"But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold." (Job 23:10)

Today's verse just keeps coming back to me! The Lord keeps speaking something into my life through the revelation that life's hardships have a purpose . . . a Holy and Divine purpose! It is so often easy to fall into feeling sorry for ourselves because of the set-backs we experience in life. We face disillusionments, disappointments, heartache, physical and emotional pain, sorrow . . . the list could go on forever. But when we realize that there is a reason . . . a Holy and Divine purpose for these things . . . we can submit to the work of the Master Refiner with determination to allow the "good work" which He has begun in us to be completed, regardless of the personal cost!

When we walk through the valley of life's sorrows, it appears that the Lord is doing a REFINING work in us. It is at these times in our life that He's decided it's time (once again) to burn out some of the impurities and to take another step toward making us into that pure vessel He has purposed us to be! But, this process is the most painful . . . the fire burns – it hurts -- it's nearly unbearable, and it gets VERY tiring after just a short while. We lose patience with the Master Refiner as He's doing His work in our lives. We want it over. . . and we want it over NOW! The sad thing is (at least for us) that if He stopped the process when we begged Him to, we would actually be worse off than before He started.

Can you see it . . . a piece of gold, roughly shaped, yet somewhat usable. The Master Refiner decides it's time to make this piece of gold into something He had been planning for a long time. He then puts this gold in the fire and it starts melting down to a liquid. The fire gets hotter and hotter . . . the gold becomes softer and softer as the heat gets higher and higher. The gold begins to scream out . . . "STOP! It's too much! I can't stand anymore!" If the Master Refiner listened to the gold, he would have to just let it set in its melted state. It would be totally useless, not only to Him, but to anyone else. So, the gold has to endure the Refiner's Fire. If only the gold itself knew the magnificent outcome . . . the vision the Master Refiner had for it . . . it would be easier to submit to the fire. But, because of the impurities in the gold, it is unable to see the finished product forever etched in the unsearchable mind of the Master Refiner.

We all wonder when it's all going to end and have the never-ending question in our minds . . . "Why do I have to go through all this?"! But we just have to know . . . be convinced in our hearts . . . that God has us right in the palm of His hand. He knows our frailties, He knows our pain. He knows our disillusionments, He knows our weakness. He knows . . . He knows . . . He knows! So, He has gone to work on us to further perfect us to be a vessel of honor unto Him. After all, that's what it's all about, isn't it? We ALL want to be a vessel of honor unto Him . . . mete for His use . . . suitable, pleasing, and glorifying to the Master Refiner.

Be blessed, my dear friends . . . God isn't through with us yet. Submit to His work in your life. Go ahead and grit your teeth and bear the pain for soon it will have produced its work in you to make you pleasing and acceptable . . . a marvelous glory unto Him!

Father, Master Refiner, have your way with me! There, I've said it, Lord! It was hard to say, but I really mean it . . . do in my life what needs to be done to make me, mold me, and shape me into the vessel of honor You have planned for me to be! Lord, I submit to Your refining fire, to Your strong hand that molds me and shapes me for Your glory. Father, help me to remember that the fire I walk through now has a Holy and Divine purpose in my life. Have Your way in me, Lord, so when anyone looks at me they will see only a reflection of You! Amen!

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11)

© Jan Ross
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"Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field: Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof." (Matthew 13:31-32)

Many sermons, many books, many Bible School and Sunday School lessons have been written on this verse, all of which give us greater understanding. Do you ever feel like the "least" of anything? Many of us do from time to time . . . many of us do ALL the time. But, in fact, that is often by God's design. Many times in our lives we will be challenged with becoming "least" in order to become "great."

The Word gives us many examples of this concept . . . here is one that comes to mind: "Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up." James 4:10

We are all called to a walk of humility, unselfish, undemanding, and totally immersed in Who He is rather than who we are. This takes unabashed humility. To regard all others more highly than ourselves, to give of ourselves totally to Him, to love unconditionally, to seek to minister to each other from a pure heart . . . a servant's heart.

