Still chewing on the messages from Marilyn Hickey this past weekend, and particularly the “sofia” kind of wisdom, the-big-picture-kind-of-wisdom that God gives us.

One of the most insightful verses of Scripture about that is Proverbs 29:18 that tells us without vision, people perish (that’s the KJV that I grew up with). However, many other translations express it a little differently: notice the NASB,  or the ESV, or the NLT, or even the Message - and see that without an overarching big-picture vision for our life, we are unrestrained….we cast off restraints, or we run wild, stumbling all over ourselves.  In other words, unless we see God’s ‘big-picture’ for our live, it’s easy for us to chase after most anything, trying to find the fulfillment that ONLY is found within HIS plan for us!

The problem with promiscuity isn’t that we enjoy sleeping around; it’s that we don’t see God’s big picture plan for our life, so there’s no reason to pursue a more noble lifestyle.

The issue with sleeping late, wasting time playing video games, or allowing trivial pursuits to steal our days and nights is not that we’re just bored or lazy; it’s that we don’t have a ‘big-picture’ vision that’s compelling us to become the person God has caled us to be.

The reason even Christian leaders can just ‘punch the clock’ and put forth half-hearted, mediocre efforts in our area of ministry is not that we can’t do better; it’s that we still haven’t seen the ‘big-picture’ vision that makes our ministry meaningful and fulfilling.

I’ve got to get off my soapbox and get some work done, but let me simply ask: do you see the Big Picture that God has for your life?

If not, I’m praying Col. 1:9 over you today (the ‘wisdom’ there is ‘sophia’ wisdom!) Once you see it, you’ll never do life the same again!

I don’t think you’ll like this post, but it may encourage you nonetheless.

My devotions yesterday began with the book of Job.  You probably know his story – he was “the greatest of all the men of the East” (Job 1:3), with tons of sheep, oxen, camels, donkeys and servants.  Today that would probably translate to real estate holdings, a nice stock portfolio, a flush bank account, and lots of loyal employees.

Verses 8-12 jumped out at me, even though I’ve read them dozens of times – get this: God initiated the conversation with Satan and asked if the enemy had ever considered Job.  God was bragging to the devil about what a wonderful servant Job was!

What follows isn’t pretty.  Some of you may be able to relate.  The enemy showed consideration to Job by stripping him of everything – the sheep, the oxen, the camels, the donkeys and the servants.  And for good measure, he forced Job to attend the funerals of all of his 10 children.

Once again, God bragged to the devil about Job’s response (Job 2:3-6), and this time, the enemy’s consideration brought unbelievable physical suffering to Job – literally from head to toe (Job 2:7).

Let me cut right to the chase and say, could it be that what you are experiencing right now – whether pain, loss, heartache, or suffering – is not at all because God doesn’t care or that He is somehow letting you down or that you are being ‘judged’ for something you did – instead, could it be that God is actually pleased with you and perhaps bragged about you to the enemy?

If you’re having a bad day, or a bad week, or a bad month, or even a bad year – could it be that you’re getting consideration from the devil because God is so pleased with you that He couldn’t help but brag a bit?

I don’t think it was happenstance that allowed me to read Acts 5:41 next in my quiet time.  Maybe we’ve been counted ‘worthy’ to suffer.

In many respects, the last 12 months have been the most difficult of my entire life. But this much I know: if the early Christians could stay on assignment, so can I (Acts 5:42).

I am gonna stay on my assignment, because God has a plan for me just like He had for Job! (Job 42:12-17; Jeremiah 29:11)

How ’bout you?

I happened to read Nehemiah 4:14 in my devotions this morning, and it talked to me!  See if it talks to you, too:

• “do not be afraid of the enemy” – at the risk of oversimplification, that sounds like good advice for every single one of us, probably on every single day!

• “Remember the Lord” - now, that’ll preach!  But more than sermonizing, I find that I regularly need to remember & reflect & think back to HOW the Lord has worked in my life, time & time again.  He really is a GREAT God……but sometimes His greatness gets diminished simply because I fail to remember….usually because I’m too focused on the enemy or the problem or the situation I’m in.  Regardless of what’s going on in your life today, I dare you to think about how BIG your God is!

