JMD Devotional 218 Psalm 119:151,152 Nearer than My Foes

You are near, O Lord [nearer to me than my foes], and all Your commandments are truth.
Of old have I known Your testimonies, and for a long time, [therefore it is a thoroughly established conviction] that You have founded them forever.

The chief enemy of our soul does not give up territory easily. When we have violated God’s laws, and grossly transgressed Biblical boundaries we in effect give ground to Satan and let him establish strongholds in our life. Regaining control of your life and mind is a long, slow, painful process: we did not mess up our lives overnight and we do not fix them overnight: the process of recovery takes time and commitment. I can recall a low point, in the dead of night, that I had the audio hallucination of cloven feet walking through my home. Hundreds of times I bolted wide awake at precisely 3:00AM (the witching hour) with my window rattling. Weak-willed people have opposed me for no reason that I suspect were just pawns of the Devil to discourage and harass me. Evil leaves its calling card in many ways to disturb my equilibrium; probably the worst is when it makes its presence known in my spirit, in effect, saying, “I’m right here,” to harass me. But in all of these cases I need to remind myself that no matter how close any kind of evil is---God is nearer still. He is ever present. He who is within me is greater than he who is without. Satan is a defeated foe; on a short leash; under God’s ultimate control.

Dear God,
I thank You that I know why evil exists in this world; that it serves Your purpose for a time to sort out the sheep from the goats, to vindicate Your goodness, to condemn the wicked, to sharpen the contrast of right and wrong, to bring You glory in its defeat. Lord, please deliver me from evil: from its presence, power and influence. Abide in me: both Your Word and Your Holy Spirit, and help me to abide in You. You are my hiding place of safety, my security, my high tower.
Amen

All (but*) quotes are from The Amplified Bible, published by
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Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation
*New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society
**Scripture taken from The Message. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. (Eugene Peterson's easy-to-read, contemporary Scripture translation)

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JMD Devotional 217 Romans 6:1-7 God is Not Santa Claus

WHAT SHALL we say [to all this]? Are we to remain in sin in order that God's grace (favor and mercy) may multiply and overflow? Certainly not! How can we who died to sin live in it any longer? Are you ignorant of the fact that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? We were buried therefore with Him by the baptism into death, so that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious [power] of the Father, so we too might [habitually] live and behave in newness of life. For if we have become one with Him by sharing a death like His, we shall also be [one with Him in sharing] His resurrection [by a new life lived for God]. We know that our old (unrenewed) self was nailed to the cross with Him in order that [our] body [which is the instrument] of sin might be made ineffective and inactive for evil, that we might no longer be the slaves of sin. For when a man dies, he is freed (loosed, delivered) from [the power of] sin [among men].

If God were Santa Claus, on Christmas Eve children would need to gather up all of their old toys and burn them as an expression of faith that new gifts would emerge Christmas morning. For those who did nothing, or pretended by burying their old toys so they could dig them up later (to hedge their bets or indulge themselves), or ones making a half-hearted effort, they would receive nothing when the sun rose. God’s salvation is a call to righteousness and newness of life: the old toys (sinful ways of life) have to go in faith that new, better gifts will replace them. The Gospel must include both the Cross and the Resurrection, death to self and living for Jesus to be complete. The Cross absolves our chains to futile, sinful living; the Resurrection displays the power with which God will reanimate each of us as POWERFUL children of His, righteous and pure. Receiving the GIFT of eternal life means abandoning the ways of death.

Dear God,
I wish the things that tend to trip me up were tangible like old toys, so they could be simply gathered up and burned; but the root of sin is in my heart. I need You to reach in and work out the poison in my soul; and to impart Yourself into my center of being to establish true vitality and wholeness. Help me to feel the same way about sin as You do; to despise what is dead and unholy. I am the lamp formed of clay, You are the oil and the flame: shine brightly in my life so Your glory may be manifest.
Amen

All (but*) quotes are from The Amplified Bible, published by
the Lockman Foundation. (AMP)
Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation
*New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society
**Scripture taken from The Message. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. (Eugene Peterson's easy-to-read, contemporary Scripture translation)

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JMD Devotional 216 Proverbs 6:23,24 Desperate for Light

For the commandment is a lamp, and the whole teaching [of the law] is light, and reproofs of discipline are the way of life, To keep you from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a loose woman.

