Devotions 2003

Granest Publications

October Devotional

WHAT IS IN YOUR HAND?

How often have we heard a parent ask the question of a child, ”What is in your hand?” The reason for this question could be many and varied. However, when this question came forcefully to my attention, it was not in relation to a question of a mother to a child but rather God's question to us His people.

As I thought about this very challenging question, I asked, ”Well, what is in my hand? Is it something that the Lord would have me use, or is it something that is hindering my service the Lord?

My mind immediately went to the incident when, at the burning bush, the Lord challenged Moses: "Moses! What is in your hand?" Moses had been busy about his daily occupation of caring for the sheep of Jethro, his father-in-law. 'What was in his hand' was the rod or staff that he used as he lead the sheep through the desert.

God was saying to him, ”You will use what you have as you go and do My will. I will use you and 'what you have in your hand'. There is nothing special about your rod, Moses, except as you allow Me to use you and it in My service.”

Another who used 'what was in his hand' was David. David had been sent by his father to take supplies to his brothers fighting in King Saul's army against the Philistines. On arrival he found that there was fear in the camp. After making enquiries, David found that there was one man who was challenging Saul's men. There was no one willing to meet the challenge.

David not only saw it as a challenge against the army of Israel but he also saw it as a challenge against the God of Israel. This led to him offering his service to meet the challenger. When Saul was told that David was willing to accept the challenge, he offered David his armor. This armor was not David's. He had not proved it. He would not use it, but he would use what he had in hand. He was willing to trust what he had proved in the past and to trust in God. David had his sling. Only a sling but he used it to fight the battle of the Lord. The Lord honored him as he used that 'which was in his hand' for the battle that he saw as the battle of the Lord.

There are others who down through the years have used for the Lord that which was in their hands, but what of the other side to the question?

One example of holding on to something that the Lord would have you give up is the Rich Young Ruler. When challenged by the Lord, he was unwilling to give up that which he possessed. His riches meant more to him than the rewards that could have been his had he obeyed the Lord.

What is in your hand? Have you something that you are unwilling to give up so that the Lord can use you? It may be something quite legitimate, but for you to hold on to it is a hindrance to the Lord using you for His glory and the extension of His kingdom.

Only you can answer the question, “What is in your hand?”

November Devotional

HIS RAINBOW OF PROMISE

“I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be a sign of the covenant between Me and the earth.” (NIV)

I have always been excited, even from a child, to watch God's pyrotechnical display in the sky during a storm. After the storm has passed over, I like to go out and look for a rainbow. To me, the rainbow is one of God's most beautiful signs of His love and concern for all the earth.

While in Papua New Guinea, there was a tremendous storm over the mountains of the highlands. On going outside after the rain had ceased, I looked and there over a far mountain was a dark storm cloud. Then suddenly, as I looked, there appeared a beautiful double rainbow over the face of that dark cloud! So that I would always have this reminder of God's double sign of blessing, I went and got my camera. Now I have a beautiful picture of that scene ... and a continual reminder of that day when God spoke to my heart.

As I look at this photo and see that double rainbow, I am reminded that we have a double blessing and promise from God. The rainbow was a sign of a promise from God to Noah -- and all mankind -- that the whole earth would never again be destroyed by a flood.

Then my mind went to another great and precious promise that God gave to man ... that He would give One who would save His people from their sin. This precious promise was fulfilled in His beloved Son, Jesus Christ.

Christ Jesus came that we each one might be redeemed from sin and its curse, that we might have new life in Christ Jesus. If we will accept this great sacrificial gift that God so freely promises, we have that assurance of eternal life with Him. This is the greatest and most precious promise of all, and for all who will believe and receive it.

For those who have accepted this amazing gift of grace from the hand of the Lord, we have access to hundreds of other promises that He has given to His children in His Word:

“I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” [Hebrews 13:5].

“My grace is sufficient for thee” [2 Corinthians 12:9].

“No weapon that is formed against thee will prosper” [Isaiah 54:17].

“I will give thee a crown of life: [Revelation 2:10]

Another lesson that I learned from the rainbow is that when the dark clouds of storm come rolling in, between you and those dark clouds is a shower of rain. It is then that we find the sun's rays reflecting on that rain ... causing that reflection to reveal the rainbow.

This reminds me that when we are faced with the dark storm clouds of life, we will find ... if we but look ... that God is there between us and the storm. If we allow the light of God to shine through the darkness, we will find God waiting to reveal the light of His blessings to us.

