2007 August « No Other Rock

A Strange-Sounding Election

August 18, 2007 at 4:00 am | In Awake My Heart, Serving the Lord | Leave a Comment

God hath chosen the foolish . . . the weak . . . base things . . . things despised . . . and things which are not (i.e. nonentities) . . . ~ I Corinthians 1:27,28

Note: This devotion is from August 3.

In considering Paul . . . “But did God use this ‘foolish’, ‘weak,’ ‘base’, ‘despised’, ‘nobody’? Listen to him agian – ‘My speech and my preaching was . . . IN DEMONSTRATION OF THE SPIRIT AND POWER’. This unimposing little Paul has moved men by the million – and still does! You and I can easily be too big fro God to use, but never too little.”

Today, I pray that you and I will humble ourselves and sober our hearts.

Something to Say Boldly!

August 17, 2007 at 7:39 pm | In Awake My Heart, God, Ponders, Serving the Lord | Leave a Comment

He hat said: I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say: The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me. ~ Hebrews 13:5,6

Note: This devotion is from August 2.

Interesting thought here.

I am a pretty soft spoken person and generally keep to myself until I am certain or at least comfortable in my observation of something. I study. I ponder and then I consider. Then, maybe I will say something . . . but more often than not, I don’t.

But here is something we are suppose to say boldly. The simple fact that God will never leave us. He will not let us go. The is no truer fact.

Still, I think about that: we are instructed to say it boldly. When I think of people boldly pronouncing something, I think of individuals who are professing what is counter to a generally accepted norm. They have gone outside the realm of common fact and “boldy” suggested what is otherwise to status quo.

And that is what strikes me as odd. We are to profess God’s grip on our salvation.

But shouldn’t that be a generally accepted norm? Shouldn’t it be common fact? Shouldn’t that be status quo?

Today, I pray that you and I will be among those to boldly say it so it will become a commonly known and accepted fact.

Transforming the Commonplace

August 17, 2007 at 7:00 am | In Awake My Heart, Blessings, Serving the Lord | Leave a Comment

Poor, yet making many rich. II Corinthians 6:10

Note: This devotion is from August 1.

“The ordinary life is generally the most difficult to live beautifully.” That was Baxter’s first line of today’s devotion. Reminds me of a scene from the movie Airheads in which Chazz (played by Brendan Fraser) says “I figure, I’m screwed up and average enough that I could write a song that would live on forever.”

I’ve kind of always considered myself a “quiet Christian” – one who seeks to be diligent in faith but I don’t typically do public prayer or lead Bible study; though I do so on my own. I guess I think of my relationship with Christ as private. Whether that is the right or wrong school of thought, I don’t know.

But undoubtedly, this blog is the most public thing I have ever done in terms of my Christianity.

Why does this matter – especially in relation to this devotion? I am not sure it does.

But Baxter concludes today’s devotion by saying, “Christian disciple, seek no longer the elaborate and spectacular forms of service for Christ. Seek sanctification, purity of heart, humility of spirit, preparedness for any and every sudden call of our heavenly Master.

Today, I pray that you and I will seek such “common” elements.

Jesus Overhearing

August 16, 2007 at 8:00 pm | In Awake My Heart, Christ, Serving the Lord | Leave a Comment

Jesus hear the word that was spoken. ~ Mark 5:36

Note: This devotion is from July 31. Yay . . . the next one will be from the current month!

“Jesus overhearing that word, said to the synagogue-ruler, Fear not, simply have faith.” The act of overhearing symbolizes one of our Lord’s abiding attitudes toward His people.

He is always overhearing.

Today, I pray that you and I will remember that no matter how discouraging the reports or the setbacks, Jesus overhears and Jesus can overrule.

The Two Sauls – A Contrast

August 16, 2007 at 7:00 am | In Awake My Heart, Christ, God, Serving the Lord | Leave a Comment

I have played the fool. ~ I Samuel 26:21

I have fought the good fight. ~ II Timothy 4:7

Note: This devotion is from July 30.

