Godliness

Matthew 9:11-13

There is a common misconception that believers should be perfect. Pretending to have our lives in order, many of us wear happy faces and speak words that sound acceptable. At times we’re ashamed to admit our shortcomings, as if they should not exist. Salvation through Jesus, however, doesn’t change the fact that sin is present in our life. When we’re born again, God forgives us and sees us as righteous. Yet our battle with sin continues till we arrive in heaven.

In fact, striving for perfection actually can be a trap that pulls us away from living a godly life. Functioning in this way is a form of relying on our own capability. Jesus said that He came to heal the spiritually sick because they recognized their weakness. With an awareness of our inadequacy comes the realization of our need for Him.

The world sees successful individuals as powerful and self-sufficient, but Jesus didn’t care about these qualities. Instead, He wants people to be aware of their own brokenness. This is the foundation for godliness.

We should accept our neediness and seek God passionately. Doing so allows the following attributes to develop: a hunger for God’s Word, faithful service, deepening trust, and decision-making based upon principle rather than preference. Patiently and mercifully, God matures us.

Be careful not to cover up your sins in order to look like a “good Christian.” Without recognition and confession of our sinfulness, we are unable to rely fully on God. It is only with this awareness that we can passionately seek Him, obey in His strength, and confess with repentance when we miss the mark.
Dr. Charles Stanley

Their Language of Praise

By David Wilkerson
[May 19, 1931 - April 27, 2011]

People who have endured suffering and proven God to be faithful are strong,
mellow and patient. They have the gentleness of Christ. I love to be around
such people! They encourage my spirit!

You will come through your trial and be of great help to others if you will
trust God through it! You will see it happen on your job, in your family, in
your church. People will be attracted to you because they know what you have
gone through and they have seen you gain the victory through the power of God
alone!

Many believers who suffer never learn anything from it. As a result, they never
know God as their comforter or consoler. To hear them talk, you would think God
was hard, spiteful, uncaring. They ask, “Why me?” Then they doubt God’s
love and begin to turn away from Him. They moan, groan and murmur, and all
their joy fades. Soon they grow bitter and hard.

I have a pastor friend who for years had a very successful ministry to troubled
people. But today he is deep in sin, drug-addicted and totally backslidden. His
wife left him and he has taken up with a drug-addicted woman.

When you ask him what happened, he blames it all on how others let him down.
His wife left him; God didn’t answer his prayers; other ministers
disappointed him. He says, “I really tried, but I just couldn’t take it.
There were too many pressures and there were so many hypocrites. I was
misjudged and I couldn’t handle that.”

The apostle Paul, even in the worst hour of his sufferings, blessed the name of
the Lord. He knew the Father was full of mercy and the Source of all his
comfort. He did not question God or become bitter; in fact, he praised Him in
the midst of it all!

The best teachers in any church are not the ones in the pulpit. Rather, they
are sitting in the pews right next to you—people who have suffered and yet
still worship the Lord. The language of those who learn through suffering is
praise!

Go And Tell Peter

Here’s Today’s Devotional from The Vine…

But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He goes before you into Galilee. There you will see him, as he said to you.’” - Mark 16:7

Why “and Peter” ? Why was Peter named, and none of the other disciples? Had Peter been the most loyal and faithful of all the Master’s friends, that he deserved such a mark of distinction as this? Oh no; we remember how Peter had fallen. The last word that had dropped upon the ear of Jesus from His lips was a bitter word of denial. Peter had acted worse than any other of the disciples.

Why, then, did Jesus send this special word to Peter? It was just because he had sinned. That last look of the Savior broke his heart, and he went out into the night a penitent man, weeping bitterly. Those had been dark days for him since Jesus died. Not only was he overwhelmed with sorrow at the death of his Lord, whom he truly and most dearly loved, but his grief was made bitter beyond endurance by the remembrance of his own base denial at the very last. Deep must this sorrow have been, and all the deeper because he would never be able to ask forgiveness. How he must have longed to have Jesus back, if but for one moment, to confess his sin and crave pardon!

Jesus left this special word for Peter with the angel at the tomb, because He knew of the bitterness of His disciple’s sorrow. Peter might have been saying, when he heard Jesus had risen, “Perhaps He will not own me any more,” and so Jesus sent this message with Peter’s name in it specially, just to let him know that he was forgiven and would not be cast off. What a world of comfort there is in this “and Peter” for any who have sinned and are penitent! Those who have fallen are the very ones who receive the deepest, tenderest compassion from Jesus, because they need it most, and because He would help them to rise again. The gospel always has its special word for the penitent; Christ still comes to call the sinner.

