles" comes from the Hebrew word "chared" meaning "fearful; reverential". It comes from a root word "charad" which gives further understanding: "to shudder with terror; to fear, also to hasten (with anxiety): to be (or make) afraid, be careful, quake, tremble".

The Amplified Bible helps us understand: "… who trembles at My word and reveres My commands."

Do we really tremble at God's Word? Do we take our duty to "revere" His commands seriously? Or, are we counting on God's mercy while we simply live our lives the way we see fit?

The problem is that most of us are so busy trying to make a living, raise a family, pay the bills, keep up with society's demands, etc., that we have lost the fear of God-the reverential awe of His Word and the careful attention to DO and LIVE the Word of God. In most of our lives, the Word of God takes a small place (if any at all) in our lives while we rush through our day to complete our busy schedules.

God says that those He is looking for are those who consider His Word as the very essence of life, as necessary as breath.

John Wesley once said, "I have thought I am a creature of a day, passing through life as an arrow through the air. I am a spirit come from God, and returning to God, just hovering over the great gulf, till a few moments hence, I am no more seen; I drop into an unchangeable eternity! I want to know one thing-the way to heaven, how to land safe on that happy shore. God himself has condescended to teach the way; for this very end He came from heaven. He has written it down in a book. O give me that Book at any price, give me the Book of God" (from the preface of Sermons on Several Occasions by John Wesley, originally published in 1771).

My prayer today is that we ALL crave, yearn, hunger and thirst for the living Word of God so that we will become that man or woman whom God will look upon, the ones with humble and contrite spirits, the ones who tremble at His Word.

Lord, I repent for not taking Your Word seriously enough, for not considering my time of study important enough to change my busy schedule. I confess that life's responsibilities all too often crowd out my time of searching out Who You are and what You want me to know. Convict me, Holy Spirit, and draw me into deep and abiding relationship with my Father through His Word. I submit myself to You to learn of You and fear You with a holy and reverential fear. In Jesus' precious name-the Living Word-amen and amen!

"May my cry come before you, O LORD; give me understanding according to your word." (Psalm 119:169)

© Jan Ross
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"Many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist." (2 John 1:7)

"Many" deceivers? That's an understatement! Everywhere we turn we find a different gospel being preached and the sad thing is that people will believe it more quickly than they will receive the Truth. What makes people so resistant to the Truth that they would rather believe the lie than walk in Truth?

The lie says that there are many ways to heaven. The Truth says there is only one: "I am the way, the truth and the life; no man cometh to the Father but by me." (John 14:6)

The lie says that there are no absolute rights or wrongs. The Truth says, "if we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." (1 John 1:8)

The lie says if you believe anything hard enough, you'll be saved. The Truth says, "salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:12)

The lie says man is good and if you live a good life, you'll go to heaven. The Truth says, "there is none righteous, no, not one". (Rom 3:10)

The lie says there is no God. The Truth says, "the fool hath said in his heart, there is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good." (Psalm 14:1)

The lie says Jesus was a good man and possibly a prophet. The Truth says, "that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Phil 2:11)

We could go on all day disproving the lies of deception flooding the earth today and still not cover them all. But for every lie, there is Truth. The Word of God is Truth (John 17:17). The problem becomes ours when we don't know the Truth, when we haven't taken the time to "study to show ourselves approved, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of Truth." (2 Tim 2:15)

We depend on all too often on pre-digested manna—basing our belief system on what others teach and preach, depending on them to receive Truth and feed us what they have already "digested." So many fail to understand the Manna from Heaven, Himself, is longing for us to gather from Him daily as the Israelites did every morning while in the wilderness. Their gathering was personal, it was an individual gathering enough for himself and his household. They couldn't depend on someone else to do the gathering for them.

How can we know the deception unless we know the Truth? How can we know the Truth unless we partake of the Truth? How can we partake of the Truth unless we discipline ourselves to study to show ourselves approved?

The Word doesn't change us or equip us by osmosis; we have to make a concerted effort – every one of us – on a daily basis. It's more important to us than physical nourishment, more important than anything and everything we find to do that sustains and supports our lifestyles.

Will we know the deceiver when he comes knocking at our door? We need to be prepared. We need to be intimately acquainted with the Truth – the Word of God so we will quickly recognize the lie…there is no other way.