Therefore, when the dark clouds come (and they will), remember ... God's promise is still there. It will always be there... even in the darkest of times. His love will always shine through in blessing ... if we will look to Him. Remember, He has said, “I will never leave you, nor forsake you.” What a promise! Believe It! Rejoice in the knowledge that all the promises of God are sure ... His Word is truth.

December Devotional

What Gift Do You Bring?

“When they came… they saw the young child…And when they opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him.

As we approach this Christmas season our minds automatically turn to the gifts that we plan to give and receive. Some of the gifts that we give will be given out of obligation because it is the expected custom of the particular group that we belong to, while in the majority of cases the gifts are given out of love for family and close friends.

Children at this time of the year are already making lists of things they hope to receive while others are busy with the planning and the shopping for those to whom they wish to honor with a gift.

As we think of gifts that have been given and received in the past, the one that my mind turns to is the gifts that were brought to the Christ child by the wise men from the east.

These men came seeking the One born to be King. They came bringing with them gifts that were worthy of such a One.

Matthew in his Gospel tells us that the gifts that were brought by these men were gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. These gifts that they brought to the Christ child, were each one, symbolic of the destiny of the child to whom the gifts were given

Gold - A gift for a King

Frankincense - A gift for a priest

Myrrh - A gift for one who is to die.

As we think on those gifts given by the wise men to the Christ child we are challenged to consider that question, “What gift do we bring?

We give gifts to all who in some way have a claim on us, but what do we give to the One who has the greatest claim of all, and has given to us so much.

God in His great love gave His dearest and His best when He sent His Son, His only Son to earthy those thousands of years ago. This gift of His Son was given so that we who were dead in trespasses and sin might have eternal life.

That well known and well loved verse reminds us of this when it says, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” [John 3:16].

The Son - Jesus Christ freely gave Himself on the cross, and in so doing gave, to all who would receive it, the gift of redemption that mankind might be free from the bonds of sin and degradation. A gift that He still offers to all who will by faith receive it.

But what of us? What do we give to the One who gave His all? Do we give Him just a nodding acquaintance when certain situations arise? Do we give any thought to Him except when we want some special prayer request answered? What do we bring?

There are many gifts that we can bring to the Lord. The greatest gift that we can bring is the gift of a surrendered heart, a heart that is totally yielded to Him. In giving a totally yielded heart to Him will mean that we will give to Him - our time - our substance - our talents - our all.

As we approach this Christmas season let us put aside the commercial aspects that are grasping daily for our attention and give thought instead to what gift we would give to the One whose birth we celebrate at this season of the Year.

Can we with Frances Rigley Havergal say...

My life I bring to Thee,
I would not be my own;
O Savior, let me be
Thine ever, Thine alone.
To Thee, my Savior and my King.”

“WHAT GIFT WILL YOU BRING?”

January Devotional

WHAT DO YOU RESOLVE?

“Now therefore fear the Lord, and serve Him in sincerity and truth…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… but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord”

At this time of the year we hear people talking of the New Year's resolutions that they have made. Many of these resolutions are taken very seriously while others have been put aside and forgotten almost as soon as they have been made.

As I was thinking of these resolutions that many make so glibly, I could not help but think of that very important resolve that Joshua made many years ago when he said, ”As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord”.

Joshua had the very heavy responsibility of leading the Children of Israel. This was placed upon him by God at the death of Moses, just as they were about to enter the Promised Land. This was no easy task that God had given to him. For forty years he, with Moses, had journeyed through the wilderness. He had witnessed the many times that the Children of Israel had failed to keep their covenant and commitment to serve the Lord.

He was a witness to them, pledging to serve God there at the foot of the mountain at Sinai. He was on the mountain when God gave to Moses the Ten Commandments. As he, with Moses, came down, they saw how quickly the people had turned aside from their covenant, building and worshiping the golden calf. Later he witnessed the people rejecting God's leadership again and turning aside to embrace the idolatrous worship of Baal - Peor. Many, many times they failed in their commitment to serve God.

No, this task of responsibility was not an easy one, but Joshua trusted completely in God's promise to be with him. God said, “Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord your God is with thee withersoever thou goest” (Joshua 1: 9).

Joshua undertook and faithfully carried out the responsibility that God had required of him. Throughout his many years of serving God and conquering the Promised Land, Joshua never once turned aside from his commitment to the Lord. Now at the end of his life, we find him still faithful to his covenant of commitment and service to God.

As we think of Joshua's enormous challenge in leading the Children of Israel many hundreds of years ago, we too can be challenged by it today. Our challenge today is: Choose you today whom you will serve, whether the gods of this world; wealth, prestige, security, position, or one of the many other gods that the people of today worship: or will you choose to serve and live for the one and only true God who alone is worthy of our worship, adoration and service.

