Devo Blast 23

Click here to access Devo Blast's 23 Issue

 

Thought 214: Scribble, Scribble, Scribble from Ryan's devotional book series Thoughts

Thought 214

Scribble, Scribble, Scribble

        Have you ever scribbled a note on a piece paper and misplaced that paper; then a burned all that paper that is stained with our scribbles before they ever written. When someone asks Jesus Christ for forgiveness it is forgiven, forgotten, gone. Our Heavenly Father’s detailed account of our lives far surpasses any bibliographic account that man has written and He chooses to erase our sins from that account because of Jesus.

Thought 213: Justification? from Ryan's devotional book series Thoughts

Thought 213

Justification?

  Do you live a life in which you constantly try to defend what you do? Mankind often tries to justify its lifestyle, choices, and decisions. It is sobering, but attempting to justify our actions, is really just making up an accuse for why we have been disobedient. God sent His Son to make righteous (perfection) atonement for you and me on the Cross. If you are a follower of Christ, Christ has forgiven you of all your sins and washed them away! Jesus has covered them with His purity!

  As Believers, we were justified in Christ, that is, God sees Jesus’ payment on the Cross instead of our sin when He looks at us. We are being sanctified in Christ, that is, we are being made more and more like Jesus every day that we follow the Him as Lord. We will be glorified in Christ, that is, we will one day be in Heaven where there will be no temptation to sin and we will be perfect.

  In the Old Testament, Lot’s wife looked back and became a pillar of stone (Gen. 19:26) because she loved her explanation for turning (disobeying) more than she loved God. The Lord Jesus has paid the price, but He allows us to make a choice with our will to obey or disobey His Word. When Lot’s wife disobeyed, she reaped the consequences of death. Perhaps your disobedience will not bring death, but it will bring other consequences.

Instead of focusing your attention on why you are right in what you have done, focus on your attention on the Lord (Matt. 6:33). And out of that focus, love others at Christ loves you: practice the The Golden Rule:

So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. Matthew 7:12 (NIV1984)

 

Ask the Holy Spirit how to put The Golden Rule into motion today.

_______________________________________________________________________

Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Philippians 2:4 (NIV1984)

 Lord, may You help us to ground our lives in the firm foundation of Your Word. Help us to not look our own minds or reasoning for justification of our actions, but, Holy Spirit, help us to see Jesus in all we do. And may our love for Him inspire us to live by the Word. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Tip for Growth

Study the Biblical meanings of Justification, Sanctification, and Glorification.

Thought 212: The Seriousness of Sexual Sin from Ryan's devotional book series Thoughts

Thought 212

The Seriousness of Sexual Sin

Everything is permissible for me”—but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible for me”—but I will not be mastered by anything. “Food for the stomach and the stomach for food”—but God will destroy them both. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.” But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with him in spirit.

Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body. 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 (NIV1984)

Thought 211: Unity from Ryan's devotional book series Thoughts

Thought 211

Unity

If any of you has a dispute with another, dare he take it before the ungodly for judgment instead of before the saints? Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases? Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life! Therefore, if you have disputes about such matters, appoint as judges even men of little account in the church! I say this to shame you. Is it possible that there is nobody among you wise enough to judge a dispute between believers? But instead, one brother goes to law against another—and this in front of unbelievers!

The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated? Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong, and you do this to your brothers.

Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.  1 Corinthians 6:1-11 (NIV1984)

Thought 210: The Word from Ryan's devotional book series Thoughts

Thought 210

The Word

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.

If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. James 1:22-27 (NIV1984)

  Meditate on what this verse means in relation to your own life.

Thought 109: Standing on Those Promises from Ryan's devotional book series Thoughts

Thought 209

Standing on those Promises

  God has given me a few promises that will still come to pass one day. For example, I know that I will be alive tomorrow morning to fulfill the purposes that He has for me. Only after the Lord says that my purpose has been fulfilled and the last page of my life’s story has been written, will my live here on earth come to an end.  He has promised you things as well.

Times are getting worse and worse; only God’s Spirit of redemption and revival can change the direction in which the ship of the world is going. The Lord will be faithful to redeem us! In perfect timing, the Father will send the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ the ruler of all things, to set up His Kingdom on earth.

We have to continue to row against the flow, for while we wait the Lord draws near!