One day when I was feeling down I Googled “life sucks” just to see what came up. There were thousands of hits; and may sites venerating those two words. One site in particular stuck in my mind, it was dedicated to posting short personal stories of misery. As I scrolled through the entries, it was obvious that everyone from young teens to middle-aged adults had posted tales of woe. Most of them had elements of bad choices people made that created their own misery. One man lamented how much an affair had cost him, how his divorce left him bankrupt, how much trouble he has seeing his daughter, how his estranged in-laws hate him. I was also struck by a 19 year old girl who was contemplating her 5th abortion. She said she was attracted to older men even though they always used her and abandoned her. Both of these people ended their posting by stating their contemplation of suicide. Their situations were dark and they were desperate for light. God’s light shines unerringly; but it requires something from us:

Psalm 119:105,106 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. I have sworn [an oath] and have confirmed it, that I will keep Your righteous ordinances [hearing, receiving, loving, and obeying them].

Dear God,
May I not let sin, lust or pride shut my eyes to Your eternal light and truth—to do so is certain ruin! Help me to commit fully to obeying Your word even before I know what it says and without weighing all of the worldly options that oppose it. Help me to be fully transformed as a child of light. May I share that hopeful illumination with others in Jesus’ name.
Amen

All (but*) quotes are from The Amplified Bible, published by
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Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation
*New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society
**Scripture taken from The Message. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. (Eugene Peterson's easy-to-read, contemporary Scripture translation)

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JMD Devotional 215 Psalm 119:96 Unlimited View

I have seen that everything [human] has its limits and end [no matter how extensive, noble, and excellent]; but Your commandment is exceedingly broad and extends without limits [into eternity].

Our thoughts and perceptions are limited to the box of our context. We live and function in a specific time and culture and status that all shape our view of the world; though we rarely grasp just how incomplete that view is. Worse, it is natural to assume that God sees things from our perspective, to include our social bias, latent prejudice, and worldly values: this is all very anthropomorphic. We see in part, God sees and knows in whole. God has no trouble relating to an illiterate person subsisting off a garbage dump; nor does He prefer the company of Ivy League scholars at tea. There is a lot of good writing available to Christians that is profitable to life and godliness, I myself read two other devotions a day; but these things have their limits. There is not another person on earth you could walk with who at some point does not seem to get off track; there is not ever complete agreement on every interpretation of doctrine (especially in marriage!) Good writing should always point back to the source, which pierces the scriptures and continues to the heart and mind of God.

Dear God,
I thirst for unadulterated truth; for any word that flows out of Your spirit into mine. In the midst of chaos and distraction, please quiet my soul to hear Your voice, to feed on Your Word, to meditate on Your wisdom. In my shallowness, I confess looking down on and dismissing people who are precious to You. Forgive my vanity. Fill me, and help me to transcend my limited framework so Christ can engage a larger world through and with me.
Amen

All (but*) quotes are from The Amplified Bible, published by
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*New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society
**Scripture taken from The Message. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. (Eugene Peterson's easy-to-read, contemporary Scripture translation)

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JMD Devotional 214 Psalm 116:15 Divine Appointment

Precious (important and no light matter) in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints (His loving ones).

The typical Hollywood response to human mortality is either avoidance of the subject or a trivialization of death. It is no light matter; and how we live carries great significance for how we die. But how can the death of a saint be ‘precious’ to God?

Hebrews 9:27,28 And just as it is appointed for [all] men once to die, and after that the [certain] judgment, even so it is that Christ, having been offered to take upon Himself and bear as a burden the sins of many once and once for all, will appear a second time, not to carry any burden of sin nor to deal with sin, but to bring to full salvation those who are [eagerly, constantly, and patiently] waiting for and expecting Him.