Father, I confess to You that I long to know Your Word and to be fully equipped, to be an unashamed workman who rightly divides your Word of Truth. But I fall short! So often, my time slips away before I realize that I haven't taken the time to collect my daily Manna. Forgive me Lord because my priorities are often out of order. Teach me, Lord, to quickly recognize deception as it compares to the Truth of Your Word. In Jesus' name, by His blood, and for His glory, amen and amen!

"And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." (John 17:3)

© Jan Ross
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"I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers, Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints". (Philemon 4-5)

Read today's scripture again . . . I love this. It shows such compassion for others, something that is much lacking in the Body today. Everywhere we go, the focus is on "me". Lord, bless ME. Lord, supply MY needs. Lord, save MY kids. Lord, heal MY body. Me, My, and Mine. It's everywhere. Yet here we see an exhortation that focuses on others. How would you like to have been the first-hand recipient of such a letter from someone who had been imprisoned for his faith and who suffered unbelievable persecution because of his love of the Lord? What an honor Paul pays to Philemon, a co-laborer and brother in the Lord.

Paul a prisoner, under the most adverse conditions, found opportunity to serve the Lord. And, even though he was about to be put on trial for his life, he never forgot to remember a Christian brother who was far away in distance from him and to cover him in prayer.

Paul's example to us is one of a man of much prayer. And, the prayer wasn't selfish in nature in the least. Throughout the epistles, we find many instances where Paul is praying for others while imprisoned or off in some remote place. Today's society lives by the adage: "Out of sight, out of mind" … but, not Paul!

Here's another example: "[I] cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers" (Ephesians 1:16) And, another: "I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy" (Phil 1:3-4).

Let's follow Paul's example and make a habit of blessing others through prayer, not just occasionally, but regularly, passionately, and fervently. Then, let those for whom you are praying know that you are praying for them. Lift them up, call them up, and build them up using Paul's pattern . . . he prayed for them, he contacted them, and he built them up with encouraging words, acknowledging their faith, their fervor, and their zeal. Can you imagine what the Body of Christ would be like if we followed Paul's example daily?

"But exhort one another daily, while it is called today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin." (Hebrews 3:13)

Father, forgive me for my selfish ways . . . put me in remembrance of others daily who need Your touch, who need to hear that they are prayed for, and whose lives are important to me as well as to You. And, as I pour out myself in prayer for my brothers and sisters, Lord, I know that there will be others who are praying for me. Father, teach me Your ways and help me turn from my self-awareness and give me the gift of Kingdom-awareness. In Jesus' precious name I pray, amen and amen!

"Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do. And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves." (1 Thessalonians 5:11-13)

© Jan Ross
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"I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation…" (Isaiah 61:10a)

"He hath clothed me with the garments of salvation"! There's no doubt that a great change comes over us when we're saved. Our most difficult task, however, is the change we must determine to work through with daily disciplines that help us grow in Christlikeness.

Look at Ephesians 4:24 ~ "And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness." Here's another verse in Colossians 3:10 ~ "And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him." The "Garment of Salvation" in Isaiah is speaking of putting on the "new man."

Many years ago I had a precious friend. She didn't have much in this life but several small children and a husband who believed it was more important for him to be everywhere else other than home. She struggled with daily routines yet she was so sweet. I determined in my heart to help her as much as I could since we didn't have any children at that time. I can easily remember going to her apartment and finding dishes several days old in the sink, children running around in soiled clothes, beds unmade, bathrooms needing scrubbed – in other words, the house needed a LOT of help. My friend loved the Lord, but she couldn't rise above her lack of daily disciplines to represent Him well or to care for her family in a way that would be pleasing to Him. I spoke with her often about it, loving her through it all, but she had a difficult time making any change last. As awful as it sounds, I know of times she would take dirty clothes out of the laundry pile and put them on to go to the store or to church. Obviously, it was no secret to those around her that daily disciplines were an issue for her. I lost touch with her after we moved away and often wonder if things ever changed for her.

It does us no good to take a bath and wear yesterday's soiled clothes. We have to adorn ourselves DAILY with the garment of salvation as we work out our salvation with trembling and fear (Philippians 2:12). A daily cleansing is necessary, inside and out. Perhaps it isn't the entire reason for my unusual friendship, but the Holy Spirit taught me a valuable lesson through it.

We can't walk in yesterday's clothes – yesterday's clothes stink. Our Bridegoom is coming after a Bride whose garments are spotless and unwrinkled. He didn't just say "without wrinkle" else we could have just ironed out yesterday's soiled clothes. No! He said, "spotless and without wrinkle" – cleansed by the blood of the Pure and Spotless Lamb.

