Recovery Devotional 365 Miserable Conformity

JMD Devotional 365 Amos 2:11-16 Miserable Conformity

And I raised up some of your sons for prophets and some of your young men for dedicated ones [Nazirites]. Is this not true, O you children of Israel? says the Lord. But you gave the dedicated ones [the Nazirites] wine to drink and commanded the prophets, saying, Prophesy not.

Behold, I am pressed under you and I will press you down in your place as a cart presses that is full of sheaves. And flight shall be lost to the swift and refuge shall fail him; the strong shall not retain and confirm his strength, neither shall the mighty deliver himself. Neither shall he stand who handles the bow, and he who is swift of foot shall not deliver himself; neither shall he who rides the horse deliver his life. And he who is courageous among the mighty shall flee away naked on that day, says the Lord.

What would possess a society that claims to be “God’s people” to give wine to Nazirites and to command prophets to “Prophesy not?” To the lost and backslidden, not only is the holiness of God offensive, but His holiness manifested in dedicated believers is repugnant as well. The movement of God is clearly superseded by people’s love of the status quo. People resist the spontaneity of God’s work in favor of the miserable security of programs, predictability and human control. I have been in churches that spiritually starved their congregations with substandard Sunday School literature because the pastor’s pension was tied to the denominational printing house that had lost its inspiration. Non-denominational publishers were putting out rich, stimulating and challenging material; but it would have been heresy to use anything other than “Snooze Press.” On a personal level, I have always been told that I am “too much”, “over-driven”, a “potential heretic” and much pressure has always been applied to suppress drives that I believe that God inspires. I am somewhat obsessive; but what if God wired me that way for His purpose? Making people comfortable by throwing water on my fire would be just like giving wine to a Nazirite.

Dear God,

I want to follow You and not man. No doubt all people should submit to the authority of the Church and to our Christian and civil leaders in so far as it does not violate scripture. Without accountability I would fall. However, almost every time You began a new work, resistance opposed Your representative man or woman, even sometimes from the Church: how do we know when it is godly to be stubborn and cling to our calling over our peer’s opposition? How do we avoid deadly pride and self-righteousness? I am no authority to myself. Keep me in the middle, faithful to Your Holy Spirit’s leading, true to my unique self regenerated in Christ, supportive of Your larger work in the world through Your Church. And as much as it lies in me, may I be at peace with all people without compromising Your call upon my life.

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)

I originally produced these blogs between 2006 and 2007, which were then published in my book, JMD Recovery Devotionals. In 2010, I am sending these out to a few people as I review them and see if my point of view has changed.

If you know of someone who would like to subscribe to my daily devotional, please forward.

jamesdinsmore_32907@yahoo.com

Short, concise, thought-provoking.

More features:

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Recovery Devotional 364 Perfect in Righteousness

JMD Devotional 364 Nahum 1:2-3 Perfect in Righteousness

The Lord is a jealous God and avenging; the Lord avenges and He is full of wrath. The Lord takes vengeance on His adversaries and reserves wrath for His enemies. The Lord is slow to anger and great in power and will by no means clear the guilty. The Lord has His way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of His feet.

Lost people and immature Christians, when confronted by scriptures portraying God’s rock-hard righteousness and standards of holiness respond by saying something like, “My god is a god of love,” and “I don’t believe god gets angry or punishes anyone.” They reason as if the God of the Old Testament is a different god than that of the New. I credit Ray Comfort, of Living Waters Ministries, of helping me see that by definition, God must be absolutely righteous, without fault, and He must be a perfect Judge, not letting any guilty person escape punishment. Any judge that lets criminals off the hook would be a corrupt judge. God is infinitely GOOD, and that goodness mandates perfect integrity and justice. Those who hold to a god of love and not of justice are guilty of idolatry, having fabricated a god of their own imagination, and are destined for damnation. We must conform our view of God in accordance with His revelation of the scriptures (it is not up to man to define God; God defines man!) God is infinite in all of His attributes: perfect love, perfect righteousness, perfect justice, perfect mercy, perfect knowledge, perfect holiness: and God never compromises any of His virtues. God’s ultimate expression of mercy and love was through sending His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to die for sinners. Only those who believe and receive Jesus as Savior and Lord will be saved, everyone else will be smashed by the Law of God into smithereens! Repent and be converted! Salvation is on His terms!

