For The Love Of Gomer

Posted on January 29, 2016 by heatonkent

forgive power ofWhen the Lord began to speak by Hosea, the Lord said to Hosea: “Go, take yourself a wife of harlotry and children of harlotry, for the land has committed great harlotry by departing from the Lord.” So he went and took Gomer the daughter of Diblaim, and she conceived and bore him a son. (Hosea 1:2-3)

For The Love Of Gomer

The prophets were unusual men. Their task was herculean as they tried to bring the hearts of the people back to God. In the end the nation of Israel was destroyed with a remnant taken off to captivity for seventy years. The message of the prophets has been preserved through the Holy Spirit to give a model of God’s love, grace and mercy to a rebellious people. Some of these men were asked to do unusual things. Hosea was no exception. Instructed by the Lord to take a wife of harlotry he obeyed. He and Gomer had three sons: Jezreel, Lo-Ruhamah and Lo-Ammi. A shocking and sad truth becomes evident in the story of Hosea. Lo-Ruhamah and Lo-Ammi were not Hosea’s children. Gomer was being unfaithful to her husband. Later Hosea was told to take his adulterous wife back and to love her which he did buying her for the price of a common slave.

On the face of the story there is a reaction of horror. A man marries a woman of less than favorable character. She bears three children but instead of the joy of family it is discovered the woman continues her immoral ways bearing two of the sons by other men. The disgust for such a woman would easily be justified but then to find out the man goes out and finds the woman prostituting herself in the world and brings her back home. What man in his right mind would do such a thing? How could anyone look upon Gomer with anything but absolute disgust? Why would the Lord require this by the hand of his prophet?

For the Christian today the story of Hosea and Gomer seems disturbing. It is only when we spend time to understand the story that it is discovered who Gomer really is. The woman of rebellion is you – and she is me. Being comfortable with sin is very easy. We can become smug in our view of how we live before God. Sin is rebellion. How many times have we gone before the Lord and begged forgiveness one more time. Is it possible to count the number of times we have been forgiven? Do we deserve to be taken back again and again? God’s mercy is the theme of Hosea because His amazing love is expressed through the actions of Hosea. Gomer does not deserve the love of Hosea but Hosea loves his wife and will do anything for her. We do not deserve God’s love but His abounding mercy continues to fill our lives. Grace. Amazing. Love. Unending. The Lord keeps taking us back.

Hosea’s final message is telling. “Who is wise? Let him understand these things. Who is prudent? Let him know them. For the ways of the Lord are right; the righteous walk in them, but transgressors stumble in them.” Thank you God for your unending love, your incredible mercy and your grace that is more amazing every day.

Grace is unconquerable love … waits not for merit to call it forth, but flows out to the most guilty, is the sinner’s only hope. (William Ellery Channing; 1780-1842; Works)

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Changed Lives

Posted on January 28, 2016 by heatonkent

 

AMAZING-GRACE1Afterward I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. And I was unknown by face to the churches of Judea which were in Christ. But they were hearing only, “He who formerly persecuted us now preaches the faith which he once tried to destroy.” And they glorified God in me. (Galatians 1:21-24)

Changed Lives

Saul of Tarsus was born with a silver spoon in his mouth. He came from a family that nurtured him as a devoted child of Abraham. His teaching was at the feet of Gamaliel, one of the greatest scholars of his day. As pedigrees goes Saul had it all. He came from the tribe of Benjamin known for their fierce spirit. Privilege came as a Pharisee placing him in a position of authority. When the followers of a man from Nazareth began to oppose the Law of Moses he became a one man movement of persecution against them. And he was very good at what he did. He shut up many Christians in prison, voted to have them killed, persecuted them in every synagogue and tortured them to deny Christ. His life had one purpose: annihilate the followers of Jesus. Nothing could contain his rage against the church.

It was on the road to Damascus the life of Saul changed forever. The church would never be the same either. Three days after the Lord appeared to Saul on the road the great persecutor of the church of Christ became a disciple of the Lord. His fierce spirit of devotion would now spend his final years declaring the gospel of salvation in the Man he sought to destroy. For the disciples living in Damascus the last person they would have ever dreamed that would become a Christian was Saul. He was the poster boy for persecution. Yet there he sat in the house of Judas still dripping from the baptismal waters eating a meal.