Jesus Christ changes everything! Our appointment with death can be endured because He has also already scheduled a follow-up appointment with life everlasting. For those who belong to God it is not the end, just a passage to a new beginning.

Dear God,
When You make us aware of our mortality, please give us the grace to respond to that bitter truth by realigning our priorities with that which is eternal and incorruptible. May we soberly acknowledge that all living creatures merely ‘borrow’ their life from You, (we don’t own it). The good things and the best things in life, and even life itself, is a free gift from You. May the world be confounded by the peace we enjoy as our own journey on the earth comes to a close. Thank You for saving us from a bitter end.
Amen

All (but*) quotes are from The Amplified Bible, published by
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Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation
*New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society
**Scripture taken from The Message. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. (Eugene Peterson's easy-to-read, contemporary Scripture translation)

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JMD Devotional 213 Romans 1:16,17 Inverse of Shame

For I am not ashamed of the Gospel (good news) of Christ, for it is God's power working unto salvation [for deliverance from eternal death] to everyone who believes with a personal trust and a confident surrender and firm reliance, to the Jew first and also to the Greek, for in the Gospel a righteousness which God ascribes is revealed, both springing from faith and leading to faith [disclosed through the way of faith that arouses to more faith]. As it is written, The man who through faith is just and upright shall live and shall live by faith.

Being ashamed of the best thing that ever happened to us is like a redneck driving his pickup truck to his honeymoon with his hunting dog up front and his new bride still in her wedding dress sitting on a spare tire in back! It stands to reason that when we discuss our pardon that it is awkward in the presence of everyone else still on death row; but we need to overcome that. We need to view our salvation as not just an event in the past but also an on-going reality in our lives. We were saved when we accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior; we are continuing to be ‘saved’ as we grow in holiness day-by-day and we will be completely transformed into incorruptible, brilliant saints when He returns to collect us. When I stand back and look at my life and consider what great things God has done for me and what he has saved me from and what He continues to do in my heart and mind and relationships how can I help but praise Him!

Psalm 113:3 (AMP) From the rising of the sun to the going down of it and from east to west, the name of the Lord is to be praised!

Dear God,
I praise You for what You have done to save me! I praise You and acknowledge Your continuing work in my life that is conforming my will to Your own and making all things new. I praise You that even greater gifts and glory are in store for me when Your Kingdom is fully manifested on the Earth! I Praise and worship You for all that You are. Thank You for such an abundant and comprehensive salvation!
Amen

All (but*) quotes are from The Amplified Bible, published by
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Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation
*New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society
**Scripture taken from The Message. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. (Eugene Peterson's easy-to-read, contemporary Scripture translation)

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JMD Devotional 212 Titus 1:15,16 You See What You are

Vs 15 To the pure [in heart and conscience] all things are pure, but to the defiled and corrupt and unbelieving nothing is pure; their very minds and consciences are defiled and polluted.

I used to argue with my psychologist on dream interpretation. Regardless of how bizarre the dream was, and who was in it, he emphatically stated that each element and person in the dream was really me. His premise was that human beings are so egocentric that we filter and distort information so it agrees with our prejudices and protects our ego. In the realm of one’s mind, it is all about us. One sad way this plays out is in the selection of things that push our buttons. The things that most upset you, that really get under your skin, that make you mad, and that you utterly despise in others are really character traits of your own. We put cosmetics on murderous hearts, we disguise our deceitfulness and excuse our laziness by projecting and amplifying and pinning these defects on our perception of others. Mark what makes you angry; revisit it before God and ask Him to reveal the condition of your heart. If your first impulse is to see the worst in others and the world at large—this applies to you (and me).

