Thoughts in Worship

Message Magazine's Online Devotional for Wednesday, July 26, 2017

Audio Link: https://www.spreaker.com/user/reachmanyradio/thoughts-in-worship-07-26-2017

This is devotional thought number 33 in our devotional series, “Essentials of Faith.” Our subject is: Faith & Acceptance

Here’s the question for consideration: What can I do to be in harmony with God?

“A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.” (Ezekiel 36:26–27).

There’s a video circulating the Internet titled, “What the Health?” I cannot overstate how insightful, startling, and helpful it is to those who embrace good health. I am a health advocate because God gave our body of believers a message in the 1860s and 1870s that medical science is finally able to co-sign with quality, responsible research. I have learned that many of the health conditions over which we struggle can be prevented or reversed. I have also found that if we embrace the nine principles of health, our minds will be more receptive to God’s will. They are quality nutrition, consistent exercise, adequate, clean water, lots of sunshine, temperance in all things, experiencing the open air, stress management, and trust in the only true and living God, our Creator.

Why am I mentioning this? Well, unfortunately, many of us have ignored the health principles for long enough to need drastic measures to save our lives. I will pick just one. For various reasons, some require open heart surgery to put in heart valves, bypass clogged arteries, and more. Oftentimes these surgeries are performed in an emergency. If they don’t get the surgery, they will die. Yes, I am oversimplifying.

Sin is just as insidious as poor health and lifestyle practices. It seems desirable to eat salted, greasy, dead animals and call it soulfood. I call it soul enervating food. I digress. Eventually the doctor will deliver the bad news that some organ, blood vessels, or worse, are taking us down the slippery slope to invasive surgeries, endless diagnostic tests, and overall poor health. It also seems desirable to indulge in sinful practices that clog our minds, destroy our consciences, and lead to eternal death, until we realize what has been happening to us all along.

The good news is that God, the Great Physician, has promised to do heart transplantation surgery for all who submit to His care. He’s not going to implant a stent. He’s not going to remove blood vessels from one part of your body and move them to another. He’s not replacing any valves. He will give you a clean, new heart and renew within you a right spirit. He has promised to save your life if you submit to Him. He will then empower you to live a lifestyle that agrees with that new heart. If you continue to trust in Him, you will put away those unhealthy sin practices that polluted your old heart. You will keep your newfound faith and do His commandments.

What can I do to be in harmony with God? Submit. Just as physical open heart surgery is useless to those who either don’t show up for it, or continue the same poor health practices that got them there in the first place, God’s promise to give us new hearts is useless if we refuse to accept it. Submit and let God take care of you.—L. David Harris (www.DavidWritesaLot.com)

Thoughts in Worship

Message Magazine's Online Devotional for Tuesday, July 25, 2017

Audio Link: http://buff.ly/2uAUkUM

This is devotional thought number 32 in our devotional series, “Essentials of Faith.” Our subject is: Faith & Acceptance

Here’s the question for consideration: What is Faith?

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1).

Get up! Stand up! Don’t give up the fight. Stand in all His might!

Faith is a wonderful principle, that if understood and utilized to its full potential, will put us into contact with God and give us access to all the power we need to make it through this life with eternal success. While God does not miraculously eliminate our ability to doubt once we come to faith in Him, He does provide sufficient evidence upon which to hang our faith. As we experience and embrace these evidences, our faith grows.

Can you remember a time when you needed God to come through for you? Maybe you got a flat tire in a remote area and a stranger stopped to help you. Maybe your money ran out before the month did and someone bought you lunch. Maybe you were sick, some people prayed, and God took care of your illness. Maybe you were discouraged and just the right song started playing over the loudspeaker in the mall, at just the right time, and you were encouraged. These mundane experiences are all opportunities to build our faith muscles as the crucible of life heats up. As we experience greater trials, we can look back on the times God came through for us, knowing that He will do so again, according to His will. We don’t always have the immediate outcomes we desire, but in the end, God’s will is done.

Within the chapter from which comes our theme text, we find various stories of faith that seem not to relate. Some of the stories make us cheer. Others of the stories make us cry. Still others are confusing, causing some to wonder whether the same God was in control of the life of person X as person Y. But, when we look closely, there was always a common thread—each person had steady faith in God as he took them through trials and triumph. God always made His people strong through their weaknesses. His people had to believe that the full substance of their faith would finally be evidenced when Jesus returns to bestow the ultimate reward.