Paul would later write the gospel was the power of God to salvation. When those words were penned upon the parchment they meant so much more to the apostle. There is great power in the teaching of Jesus Christ. It has the power to change lives. Found in the seed of God’s love is a message that will take sinful man and give them a grace found only in the bosom of the Lord. Saul of Tarsus would die as a devoted servant of Jesus Christ. His life is a testimony to how the word of God can change lives. The vilest of sinner can become a child of God. Those whom we think least likely to have interest in the gospel are the first row candidates. When Paul went about preaching throughout the Roman world people were talking about his conversion and glorifying God.

The gospel of Jesus Christ has not changed. It will still bring those enslaved by alcohol and drugs to the cross of redemption. Women who sell their bodies, criminals who have known little compassion, immoral lives and corrupt hearts will find cleansing in the blood of Jesus Christ. The death of Jesus was not a surgical sacrifice for a select few. He died for all men – everybody! His death was to save the Jew, the Moslem, the Buddhist, the middle class American, the one with a different color skin or nationality, those lost in the slums of poverty and the mansions of wealth, young or old, tattooed, purple haired punkers and especially the socially content arrogant religious neighbor. Jesus Christ came to save you in the place you find yourself no matter where that is.

There is in truth a sort of reverence due to sinners, when we look at them not as in their sins, but simply as having sinned, and being the objects of a Divine yearning. (Frederick W. Faber, The Spirit of, 1914)

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Knowledge Is Power

Posted on January 27, 2016 by heatonkent

b_study1Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid. (Proverbs 12:1)

Knowledge Is Power

The proverbs of the Lord can be plain and blunt. A simple rule of life can be found in twelve words. Heeding the advice of the proverb declares the message of the proverb. God’s word has always been matters of instruction giving man the knowledge to be wise or unwise. The apostle John wrote that God’s laws are not burdensome. When have the instructions of the Lord been hard to understand? It is not the law of God that is the problem; it is the heart of man that rejects the plain instructions of the Creator.

A man who loves instruction has an open heart to receive whatever the Lord tells him. Reading the Bible is comforting yet afflicting. Like a mirror the image of man is found on the pages of God’s word showing his glory as he is made in the image of the Divine. When a man spends time in the word of God he also sees his failures and needs to change. It is easy to see the good parts but when a man realizes his nature before a just God his heart can turn away from the word and that is unwise. To love knowledge is a desire to make changes in life according to the will of God. Turning away from the instructions of the Lord is stupid. The meaning is that man is (as the saying goes) as dumb as an ox. A brute beast is exactly that: brute. There is no thinking to this kind of animal. Rejecting the teaching of the Lord is stupid because man can find no other way to understand who he is apart from his Creator.

Man was created for the glory of God. The Lord has given man His will and desires for man to read, understand and obey. Showing the greatest love for man Jesus died on the cross to save man. The majority of people view the Bible with disdain. Their only salvation is right in front of them and they have no interest in what it says. How dumb to be drowning with a life boat in front of you. If a man were dying of a terrible disease and the cure was in a bottle next to his bed why would he stubbornly reject its healing power? That is stupid – unwise – foolish. Every day thousands of people die with no hope and no peace and the answer to their eternal dilemma is the word of God. Loving instruction is a heart willing to change whatever needs to be changed because the Lord knows what we need. To reject the plain teaching of the Bible is just stupid.

Other books were given for our information; the Bible was given for our transformation. (Anonymous)

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OMG is SIN

Posted on January 26, 2016 by heatonkent

Anger2You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain. (Exodus 20:7)

OMG is SIN

The name of God is holy and reverend. A lot of folk do not think so from what is heard and seen on social media. It is not uncommon to hear people use language that dishonors the Lord. Cursing the name of the Creator goes from blatant foul language to socially accepted use of His name in vain. The real danger comes from the children of God cursing their Father’s name with terms like OMG (Oh my God) or more direct use of the name God in various formats. Misguided souls think as long as they do not ‘curse’ the name of God in the obvious language of cursing they are safe to use the name of the Lord in any other fashion. Wrong! The Lord will require judgment upon all who use His name in a flippant manner.