  The world is rowing downstream to the cliff of no return, but we, the Children of God, are rowing upstream against the residents of this world and trying to reach them with the message of The Source of Everlasting Life! This world is bound for chaos as it struggles to replace the Lord with their pride as their lord. But we have hope! Even though our world is chaotic, Christ walks every step of our trials with this age alongside us. We need to accept and spread the message of His saving hand clasp, and when we do, I think that He will smile the most beautiful smile possible as He thinks about us and faithfulness we have honored Him with by sharing Him with others.

“Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”—Hebrews 13:5b

Stand on that promise! He is your source, your promise of everlasting, the message of your life.

Thought 208: Health "suggestions" in the Bible from Ryan's devotional book series Thoughts

Thought 208

Health “suggestions” in the Bible

Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience, for, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.”

If some unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat whatever is put before you without raising questions of conscience. But if anyone says to you, “This has been offered in sacrifice,” then do not eat it, both for the sake of the man who told you and for conscience’ sake— the other man’s conscience, I mean, not yours. For why should my freedom be judged by another’s conscience? If I take part in the meal with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of something I thank God for?

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God— even as I try to please everybody in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved. 1 Corinthians 10:25-33 NIV1984

 

For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. 1 Timothy 4:8 NIV1984

 Do you see a pattern? All the emphasis of health and eating right is for one reason, right? It is not to be healthy to look better, feel better, be stronger—to create a god for yourself. When many people focus on ‘health’ it is for a selfish goal, not a reason to benefit God. You can train for a marathon, but if that isn’t where God wants you are you just building the ‘god’ body that you desire? We should take care of our bodies—they aren’t are own but the Lord’s: there just on rent to us. Think about these points and read 1 Corinthians chapter 10.

Thought 207: Power Word! from Ryan's devotional book series Thoughts

Thought 207

Power Word!

"Everything is permissible for me"--but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible for me"--but I will not be mastered by anything. 1 Corinthians 6:12 NIV

Everything is permissible”—but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible”—but not everything is constructive. Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others. 1 Corinthians 10:23-24 NIV

Thought 206: Your Deepest Fear from Ryan's devotional book series Thoughts

Thought 206

 Your Deepest Fear

     One of my greatest fears has been dying a slow and painful death in a hospital with needles pocked into every square inch of your body. But I can’t just remain afraid because the Bible says not to fear the things of this earth. We must battle these fears and we must look to Christ as the bearer of the ultimate pain and the worst fear possible–being shunned by God because of sin. Even if our worst fears are do come to pass we must still look to Christ as our source of strength. No matter what your deepest fear(s) are, Christ is still the only source of strength that you need. Turn to Him and ask Him to teach you how to cast your cares upon Him. He will listen and help those who come to Him.

“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

Matthew 11:28 KJV

Thought 205: "Three Words of Strength" from Ryan's devotional book series Thoughts

Thought 205

“Three Words of Strength”

There are three lessons I would write, —
Three words — as with a burning pen,
In tracings of eternal light
Upon the hearts of men.

Have Hope. Though clouds environ now,
And gladness hides her face in scorn,
Put thou the shadow from thy brow, —
No night but hath its morn.

Have Faith. Where'er thy bark is driven, —
The calm's disport, the tempest's mirth, —
Know this: God rules the hosts of heaven,
The habitants of earth.

Have Love. Not love alone for one,
But men, as man, thy brothers call;
And scatter, like the circling sun,
Thy charities on all.

Thus grave these lessons on thy soul, —
Hope, Faith, and Love, — and thou shalt find
Strength when life's surges rudest roll,
Light when thou else wert blind.

Hope, Faith, and Love (c. 1786); also known as "The Words of Strength", as translated in The Common School Journal Vol. IX (1847) edited by Horace Mann, p. 386

Thought 204: Old men and young men from Ryan's devotional book series Thoughts

Thought 204

Old men and young men

“And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and

daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams,

your young men will see visions.” Joel 2:28 NIV1984

Take a few minutes, be still and just contemplate this verse—you may even want to ask the Lord what it means?

Thought 203: Learning? from Ryan's devotional book series Thoughts

Thought 203

Learning?

       Throughout our lives the Lord wants us to grow. The Holy Spirit has many things that He wants to teach us and review over and over again with us. But we have to listen to grow. It’s just like when you were a kid and your Mother told you not to touch the stove, but you did—without listening obediently we won’t grow. Not all of the Holy Spirit’s lessons for us will be profound, but they will get through each day of life.

          Read John 14:1-17:26  slowly and meditate on it. Ask the Holy Spirit to teach you and make your heart receptive before you begin.

