Come Up Higher, Vol. 3 | Day 197

Day  197

Mark 16:4

"And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great."

Mary Magdalene, the mother of .James, and Mary, the mother of Salome had come to the tomb of Jesus with spices to put on His body. They knew a great stone had been rolled in front of the tomb and wondered who would move it for them. While the male. disciples of Christ were hiding, the female followers were brave enough to approach the grave, without even knowing how they would get in. Like many who step out in faith despite the obstacles they see, these women discovered that the way had been made.

How many people fail to receive from God, because they never begin the journey towards their miracle or blessing? How many are not tithers, because they just cannot see the windows of Heaven being opened for them? How many are not healed, because they do not understand how God can override the doctor's word? Miracles and blessings are already in store for these people, but they remain in hiding, as the male disciples of Christ did, for fear that God's Word may not be true. They hesitate to give. They refuse to attend a healing service. They will never know the stone has been rolled away.

If we have been hesitant to do those things God has been instructing us to do because of lack of spiritual sight, let us consider this: It is better to attempt to follow God and miss, than to succeed at failing to do what He commands. God looks at our hearts and will cover for our mistakes, if we are honestly trying to please Him. The thought may come, "What if I die trying to do the right thing?" It would be worse to die deliberately doing the wrong thing. Revelation 12:11 says, "And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death."

The women who went to the tomb risked being killed and had to overcome fear, because Roman soldiers were guarding the site with their lives. The only way for us to discover that the stone has been rolled away from the tomb is to go to the site. We will never find out what God will do until we step out on His Word or move with the direction of the Holy Spirit.

I will step out and see what God has done. I will walk in obedience to the Word and to the leading of the Holy Spirit. God will do the impossible for me, as I walk by faith and not by sight.

Come Up Higher, Vol. 3 | Day 196

Day 196

I Corinthians 10:12

"Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall "

It is important that we stay humble and watch ourselves when we think we are standing sure, as Paul said in I Corinthians IO:12. Our Father is at work in us, perfecting those things that concern us. When He accomplishes something and we feel good about our progress, we can be tempted to be proud of ourselves. That is when we need to be vigilant.

As the branches abide in the vine, they bear fruit. The vine is the source of life for them. It is only by staying connected to the vine that the branches can remain productive. It would be foolish for a branch to stray away to show off all the fruit it has borne, because a disconnected branch will eventually dry up. We are who we are in Christ. We can do all things through Christ, who strengthens us. It is in Him that we live. It is the constant awareness of these things that enables us to remain safe in His care.

There is a certain amount of self-discipline that can produce character in those who are not connected to God as we are. Although people who depend on self-discipline can be vulnerable to sudden failure or a miserable life, they at least work hard, realizing they are vulnerable without their consistent regiment. The former alcoholic who faithfully attends Alcoholics Anonymous believes he needs the program to survive. He may do better than a Christian who gets help from God and then thinks he did it by himself. The former alcoholic stays close to his "source" of help, whereas the Christian strays away in self-confidence and falls.

So, let us not become slack in our communion with God when we seem to be doing well. Let us remember our successes are because of our connection to Him and not because of some personal goodness we possess.

I will remain humble in regards to my spiritual progress. I realize that it is only my relationship with God that produces spiritual growth. I will stay close to Him, in communion with Him, to remain strong and to continue to grow.

Come Up Higher, Vol. 3 | Day 195

Day  195

I  Corinthians 15:14

"And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain."

Sometimes we may feel as though our labor is in vain. We may be tempted to think our faith is useless. As the enemy of our faith resists us, there are times when it seems we ought to quit. The circumstances may say we are wasting our time.