• (here’s where the Amplified Bible is so cool) “Imprint Him [on your minds]“ – see, to imprint implies making an impression by pressure, to stamp something.  Instead of letting the stresses & problems & circumstances pressure me about how bad things are, the Word is encouraging me to allow those situations to impress upon me how BIG my God is!

Don’t know about you, but I needed that today.

Just a little nugget from one of my recent devotions – it’s Hebrews 13:5 in the Amplified Bible (my pastor sometimes jokes that the Amplified Bible is ‘louder’ than other translations, but this time it really is!)

I especially want you to notice the promise in the last half of the verse: “God Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support.  I will not, I will not, I will not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let you down (relax my hold on you!) Assuredly not!”

Is that reassuring or what???

According to the Greek scholars, there are three negatives preceding the verb in the last part of the verse – hence, the repetition, “I will not, I will not, I will not” let you down!

God knows that we sometimes struggle with those doubts, especially when hard-pressed financially, or emotionally – so I figured this has to be a ‘word’ for somebody besides me.  REST in His promise – HE is taking care of you and HE will NOT let you down!

It’s only about a 15-minute drive from my house to the office, so I often listen to news on my way in.  In those few minutes this morning, I hear about mounting tensions in the Korean peninsula as well as new concerns about the stock market. Since I had personally received some disappointing and disturbing news late yesterday, it’s enough to make one think, “Lord, what in the world is going on?”

Ever felt that way?

Let me give you a few assurances:

1.  None of this catches HIM by surprise.  He really is the Alpha & Omega (first & last letters of the alphabet), the Beginning and The Ending (Rev. 22:13).  As Pastor Jack Hayford reminded us a few weeks ago, “It’s not over until HE says it’s over!”

2. No matter what’s happening in the world (or in your world), there is another dimension.  The first several chapters of Isaiah are my favorite illustration of that – as they rumble on about how bad things are, how they’re getting worse, how ‘woe is me’ fills the pages until Isaiah caught a glimpse of the Lord – and when he saw Him, suddenly the whole earth was “full of His glory”.

Reminds me of an old chorus we used to sing, “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus, Look full in His wonderful face.  And the things of this earth will grow strangely dim.  In the light of His glory and grace!”

So my word for today is let’s keep it all in perspective.  If you’re worried or stressed about the news, look up just as Luke 21:25-28 encourages us.  That’s what I’m gonna do.

My devotions yesterday morning were especially meaningful to me, but I haven’t had a chance to share until now:

The apostle James who wrote this Epistle was not only the half-brother of Jesus, but from what we read in Acts, he became one of the recognized leaders among the apostles, and was in all likelihood the Bishop of the church in Jerusalem.  As a pastor & leader of the world’s first mega-church, he was in a position to see human nature on display, even among believers.

Notice then that James 4:2 in the Amplified Bible paints the ugly but accurate truth that sometimes we still struggle with our selfish ways: jealous, covetous, envious and angry – not finding the gratification or contentment or happiness that we seek. Ouch!

Of course, he also points out that we don’t have because all-too-often, we haven’t asked (of God).  Ouch again!

Verses 3 and 4 and 5 pour on even more – and it’s not a pretty picture.

But I love verse 6!

In spite of all our failings and frailties, HE gives grace (undeserved favor!) continually (again & again) to the lowly – (and this is the part that jumped off the page at me) – those who are humble enough to receive it!

I said it to the Lord yesterday, and I’m saying it to you now: I always want to be humble enough to receive!  ”Lord, don’t ever let me get too big for my britches – too important in my own eyes – too anything – that I can’t receive from You!”

Can I get an amen?

My devotions earlier this week had me in Galatians, and as I read in the Amplified Bible, chapter 2, verse 8 really jumped out at me.  (I’m sure I’ve read it many times before, but never saw its truth so beautifully!) Notice:

• He motivated us – i.e., HE is the one who put the desire in our heart for whatever ministry passion we have;
• He also fitted us – i.e., HE not only gave us a desire for a certain area of ministry or service to fulfill our purpose here on earth, but then He ‘fitted‘ us – He gave us the exact abilities, giftings and experiences that would best suit us for that area of ministry!
• Finally, HE works effectively through us – i.e., when we are using our gifts to fulfill our heart’s desire, that’s when we are fruitful as well!  (Some people call it their ‘sweet spot’, and that’s what it is!)

What a good God!

SELAH.