Can you honestly resolve at this time of the year and say as did Joshua of old, “AS FOR ME AND MY HOUSE, WE WILL SERVE THE LORD!” and truly mean what you say and faithfully keep that commitment, turning not aside nor deviating from it in any way?

Will you, with me, make that resolve that, not only for this year, but in all the years to come, you will serve the Lord?

May the Lord richly bless you and use you in the year ahead.

February Devotional

THE LOVE OF GOD.

`Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for a friend” (John 15: 13).

We hear so much today of what is referred to as "love". In many instances, what the world calls love is nothing more than sentimentalism or, in some cases, an unhealthy sensual desire on the part of the person who claims to love.

At this time of the year the business world commercializes and emphasizes what they would term love - - a sentimental love that too often has little, if any, true depth to it. The emphasis that this form of love takes in no way reveals the true meaning of love - God's love - sacrificial love as we see in Jesus Christ.

Let us love as Christ loved - not in word but in deed - so that others through us may experience His great love also.

March Devotional

“For as he (man) thinketh in his heart, so is he" Proverbs 23: 7.

For many years Graeme and I were involved with prison ministries. In talking to various men and women, we found that there was a common thought and attitude among them ... their thinking being, “Others are stupid enough to get caught but not me. I thought that I knew all the angles.” These men and women truly believed this in their hearts and minds.

Each time I heard them say, “I didn't think that I would get caught”, my mind would go to that verse, “As he thinketh in his heart”. In their hearts, they truly believed that they were too smart to be caught. There was a flaw in their heart that resulted in wrong thinking.

How often do we hear people say, ”That will never happen to me”? They think that it is always the other person that those things happen to - never me. How wrong we are when we think that way.

There are many people who believe that they have acceptance with God and the assurance of heaven on the bass that they are good moral people. They don't cheat or lie; they have respect for other people's rights. They also think that because they give to good causes they have within their hearts that assurance that they are in good standing and therefore can claim to be Christians.

There are others that think that because they live in a so-called Christian country and go to church occasionally, that gives them acceptance with the Lord. In their hearts they truly believe that it is so.

Unfortunately, there are also many who go to church and Sunday School every week, and even tithe, who honestly believe in their hearts that they are good upstanding Christians, yet they have never surrendered their hearts and lives to the Lord in repentance -- seeking forgiveness and cleansing.

How sad it is to see that Satan has deluded these people into thinking that they are living their lives pleasing to God

In Romans 10, verses 9 & 10, we find these words, ”If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness: and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Note: Paul emphasizes, ”Believe in thine heart”.

If we do indeed believe in our hearts that Jesus died for our sins, and we accept His sacrifice on our behalf - confessing our need of His saving and cleansing, then we shall be saved. Not only do we need to believe in our hearts but, we also need to be obedient to Him in all things.

There are those who forget that the Lord Jesus said, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 7: 21). Therefore, there needs to be more than a belief or a thinking in the heart -- there must also be wholehearted surrender, and a willingness to ever be doing the will of God. It must be done in faithful obedience to Him, for His glory, if we would have within our hearts not only a belief, but also an assurance of our salvation and of our acceptance with God and of heaven.

What do you think in your heart? Is your heart truly in tune with the heart of God? You alone can answer these questions. Let us each one be honest with ourselves before God, and search our hearts and see if that which we think in our hearts is that which is pleasing and acceptable unto God.

Remember: “For as he (man) thinketh in his heart, so is he.”

April Devotional

MAN'S WAY IS NOT GOD'S WAY

“As for you, ye meant it for evil; but God meant it for good.”

A short time ago I was given a book that I had been searching for some months. When flipping through the pages for the information I needed, I came across a pamphlet entitled, “The Brick and the Book” by Eric Coward. I did not stop to read it just then, as I knew what the title was referring to. It was dealing with an incident that happened in the life of Samuel Logan Brengle -- that great holiness teacher of early Salvation Army days.

On turning the pamphlet over, my eye caught the verse found in Genesis 50, verse 20, “Ye meant it for evil; but God meant it for good”. The last paragraph said, “In the strategy of God, the brick that might have meant death for one, led to the production of a book - of books - still bringing life to thousands.”

The brick that was thrown at Brengle's head with the intention of killing him, and thus silencing his voice with its challenging message, failed to accomplish that for which it was intended.

Yes, the brick failed. It was during and after his recuperation that those great books on holiness were written. Man indeed intended it for evil, but God used it for good.

