2007 July « No Other Rock

His Part and Ours

July 15, 2007 at 12:38 pm | In Awake My Heart, Prayer | No Comments

If ye shall ask anything in my name, I will do it. ~ John 14:14

Note: This devotion is from July 9 – I am finally getting back into this. Just when I was caught up, I got behind again. Lots of reasons, but I will not go into detail.

I think the main reason I stopped (aside from being caught in another life season where the time, and ambition were minimal) is because I had to really thing long about this devotion. I read it on the 8th and couldn’t comment or go further without really pondering some portions.

The first of this is the statement (representing the scripture above) that “The only ‘if’ is on our side, not His: ‘If ye . . . ‘ On His part there is the kingly ‘i will’.”?

This presents the simple fact that WE MUST ASK. Additionally, we MUST TAKE TIME TO ASK.

The second part of this quandary - again, as related to the scripture, is “ASK ANYTHING IN MY NAME.”

This is where it gets heavy.

I mean, sure, most of us will end our prayers with “In Jesus’ Holy name…” or “in Your Son’s Name…” — but I wonder if God looks at those statements like we view the fine print of a bank advertisement. You know what I mean - like, “blah blah blah blah…In Your Son’s…”

Stop and consider what you pray for. Why are you praying for it? Who will benefit through its answering?

This whole part of asking in His name means that our prayers should thus be in the interests of His cause on earth. Think of it as being a synonym for “for His sake.”

Kind of adds a new element to prayer, eh?

Today, I pray that you and I will do so in His name.

But We Do Not Know

July 8, 2007 at 7:00 am | In Awake My Heart, Providence | No Comments

It thou hadst known. ~ Luke 19:42

Finally, we’ll consider the idea of “if we bu knew” to our ignorance of tomorrow and to the hereafter.

Surely, none of us can know what will happen tomorrow or beyond, but do you feel that God offers us “sneak previews” or glimpses into our futures or future in general?

Today, my prayer for you and I is that we will ask God for guidance in all ways of our life.

Yes, If We But Knew

July 7, 2007 at 7:00 am | In Awake My Heart, God, Providence, Serving the Lord, purpose | No Comments

If thou (Jerusalem) hadst known . . . ~ Luke 19:42

If thou knewest the gift of God . . . ~ John 4:10

Yesterday, we considered the idea of “if we only knew.” Today, we continue and apply it to different applications.

First, apply it to life’s perplexing trials. Think of Genesis 42:36. We learn of Jacob groaning, “All these things are against me” - yet if only he had known it, were leading up to the loveliest of climaxes; for soon afterwards he was exclaiming that “Joseph my son is yet alive!”

Next, apply this to our daily speech and conduct. If only we knew, how differently would we speak or act?

“If we but knew what irreparable damage is often caused by idle gossip, cruel criticisms, wicked exaggerations, or jealous sarcasm, how stunned we should be! On the other hand, if we knew what lovely harvests of blessing often grow from seeds of good, kind, wise words and deeds, how eager should we be to sow only the good seed!“

Today, my prayer for you and I is that our actions will reflect as if we knew.

If We But Knew

July 6, 2007 at 7:00 am | In Awake My Heart, Bible, Blessings, Christ, Christ-Sightings, Christian, God, Providence, purpose | No Comments

If thou (Jerusalem) hadst known . . . ~ Luke 19:42

If though knewest the gift of God . . . ~ John 4:10

It seems like every time we hear about a tragedy or event of major interest, most media outlets are scrambling to figure out and “report” about where it all went wrong. They seek to find the answers to warning signs and possible triggers that could cause something to happen, a person to snap or even an underlying dogma that might be at the root of something bigger.

Seemingly, they are suggesting “If only we knew . . .”

Yet, the truth of the matter is; life happens. There is no warning for life and God has a plan. It’s going to be carried out whether we “know” something or not.

