2007 November « No Other Rock

The Unrecognized King – The Great Unveiling

November 12, 2007 at 2:08 pm | In Awake My Heart, Holy Spirit, Serving the Lord, religion | No Comments
Tags: Beddgelert, John 1:10, Llewellyn the Great, sin

And the world knew Him not. ~ John 1:10

Note: This devotion is from October 13 and 15

Let’s continue with the idea of being so blind, we do not recognize our creator.

When we consider sin, we view it mainly as a transgression of moral law. Sin, however, is also a hereditarily transmitted disease in the moral nature of our fallen humanity. It causes chronic spiritual blindness. It establishes jealous pride , selfish ambitions and knowing hypocrisy among many other maladies.

Isreal’s leaders kept begging for signs – yet all the while, those signs were being given. In actuality, they should have sought sight. Their self-blindness led to the rejection and humiliation of their non-resisting Messiah-Sinbearer.

Baxter does a nice job of illustrating this information in the devotion for October 13th in a story that says:

In Whales there is a romantic village, Beddgelert, the name of which means ‘The grave of Gelert’. There is a famous legend about this Gelert, which was a dog, the hound of Llewellyn the Great. One day, on returning to his castle, Llewellyn found his child lying dead, and the hound, Gelert, beside it. Llewellyn at once plunged his sword into the poor animal, only to discover too late a huge wolf which had attached the child, and which the faithful hound had slain. In his blind rage, Llewellyn had killed a faithful friend. In a far more terrible sense, that is what all Christ-rejectors are doing today. In their awful spiritual blindness they are repudiating their truest Friend and Saviour.

Today, I pray that you and I will seek sight over signs.

Three Supremes – The Royal Visit

November 11, 2007 at 5:08 pm | In Awake My Heart | No Comments

He was in the world , and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not. ~ John 1:10

Note: This devotion is from October 11 and 12

This verse from John expresses amazement at a world that was so sin-blinded it failed to recognize its own creator. That is the supreme tragedy of human depravity.

The world was created by Him. This is the supreme truth about the earth.

Christ is God and note a mere creature. He was in this world and walked among those within it. This is the supreme event of our race’s history.

Today, I pray that you and I will meditate on these supremacies.

The Astounding Climax . . . The Ultimate Brand?

November 8, 2007 at 10:27 pm | In Awake My Heart, General Church Related, Jesus, Serving the Lord, The Cross | No Comments
Tags: brands, Chrsit, church marketing, Cross, impression, logos, magnetism, Net Promoter

And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto Me. ~ John 12:32

Note: This devotion is from October 7 and 8

After re-reading these two devotions, I am struck with the idea of branding. Having read so many books on the subject and having worked in marketing for about a decade, I guess it was bound to happen.

For those who are not so “lucky” to be in that kind of warped mindset, you could read a lot about branding specifically as it relates to churches over at ChurchMarketingSucks.com. While I think many a church would do themselves a great service to review information presented on that blog daily, the concept and argument of church branding is a topic for a different day (maybe I’ll move down that path in 2008).

To synthesize the concept a little, organizations and business professionals spend a lot of time and money in an often futile attempt to design and image and reputation that will draw their clientele closer to them by connecting so intensely that they impress an emotional bond so strong and entrenched, they’ll be committed to that “brand” for life.

What’s more, a well established brand will create loyalty that leads their clientele to not only stay with that brand, but refer others to it as well. In current buzz language, we call this being a “net promoter.”

So now, let’s examine this passage of Scripture a little more:

“The hour is come that the Son of Man should be glorified. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a seed of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone; but if it die it bringeth forth much fruit . . . And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw men unto Me.”

What a powerful way in which the Cross speaks to us! This short message serves as our Lord’s towering prediction that by His Cross He would “draw all men” unto Himself. It is the climax of a remarkable context.

However, the Cross – when separate from Christ – has no saving power. But together, they are the most wonderful magnet which ever drew the hearts of earth’s sin-cursed millions.

Christ, presented only as supreme Teacher and Ideal, has never drawn the sin-conscious sons of Adam, who are far too fallen to be charmed into holiness by a mere exhibition of moral excellence, however perfect. What men need is not just a beautiful portrait, but a cure for their sin-disease.

It is the deity behind the manhood which makes the Cross an atonement. It is the manhood within the deity which makes it an atonement for us, and such a magnet to us.
How many businesses would go to all extremes for that sort of magnetism to their brand?

Today, I pray that you and I be “net promoters” of the greatest brand in all of mankind.

Royal Folly – A Solemn Homily

November 7, 2007 at 6:38 pm | In Awake My Heart, Holy Spirit, Providence, Serving the Lord | No Comments
Tags: George Muller, God's will, Providence

Thou hast done foolishly. ~ I Samuel 13:13

Note: This devotion is from October 5 and 6

Someone asked George Muller:

“How do you get guidance?”
He replied, “I pray and wait until light comes.”
“But what if the light does not come?”
“I wait until it does come.”

Waiting is often a bigger test than working.

Certainly, our haste without first consulting or seeking God’s will is foolishness. Let’s explore further.

Why is it foolish to disobey God?
a. Because His will is the highest wisdom.
b. Because His will is for our highest good.
c. Because we miss our life’s higher purpose.
d. Because there is no escaping Him (nor should we seek it).

Why do people commit foolishness?
a. Often through ignorance of His word.
b. Often through pride of the flesh.
c. Often through love of sin.
d. Sometimes through self-important presumption (as Saul).

How may we know the will of God for us?
a. Through the Holy Scriptures.
b. Through the inward urge of the Holy Spirit.
Through the corroboration of outward circumstances.

