Matthew 4 - Temptation – Calling & Ministry

Temptation – Calling & Ministry

Text: Read Matthew 4

April 30, 2020

The Temptations of Jesus Vs. 1-4

We ought not think it strange when we face trials and temptations of various kinds. After all, Jesus was led, deliberately, into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. This was no mistake that He was there. It was a planned event by God Himself. Jesus would have to do what we all must do – draw near to God and resist the devil. He was tempted in every area we are:

Lust of the flesh – What  we want to have

The pride of life – What we want to do on our own

Lust of the eyes – What we see that we want

In each of the temptations, the enemy wanted to attack Jesus’ identity, and get Him derailed into thinking if He truly was the Son of God, He shouldn’t have to suffer being hungry another minute. All He would have to do is tell the stones to become bread.

It didn’t stop there. Satan took Him up into the holy city and tempted Him to throw Himself down, thereby testing God to see if He would send the angels to catch Him before He hit the ground. Here, the devil was trying to get Jesus to trust in Himself and not God. All of it was an evil attempt to get Him away from the plan of God and into his evil kingdom.

Lastly, when Satan took Jesus to show Him all the kingdoms of the world that were under his authority since the fall of mankind, he would try to get Jesus to worship him rather than God – using the lust of the eyes – seeing all the worldly things, to get Jesus to fail.

None of it worked. Because of Jesus’ intimacy with the Father God, He knew enough about His Father and had enough faith to know that He could withstand all those evil temptations and that in the end, God would take care of Him – and He did.

The Father did send the angels to minister to Him. And friends, He will send them to minister to us too – if we will only believe. Look at the following verse.

Hebrews 1:13-14

But to which of the angels has He ever said: “Sit at My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool”? Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?

Too often we can get distracted with the cares of this life. Look at this:

Mark 4:13-20

And He said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables?  The sower sows the word.  And these are the ones by the wayside where the word is sown. When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts. These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness; and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word’s sake, immediately they stumble.  Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word,  and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.”

When God wants our attention, we would do well to let other things just wait for a while. Busyness can be a real hindrance to our relationship with Jesus. So also the preoccupation with  food, money and other things which can be a broad category in itself.

From the book of Proverbs, if you read a Proverb a day to keep the devil away, this is a  passage that is  well worth contemplating:

Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him. Do not add to His words, lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar.

Two things I request of You (Deprive me not before I die):

Remove falsehood and lies far from me; Give me neither poverty nor riches— Feed me with the food allotted to me; Lest I be full and deny You, and say, “Who is the Lord?” Or lest I be poor and steal, and profane the name of my God.

Here we see the Psalmist asking God to “keep him in check” so to speak. He wants to have what he needs to live, but not so much that he stops depending on God. This doesn’t mean that the Lord does not want us to have wealth or good food – He just doesn’t want it to have us.

Jesus was fully God, and fully man. He was sent to the earth to do a job for us that we couldn’t do for ourselves. He laid down all His mighty weight and glory while He was here on the earth so He could live just like us – as a human. In so doing, He would reveal to us an example of how to walk humbly and closely with our God, while still doing all that we need to do in this world. Jesus can understand what we go through. From the book of Hebrews, look at this:

Hebrews 4:14-16

Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Today, as we look at this passage about the temptations of Jesus,  I believe it is a simple task indeed for most of us to look and see where we have missed it, time and time again. Oh, that we would have the faith that Jesus has. Ah, but He said He gave all of us a measure of faith – so we can’t blame anyone for a lack of faith except ourselves. It is up to each one of us to put our faith to work and cause it to grow. We may be strong in some areas, but weak in others. Something to think seriously about is how we can work on improving that, amen!

Jesus Begins His Public Ministry Vs. 12-17

After all Jesus went through in the wilderness, having proved Himself faithful, it was now time to get into the ministry for which He had been born.

In this passage, we get to see where Jesus lived. He had made His home in Capernaum. Can you imagine what it must have been like for the people to have Jesus living right there among them? Well, that’s why He came. So we could “dwell with Him.” What a glorious thing. The people back then would get a foretaste of heaven with Jesus, and when He left, He gave us the Holy Spirit of God so we too can have this wonderful blessing of salvation and light as long as we live on earth and forever more.