The garment of salvation . . . a daily dressing and a daily following. Don't let this priceless garment hang in your closet; prefer it over the robe of carnality and flesh. Let's separate ourselves from our unclean clothing and wear our garment of salvation and glorify our Father in heaven who purchased this precious garment for us with the highest price possible – the blood of His Beloved Son!

Father, I never realized how often I try to iron out yesterday's soiled clothing in an attempt to "appear" clean. Help me to daily put on afresh the Garment of Salvation as a Bride making herself ready for her Husband. Help me to walk worthy of the Garment of Salvation wherewith You have clothed me, for Your glory and Your pleasure. In Jesus' name, amen and amen.

"So will I sing praise unto thy name for ever, that I may daily perform my vows." (Psalm 61:8)

© Jan Ross
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"But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen." (2 Peter 3:18)

The two go together . . . you cannot grow in grace unless you grow in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Growing in grace is an automatic byproduct of the knowledge of our Lord.

What is grace? It is being found acceptable, to be favored, and to have a divine influence on your heart. Of course, we all want to grow in grace – to grow in favor with God, to be found acceptable, and to have Him influence all that we are.

What is the "knowledge" of our Lord? If you ask around, most people you talk to will tell you they believe in God. But do they have "knowledge" of our Lord? Relatively few really do.

This knowledge that Peter describes is more than just acknowledgement. Rather, it is a familiarity with God's character, endeavoring to become acquainted with Him and His personality, to understand Him – who He is, what He does, what He purposes, and what He commands.

Psalm 111:2 says "The works of the LORD are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein." Anyone who desires to find or who finds "pleasure" in the Lord will seek out His works.

The word "pleasure" means to desire a valuable thing. Anyone who desires the Lord will seek out His works. God delights in those who sincerely desire knowing who and what He is and who inquire with all due humility and reverence to know His will and His works.

How can you grow in the knowledge of our Lord? He has given all we can possibly need to know in the written Word.

John 21:25 says "And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen." Every pertinent piece of information we need to know about Him and our relationship with Him is contained in the Word of God. Yet, while people say they long to "know" the Lord, they fail to open the Book to find out who He is.

Don't be like those who just murmur and complain because they don't really know the Lord, make a commitment to read your Bible daily and spend time with Him in prayer.

Do you want to grow in grace? Begin to grow in the knowledge of Him who gives grace to all who seek Him. Don't wait for tomorrow to begin . . . start now. Don't depend on someone else's study of the Word to help you grow in grace and in the knowledge of Him, open the Book and let the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ grow in you. Grow in knowledge and grace.

Father, sometimes it's the hardest thing for us to discipline ourselves to be diligent in our pursuit of You. Lord, stir in me once again a hunger that will not cease. Put in me a thirst that cannot be quenched. I commit to You that I will respond with diligence in my desire to grow in the grace and knowledge of my Lord, Jesus Christ. Help me to never forget. Draw me to Your Word like a magnet and satisfy this longing in my heart to know You more. In Jesus' precious name, by His blood, and for His glory, amen and amen.

"Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." (Hebrews 4:16)

© Jan Ross
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"That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God." (Ephesians 3:16-19)

Love that surpasses knowledge.

It's very difficult to explain, but when you have loved your spouse for decades you experience what this means. When you love a child and do what you never dreamed you could do for another human being, you understand this phrase.

Sometimes the mere thought of the love God has toward us is more than overwhelming. Take some time today to consider just how greatly our God loves us.

Contemplate His faithfulness even when we're not so faithful. Consider the purity of His love and the promise He has made to us that His love will never fail. He deserves our love, worship, and sacrificial obedience.

Where else can we find a love so perfect and so complete? Who on earth can possibly love us like our God?

What will you offer Him today as your reasonable act of worship in response to His great and abundant and perfect love toward you?

Holy and incredible God, help me to comprehend the depth of Your love toward me and teach me to return that same love to You. Lord, forgive me when I fall, pick me up when I stumble, and restore me when I fail, teach me to show my love toward You in greater measure each new day. Father, my heart's desire is to know You in experience just as I know You in faith, that I might be more like You with each new day because of Your endless love toward me. Teach me to love as You have loved me . . . in Jesus' name, amen.

"Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men!" (Psalm 31:19)

© Jan Ross
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"And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul . . . Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul. And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle." (1 Samuel 18:1-4)

This scripture paints such an awesome picture of a covenant of exchange. If anyone understood the covenant of exchange, David did. The covenant of exchange was a practice in which two persons sealed a binding covenant by exchanging attire. This covenant represented a basic principle: "I will become what you are, and you will become what I am, our souls are knit together as one."

Because Jonathan was the royal son the offspring of the first King of Israel, he was dressed in the finest royal robes. The riches of the kingdom were at his disposal and his wishes were others' commands. But he desired one thing – for David to have everything he had. Jonathan was so intent that he was willing to change places with him and to be all that David was. David, on the other hand, was only a shepherd boy. He came from a meager home and was a servant to King Saul. He wore a simple cloak, which likely smelled of sweat and sheep.

Can you imagine how David must have felt when Jonathan began to remove his worn and rugged cloak and to place his own on David's back? This passage attests to the love Jonathan had for David. This covenant was based on Jonathan's love, not on David's. David's love is never mentioned.

This is where I get excited! Let's look further and see the elements of the greatest covenant of exchange ever made!

1 John 4:10 ~ "This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins."

Now, go back and change the names in the paragraph describing Jonathan's exchange with David:

Because Jesus Christ was the royal son the offspring of the first King of kings and the Lord of lords, he was dressed in the robe of righteousness. The riches of the Kingdom of God were at his disposal and his Word held the power of creation. But He desired one thing – for us to have everything He had. Christ was so intent that He was willing to change places with us and to be all that we were. We, on the other hand, are only sinful flesh and blood, stained with guilt and shame. We came from a meager home and were servants to sin. We wore a simple cloak, which was stained with blood guiltiness and the filth of this world.

Now let's read Revelation 19:13 ~ "And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God."

Here we have the complete picture: You and I stand cleansed and pure and whole before Him wearing the robe of righteousness that Jesus took off His own back and placed on us while He wears the blood-stained vesture as a memorial to the sin and shame He took upon Himself but also as a memorial to the VICTORY He won over death, hell, and the grave!

Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of the Most High God, sought us out, loved us, and entered into a covenant of exchange with us. He bore our bloodstains and He dressed us in the clean and unspotted garment known as the Robe of Righteousness. We could never earn such an undeserved exchange, but His love for us compelled Him to embrace us and covenant with us in the Greatest Exchange.

Praise Him today, saints . . . He proudly wears that vesture dipped in blood because He loves you. Wear your Robe of Righteousness with humility and honor and never bring disgrace to the Garment of His Righteousness. It came to Him at great cost – it was given to us freely. Hallelujah.

Father, how can I say thanks for all You have done for me? Your love, so undeserved, so pure, so awesome. Father, thank You for Your Son, for His love and for the covenant He entered into with us as we exchanged garments. I don't deserve such a gift, and I don't deserve such love. But I praise You that You saw fit to seek me out, to lavish Your love upon me, and to grant me the privilege to wear the Robe that represents the righteousness of the saints (Rev. 19:8). Be glorified, Lord, in me and through me. In Jesus' name, by His blood, and for His glory, amen and amen.

"And David went out whithersoever Saul sent him, and behaved himself wisely: and Saul set him over the men of war, and he was accepted in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul's servants." (1 Samuel 18:5)

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"And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples. And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out." (Luke 19:39-40)

The Bible tells us that ALL creation worships Him, the Creator. It is odd that if all of creation recognizes Him as Creator and that He is the object of its worship. So, why does man have such a problem with it? One would assume it has something to do with the "will" of man.

What do you "will" to do? Hopefully offering the sacrifice of praise and heartfelt worship is of top priority on your daily agenda. The Lord was very plain in his remark that if His disciples failed to give Him the praise, that the very stones would cry out in worship of Him—creation praising the Creator.

Make it a habit of joining the rest of God's creation and praise Him. He is certainly worthy. It would be horrible to one day find out that our praise was absent and the very rocks had to voice their praise in our stead.

Praise His Holy Name…He's Worthy!

Father, You are worthy of our praise. Forgive me, Lord, for those days when my lips are shut and praise fails to pour out from a humble, submitted heart. May I never cease to praise You. Right now, Lord, I join with all of creation in praise of You, the One who made heaven and earth and all that in them is! Hallelujah, for You are worthy of our praise, amen.

"Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power. Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness. Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp. Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs. Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals. Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD." (Psalm 150)

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"For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God." (1 Corinthians 1:18)

We've all been there. Ridiculed for our faith. Mocked for our stand for righteousness. It is absolutely true that to those who don't know Christ, the preaching of the cross is foolishness. In fact, one way to tell whether or not someone has a relationship with Jesus is to consider whether or not they love the preaching of the cross.

The cross represents beauty—the beauty of God's mercy and forgiveness.

The cross also represents ugliness—the reproach of sin which our Saviour bore in our stead.

The power of His love toward us is wrapped up in the preaching of the cross. A love that never dies or dims with age. A love that never withers away. A love that won't grow stale or wear out. A love that is divine, perfect, and holy. That's the love of our Lord expressed in the power of the cross.

Allow the power of His love to pierce your heart today, to once again do a refreshing and cleansing that will encourage you, build you up, and equip you for whatever He has purposed for you.

Father, I love the story of the cross. I love to share it. I love to hear it. It brings me back to the point where I am reminded again how much I need You. And, even more so, it communicates the depth of love You have toward me. I am so thankful for Your sacrifice, so in awe of the lengths You went to in order to make a way for me. The preaching of the cross … may it ever be my life's theme. Amen!

"And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Philippians 2:8-11)

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"Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth." (3 John 1:2)

To prosper. From the Greek, the word "euodoo" literally means "to help on the road," speaking of a journey.

Have you ever wondered why the Bible encourages prosperity when so many have struggled with the issue for their entire lives? There are many different things that may play a role in a person's inability to experience a breakthrough in the sense of prosperity. We tend to forget that prosperity is a journey. It starts at one point and passes through much adversity until the individual finds himself truly prosperous. A common mistake, however, is thinking that "prosperity" is associated with monetary gain. Prosperity comes in many flavors and sizes. To be prosperous could mean to have your immediate needs met, to be prosperous in the Word of God, to live peaceably with your neighbors, to have a happy home, to have good health, etc. We are all on a journey toward prosperity, some of us are farther along than others, but it's the same path when we're following in the Lord's footsteps.

Take a few moments today and thank the Lord for making you prosper . . . physically, emotionally and spiritually. Cling to Him while on your journey; allow Him to prosper you in whatever way pleases Him most. Amen!

Father, help me, Lord, to rest in you when it comes to monetary and material things. Lord, remind me that true prosperity is more than just money, but it is forging forward on a path to become rich in the things of God, in my family and home, in whichever way brings the most glory to You. You are worthy, Lord! Amen!

"Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper." (Psalm 1:1-3)

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"And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you" (Genesis 22:5)

Worship, the first time this word is used in the Old Testament, is translated from the Hebrew word, "Shachah" which means, "bow (self) down, crouch, fall down (flat), humbly beseech, do (make) obeisance, do reverence, make to stoop, worship." We see instances of this type of worship throughout the Bible. But in this instance, "worship" may have meant just a bit more . . . Abraham's act of "worship" was obedience.

Abraham longed for a son for many, many years, and once having received the promise from God, believed in God's promises as indisputable fact even though the manifestation took many, long years.

God desires our worship, our bowing down in homage to Him, doing reverence, falling down before Him. But, He also wants our sacrifice—our obedience.

Abraham knew. The record of his faith still testifies today of his obedience in worship. Does your worship of the King of kings and Lord of lords include "obedience"?

Examine yourself today. Be sure your "worship" includes submissive obedience—obedience to God's leading in your life, obedience to the Word of the Lord.

Father, I long to have the faith of Abraham, to have the courage of Abraham, and to worship You through my obedience as Abraham did. I long to please You as Abraham did. Father, help me to remember to be intimately involved in worshipping You every moment I can, through praise, through worship AND through my obedience. As a child longs to please his parents, so I long to please You, Oh Lord. You are so worthy of all my praise and worship, there is none like You, amen.

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"Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up." (James 4:10)

Sometimes the hardest thing to do in a situation where you know you're right is to humble yourself before someone who you know is wrong. Humility is a characteristic that denotes Godliness . . . loving your neighbor as yourself. Humility is unselfishness, it is selflessness. Humility is decreasing so that He might increase in us. Humility is the opposite of the devilish spirit so prevalent in the world today -- one that exalts self to the point of excluding and denying others' rights to be acknowledged.

God looks at the inward man . . . the intent of the heart. Our scripture today reminds us that if we humble ourselves in God's sight, He will lift us up . . . in His time. We don't need to promote ourselves in order to gain respect or to be noticed; we don't need to make others look bad so we will look good in the eyes of those who have authority over us. God is the One who promotes -- He causes us to be seen and our good works and deeds acknowledged in His time and according to His purposes.