Exodus 34:6-7 (NKJV) And the LORD passed before him (Moses) and proclaimed, "The LORD, the LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, "keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, by no means clearing [the guilty,] visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children's children to the third and the fourth generation."

Luke 13:3 (Jesus said) "I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.

Dear God,

You are perfect, but human beings, in their depravity, try to remake You in their image, because they cannot bear the reality of their damnation before You. All sins will be punished one way or another; thank You for punishing mine in Your Son. May I never take for granted the outrageous grace of my redemption. You are angry with the wicked every day; Help me to depart from iniquity; help me to hate sin as You do, and to love You with a perfect heart.

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)

I originally produced these blogs between 2006 and 2007, which were then published in my book, JMD Recovery Devotionals. In 2010, I am sending these out to a few people as I review them and see if my point of view has changed.

If you know of someone who would like to subscribe to my daily devotional, please forward.

jamesdinsmore_32907@yahoo.com

Short, concise, thought-provoking.

More features:

http://jamesdinsmoreblogs.blogspot.com/

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

Recovery Devotional 363 Refreshing Souls

JMD Devotional 363 2 Corinthians 7:5-6 Refreshing Souls

For even when we arrived in Macedonia, our bodies had no ease or rest, but we were oppressed in every way and afflicted at every turn--fighting and contentions without, dread and fears within [us]. But God, Who comforts and encourages and refreshes and cheers the depressed and the sinking, comforted and encouraged and refreshed and cheered us by the arrival of Titus.

Our inner monologue can make or break us. It is easy to fall into the rut of wallowing in toxic thought (“woe is me”, “life is bad”, etc.) We could all use some help when we are down to see the lighter side of life. When it comes to encouragement, opportunities abound. There is an exchange that takes place with every conversation; some people tend to be fountains and others drains. Put another way, some people are joy-givers and others joy-stealers. It is healthier to be positive; but it takes effort and mental discipline to see the good in difficult times. Everyone has influence, and we are called to use that influence for good; we have a responsibility that extends from ourselves to our neighbor. The heart of God yearns to comfort his children; and we are His hands and feet: His representatives. We have no idea how much encouragement a kind word, a sympathetic ear, or a friendly gesture may bring to another.

Proverbs 12:25 Anxiety in a man's heart weighs it down, but an encouraging word makes it glad.

Proverbs 17:22 A happy heart is good medicine and a cheerful mind works healing, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.

Proverbs 15:30 The light in the eyes [of him whose heart is joyful] rejoices the hearts of others, and good news nourishes the bones.

Dear God,

Guard my mouth, and keep me from bringing others down through careless conversation and habitual negativity. Transform my presence and countenance; open the valves of joy and grace; bless others through me. Help me to take the goodness out of my basement and display it up front to encourage people. Your presence in my life is overwhelmingly positive. Make gladness contagious in my life. May God be magnified.

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)

I originally produced these blogs between 2006 and 2007, which were then published in my book, JMD Recovery Devotionals. In 2010, I am sending these out to a few people as I review them and see if my point of view has changed.

If you know of someone who would like to subscribe to my daily devotional, please forward.

jamesdinsmore_32907@yahoo.com

Short, concise, thought-provoking.

More features:

http://jamesdinsmoreblogs.blogspot.com/

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

Recovery Devotional 362 Robbed of Relational Time

JMD Devotional 362 Psalm 127 Robbed of Relational Time

EXCEPT THE Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; except the Lord keeps the city, the watchman wakes but in vain. It is vain for you to rise up early, to take rest late, to eat the bread of [anxious] toil--for He gives [blessings] to His beloved in sleep. Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. As arrows are in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one's youth. Happy, blessed, and fortunate is the man whose quiver is filled with them! They will not be put to shame when they speak with their adversaries [in gatherings] at the [city's] gate.