Thought 202: I Want a "generic" God from Ryan's devotional book series Thoughts

Thought 202

I Want a “generic” God

   Have you ever said that statement in the tile inside your heart? Maybe God has chosen you to speak out, to teach, to do a little “public speaking” and none of your friends are being ‘moved’ to do the same. In those moments we sometimes say, “God, why can’t you be generic? I really want all my friends doing this with me, why don’t you move them (call) to do the same stuff so that I stay comfortable? What’s that? O! you want me to move out of my comfort zone…. Ya…ya, I know that you promised never to leave or forsake me (Hebrews 13:5). . . . Alright, I’ll do this your way, Lord—I’m just feel so alone.”

     Are you honestly sure that you have never had a conversation like that with God. I made this example up, but at times we really do have more than a little irritation towards God’s will because what He is asking us to do makes us uncomfortable. Consider the importance of God’s sovereignty, love, perfection, and His plan today.

      We don’t need a generic God, we need a God that is all-powerful (omnipotent) and all-knowing (omniscient). Our God is this way!

Thought 201: Follow HIS Leading from Ryan's devotional book series Thoughts

Thought 201

Follow HIS Leading

 Read Mark 6:1-6

     IF God leads you to do something great for Him, your close family and friends might reject you. But will you still obey God, even if your loved ones spurn and reject you?

Do you know why you should stand for God?

Jesus was rejected by His own home town. He was as the prophet without honor. What does this mean to you?

Thought 200: Try, Try Again from Ryan's devotional book series Thoughts

Thought 200

Try, Try Again

It only takes one time trying to succeed,

but how many times will you fail before victory?

     The fact that we are going to fall on our face and have to get up again, that we are going to fail and have to push forward again is one of the most discouraging facts of life. In the Christian walk, our entire life is to be one of getting back up and pressing on: at times, doing what we may not like to do because our flesh must be denied. The only way that you can make it is by getting back up after a failure and staying focused. If you’ve given it all you’ve got and have failed Try, Try again!

Thought 199: Try Psalms from Ryan's devotional book series Thoughts

Thought 199

Try Psalms

    The Psalms are an amazing testimony to a prayer life. Praises, early mornings, late nights, confusion, valleys, and mountaintops are all described in the Psalms. Even though around half of the Psalms were written by David, we find that other men also wrote prayers and praises to God, among a few of the other authors are the notable Asaph and Solomon.

    David is ‘dirt honest’ with God. He tells God when he feels stabbed in the back by his Creator. David tells God when he is doubting, when he is afraid of all his enemies, and all the times that circumstances just don’t appear to line up with God’s goodness. Yet David also proclaimed his praises, his thankfulness, his reliance upon his Creator and the testimony that nature attributes to God.

    David wasn’t perfect, he had a lot of problems; yet God says that David was a man after God’s own heart. We find out what kind of soul this man had and how his heart was changed from wickedness to hungering for the law of the Lord. Still, David had problems… he had a lot of wives, hundreds in fact. His “love” for a pretty woman and sex with her almost cost him his eternal residence.

  There’s a lot to learn in the book of Psalms, so why not try it out and read it?

Thought 198: Praise from Ryan's devotional book series Thoughts

Thought 198

Praise

 “O God, whom I praise…”  Psalm 109:1 NIV1984

Quick Fact

Ø Based on www.scripturektext.com the word praise occurs 594 times in the Bible.

     God desires our praise, but praise isn’t just worshiping or singing to Him. God is praised when we pay the tithe that He commanded us to pay. God is praised when we are obedient. God is praised when we proclaim His name as the source of our strength, our comfort, and our strong tower.

Praise an action not a feeling. Praise is a choice. Keep these two in mind as you read.

When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!” Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is going to betray you?”) When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?” Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.”   John 21:15-22 NIV1984

     From this passage we see the same principle reflected above about praise. Jesus asked Peter three times if he loved him and two times Peter responded that he loved the Lord as a friend, but the  last time Peter responded that he loved the Lord undeservedly. What came to mind as I was writing this is that Jesus was trying to get Peter to make a choice to love Him. The love Jesus wants is our choice to love Him, He isn’t trying to force love on us. It is the same with praise. We should love God unreservedly and should praise Him, both are a choice.

Worship the Lord. Praise Him. Love Him.