There was a case among the people of Israel where two men got into a fight. One was the son of a woman from the tribe of Dan whose husband was Egyptian. The woman’s son blasphemed the name of the Lord and cursed. He was brought to Moses to determine what must be done. The Lord told Moses to take the young man outside the camp and to require all those who heard him curse the name of the Lord lay their hands on his head and then stone him with stones. And they did. The penalty under the Law of Moses for blaspheming the name of the Lord was death. While the Law of Moses is no longer binding God’s view of His name is unchanged.

God’s name is to be feared because His name is who He is. Using His name in a vain manner insults the character of the holiness of the Lord. One of His names is THE LORD YOUR GOD. This name is to be feared. It is a glorious name and is awesome. Another name of the Lord is JEALOUS because He is a jealous God. All through scripture the Lord God Almighty reminds us that His name is not to be used in a vain fashion. Because the world approves of this kind of language does not suggest God does.

It must be made clear that using God’s name in vain does not limit itself to speaking but also what we hear. The world of media has no honor for the name of God. Television shows will use God’s name constantly in many forms. Movies will use God’s name in cursing. We have become desensitized to how God’s name is used and will watch show after show that decries the name of God. People of God will mention movies they have seen where the name of God is cursed. Have we decided the Lord allows a certain number of times for His name to be cursed before He gets angry? If you knew a movie you were going to watch used God’s name ONCE as a curse – would you watch it? Sadly many brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ will. When God declared His name holy and His name should not be taken in vain He did not allow latitude. Movies, television shows, music or books that use foul language including the socially accepted use of God’s name in vain (like OMG) should not be on the list of a child of God. He will not hold His children innocent. Pretending like you did not hear it does not make it go away.

But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned. (Jesus)

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Jesus Does Not Fit The Mold

Posted on January 25, 2016 by heatonkent

ThinkingTherefore many from the crowd, when they heard this saying, said, “Truly this is the Prophet.” Others said, “This is the Christ.” But some said, “Will the Christ come out of Galilee? Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the seed of David and from the town of Bethlehem, where David was?” So there was a division among the people because of Him. (John 7:40-43)

Jesus Does Not Fit The Mold

People see what they want to see. Preconceived ideas hinder an honest examination of truth when what is presented does not fit the mold of acceptance. Truth becomes a discussion of perception instead of what is real. Jesus had an image problem that caused a lot of confusion on the part of those who were trying to understand who He was. His teaching was astonishing, the miracles powerful and His presence certainly demanding. No one doubted or denied His miracles. A few challenged His teaching but soon learned this was futile. The character of the Lord was above reproach and literally blameless. What nagged at the minds of many was that while there was serious consideration for who Jesus was it did not fit their mold of belief.

The Jews had longed looked for the coming of the Prophet or Messiah. Through the centuries various ideas had been put in place to the character of the Coming One. By the time Jesus arrived on scene these prejudices were firmly planted in the minds of the people. This man from Nazareth was a confusion. He exhibited many of the traits of the Prophet but He was from Galilee. Nazareth was a town less than twenty miles from the Sea of Galilee. Everyone knew that Jesus was from Nazareth, His ‘parents’ were Joseph and Mary and he had five brothers and some sisters. He was the son of a carpenter. Nothing is said in Old Testament scripture about the Prophet coming from Galilee. Jesus could not be the Christ because He came from the wrong part of the country.

To further show that Jesus could not be the Anointed One the people remembered the Scripture said the Christ would come from Bethlehem and from the lineage of David. Jesus did not come from Bethlehem so how could He be the Christ? A man from Galilee was trying to convince the multitudes that He was the Christ and this brought about great division. The real problem was not Jesus. In fact the Lord was from Bethlehem. Prejudice blinds the eyes to truth. If the people had simply ask a few basic questions about Jesus they would have found out that Joseph and Mary were of the seed of David and when they returned to Bethlehem to register in the census thirty years earlier Jesus was born there. He spent the first few years of His life in Bethlehem before moving to Egypt for a time and then growing up in Nazareth. But no one asked the question because Jesus did not fit the mold of what they had in their mind.

