The Carpenter's Chapel (7)

[following-Him]

We have been away so have not been able to post devotionals the past few days. I am posting yesterdays devotional first as I hope it will be a blessing to all who read it. It is taken from "Word For Today" which can be found at www.ucb.co.uk

Who do you serve? (1)29 Mar 2007'"...THE SON OF MAN DID NOT COME TO BE SERVED, BUT TO SERVE..."' MARK 10:45No matter how talented or successful we become, we all need a strong dose of servant-hood. As you pursue your God-given destiny, be careful. Don't be so focused on what you love to do, that you neglect what needs to be done. A 3am nappy change isn't exciting, nor is garage-sweeping. Visiting someone sick may not come naturally to you. Yet the sick need to be cared for, garages need sweeping, and nappies need changing. Max Lucado writes: 'The world needs servants. People like Jesus who did not come to be served, but to serve. He chose remote Nazareth over centre stage Jerusalem. His dad's carpentry shop over a marble-columned palace. And three decades of anonymity over a life of popularity. He selected prayer over sleep; flawed apostles over obedient angels. I'd have gone with the angels. Not Jesus. He picked people. When they feared the storm, He stilled it. When they had no money for taxes, He supplied it. He let a woman caught in adultery interrupt His sermon, a woman with a disease interrupt His schedule, and one with remorse interrupt His meal. Though none of the apostles washed His feet, He washed theirs. Though none of the soldiers at the cross begged for mercy, He extended it. And though His followers skedaddled like scared rabbits on Thursday, He came searching for them on Easter Sunday. The resurrected King ascended to Heaven only after He'd spent 40 days with His friends - teaching them, encouraging them... serving them.' Peter writes: '...put on the apron of humility, to serve one another...' (1 Peter 5:5 TEV). So, who do you serve?

 

[following-Him]

This devotional can be found at www.ucb.co.uk and found by clicking on Word For Today.

Who do you serve? (2)30 Mar 2007'"...THE SON OF MAN DID NOT COME TO BE SERVED, BUT TO SERVE..."' MARK 10:45Jesus entered the world to serve. And we should enter our jobs, our homes and our churches - to serve. Servant-hood requires no unique skill or seminary degree. Notice: 1) To serve is to love the overlooked. Jesus sits in your classroom wearing thick glasses, outdated clothing and a sad face. You've seen Him. He works in your office. Pregnant again, she shows up late and tired. No one knows the father. Water cooler rumours say even she doesn't. You've seen her. When you love the misfit and befriend the hurting, you love Jesus. '"...Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored...you did it to Me"' (Matthew 25:40 TM). 2) To serve is to wave the white flag. We fight so much: 'Where do you think all these appalling wars and quarrels come from?' asks James, 'Do you think they just happen? Think again. They come about because you want your own way...' (James 4:1 TM). Real servants don't struggle, they submit. 3) To serve is to do something each day that you don't want to do. Pick up someone's trash. Surrender your parking place. Call that long-winded relative. It doesn't have to be a big thing. Helen Keller once told the Tennessee Legislature that when she was young she longed to do great things and could not, so she decided to do small things in a great way. Don't be too big to do something small. '...Throw yourselves into the work of the Master, confident that nothing you do for Him is a waste of time or effort' (1 Corinthians 15:58 TM).

 

[Watchman]

Sound Doctrine

"Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in my heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary from holding it back, and I could not"
(Jeremiah 20:9).
Peter reminds us: "For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit" (2Peter 1:21). The prophets of old had both the great pleasure, as well as the perilous task, of speaking the very words of God to those who were not always pleased to hear the truth. As such, they were persecuted, imprisoned and even put to death by those who wanted to hear soothing words and reassurances from God’s spokesmen and not rebuke because of their sin.
Is there much difference today? Paul wrote: "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they draw to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto myths (2Timothy 4:3-4). We see all too much today people gravitated towards teachers and preachers advocating a watered-down version of the gospel, or even that which can only be considered "another" gospel. "But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed" (Gal 1:8).

 

[following-Him]

Amen. Thank you Charles.

Blessings

followinghim

 

[following-Him]

Today's devotional is taken from "Word For Today", which can be found at: www.ucb.co.uk

I hope it will be a blessing to all who read it.