It is the same for us today. While we may have difficulty keeping the end in view, if we will keep the faith, refuse to give up, remember how God has led us in the past, and stand firm in all God’s might, we will make it. God is preparing a place for all who keep the faith, where there will be no more, pain, sorrow, poverty, disappointment, death, or sin. Don’t give up. Stand on the promises of God’s Word. It will not be long, now. Keep hoping in Him and you will receive God’s reward, which is now unseen.—L. David Harris (www.DavidWritesaLot.com)

Thoughts in Worship

Message Magazine's Online Devotional for Monday, July 24, 2017

Audio Link: https://www.spreaker.com/user/reachmanyradio/thoughts-in-worship-07-24-2017

This is devotional thought number 31 in our devotional series, “Essentials of Faith.” Our subject is: I Will to be Consecrated.

Here’s the final question for consideration on this subject: When I surrender my will to God for daily consecration, how does my future look?

“And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.” (Revelation 22:12–14).

If membership has its privileges, sonship and daughtership affords us rights that are out of this world!

I’ve said it before and I will say it again; God always keeps His promises. In the last chapter of the last prophecies, of the last book in Scripture comes the last comprehensive promise of Jesus Christ. He promises that He will come quickly. Not only will He come quickly, but He will bring the immeasurable reward to those who have trusted Him enough to keep the commandments the world has spurned and proud religionists feigned to abolish. He will bring with Him the right to eat from the tree of life, which has been barred since Adam and Eve were expelled from the Garden of Eden. God’s faithful children will soon walk freely, with no hindrances, stipulations, time limits, or other limitations, through the pearly gates into the city of God where they will finally have uninterrupted rest in immortal vigor of life. The mouth of the Lord; the Alpha and Omega, hath spoken it. Your future looks bright if you surrender to Him until He comes. And lest I multiply words and remove the sweet import of this blessing from your mind, I will stop here and with you say, “Amen!”—L. David Harris (www.DavidWritesaLot.com)

Thoughts in Worship

Message Magazine's Online Devotional for Sunday, July 23, 2017

Audio Link: https://www.spreaker.com/user/reachmanyradio/thoughts-in-worship-07-23-2017

This is devotional thought number 30 in our devotional series, “Essentials of Faith.” Our subject is: I Will to be Consecrated.

Here’s the question for consideration: Being consecrated and holy, what will I begin to realize?

“Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:12–13).

Membership truly does have its privileges. The membership to which I am referring is to God’s family.

Consecration is the path of holiness that God has marked out to welcome us into fellowship with Him and people just like you. All have sinned. I think we covered that. All need a Savior. What sets you apart, if you follow the path, is accepting the fact, but not settling for it. Sinners who don’t settle choose to give all their sinfulness to God so He can give them salvation. God gives repentant, humble sinners, the power to become saints (i.e. His adopted children). Isn’t that great? I think so. And thus, you are called saints and kings kids as you continue to follow wherever He leads.

Now for more details. This royal journey in fellowship with Christ and all the liberty of salvation does not preclude good works - it facilitates them. Being children of the heavenly King positions us to receive the power necessary to keep the ten commandments holy. To His children, the commandments become ten promises. God promises that if you love Him, you will worship Him alone. He promises that if you keep the faith, you will love Him completely, love others deeply, you will not steal, murder, covet, lie, yield to sexual indiscretion, forget the seventh-day Sabbath, or disrespect your parents. But here’s the sweet spot: this also means that He will write His laws deep in your new heart, so you are not flailing around attempting to perform holy duties. Rather, the love principle and Holy Spirit will enable you to keep the spirit of the law in your innermost self. This is a blessing because those who outwardly keep the commandments to preserve reputation, hide the deeper sinful thoughts, attempt to earn favor with God, etc., really are not keeping His law, anyway. This is why Paul said that we are to work out our salvation. We are to strive daily to surrender our hearts to God so He can keep His good works promises to us. Not only that; He will give us the desire and ability to please Him in all things. This is great news.