The Bible gives us many examples of this great truth ... particularly in the life of Joseph. The jealousy and bitter hatred that Joseph's brothers had toward him, (which was caused by their father's acts of favoritism), resulted in Joseph being sold into slavery in Egypt. Although the brothers acted out of jealousy and hatred, God was at work. He had a plan for Joseph's life and a reason for his being in Egypt.

Again this principle is seen in the incident involving Potiphar's wife. Her false accusation against Joseph resulted in his imprisonment. There he was used in the interpretation of the dream of the king's butler. Eventually this brought him to the notice of Pharaoh, with the result of him becoming Pharaoh's advisor and administrator.

In each of these situations in Joseph's life, we find that he was in the right place at the God-appointed time, to save the lives of many people, including his family. “Ye meant it for evil; God meant it for good.”

The life of Joseph is not the greatest example of “Ye meant it for evil; but God meant it for good”. Can there be any greater example than that of the death of the Lord Jesus Christ? Can the crucifixion of Christ be anything but an act that was meant for evil? Yet, it is through this act of man's intended evil, that God's plan of salvation is fulfilled.

The religious leaders of the day plotted and planned to get rid of Jesus, God's beloved Son. They saw Him as a threat to their influence and power. The evil within their hearts, and the events of false accusations -- the illegal trial, the condemnation and crucifixion once again reveal the truth of the words, “Ye meant it for evil; but God meant it for good”. God, in Christ His beloved Son, willingly allowed these evil intentions, for without the sacrifice of Christ, there could be no salvation.

Peter, when speaking to the multitude on the day of Pentecost said, “Ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain…Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ” (Acts 2: 23, 36). Without the life, death, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus, we would have no hope of eternal salvation. ”Ye meant it for evil; God meant it for good.”

There are times when situations arise, we feel that the devil is using those situations for evil in our lives. Remember, in and through them all, God is at work. If we will but keep our eyes on Him, He will bring us through and use us for His glory.

Peter again reminds us, “Think it not strange concerning the fiery trials which are to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when His glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy” (1 Peter 4: 12, 13).

Yes, there are many incidents throughout life when man thought evil against us, but if we allow God to have His will and His way in our lives, He will use it for good. Then you can be glad and rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory!

Let the Lord have His way in your life regardless of what man may say or do.

“Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.”(Hebrews 2:1)

Have you ever thrown a piece of bark, a leaf or a twig into a stream or river? When it first falls, it seems to just stay in one place for a moment. Then, with the movement of the water, it begins to drift slowly away. At first there seems to be very little movement. Before long you see the leaf take up momentum as it drifts further and further out into the flow where it is trapped and carried away, unable of itself to break free.

In many ways, people are like that piece of bark or leaf that is fallen into the water -- unless they are very careful and take heed to that which is happening in their spiritual lives.

How often do we hear people say, “Just being involved occasionally will not do me any harm," or “I can't see anything wrong with me taking part in this or that ... there's nothing harmful in those things.”

Unfortunately, many of those so-called 'harmless things' are but the thin edge of the wedge. Before a person realizes it, they have become more and more involved. They have been caught up in the flow and pulled along until it carries them away, which to them had appeared harmless in the beginning.

We see so many young people who have been caught up in the drug and alcohol scene who think, "Just a little won't hurt me". Before they know it, they have been hooked and don't seem to be able to find their way out or back.

With these thoughts in mind, let us consider this verse from Hebrews 2: 1, “Give…heed to the things which we have heard, lest…we let them slip”.

First of all, we need to be aware that there is the possibility for each of us to drift away from the Biblical foundations of our faith -- if we become careless and heedless in our commitment.

The writer to the Hebrews challenges us to give ”earnest heed to the things which we have heard”. What he is reminding us of is to really take note of the spiritual principles that we have been taught, and not allow anything to distract us, thereby causing us to drift away. Just the slightest deviation from the truth of God's Word, and we have slowly and surely started the inevitable drift. If we are not careful to pull back, it will result in our being pulled out into the flow of compromise and from there to completely turn way from our total commitment to the Lord. Peter reminds us, “Be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5: 8).

Paul said to Timothy, “I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also. Wherefore I put thee in remembrance, that thou stir up the gift of God that is in thee” (2 Timothy 1: 5, 6).

The truths of God's Word had been passed down to Timothy. Paul is reminding this young man that the gift of God and His Word should not be allowed to stagnate within him -- which would result in his faith becoming ineffectual. Stir it up! Keep it ever fresh! Don't permit temptations around you to cause the heart and the mind to deviate from the truth. The slightest deviation will cause a gradual slide -- a slide, which at first is barely discernable, but which will with time begin a slow eroding away, resulting in an extremely rapid decline.