Nothing is ever lost!02 Apr 2007'"GATHER THE LEFTOVERS SO NOTHING IS WASTED."' JOHN 6:12Did you know that what starts as a curse can end as a blessing? When the Mexican boll weevil devastated the southeast Alabama cotton crop, farmers reverted to planting peanuts and ended up producing more than any county in the nation. Consequently the town of Rucker erected a monument bearing this inscription, 'In profound appreciation of the boll weevil and what it has done as the herald of prosperity.' When Jesus discovered Lazarus was sick he didn't respond until after he'd been dead four days. But because Jesus was waiting didn't mean He wasn't working. He chose to demonstrate His resurrecting power - to prove that nothing is too hard for God. Joseph was falsely imprisoned for 13 years. But God was with him and he went on to save multitudes, including his family who'd mistreated him. Joseph's struggles made him better, not bitter. But it could have ended differently if he hadn't maintained the right attitude. God used Esther to save her people, but first he put her in the position of living where she didn't want to live and doing what she didn't want to do. Even though a widow, Ruth ended up gleaning in a field where she met and married a wealthy man named Boaz. In addition to bearing him children, she became part of Jesus' ancestral bloodline. So if you're struggling to see God's purpose in your suffering today, rest assured He has one. After feeding a multitude Jesus told His disciples, '"Gather the leftovers so nothing is wasted."' In God's kingdom nothing is ever lost. When you trust Him He makes '...all things work together for good...' (Romans 8:28 KJV).

 

[following-Him]

Todays devotional comes again from "Word For Today", which can be found at www.ucb.co.uk

You're in the family03 Apr 2007'HIS UNCHANGING PLAN HAS ALWAYS BEEN TO ADOPT US INTO HIS OWN FAMILY...' EPHESIANS 1:5You may not like me. I may not like you. But since God loves us both, we are family. The Scriptures refer to us as a poem, 'We are His workmanship...' (Ephesians 2:10 KJV). 'Workmanship' descends from the Greek word poeo or poetry. What Longfellow did with pen and paper, Christ does with us. We express His creative best. And poetry demands variety. 'God works through different men in different ways...' (1 Corinthians 12:6 PHPS). God uses all types. Logical thinkers and emotional worshippers. Dynamic leaders and docile followers. Visionaries who trailblaze, the studious who ponder, the generous who pay the bills. The billions of Christ's followers over the last 2000 years have this in common: 'A spiritual gift is given to each of us...' (1 Corinthians 12:7 NLT). No exceptions. And our gifts make an eternal difference only in concert with the church: 'Christ gave those gifts to prepare God's holy people for the work of serving...' (Ephesians 4:12 NCV). The word 'prepare' comes from a medical term in the original Greek. Doctors used it to describe the setting of a broken bone. Broken people come to church, not with broken bones but with broken hearts, homes, dreams and lives. They limp in on fractured faith. And if the church does its job they find healing. God heals His family through His family. In the church we use our gifts to love each other, honour one another, keep an eye on troublemakers, and carry each other's burdens. Do you need encouragement, prayers, or a hospitable home? Consider your church God's treatment centre for all that ails you.

 

[following-Him]

Today's devotional is taken from "Word For Today", which can be found at www.ucb.co.uk

Living out of the wrong bag04 Apr 2007'...MAKE SURE YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT THE MASTER WANTS.' EPHESIANS 5:17Have you ever mistakenly picked somebody else's luggage off a conveyer belt at the airport and taken it home? Two seconds after opening it up you discovered - you can't live out of somebody else's bag! You can't wear their clothes or fit into their shoes. So why do we try to? Parents! Dad says 'Son, your granddad was a farmer, I'm a farmer, and some day you'll inherit the farm'. Teachers! A teacher warns a young girl who wants to be a stay-at-home mom, 'Don't squander your life. With your gifts you could make it to the top'. Church leaders! 'Jesus was a missionary. Do you want to please Him? Spend your life on foreign soil'. Sound counsel or poor advice? That depends on what God packed in your bag. What if God made the farmer's son with a passion for literature or medicine? Or gave that girl a love for kids and homemaking? If foreign cultures frustrate you while predictability invigorates you, what are the chances you'd be a happy missionary? '...All the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be' (Psalm 139:16 NIV). God gives us eyes for organisation, ears for music, hearts that beat for justice, minds that understand physics, hands that love care-giving, legs that run and win races. Secular thinking doesn't buy this. It sees no author behind the book and no purpose behind or beyond life. It says 'You can be anything you want to be'. Wrong! Don't make their mistake. Don't live carelessly, unthinkingly. 'Make sure you understand what the Master wants'.