What an exciting time for the people of this earth, both then and now. Living in darkness ever since the fall of mankind, people have groaned for a Savior. Well, the Lord had arrived on the scene. Soon, their spiritual darkness would become light.

Jesus’ ministry was to preach repentance. As He did, people came from all around to repent and receive His light. The key to this ministry was and is to get people to come close to God. Jesus didn’t mess around with letting people know that they could go on living the way they were. They would need to display a change of heart, like we looked at yesterday through John the Baptists’ ministry.

Indeed, the kingdom of heaven was right there staring them in the face. And by the Holy Spirit, He still is today. He is calling His people to get right with Him – especially now, with all that is happening in the world. If ever there was a time to draw close to God – it’s now. Jesus came to do work the ministry of reconciliation. Look at this:

2 Corinthians 12:18-21

Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation,  that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Calling the Disciples Vs. 18-22

Immediately Jesus began calling a special group of men whom He could teach and train over the next three years or so. He began with Simon (Peter) and his brother Andrew. They had been fisherman for their trade. Now, Jesus would call them to become fishers of men. How symbolic is that. He went on to call more fishermen, James and John, and they too left their fishing trade to follow Jesus. Little did they know what would lay ahead, and still they went.

Isn’t that what Jesus is calling us to do today? He is looking for disciples on every corner of the earth. The original group would be used to introduce Christianity to the world through preaching and teaching, along with signs and wonders by the Holy Spirit. He has a specific call for each one of us, and that remains as long as we live.

Romans 11:29

For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.

Today, Jesus is looking for those who will lay down their lives for their brothers and become fishers of men too. It doesn’t necessarily mean that they will have to drop their work, unless they are called to preach full time or enter ministry some other way on a full time basis. All of us get an opportunity to be a disciple of Jesus.

Romans 12:6-8

Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith;  or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

1 John 3:16

By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

If we do, though we will not know what it will entail, we can be sure there will be some challenges to face. The devil is as real and nasty today as he ever was, and if we are a disciple of Jesus, we can be sure that he isn’t going to sit idly by while we preach the gospel. Like Jesus, we will have to learn to walk in great faith and stay close to God – watching and praying. Then and only then can we be truly safe from the snares of the enemy – like Jesus was.

Jesus’ Ministry Duties Vs. 23-25

This is an awesome passage that shows what types of things Jesus came to do. He was in the business of teaching in the synagogue, preaching the gospel far and wide, and healing all kinds of sicknesses and diseases. He helped people with torments of various kinds, and He healed the demon possessed. Yes, Jesus did it all. He did it then, and even though we cannot physically see Him, He is doing it now through His Holy Spirit. What an awesome Savior He is.

Acts 10:36-38

The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ—He is Lord of all—  that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached:  how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. 

My Experience

Like most people at various times, I can say that my day didn’t necessarily go as I had hoped it would. I got up later than usual, and before long the interruptions began and away I went with them before finishing my time with Jesus. Distractions of eating and general every day duties soon crept in to take my attention away from the One who really should matter most. It took all day to finally get settled down to finish this devotional. Until I did, I didn’t feel right. Nothing I tried to do was going right and I knew I was being led to stop, rest, and start all over again.

Fortunately we serve our God who is patient and kind. He may need to prod us a bit to get us going down the right road , but that’s OK. We will experience all kinds of temptations, just like we see Jesus did in this chapter. I certainly did today. Whether it was the enemy or my flesh, both must be watched closely. Neither can be trusted!

It was exciting to see how Jesus began His ministry of love for a dark world. I know personally, when I’m not drawing close to Jesus, things can seem dark and feel dry. I have to learn like everyone that many times, we just need to stop, grab ourselves by the neck and just sit down. We may have to cry it out for a few moments, but after that’s all done, He will comfort us and cause us to draw near to Him once again. That was my experience today.

I am dealing with a couple of issues that are far to big for me to handle, so I have to keep releasing it to the Lord. In this time, I must remember that the battler is His.

1 Samuel 17:47

Then all this assembly shall know that the Lord does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord’s, and He will give you into our hands.”