Being consecrated and holy, what will I begin to realize? I begin to realize that God has made every provision to enable me to do His will, and as my life begins to closely resemble the lifestyle of Christ, it manifests the fact that I am indeed a child of God.—L. David Harris (www.DavidWritesaLot.com)

Thoughts in Worship

Message Magazine's Online Devotional for Sabbath, July 22, 2017

Audio Link: https://www.spreaker.com/user/reachmanyradio/thoughts-in-worship-07-22-2017

This is devotional thought number 30 in our devotional series, “Essentials of Faith.” Our subject is: I Will to be Consecrated.

Here’s the question for consideration: What is the only way for me to be holy?

“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” (Philippians 2:5–8).

Is there an echo in here? I know it seems we have been saying the same things different ways for a while now. That is by design. Repetition deepens the impression. Besides, who could not use a healthy reminder now and again?

One of the things I love about this passage of Scripture, in context of our devotional thought today, is that it begins with Jesus as our example. When we commit our lives to God, He immediately begins to empower us to follow in Christ’s footsteps. You know, the “W.W.J.D.” principle. This passage shows us the power of divesting ourselves of self as a path toward holiness. Humility before God is a secure position because humble people take instruction well. In the case of Christ, His humility and submission facilitated a sinless life and sacrifice for the benefit of others.

Notice how the passage begins. There’s this little word, “let” at the beginning of the sentence. This means to allow. God wants us to stand aside; to step away and allow the mindset of Christ to pervade our thoughts. Thoughts breed action as much as our actions are indicative of our thoughts, with few exceptions. The point is, God has made provision for us to receive the mindset and principles of Christ, through the Holy Spirit, as governors of our actions. When we think Christ’s thoughts after Him, we begin to behave like He did. We begin to speak like He did. We begin to help others like He did. And, ultimately, we begin to please the Father just like He did. If anyone could have been proud, it was Jesus. After all, He was as verily God as was His Father when He chose to humble Himself and adjoin His divine nature to a human body. He traversed this road of life with no divine advantages except inasmuch as He surrendered His will to His Father just like you can.

What is the only way for me to be holy? If I accept the mindset of Christ into my life, I will be holy.—L. David Harris (www.DavidWritesaLot.com)

Thoughts in Worship

Message Magazine's Online Devotional for Friday, July 21, 2017

Audio Link: https://www.spreaker.com/user/reachmanyradio/thoughts-in-worship-07-21-2017

This is devotional thought number 29 in our devotional series, “Essentials of Faith.” Our subject is: I Will to be Consecrated.

Here’s the question for consideration: Since I cannot change my own heart, how can I surrender to God?

“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.” (Joshua 24:15).

At the risk of sounding cliche, I must say love is a choice - and so is submission to God.

In our devotional thoughts, we often compare and contrast our experiences with those of believers recorded in Scripture. There are often stunning parallels; perhaps because human beings are so similar. Today is no different.

Regardless of the specifics that led Joshua to need to place his stake of allegiance in the ground before God’s indecisive people at the moment, one thing is clear: they needed to be reminded about how good God had been to them. They needed to make a firm decision to be for or against Him. With God, there is no middle ground.

Think about your life. Has God been merciful to you even though there have been times you put other persons, places, and things before Him? Has He been kind enough to find you in precarious situations, compromising positions, shameful circumstances, and under self-imposed difficulties; and still opened a way for you to escape? How did you respond? Did you give thanks and commit to serve Him as long as He gives you strength? Did you make that vow and break it immediately? Did you take Him for granted? Whatever the case, you have the opportunity right now, in this moment, while this stranger devotionalist writes to you, to make a choice. No matter the circumstances you find yourself in now, you can choose to give your life to God. And when you do, He will reveal a path before your feet upon which to follow Him every step of the way.
It is true that you cannot change yourself. None of us can. However, we can, and must, all make decisions to follow God’s guidance. We cannot fix our enraged thoughts, but we can choose not to say or do anything bad to people who cause us consternation. We cannot make ourselves not be depressed, but we can read cheerful praise-filled verses of Scripture when the walls seem to be coming in on us. We cannot make ourselves not be lustful, but we can choose, at the point of temptation, to make a covenant with our eyes, that we will not dwell on any wicked thing. We can choose to immediately retreat to God in prayer for refuge. God is more practical that most give Him credit. He knows we cannot change our thoughts, but we can choose to fill our thoughts with His words and make small decisions that will impact our thoughts for righteousness.