Many stories can be told of people who have allowed themselves to be abased only to find that in time God promotes or lifts them up in a way that they never had expected. In most instances all it takes is a silent tongue even in the face of persecution an act of humility in the sight of God. When we deny ourselves the right to justify our actions or to brag on our accomplishments, God can easily be seen in us and through us and He is exalted. His reward may not even be seen in this lifetime, but His reward will be great . . . He WILL take care of us.

"Promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another." Notice that GOD is the one who promotes -- all He expects from us is living a life of humble obedience before Him. He'll take care of the rest.

Humble yourselves in the sight of God, and He will lift you up.

Father, forgive me for not displaying humility as often as I could. Help me to recognize each opportunity to exercise humility that You would be glorified in me. Lord, I want to please You more than anything . . . I trust you with my life, amen.

"For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness." (Psalm 84:10)

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"Moses answered the people, "Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still." (Exodus 14:13-14)

Moses is talking to the children of Israel during the great exodus from Egypt. They had just left Egypt and Pharaoh's army was in pursuit—the Red Sea before them and the enemy behind them. They were surrounded. Moses is offering the people encouragement by the Spirit of God ... "Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you TODAY."

We've all read "do not be afraid" or "fear not" over and over again, but Moses is admonishing the people to STAND FIRM and they would see the deliverance that God had appointed for that day.

God has deliverance appointed to us every day if we would just STAND FIRM. This isn't deliverance because of works or because of things we might think we earn by being good people. This is divine deliverance that the "Lord will bring [us] TODAY."

Today holds many opportunities for God to deliver us ... from the oppressor, from the snare of the fowler, from the devourer, from the thief, from the destroyer, etc. All He asks is that we STAND FIRM.

What really blesses me, however, is the rest of the verse: "The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still."

When God delivers, HE DELIVERS. The obstacles you face right now ... when God delivers you from them YOU WILL NEVER SEE THEM AGAIN.

When God intervenes in our situation, it is a divine deliverance. When He speaks, it's done. When God delivered the children of Israel out of Egypt, they never faced those same enemies (oppressors) again—they were completely destroyed by the hand of God. Sure, they faced other enemies but when God delivered them, they remained delivered (they stood firm even though they were often tempted to return to Egypt). If we will remember the entire story, when God delivered the children of Israel from Egypt, God wiped out the Egyptian army by causing them to drown in the Red Sea. Their enemy was removed and was no more.

Today is a new day, complete with new opportunities to see God's deliverance in our lives. Remember, though, the only way we will ever face today's "Egyptians" again is if we refuse to allow God to have His way—we do that by not standing firm but meddling in God's business and/or turning back again into the situation He desires to deliver us from.

Stand firm. Don't allow God's deliverance to be in vain. Be still ... the "Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still." Amen.

Have a great day of deliverance; enjoy the incredible blessings of the Lord.

Lord, I praise You for Your delivering power at work in my life. Oh God, forgive me for failing to stand firm and allowing You to do the work of deliverance. Forgive me for meddling in Your business by trying to work things out on my own. Help me, Lord, to trust You for complete and total deliverance from today's "Egyptians" and, then, help me to remember that the battle is Yours and I only need to be still. Deliver me from my oppressors, Lord, and lead me into Your victory so Jesus will be glorified and His triumph over the enemy will be seen. Be glorified, Lord … in Jesus' name, amen and amen!

"All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD's, and he will give all of you into our hands." (1 Samuel 17:47)

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"The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever." (Isaiah 40:8)

Everything around us is temporary; nothing is permanent. It is hard for us to comprehend the eternal value of the Word of God. He never changes. God's Word never changes.

The Word of God contains God's plan for mankind, a plan that was instituted before the foundations of the world . . . a plan that has not changed nor will ever change. It is constant and eternal. God, in His omniscience and omnipresence, knew the path that would lead us to Him and He planned that path before we were born.

The next time you read the Word of the Living God, remember that His purposes and plans for all of us are contained in it, along with details of His attributes which can be summed up in one word: "Love."

God loves us so much that He made sure we have an eternal written record of His Words. The flowers will dry up, the grass will wither, but His Word is established in Heaven, and it will NEVER fade away . . . it will NEVER pass away.

