No Other Rock

And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work. ~ 2 Corinthians 9:8

Baxter references 2 Corinthians 1:8 by pointing out that Paul used the expression “pressed out of measure” as the exposition for setting up today’s devotion. We live in a society of unbelievable pressures. Be it at work, at home and even at play; we are always pressed.

To look at it another way, think; depressed, suppressed, repressed, oppressed - all these are states of adversity through pressure.

When we are pressed, it’s terribly easy to be pushed far from God. It’s terribly easy to fall into negativist thinking - to constantly resort to selfishness. “We’ll ask why is this happing to me?’

But again, as we have learned over the last several days - God is with us always.

Today, my prayer for you and I is that we not allow daily pressures to push us from God’s warm embrace.

I will be with him in trouble. ~ Psalms 91:15

While I wish I could simply reproduce the allegory that is relayed in today’s devotion, and technically could if I gave applicable credit, I’m not going to do so. I highly recommend you obtain a copy of Awake, My Heart, borrow a copy from someone or check it out from a library so you can read it.

It is a delightful and touching tale about a man who is steadfast in remembering God in times of peace, and assured that God is with him in times of trouble.

Today, my prayer for you and I is that we will remember God in times of peace.

I will be with him in trouble. ~ Psalms 91:15

When all is good, do you talk to God very often?

What about in times of trouble? How long does it take to come back? Sometimes, we need that trouble to grow in our relationships with Him.

Today, my prayer for you and I is the same one that Baxter uses to conclude today’s devotion: Let it be our endeavor neither to cause trouble, nor to fear it.

It is written . . . ~ Matthew 4:4, 7, 10

Today, Baxter relays a story about a songbird that protects its nest by placing leaf upon. The leaf if highly poisonous to the predatory snake and the mere sight and smell of the leaf will force the reptile to flee. The moral: the bird is confident in its safety from the evil creature because the bird knows it’s protected.

How do you defend your nest? What makes you confident in your safety?

We can be confident that God’s word has a defensive “leaf” for every evil that Satan allows to slither. It is written…

Today, my prayer for you and I is that we’ll be confident in and know the Words to defend our nests.

In demonstration of the Spirit of power. ~ I Corinthians 2:4

Something I always battle with is my personal concern that organized religion often becomes more business than evangelism. Baxter notes that “[w]hen it offers prizes to those who bow and scrape to its ceremonies, or to those who give large financial support, or to those who build up a supposed self-merit by religious devotedness, it flatters human vanity and often becomes popular.”

Why is that? What is the popularity in vanity? (Never mind, I think I know that one.)

I guess there is a certain power that vanity has over people. Call it ego, self-righteousness, greed . . . whatever. But when we go to church every Sunday, when we make sure others see us put our check into the offering plate, when we do things that get our names in the bulletins - what do we demonstrate? Is it all the aforementioned attributes?

Today, my prayer for you and I is that we will remember the power of God and demonstrate His ability to save and transform.

Epaphroditus my brother and fellow-worker and fellow-soldier. ~ Philippians 2:25

If you have ever watched pro wrestling, you know who Hulk Hogan is. He is a larger than life persona inside the theatrics of sports entertainment and his role has become more mockery than role model as the years have gone on.

No. I don’t have my blogs confused. I am blogging about Hulk Hogan on No Other Rock.

One of the things the Hulkster often stated during his “role model” years as a pro wrestler was “Train, Say Your Prayers and Take Yer Vitamins.” He wore a cross on a necklace around his neck and was the ultimate “Real American.”

As the years have gone on, Hulk has changed a bit. He dropped the “Train, say Your . . .” moniker and now seems to refer to everyone as “brother” - so much that it is almost every third word he says. It’s a source of parody and laughter for many.

But, as today’s devotion suggests . . . why aren’t we all referring to each other as our brothers? If we are both born again, we are brothers and sisters in Christ. Just as Paul was not afraid to call Epaphroditus a brother, we too should not be afraid to call each other our brothers and sisters.

Today, my prayer for you and I is that we will be not afraid to greet one another as brothers.

Everything shall live whither the river cometh. ~ Ezekiel 47:9

Wow. Today’s devotion is one that puts it all together.

Yesterday, we read about the “rivers of blessing” and today, we learn about the “glading” of that river. We learned that we are to be filled with this rivers . . . which represents the Holy Spirit. We are to be so filled, we are swimming in it.

How does this happen and what does this transformation represent?

Baxter references verse 9 above - but also suggests we review verses 8 and 12. Through these three verses, we see this whole picture . . . one in which we are to live and be transformed from a barren land.

In having a spirit filled life, we have new life, new beauty, new food, new healing and more. But, we are to have more than a Spirit filled life. It must also be Spirit contolled.

You and I cannot commandeer these waters; we need to let them have their way through us. There is no restraint on the part of the Holy Spirit. The heavenly waters have flowed forth to us once for all from the spiritual watershed of Pentecost. They are seeking channels through consecreted hearts.

Today, my prayer for you and I is that we will allow ourselves to yield to the Holy Spirit and not be so consumed by our ways.

Behold, waters issued from under the threshold of the house eastward. ~ Ezekiel 47:1

Water plays a prominent role in the Bible; largely representing the Holy Spirit and its many wonderful blessings. Today’s devotion takes this symbol, that of a flowing river, and presents a topic I have been thinking about a lot lately . . . especially in light of doing this blog.

How do we experience spiritual growth? What prompts it? Where does it come from and how do we obtain it if we are seeking it?

While I was summarizing my thoughts (in my own mind) with a different metaphor, this one accomplishes the same feat using this theme. Seeing as it is the word of God, I am sure it does a better job.

The “waters” discussed in this passage represent spiritual possibilities. As we learn, We must consider the SOURCE, COURSE and FORCE of these waters. They come from under the threshold of the house –thus being a supernatural river flowing from under the house of God. The waters are flowing eastward, to a desolate and barren land – so they are healing waters. And finally, what starts as mere trickles of water, accumulates so greatly that they become wading waters and then ultimately so deep, they are swimming waters.

This is how the Holy Spirit functions. What begins with sprinkles will accumulate within you. Ultimately, the speed with which that occurs is unknown, but it will happen as long as you allow it. Soon, you will be flooded with the Holy Spirit.

Today, my prayer for you and I is that we will allow the Holy Spirit to freely flow within us.

Tags: Ezekiel Holy Spirit water spiritual growth