There are many reasons men reject Jesus. One problem that men still have with Jesus is He does not fit a mold they have in their mind. The crucified Savior does not appeal to their minds because they are looking for something else. It seems foolish to them to give their lives to a criminal executed by Rome and a bunch of jealous Jews. Wisdom dictates rejecting the Lord for a higher level of knowledge so that man can exalt his own self-interest at the expense of Jesus. Just like two thousand years ago the people cannot see God who stands before them. The scriptures declare the power of God through His Son and all the wisdom of man brought together for all time is barely an atomic particle of significance compared to Jesus Christ. The Bible is ridiculed yet it endures generation after generation. God’s plan to save man is rejected for something that makes “more sense” because the truth does not fit their mold and myriads of people are lost. Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. He still is. The evidence is clear. He is from Bethlehem. He is the Savior.

If Christ is born a thousand times in Bethlehem and not in thee, then art thou lost forever. (Angelus Silesius; 1624-1677; Cherubic Pilgrim)

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He Is My Father

Posted on January 24, 2016 by heatonkent

prayerrootsNow it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.” So He said to them, “When you pray, say: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us day by day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” (Luke 11:1-4)

He Is My Father

One of the greatest blessings of being a Christian is the knowledge that I can talk to the Creator of the world. He holds the universe in the palm of His hand and in that hand He sees me. There are six billion people that roam the earth yet the Father knows my name, my needs, my troubles, my wants and my hope. There is nothing He does not know about me. He has watched me form in the womb and grow to manhood. In everything I have done His presence has been guiding me. Early in life the words He spoke at the beginning of time have been before me. As I matured in faith He has become a comfort to my troubled spirit. There have been times He has chastised me because of my sin. Often do I feel His compassionate forgiveness when I do not deserve such mercy. He is my Father.

I wish that I could live to be nine hundred years old to drink deeply from the well of God’s knowledge. It is clear that in the end I would still only have a shallow cup of understanding. The more I begin to unfold the character of my Father before my eyes the more I close my eyes in shame. There is no greater knowledge, no greater love, no greater grace or presence like my Father. If the sky were a parchment and the oceans a well of ink there would never be enough space or time to write all the wonderful lyrics of the psalm of salvation.

Jesus taught His disciples not just to pray but to change the heart to a personal relationship with the Father. He is my Father. I honor Him by calling Him my Father because I need Him in every part of my life. His law rules in my life. He provides my daily care. The blood of His Son cleanses me from my sin. I share the image of my Father with my fellow man as I show the same mercy, forgiveness and truth with them. His power guides me to overcome my enemy Satan crushing him underfoot. When I rise from prayer I am victorious. My God is my Father and He loves me. He knows me. And I do not deserve any of this. Yet He is still my Father. I cannot fathom this.

My Father, which is in heaven. Hallowed be your Name.

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Jehoiakim’s Folly

Posted on January 23, 2016 by heatonkent

dailydevotion_1Saturday Morning Promises – Great Stories

And they went to the king, into the court; but they stored the scroll in the chamber of Elishama the scribe, and told all the words in the hearing of the king. So the king sent Jehudi to bring the scroll, and he took it from Elishama the scribe’s chamber. And Jehudi read it in the hearing of the king and in the hearing of all the princes who stood beside the king. Now the king was sitting in the winter house in the ninth month, with a fire burning on the hearth before him. And it happened, when Jehudi had read three or four columns that the king cut it with the scribe’s knife and cast it into the fire that was on the hearth, until all the scroll was consumed in the fire that was on the hearth. Yet they were not afraid, nor did they tear their garments, the king nor any of his servants who heard all these words. Nevertheless Elnathan, Delaiah, and Gemariah implored the king not to burn the scroll; but he would not listen to them. And the king commanded Jerahmeel the king’s son, Seraiah the son of Azriel, and Shelemiah the son of Abdeel, to seize Baruch the scribe and Jeremiah the prophet, but the Lord hid them. Now after the king had burned the scroll with the words which Baruch had written at the instruction of Jeremiah, the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah, saying: “Take yet another scroll, and write on it all the former words that were in the first scroll which Jehoiakim the king of Judah has burned. And you shall say to Jehoiakim king of Judah, ‘Thus says the Lord: “You have burned this scroll, saying, ‘Why have you written in it that the king of Babylon will certainly come and destroy this land, and cause man and beast to cease from here?’ Therefore thus says the Lord concerning Jehoiakim king of Judah: ‘He shall have no one to sit on the throne of David, and his dead body shall be cast out to the heat of the day and the frost of the night. I will punish him, his family, and his servants for their iniquity; and I will bring on them, on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and on the men of Judah all the doom that I have pronounced against them; but they did not heed.’ Then Jeremiah took another scroll and gave it to Baruch the scribe, the son of Neriah, who wrote on it at the instruction of Jeremiah all the words of the book which Jehoiakim king of Judah had burned in the fire. And besides, there were added to them many similar words. (Jeremiah 36:20-32)

