Twelve

Day 12

When I was little, I was always confused why God had a Chosen People: the Israelites.  Did He not love everyone the same? Why does the Bible single them as His special children?

I don't really know all, or even most, of the answers.  But I do know that God is good. And Great.  And that this weeks devos answered some of what I used to wonder.

First, the Old Testament

• Isaiah 56: 6 "I will also bless the foreigners who commit themselves to the Lord, who serve him and love his name, who worship him and do no desecrate the Sabbath day of rest, and who hold fast to my commandments." (NLT)

Then the New Testament

• Acts 15:8-9 8 God knows the people's hearts, and he confirmed that he accepts Gentiles [non-Jews] by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he did to us. 9 He made no distinction between us and them, for he cleansed their hearts through faith. (NLT with added explanation)
• Acts 15:11 We believe that we are all saved the same way, by the undeserved grace of the Lord Jesus. (NLT)

The Lord never intended to not save the Gentiles, to not love them.  He's called all of us.  Even in the old testament, throughout the prophets, he extends His grace to the "not chosen" people.  In the New Testament Paul argues the Gentiles case.  God has chosen us to be His people.
1 Peter 2:8-9  ⁹ But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. ¹⁰ “Once you had no identity as a people; now you are God’s people. Once you received no mercy; now you have received God’s mercy.” (NLT)

We're His!

Eleven

Day 11

It's hard to trust God when you don't see Him.  It's hard to trust His plan when you see "nothing" being accomplished.  It's rough sharing your faith when all you receive in return is rejection. It's next to impossible to take the next step when you don't trust where your foot will land.

It's a good thing that none of it is in our own hands.  Even when we don't understand or comprehend, the Lord has good in store for us (Jeremiah 29:11-13).

Isaiah 55 8-9 "8 My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts," says the Lord.  "And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. 9 For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts." (NLT)

As children of God, we can have full confidence in the Lord's plan for our lives.  For the last month I've been struggling with finding solid fellowship.  I have amazing friends! Don't get me wrong.  But finding those who share my faith and want to grow as badly as I do has been rough.  I feel like I'm not doing enough, not sharing enough, not searching hard enough.  When I do share, I feel like my words are rejected.  Even shunned and laughed at.  But His ways are far beyond my ways.  I know He has good planned for me.

Isaiah 55:10-11 10 "The rain and snow come down from the heavens and stay on the ground to water the earth.  They cause the grain to grow, producing seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry. 11 It is the same with my word.  I send it out, and it always produces fruit.  It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it." (NLT)

It's not up to me who accepts or declines God's Word.  But it is up to me whether I live a lifestyle that screams Jesus.  God's Will will be done, with or without my help.  I only need to trust and give my all to Him.

Thank goodness it's not up to me! ;)

Ten

Feeling so much better today. Yay good sleep.
Proud of you all!!! We're a third of the way through this 30 Day Challenge. Keep it up!

S Acts 13: 38-39 38 "Brothers, listen! We are here to proclaim that through this man Jesus there is forgiveness for your sins. 39 Everyone who believes in him is declared right with God--something the law of Moses could never do. (NLT)

O Paul had been preaching to the Jewish people in the synagogue, telling them that the law could not save them. Works were not enough.  Following all 600+ laws of the Torah could not bring salvation. Only belief in Christ can make one right with God.

A Do I live by the law? Or by Christ? Many times I "do things" just so I can feel accomplished. I try to earn my way to Christ. But the Bible is very clear that only belief and God's grace will bring salvation.
Ephesians 2:8-9 8God saved you by his grace when you believed.  And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us vcan boast about it. (NLT)

P Thank you Jesus that it is all you and none of me!

Nine

Today I'm pretty sick with a head cold. So I'm just going to post the passage I got this morning and let the Word do the talking. :)


Isaiah 54:4-6 4 "Fear not; you will no longer live in shame.  Don't be afraid; there is no more disgrace for you.  You will no longer remember the shame of your youth and the sorrows of widowhood.  5 For your Creator will be your husband; the Lord of Heaven's Armies is his name! He is your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel, the God of all the earth.  6 For the Lord has called you back from your grief--as though you were a young wife abandoned by her husband," says your God. " (NLT)

Eight

Today is an absolutely gorgeous day here in North West Washington.  Too bad I'm in school and at work for most of the day. Oh the irony. Here's day 8! Keep it up all you 30 Day Challengers! And if you haven't started, it's alright, you can finish the challenge with me. :) You can be 22 Day Challengers. Still just as cool!