Thought 196: Love from Ryan's devotional book series Thoughts

Thought 196

Love

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13 NIV1984

 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.  1 Corinthians 13:4-13 NIV1984

Thought 195: “Faith Like Potatoes” from Ryan's devotional book series Thoughts

Thought 195

“Faith Like Potatoes”

Wow! This is one of the great Christian films of recent times. It is a powerful movie, with real life struggles. Please make it your goal to access a copy of Faith Like Potatoes and watch it soon. Before you watch ask the Holy Spirit to speak you and listen for His voice.

Thought 194: The past.... from Ryan's devotional book series Thoughts

Thought 194

The past….

I write to you, little children,
Because your sins are forgiven you for His name’s sake.

1 John 2:12 NKJV

  Your past had a purpose. God allowed you to go through “stuff” for a reason. You are redeemed, forgiven, and a new creation now, but don’t think that your past doesn’t have power when you share it as a testimony. Paul (Saul of Tarsus) shared his testimony many times in his writings. He recounted how Christ had miraculously saved him. The pains of the past are really a blessing. Even though God forgets our sins that we remember many of them, we can remember where we came from and where we are going and can influence others to come with us.

Thought 193: Prophecy fulfilled? from Ryan's devotional book series Thoughts

Thought 193

Prophecy fulfilled?

  Christ fulfilled many prophecies for us, but in reality a prophecy in just a piece of what God already planned to happen that has been revealed to us. Meditate on this thought and this verse.

“Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.” Hebrews 1:1-2 ESV

Thought 192: We live by faith, not by sight from Ryan's devotional book series Thoughts

Thought 192

We live by faith, not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7 NIV1984

       We don’t accept Christ because we understand everything God did through Jesus. There are many, many Scriptural prophecies that Jesus fulfilled, but we don’t have to know them all to accept Christ. We become Christians by faith in Christ. We are to live by faith, not by sight. You don’t need to be an “intellectual,” just a simple child—it’s by faith.

Thought 191: Forgiving & for giving from Ryan's devotional book Thoughts

Thought 191

 Forgiving & for giving

  Do you truly forgive and forget like Christ does? I struggle at times with forgiving, but it is the right thing to do. The only thing I know that works each time you repeatedly pray it is, “God I know that I need to forgive this person, please help me to forgive, I want to want to forgive ________,” and then continue to pray for blessings on their life that you would want like a closer relationship with the Lord, a joyful marriage, wisdom in finances, anything! You cannot pray blessings on someone and stay mad at them for long.

For giving is to give to people, ministries, or a cause. I would caution any Christian that is giving to a charity that is not Christian own or run. The Church is supposed to take care of widows and orphans, but today many secular groups are also doing this because we have not been faithful. Should we support the world or should we support the ones that God gave that responsibility to?

We’ve looked at two different meanings of the forgiving—one is forgiveness and the other is for giving—which impacted you the most and why? Is the Holy Spirit tugging on your heart about anything in regards to what you’ve read?

Thougt 190: Are you crazed by "love" from Ryan's devotional book series Thoughts

                                                                Thought 190

Are you crazed by “love”

What is “love"? It is that gushy, bubbly, suspenseful feeling that you get when you are around someone that you are attracted to…right? Wrong. You see, in our culture, and in past times, men and women have accepted this common lie. Even Solomon and David seem to have been ensnared,  just look at all those wives; many men have fallen prey to a pretty face or a “hot” body. But the book of Proverbs teaches us differently…

God’s Word applies to every area of our lives, but sometimes we have to do a lot of prayer, Bible reading, and study before we know what to do. God does not always just tell us what to do, but rest assured that His Word is TRUE and HE wants you to have a personal relationship with Him.

Examine your soul, motives, and your past…pray about, and do some Bible study, on how God wants you to approach romance, whether you are married or single. I believe the Lord’s Word has something fresh for all of us—it may be a reminder or something new.

Thought 189: Fear from Ryan's devotional book series Thoughts

Thought 189

Fear

Will you let fear control you?

Can you stop it from controlling you without clinging to Christ the Redeemer? (No)

Just as day was dawning, Paul urged everyone to eat. "You have been so worried that you haven't touched food for two weeks," he said.  Acts 27:33 (NLT)

Have you noticed the word suspense anywhere recently? It is on bill boards, movie promos, etc… What is suspense? Well it is anxiousness, an “on-the-edge-of-your-seat” experience, it is a FEAR. Fear of a storm kept these men in Acts 27 from eating for two weeks! The suspense was on for quite a while! Based on what human survival experts say you can only live for 3 to 5 days without anything to eat and if you just consume fluids you can last around sixty days, but you become very, very weak; yet they hadn’t eaten in two weeks! Euroclydon had struck their lives.