Have you ever stood on the edge of a sand dune? When you first stood there, you were not conscious of the sand moving under your feet. But ever so slowly the sand begins to give way and you are caught in a slow downward slide. Unless someone is there to pull you back, you will rapidly descend to the bottom.

It is also true in the spiritual realm. You may be standing on the verge of temptation where the insidious wiles of Satan are ever seeking to pull the unwary down. Unless you have a firm hold on Christ and your faith is firmly grounded, you will find that, like standing on the sand, you are slowly being drawn down ... and away. It is inevitable. When we take our eyes off Christ and allow those things that are around us to take our time and our thoughts into unholy areas, it will surely cause us to drift away from the firm foundation upon which our faith is built.

Day by day there is a need to examine ourselves before the Lord, seeking His enlightenment as to the path that we are treading. If in the light of God's Word there is any deviation, humbly and sincerely seek and find your way back to the place of total surrender and commitment to the Lord.

Just where you stand in relation to the Lord can only be answered by you individually. Let us come humbly into the presence of the Lord and allow Him to examine our hearts and reveal anything which is contrary to His Word and His will.

My prayer is that the Lord will have His will and His way in your life.

Genesis 12:10 -13:18

Have you found yourself realizing that the place where you are spiritually is not where you know you ought to be? Has the Lord required of you a certain direction that He would have you go but you have failed in your obedience to the will of God?

Many people, if they are truly honest with themselves, will have to admit that there have been those times when they have turned aside from what they knew was God's leading in their lives. Don't think that your situation is unique if it has happened to you. It has happened to others before you, and will continue to happen to others in the future.

As we look at the record in Genesis 13: 3 - 4, we will find that there was a period in the life of Abraham where he returned to the altar that he had first made to the Lord in the land that the Lord had promised unto him and his descendants.

Instead of trusting the Lord and seeking His guidance in the situation he found himself in during the famine in the land of Canaan, Abraham left the land of promise and went down into Egypt. Even there, he failed to trust God for his protection and that of his family.

This failure of Abraham resulted in the need for God to intervene on his behalf. It also had far reaching results which, in later years, would cause him difficulties and heartache.

How thankful we can be to the Lord that ”no failure needs to be final”. That is the message of God's grace. Although no failure need be final, God always requires that when we do fail, we must always go back -- back to the place where we failed God -- back to the place where we stepped out of the will of God.

We will never be able to go on in our Christian walk, no matter how much we try or desire to do so, until we have gone back. The Lord always brings us back to the place or the point of our disobedience and failure.

After Abraham's failure to seek the guidance of God concerning his stay in Egypt, God, through Pharaoh, revealed His displeasure in His servant's conduct. Abraham needed to go back to Mamre -- back to the altar that he had first built to the Lord -- back to the place of commitment -- back to the place of God's covenant with him. Abraham went back. He renewed the altar. He worshipped the Lord.

Although there immediately arose difficulties within the family relations, God was still with His servant. Let me assure you, that whenever you go back to the altar of the Lord in humble surrender and commitment, you can be sure that there will be opposition arising from some point or another. The devil will see to that -- ever seeking to pull you away. Although tested in this way, Abraham remained steadfast in his commitment, and we find God renewing His blessing and covenant with His servant.

As with Abraham, when we return to the Lord and stand firm on our renewal and covenant, then we can be assured of God's faithfulness and blessing towards us.

There may be some whom the Lord has challenged concerning their faithfulness and commitment to Him, who need to go back to the altar and renew their commitment in obedience and faith, enabling the Lord to use them in the blessing of others.

May we each one allow the Lord to search our hearts, and allow Him to lead us in the way that He has planned for our lives.

Remember: “NO FAILURE NEEDS TO BE FINAL”. If the Lord is challenging you, go back to the altar in surrender, and renew your commitment to Him.

I pray that the Lord will bless you and challenge your hearts as He has me through this devotional.

Can We Make A Difference?

There have been people down through the years that have made a difference by their contribution to society. Some have been prepared to give their lives so that others could be helped. These were people determined to make a difference.

What a difference to the world and the cause of Christ was made when Martin Luther realized that man was justified by faith and not by works or indulgences (buying forgiveness). Because of his newfound faith, and in defiance of the teaching of the Church of Rome, he nailed his 95 Theses to the door of the Church of Wittenberg. This very act has had a profound effect on the teachings of the Church ever since.

In England, William Booth, Wilberforce and others spoke out against the enslavement of women for the gratification of the lusts of men. They were willing, if need be, to be imprisoned for their commitment to make a difference for the down trodden and the enslaved.

