Every Day with Jesus (35 page)

And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation.

Have you ever slaved over your checkbook trying to reconcile it with your bank statement? Sometimes it seems impossible. You think there must be a mistake. But through perseverance, the error is usually found and the two records agree. They are reconciled. Reconciled simply means “to bring into agreement, or to make the same.” When Jesus reconciled us to God, He brought us into agreement with and made us just like God. Some people think this is blasphemy, but that’s what this word means.

Our born-again spirits have been made completely new and are reconciled to God. Our spirits are just like His. The English word reconciled was translated from the Greek word katallage, which means “to change mutually.” The word mutually means “possessed in common; as mutual interests.” Since God never changes, it was our spirits that were changed to be just like His.

Some people can’t accept this because they know themselves only from a carnal point of view. They look in the mirror, search their thoughts, and find obvious things that aren’t like Jesus. But in your spirit—if you are born again—you have been reconciled to God. Whatever God’s Spirit is like is what your born-again spirit is like. Praise the Lord!

God’s Word functions like your bank statement, with one major difference: It’s never wrong. It’s a perfect account of what has taken place in your born-again spirit. Your spirit has been reconciled to God. Today you must reconcile your mind to what the Word says about you: You are just like Jesus on the inside, which means you can act like Him on the outside.

December 4: Are You in the Right Place?

And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem.

The reason Jesus was always in the right place at the right time while He was here on earth was because He was the Living Word. He obeyed the Word of God and walked in the Spirit. In the Old Testament, there never was a better example of the opposite of this than this time in David’s life. He had become the king of Israel, and it was the time when kings went to battle; but he decided to stay home. That one decision to disobey and subsequent decisions to disobey brought sorrow to his family and nearly cost him the throne.

Of course, David must have had deeper problems than just not being in the right place and doing what he was anointed to do. His relationship with the Lord must have been in decline for some time. Failure to be in touch with God causes restlessness, which often propels us into the wrong place at the wrong time.

Successful people often abandon the very things that brought them to the top. When Saul was little in his own eyes, the Lord promoted him (1 Sam. 15:17), but when he became a success he abandoned his dependency on God. Solomon did the same thing. He started out in great humility and sought only to be faithful to God, but his success corrupted him. This is also what happened to David.

David had reached a point of success where he no longer had to seek God. He no longer had to fight his own battles. He had others who would do it for him. This left him free to draw closer to God or wander away, and he chose to wander away.

Hard times aren’t the true test of what’s inside you. Everyone seeks the Lord when their backs are against the wall. Life’s greatest test is success. Make fellowship with the Lord your first priority—in both good times and bad—and you will maintain the success He has given you.

December 5: You Give What You Have

And David’s anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, As the Lord liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall surely die.

Have you ever noticed that the guilty are usually the most vocal opponents of the very things they are doing? As Shakespeare wrote, “Methinks thou dost protest too much.” David was miserable inside, and his hatred for his own sin came out in his judgment of “that man”—who turned out to be him!

There have been many times that I’ve told a woman who was battered by her husband that this treatment wasn’t personal. He can only give what he has. Because he’s miserable inside, he can only mistreat her and make her miserable. This has caused wives to look at the situation differently and actually have compassion instead of judgment toward their husbands. That key often unlocks the door to their husband’s heart and starts the healing process in him and between them.

Are you short-tempered with others? Do you constantly find fault with everything? It’s possible that the problem really isn’t with others, but with you. Are you upset with yourself? Are you never satisfied with your own performance? Have you not found true forgiveness in the grace of God?

We can’t control what others around us do, but we can control ourselves. As we appropriate the love of God that’s available to us personally, we’ll be able to extend that love to others. If we are void of God’s love, it’ll show in our treatment of others.

The hatred you have for your own sin can manifests in judgmental or critical attitudes toward someone else. Don’t make that mistake. Receive God’s love and forgiveness today, and then you can pray for and help those who are caught in the same trap you were caught in.

December 6: You Get What You Give

And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man.

This parable isn’t really about a rich man taking a poor man’s sheep; it’s about David taking another man’s wife and then killing him. Why the pretense? It appears that the Lord was letting David dictate his own punishment. Matthew 7:2 says, “For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.” This is what happened to David. He received what he gave.

David demanded the death penalty and much more. This man not only had to pay with his life but was made to make a fourfold restitution. This is what happened to David. His son had to die, and the sword of war would never stop pursuing him. More than that, evil arose in David’s own family and greatly afflicted him. David’s wives were taken from him, as he had taken Uriah’s wife, by his own son! And although David committed his sin privately, God executed His judgment publicly.

Praise the Lord for our superior covenant. God will not judge us the way He judged David. Jesus bore that judgment for us. However, there is still the principle of reaping what we sow. People treat us the way we treat them. If we’re harsh and unforgiving, then people will treat us that way. Those who show mercy receive mercy. (James 2:13.)

