“The LORD is a warrior, the LORD is His name.” (Exodus 15:3)

Do a Google image search on the name Jesus. What do you see? I see dozens of pictures of a white guy who looks like he might be good at crocheting or reading nursery rhymes.

Who was Jesus? Well, he is alive, so the proper question is, “Who is Jesus?” What is he actually like? If you hung out with him for a day, what kind of person would you see.

He is God’s son and the image of the invisible God. Of the many indescribable characteristics he possesses, one of the strongest would undoubtedly be his humility. Philippians 2, among many other passages, confirms this.

But another facet in the diamond that is Jesus’ personality comes in the form of his warrior persona.

The Jews were expecting a liberating Savior that would free them from their physical oppression, restoring the nation of Israel geographically and politically. Jesus was concerned with much different things. He was in the business of spiritual liberation, spiritual freedom. He was tempted by Satan in the wilderness and remained faithful, using the word of God as his defense. He cast out evil spirits and demons from people, restoring them to spiritual health. He was aware of the spiritual realms and engaged in spiritual warfare on many occasions.

May we do the same, by faith in Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, to the glory of His name. As Christ fought the darkness, so must we.

LORD, you are a warrior. May we be aware, as your son was when He came to earth, of the spiritual battle that rages around us. Holy Spirit, help us believe and overcome our unbelief. Keep us strong by the truth during temptation. Keep us faithful by prayer and fasting during spiritual warfare. Amen.  

“Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”" Matthew 26:36-38

Transparency is an oft – overlooked element in our growing closer to Jesus Christ. Intimacy with the Lord requires our full, humble, and honest openness before Him.

Jesus Himself was a wonderful model of openness as He dealt with His disciples. For instance, we read in today’s Bible verse that, in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus shared with the disciples His anguish over His upcoming crucifixion and brief separation from God the Father.

Knowing that the sins of the entire world were about to be cast upon Him, Jesus grieved, even to point of near death. Here was God, clothed in human flesh, being completely honest, open, and forthright about His emotions. This is how Christ would have us react to Him.

A proud, arrogant, egotistical, self – sufficient Christianity bristles at the thought of such transparency. Why should I burden God with this when I can handle it myself? I’m just not going to deal with God about this. Such thinking and behavior goes against everything for which God created us.

However, God cherishes and honors a humble, contrite spirit from someone trying to be himself or herself before the Lord. Confess sin, worry, doubt, and fear. He already knows all, but your willingness to intimately share with Him all the details speaks volumes about the bent of your heart.

Question: Where do you find it easiest to have “intimacy” (quiet time) with God?

“Wherefore, come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be My sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty” 2 Corinthians 6:17,18, KJV

Near the Church of St. Mark’s in Venice are three 17th century churches often admired for their highly ornate sculpture. On closer inspection, Ruskin points out, they are found to be “entirely destitute of every religious symbol, sculpture or inscription.”

They are really monuments to the glory of three Venetian families who provided the funds for their construction. “Impious buildings, manifestations of insolent atheism,” they were called by John Ruskin, English writer, art critic and sociologist.

Many Christians are like these buildings. Their association with God is more of a facade, formal and ritualistic. They do not know God as a caring Father with whom they experience a delightful, loving relationship.

As we meet God’s conditions, He becomes our Father, and we become His sons and daughters. His gift of Himself is illustrated in the life of a successful young attorney.

“The greatest gift I ever received,” he said, “was a Christmas gift from my dad. Inside a small box was a note saying, ‘Son, I will give you an hour every day after dinner – 365 days. It’s all yours. We’ll talk about what you want to talk about, we’ll go where you want to go, we’ll play what you want to play. It will be your hour.’

“He not only kept his promise, but every year he renewed it – and it was the greatest gift I ever had in my life. I had so much of his time.”

Bible Reading: 2 Corinthians 6:11-16

Today’s Action Point: I will count myself richly blessed for having so much of my Father’s time and will seek diligently to be worthy of His love and availability to me.

Please open your Bible and read Psalm 131.

My older sister, Lori Hensley, a very serious prayer warrior, once taught me to meditate on Psalm 131 to help me move toward God’s peace that passes all understanding:

We keep our hearts humble. This doesn’t mean we have a low opinion of ourselves. A humble heart means we know our position in Christ, and so we stop being responsible for the things of which we were never responsible. This frees us to live like God intended and allows us to make uncluttered choices that will move us closer to God.