What ministry desire to you have?  (Maybe you’re never even acknowledged it – or maybe the enemy has told you it’s just ‘you’ dreaming – but what is it that you really want to do for the Kingdom?)

What are you ‘fitted’ to do?  (I won’t be surprised if it’s the very thing that makes your heart beat faster!)

Where is God working effectively through you?  (Or maybe, if you’re not seeing ‘fruit’, you should go back to the first two questions – because if HE put the desire in your heart, then HE will enable you in that area, and you WILL be fruitful!)

Does that speak to you like it did to me?  If so, share your thoughts below-

My Bible talked to me today!

It was a passage I’ve read many times before, but it jumped off the page at me today.  Read it for yourself here (Romans 12:6-8).  All three verses are great, but verse 7 is the one that really grabbed me – especially the “give himself to” part.

I thought: “What am I giving myself to?”

For that matter, what are you giving yourself to?

I notice the passage specifically addresses that question to those with serving gifts, those with teaching gifts and those with encouraging (exhortation) gifts.  That’s probably why it grabbed my attention, because I fit into that category.

But it also begs a bigger question for all of us: what are you giving yourself to?

You know what I mean.  Not leaving anything on the field.  Giving 100%, and then some.  Putting it all out there.  In fact, studying and developing and honing your craft so that your gift is better now than ever.

Someone smarter than me said whatever ability we have is God’s gift to us.  What we do with that ability is our gift to God.  SELAH.

I’m going to give myself to teaching.

See you in church tomorrow – it’s EASTER, and I’m gonna teach my heart out!

Woo-hoo, we’re there!  Today we’ll finish the reading of the New Testament except for the final chapter, which we’ll do publicly tomorrow at the Tinley Park Convention Center (in a very special way – don’t miss!). Our final reading at the Bronze level is Revelation 3.  Here are my thoughts as I read:

• It was sobering to read vv. 1-3 and realize that we could be dead spiritually and not even realize (because of the enemy’s deception) – but thank God that Jesus gives us a “wake-up call” so we can turn around!  (I’ve had a lot of those in my life, how about you?)
• Verse 4 (and others like it) make me know that regardless of environment or circumstances, we can walk with the Lord!
• Is Revelation 3:7 a ‘word’ for someone today?  HE STILL OPENS DOORS! (verse 8 is encouraging, too!)
• Read verse 17 again – sad to think we could be so deceived.  One of my pastors in Bible school used to refer to verse 18 in his homespun Texas way and say, “I want a 55-gallon drum of that eye salve to smear all over my eyes, so I can see!” That was 39 years ago, and I now feel the same way!
• Read verse 19.  Selah.  Read it again slowly. I’m thankful for His correction.
• There’s probably no more fitting verse for my final comment than Revelation 3:20.  As a child, my parents had a picture depicting that scene – and it’s still true today.  Have you heard His voice through your reading these past 7 weeks? If you have, and if you’ve opened the door of your heart, then you already know how precious the fellowship with Him can be!  I pray this is just the beginning of a lifelong habit of working the Word into your life!

I can’t wait to see you at the Convention Center tomorrow!  Before then, any final thoughts you’d be willing to share with us from your reading today? Please comment below-

Almost there!  Our Bronze reading today is Revelation, chapter 2.  Here are a few random thoughts from my reading:

• In my years of ministry, SO many times I’ve heard people say, “God knows my heart!”.  Verses 2-3, verse 9, verses 13-16 and verses 19-23 make it clear He knows more than that! There is nothing about us that He doesn’t notice!  (I’m not sure if that’s comforting or frightening, but it is a fact!)
• Revelation 2:4 is an ‘ever-present’ danger for all of us.  I want my love for Him to remain red-hot!
• Verse 6 has been somewhat of a mystery for Bible readers, since the Nicolaitans are not mentioned elsewhere in Scripture.  The most plausible explanation I’ve heard is that the word from Greek means “to conquer the laity”.  Others have said it’s the opposite, meaning “laity rule”. I know this: God hates the system that divides us into “clergy” and “laity”, because in the New Testament, He planned for all believers to be ministers! (Eph. 4:11-13 makes that especially plain.)
• Over and over again Jesus makes the statement that first appears in verse 7.  I want ears to hear!
• Verse 10 is comforting to know: even though we sometimes do suffer, God always puts a limit on the enemy!

How was your reading?  Please share any insights below so all of us can ‘work the Word in our lives’-