The more you choose to do well in things you can control with God’s help, will be the more He will change what you cannot, by the power of the Holy Spirit. Do your part and allow God to do His. This is cooperation with God. This is surrender.—L. David Harris (www.DavidWritesaLot.com)

Thoughts in Worship

Message Magazine's Online Devotional for Thursday, July 20, 2017

Audio Link: https://www.spreaker.com/user/reachmanyradio/thoughts-in-worship-07-20-2017

This is devotional thought number 28 in our devotional series, “Essentials of Faith.” Our subject is: I Will to be Consecrated.

Here’s the question for consideration: To what standard must I attain that I may be truly consecrated?

“Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:13–16).

Don’t worry. You are not in this alone. God is with you.

Many times, people explain away our responsibility to God, to be holy, because they are weak. What I mean is that people who really want to do God’s will feel overwhelmed by the number of times they have tried to do His will and failed. And having failed, they give up, surmising that holiness is impossible. If that’s you, do not despair.

I have a secret to share with you: from the day Adam sinned in Eden, holiness has never been a solely human requirement. Many texts of Scripture underscore and bold type the fact that even if we could perform the deeds of the law perfectly, we would fall woefully short of the true standard. Our sinful genetics pollute even our best efforts and so-called successes. Now, if you are reading into what I have said, permission to be weak or continuing in sin, I am (not) sorry to disappoint you. This simply means, that if we are to attain to the high standard that does exist, of holiness unto the Lord, we will need a supernatural change.

We have discussed this blessed phenomenon many times over the years. The fact is that God devised a plan whereby He could give us His holiness as a head start, and then by His Spirit, empower us to behave as holy men and women of God. We have many stellar examples of the success of this heavenly program. The Bible says that Enoch, Job, Joseph, and others were righteous. How did they get like that? The Bible teaches in John 3, Romans 6 & 8, and a host of other places that when we surrender our lives to God by faith, He infuses us with the Holy Spirit so we can do what He says. As long as we continue in this submitted state, we will continue to be holy. The Spirit teaches us all things that Jesus taught. The Holy Spirit purifies our prayers. The Holy Spirit facilitates our receipt of the righteousness of Christ. He keeps us up-to-date in terms of our sin and confession record. Does this sound too simple? The biggest struggle we will have, will be to remain submitted to God’s care and instruction. Otherwise, He will supply all the power we need to do His will. Then you can say, “I am holy, just like my Father in heaven…” if you continue to surrender to Him everyday.—L. David Harris (www.DavidWritesaLot.com)

Thoughts in Worship

Message Magazine's Online Devotional for Wednesday, July 19, 2017

Audio Link: https://www.spreaker.com/user/reachmanyradio/thoughts-in-worship-07-19-2017

This is devotional thought number 27 in our devotional series, “Essentials of Faith.” Our subject is: I Will to be Consecrated.

Here’s the question for consideration: What is God’s will for my life?

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:11–13).

As in times of old, our God is happy to hear and answer the needs, prayers, and concerns of His people.

God’s Old Testament people often chose the roughest paths in life. If God said to go left, they sometimes went right. If He said to move forward, they sometimes stopped cold. If He said to listen, they sometimes stopped their ears. They allowed their humanity to supersede their submission to God, and since He loved them so much, He had to chastise them with the goal of bringing them back into alignment with His will. He used whatever measured means He deemed necessary to accomplish His ends. And when they reached the point where the correction was enough, God lavished assuring promises and loving words on them so they would know He still loved them.

Things have not changed much. God’s people still need correction from time to time. While we cannot see ourselves as a singular theocratic or civil nation with an array of enemies whom God would eventually vanquish on our behalf, God’s people everywhere experience enemies of doubt, self-loathing, addictions, pride, unfaithfulness, etc. After we have struggled and lost countless battles against these wily foes, many of our own devising, the Captain of the heavenly hosts manifests the same compassion He did in the past. He throws open the windows of heaven to His repentant people, and lavishes love, power, and assurance on them. His ears are attent to their prayers. He makes Himself available to hear their cries, joys, and concerns. Moreover, He manifests His delight to bring peace, joy, and harmony to their lives despite their trials, and His intentions to bring salvation to their souls.