The comforting thing is that Jesus will heal us. Whether we feel physically sick, or spiritually dry, He  is there for us – no matter how it may feel at the moment. I have seen many trials and temptations as a disciple of Jesus, and friend, the battle can get very ugly. But He who is greater in us is greater than he who is in this world. We must never forget it.

1 John 4:4

You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

How About You?

Have you been facing temptations that seem overwhelming? What is your plan to keep yourself from the enemy’s snare? The Bible says this:

James 4:7-8a

Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.

Matthew 26:41

Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Do you know what your calling is? As you think about this, do you need further prayer to determine next steps?

When you face the battle, how are you leaning on God to help you through it?

Matthew 3 Our Calling - Pride vs. Humility & Repentance Read Matthew 3

Our Calling – Pride vs. Humility & Repentance

Text: Read Matthew 3 – See the AMP Version on This

April 29, 2020

John the Baptist’s Ministry & Calling Vs. 1-3

In this passage, John is out there in the wilderness crying out to people who will listen. He is calling them to repent and come to God.  Four things stand out in this passage.

Ø  The wilderness

Ø  Repentance

Ø  Jesus was about to arrive on the scene

Ø  John’s ministry was the fulfillment of prophecy

John was calling people to get ready for the Lord’s coming – to get their lives on the level, and be direct as the AMP Bible states. He had a specific time that he would be alive to be used by God to get people ready for Jesus’ coming. God is always trying to help us come back to Him.

In the place of sin and walking apart from God, it can seem like a wilderness. Nothing feels right or satisfying when we are not in right standing with the Lord. John was sent right out to a place where many would be found and could hear the call to repentance. He was letting them know they had to get their lives right because Jesus was about to come. It’s a lot like today. We have to do our part to repent and get right with Jesus, because His second return is not far off according to the scriptures and signs we are seeing.

Repentance, according to the AMP Bible is a change of heart. It is a shift away from our old way of thinking that produced sin in our lives. True repentance shows when we sincerely regret the sins we have committed and show a genuine desire to get right with God. All He wants to see is a sincere desire to change. He will help us make those changes, but we must do our part. Obedience is key in this process.

Like the timing of John’s ministry, we find ourselves in a similar time right now. With all that’s happening in the world, we are hearing the cries of the prophets far and wide. They are speaking as the oracles of God to warn people; from national and church leaders to each and every person within the sound of their voices. According to the word of God and the signs of the times, our Lord’s return is certainly not far off. We must seek His help while there is still time. John’s ministry was indeed the fulfillment of prophecy, and look at what the scriptures says about the times we live in now.

‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, that I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions, your old men shall dream dreams.  And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; and they shall prophesy. I will show wonders in heaven above and signs in the earth beneath: Blood and fire and vapor of smoke.  The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord.

And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’ Acts 2:17-21

John’s Diet & Wardrobe Vs. 4

Here we see John wearing camel’s hair and eating locust beans and honey. His wardrobe was anything but ‘high fashion’ for those days. His diet was not one filled with this world’s tasty delicacies. No, he was called to do a special work, and while he did it, he had a special diet. In thinking about this today, I sincerely doubt that he had any problem with the fact that he wasn’t dressed in the finest clothes available in those days, and he certainly didn’t fret over what he had to eat.

I believe this section speaks to us today regarding priorities. Not that there is anything wrong with nice clothes or good food, because there isn’t. That’s why God created so much variety for us and gave people skills to make nice clothing. That said, those things can become a problem if they hold an inappropriate place in our hearts. Some of us have struggled with these things. But when we compare it to loving Jesus, does it really matter that much?

Humility Brings Repentance Vs. 5-6

In this set of verses, we see many people coming to seek forgiveness for their sins and get cleansed. This is what baptism is symbolic of – cleansing from sin; the old way of doing things, and coming up from the cleansing to a new, holy life with Jesus. There must have been great joy when they were doing that. Getting rid of sin would feel like a thousand pound weight had been lifted off of one’s shoulders. The people we see in this passage were coming from Jerusalem, all of Judea and round about the Jordan. These were the humble crowd. They knew they needed to change and were willing. How that blesses God’s heart.