It doesn't take much for a seed to begin growing, just a little fertilizer and a little water. Just a little Word dropped into a receptive, fertile heart will begin to grow to make us what God has intended us to be. Ask the Lord to reveal to you the "grain of mustard seed" He has sown in your heart and see how it has grown and is still growing to make you and mold you into the "greatest among herbs" that you can be as you love and minister to Him and to others from a humble servant's heart. Never consider the work that the Master is doing within you as too minute or trivial, for He is watering the seed He planted in you to perfect the things that He has begun in you.

Father, help me to see myself as You see me, a mere grain of mustard seed which You are watering, cultivating, and nurturing as I grow into a beautiful hearty plant, strong in You, with roots growing deep as I drink from the rivers of Your Spirit. Thank you, Lord, for all You have done and are doing to make me and mold me into Your image. Whatever it takes, Lord, create in me a humble, servant's heart that seeks after You with all that is within me, all the day long. Amen and Amen.

"He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life." (John 12:25)

© Jan Ross
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"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour" (1 Peter 5:8)

"Look both ways before you cross the street!"

We've all heard that warning . . . an attempt to keep us safe from possible injury while crossing the road!

"Be sober, be vigilant!"

We've read that warning . . . because our adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about seeking whom he may devour!

We must be watchful against our foes, remaining constantly aware of their schemes and tricks to not only deceive us, but to wound us spiritually. We must watch carefully, as you would when you know you are in danger. We have to be on guard against the wiles and the power of our enemy.

The enemy is opposed to us . . . he resists our efforts to do good and all our efforts to obey God! He attempts to alarm us by his roar . . . he would have us believe that he can overpower us like a crouching lion creeping toward his foe. He represents himself to us as the great and raging king of the jungle who by his roar would intimidate all of us so we might become an easy prey. But we must also be aware that he is sneaky, silent, and misrepresenting himself to us as an angel of light. The enemy is worse than any man we can conceive; he is not a common adversary but one that aims at our very souls. He is an accuser and a devourer, malicious in every way.

But, here's the good news. As strong as our enemy appears, as loud as his roar seems, as malicious and seductive as his ways become, he is a defeated foe. He would like for us to be in constant fear of what he can do, or . . . he would like for us to totally ignore him. But we're instructed to be wise, to be watchful, to be aware . . . NOT to live in constant fear.

We have this promise that the victory is ours through Jesus Christ our Lord. "But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." (I Corinthians 15:57) We serve an omnipotent Lord, who reigns over ALL! Nothing can ever separate us from His love . . . Hallelujah, what a mighty God we serve.

Omnipotent Father, Lord of all, thank you for your Word . . . thank you for your warning to be sober and to be vigilant when it concerns the wiles of the enemy. Help me to be strong when I feel like I'm being stalked, not allowing him to win confidence knowing that he has succeeded in putting fear into my heart. Amen!

"No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD." (Isaiah 54:17)

© Jan Ross
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"But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life." (Romans 6:22)

Being a "servant" carries with it a negative impression--bondage, servitude, enslavement, burdens, etc. By definition, that's exactly what a servant is. But the context of Today's Verse sheds a totally different light on the word "servant." Actually, it is used in the context of a "gift."

This verse explains four "gifts" which are given to those who have new life in Christ:

WE ARE FREE FROM SIN

WE BECOME A SERVANT OF GOD

WE ARE GIVEN FRUIT UNTO HOLINESS

WE ARE GIVEN EVERLASTING LIFE

These are all benefits . . . including the privilege of being a servant.

We are designed to be servants, either to sin or to righteousness. There are no in-betweens. There is no other way. We either serve God or we serve sin.

The choice is ours as it was in Joshua's day: "Choose ye this day whom ye will serve."

Choose God and you choose LIFE! Being a servant then becomes a benefit, a privilege, and a blessing rather than a burden.