 

[following-Him]

Today's devotional is again taken from "Word For Today", which can be found at www.ucb.co.uk

Live in God's presence05 Apr 2007'I HAVE SET THE LORD ALWAYS BEFORE ME...' PSALM 16:8The words 'I have set the Lord always before me...' are the simplest description of spiritual life. When certain thoughts are present, there's a good chance they're the result of God walking alongside us. The first thought involves feelings of reassurance. Whether it's Joshua taking over from Moses, or Paul going through his worst storm, the message is: "Be not afraid. I am with you". The second thought you'll have when God is present is that you'll get guidance. Maybe you're stumped with some issue and then an idea comes to you. It might be a big one or a small one, but it will help. Or you're about to say something that will inflict damage, and suddenly a little voice inside your head says "be quiet." A third indicator of God's presence is conviction of sin. You're going down the wrong road and a little stab of pain says, 'no, turn around', Heed that voice or you'll violate your values, diminish your influence, and end up guilt-ridden. The fourth kind of thought that will tell you God is present, is joy! 'You have made known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence...' (Psalm 16:11 NIV). It works like this: you put in an extra effort, something gets accomplished and you feel a surge of satisfaction - that's what happened when God created the world, then said, "That's good!" (Paraphrase). God can use any of those things to convey His presence. If you '...set the Lord always before [you]...' you'll begin to sense Him in your everyday life.

 

[Watchman]

"Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come" (John 16:13).
"And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left" (Isaiah 30:21).
There are many passages that speaks of God giving guidance.
Thanks.

 

[following-Him]

Today's devotional is taken from "Word For Today", which can be found at www.ucb.co.uk

A crown of thorns06 Apr 2007'...TWISTING TOGETHER A CROWN OF THORNS, THEY PUT IT ON HIS HEAD...' MATTHEW 27:29Have you ever really considered the significance of the thorns that were woven into such a shameful symbol and placed on Christ's head? Throughout Scripture thorns represent the result of sin: a) In the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve disobeyed God, He said, '"...I will...curse...the ground...[it] will produce thorns..."' (Genesis 3:17-18 NCV) b) later He told Israel that unless they purged the land of their enemies, '"...They will be like...thorns in your sides..."' (Numbers 33:55 NCV) c) Solomon said, 'Evil...lives are like paths covered with thorns...' (Proverbs 22:5 NCV) d) concerning untrustworthy leaders, Jesus said, '"You will know these people by what they do. Grapes don't come from thorn-bushes and figs...from thorny weeds"' (Matthew 7:16 NCV). Max Lucado writes: 'The crown of thorns Jesus wore [on Good Friday] represented all our sins. As we were caught in the brambles of envy...anger ...shame...discouragement...guilt...bitterness...and unforgiveness, so Jesus, who knew no sin, became "...an atoning sacrifice for our sins" (1 John 4:10 NIV). Not once did Christ use His supernatural powers for personal comfort. With a word He could have transformed the hard earth into a soft bed...boomeranged the spit of his accusers back into their faces...and paralysed the hand of the soldier who braided the...thorns. But He didn't. Instead, God cancelled the record that contained the charges against us...by nailing it to [His] cross (see Colossians 2:14 NLT), and He did it with you in mind!' No wonder hymn writer Isaac Watts wrote: 'See from his head, His hands, His feet, sorrow and love flow mingled down! Did e'er such love and sorrow meet, or thorns compose so rich a crown?'

 

[following-Him]

Today's devotional is taken from "Our Daily Bread", which can be found at www.rbc.org

April 7, 2007
Written In Blood

READ: Galatians 6:11-18
God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. —Galatians 6:14

About this cover

In the twisted wreckage of a Metrolink train crash, firefighters from Los Angeles Fire Station 27 found a message that brought tears to their eyes. A survivor of the crash, thinking he was dying, had used his own blood to write on the seat in front of him that he loved his wife and kids.
Normally, we use the words “written in blood” in a less literal way. It usually conveys a willingness to stand behind our words with our life.
As Paul ended his letter to the Galatians, he was, in a figurative sense, writing his story in blood. He wrote a message of love and grace that would arouse the anger of other religious leaders. He knew he would be hated for honoring the death of Christ above the ritual and moral law of Israel. He would be punished for teaching that Christ’s death and resurrection were more important than the law of circumcision that represented the whole Mosaic way of life. His suffering for Christ would literally include shedding his own blood (2 Cor. 11:23-25).
Paul wasn’t willing to play it safe. He knew the crucifixion of Jesus was the center page of history. Putting his own life on the line, Paul proclaimed the inexpressible heart of God, who gave His Son to express the ultimate words of love, written in blood at the cross. —Mart De Haan

The Father wrote His autograph
Upon a cross of shame,
With pen divine, all dipped in blood,
“Forgiven in Jesus’ name.” —Bosch

To show His love, Jesus died for me; to show my love, I must live for Him!

