June 24

“For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD…” Ezra 7:10

Ezra had been directed by God and had found favour with the Lord, to do a special work and carry out a mission. He prepared his heart to carry out the threefold task of seeking the law of God, doing it, and teaching it to the people of Israel. His heart preparation is a significant aspect of true leadership. Spiritual leaders, who would please God with their service, are people who prepare themselves thoroughly and consistently. The athlete would not be ready to compete without his physical preparation, which often amounts to daily toil in strenuous exercise. The artist could not paint the variety of colours needed without suitably mixing and preparing them on his palette. The musician would not produce any intelligible or pleasing sounds, without first tuning his instrument. In the same manner we cannot really do God’s bidding, without appropriate and sincere heart preparation. Ezra gives us a good example of how we should prepare ourselves. He started in the right place and so should we. God’s word, His law, His thinking, His wisdom and authority, should be the starting place for all our preparation. Like Ezra also, it should become more than just head knowledge however, and develop into what we ‘do’. It should form the basis of all our thinking, understanding and action. It should guide our decisions, choices and preferences. It should touch and affect every area of our lives and influence all our desires. Only when we truly ‘do’ God’s word, willingly, faithfully, with willing discipline and joyful desire, can we really teach it to others, and be effective leaders. Pray that God give us leaders like Ezra, who are willing to prepare their hearts the right way, and personally practice what they have learned from God that they may positively affect others with their teaching and example! 

http://www.pentecostalfamilychurch.com.au/devotion

May 5

“…the fire came down from heaven…and the glory of the LORD filled the house.” 2 Chronicles 7:1

God demonstrates His commendation of His people’s actions and faithfulness, in many different ways. The common denominator in all of them is the blessings He gives by His presence and glory, as the reality and power of His Spirit and holiness becomes manifest in their lives. The instance in our text is a sublime example of God’s pleasure being expressed and visited on Solomon as in faith and obedience, he established the temple for the worship of Yahwah, in Jerusalem. A similar manifestation of God, took place when the tabernacle was dedicated by Moses in the wilderness. In both cases, God marked His approbation, by sending a fire from heaven, which consumed the sacrifices. The response from the people in both cases, was to fall on their faces in honour and worship to the Lord, as they saw the might power of His glory, and experienced the touch of His presence and the perfection of His holiness! It is an occasion for great rejoicing among God’s people when such blessing and visitation from God takes place. We are so privileged to live in a time when God’s Spirit indwells us as believers, making us, our beings, the very temple of God and His abode! What an honour to know and feel God so intimately and personally! We may not see the fire fall down from heaven and burn up the offering physically, but we can experience the fire from heaven just the same, spiritually. The effect is alike and the glory of the Lord is identical. He still wants to show His approval of those who faithfully consecrated their temple to Him and for His use; those who regularly offer themselves on the altar of prayer and worship; those who treasure the presence of the Lord and desire His holiness so much that they go about as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to God! God is still the same, loving, caring, blessing and enriching God, willing to show and give more of His strength, wisdom and provision, to any faithful servant who will serve Him and by faith please Him. God is faithful, He wants to bless, He desires to commend and longs to reward. He has not changed in His desire, but have we changed in ours? When was the last time, fire from heaven purified your soul, and God’s glory filled your temple?

Mar 8

“That thou mayest regard discretion…” Proverbs 5:2

Words can sometimes mean different things in different situations. There is also a difference between the meanings of some words when taken in a scriptural context, and when understood by the common or cultural context. Discretion is a good example of the above. According to the dictionary for instance, when someone does something ‘at their discretion’, they are exercising the power or right to decide or act according to their judgment. The ‘age of discretion’ in context, was considered the age at which a person was old enough to determine their own affairs. However the same word can mean to act with prudence or decorum, so as not to be offensive in a social setting. The biblical emphasis of the word as used in the text before us, and in other, similar passages of scripture, actually highlights neither the freedom of judgement or choice, nor the necessity for being cautious of social feelings. In the word of God, discretion is an aspect of spiritual wisdom, as it relates to the conduct of one’s life toward God. God instructs His people to observe ‘discretion’ - the wisdom of conducting their lives in line with His precepts, and being careful not to be offensive or affronting to Him! The focus of our discretion in other words, should be to have prudence that we remain pleasing to God in what we say and in the way we behave. This means taking care to obey God, and is quite the opposite of asserting our own rights or preferences! It also sets straight the issue of ‘Who’ we should care more to be inoffensive towards.  We should emphasize right and harmonious relationship with our God, ahead of that which we strive for, with our society, particularly when culture and social practices contravene God and His Word! It can even be seen by various examples of scripture that at times in serving God and pleasing Him, some, including Jesus, were not at all ‘discreet’ with regards to the sensitivities of the cultural ways around them, choosing rather to act discreetly unto God! The spiritual wisdom of obeying and following God’s ways, and honouring Him above anyone else, whilst not a licence for rudeness or inappropriate behaviour towards our fellow-man, prioritises our diligence and allegiance, and reminds us that in all things, we are to please God ahead of man! 

http://www.pentecostalfamilychurch.com.au/devotion