What is your choice?

Father, it is my choice to serve YOU above all else, not only for the benefits but just because I love YOU! You have put in me a servant's heart which makes me glad to serve YOU! I don't count it a burden to serve you, as I am bonded together with YOU through Jesus Christ my Lord and Saviour. Thank you for freeing me from sin, allowing me to be your servant, gifting me with fruits of holiness, and giving me everlasting life. Lord, for all this I cannot begin to thank you enough. Your blessings are truly without measure. Amen!

"And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. And the people answered and said, God forbid that we should forsake the LORD, to serve other gods . . ." (Joshua 24:15-16)

© Jan Ross
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"So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her."
(John 8:7)

We are so keen to other's faults but oblivious to our own most times. Judging others seems to be a favorite pastime for many of us while we neglect the more needful thing of judging our own motives and actions against the Word of God.

Jesus knew that this woman was guilty, there was no doubt. Yet, her accusers were also guilty . . . maybe not of the same sin, but of other sinful acts and motives. He alone had the power to judge the intents of her accusers' hearts, and He alone had the power to free her from the sentence of death dictated by the law.

We all deserve death, yet Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour, stills the voice of our accuser and has freed us from our death sentence. The wounds He bore, the bruises He received, the chastisement He endured, the price He paid, the blood He shed, and the death He died have washed away our sin and set us free from the sentence of death of which we are so very deserving. What can wash away our sin? Nothing . . . but the blood of Jesus!

Dear Lord, nothing but the blood of Jesus can cleanse me and make me whole . . . nothing but the blood of Jesus can purify my heart! Oh, how precious is the flow that makes me white as snow! No other fount I know . . . nothing but the blood of Jesus! I thank you for the cleansing, saving, healing, delivering blood . . . the blood that was shed on Calvary . . . for me! Amen!

"Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven" (Luke 6:37)

© Jan Ross
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"And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect." (Genesis 17:1)

Abraham had received the promise from God years before the timing of today's verse. In fact, so many years had passed that his faith was being challenged by the aging process of his own body as well as that of his wife. We're told in Romans 4:20 that Abraham "staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strong in faith, giving glory to God". But now, Abraham hears from God who tells him three things:

I am God

Walk before Me

Be thou perfect

If anything would make a man stagger, it would be the third phrase uttered by God . . . "Be thou perfect!" How can we be perfect? What does God really mean when He tells us to be perfect?

The word "perfect" actually speaks of "sincerity." To be sincere, not to be masked or to present yourself as something you are not. In ancient times, when someone would go to the potter's house to buy a clay vessel, they would take the vessel they chose and set it in the sun for a short period of time. The sun would soon reveal any cracks the potter may have repaired revealing an "insincere" vessel; it was representing itself as whole when all the while it was a damaged vessel.

God wants us to be sincere, to be absolutely honest before Him. If there is a "crack" in our lives, He wants to be the Master Potter and repair it because any other repair job just won't do. No other potter's hands can do the work of the Master Potter.

Do you want to be whole and complete? Let the Master Potter mold you, make you, and repair you; let Him make you a vessel of honor unto Him, pure and blameless, whole and complete. Sincere. Perfect in His eyes.

Father, Master Potter, I present myself to you as a broken, crushed, and mutilated vessel, one that has been marred by the enemy. Make me new. Mold me, reform me, repair me, and make me complete, sincere, and perfect in Your eyes. Father, whatever it takes, take me and do what needs to be done that I may be that perfect vessel of honor unto You. Amen.

"For I am the LORD that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy."
(Leviticus 11:45)

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"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service." (Romans 12:1)

Take my heart and form it
Take my mind, transform it
Take my will, conform it
To Yours, to Yours, O Lord!

The chorus to a song we sing at church sums up our verse for today: presenting our entire being as a living sacrifice unto God. Lord, take our hearts and form them into your image; take our minds and transform them to your likeness. Lord, take our will and conform it to your will, into Your image, into Your likeness, and according to Your will.