We show the maturity of a weaned child. The nursing child demands attention now, but the weaned child trusts and is content to wait. We quietly center ourselves on God, peacefully, without agitation and anxiety, and trust God is actively supporting us.

We hope in the Lord with confident expectation. Truth says God will answer our prayers; he will respond to our needs; he will pave the path before us now and forever (Psalm 18:36).

Question: What does it mean to have a “humble heart”?

“So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” James 4:7, NLT

When Leo Tolstoy, the great Russian novelist, was a boy, he reportedly started the “White Polar Bear Club” with two of his friends. In order to become a member, you had to stand in the corner and for 30 consecutive minutes not think of a white polar bear.

Have you ever tried to intentionally not think about something? It’s almost impossible to keep it out of your mind!

We often handle temptation in a similar fashion, thinking we can stand near it, but if we just don’t think about it, then we’ll have victory over it.

The problem is, the more we try not to concentrate on temptation, the more it becomes the center of our focus – even if it’s a “not gonna do it” focus. And the longer we think about not submitting to the temptation, the more likely it is that we will.

James says we should focus on God instead of the temptation. We tend to quote the latter half of this verse: “Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7, NLT) But the full context brings us back to the “I can’t; God can” understanding necessary to live as God intended us to live.

If all we do is focus on the devil, then we’re still focusing on the temptation. I’m not suggesting that, in standing firm on our decisions, we can’t say “No, I’m not going to do that” to the enemy just as Jesus said, “Get behind me, Satan!”

What I am saying is that we don’t do this in our own strength; we do it humbly submitted to God, knowing that he is our strength and that he is the source of our authority to push back on the Devil.

What now?

Focus on God – Instead of focusing on sin, temptation, or the Devil, keep your focus on God. When tempted, get your eyes back on God; tell him you’re tempted; and the Devil will flee because you are resisting him by embracing God.

Be humble enough to seek help – A sure sign that you’re about to fall past temptation into sin is when you think, “I can handle this temptation.” You should see that as an urgent alarm to humbly submit to God, confessing, “I can’t handle this, Lord. I need your strength and wisdom. Lead me not into temptation.” Then walk away from the temptation and call a friend for prayer and accountability.

Originally written by Charles H. Spurgeon, published in “Mornings & Evenings,” entry for January 4th, AM.

Updated to modern English by Darren Hewer, 2008.

“Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 3:18

“Grow in grace”, not in only one type of grace, but in all forms of gracious response. Grow first in faith, which is the root of all grace. Let your faith increase in fullness, consistency, and simplicity. This will enable you to grasp God’s promises even more firmly than before.

Grow in love. Ask God to extend your love to make it more intense, more practical, and influencing your every thought, word, and deed.

Grow also in humility. Seek lowly places and realize your own smallness so that God will be magnified. As you grow downward in humility, seek to grow upward towards God, approaching Him closer in prayer and seeking ever more intimate fellowship with Jesus.

I pray that God the Holy Spirit enable you to “grow in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour.” Anyone who doesn’t seek to grow in knowledge of Jesus has passed up their blessing, because to know Him deeply is the blessing of eternally fulfilled life. If you know the love of Jesus, you will long for greater outpourings of His love. If you do not desire to know Him better, then you don’t love Him at all, for love always cries, “Nearer, nearer.” Whoever has sipped this wine will thirst for more, for although Christ does satisfy, it is such a wonderful satisfaction, that the a person’s thirst will be whetted.

Absence from Christ is hell, but the presence of Jesus is heaven. Don’t rest merely being content without seeking a closer relationship with Jesus. Seek to know more of Him in His divine nature, in His human relationship, and in His finished work of the cross: His death, resurrection, ascension, and glorious intercession on our behalf.

Grow in grace. Increase in love to Jesus, and you will appreciate even more His love to you. Knowing His love, and His love outworking in every aspect of your daily life, are the best tests of growth in grace.

Question: In this new year, how do you plan and expect to grow in grace?

“For Everyone who tires to honor himself shall be humbled: and he who humbles himself shall be honored” Luke 14:11

At times I am respectfully amused at the repetition of certain themes in the Word of God – repeated over and over again so that you and I will not forget the importance of the message. This is one of those principles.

Many missionaries have given up honor, acclaim, and success at home in obedience to God’s call upon their lives. Perhaps to their surprise, God has honored them in many ways despite the fact that they purposely gave up all rights to such honor.

