Is It Possible?

‎Monday, ‎June ‎14, ‎2021

Good Morning, Lord

Verse of the Day: Philippians 3:20 --For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,

Memory of the month:  Matthew 5:6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be  satisfied.

Today's reading: EZRA 9-10 ACTS 1

Is It Possible

Is it possible to seek after God too intently? Is it possible to give too much energy to following in the steps of Christ? The answer is no, of course. But our faithfulness to God cannot be measured by us or anyone else. God does not want our sacrifices of time and money and 'acts of ministry'.

In 1 Samuel 15:22, it says

And Samuel said, “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams."

In the first chapter of book of Acts is the account of Jesus last moments on Earth.

Verse 8 reads: " 8 Here’s the knowledge you need: you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you. And you will be My witnesses, first here in Jerusalem, then beyond to Judea and Samaria, and finally to the farthest places on earth.

Then Jesus started to ascend to Heaven, verse 10,

10 As they strained to get one last glimpse of Him going into heaven, the Lord’s followers realized two men in white robes were standing among them.

11 "You Galileans, why are you standing here staring up into the sky? This Jesus who is leaving you and ascending to heaven will return in the same way you see Him departing."

In other words, "Why are you standing around looking for Jesus-He'll be back-do what He said to do..."

Then the disciples went back to the rest of the followers and prayed and waited and replaced Judas with Matthias-then came Pentecost.

The message is to expect Jesus' return but be obedient. Seek God's kingdom and His righteousness and obey-do what He puts in front of you to do. There is always loving to do-to live out the love of our Lord in this world. The first and greatest commandment is to love God with all we are and all we have, Matthew 22:37. The second is to love all people the way we love ourselves, verse 39.

Don't stand gazing into the sky waiting for Jesus to return, love Him and love people in whatever actions God gives you to do.

Always be ready for His return, yes, as you wait and pray and then move when His Holy Spirit moves you.

The Holy Spirit lives in your heart. Jesus' Holy Spirit is in your heart-the very presence of God Himself is inside you-His divine personal presence is alive in you-all His power and glory is in you-all that power and glory is there for you to love with.

There is no person you will see today or ever that you do not have the power to love. There is no judgement that the enemy tries to get you to make about someone that God will not overcome if you submit and obey.

The desire of the gaze-the desire to see Jesus one last time-the ache in the hearts of Jesus' followers to get one last glimpse. That desire seems to be missing-the desire to obey and follow. Maybe it is missing because we take His presence for granted? Maybe the desire is not there because we have not allowed God to consume us with His fire.

Hebrews 12:29 ►for our "God is a consuming fire."

A fire needs oxygen to burn-will not burn without it. God's fire will not consume any of us unless we allow-we choose-to ask Him to breathe through our lives.

The reality is that the same desire the apostles had to see Jesus one more time is waiting for us to seek God and His righteousness. Does His righteous desire bring you to Him? Do you ever strain to be alone with God in His presence?

Our memory verse of the month tells us:

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be  satisfied." Matthew 5:6

There is that desire-to hunger and thirst for God's righteousness.

I was in the oil field where it was 118 degrees for four days in a row years ago and I watched as people would take for granted our little bottles of water. They would get so consumed by the flurry of work around them-they would forget to drink. In the fires of this world, do you ever forget to drink? Sounds silly, right-but it happens all the time.

If this is not true, where is all the desire for the righteousness of God we are supposed to have? We have forgotten to drink. We have forgotten to ask God to consume us with His fire. We have not asked God to light us up-to breathe in our lives.

When it starts to rain, baby ducks will sometimes turn their heads up, open their mouths, and drown. The world with all its temptations can have us looking up for the wrong reason and numb us to what is really happening.

Focus on what is the only reality that has eternal truth. Focus on our God within your hearts. Focus on His living word. Love and obey. Ask God to breathe fire in you life.

...because He loves us...

Father in Heaven,

Forgive me-have mercy on me-breathe fire into me and consume me with Your urgency for the gospel.

All consuming God of all power and endless love!

In the name of Jesus,

Amen