Vs 16 They profess to know God [to recognize, perceive, and be acquainted with Him], but deny and disown and renounce Him by what they do; they are detestable and loathsome, unbelieving and disobedient and disloyal and rebellious, and [they are] unfit and worthless for good work (deed or enterprise) of any kind.

Dear God,
I am so quick to criticize, but the joke is on me. The one I deceive the most is myself; but You see right through my smokescreens. Help this person born in utter depravity to continuously be renewed in Christ. When everything around me appears fearful, ugly, menacing and wicked I have learned that the evil is on the other side of my eyes, it is internal, in my blood. Only a transfusion of Your holiness will save me; and whenever I disconnect the pollution returns. Help me to abide in You, and Your Holy Spirit in me; give me eyes of grace and hope and purity.
Amen

All (but*) quotes are from The Amplified Bible, published by
the Lockman Foundation. (AMP)
Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation
*New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society
**Scripture taken from The Message. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. (Eugene Peterson's easy-to-read, contemporary Scripture translation)

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JMD Devotional 211 Titus 2:7,8 License to Be a Fanatic

And show your own self in all respects to be a pattern and a model of good deeds and works, teaching what is unadulterated, showing gravity [having the strictest regard for truth and purity of motive], with dignity and seriousness. And let your instruction be sound and fit and wise and wholesome, vigorous and irrefutable and above censure, so that the opponent may be put to shame, finding nothing discrediting or evil to say about us.

Men, in particular, are so adept at compartmentalizing every aspect of their life. Work goes into one box, family into another, and religion into its box and so forth. At the last election, Jim Kerry publicly stated that his personal religious convictions had no bearing on his political platform and principles! Now that represents compartments having walls thicker than a vault! But the counsel of the scriptures was not intended to be isolated in a ‘religious’ corner of your life; but to permeate the whole person to include their life at home and work and in the world at large; and down to their innermost being. The fruit of this migration into every compartment of our soul is coherency of purpose and consistency in ethics, with faithfulness, righteousness, and integrity. The World is put at ease when the truth is minimized and treated as an abstract, philosophical and distant concept: but God has called us to make the Truth personal, up-front and close to home whether it makes people comfortable or not. We should not be, and we do not need to be belligerent, pushy or ungracious: just earnest about the importance of the Truth we carry.

Dear God,
Your people are so diverse, and you have given us so much liberty that I cannot begin to comprehend the limits of human expression in the world today; the potential is a gift! Thank You! May our freedom not be sinful license, and may our abundance not obscure the testimony of our salvation! While in the scriptures yeast has been used as a metaphor for evil and good; please remember a parable Jesus gave to us of the Kingdom of God in which that kingdom is described as a little yeast worked into a large lump of dough that made the whole loaf rise. Please work Your holy influence through the dough of our being and out into our community, so that everything we engage will rise also, reflecting Your glory.
Amen

All (but*) quotes are from The Amplified Bible, published by
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Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation
*New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society
**Scripture taken from The Message. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. (Eugene Peterson's easy-to-read, contemporary Scripture translation)

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JMD Devotional 210 Titus 3:1-7 Poor Relationship to Power

REMIND PEOPLE to be submissive to [their] magistrates and authorities, to be obedient, to be prepared and willing to do any upright and honorable work, to slander or abuse or speak evil of no one, to avoid being contentious, to be forbearing (yielding, gentle, and conciliatory), and to show unqualified courtesy toward everybody. For we also were once thoughtless and senseless, obstinate and disobedient, deluded and misled; [we too were once] slaves to all sorts of cravings and pleasures, wasting our days in malice and jealousy and envy, hateful (hated, detestable) and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving-kindness of God our Savior to man [as man] appeared, He saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but because of His own pity and mercy, by [the] cleansing [bath] of the new birth (regeneration) and renewing of the Holy Spirit, Which He poured out [so] richly upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. [And He did it in order] that we might be justified by His grace (by His favor, wholly undeserved), [that we might be acknowledged and counted as conformed to the divine will in purpose, thought, and action], and that we might become heirs of eternal life according to [our] hope.