Father, thank you for your eternal Word, the written record of Your plan for all of mankind—your plan for me. Father, help me to commit to reading more, developing my relationship with you, and seeking You in Your Word. I love You, Lord . . . Amen.

"Forever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven." (Psalm 119:89)

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"O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker." (Psalm 95:6)

What an awesome call to worship.

So, today, with humble reverence, and a holy awe of Him, "Let us worship, and bow down, and kneel before Him." After all, it is those who have a keen awareness of what a merciful God we serve who find themselves dropping to their knees in pure awe of Him.

It is our duty to glorify Him with our outward expressions of reverence, seriousness, and humility, in the duties of true, spiritual worship. Don't allow the enemy to intimidate you in your worship . . . it doesn't matter who is watching, what others think, or even if it's acceptable in your church. The Bible is full of expressions of worship making it very obvious that God desires our worship; He looks for that outward expression of what He's doing in our hearts. He is looking for those who are not ashamed to bow down or stand up, those who would cry tears of joy or those who would be silent before Him. He's looking for worshippers who love Him more than life itself.

Take time today and every day to pay homage to the One who has provided a way whereby we can be reconciled to Him through the shed blood of His Son, Jesus Christ, our Sacrifice Lamb.

Worship Him . . . He is worthy.

As I give myself to You in heartfelt worship today, Lord, draw me into Your presence so I may sit at Your feet totally in awe of Your goodness and Your mercy toward me. May I never forget what You've done . . . but even more, may I never forget who You are. I worship You, Lord, with all my heart, with all my might, with all my strength. I worship You, Mighty God, for there is none like You, amen and amen.

"For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness." (Psalm 84:10)

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"Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation." (Habakkuk 3:18)

How many times have we heard people say that they don't want to make a true commitment to the Lord because they don't want to ruin all their fun in life? This seems to be a mindset these days as lovers of pleasure continue to run from the only true Joy that mankind has ever known.

The world needs to see Christians smile. They need to see that we enjoy life to the very fullest. Our countenance needs to reflect the Joy of our salvation, the Peace that floods our soul, and the Happiness that only total surrender to the King of kings can bring.

When was the last time you rejoiced in the Lord . . . truly rejoiced unashamedly before Him? In the workplace, at school, at the grocery, at the gym, even at the doctor's office . . . all these places and more are acceptable locations for outbursts of JOY. Lyrics from a popular song from a few years ago said, "I am not ashamed of the Gospel . . . the Gospel of Jesus Christ!" We all sang along, with heart-felt commitment and determination, yet when floods of joy overwhelm us we don't easily let it show on our faces. Why? Could it be that we really are ashamed?

Take a few moments today and ask yourself how the world sees you. Do they see you as depressed, unhappy, lacking joy and meaning to life? If so, ask the Lord to help you release that Joy down in your soul for the whole world to see and let it shine . . . you may be the only light that someone will ever see that leads them to the foot of the cross. Go ahead . . . joy in the God of your salvation. He's worth it, for sure!

Father, I am truly grateful for all you have done for me. The joy you have given me is overwhelming at times; help me not to hold it in any longer, but to let it show . . . let the whole world know that You are the source of true Joy. Father, from the depth of my heart I rejoice in You, the God of my salvation. I make a decision today to let my countenance tell the story of Your wondrous love and redeeming blood which bought my freedom from sin and death. Lord, how I rejoice in just knowing You. What a privilege—hallelujah!

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek." (Romans 1:16)

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"Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee." (Psalm 51:13)

A great deal of thought goes into what we wear each day, how we fix our hair, and how we work to make ourselves presentable to the public. This is good as we wouldn't want to draw attention to ourselves because of our lack of personal care. But, how much care do we put into our daily spiritual lives?

You don't have to be a great teacher, preacher, evangelist, etc. to lead sinners to the Lord. Your lifestyle alone should separate you from the world and cause a non-believer to notice a difference. This difference is your open door to share the message of God's great salvation with anyone who would be drawn to Him as you lift Him up in your daily life. Simply let the love of God shine through . . . sinners will notice, the Spirit will draw them, and the door will be open to share the good news.

So, when you're taking care of your physical appearance each day before leaving the house, take a few minutes to take care of your heart through time spent in the Word and in prayer. You'll be amazed just how careful attendance to this simple discipline will lead to teaching transgressors His way as sinners are converted.