Focus: verse 2: It is vain for you to rise up early, to take rest late, to eat the bread of [anxious] toil--for He gives [blessings] to His beloved in sleep.

This is the formula for success in the Western world: suck it up and drive on. In our highly competitive work place, fear motivates people to stretch their workday at the expense of their relational life. Work encroaches the lunch hour so one more report gets done and filed away (where it may never be read). Personal maintenance slips as more of the corporate machine consumes our day, we leave home early and come home late. Every man rationalizes that he does this for his family: but what his family needs is him: his interaction, his presence, his vitality. There has always been tension between the needs of workers and management’s expectations: you have to push back or be consumed. We need to leave work at work to protect the best part of our lives. Work is not our life, and it does not define us. Where does a “quiver full of arrows” come from? Intimacy is not just sex; it is a deep connection with those around you. We are relational beings, and God created us for relationship.

Dear God,

I hate coming home like an empty shell, a spent cartridge, a fraction of the man You created. My wife, my friends, my Church, my life deserves better. If I am to be consumed may it be with You, my Lord and my God. If I burn out, they will find another to replace me, so why do I sacrifice so much? I am driven by fear: redirect my drives: help me to crave godly intimacy. Help me to slow down to be personal with my friends, to be a friend in deed, to listen intently. I can focus on relationships instead of work because You are in control of the Universe, I am under God and not under man.

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)

I originally produced these blogs between 2006 and 2007, which were then published in my book, JMD Recovery Devotionals. In 2010, I am sending these out to a few people as I review them and see if my point of view has changed.

If you know of someone who would like to subscribe to my daily devotional, please forward.

jamesdinsmore_32907@yahoo.com

Short, concise, thought-provoking.

More features:

http://jamesdinsmoreblogs.blogspot.com/

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

Recovery Devotional 361 We Preach Not Ourselves

JMD Devotional 361 2 Corinthians 4:1-5 We Preach Not Ourselves

1-4 THEREFORE, SINCE we do hold and engage in this ministry by the mercy of God [granting us favor, benefits, opportunities, and especially salvation], we do not get discouraged (spiritless and despondent with fear) or become faint with weariness and exhaustion. We have renounced disgraceful ways (secret thoughts, feelings, desires and underhandedness, the methods and arts that men hide through shame); we refuse to deal craftily (to practice trickery and cunning) or to adulterate or handle dishonestly the Word of God, but we state the truth openly (clearly and candidly). And so we commend ourselves in the sight and presence of God to every man's conscience. But even if our Gospel (the glad tidings) also be hidden (obscured and covered up with a veil that hinders the knowledge of God), it is hidden [only] to those who are perishing and obscured [only] to those who are spiritually dying and veiled [only] to those who are lost.

For the god of this world has blinded the unbelievers' minds [that they should not discern the truth], preventing them from seeing the illuminating light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ (the Messiah), Who is the Image and Likeness of God.

5For what we preach is not ourselves but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves [merely] as your servants (slaves) for Jesus' sake.

The Energizer Bunny® doesn’t work without his batteries; and we cannot be godly without being Christ-centered (He in us and we in Him). The Christian Message is not just philosophy; it is divine, supernatural power flowing from God based upon His promise. The Gospel is indeed enlightened logic; but if it were reduced to mere logic; a man-centered sales-pitch; then it is devoid of the power of God to transform lives. The Word of God has power because of who uttered it. Christianity is a religion; however, it is singularly capable of abolishing all other religions (that are nothing other than humanity’s attempts to reach God) by sending one from God Himself to us to show us and lead us on the Way of salvation. God saw our wretched, helpless estate, and sent His Son as the propitiation for our sins. It is all about Jesus Christ.

The problem I have with so many TV celebrity ministers is that it is all about them. In order for them to get and hold onto a following, they must be self-promoting. To attract the world as one’s audience, to entice their tastes, one must be worldly; and compromise is patently unchristian. The friend of the world is the enemy of God (James 4:4). Godliness does not mix with a worldly lifestyle, though many Hollywood celebrities try to add the cross as a fashion statement. It is an attempt to appeal to a wider audience of fellow hypocrites (the cross should represent our corresponding sacrifice for what Christ has done for us, our death to this present world system and its enticements). The self-elevation of personality-based ministries is antithetical to Christian service.