The salvation that God engineered for us required nothing tangible from us and it had to be so. Had we performed some work, our sense of earning our salvation would have corrupted our spirit. Our relationship to power is not very good this side of perfection. Our natural inclination is to resent any power over us; and to abuse our power over others. We inherently compete with those of equivalent power, trying to get the upper edge. But the fruit of this is an ugly attitude. When we submit to God, and to every other power that He has placed over us, the godly adornment of humility comes as a special grace. Again, if we try to earn it, it just becomes vile self-abasement in which we are still in charge. We respond righteously to God’s power when we fully submit to it.

Dear God,
Power is an intoxicant that men and women do not handle very well. When we feel deprived of it; our attitudes become very ugly. Please cleanse me of the resentment, bitterness and malice that even now shows up when my goals are blocked or my plans are frustrated. Forgive me for the countless times I have rashly criticized my superiors. I believe that, as always, You have a better way to deal with these things. Temper my spirit and help me not to easily take offense, to be more flexible. Grant me the grace to genuinely respect and support and serve those with power over me; acknowledging that they could not have it except that it has been given to them from above.
Amen

All (but*) quotes are from The Amplified Bible, published by
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Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation
*New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society
**Scripture taken from The Message. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. (Eugene Peterson's easy-to-read, contemporary Scripture translation)

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JMD Devotional 209 1 Corinthians 10:12,13 The Great Escape

Therefore let anyone who thinks he stands [who feels sure that he has a steadfast mind and is standing firm], take heed lest he fall [into sin]. For no temptation (no trial regarded as enticing to sin), [no matter how it comes or where it leads] has overtaken you and laid hold on you that is not common to man [that is, no temptation or trial has come to you that is beyond human resistance and that is not adjusted and adapted and belonging to human experience, and such as man can bear]. But God is faithful [to His Word and to His compassionate nature], and He [can be trusted] not to let you be tempted and tried and assayed beyond your ability and strength of resistance and power to endure, but with the temptation He will [always] also provide the way out (the means of escape to a landing place), that you may be capable and strong and powerful to bear up under it patiently.

We place ourselves in danger when we minimize the threat and persistence of sin, when we reason proudly that we are beyond its reach in our spiritual development. When a brother or sister slips, we should not despise them; but soberly consider that ‘but for the grace of God, go I.’
The sinful impulses that lead people to ruin are common to ALL HUMANITY. None of us can really say that we are above it in and of ourselves. Our primary duty in regards to temptation is to look to God for His way of escape from it. Repeated failure has taught me that my success rate is poor when I face certain sinful impulses head-on; but I have learned to take a lateral approach where I know I am weak. For instance, if my trigger is an argument with my spouse, or a depressing set-back, I know that I should not spend a lot of time alone in front of the computer (which is a doorway to self-medicating pornography). The strategy I have developed is to get outside in God’s nature and fresh air and hike, bike or kayak to burn off the angst and refresh my soul. It is about making better choices; selecting activities that benefit my life rather than foster shame. When temptation presents itself, there is always an alternate activity that serves as an exit door, a proper escape from sin. Another “escape” might be to call your accountability partner and confess that you are being tempted—I guarantee that sharing that will take the wind out of Satan’s sails, and will bless your partner in Christ: sins thrive in secrecy and isolation. If you do not have such a person in your life, that is where you need to begin.

Dear God,
My track record is not good; I fail so often when I operate on my own. So much shame about my shortcomings seem to amplify my errors. Please help me to use better strategies to combat sin in my life; to look for Your fire escape, to take an alternate path, to choose a righteous activity instead of sin. Help me to develop godly friendships and strengthen the bonds of my accountability so that I am not alone in my struggles; thank You for such people who are concerned for my soul and are willing to be there for me. Your presence, power and promises make all of the difference between failure and success; praise be to God.
Amen

All (but*) quotes are from The Amplified Bible, published by
the Lockman Foundation. (AMP)
Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation
*New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society
**Scripture taken from The Message. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. (Eugene Peterson's easy-to-read, contemporary Scripture translation)

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JMD Devotional 208 Malachi 1 Needful Heresy

Vs 10 Oh, that there were even one among you [whose duty it is to minister to Me] who would shut the doors, that you might not kindle fire on My altar to no purpose [an empty, futile, fruitless pretense]! I have no pleasure in you, says the Lord of hosts, nor will I accept an offering from your hand.