There are two Sauls in the Bible. One is in the Old Testament, the other is in the New Testament. OT Saul was the first king of Israel. NT Saul became the apostle Paul. One stood above all others physically. The other stood above all others spiritually.

“With the Saul of the Old Testament there is a progressive downgrade. With the Saul of the New Testament, there is a progressive upgrade, for the ‘prize of the upward calling of God in Christ Jesus.’ With the Saul of the Old Testament ’self’ more and more gets the upper hand. With the Saul of the New Testament there is a progressive displacement of self-ism in favor of monopoly by Christ.”

Today, I pray that you and I will be New Testament Sauls. That we will seek displacement of self-ism in favor of monopoly by Christ.

Your Present Circumstances

August 15, 2007 at 5:22 pm | In Awake My Heart, Serving the Lord, purpose | Leave a Comment

Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have; for He hat said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. ~ Hebrews 13:5

Note: This devotion is for July 29

I want it all . . . The grass is always greener . . . Show me the money . . . I wish I had Jesse’s girl . . .

You’ve heard many a phrase like these. They show our natural greed and the ways in which we covet.

“Oh, that evil-eyed reptile, Covetousness! How it cuts its fangs into human hears! How it fevers and poisons life with its venom! How its trail of slime makes ugly many an otherwise beautiful character! God save us from it!”

Today, I pray that you and I will remember that we are all precious to Him who redeemed us and He cares not about what we have.

Believe It. Live It. Say It.

August 15, 2007 at 5:00 pm | In Awake My Heart, Serving the Lord | Leave a Comment

We are His witnesses. ~ Acts 5:32

Note: This devotion is from July 28th.

We Christians have a certainty about our salvation. But it is easy to fall into moments, periods of doubt. How is that overcome.

The blood makes me safe. The word makes me sure.

Let us pray with the psalmist, “O Lord, open thou my lips (Psalm 51:15). And let us pray with the Apostles, “We cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:20).

Today, I pray that you and I will believe, live and say it.

We Are His Witnesses

August 15, 2007 at 7:00 am | In Awake My Heart, Serving the Lord | Leave a Comment

Ye shall be witnesses unto Me. ~ Acts 1:8

Note: This devotion is from July 27.

Witnessing has to do with what we ourselves subjectively have proved and experienced. For instance, when in a court of law, we are asked what we know . . . not what we think.

Therefore, in order to be witnesses for God, we must experience Him. We must “get in” ourselves before we get others in.

Today, I pray that you and I will get ourselves in.

On His Majesty’s Service

August 14, 2007 at 8:47 pm | In Awake My Heart, Serving the Lord | Leave a Comment

In the service of the king. ~ I Chronicles 26:30

Note: This devotion is from July 26.

Baxter references those living in Brittan who would occasionally receive mail with the letters O.H.M.S. on the envelopes. This is to designate “On His/Her Majesty’s Service” – and we as Christians should remember that we are to wear the King’s every minute of every day.

Today, I pray that you and I will remember our responsibilities O.H.M.S.

The Best “Life Assurance”

August 14, 2007 at 7:00 am | In Awake My Heart, Providence | Leave a Comment

The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil. ~ Psalm 121:7

Note: This devotion is from July 25th. Yes, still behind.

“This is one of many precious promises in which God pledges special providential protection and preservation to the godly.”

Many will suggest that they object to his concept because there are many who are godly and have yet suffered despite their faith. To answer this objection, we must know that it is not promised that we will always have protection from physical harm or adversity.

However, no adversity, no sickness and no enemy can do us true harm; and when we rise to our inheritance in heaven the angels will congregate around us, rejoicing that the Lord has indeed delivered us from evil.

“When the Lord Jesus returns in glory, to set up His millennial kingdom, those who have suffered for Him will reign with Him; and then it will be seen by all, that ‘no manner of hurt” is found on them.”

Today, I pray that you and I will remember this promise.