“He must increase, but I must decrease. [He must grow more prominent; I must grow less so.](John 3:30 AMP)

When people use Jesus Christ to serve their own ends, then who is serving whom? (God is not our genie, nor is He our butler: He is our Lord and Master). A person is most effectively following and serving Jesus Christ when they become invisible to the ones they are ministering to. Discipleship should never foster co-dependence; we are to equip people, and wean them from us so that they can stand tall in Christ without ourselves being in the equation.

Dear God,

Your reputation is tarnished through those falsely claiming to represent You; but who are really just serving themselves. Many seekers have been betrayed by the twisted heresies and manipulation dished out by wolves in sheep’s clothing. I understand the cynicism of people who have been betrayed by counterfeits; but counterfeits could not exist without there having been the real thing also. Expose the frauds and con-artists! Help Your people to refrain from imitating the world’s ways: give us Your soul-winning power instead. May Jesus Christ be elevated. May we righteously handle Your Word (2 Timothy 2:15). Teach us how to do Your work in Your way with Your power and under Your blessing. You are the Message.

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)

I originally produced these blogs between 2006 and 2007, which were then published in my book, JMD Recovery Devotionals. In 2010, I am sending these out to a few people as I review them and see if my point of view has changed.

If you know of someone who would like to subscribe to my daily devotional, please forward.

jamesdinsmore_32907@yahoo.com

Short, concise, thought-provoking.

More features:

http://jamesdinsmoreblogs.blogspot.com/

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

Recovery Devotional 360 The Day of the Lord

JMD Devotional 360 Amos 5:18-24 The Day of the Lord

Woe to you who desire the day of the Lord! Why would you want the day of the Lord? It is darkness and not light; It is as if a man fled from a lion and a bear met him, or went into the house and leaned with his hand against the wall and a serpent bit him. Shall not the day of the Lord be darkness, not light? Even very dark with no brightness in it? I hate, I despise your feasts, and I will not smell a savor or take delight in your solemn assemblies. Though you offer Me your burnt offerings and your cereal offerings, I will not accept them, neither will I look upon the peace or thank offerings of your fatted beasts. Take away from Me the noise of your songs, for I will not listen to the melody of your harps. But let justice run down like waters and righteousness as a mighty and ever-flowing stream.

1 Peter 4:17-19 For the time [has arrived] for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will [be] the end of those who do not respect or believe or obey the good news (the Gospel) of God? And if the righteous are barely saved, what will become of the godless and wicked? Therefore, those who are ill-treated and suffer in accordance with God's will must do right and commit their souls [in charge as a deposit] to the One Who created [them] and will never fail [them].

It is better to take your medicine up front, to fear God and turn from evil voluntarily, to search your soul for hypocrisy, to commit to live deliberately and carefully before God while it is still our day of choice. Many Christians pine away for the ‘Day of the Lord’, and have no idea that judgment begins with the Church. Our Age of Grace is not license for sin, indifference and neglect of spiritual duties. Judgment begins with us because we have been given more and we know more so more is required of us. We have the testimony of history. The pendulum at times needs to swing between comforting the afflicted to afflicting the comfortable. Does God love the Church in China, Indonesia and the Sudan any less than the U.S.? Self-righteousness is still sin. Can anyone take a good inventory of their sins of omission? God is love; but it is still wise to fear Him.

2 Corinthians 5:14-15 For the love of Christ controls and urges and impels us, because we are of the opinion and conviction that [if] One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, so that all those who live might live no longer to and for themselves, but to and for Him Who died and was raised again for their sake.

1 Corinthians 11:31-32 For if we searchingly examined ourselves [detecting our shortcomings and recognizing our own condition], we should not be judged and penalty decreed [by the divine judgment]. But when we [fall short and] are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined and chastened, so that we may not [finally] be condemned [to eternal punishment along] with the world.