What an unusual plea from the heart of God, for some priest of integrity to basically nail the doors of the sanctuary shut and halt the religious activity! What would provoke this emotion from the Almighty?

Vs 6-9 A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If then I am a Father, where is My honor? And if I am a Master, where is the [reverent] fear due Me? says the Lord of hosts to you, O priests, who despise My name. You say, How and in what way have we despised Your name?
By offering polluted food upon My altar. And you ask, How have we polluted it and profaned You? By thinking that the table of the Lord is contemptible and may be despised. When you [priests] offer blind [animals] for sacrifice, is it not evil? And when you offer the lame and the sick, is it not evil? Present such a thing [a blind or lame or sick animal] now to your governor [in payment of your taxes, and see what will happen]. Will he be pleased with you? Or will he receive you graciously? says the Lord of hosts. Now then, I [Malachi] beg [you priests], entreat God [earnestly] that He will be gracious to us. With such a gift from your hand [as a defective animal for sacrifice], will He accept it or show favor to any of you? says the Lord of hosts.

Any form of worship can degenerate into meaningless religious motions when the heart of the worshiper looses their passion for God. The departure turns privilege into duty and service into drudgery. Perhaps it would be more pleasing to God for us to sometimes disrupt our routine program of services and honestly examine ourselves for such a departure? It is bound to be unpleasant; it will not be entertaining; any disruption will certainly expose how man-centered our worship really is: people will vehemently complain!

Vs 11-14 For from the rising of the sun to its setting My name shall be great among the nations, and in every place incense shall be offered to My name, and indeed a pure offering; for My name shall be great among the nations, says the Lord of hosts. But you [priests] profane it when [by your actions] you say, The table of the Lord is polluted, and the fruit of it, its food, is contemptible and may be despised. You say also, Behold, what a drudgery and weariness this is! And you have sniffed at it, says the Lord of hosts. And you have brought that which was taken by violence, or the lame or the sick; this you bring as an offering! Shall I accept this from your hand? says the Lord. But cursed is the [cheating] deceiver who has a male in his flock and vows to offer it, yet sacrifices to the [sovereign] Lord a blemished or diseased thing! For I am a great King, says the Lord of hosts, and My name is terrible and to be [reverently] feared among the nations.

We do not bring animal sacrifices under our dispensation; but we are to bring our tithes and gifts and praise with sincere and grateful hearts and sanctified hands. When we come together there should be genuine sorrow over our sins, humility toward our elders, and reverent fear and worship of God. In Christian history, God has had to periodically raise up a ‘heretic’ or persecution to stir up and challenge a complacent Church slipping into apostasy. May we wake ourselves up before He must take such measures with our generation!

Dear God,
Every man is right in his own sight, and I am no exception: temper my thoughts and judgment. Is the Church what You want it to be? What can godly men do to bring Her in line with Your will? Help us not to be like the parable of the man with a plank in his eye pointing out the splinter in another’s eye; but do help us to be a people of integrity and sincerity who please Your heart. May You not have to sigh and wish for someone to nail our church doors shut due to empty worship.
Amen

All (but*) quotes are from The Amplified Bible, published by
the Lockman Foundation. (AMP)
Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation
*New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society
**Scripture taken from The Message. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. (Eugene Peterson's easy-to-read, contemporary Scripture translation)

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JMD Devotional 207 Psalm 101 Pledge of True Allegiance