It has not been so many years ago that women decided that they had a right to have a voice in what was happening in their countries and communities. This led to the Women's Suffragette Movement. They made a real difference because of the stand they took.

We have many examples in the Bible of those who, because of their commitment to the Lord, were able to make a difference. For example: Daniel stood firm in his faith was able to influence the King of Babylon.

Gideon was used of the Lord to deliver the Israelites from the hands of the Midianites, and bring about the destruction of their great and mighty army. And the list goes on.

Turn your thoughts now to the man, Nehemiah. He was one of the many Israelites who, since the captivity of the Jews and Jerusalem, were still living in Babylon. He held the position of cupbearer to the King.

When news was brought to him concerning the trouble, disgrace and suffering of his people in Jerusalem, his deep concern brought him to the place where he mourned and wept before the Lord in prayer and fasting. Nehemiah prayed that God would reveal to him His plan which would enable him to help and relieve his people's suffering. This was not just for a day here or there, but for three months, day and night, he continued to pray and fast, waiting for God to open the door.

It was through the King of Babylon that God opened that door. Not because Nehemiah took the initiative, but God, through the faithful prayers of His servant, was able to work in the heart of a pagan King, causing him to see that Nehemiah was troubled ... and to ask why. This made it possible for Nehemiah to present his concerns for the needs of his people in Jerusalem.

Remember, Nehemiah was but a servant of the King of Babylon, but because of his commitment to God, whom he faithfully served, the King granted Nehemiah the time he needed to be absent from his responsibilities. He gave him the help he needed for his journey to Jerusalem, and he even supplied all that was needed for the task of rebuilding the walls and defenses for Jerusalem!

Nehemiah was but one person - one person who through prayer and fasting, God was able to prepare and use. One person who was also willing to be used in the answering of his prayer. Nehemiah grieved over the state of the city and its people, grieved over the situation that had developed. Yes, he grieved, but he wanted to be part of God's answer to the problem - thus he prayed.

The Church and God's people today are suffering reproach and ridicule in many areas, but what are we doing? Are we prepared to weep, mourn, pray, fast, and then act when God opens the door? Are we willing to be like Nehemiah and be willing to be the person God can use to make a difference? Are YOU willing to be used today?

It is my prayer that we all consider what God is seeking to do through us to make a difference in the work and the witness of the church today.

THE GREATNESS OF GOD

”Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised, His greatness is unsearchable” (Psalm 145: 3).

We hear the praises sung of all those so-called great names of sports heroes, especially during the season of the particular sport. But what does it really mean to be “a great sports hero”? In reality it means very little except to a few sports fanatics. The title of hero is only used because that person has excelled in a particular sport. Very often, if you look into the back- ground of these so-called great heroes, you will find that their lives are far from measuring up to that title of “hero”.

The more we delve into God's word and look at His characteristics, the more we find out how exceedingly great is the God that we serve. We do not have to be afraid that our God will not measure up, for His greatness is immeasurable.

Who but God -- the one and only true God -- could call a world into existence, out of nothing, with only a word. Throughout Genesis 1, we find Him speaking the world and all creation into existence when He said, ”Let there be…and there was!”

When we consider the attributes of God, we find that His greatness is far beyond that which the human mind can fully comprehend. But what are the "Attributes of God"? In what way do they emphasize His greatness?

Let us look closely for a moment at some of the Scriptures that reveal the attributes that belong to Him, and to Him alone.

1. Self-Existence: He is independent of everything outside Himself. Isaiah 48:12,13 states, “I am He: I am the first, I am also the last. Mine hand also hath laid the foundations of the earth, and My right hand hath spanned the heavens”. Also see Genesis 1:1.

2. Eternal Existence: He has neither beginning nor end. Psalm 90: 2 says, “From everlasting to everlasting, Thou art God.” Also see Genesis 21: 33, Psalm 102:24 and Isaiah 57: 15.

3. Immutability: His unchangeableness. God's purposes never change, though His dealings with man, of necessity, vary according to the conduct of man. “For I am the Lord, I change not”. (Malachi 3:6). While in Psalm 102: 27 we find, “Thou art the same, and Thy years shall have no end”.

4. Omnipresence: He is everywhere present at all times. Jeremiah asks in Chapter 23: 34, ”Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the Lord. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the Lord”. Also, “Whither shall I go from Thy Spirit? Or whither shall I flee from Thy presence?... Thou art there” (Psalm 139: 7, 8). Also see Isaiah 6:3; 2 Chronicles 6: 18; and Acts 17: 27, 28.