 

[Watchman]

Chosen Generation

" But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of Him who hath called you out darkness into his marvelous light" (IPeter 2:9).
In our ongoing struggle for both survival and victory in this world, we do well to recognize that we are in enemy territory. While it is true that our Captain created the world-indeed, "All things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made that was made" (John 1:3)-sacrificed His life to redeem it, and will reign over it for eternity. It is also true that "the whole world lieth in wickedness" (I John 5:19), occupied by "the prince of this world" (John 12:31); "the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience" (Ephesians 2:2).
The fact that we are surrounded by such darkness should come as no surprise, for before we were rescued by His grace, we too were part of the darkness-indeed we had to be called out of it. John the Baptist came "To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace" (Luke 1:79). Furthermore, as Christ taught, "men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil" (John 3:19).
This confrontation overshadows mere human conflict, however, "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places" (Ephesians 6:12).
But, praise God, we have been called "out of darkness into His marvelous light" as described in our text. Although we may be still in the world, our King has "delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son" (Colossians 1:13). "In Him was life; and the life was the light of men" (John 1:4)

 

[following-Him]

Amen.

Thank you Charles.

Blessings

Followinghim

 

[Watchman]

Grace and Mercy

"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).
God's grace and mercy can be viewed as two sides of the same coin. Grace on one side gives us what we do not deserve; mercy on the other does not give us what we do deserve.
Grace, often defined as unmerited favor, is offered freely by God "through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus" (Romans 3:24). It is offered to us only through faith in Christ so that we may clearly understand that it is not obtainable by any adherence to the law. "For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ" (John 1:17).
The law is holy, just and good (Romans 7:12), but unfortunately it magnifies our sin and shows us how far we are from reaching the perfect standard of our holy and righteous Creator. Thankfully God's amazing grace overpowers our magnified sin, as it "superabounds" above our transgressions. "But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound" (Romans 5:20).
God is also rich in His mercy toward us (Ephesians 2:4), as He extends His loving compassion to us despite our sinful condition. Our salvation is rooted in God's mercy, as He "hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead" (I Peter 1:3).
Grace and mercy are glorious gifts from God that should take us to our knees in worship and adoration. We can bring absolutely nothing to God except a humble and thankful heart as we trust not in our works, but solely in the finished work of Jesus Christ at Calvary. "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us (Titus 3:5). Thank God that "His mercy endureth forever" (Psalm 136:26).

 

[Watchman]

Field of blood

"And it was known unto all the dwellers at Jerusalem; insomuch as that field is called in the proper tongue Aceldama, that is to say, the field of blood" (Acts 1:19).
Never was a tract of land more fittingly called than Aceldama, an Arabic word meaning "field of blood," for it had been purchased with blood money, "the price of blood" (Matthew 27:6). The purchaser had been Judas (through the "executors" of his estate, as it were following his suicide), but the blood he sold, to acquire the price of the field, he had deemed "innocent blood."
The miserable thirty shekels of silver which consummated this transaction was the price of a slave in ancient Israel (Exodus 21:32), but this slave was none other than God incarnate, so the thirty pieces of silver-the price set by the religious leaders of Israel-was the price for the sale of God.
The prophet Zachariah, more than 500 years before, had acted out a prophecy of these strange events: "So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver...A goodly price that I was prised at of them" (Zechariah 11:12-13). Next, according to both prophecy and fulfillment, this blood money was cast down in the temple and then was used to buy the potter's field (Zechariah 11:13; Matthew 27:5, 7-8).
These and many other such details in these accounts constitute a remarkable type and fulfillment of prophecy, and thus a testimony of both divine inspiration and divine foreordination. But more than that, it is s striking picture of the price of our salvation, for the "field of blood" typifies that great field is the world (Matthew 13:38) and Christ is the man who, searching for "treasure hid in a field...selleth all that He hath, and buyeth that field" Matthew 13:44). All that He had-the very blood in His life-was willingly shed that we, dead in sins and hidden in the world, might be "purchased with His own blood" (Acts 20:28).

 

[following-Him]

Amen. Thank you Charles.