I WILL sing of mercy and loving-kindness and justice; to You, O Lord, will I sing. I will behave myself wisely and give heed to the blameless way--O when will You come to me? I will walk within my house in integrity and with a blameless heart. I will set no base or wicked thing before my eyes. I hate the work of them who turn aside [from the right path]; it shall not grasp hold of me. A perverse heart shall depart from me; I will know no evil person or thing. Whoso privily slanders his neighbor, him will I cut off [from me]; he who has a haughty look and a proud and arrogant heart I cannot and I will not tolerate. My eyes shall [look with favor] upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me; he who walks blamelessly, he shall minister to me. He who works deceit shall not dwell in my house; he who tells lies shall not continue in my presence. Morning after morning I will root up all the wicked in the land, that I may eliminate all the evildoers from the city of the Lord.

From my years of recovery, a triad of principles were forged into my life that no man taught me; but that resonate with the Scriptures. This keeps me centered:
I strive to be:
1. Fully Committed to God and His Kingdom to include the Church
2. Totally Dependent on His Holy Spirit’s power working through me
3. Completely Yielded to His will for my life

The converse of these are:
1. Double-minded (betrayer), 2. Self-powered (fleshly, carnal), 3. Rebellious (hater of authority).
(1. A double minded man [is] unstable in all his ways (James 1:8 KJV). 2. I am the vine, ye [are] the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing (John 15:5 KJV). 3. He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him (John 14:21 KJV).)

God has pledged a great host of promises to keep, equip and sustain us; some conditional and many unconditional: are we willing to pledge our allegiance to Him? I would not encourage you to take an oath; counsel says you will be held to it (James 5:12). However, a pledge is a statement of how and where you stand; which is in harmony with Proverbs 4:26 (KJV) “Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.”

Dear God,
I want to serve You and establish all of my ways in accordance with Your will; please impart Your wisdom and integrity. I determine to set no base or wicked thing before my eyes; may a perverse heart depart from me! Sanctify me by the truth; Your Word is truth. Jesus is my Way, my Truth and my life. Lord, keep me from evil. May my allegiance be certain. Keep me by Your power.
Amen

All (but*) quotes are from The Amplified Bible, published by
the Lockman Foundation. (AMP)
Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation
*New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society
**Scripture taken from The Message. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. (Eugene Peterson's easy-to-read, contemporary Scripture translation)

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JMD Devotional 206 Daniel 7:25-27 Power Struggle

And he (the Antichrist) shall speak words against the Most High [God] and shall wear out the saints of the Most High and think to change the time [of sacred feasts and holy days] and the law; and the saints shall be given into his hand for a time, two times, and half a time [three and one-half years]. But the judgment shall be set [by the court of the Most High], and they shall take away his dominion to consume it [gradually] and to destroy it [suddenly] in the end. And the kingdom and the dominion and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heavens shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High; His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all the dominions shall serve and obey Him.

In a series of visions God reveals human history past, present and future to Daniel. He beholds four beasts each representing the spirit of world powers; Babylon, Medo-Persia, Grecian and Roman. Power struggle is the theme. There once was a Heavenly power struggle, and Satan was cast out with a third of the angels; there is a Worldly power struggle that will draw all armies to the hills of Jerusalem. Nevertheless, all of this takes place before the court of God. Jesus told Pilate that he could have no power over Him unless it was given to him from above. God has a purpose in letting these little powers run their course for their allotted time. The struggle is against God’s sovereign rule; and it is futile; but it gives us a chance to side with God or to be damned with the rebels. We need to soberly brace ourselves for the ultimate antagonist; he will wear out the saints, and prevail over us until Jesus Himself rescues us. However, we should also take great comfort and hope that God will subdue every foe; and we will rule and reign with Christ over the nations in the final chapter of human history.

Psalm 96:10-13 Say among the nations that the Lord reigns; the world also is established, so that it cannot be moved; He shall judge and rule the people righteously and with justice. Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all the things which fill it; Let the field be exultant, and all that is in it! Then shall all the trees of the wood sing for joy Before the Lord, for He comes, for He comes to judge and govern the earth! He shall judge the world with righteousness and justice and the peoples with His faithfulness and truth.