Jehoiakim’s Folly

It was the beginning of the end for God’s people. Their disobedience and willful rejection of the warnings from the prophets had brought them to the point of utter destruction from the Lord. Jeremiah had been instructed by the Lord to write a scroll containing all the words spoken against Israel, Judah and all the nations in a final effort to bring the people to repentance. The scribe of Jeremiah was Baruch. He took the scroll and read it before the people at the entry of the New Gate of the Lord’s house in the hearing of all the people. When the princes of the king’s palace heard what Baruch had done they commanded he bring the scroll to them so they may hear what had been written. Hearing the words of the scroll the princes were fearful and told Baruch to take Jeremiah and go into hiding as they reported to king Jehoiakim. Jehudi began reading the words of the scroll to king Jehoiakim and had not gotten as far as a few columns before the king took the scroll from his hand, cut it with the scribe’s knife and threw the scroll into the fire. Some of the king’s advisors implored him not to burn the scroll but the king was defiant. He then ordered the arrest of Baruch and Jeremiah (but God had hidden them).

The scroll was the last hope for the king and his people. It was a blistering charge of rebellion as the people fell deeper into idol worship. Prophets unnumbered had pleaded with Israel and Judah to return to the Lord. Israel had been decimated by the Assyrians and yet Judah would not learn her lessons. The people of God were on a collision course of destruction if they did not repent. Jehoiakim’s attitude summed up the spirit of the nation. He did not care what the word of God said. His contempt for the Lord was evident by his destruction of the scroll. Jeremiah also notes that no one grew fearful at the reading of the scroll. The word of God was nothing to them.

Jeremiah shows his courage by writing another scroll as directed by God. The Babylonians were still going to come and destroy the nation and Jehoiakim would be deposed. At the age of thirty-six Jehoiakim lost his throne. It seems Nebuchadnezzar intended to take the king to Babylon in chains but changed his mind. Jeremiah had prophesied earlier that Jehoiakim would be buried with the burial of a donkey, dragged and cast out beyond the gates of Jerusalem. Burning the scroll did not change the word of the Lord. It did not change the will of the Lord. Rejecting the words of the scroll did not move the will of God from its purpose.

The Bible is viewed in much the same way today. Most people look at the word of God with disdain. Burning the Bible is of no consequence but rejecting the words will bring an eternity of misery. King Jehoiakim could not change the word of God by cutting it with a knife or burning it. The problem was the heart. There was no fear at the words of judgment. Fear would come later when in his last moments of life the arrogant king realized the word of God was true. Sadly all those who reject the message of Jesus Christ will learn too late the word of the Lord is true. It has remained unchanged since God first spoke to Adam and Eve. Jehoiakim should be a lesson but who listens? Now that is a great story.

Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven. (Psalm 119:89)

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The Power Of Collective Prayer

Posted on January 22, 2016 by heatonkent

dailydevotion_1Friday Morning Reflections – The Prophets

Then Daniel went to his house, and made the decision known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions, that they might seek mercies from the God of heaven concerning this secret, so that Daniel and his companions might not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. Then the secret was revealed to Daniel in a night vision. So Daniel blessed the God of heaven. Daniel answered and said: “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, for wisdom and might are His. And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding. He reveals deep and secret things; He knows what is in the darkness, and light dwells with Him. I thank You and praise You, O God of my fathers; You have given me wisdom and might, and have now made known to me what we asked of You, for You have made known to us the king’s demand.” (Daniel 2:17-23)

The Power Of Collective Prayer

It was the worst of times. Daniel and his friends had been taken captive by a heathen nation and forced to serve in the courts of the king. Their names were changed; education forced upon them from the oppressors and challenged to eat delicacies they had to refuse. Through faith they were able to overcome being forced to eat food that would defile them but more battles remained. Their lives were danger as the king had a dream and because no wise man could tell the dream and its meaning a command was given to destroy all the wise men of Babylon. Word came to Daniel his fellow wise men were being slaughtered. Imploring Nebuchadnezzar to give him time Daniel knew the answer could only come from the Lord.

Normally a king would have a dream and ask his wise men to explain the dream. A good charlatan could easily give the king an interpretation that would soothe his troubled mind. However Nebuchadnezzar demanded the wise men tell him his dream and the interpretation. No one could do it. The faith of Daniel was exemplified when he tells the king to give him time to discover the dream and its meaning. How could this be done? Whom did Daniel think would give him that power? He knew this could only be the work of Jehovah God.

What Daniel did is a powerful testimony to the purpose of collective prayer. He did not pray alone. The need was great. This was something that needed the power of communal prayer. Returning to his home he found his three companions and the four of them prayed earnestly for their deliverance. The dream and its meaning is revealed through their faith and trust in God. They understood how great the Lord was ruling in the affairs of men. Their dependence was not on man’s wisdom but from the word of God. They also understood they needed each other. Prayer is a powerful testimony to the faith of the individual but when prayer is combined in a collective action of faith it can move mountains in a massive way.

The days of the prophets were days of turmoil. There were many needs on an individual level and especially on a national level. Daniel shows a pattern of prayer that is often untapped in the church today. This is something beyond the individual prayer and beyond the scope of the “normal prayers” during an assembly. The need of the hour is specific and urgent. They gathered together as four men to prayer fervently for an answer that seemed impossible. Because of their faith deliverance was granted. The power of collective prayer by individuals may have lost its popularity but it has not lost its influence on the Lord. There is a need of restoration within the body of God’s people to realize the power of joining hearts together in prayer for a common cause. Daniel went home to pray with his friends. This Babylonian prayer meeting changed the course of history.

Prayer pleads the promises of God and from those promises rise the need to share our faith with others in asking His favor. There is strength in praying people and increasing their number in a union of prayer exalts the power of God. When specific needs arise our heartfelt concern should also include the action of collective prayer. It can change the world.

Do not pray for easy lives; pray to be stronger men. Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers; pray for power equal to your tasks. (Phillips Brooks, Perennials, 1898)

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Three Pillars Of Love

Posted on January 21, 2016 by heatonkent

dailydevotion_1Thursday Morning Thankfulness – New Testament Epistles

Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith, from which some, having strayed, have turned aside to idle talk, desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say nor the things which they affirm. (1 Timothy 1:5-7)

Three Pillars Of Love

The heart, the conscience and faith are the fundamental elements of man’s character. Seated in these three parts of life are the building blocks of truth. Love is the motivation that drives the spirit of man but love must be governed by the right things. Unguarded love or misplaced love will allow a spirit of darkness to destroy the soul. The commandments of the Lord are the guides put in place to perfect the heart, conscience and faith of a man leading him to truth. This was true in the garden of Eden and remains true today.

A pure heart is one that receives openly the will of God. When a heart is free from the pollutions of man’s wisdom it is easier to accept the commandments of the Lord. So often men cannot understand nor desire to follow the truth because the heart is not pure. The idea of purity suggests a heart free from contamination. Whenever someone obeys the gospel of Jesus Christ it comes from a heart that is pure. Love comes from a pure heart. On the day of Pentecost three thousand hearts were pure in accepting the bold preaching of the apostles. Many thousand more did not obey because their hearts were tainted with prejudice, tradition, immorality and a stubborn spirit. It takes a pure heart for the love of Christ to enter.