Day 8

S Isaiah 53:4-5 4 Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down.  And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for his own sins! 5 But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins.  He was beaten so we could be whole.  He was whipped so we could be healed. (NLT)

O Isaiah is talking about deliverance for Jerusalem (or Israel) through God's servant (the Messiah).  He prophecies what the Servant will endure for God's people.  That every sin of God's people (and ultimately the world) are placed on the Servant's shoulders.  

A  Do you really understand how great and important the Cross is?  We take it for granted so so often. God's Grace for us is incredible!!! If we could just wrap our minds around even a part of the Cross, our perspective would change drastically.  "He was beaten so we could be whole.  He was whipped so we could be healed." Jesus Christ died and took your sins so you can have relationship with Christ.  Grace and Christ's sacrifice is at the center of Christianity (what Christianity should be.)! No other religion can claim that.  No other religion requires nothing but acceptance of God's gift: the Cross. His Son.

P  Lord, so often we take for granted what you did on that Cross.  Remind me daily of your incredible love and sacrifice.  Remind me that you have made me clean, pure, holy, but that cleanliness did come at a very high price.  You alone are good Lord. Thank you for accepting me just as I am.

Seven

This one hit home for me. So it might be a little rough, but it definitely spoke to me and was needed. If you're to read any of my 30 Day Challenge entries I'd check out this one. 

P.s. Still loving hearing about your devos! God's rocking some of you and I love seeing it. Keep it up! So proud of you.

Day 7

Isaiah 52:1-2 ¹ Wake up, wake up, O Zion! Clothe yourself with strength. Put on your beautiful clothes, O holy city of Jerusalem, for unclean and godless people will enter your gates no longer. ² Rise from the dust, O Jerusalem. Sit in a place of honor. Remove the chains of slavery from your neck, O captive daughter of Zion. (NLT)

I mess up all the time.  I fail. It frustrates me! I give into sin like I give in to the desire to eat chocolate chip cookies.  I flirt with temptation.  I enter the kitchen where I know the smell will haunt me.  I look at the cookies and don't stop myself when I know I'm beginning to give in.  I then pick up that cookie jar, telling myself that I can resist, but knowing full well that I'll give in eventually.  Finally I take that cookie...my sin...and I indulge.  To the point where I feel like I'm going to throw up. Sometimes physically sick.

And yet...every time I mess up God's there to pick me back up.  It's ridiculous to me! My finite mind can't wrap  around the fact that my Father sees me as clean.  Does that give me permission to sin? No.  But it does give me permission to accept grace and the Cross. I can take Christ's sacrifice and "Remove the chains of slavery from your [my] neck..." and continue in His grace for His purpose.

So Church.  Put on your beautiful clothes.  Clothe yourself with strength.  Forget your shame.  Remove your chains.  Sit in a place of honor where Christ has put you.  You are forgiven.  You are holy through the Cross.  

Five & Six

AAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!! Sorry I haven't been posting journal entries...I have a litany of excuses but I'll save you the time and just post the entries...

Day 5

Acts 10:15 ¹⁵ But the voice spoke again: “Do not call something unclean if God has made it clean.” (NLT)

Up to this point Peter, a disciple of Jesus, had not eaten anything forbidden in the law.  But God called him to eat all these "unclean" animals (snakes, birds, other animals).  Peter then goes on to Cornelius' (a Roman) house and brings them the Good News and Cornelius and his household are saved and received the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

So who am I to say someone isn't "clean enough" to be saved?  Who am I to deny Christ to anyone? No matter their sins, they're not greater than my own.  They're not greater than yours.  Anyone can and will be cleaned by Christ's grace if they accept Him.  Who am I to stand in the way?

Day 6

Isaiah 51:12-13 12 I, yes I, am the one who comforts you.  So why are you afraid of mere humans, who wither like the grass and disappear.  13 Yet you have forgotten the Lord, your Creator, the one who stretched out the sky like a canopy and laid the foundations of the earth.  Will you remain in constant dread of human oppressors? Will you continue to fear the anger of your enemies? Where is their fury and anger now? It is gone! (NLT)

It says it right there: "I, yes I am the one who comforts you." I have nothing to fear from anybody.  The Lord protects and gives me strength.  So when I feel alone up here in Bellingham (because trust me, I do), I can trust and know that He is here with me.  There is nothing anyone can do to me. 

God rocks.