No Other Rock

To all that be in Rome; beloved of God; called to be saints. ~ Romans 1:7

We are all called as predestined children of God. With that come responsibilities to reflect His glory. We are called to be saints, and as such, it is the supreme glory of being Christians.

Today’s devotion consists exclusively of this idea.

Contemporary culture has mutated the meaning of sainthood to a point that the connotation has become a mockery. However, we as Christians are called to be saints:

True sainthood is Christian sanctification or separatedness - separatedness from our unregenerate past, from worldliness, from all known sinful ways; and separatedness to an outward confession of Christ, and an inward fellowship with Christ, and a daily useableness by Christ.

As such, we must remember that the ultimate goal of santification is to make a complete U-turn from our previous ways before we were in the light of our Lord. It may not happen over night, but we shall continually strive to complete the turn.

Today, my prayer for you and I is that we will seek to make the U-turn and strive to be true saints.

His mother saith unto the servants: Whatsoever He saith unto you, do it. ~ John 2:5

In this devotion, Baxter begins by discussing the Bible his mother gave him on his sixteenth birthday, with this passage hand written in it.

It wasn’t until ten years later that he realized she was suggesting it as a motto unto him.

He the dissects the passage (and motherly advise) to express that our obedience is to be complete (or entire), that our obedience is to be exclusive and that our obedience is to be specific. Simply put; we are to be completely and specifically obedient to God and only God.

Baxter goes on to discuss the features and outcomes of the Cana servants. If you are following along with your own copy, you can read that.

But I keep going back to the introduction; where Baxter talks about his mother and the possibility that he may have been a great disappointment to her during his more youthful days when he was “pleasure-loving” and was pulled into conformity with the world.

Then, I think to my parents.

Neither of them were all that religious. Neither of them gave me a Bible. When I really think about it, it is amazing that I ever came to know Christ. Certainly, there was a lot of divine intervention.

Today, my prayer for you and I is that we will remember to share the grace of God and salvation through Christ with our loved ones.

Behold, He shall come. ~ Malachi 3:1

Today, Baxter discusses the six stages of the thrity-nine oracles of the Old Covenant; from Adam to Christ. Looking at it in that perspective, you can begin to really see how and why the entire Bible is - as Baxter calls it - Christocentric.

“It is wonderful to see how, as the stream narrows down from race to family, in another sense it grows wider , until Messianic predictions reach folld-point. Psalms and Prophets foretell His birth of a virgin in Bethlehem; His character and ministry; His betrayal and crusifixion; His very words on the cross; His ultimate kingdom . . .

Today, my prayer for you and I is that we will remember Christ and His ultimate sacrifice for us.

When he came down from the mount, Moses wist not that his face shone . . . ~ Exodus 34:29

Baxter continues to focus on the transfiguring power of prayer with today’s devotion. In it, he specifically discusses the way it transforms our character.

How so?

Have you ever had someone tell you that you act different when you are around certain individuals? I have. And, for the most part, I find that to be true. It’s a simple fact that if you spend enough time in the company of others, you will think and act similar to them.

Given this truism, which Baxter references as intergrade, we can see how the engagement of consistent and thoughtful prayer can transform our character. Spend enough time around God, and you’ll be more like Him if you open your heart to it.

Today, my prayer for you and I is that we will seek a higher level of prayer so we can more clearly and fully see and be open to the transfiguring power of prayer.

Show me now Thy way, that I may know Thee. ~ Exodus 33:13

Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face. ~ Deuteronomy 34:10

As I read today’s devotion, I was reminded of two things: a poem I had written many years ago, and a marketing lesson that I have often cited to others when discussing how to truly reach an audience.

I thought of the poem, On the Other Side because Baxter talks about the many distortions of God that are now prevalent in our society. So present in our culture are these distortions, we wonder how or why God allows it to exist. Baxter goes as far as to call them vile and evil.

When I read this portion, I immediately thought of the following lines from the poem:

Sometimes I long to strut with those of the darker side,
Wanting for once, to be the one getting the free ride.

I also thought about a marketing rule that I often preach - that if you can make the consumer experience the product, you are going to have a much better chance of cementing their bond to it. You can talk about it all you want, but until you actually put it in their hands, there is no affinity for it.

College admissions professionals will often profess that if they can get the prospective student to the campus, they will have a much better chance of getting them to attend. It’s the same school of thought (no pun intended).