Dear God,

Everyone wants to believe that they are exempt from judgment; but You have warned that many people who thought they were serving You will be sadly mistaken (Matthew 7:22). Father, chastise and correct me up front: make me aware of my transgressions so I can cooperate with Your Holy Spirit, and change my heart, mind, and way of life. The kind of fear that breeds resentment is distorted, and does not comprehend Your Holiness and man’s utter depravity. Perfect my love for you: perfect love casts out that fear, even of the coming Judgment. Only as I abide in Christ am I truly shielded from the Judgment that will lay waste to this world.

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)

I originally produced these blogs between 2006 and 2007, which were then published in my book, JMD Recovery Devotionals. In 2010, I am sending these out to a few people as I review them and see if my point of view has changed.

If you know of someone who would like to subscribe to my daily devotional, please forward.

jamesdinsmore_32907@yahoo.com

Short, concise, thought-provoking.

More features:

http://jamesdinsmoreblogs.blogspot.com/

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

Recovery Devotional 358 Outrageous Expectations

JMD Devotional 358 Acts 26:18-29 Outrageous Expectations

To open their eyes that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may thus receive forgiveness and release from their sins and a place and portion among those who are consecrated and purified by faith in Me. Wherefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision, but made known openly first of all to those at Damascus, then at Jerusalem and throughout the whole land of Judea, and also among the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works and live lives consistent with and worthy of their repentance. Because of these things the Jews seized me in the temple [enclosure] and tried to do away with me. [But] to this day I have had the help which comes from God [as my ally], and so I stand here testifying to small and great alike, asserting nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses declared would come to pass-- that the Christ (the Anointed One) must suffer and that He, by being the first to rise from the dead, would declare and show light both to the [Jewish] people and to the Gentiles.

And as he thus proceeded with his defense, Festus called out loudly, Paul, you are mad! Your great learning is driving you insane! But Paul replied, I am not mad, most noble Festus, but I am uttering the straight, sound truth. For the king understands about these things well enough, and [therefore] to him I speak with bold frankness and confidence. I am convinced that not one of these things has escaped his notice, for all this did not take place in a corner [in secret].

King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? [Do you give credence to God's messengers and their words?] I perceive and know that you do believe. Then Agrippa said to Paul, You think it a small task to make a Christian of me [just offhand to induce me with little ado and persuasion, at very short notice]. And Paul replied, Whether short or long, I would to God that not only you, but also all who are listening to me today, might become such as I am, except for these chains.

In one sense, it seems outrageous to expect people to make a decision altering the course of their life based on a brief presentation of the Gospel. A reasonable response is to demand evidence, and to critically review the messenger and the message, to give the proposal a full examination. However, many people have already inoculated themselves against the Gospel as something that would interfere with their ‘lifestyle’. They profess that the Truth is unknowable (thanks to godless ‘scholars’, unbelieving ‘theologians’ and other wolves in sheep’s clothing promoting doubt). They claim it is a credibility issue; but it is really a moral issue: they won’t acknowledge a God who would interfere with their choices. The irony is that this same population makes foolish choices and life altering decisions every day based on 30 second commercials they know are designed to separate them from their money through mostly unsupported ‘truths’. If they will invest their life’s savings in worm farming based upon what a stranger in an advertisement says, we might as well be doing some advertising ourselves, and be ready to back up our claims. Cast many seeds, water and weed the minority that sprout, tend the very few that reach maturity.

Dear God,

Help us to faithfully witness to a world that does not want to hear our Message. Our relationship to You and our knowledge of the consequences demand that we be witnesses. Silence is deadly.

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)

I originally produced these blogs between 2006 and 2007, which were then published in my book, JMD Recovery Devotionals. In 2010, I am sending these out to a few people as I review them and see if my point of view has changed.

If you know of someone who would like to subscribe to my daily devotional, please forward.

jamesdinsmore_32907@yahoo.com

Short, concise, thought-provoking.

More features:

http://jamesdinsmoreblogs.blogspot.com/

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