Pride Brings Judgement Vs. 7-12

When John saw the Pharisees and Sadducees, he knew what he was looking at. He saw them as a brood of vipers, aka, devils. Their hearts were hard, and it was obvious. This group came out with excuses. Claiming to be children of God as children of Abraham, they really didn’t have a heart for repentance in the first place.

John warned them that unless they (trees = people) would show the proof of (fruit) a changed life, they would be cut down and thrown into the fire. John let them know that though He baptized with water, one was coming who would baptize in fire if they didn’t repent. He let them know that it was a choice to get right with God or be destroyed. Jesus was going to come and collect His believers and burn up those that were unrepentant.

In the two sections above, we see the example of humility verses pride. The time of judgment was coming, and the people needed to decide what they were going to do. God always leaves the choice up to us. We can see a similar example in the following section of scripture where Jesus was hanging on the cross between two thieves:

Luke 23:39-43

Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, “If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.”  But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.”  Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.”

And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”

This is a perfect example of one who was hard hearted (proud, arrogant) and not interested in repentance even though he was facing imminent judgment, while the other man humbled himself right then and there. He knew he was a sinner and that the man he hung beside was an innocent man. His humility earned him an eternity in the presence of Jesus. He had certainly made the right choice – why? Because his heart was right, even though he had committed sin. With Jesus, it’s really all about the heart.

The Baptism and Introduction of Jesus Vs. 13-17

John was introduced to Jesus by a request to baptize Him. How surprised he must have been. But he did what was asked. He was an obedient servant. How glorious that day must have been. It would be the day that Jesus would begin His public ministry. What he saw was amazing. Jesus received the power of the Holy Spirit – yet He came so gently, just as a dove. Isn’t it amazing how much power God must have, yet how gentle He moves on and in His people?

That day, a public announcement came straight from the Father God in heaven, saying this was His Son and that He was pleased with Him. We see the same type of thing happen back in Luke 23 when Jesus hung on that cross. Look at this:

Luke 23:36-38

The soldiers also mocked Him, coming and offering Him sour wine, and saying, “If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself.”

And an inscription also was written over Him in letters of Greek, Latin, and Hebrew:

THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

Although they didn’t realize it that day, they were making a public announcement of who Jesus was and is – the King of the Jews, and in fact, the King of Kings!

What an exciting and terrible time it was back then for people – just like now. It’s exciting for those who are humbling themselves and turning to God, but a terrible time for those who remain hard hearted. Look at this from the book of Proverbs:

Proverbs 29:1, 23

He who is often rebuked, and hardens his neck, will suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy. A man’s pride will bring him low, but the humble in spirit will retain honor.

These verses say it all. Pride and stubbornness have never been acceptable to God, and never will be. He expects us to make changes and to be obedient. Look at the next verse from the AMP Bible in the same chapter:

Proverbs 29:18 AMP

Where there is no vision [no revelation of God and His word], the people are unrestrained; but happy and blessed is he who keeps the law [of God].

When we know what God’s will is, then we will know what we should do. After that, it’s just a matter of doing it. Being unrestrained is akin to being out of control. This is not of God. When the Holy Spirit lands in our hearts, He brings the fruit of self-control. Therefore, this fruit should be evident in our lives each day.

My Experience

In my life, I have had a calling to dress a certain way and eat a certain way. My past life carried a lot of bondage where food was concerned, and God has been so gracious to help me to learn a healthier way of eating. I have been spared from so much by following His way of eating. I  used to enjoy being all dressed up, but of late, I feel much more comfortable in everyday, stretchy, easy to wash and wear types of garments.

These days I am not so concerned with the fancy hairdo or the makeup. I really don’t mind the changes God has made in me. It seems to make it simpler, less time consuming and certainly less expensive. What I see more and more is what is most important now. To that there is only one answer – loving Jesus with all our heart, all our soul, all our mind and all our strength. It will mean making some sacrifices. I have learned that to be a Christian means giving up the world’s way of doing things. The way we talk, how we spend our time, the way we dress, work, play, and yes, even the way we eat among many other things.