The real promise lies in the fact that God gives us opportunities to act BEFORE we know. Every day, there are moments where we have an opportunity, perhaps to bring someone to Christ.

Today, my prayer for you and I is that we will recognize those opportunities before we know.

The Riches of His Glory

July 5, 2007 at 6:45 pm | In Awake My Heart, Christ, God | No Comments

The riches of His glory. ~ Romans 9:23

We’ve talked about the riches of God’s goodness and God’s grace. In the devotions, Baxter equates them to the copper and silver coinage respectively. It’s no coincidence that he, therefore, calls the riches of God’s glory, the Golden coinage.

See Romans 8:18, John 17:22 and I Thessalonians 2:12.

Today, my prayer for you and I is that the heavenly joys and glories to which God has called us in Christ never grow dim.

The Riches of His Grace

July 4, 2007 at 6:00 pm | In Awake My Heart, Bible, Blessings, Christ, God, The Cross, foregiveness | No Comments

The riches of His grace. ~ Ephesians 1:7

The last post introduced the idea of God’s riches or blessings. Today (and the next) will deal specifically with those riches.

First up, Grace.

If we have been inwardly awakened to our sinful state before God, and our ruinous plight as members of Adam’s fallen race, surely there can only be the following reaction to this “forgiveness of sins according to the riches of His grace.” First, we desperately need it; for only such riches of gracious foregiveness can cover the enormity of our sinning. Second, in Christ we have it; for as Romans 5:20 says, “Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.” Third, we love and adore the wonderful Saviour-God by whose “riches of grace” we are forgiven and eternally saved.

Today, my prayer for you and I is that we will thank God for his Blessings of Grace.

The Riches of His Goodness

July 4, 2007 at 8:44 am | In Awake My Heart, Blessings, God | No Comments

The riches of His goodness. ~ Romans 2:4

Today’s devotion talks about the blessings that God gives His people. It references Timothy 6:17 that says “The living God giveth us richly all things to enjoy.” It also points to James 1:5 that says “God giveth to all men liberally and unbraideth not.”

Finally, if you consider Romans 2:4 fully, it says “Deepest though the riches of His goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance>”

Certainly God’s word does say that He has provided us with many treasures here on earth and there will be many more in Heaven. Often, we neglect or ignore those treasures because we don’t recognize them as such.

That said, I am also reminded of a message that was recently delivered at my church. During that sermon, the paster stated (and I am paraphrasing a tiny bit here); “Too many of us seek God’s blessings without first seeking God.”

Today, my prayer for you and I is that we will seek God first, and His blessings afterwards.

Keep Looking!

July 2, 2007 at 7:00 am | In Awake My Heart, Jesus, The Cross | No Comments

Looking unto Jesus. ~ Hebrews 12:2

“Moreover, this ‘looking unto Jesus’ has a threefold aspect. We are to look to Him, first, because of who He is - ‘Author and Finisher of our faith’; second, because of what He did = ‘endured the Cross’; third, because of where He reigns = ‘the right hand of God.’

Today, my prayer for you and I is that we will look unto Jesus for all aspects of our lives.

Antidote to Discouragement

July 1, 2007 at 7:00 am | In Awake My Heart, Christ, Jesus, Ponders, Serving the Lord | No Comments

Looking unto Jesus. ~ Hebrews 12:2

Masking the TRUTH For today’s post, I am going to do something different. The devotion talks a lot about how we should use the opening versus of Hebrews 12 and their emphasis on the word “patience” as reasoning for looking unto Jesus as the supreme example of patience. Further, it suggests that the Greek translated “patience” has a fuller meaning of “endurance” and that we should therefore look unto Jesus for endurance and the antidote for discouragement as we run this race.

However, there is more to this devotion that compelled me to draft a post on my personal blog as part of my Thoughts on Civility series. I invite you all to read it here. Feel free to comment here or on that blog.

Today, my prayer for you and I is that we will look to Jesus as our antidote for discouragement.

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