Whenever I've read this verse in the past I always applied it to my physical body, to give it to martyrdom if necessary. But, it's more than that. It's saying that my "body" in His eyes is my entire being—my heart, my mind, my will AND my physical body. All of me must be presented to Him as a living sacrifice. Such a sacrifice is holy in His sight. It is the reasonable service of a servant to a Master. It is a small token of gratitude to One Who has given His all for me.

How can I ever hope to hold back anything from Him . . . if I love Him, I'll give Him my all. After all, He is my all. He deserves my all. He IS my all!

Dear Lord, again I pray, from the depth of my innermost being:

Take my heart and form it,
Take my mind, transform it,
Take my will, conform it,
To Yours, to Yours, O Lord!

Take my life and let it be consecrated, Lord, to thee. Take everything I am and everything I ever hope to be and use it, Lord, for Your glory. You are my ALL IN ALL . . . You are EVERYTHING to me. You ARE!

"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will." (Romans 12:2)

© Jan Ross
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"Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD." (Jeremiah 9:23-24)

It is so easy to get caught up in the wonderful things we do for the Lord, how wonderful we are, and what good Christians we are. One of the biggest stumbling blocks the enemy places before us is "US!" He makes it so easy to pat ourselves on the back and say, "Well Done!" But God's ways are much different. He's very specific when He says, "If man is going to glory in anything, let him glory in this -- that he understands Me and knows Me!"

What is it to "know God?" It is to have a relationship with Him wherein you walk with Him, you talk with Him, you trust Him, you learn from Him, He becomes your best friend, you go nowhere without Him. You live with Him moment by moment, learning more of Him as each minute passes. You begin to know His thoughts, to know His ways, and ultimately know His heart.

Do you "know" God today? Make it a priority in your life to get to know Him more day by day until you can say, "I understand Him and know Him" according to today's verse—when the object of your boasting turns from you to Him, and Him alone!

Dear Father, my heart longs to know You more, to love You more, to walk in right relationship with You. Father, forgive me for being so aware of ME and so NOT aware of You. Help me to see Your face, Your hand, Your leading everywhere I go and in everything I face so I can say beyond a shadow of a doubt that I KNOW YOU INTIMATELY! "And He walks with me and He talks with me, and He tells me I am His own!" This is my heart's desire—to know You in such a way that I feel Your holy awesome presence with each breath I take! Amen!

"It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God-that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord." (1 Corinthians 1:30-31)

© Jan Ross
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"It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High: To shew forth thy lovingkindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night," (Psalm 92:1-2)

This Psalm was meant to be sung as a song of praise to the King of Kings. It is a good thing for us to give thanks to the Lord.

Praising God is good in itself, and it is good for us as well. It is not only our duty and tribute we pay to the Lord, we are unjust if we withhold it.

Praising God is pleasant and profitable . . . it is work that is its own wages.

Praise is the work of angels and the work of heaven. But consider this . . . the angels were created to praise Him; they are continually in His presence singing praise and glorifying and magnifying Him with songs of worship and exaltation. However, when just one of us begins to praise Him, He stretches out His arms, and clears a path for us to come into His presence. The songs of angels suddenly fade into the background while His complete attention is focused on our sacrifice of praise.

The angels may have been created to praise Him; we choose to praise Him and thereby gain His uninterrupted attention as He dwells in the midst of our praise.

Finally, praise will dispel fear. Praise will build faith. Praise will send the enemy aflight. Praise will draw us into His presence.

Begin today to allow His praise to be on your lips continually, a reasonable act of worship and sacrifice to the One Who is most worthy of all.

Father, I praise You . . . You are worthy of all my praise. From the first word uttered in the morning, till the final "good night", I pray Your praise will be on my lips . . . continually. Help me to show your lovingkindness through my expressions of praise to all I meet; teach me to rest in Your faithfulness each night. Put a song of Praise in my heart that I might enjoy Your presence with me wherever I may go. All praise and glory to you, my Lord . . . Amen.