You don’t have to learn everything the hard way; you can learn from other people’s mistakes and especially from the Word of God. (2 Tim. 3:16.) In the meantime, it is always a good idea to show mercy and grace to those who fall short. Then, when you are the one who needs mercy and grace, someone will be there to give it to you.

December 7: It Ain’t Over Yet!

Psalm 73:1-28

Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.

Psalm 73:17

This Psalm was confusing to me until I spent some time studying it and praying about it. Then I saw that it expresses the feelings every true child of God has felt at one time or another. In the first sixteen verses, Asaph lamented the prosperity of the wicked. He said that it looked like evil people were getting away with sin. They seemed to prosper and not have the worries that godly people like himself had. Sound familiar?

In our society today, the only people who can be discriminated against are Christians. Every value we hold dear is being assaulted, and if we speak out we are called bigots and labeled intolerant. Immorality isn’t only practiced—it’s flaunted! Television programs, movies, newspapers, magazines, and books are filled with pictures of immoral acts. The people who influence us the most are, as a whole, the most immoral people in the nation; yet they receive infinitely more money and attention than the people who are godly. It’s been said that character is no longer an issue in politics. At times, as we read what our governmental leaders say and do, it appears that way.

This Psalm reveals that their seeming prosperity is only temporary. In the end their sin “will find them out” (Num. 32:23). Payday is coming. There is a reward for the godly and a punishment for the ungodly. Our responsibility as believers is not to hate and despise the ungodly; we are to pray for them and continue telling them the truth about salvation through Jesus Christ.

Take a lesson from Asaph today, and look at the ungodly through the eyes of your Savior. Then you will be able to love them, forgive them, and be a powerful witness of the truth to them.

December 8: The Law of Confession

Mark 11:22-26

For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.

Mark 11:23

The Lord used the word say (or saith) four times in this verse alone, stating that we will have what we say. This can work for or against us. We can either have what we say (which enables us to change our circumstances) or say what we have (which makes us victims of our circumstances). Think about it—words are important!

Eleven times in Genesis 1, it is recorded that God speaks things into existence. When the Lord created the heavens and the earth, He spoke them into being. “Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear” (Heb. 11:3). God created everything—including us—by words. The universe was made and is now held together by words. (Heb. 1:3.)

Words are keys that unlock the powers of God’s universe. When the words we speak are in line with His Word, His power is released. If we agree with the devil and speak forth his thoughts of doubt, we unleash his power. “Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof” (Prov. 18:21).

What words are coming out of your mouth? Are you saying what you have or what you want? If you learn the power of speaking God’s Word in faith, you can begin to change your life. Today, pray the prayer David prayed, “Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips” (Ps. 141:3).

December 9: Faith Operates by Love

Galatians 5:1-13

For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.

Galatians 5:6

The dictionary defines work as “to operate, or cause to operate, especially effectively.” The driving force behind true biblical faith is God’s kind of love. When we have a clear revelation of God’s love for us, faith comes naturally. Faith is a byproduct of God’s love.

Once a man argued with me that God doesn’t heal all the time. His motivation for this belief was the fact that his twelve-year-old daughter was quadriplegic and mentally retarded. He believed God made her that way. I shared Scriptures, he shared Scriptures, and we arrived at a stalemate.

Finally I asked, “What kind of father are you that you don’t love your daughter enough to see her healed?” He became really mad and assured me that he would do anything to see his daughter healed, even to the point of taking her place if that could happen. I responded, “Do you think God loves her less than you do?”

He could argue doctrine, but when it came down to love it was inconceivable that a God who not only has love but is love (1 John 4:8) would not use His power to see us whole. Those who don’t believe that He will act on their behalf are people who don’t understand His love for them. Faith works when we know the great love God has for us.

Ask the Lord for a revelation of how much He loves you today, and watch your faith come alive.

December 10: Faith Comes by Hearing

Romans 10:13-17

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Romans 10:17

This verse doesn’t say that faith comes by having heard. The word hearing is a present-tense word and is continuous. Hearing is an action that is currently taking place.

Faith that comes from God’s Word is like the energy we receive from food. We don’t have to eat every moment of every day, but we can’t live off the food we ate a year ago. The food we eat today fuels us for a relatively short period of time. Likewise, faith that comes from God’s Word has to be appropriated on a regular basis. We can’t cram when we are in the midst of a trying situation, expecting faith to work, any more than a student can study just once before an exam and expect to score 100 percent.

The food we ate as a child isn’t just gone; it was used to increase and nourish bones, muscles, and body tissue. We still benefit from that food today but constantly need a fresh supply to continue in health and strength. In the same way, the time we have spent in the Word, which produced faith, is not lost. It has become a part of who we are and provides a structure for us to continue to build upon. However, faith for today must come from our current relationship with the Lord, which includes meditating on His Word.