5. Omniscience; Past, presence and future - He sees and knows everything Nothing is hid from Him. Again through Isaiah in 46: 9,10, we hear God's word when He says, “I am God…declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not done”. While Hebrews 4:13 declares, “All things are naked and open unto the eyes of Him whom we have to do”.

6. Omnipotent: He is all-powerful - there is nothing that is beyond His power. “Thou hast made the heavens and the earth by Thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing to hard for Thee…The Great, the Mighty God, the Lord of Hosts, is His name” (Jeremiah 32: 17,18).

Not only do we find the greatness of God in His all-power, His all-knowledge, and His all-presence, but we also find His greatness in all His perfections.

7. Perfect Wisdom: Wisdom is the right use of knowledge. Therefore He does everything in the best way and never makes a mistake. Thus perfect wisdom includes God's omniscience, but it includes far more than that. In Psalm 104: 24 we read, "O Lord, how manifold are Thy works! In wisdom Thou hast made them all”.

8. Perfect Holiness: In His holiness God is absolutely free from evil, hating and abhorring sin. We are reminded, “Ye shall be holy: for I the Lord your God am holy” (Leviticus 19: 2).

9. Perfect Justice: In His perfect justice, God deals fairly and rightly with all His creatures. With God there is no favoritism. “All His ways are judgment; a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is He” (Deuteronomy 32: 4).

10. Perfect Truth and Faithfulness: In all things He presents things as they are and always keeps His promise. Isaiah reminds us, “O Lord, Thou art my God… Thy councils of old are faithfulness and truth” (Isaiah 25: 1).

How wonderful it is for us, His creatures, to know that He is:

11. Infinite Mercy: He is full of compassion, full of pity, slow to punish and ready at all times to forgive. His word declares, ”Thou, Lord art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon Thee” (Psalm 86: 5).

We, too, can rejoice in His:

12. Perfect Benevolence: God is love - He loves His creatures and He wants them to do good. Love is the source of His perfect holiness. It is His love that makes Him true, merciful and just. Therefore, we see that all the moral aspects of the attributes of God are varying aspects of His great love. 1 John 4: 8 states, “God is Love”.

There are those who would deny that in all things God is love, particularly when things have not worked out according to what they think or want. Yet, regardless of man's attitude towards God, it still remains that “God is Love”. Is it any wonder that the Psalmist speaks of the greatness of God as being unsearchable?

Even though our human minds can grasp but a minute idea of His greatness, we can still praise God that in His love and mercy He ever seeks to lead us on to the place where we will understand more and more of His greatness: His great love, His great mercy, His great faithfulness. It is shown towards us day by day as we ever seek to grow in our love and knowledge of Him, Who ever seeks to reveal Himself to us in all His greatness and glory.

Lamentations 3:22, 23 reminds us that, “It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassion fail not. They are new every morning: great is Thy faithfulness”.

How can we explain His greatness?

We cannot explain it, but we must, by faith, accept it and glory in His greatness as we have seen it expressed in the attributes that are so rightfully and gloriously His.

He deserves all honor, glory and praise for His greatness and love are beyond measure. Won't you stop right now and give Him His rightful praise and honor?

WHAT SHOULD I BE DOING?

“Is the seed yet in the barn? Yea, as yet the vine, and the fig tree, and the pomegranate, and the olive tree, hath not brought forth fruit.”

Today as I think of how fast the year is passing, I keep asking myself, "Is there anything that I have left undone that as the servant of the Lord I should have done or that I should be doing?"

As my mind pondered this, I thought of what the Lord had to say to us in that little, but challenging book of Haggai.

The people of Haggai's day had become content and were willing to sit back and take their ease. They had returned from the captivity and had established themselves back in Jerusalem and the surrounding areas. They had rebuilt their homes and now were content with what they had. So busy were they in re-establishing themselves that they had neglected their first priority -- that being the work of the Lord. The Temple that they had started to rebuild had been neglected in favor of their own personal ease and comfort.

Whenever we neglect the work of the Lord for our own personal advancement and ease, we will find the blessings of the Lord have been withdrawn. No longer will we enjoy His favor. No longer will there be the joy of living, but rather we will be caught up in the endless rounds of trying, by our own efforts, to meet those goals that we have set for ourselves.

Those whom Haggai had challenged, returned to those neglected responsibilities of the work that the Lord required of them - the rebuilding of the Temple. The Lord promised that by returning to their faithful commitment, they would once again have His blessings.