But not long after there arose against it a tempestuous wind,                         called Euroclydon.  Acts 27:14 (KJV)

Did you catch that word? Euroclydon. I urge you to remember that word.

  I once was in a Frontiersman Camping Fellowship (FCF) service in which the man preaching taught on Euroclydon. Euroclydon is an intense storm, the most feared by the sailors of Paul’s day. The speaker said that he knew boys that where going through Euroclydon—the most intense storm of their lives. Remember that this great storm was feared by so many, yet Paul, a man of God, was there with the unbelievers at this time and he encouraged the people to settle down and eat somthing. He was also able to offer hope because the Holy Spirit spoke to him concerning the outcome of the their destinies. Be the man or woman of God you are called to be. In the hard times, just take life second by second, because that is all we can endure—we are not called to worry about the future, that is sin.

 Amen. May God bless you as you are fighting the good fight and running the race set before you.

Thought 188: Contentment from Ryan's devotional book series Thoughts

Thought 188

  Contentment

     Time is rolling away and we need to do our best to stay content, fruitful, obedient, and, most importantly learning from who should be our most intimate Friend—the Lord.

I describe that Friend as the one who pulls me through. How do you describe Him?

     Contentment seems to come in a very simple way. The best way that I can describe it is taking life minute by minute with peace. Yes, planning things can be good; but when my life becomes a series of events or ministry involvements without contentment, I feel that my personal ministry loses power and I lose closeness in my relationship with the lover and Savior of my soul, the Author and Finisher of my faith, Jesus Christ; and I know that I need to slow down. Jesus truly has changed my life! and by taking life step by step with Him I believe that all of our lives will be following His leading. Amen? If we aren’t practicing stillness; resting and being content in the Lord’s presence, it is very hard to be encouraged and rejuvenated, especially when serving in ministry.

         Without rejuvenation, we “ministers” take the sole responsibility of leading and taking care of a flock of souls, but the problem is that we do so in our own strength. This is very stressful! But what did Jesus say about all this? His yoke is easy and His burden is light. Could it be that when we step out of contentment we start pulling away from His yoke? Paul mentions that he has peace in all situations (Philippians 4:11-13). The best way to follow His hand, that I know, is to commit everything to Him: my future, beautiful wife; my family; my job; my ministry; my rest; my mentorship; my growth; everything!

Thought 187: The Nazirite vs. The Nazarene from Ryan's devotional book series Thoughts

Thought 187

The Nazirite vs. The Nazarene

 

The Lord said to Moses, “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘If a man or woman wants to make a special vow, a vow of separation to the Lord as a Nazirite must abstain from wine and other fermented drink and must not drink vinegar made from wine or from other fermented drink. He must not drink grape juice or eat grapes or raisins. As long as he is a Nazirite, he must not eat anything that comes from the grapevine, not even the seeds or skins.

 “‘During the entire period of his vow of separation no razor may be used on his head. He must be holy until the period of his separation to the Lord is over; he must let the hair of his head grow long. Throughout the period of his separation to the Lord he must not go near a dead body. Even if his own father or mother or brother or sister dies, he must not make himself ceremonially unclean on account of them, because the symbol of his separation to God is on his head. Throughout the period of his separation he is consecrated to the Lord.

“‘If someone dies suddenly in his presence, thus defiling the hair he has dedicated, he must shave his head on the day of his cleansing—the seventh day. Then on the eighth day he must bring two doves or two young pigeons to the priest at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. The priest is to offer one as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering to make atonement for him because he sinned by being in the presence of the dead body. That same day he is to consecrate his head. He must dedicate himself to the Lord for the period of his separation and must bring a year-old male lamb as a guilt offering. The previous days do not count, because he became defiled during his separation.

“‘Now this is the law for the Nazirite when the period of his separation is over. He is to be brought to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. There he is to present his offerings to the Lord: a year-old male lamb without defect for a burnt offering, a year-old ewe lamb without defect for a sin offering, a ram without defect for a fellowship offering, together with their grain offerings and drink offerings, and a basket of bread made without yeast—cakes made of fine flour mixed with oil, and wafers spread with oil.