Blessings

followinghim

 

[following-Him]

Today's devotional is taken from "Word For Today", which can be found at www.ucb.co.uk

Jesus knows how you feel!27 Apr 2007'HE...EXPERIENCED...ALL THE PAIN, ALL THE TESTING...' HEBREWS 2:18re you financially strapped? Jesus knows how you feel. He said He didn't have a place to lay His head. Do you feel taken advantage of? Jesus paid taxes to a foreign emperor. But what if your problem is the opposite? You have a successful business to run. Can Jesus relate? Absolutely. He recruited and oversaw His own organization. Seventy men, plus an assortment of women who looked to Him for leadership. Do you make budgets and hire personnel? Christ knows leadership is not easy. His group included a zealot who hated the Romans and a tax collector who worked for them. And how about family tension? 'When His family heard what was happening, they tried to take Him home with them. "He's out of His mind," they said' (Mark 3:21 NLT). Have you been falsely accused? The night before His death people '...tried to find something false against Jesus so they could kill Him' (Matthew 26:59 NCV). Oh yes, Jesus has been there. He experienced '...all the pain, all the testing...' Max Lucado writes: 'Jesus was angry enough to purge the temple, distraught enough to weep in public, fun-loving enough to be called a drunkard, winsome enough to attract kids, poor enough to borrow a coin for a sermon illustration, radical enough to get kicked out of town, responsible enough to care for His mother, tempted enough to know the smell of satan, and anxious enough to sweat blood'. But why would Christ endure earth's toughest pain? So that you would know that '...He is able...to run to the cry of...those who are being...tested...' (Hebrews 2:18 AMP). Whatever you're facing today, Jesus knows how you feel!

 

[Watchman]

He walked umong us fully man, yet fully God.
Thanks

 

[following-Him]

Todays devotional comes from "Word For Today", which can be found at www.ucb.co.uk

Understanding temptation28 Apr 2007'...GOD...DOES NOT TEMPT ANYONE.' JAMES 1:13Trials and temptations are very different. Trials are permitted by God to develop character in us. On the other hand, temptations are sent by satan to bring us down. There's no way a temptation to sexual sin can be called a trial sent from God. He doesn't test our faith by setting us up to sin. Just because your hotel room offers pornographic movies doesn't mean it must be okay with God if you watch them, otherwise He wouldn't have allowed you to check into that room. Get real! James wrote: 'Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God"...each one is tempted when he is...enticed...' (James 1:13-14 NAS).The word 'entice' describes a fisherman putting a worm on a hook to entice a fish to bite. The fish is looking for a snack, not to become dinner for the fisherman. No mouse goes looking for a mousetrap. What the mouse wants is the cheese. But its legitimate hunger for cheese deceives it into thinking that the cheese is there for the taking, and the trap is sprung. The legitimate use of food nourishes your body, the lust for it produces gluttony and sickness. The proper use of money can bless you, the irresponsible use of it can enslave you with debt. Food. Sex. Money. Power. When the desire for these things becomes all consuming, the warning bell is ringing. Pay attention! But the Good News is, you're not in this fight alone. Peter writes: 'The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations...' (2 Peter 2:9 KJV). Victory comes when you draw closer to the One who defeated the tempter both in life and in death. So call on Him today. He's ready to help you!

 

[following-Him]

This devotional is taken from "Word For Today", which can be found at www.ucb.co.uk

Stand30 Apr 2007'...HAVING DONE ALL... STAND.' EPHESIANS 6:13Since we're born with all sorts of human weaknesses, what are we to do when the enemy comes along? Listen, '...having done all... stand'. In Romans 14:4 KJV Paul says that, '...God is able to make [you] stand.' Not in your own strength, but in the strength of Jesus Christ. By yourself you're an easy target for the enemy, but in the strength of the Lord you can stand and not give in. So today when satan shows up with his temptations, announce that you're going to stand in Christ. Let him know that you're going to stand until the shaking stops, until you feel peace again, until the wave of loneliness passes, until your marriage is restored, until you come out of debt, until the struggle is over, and until the tempter loses his power to either trap you or topple you! When you do the standing - God does the strengthening! Paul said, 'I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me' (Philippians 4:13 NKJ). God doesn't just strengthen you once; He'll strengthen you again and again. He'll strengthen you every time you face a difficult challenge, every time a memory comes back to haunt you, every time you're reminded of your imperfect past, every time you face a difficult decision. Drawing from God the strength you need to stand up to the enemy may take effort. It may take your praise, your prayer, and your getting into His Word with an intensity you've never had before. But the fact is - you can stand if you really want to!