Finding Satisfaction

Philippians 4:11-13 

God has provided us with many things to enjoy. But too often our lives are filled with turmoil instead of contentment. Four practices that create dissatisfaction are . . .

Busyness. We live in a hurry-up society, dashing from one activity to another. Jesus did not rush anywhere, yet He accomplished whatever God gave Him to do. Not once did He tell His followers to move faster. He even praised Mary for choosing to stop her work and spend time with Him (Luke 10:39, 42).

Earthly perspective. Too often we live focused on our circumstances. Our minds think about what happened earlier in the week, what’s on today’s agenda, and the activities occurring next week, month, or year. No wonder enjoyment of life remains elusive. The solution is to have an eternal perspective, which acknowledges that God is in charge and our goal is to please Him.

Self-imposed pressure. We have all experienced the unavoidable burdens of schoolwork, employment, and relationships. But we bring needless pressure on ourselves when we allow unnecessary “musts” and “shoulds” to rule us. The remedy is to turn to God, acknowledge His right to order our days, and ask for His plan.

Unhealthy attitudes. Perfectionism, false guilt, and apathy all undermine our enjoyment of life.

Satisfaction is found in a life that reflects God’s priorities—and time with Him comes first. Reading His Word, we become mindful of the Father’s great love, learn what He views as important, and experience the joy of belonging to Him. When contentment is elusive, it’s time to examine our priorities.

Dr. Charles Stanley

The Patient Path

1 SAMUEL 24:3-7; 26:8-11 

Do you desire God’s best for your life? Unfortunately, many people miss out on blessings because they are unwilling to wait for His timing. Scripture encourages believers to be patient.

David was a good example of this virtue when he chose not to use violence to take the throne that he knew would eventually be his. King Saul had become envious of the shepherd’s ability, anointing, and possible future royalty, so he planned to murder the young man. Twice, during this time of pursuit, David had been in arm’s reach of Saul, easily able to kill his pursuer. But in both instances, he chose to wait for God’s timing. He was unwilling to take matters into his own hands, even though ending Saul’s life would have provided much relief.

Thankfully, David was patient. Notice the attributes that allowed him to wait for the Lord’s timing. First, he had strong faith and believed that God would gain victory in the right time and with the right method. Second, he had the correct values; killing a king would violate his conscience. Third, discernment helped him realize that assassination would mean stepping out of God’s will. Fourth, strength played a role in this decision. How difficult it must have been to resist taking the action that would result in freedom and possible royalty.

Patience is refined in trying times, when you’re frustrated with the waiting and tempted to act outside of God’s will. Always seek His wisdom, and follow the instruction you receive. Remember that “those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength” (Isa. 40:31).

Dr. Charles Stanley

Wait Quitely

“And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise” (Heb.
6:15).Abraham was long tried, but he was richly rewarded. The Lord tried him by
delaying to fulfill His promise. Satan tried him by temptation; men tried him by
jealousy, distrust, and opposition; Sarah tried him by her peevishness. But he
patiently endured. He did not question God‘s veracity, nor limit His power, nor
doubt His faithfulness, nor grieve His love; but he bowed to Divine Sovereignty,

By: L. B. Lowan
submitted to Infinite Wisdom, and was silent under delays, waiting the Lord’s
time. And so, having patiently endured, he obtained the promise.

God’s promises cannot fail of their accomplishment. Patient waiters cannot be
disappointed. Believing expectation shall be realized.

Beloved, Abraham’s conduct condemns a hasty spirit, reproves a murmuring one,
commends a patient one, and encourages quiet submission to God’s will and way. Remember,
Abraham was tried; he patiently waited; he received the promise, and was
satisfied. Imitate his example, and you will share the same
blessing.
–Selected

Be Patient

   Patience has become a lost art in this World of ours today.
We have come to expect instant answers and results with
everything, even including our prayers as an example.  Now
another example is when we watch evil men commit  crimes
or cheat others, and seem to get away with it.
   Therefore we are to practice patience, knowing that God is
in Control, and God’s justice will be served!  So;  Brothers,
as an example of patience in the face of suffering,
take the prophets who spoke in the name of the
Lord.  As you know, we consider blessed those
who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s
perseverance and have seen what the Lord
finally brought about. The Lord is full of
compassion and mercy.   ( James 5:10-12 )

    Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently
for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers
in his way, Because of the man who brings
wicked schemes to pass.  For evil men will be
cut off, but those who hope in the Lord will
inherit the land. For in; A little while, and the
wicked will be no more; though you look for
them, they will not be found.
                     ( Psalms 37:7 & 9-10 )

   Therefore my friend, Wait for the Lord; be strong
and take heart and wait for the Lord.  Amen.
                                              ( Psalms 27:14 )

Rev. Allen