I have certainly had to humble myself before the Lord and admit that I haven’t always done what He has asked me to do. I don’t want to be like the person He talks about in Proverbs and be stubborn or prideful – insisting on my own way. He always knows what’s best for us, personally as well as spiritually. A surrendered life is a life of trusting Him and walking in faith – one that He is well pleased with. And I learned we do not have to perform to earn His love. We can try to do all the right things, and at times we will miss it. But one thing is certain, because of Jesus, He is well pleased with us as His sons (that means ladies too). Jesus’ work at the cross did it all for us. Hallelujah!

How About You?

1.    Are you willing to seek the Lord and find out where you might need to change your way of thinking and doing things?

2.    Is your heart soft toward God, or do you need a bit more prodding to break it up?

3.    What has the Lord asked you to do that may need to be revisited?

4.    When Holy Spirit comes in, we can do what we are called to do in His power, not our own. Do you depend on His strength or your own?

Song: Unto You By: One Worship

Unto You be the glory. Unto You be the praise. Unto You let every heart bow down;
Let every hand be raised. Unto You let all worship rise, a fragrant sacrifice…
Until every deed and word on earth be unto You.

Matthew 2 Doors of Opportunity

Doors of Opportunity

Text: Read Matthew 2

April 28, 2020

The Wise Men’s Visit – Vs. 1-2                                           

When I read this chapter today, I saw some things that really stood out to me differently than ever before. Most of us can see in the opening verses that wise men still seek the Lord Jesus. The men who came from the east had one purpose in mind for their trip – to seek the foretold newborn King. They had seen the star and followed it. Isn’t it amazing how God always makes a way for us to find Jesus – if we will seek Him.

Herod’s Trouble Vs. 3-8

When we look at the wicked king Herod, we know that this is a representation of satan. Herod was really troubled at the thought of anyone taking over his kingdom. He was very interested in finding out exactly where this birth would take place so he could get there and destroy any chance of hindrance to his dominion.

Satan always hates it when he senses God doing anything to hinder his wicked plans. It troubles him greatly when he sees people seeking after the Lord Jesus and he will try to do anything to stop it. We must stay alert to his schemes.

Truly Seeking Jesus – Vs. 9-10

The wise men continued to follow the star to find Jesus. They didn’t let anything stop them. They were filled with great joy as they went. That’s a sign that they were expecting to experience something glorious! Following Jesus can be a very joy filled experience – if we embrace it. Once thing is certain - when we seek Him, we will find Him.

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Matthew 7:7-8

And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13

Offering Jesus Your ‘Treasures’ – Vs. 11

In this verse, we see that once we find Jesus, we are to bring Him treasures. After all He has done for us, it’s the only right thing to do to show Him our love and appreciation. What kind of treasure should we bring? Anything that is precious to us. Jesus loves our best offering of treasures. He doesn’t care if it is gold (money) or something else. It can just be our time with Him. I believe He loves that best of all. He appreciates a gift that is precious and meaningful to the giver. The wise men didn’t bring any cheap gifts to baby Jesus. No, they brought the finest and most meaningful gifts they could bring. That’s what you and I can bring Him as well.

So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:7

Dreams & Angels Vs. 13-14

We can see how God spoke to Joseph by sending an angel to speak to him in a dream. God uses messenger angels – then and now. He also speaks in dreams and has been since the beginning of mankind. It’s important to pay attention to what we dream. Write it down and take it to the Lord in prayer for His interpretation. He will use angels, dreams, and visions to warn us, guide us, show us things to come, or give us ideas and directions. The possibilities are endless.

Out of Bondage Vs. 15

There is so much that one can glean from this verse alone. The phrase, “Out of Egypt have I called My Son”, says much. Since we are the sons of God (male & female alike) we can rest assured that God is interested in calling us out of ‘Egypt’ or bondage too.

The Enemy’s Destruction Vs. 16-18

We can be certain that Satan will stop at nothing to try to wreak havoc in our lives. He will search out those who are seeking to walk closely with the Lord Jesus and attempt to steal, kill and destroy our time with Him. He does not want us to be in God’s kingdom, so he will send every devil he can to distract and derail us in some way. He knows which ones to send for each of us, depending on our individual weaknesses. This is why we need to cling to Jesus. Finding Him is cause for great celebration. But avoiding the snares of the enemy requires abiding in His presence closely every day; letting nothing get in the way. The weeping heard in Rama was indicative of the sorrow we experience when the enemy has robbed us of something precious.