In every field of endeavor, the principle is true. Most men who seek genuine acclaim are thoroughly humbled along the way. Conversely, most people who humble themselves as a part of their commitment to Jesus Christ and His service are eventually honored.

I have seen this truth fulfilled on numerous occasions in the work of Campus Crusade for Christ to which the Lord has called me. Many young people have stepped into unsung roles of service for their Master. God has honored them not only with fruit for their hire, but also with a measure of acclaim they never would have achieved otherwise.

It is part of God’s plan to abase the proud and raise up the humble. Our goal should be committed service for the Savior. We should let Him take care of the honoring and the humbling.

Bible Reading: Matthew 23:5-12

“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me” Galatians 2:20

What does it mean to be crucified with Christ and live by faith?

It is all about surrender.

As believers, we desire to live for Jesus. Yet experience teaches that no matter how hard we try, we continually fall short of the life to which God calls us.

You see, living a life of faith is not dependent on how much we do but rather on how much we allow Christ to do in and through us. Therefore, the essential ingredient in a life lived for Jesus is surrender.

I think of surrender as a deliberate relinquishment of control to God. It is the laying down of my own agenda and choosing to let Him rule my life.

Problems arise when, forgetting my yielding of control over to God, I try to run my own life again.

Thus, I am convinced that surrendering to God needs to be a daily discipline.

Each morning, my day needs to be given to Almighty God.

Moment by moment, my thoughts and emotions need to be submitted to the Holy One.

Every evening, the cares and worries of the day need to be relinquished to the Maker of the universe.

Then, day by day, little by little, I will begin to truly understand what it means to surrender to God.

Question: What does it mean to “surrender to God”?

Please open your Bible and read 1 Samuel 18:5-16.

Jealousy is displeasure over someone else’s good fortune. Unchecked, it influences our attitudes, conversations, and actions. It eventually damages relationships and inflicts great pain on others.

King Saul’s jealousy caused him to distrust David, the young warrior who had served him by defeating Goliath. David loved the king and risked his life to help the kingdom. But envy clouded Saul’s judgment. Bitterness and hostility combined with Saul’s already suspicious attitude and confused mind. And that led to irrational behavior. As David played music for him, the king went into a rant and hurled a spear at the young man (1 Samuel 18:11). He later removed David from his presence, sending his loyal servant to the battlefield. David’s faithful service was “rewarded” with the king’s hatred, a severed relationship, and death threats. As a result, David was forced to flee.

Our minds, like Saul’s, will tend to dwell on a person or situation we envy. Fueled by jealousy, our suspicion, confusion, bitterness, and hostility will grow stronger. Fear and resentment complete the picture of jealousy. We’re afraid we’ll fail to achieve the wealth, career status, or privileges of someone else.

We may even resent that person’s accomplishments. In time, we may look for reasons to avoid being around that individual, eventually choosing to break off the relationship entirely.

Examine your heart before the Lord. Are any of these feelings true in your life?

Question: What causes a person to become jealous?

Pleasing God: How to authentically worship God

“Great and marvelous are Your deeds, Lord God Almighty. Just and true are Your ways, King of the ages.” (Revelation 15:3b)

A number of years ago I heard that the book of Revelation contained more worship than any other book in the Bible. The concept intrigued me. Instead of studying Revelation in view of the end times, I determined to read the book with the idea of worship forefront in my mind. Writing helps me to absorb things, so the daily copying of verses containing praise or adoration to God became my routine. As page after page of my journal was filled, my heart was drawn to the discipline of daily recounting who God is and all that He has done. This is worship.

When we worship, our attention is turned away from ourselves, or our problems, and is focused on God. I need to spend less time worrying, analyzing or planning. More time should be spent thinking on good things. What better way to do that, than to fix my thoughts on the attributes of our holy, awesome God?

Whenever I read over the words of praise written in Revelation, something happens in my heart. Meditating on God’s power and might strengthens me. Thinking on His holiness and His worthiness creates thankfulness and humility in my heart. Hearing that He is Faithful and True, renews my spirit, helping me not to be afraid.

Let me encourage you to read the book of Revelation in a new light. And as you do, make worship a part of your daily routine.

God, we join with those who sing this song, “Great and marvelous are Your deeds, Lord God Almighty. Just and true are Your ways, King of the ages. Who will not fear You, O Lord, and bring glory to Your name? For You alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before You, for Your righteous acts have been revealed.” (Revelation 15:3, 4)

Questions: How does worshiping God change your outlook? How do you incorporate worship into your daily routine?