“‘The priest is to present them before the Lord and make the sin offering and the burnt offering. He is to present the basket of unleavened bread and is to sacrifice the ram as a fellowship offering to the Lord, together with its grain offering and drink offering. “‘Then at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, the Nazirite must shave off the hair that he dedicated. He is to take the hair and put it in the fire that is under the sacrifice of the fellowship offering.

 “‘After the Nazirite has shaved off the hair of his dedication, the priest is to place in his hands a boiled shoulder of the ram, and a cake and a wafer from the basket, both made without yeast. The priest shall then wave them before the Lord as a wave offering; they are holy and belong to the priest, together with the breast that was waved and the thigh that was presented. After that, the Nazirite may drink wine.

 “‘This is the law of the Nazirite who vows his offering to the Lord in accordance with his separation, in addition to whatever else he can afford. He must fulfill the vow he has made, according to the law of the Nazirite.’” Numbers 6:1-21 (NIV1984)

 and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets: "He will be called a Nazarene." Matthew 2:23 (NIV1984)

These passages give us some insight into the differences between a Nazirite and a Nazarene. Samson was a Nazirite, and his story can be found in the book of Judges. Jesus was a Nazarene which means that he was a native to Nazareth, an inhabitant of that region. A Nazirite compared to a Nazarene, however, has a special purpose. Few people have ever been called to be a Nazirite, and it is a holy thing. Because these two words get mixed up a lot, I wanted to show you some Scripture and describe the general difference. God bless and may you always remember the difference between a Nazirite and a Nazarene.

Thought 186: Sensitive Subjects? from Ryan's devotional book series: Thoughts

Thought 186

Sensitive Subjects?

     Modesty? Sex? Taking a stand in direct defiance of the cultural norm? Persecution? Islam? In the modern culture of today many, pastors and Christians will not take an absolute right or wrong standpoint on “sensitive issues”. These “sensitive” subjects include: sin, lust, money, sex, creation vs. evolution, forgiving, marriage, divorce, dating vs. courtship, the inerrancy of the WORD of GOD, deception, lying, drinking, and many, many more.

      The culture basically says that anything that is unfamiliar or countercultural to it is a “sensitive” subject. We are warned by some that they will hurt us if we tell them that they are doing something wrong. But O followers of Christ, we cannot continue to be silent all the time! Some will hate us, yes, that is true. We WILL be persecuted. We will have to face temptations. Jesus promised us that serving Him would bring persecution, but we aren’t to fear the persecutor—we are to the LORD.

     Dear Christian, we are not supposed to be lukewarm. We should not be The Great Compromisers, but rather The Great Followers of God! Whether this means being bold, standing in an enormous gap against “the flow” (like evolution, the deity of Christ, the truth of sin, and the truth of moral absolutes),  praying and fasting and crying out to the Lord to heal your land, etc… We need to be world changers, not culture accepters!

     What way(s) are you accepting non-Biblical “stuff” into your life right now? Ask the Holy Spirit to show you how to make a change in your lifestyle and respond by throwing out any idols that He reveals. Throw out that X-box, get rid of that trash on your computer, get rid of cable, break or burn that music and those DVD’s that are encouraging you NOT to follow the Lord, and rip up or burn those books which are putting lies into your head every time you read them.

   We need to stand up for the Truth God in our personal lives. But only after we deal with our big “plank” we can clearly identify and remove our brothers “specks,” only after we have broken free from our own chains.

Read and meditate on Matthew 7:3-5 and then read 7:1-8

Thought 186: Wisdom from Ryan's devotional book series Thoughts

Thought 185

Wisdom

Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you. Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men, from men whose words are perverse, who leave the straight paths to walk in dark ways, who delight in doing wrong and rejoice in the perverseness of evil, whose paths are crooked and who are devious in their ways. It will save you also from the adulteress, from the wayward wife with her seductive words, who has left the partner of her youth and ignored the covenant she made before God. For her house leads down to death and her paths to the spirits of the dead. None who go to her return or attain the paths of life. Proverbs 2:11-19 (NIV1984)

Thought 184: Mark 10:17 from Ryan's devotional book series Thoughts

Thought 184

As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. "Good teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" Mark 10:17 (NIV1984)

Have you ever asked this question? It is the most important question of your life.

Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honor your father and mother.’”

“Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.”

Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.

Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!”

The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, “Who then can be saved?”

Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.”

Peter said to him, “We have left everything to follow you!”

“I tell you the truth,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”  Mark 10:18-31 (NIV1984)