Dear Lord, as I begin each day, help me to remember to take some time to prepare myself spiritually to meet the world. Lord, I pray that You would use me to help those who don't know You to find their way to You through my lifestyle, my attitudes, my countenance. Show forth Your glory through my life and let it shine on all with whom I come in contact. Then I will know that I have prepared myself to teach transgressors Your ways so sinners will be converted unto thee, amen!

"For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ." (2 Corinthians 4:6)

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"Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn." (Matthew 13:30)

If you're like most of us, you've probably just considered a "tare" to be a weed that grows among the wheat, one that can be spotted easily with the eye, and is easily plucked out of the field prior to the harvest. However, in doing a little word study, there are a couple additional attributes of a "tare" that are worth looking at, ones that actually speak volumes into what Today's Verse is really all about.

Are you wheat or are you a tare?

Wheat is a grain. A tare, however is more than just a weed, it is a false grain. The word tare comes from the Greek word zizanion which literally means darnel or false grain. When the farmer looks at the field, it is nearly impossible to tell the wheat from the tares. They are the same color, the same height, the same shape, grow in the same soil, and from all appearances are the same. It is only upon careful inspection that he can tell the tare from the wheat . . . the false from the genuine.

The Church, unfortunately, has many tares that are growing up amongst the wheat. The difference is that the tares are a false grain . . . they have no substance, no fruit, no purpose for anything other than to fill up space.

Without being so quick to judge others we feel may fit this description, let's turn our eyes inward to make sure WE don't fit this description ourselves. Let's examine our own hearts. Is our love for the Lord genuine? Is our heart right toward God and our fellow man? Are we bearing fruit, or do we just appear to be fruitful? Do we long for sweet fellowship with the Lord, or do we seek after other fellowship? God's remedy for tares is certainly not something we want to reap in our own lives. If we don't find true and genuine love and zeal for God in our own hearts, it's time to get back to the basics and reconsider our relationship with the Lord. Perhaps we've thought all along that we were OK, but suddenly we feel that we're not. Let's pray and ask God to forgive us for the qualities of a tare we are suddenly aware are hiding in our field.

Dear Father, I have read in Your Word that I can never be good enough on my own merit to gain eternal life and make heaven my home, that Jesus is the only way, that He is the Lord and Saviour of all creation, and that it is by His shed blood that I'm accepted in the beloved. Lord, expose any tares in my heart as I look into the mirror of Your Word. Lord, and cleanse me of all my unrighteousness, and create in me a pure heart. Make my life a sweet-smelling sacrifice unto my Lord Jesus Christ for it is in His name I pray, Amen!

"The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one". (Matthew 13:38)

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"This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men." (Titus 3:8)

"Be careful to maintain good works." It matters more than most of us are aware of. One of the quickest ways to ruin our Christian testimony is by not being careful to maintain good works.

Simple courtesies in our daily routines make it possibly for the light of Christ to shine through our actions, giving us an opportunity to impact someone's life without even speaking a word. Opening the door for others, considerate driving practices, allowing someone with few groceries to take the place in line ahead of us, smiling at strangers on the street . . . there are any number of ways to "maintain good works."

The other day someone shared with me that they could easily tell people who had a sincere relationship with Christ by their actions. The work God is doing on man's heart will show outwardly; it will be profound in many ways.

Take a reading of your personal "good work meter" and see how you measure up. Did you cut off a driver because you were in a hurry? Did you push your way to the counter ahead of someone without regard to those around you? Have you walked down the street making eye contact and smiling at passers-by? Check yourself and do it often. Make sure your good works are communicating to others that you are different. Don't fall into the trap of treating the world as the world treats you; set a higher standard for your life so the love of Christ will show through every word, every deed, and every step you take.

A quote commonly attributed to St. Francis of Assisi sums it up: "Preach the gospel at all times. Use words if necessary."

Let your good deeds tell the story of the abounding love of Jesus Christ loud and clear.

Father, I must repent. My attitude, my actions, my motives are so often selfish, preferring myself rather than preferring others. Lord, teach me to consider my ways every moment of every day, looking for every opportunity to do good works that will reflect the good work You have done and You are doing in me. Lord, open my eyes and let me see the needs of others so I can do whatever is necessary to minister to them through my actions. Father, teach me to preach the gospel through my good works which will glorify You. Help me to remember that sharing the Gospel when my deeds and actions don't testify to Your goodness is fruitless. Let my life reflect the change You have made in me. In Jesus' name, for His glory, amen and amen!

"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." (Matthew 5:16)

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