The conscience is the seat of the mind establishing life principles. A moral character is formed in the conscience and love for God comes from determining what is right and wrong by His word. Ethics must come from some source and obedience to the will of the Lord derives its nature from the word of God. A good conscience is true to the convictions of truth willing to fulfill every moral obligation in accordance with what God wants not man. Love springs from hearts that bow before the great I AM and say, “Thy will be done not mine.”

Faith is not just faith but a sincere faith. It is not passive but active. Sincerity of faith shows the level of our trust deeply rooted in our love for God. This is a daily activity. The kind of faith that becomes sincere is experienced constantly in life by trusting in His word, following His will, living by His law and looking for the blessed hope of His coming. Sincerity is unfeigned. Faith does not become a prosthetic that is worn periodically but rather faith is who we are. Our identity is measured by our faithfulness. In speech we are faithful; in dress we show faithfulness; in action we exhibit a faithful spirit. Faith is the core of our life and is not hypocritical.

True love comes from heart that is pure, a conscience deriving its character from God and a faith that shines forth as the glory of God. This kind of love will keep one from straying from the truth. Without these three pillars of love apostasy comes. The wisdom of man exalts itself against God and faith is lost. Perfection in Christ is found in establishing life upon the three pillars of love: a pure heart, a good conscience and a sincere faith.

While we inherit our temperament, we must build our character. (William L. Sullivan, Worry! Fear! Loneliness! 1950)

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The Unbroken Promise

Posted on January 19, 2016 by heatonkent

dailydevotion_1Tuesday Morning Early Start – Important Doctrines

For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, saying, “Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you.” And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise. For men indeed swear by the greater, and an oath for confirmation is for them an end of all dispute. Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath, that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us. This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil, where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek. (Hebrews 6:13-20)

The Unbroken Promise

Abraham believed in the impossible. The promises God made to him were beyond his understanding. He is a powerful testimony to what abiding faith and trust can do to a man’s life. First the Lord told him to leave his country and family traveling to a place he did not know. Abraham obeyed. Remarkably he was promised a son. It did not matter that he was seventy-five years old when the promise was made and the promise of an heir would come when he turned a century old but Abraham believed. His faith was tested severely when this same God of promise told him to kill his only beloved son in a blood sacrifice. He never wavered nor hesitated. There was in the mind of Abraham an understanding of how great God was. Whether he understood the promises of the Lord fully was not the important thing for Abraham. He trusted the word of the Lord. A promise was made by God and he knew that God would never lie. Time and again he saw the promises of God come true and every time Abraham gave his life in trust to the Lord he was securely held within the word of the promise. God never failed him once.

These stories of old are preserved to show all men today the promises of God are real. Every time the Lord made a promise He held to His word as immutable. Unchanging was the word of God because He would fulfill all the promises He made to man. The Hebrew writer is extoling the virtues of God that it is impossible for Him to lie. Think about that very deeply. There are many honest men today who seldom ever lie. This is not the same. When we speak of the character of the Heavenly Father we are describing a God whom it is impossible to lie. When a promise is made there is an absolute assurance the word will be fulfilled. What God says will come to pass. What a joy to know a God that is a God of promise.

Having the promises of the Lord before us we can rest assured that what He says will come to pass. Salvation is not a ‘maybe doctrine’ but a real promise given by the One that cannot lie. Often a child of God will hope that maybe they will be saved. The character of the Lord assures the salvation of the believer because He cannot lie. Redemption is not a wayward anchor but one fastened firmly to the rock of promise. It is sure and it is steadfast. Embracing the promises of the Lord is accepting our need for His grace, His mercy and His love to allow us to abide with Him in eternal glory. He does not want his children to think that Heaven is only a one in ten chance but a 100% promise given by a God that does not lie. Our strong comfort is found in the knowledge that we are saved. The unbroken promise of God is given to all those who obey Him and who walk in the steps of His Son, Jesus Christ. There is a crown that has my name on it. Thank you God.

God never draws anyone to Himself by force and violence. He wishes all men to be saved, but forces no one. (John Chrysostom, Sermon, c388)

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