"O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise." (Psalm 51:15)

© Jan Ross
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"And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things." (Mark 6:34)

What a beautifully tender description of our Lord! He "was moved with compassion."

You can feel His heart in these words, as if He wanted to scoop up all the precious souls in His arms and carry them away to safety. But, He chose to do something even better . . . He began to teach them.

The life-giving Words bursting forth from His lips gave the people hope, direction, comfort, and guidance. His Word . . . no better way to care for His flock.

Today, follow Him to the secret place of sweet communion where He will teach you through His Word, so full, so rich, and so free! It costs nothing except a small investment of time; the rewards, however, are priceless!

Savior, like a Shepherd lead us,
Much we need Thy tender care.
In Thy pleasant pastures feed us,
For our use Thy folds prepare.
We are Thine, do Thou befriend us,
Be the Guardian of our way;
Keep Thy flock, from sin defend us,
Seek us when we go astray!
Blessed Jesus, Blessed Jesus,
Thou has bought us, Thine we are!*

Shepherd, lead me by Your Word. Draw me into sweet communion with you where I will be taught of You and learn from You. Savior, like a Shepherd lead me, be the Guardian of my way. Keep me, Lord, and defend me and draw me close when I go astray. You have bought me with Your precious blood, Lord, and I am Yours! Amen and Amen.

"I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep." (John 10:11)

© 2008 Jan Ross
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*Saviour, Like a Shepherd Lead Us (William B. Bradbury)

"Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation." (Isaiah 12:2)

Fear is most likely the strongest emotion most people feel these days. With the economy, natural disasters, and any number of things happening, it's easy to understand why. But, as representatives of the kingdom of God, we must rid ourselves of any hint of fear in order to minister peace to those who don't have the assurance of salvation. Our hope is in Christ, not in what the natural world can afford.

The prophet Isaiah was so 'right-on' in his words to us: God, our Salvation, our source of trust (or faith) which dispels fear. What can man do to us if the Lord is for us? What can our enemies impose on us if our trust is anchored firmly in the salvation of our God? Understanding the depth of God's salvation, His love, His protection makes it easy to place our trust in Him and not live in fear regardless of what is happening in this world.

Let me encourage you to become contagious. Let faith rise up within your heart and carry it with you wherever you go, spreading trust and contentment and hope to all with whom you have contact. Like a dreaded flu bug passes so easily from one to another, spread faith as you go about your routine. When someone speaks of fear, share faith. When someone appears to be afraid or terrorized, spread that faith and trust which is firmly planted within your heart. Be a beacon in the darkness of this hour, allowing the light of God's salvation to shine through you brightly, drawing others to you as you share the Reason for the hope that is within you.

This is our duty, dear friends, in these times of uncertainty . . . to lead people to the Rock that is secure, a firm foundation that cannot be moved. With a failing economy, threats of terrorism, rumors of wars, and the uncertainty of tomorrow, let the Lord be your strength and your song . . . trusting, believing, and standing firm in faith that He alone is your salvation!

Father, the hearts of many are terrorized. But, O Lord, You alone are my Salvation, and in You do I put my trust. You, O Lord, are my strength and my song! I will sing for joy knowing that Your great salvation is the foundation of my faith, the anchor of my hope, and the strength I need to make it through each day. Use me Lord, open my mouth so I may speak forth Your Word, sharing the hope that is within me, and showing the world that in You there is no reason to fear. Lord, I love You and I trust You with my life . . . with my family's life . . . with my friends' lives. Father, You, O Lord, are my strength and my song . . . You, O Lord, are my Salvation. Amen and Amen!

"Sing unto the LORD; for he hath done excellent things: this is known in all the earth." (Isaiah 12:5)

© Jan Ross
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