There are many analogies that can be drawn between your body’s need for food and your heart’s need for faith. Certainly, one of the clearest comparisons is that you don’t just eat once a week. Therefore, you need to be in God’s Word every day. If this has never been your habit, start today. You will find that a daily meal of God’s Word will give you a clearer head and even a more healthy body.

December 11: God Speaks to You Through Creation

Psalm 19:1-6

The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.

Psalm 19:1

The physical creation all around us is awesome. Man has never fully appreciated the wonder in the simplest actions of God. Take for example the sunrises and sunsets. The sun rises and sets with such precision that almanacs can predict its exact arrival and departure down to the minute, years in advance. The rising and setting of the sun is also spectacular. It’s like a trumpet calling attention to the glory and faithfulness of God. There are no words to adequately describe the beauty when the rays of the sun first appear through the clouds in the early morning or begin to leave in the evening.

These daily events often go unnoticed or unappreciated by the vast majority of us. There is no language that doesn’t understand this form of communication, but our preoccupation with ourselves makes us deaf to it. The Lord speaks to us through His creation, but few of us listen.

Regardless of how dark your situation may be, a dawn is coming if you trust in God—just as surely as the sun will rise in the morning. Regardless of how hard your labor may be, a time of rest is coming—just as surely as the sun sets each day. Nothing people do will change the rising and the setting of the sun, and nothing people do will change the faithfulness of God to you. That is what He is saying to you today as you watch the sun rise and set.

December 12: Are You Available?

Luke 2:21-24

And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.

Luke 2:24

The Old Testament passage being quoted above is from Leviticus 12:6-8.
There the Lord commanded a lamb and either a young pigeon or turtledove as the prescribed sacrifices. If the woman was unable to offer a lamb, then two young pigeons or two turtledoves were acceptable. Mary would not have offered the lesser offering if it had been in her power to provide the lamb. This reveals that Joseph and Mary were not well off financially, yet the Lord chose them to be the earthly parents of His only begotten Son.

The Lord doesn’t choose the way man chooses. Man looks on the outward appearance, but God looks on the heart. (1 Sam. 16:7.) Mary and Joseph were chosen when they were without: without fame, without position, without money. God entrusted the most precious gift He had to a couple who would surely have been overlooked if the Sanhedrin had appointed a committee to conduct the search.

God isn’t looking for ability; He’s looking for availability. When D. L. Moody heard a preacher say, “The world has never seen what God can do with one man who is totally yielded to Him,” he thought, By the grace of God, I’ll be that man. This uneducated man went on to shake three continents for God—and you can too. If God chose two good yet ordinary people to bring His Son into the world, then it is certain He has great plans for you. Today, just make yourself available to Him. (1 Cor. 1:26-28.)

December 13: Can You Believe It?

Luke 1:5-25

And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.

Luke 1:18

Zacharias and Elisabeth were righteous people (v. 6) who prayed for a child for many years. They felt the same disappointments and frustrations that we would feel, but they kept believing God. The Lord finally answered their prayers and sent His angel to announce the good news.

What was Zacharias’ reaction? He couldn’t believe it! The very thing that he had been praying for was granted, and he doubted that it was true. In Zacharias’ case, he received his miracle anyway. (Perhaps his wife Elisabeth’s faith pulled him through!)

Likewise, you may be praying for the right things. You may even be sincere and earnest, but would you be shocked if those prayers were suddenly answered today? Have you made preparations for your prayers to be answered?

Before the children of Israel were actually delivered from Egypt, they ate the Passover meal by faith. Their bags were packed and ready to go. We need to anticipate our prayers being answered like they did.

Right now, imagine how you would feel or what you would do if the answer to your prayer manifested this very moment. Then, as much as possible, begin to think and act that way. You will find that your whole perspective on how your day is going will change.

December 14: The Sinless Sacrifice

Luke 1:26-38

To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.

Luke 1:27

The virgin birth of Jesus is so incomprehensible that it has always been one of Christianity’s main targets of criticism. Skeptics cite the impossibility of such a thing as proof that the Bible can’t be true. Nevertheless, the virgin birth of our Lord is one of the cornerstones of the Christian faith.

Mankind produces offspring in their own likeness and image. (Gen. 5:3.) Therefore, if Jesus had been the natural product of a man and woman, He would have had a sinful nature. (Rom. 5:12.) He would not have qualified to take our sin upon Himself on the Cross because He would have had to be the debt of His own sin. Isaiah prophesied that the Messiah would be born of a virgin (Is. 7:14), which denotes that God would be His Father. This had to happen to give Him sinless blood.

The Messiah also had to be born without sin for God to legally raise Him from the dead. Our faith rests on the resurrection (Rom. 10:9) because the only legal way God could raise Him from the dead was if He Himself was without sin. Once He died for our sins, God was legally bound to resurrect Jesus (Rom. 1:4) because He was sinless. There is no room for compromise on this issue! If Jesus was not born of a virgin and the sinless sacrifice for our sins, we are all lost and going to hell.