What is God’s will for my life? His will is to bring peace, and not of evil, to give me hope and a future in heaven and the new earth where sin, sickness, tears, pain, and death will no longer have sway.—L. David Harris (www.DavidWritesaLot.com)

Thoughts in Worship

Message Magazine's Online Devotional for Tuesday, July 18, 2017

Audio Link: https://www.spreaker.com/user/reachmanyradio/thoughts-in-worship-07-18-2017

This is devotional thought number 26 in our devotional series, “Essentials of Faith.” Our subject is: I Will to be Consecrated.

Here’s the question for consideration: What am I privileged to give up when I choose to surrender all to God?

“Why should ye be stricken any more? Ye will revolt more and more: The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; But wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: They have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment… Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; Though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: But if ye refuse and rebel, Ye shall be devoured with the sword: For the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.” (Isaiah 1:5-6; 18–20).

Self surrender is not so bad if we have a healthy view of self.

I just want to tell you at the outset that I am not attempting to rain on your parade or give you a complex. If you are listening to motivational audiobooks or reading affirming statements to yourself, what I am about to say could be jarring, but you’ll get through it. In our own strength, we have nothing to offer. All the good we do is marginal at best. If our best now helps thousands of people per day, our best submitted to God would help infinitely more. Our righteous deeds are like filth, in the grand scheme.

Alright. Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, here’s the context. Oftentimes, we are fearful of surrendering our all to God because we place too high an estimate on who we are, and what we have without God leading us. Truth is that no matter how wonderful, positive, successful, brilliant, kind, or special we are, we are all sinners. The payment for unconfessed sin is eternal death. That’s not an outcome any of us should welcome.

When we surrender all, what we are really giving up is our sinful mindset and temporary success. Who needs that? If we hide our inadequate selves in Christ, and allow Him to take control of everything, then we’ve got something. We can truly embrace that we are special. You can say, without reservation, “I’m a leader and not a follower. I am the head and not the tail. I can handle any trial that comes my way. I am successful. I will achieve. I have a strong mind.” You can affirm that you can do all things through Christ who gives you strength. You can be confident that He who began a good work in you will complete it.

What am I privileged to give up when I choose to surrender all to God? I can give God all of my inadequacies, sinful tendencies, and eternal death; in exchange for perfection, holiness, limitless power, and eternal life.—L. David Harris (www.DavidWritesaLot.com)

Thoughts in Worship

Message Magazine's Online Devotional for Monday, July 17, 2017

Audio Link: https://www.spreaker.com/user/reachmanyradio/thoughts-in-worship-07-17-2017

This is devotional thought number 25 in our devotional series, “Essentials of Faith.” Our subject is: I Will to be Consecrated.

Here’s the question for consideration: To be consecrated, how much of myself must I surrender to Christ?

“So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:33).

God wants our all, or nothing at all. Full stop.

It’s human nature to attempt multitasking. Notice I said, “attempt.” We text and drive. Not good. We have conversations with people sitting right in front of us while typing messages to others through social media. Cannot work. We cook and wash dishes simultaneously. I suppose that’s technically not multitasking. We do homework and watch television. Inefficient. It has been proven that our brains, as wonderful as God has made them, cannot actually focus on more than one thing at a time effectively; no matter how we have convinced ourselves that it’s possible. The same is true (even moreso) spiritually. Jesus said that we cannot serve two masters. We cannot love God and riches. We cannot jealously guard our own human agendas while seeking God’s agenda for our lives.

Consecration means to be set aside for God’s purposes. You do realize that all of His purposes are holy, right? So, if God has set aside those who love Him for holy assignments, we cannot deviate and still be considered consecrated. Yes, we do make mistakes from time to time. Sometimes we do lose focus. But if the trend of our lives consists of our own ways and plans without regard for God’s direction through the Holy Spirit, we nullify His plan of consecration in our lives.

The cool thing about consecration, discipleship, and forsaking all for Christ is that it comes with benefits. Jesus said if we seek first His kingdom and righteousness, He will add all the practical things we need to our lives. He knows we need finances, food, clothing, and shelter. Seek Him first. He knows we need the power of intellect to excel. Seek Him first. He knows we need wisdom to succeed in relationships, business, family, academics, the arts, and any other acceptable pursuit. Seek Him first. If you do so, He will add all to you that is needful according to His plans for your life.

To be consecrated, how much of myself must I surrender to Christ? All. Your God deserves your all, or He’ll accept nothing at all.—L. David Harris (www.DavidWritesaLot.com)