Dear God,
In my shortsightedness, I have often felt that things could not possibly be worse; but they can. In a world full of evil, pain, suffering and injustice it is hard to be optimistic; but this is due to my limited vision. Help me to see further, fast-forward my perspective to the full manifestation of Your Kingdom, in which things could not possibly get any better! The world does not see it yet; but the Lord reigns! The Lord reigns; let the people be glad! Establish Your sovereign rule first in my heart and soul and spiritual life; may the joy Your rule brings be evident on my countenance. The end is the BEST. From an eternal perspective, things will only get better. Encourage Your people with this blessed hope.
Amen

All (but*) quotes are from The Amplified Bible, published by
the Lockman Foundation. (AMP)
Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation
*New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society
**Scripture taken from The Message. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. (Eugene Peterson's easy-to-read, contemporary Scripture translation)

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Christian, devotional, recovery, addiction, purity, faithfulness, integrity

JMD Devotional 205 Psalm 91 Only a Spectator of Evil

HE WHO dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall remain stable and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty [Whose power no foe can withstand]. I will say of the Lord, He is my Refuge and my Fortress, my God; on Him I lean and rely, and in Him I [confidently] trust!
For [then] He will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence.
[Then] He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings shall you trust and find refuge; His truth and His faithfulness are a shield and a buckler. You shall not be afraid of the terror of the night, nor of the arrow (the evil plots and slanders of the wicked) that flies by day, Nor of the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor of the destruction and sudden death that surprise and lay waste at noonday. A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand, but it shall not come near you. Only a spectator shall you be [yourself inaccessible in the secret place of the Most High] as you witness the reward of the wicked. Because you have made the Lord your refuge, and the Most High your dwelling place, There shall no evil befall you, nor any plague or calamity come near your tent. For He will give His angels [especial] charge over you to accompany and defend and preserve you in all your ways [of obedience and service].
They shall bear you up on their hands, lest you dash your foot against a stone. You shall tread upon the lion and adder; the young lion and the serpent shall you trample underfoot. Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore will I deliver him; I will set him on high, because he knows and understands My name [has a personal knowledge of My mercy, love, and kindness--trusts and relies on Me, knowing I will never forsake him, no, never]. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him and show him My salvation.

“The rich promises of this whole chapter are dependent upon one's meeting exactly the conditions of these first two verses (see Exod. 15:26)(footnote in AMP).”

Note all of the ‘because’ and ‘for (then)’ and ‘for’ preambles to blessings: these are the conditions we must meet, and they are all based on faith. This faith is to be far deeper than mere intellectual assent; one must believe deep down in his gut that God will take care of him. Unbelief is an insult to God, a libel on His character as our Heavenly Father! When we feel forsaken, it is but a brief test of our faith; then it is that we most need to exercise it to honor God.

Dear God,
You were not distracted when trouble came my way; nothing takes You by surprise. You are not indifferent to my suffering, You have not minimized my difficulties in some callous fashion; what threatens me is taken very seriously by You; my trouble touches the pupil of Your right eye! But You have the advantage of an eternal perspective; You already see the end of the wicked, the tormentors, the trouble-makers and You see me safe in Your presence forever. Help me to see that, too, as much as a man can. Malicious spy ware may have breached my computer, stealing my accounts and identity, emptying my checking account. I feel helpless and overwhelmed; waiting anxiously to deal with the aftermath. But help me to honor You by resting in Your sovereignty and watchfulness; may my inspired peace compliment Your character!
I trust You to see me through this.
Amen

All (but*) quotes are from The Amplified Bible, published by
the Lockman Foundation. (AMP)
Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation
*New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society
**Scripture taken from The Message. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. (Eugene Peterson's easy-to-read, contemporary Scripture translation)

If you know of someone who would like to subscribe to
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