The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. John 10:10

Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. James 4:7-8a

Dreams of Instructions Vs. 19-23

Joseph was visited by an angel in a dream two more times to let him know when it was safe to go and where to go. When he feared the new ruler, God was right there sending him yet another message in a dream so he would know what to do and where to go. God had directed Joseph and Mary’s steps all the way through this. They were never harmed in any way, though at times their journeys looked treacherous.

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye. Psalm 32:8

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6

My Experience Today

I saw a lot in these verses as I studied in my quiet time this  morning. First is the wisdom to seek Jesus. To be in His presence to start the day is the wisest thing I could do. It all started off quite well. I was awakened at 3am. I laid there and thought about a book I have been reading that talked about the love of Jesus, and what it means to love Him back. How appropriate this day was to reinforce what I had been reading.

I wondered about the dream I had during the night. In it, I saw a bathroom with many stall doors. All were shut except one. There was a hand knocking on each door. At first glance, as I prayed through this, I thought of the doors of our hearts. They can be closed or open to the Lord.

After further study, I recalled a conversation my husband and I had yesterday. We discussed open and closed doors of opportunities in our lives. I had been sad to discover that I had missed an opportunity to write a book that was on my heart years ago. It seems the door for that is now shut.

Today, as I looked to the Lord for direction on what project He would have me do, I see so much in this chapter that I could identify with in this season of my life. When we seek to be close to Jesus, we can be certain that Satan’s helpers will try their best to bring the distractions that will steal us away from the feet of Jesus. That certainly happened to me today. I admit my flesh had a thing or two to do with it as well.

While I was planning to just sit with the Lord and linger awhile longer in His presence, I was required to take our dog to the vet for what turned out to be an unnecessary appointment. I could sense there was something wrong before we left, yet I didn’t seek the Lord on what the problem was.

On the way to the vet I sensed other signs that trouble was in the air. I began to pray and seek the Lord to find out what it was. One thing led to another, and as I sat in the parking lot waiting for the vet to see our dog, it came to me. Fortunately, I was able to cancel the appointment and made other arrangements to get the help we needed for our dog.

Once home, I was tangled up with meal preparation which could have waited a little longer. This was the “out of bondage” part for me. Busyness and food prep have been a form of bondage that has stolen much precious time away from the Lord. Next, the maintenance man appeared at our door to install a new dishwasher, and well, you get the picture. Distractions, distractions and more distractions. By then, the door of opportunity had been shut. The sweet time of fellowship had been interrupted.  

All of this left me sorrowful that it did not go as well as it could have – perhaps exceedingly and abundantly beyond anything I could have imagined. Look at this verse that I have seen many times before when dealing with this subject of stolen opportunity. I believe it says it all.

Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?” John 11:40

We need to remember that when we have a dream, many times, it is God trying to speak to us. If we would just stop and take the time to seek Jesus, and once we sense His presence, just stay there – a little while longer. If we could remember to be on guard for the little foxes that spoil the vine. If we love Him enough to keep other things at a distant second place, I believe we would get so much more out of our time with Him each day. We would experience His glory and be filled with great joy rather than sorrow.

How About You?

1.    Are you taking the time to seek Jesus every day and then linger in His presence?

2.    Are you paying attention to your dreams by writing them down and praying them through?

3.    Are you bringing Jesus your best ‘treasures’?

4.    Did you know that spending time with Him can get us out of bondage to the things that steal our attention on a regular basis?

Song: I Just Want to Be Where You Are By: Don Moen (Came to me when I finished writing this piece)

I just want to be where you are, dwelling daily in your presence. I don't want to worship from afar. Draw me near to where you are. I just want to be where you are. In your dwelling place forever. Take me to the place where you are. 'Cause I just want to be with you. I want to be where you are, dwelling in your presence, feasting at your table, surrounded by your glory. In your presence that's where I always want to be. I just want to be, I just want to be with you. To enter boldly in your presence. I don't want to worship from afar - draw me near to where you are. O my God, you are my strength and my song. And when I'm in your presence, though I'm weak You're always strong.