God is the same way.

We only see portions of those distortions. We see only the good those people receive. What about the bad? If we were to see the sitaution in totality, would we still desire to change places? Probably not.

As Christians, we do have it all! By experiencing our Christianity we realize that. How do we experience Christianity?

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this one. I’ll weigh in my own if you get the ball rolling by commenting here.

Today, my prayer for you and I is that we will be able to experience out Christianity and learn to look beyond the partial and distorted views of God.

And as He prayed, the fashion of His countenance was altered. ~ Luke 9:29

Today provided me with a new perspective of prayer. I have always viewed prayer as a conversation with God; one in which we both spoke and listened to one another.

However, I never really considered the transfiguration that is possible. This was the “centre-point” of the seven events in Christ’s life on earth. And, as Baxter notes, “prayer transfigures our view of life. Real Prayer is an ascending of the soul to a spiritual summit.”

From that summit, we see a different view of life on earth. A tall building from below, looks incredibly different when you view from high above.

So, prayer can and does transform us. It makes us receive God’s word and view things with a “God’s eye view”. But it is less likely to really happen when it is hurried and rushed. We must communion with the Lord to truly allow Him to do his work in us.

Today, my prayer for you and I is that we will take the time to truly talk with God and ask Him to transfigure our perspectives and lives.

Lo, I am with you alway. ~ Matthew 28:20

Today’s devotion concluded three related in which Baxter began with this verse from Matthew. Clearly, he believed it was important for us to realize and know - early in the devotions - that Christ is with us always.

Why do you think that is? (This is where you start to comment)

Today’s devotion included a quote from “Brother Lawrence” that says:

There is not in the world a kind of life more sweet and delightful than that of a continual converstation with God. Those only can comprehend it who practice and experience it; yet I do not advise you to do it from that motive; it is not pleasure which we ought to seek in this exercise; but let us do it from a principle of love, and because God would have us.”

For some reason, when I read this part, I instantly thought of the Newsboys song, Shine. Throughout the song, we are continually reminded of God’s awesome power to transform people. ” . . . that would make an eskimo renounce fur; that would make a vegetarian barbeque hamster.”

By remembering that Christ is always with us, we will shine in whatever it is we do. And when we shine, we have the opportunity to make others wonder why. And then, we can share the transforming power of God. And who knows where He will take us from there.

Today, my prayer for you and I is that we will continue to remember that Christ is always with us and that we will be able to shine before men.

Lo, I am with you alway. ~ Matthew 28:20

Without digging deep into psychological discussion, Baxter expands upon yesterday’s devotional by pointing out that it is not possible for us to constantly be at church or reading our Bibles, it is possible to train and allow ourselves to be in a fully-conscious and more constant realization that Christ IS with us.

(1) Hand all the keys of your heart to Him. (2) Keep tryst with Him by regular daily prayer. (3) Practice His presence; for even in this, “practice makes perfect.” (4) Remember ever that it is a special ministry of the Holy Spirit, as the “Paraclete”, to make our Lord’s presence inwardly real to us.

Today, my prayer for you and I is that we will remember to “practice” the discipline of realizing that Christ is with us always.

Lo, I am with you alway. ~ Matthew 28:20

What if Jesus came into your home or office tomorrow and told you He would be shadowing you for the day . . . much like college and high school students shadow professionals who work in career fields the student is considering for their own careers.

Imagine explaining to Jesus what it is that you do all day!

And, like a curious student, Jesus ask why you are doing what you are doing. What if he did this about all your job functions or chores? What if, after you conversed with an annoying co-worker or a person who interrupted you, Jesus asked; “why did you respond the way you did?”

Could you imagine trying to explain to Jesus that you were stressed out over a thousand little things; the least of which is your eternal salvation?

Fortunately for us, He already knows about all those things that are stressing us out. He knows about the worries on your heart. He knows about your health problems, your financial troubles, your apprehensions about your career, the conflict in your marriage. He knows. But why don’t we trust Him to take care of things?

When we lack the consciousness of His presence we are easily disturbed, disheartened, nervous, ruffled, impatient amid tribulation, brave amid danger, calm amid strife, cheerful amid monotony.

Maybe we need to remember that Jesus IS shadowing us each and every day!

Today, my prayer for you and I is that we’ll remember God’s saving grace and allow Him to sober our troubled souls.