My challenge for you as well as myself, is the one that is asked in Haggai 2:19, “Is the seed yet in the barn?” There will be no seed in the barn if we are not fulfilling our obligations to the Lord whom we claim to serve. In other words, is the House of the Lord being built up? Is the work of the Church meeting its obligations to those who are without Christ? Are we doing all that we can to see that the needy are being brought in so that they can hear the Gospel? Or are we too busy making ourselves comfortable while the needs of others are being neglected?

I challenge you to read afresh the words of the Lord as spoken by the prophet Haggai and determine whether or not we are measuring up to what Lord wants us do so that He can work in and through us to accomplish the goal of His Great Commission.

“Is the seed yet in the barn?” The Lord wants to fill your barn to overflowing. Don't fail Him.

October Devotional

Are We Truely Within the Fellowship of God?

Luke 15: 11 - 32

This passage about the Prodigal Son is used as a challenging message to the unsaved. But I would like us to look at it from the perspective of those who are a part of the family of God. We have three people involved in this parable -- the father and his two sons.

There are those within the fellowship of the Church who, in many ways, are represented by the son --the son that we refer to as the Prodigal Son. This young man was very much a part of the family -- the Church. He had a father -- a heavenly Father -- who loved him and only wanted the best for him. He loved him so much that even though He would always love and care for him, and have him continue to be a part of the family, had to stand aside and yield to the choice the son was making to take his inheritance and leave home.

There are many like that in the Church who, although greatly loved and nurtured, come to the point where they turn aside from the love of their heavenly Father and prefer to seek a life apart from God. Just as the father yearned over his son and his unwise decision, so too does our heavenly Father yearn over each one who seeks to live his life according to the ways of the world.

Just because the son had turned aside and left his family, this did not stop the father from loving him and ever looking for his return. Our loving God is always looking for the return of the wandering child -- looking in love and grace. He is ever seeking for that willful child to see his need to return to the family of God. Unfortunately, they have to come to the end of themselves and admit their need, and turn back to the God they have rejected and ignored. There must be repentance.......and then forgiveness and cleansing. The loving heavenly Father is ready and waiting to receive and embrace them once again as a part of the family. What rejoicing there is in heaven over one sinner who repents and turns from their wicked ways and seeks the cleansing blood of the Lamb.

But what of the other son - the elder brother? Although Luke records the attitude of the elder son, very little is ever mentioned of him. If we look closely at what the Scripture says, we find that although he never left the fellowship of the home, he was as much out of fellowship with the father as the younger son. Verses 25 - 30 reveal the truth of his attitude. You don't have to stray into the far country physically to be out of fellowship with the heavenly Father.

There are many today who are a part of the Church family but who are out of fellowship with God. Their attitude - their resentment - their discontent all reveal their actual relationship with the Father.

When the father confronted the elder son concerning his unwillingness to join in the rejoicing and feasting of the returning son, we see only anger, jealousy and resentment. He was not even willing to claim relationship with the returned wanderer, for he said, “This thy son”. He wanted no part of the celebration.

Unfortunately, this attitude can be found in the Church. It clearly reveals the state of the person's heart when resentment is shown towards the one who has strayed away, even when that one returns in repentance and humbly seeks forgiveness.

The person who is living a sanctified life -- a life of holiness, totally yielded to the Lord -- will not be resentful at the rejoicing over the sinner who has repented and turned back the Lord. Rather he will rejoice with those who rejoice and will gladly welcome them back as part of the family. Unless we are living a Spirit-filled life, we will be like the elder brother. He expressed resentment, anger, jealousy - attitudes that are totally unChristlike.

Not only was the elder brother angry and resentful, but he was also full of pride -- proud of the fact that he had stayed at home, and remained an integral part of the family. Yet all the time there was that resentment towards his brother. Why? Was it because he wished that he too had had the courage to leave home? Had he wished to experience life out in the world? We do not know why there was this resentment, antagonism, and pride of heart. Verses 29 and 30 state, “Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time…But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.” Pride is an attitude of the heart that is not perfect before the Lord -- a heart where the Holy Spirit has not been allowed to have control -- a heart that is not fully yielded to the Lord.

If we are to live a life pleasing to God, we must allow the Holy Spirit to so indwell us that our lives will be in close fellowship -- totally yielded yielded to the Lord in holy living. There will be no room for resentment, jealousy or pride to mar our relationship with others. The heavenly Father wants us to reflect His love towards those who seek forgiveness and cleansing from sin, welcoming them back as part of the family of God.

May our desire be to live in that close fellowship with our Heavenly Father, totally yielded to Him in a life of holiness, living for His glory.

November Devotional

THE PLACE OF GOD'S APPOINTING

"......for such a time as this" (Esther 4 : 24).