Today, I pray that you and I will wait for the light to come.

Reassurance in Advance

November 4, 2007 at 10:20 pm | In Awake My Heart, Blessings | No Comments
Tags: blessed assurance, end days, fiery trial, Peter

Casting all your care upon Him, for He careth for you. ~ Peter 5:7

Note: This devotion is from October 3 and 4

This word of the Holy Spirit through Peter has been a precious comfort to many a believer. But, as its position in the structure of the epistle shows, it is meant to become most of all precious to Christians who are on earth during the intensified tribulations at the end fo the present age. The epistle runs in three movements.

First, from chapter 1:3 to 2:10, we have the LIVING HOPE and what goes with it. Second, from chapter 2:11 to 4:11, we have the PILGRIM LIFE and how to live it. Finally, from chapter 4:12 to the end of the epistle, we have the FIERY TRIAL.

Unless our inward eyes are impaired by a strange astigmatism, the signs are surely around us that the present age is nearing its end. What we saw happen in the last two world wars and what is going on in world affairs currently is certainly enough to make us wonder what awesome evils that are yet to be set loose on earth. But no matter what that is, we need have no fear. “He never fails.” The “fiery trial” has been anticipated and will be overruled. We may go into the future without alarm. The Holy Spirit Himself breathes divine reassurance through our test – “Casting all your care upon Him, for He careth for you.”

Today, I pray that you and I will fear not.

A Page from David’s Diary – A Poor Man Saved

November 4, 2007 at 5:20 pm | In Awake My Heart, Blessings, Serving the Lord | No Comments
Tags: answered prayer, Prayer, salvation, Testimony

This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. ~ Psalm 34:6

Note: This devotion is from October 1 and 2

In this excerpt from David, there is a cry of need; “This poor man cried…” Notice to whom it was uttered. It was to the Lord and it was not a finely crafted prayer for human ears as some are done today.

Rather, it was a cry by a poor man. The short and urgent nature of a cry expresses its intensity. Moreover, it is simple and it is urgent.

And best of all, notice who heard this poor man’s cry. The Lord heard him and saved him.

This passage illustrates the fine sense of restraint intermingling with David’s exuberant desire to give testimony. He refrains from going into all the murky details of his sinning. He need not lay them bare to men, seeing he had made full confession to God. Some people go into all manner of unsavory disclosures. They seem as proud of their sins as old soldiers used to be of sword gashes. That kind of testimony is wrong. It is like undressing oneself in public. It hams rather than edifies, and makes gossip for scandal-mongers. Christian testimony should be such as becomes “children of light.”

Today, I pray that you and I our testimony will be those of the light.

Qualities of True Faith

November 3, 2007 at 5:00 pm | In Awake My Heart, Serving the Lord, faith | No Comments
Tags: faith

That which is lacking in your faith. ~ I Thessalonians 3:10.

Note: This devotion is from September 30

True faith in Christ:

Restful – “We which have believed do enter into rest.” ~ Hebrews 4:3
Joyful – “Believing ye rejoine with joy unspeakable.” ~ I Peter 1:8
Hopeful - “Faith is the substance of things hoped for.” ~ Hebrews 11:1
Loving – “Peace be to the brethren and love with faith.” ~ Ephesians 6:23
Practical – “Faith without works is dead.” ~ James 2:20
Patient – He that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and faith of the saints.” ~ Revelations 13:10
Victorious – “This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our fiath.” ~ I John 5:4
Vocal – “We believe and therefore speak.” ~ II Corinthians 4:13
Growing – “Neither do we go beyond our limits by boasting of work done by others.[a] Our hope is that, as your faith continues to grow, our area of activity among you will greatly expand . . .” ~ II Corinthians 10:15

Today, I pray that you and I will have true faith in Christ.

The Divine and the Human

November 3, 2007 at 7:00 am | In Awake My Heart, Blessings | No Comments
Tags: Blessings

Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you. ~ Joshua 1:3

Note: This devotion is from September 29

As we learned in the last post, there are two sides to our spiritual blessings; the divine and the human. Now, let’s look at some of the deeper blessings of Christianity.

First, the blessing of sanctification. The word comes from the Latin, sanctus; which means sacred or apart. It also comes from the Latin facio; which means “I make” or “I set”. Combined, they mean “I set apart”. Sanctification therefore is the set-apart-ness to Christ.

The human side is the continued set-apart-ness to Christ while the divine side is the possessing and purifying of the yielded believer. It is the human and divine together that result in the fullness of the blessing.

Today, I pray that you and I we will seek that set-apart-ness to receive the fullness of the blessing.

Both Sides of the Matter – Reciprocal Aspects

November 2, 2007 at 6:44 pm | In Awake My Heart, Holy Spirit, Providence, Serving the Lord, religion | No Comments
Tags: Holy Spirit, Prayer, promises, Scripture

Lydia . . . whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken by Paul. ~ Acts 16:14

Note: This devotion is from September 27 and 28

Everything depends upon God. If we are to be saved, we will be saved. And if we are not to be saved, then we will not be saved.

But this passage reminds us of the human components. “She attended to the things that which were spoken by Paul.” There are many whose hearts are moved upon by the Holy Sprit, yet they refuse Christ; for God never violates the royalty of the human will.

It all depends upon God. But there must be a human response. We must “attend” as Lydia did. Our duty is to accept Christ as He is offered to us in John 3:16 and others.

Therefore, there are two sides. On the divine side, there is the Scripture and its promises. On the human side, there is the total surrender. The same is true of prayer. On the divine side, there is the promise of answer. On the human side, there is the belief.

Today, I pray that you and I when we doubt, we will remember that we believe.