The words of Corinthians 15:14 can help to reinforce us. It says if Christ did not rise from the dead, then our preaching and our faith is futile. Let us go back to where we first believed. To be saved, we had to believe in our hearts that God raised Jesus from the dead. So, we have established that Christ has risen. If His being dead would make our faith and our efforts futile, then His being alive means they are not. The seeds a farmer plants are growing, even when it does not look like it. If the seeds were not planted, his hope for a crop would be in vain. However, because he knows he planted the seeds, he ignores the appearance of things and continues to expect the plants to come up in due time. Assuming he is watering the soil and doing whatever else is appropriate, the only question he needs settled in his mind is: "Did I pant the seeds?" In the same manner, when it appears our faith or our preaching is in vain, assuming we are doing all we know to do to cooperate with God, the only question we need to settle is: "Is Jesus Christ risen from the dead?" If He is dead, then our faith is in vain. Since He is alive, however, our faith will produce.

Let us celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ and be encouraged by what it means to us today. We have hope based on facts. We are winners and more than conquerors through Jesus Christ. Because He lives, we should not give up - ever!

My Savior is alive. Because He lives, I will never  give up hope. My faith will produce. My preaching will have positive results. I will not stop.

Come Up Higher, Vol. 3 | Day 194

Day 194

Matthew 26:73 Amplified Version

"After a little while the bystanders came up and said to Peter, You certainly are one of them too, for even your accent betrays you."

As Peter tried to deny his assoc1at10n with Jesus, bystanders insisted he was a disciple. Afraid for his life, Peter denied having anything to do with Jesus. Finally, someone said to him, ''Your accent betrays you." The way he spoke identified him as a disciple of Christ.

Can we be accused of being a disciple of Christ today? Is there anything that would betray us? Let us be conscious of how we speak and conduct ourselves. People looking at us in a group should be able to identify who we are. If someone felt they needed a Christian to help them or pray for them, they should be able to pick us out of the crowd. Something should give us away. Although we may have a witnessing T-shirt or button on, that should not be what we depend on to identify us as children of God. They should recognize us because, as Jesus said, we love one another. They should also notice that we act like Jesus. Jesus demonstrated the characteristics Paul described as the "fruit of the spirit." This "fruit," described in Galatians 5:22-23, is made of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

Peter seemed to be a disciple, because of the amount of time he spent with Jesus. If we think about it, it has always been easier to act like Jesus when we have just come out of a time of fellowship with Him. That lets us know what we need to do to make it easier for people to identify us with our Lord.

I will practice frequent fellowship with God. I will live In such a way that people will positively identify me as a disciple of Christ My speech and conduct will give me away.

Come Up Higher, Vol.3 | Day 193

Day  193

Matthew 19:29

"And everyone that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother or wife, or children, or lands,

for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold return, and shall inherit everlasting life."

When Jesus told His disciples the reward they would receive for forsaking relatives and natural things for His sake, He was doing more than just informing them of the return on their investment. He was giving them a lesson in values.

Jesus said the blessing one would receive for choosing Christ over everyone and everything else was a hundred times more valuable than what they forsook. What is Jesus worth to us? He is worth at least a hundred times more than anything or anyone we have. It would do us good to ponder that a while and adjust our value systems if we need to. Of course, we cannot actually measure the worth of Christ to us. However, a hundred times anything we own is enough to illustrate the point. For example, which of us would hold on to one car if we could get a hundred cars instead? What a great blessing we could be if we had that many automobiles! In addition to using some of them personally, we could give some away, loan some to others, or form a rental company and use the profits to eliminate all our debts. The prospect of owning a hundred cars makes the one we have seem almost worthless. We could own a very expensive car, but all of a sudden we would probably perceive its value differently.

When we have to choose between God and people or things, let us bear in mind that the value of people and things does not compare to the value of Jesus and eternal life. Even when it comes to relatives we hold dear, the reward of choosing Christ far surpasses the benefit of any family bond. Furthermore, our testimony demonstrating the value of Christ could very well be the thing that causes those family members to accept Him. Then, those family members would return to us and be far more valuable than they were before we left them.

Regardless of who or what comes between me and Jesus,1 will choose Christ. He is more valuable to me than anyone or anything.

Come Up Higher, Vol. 3 Day 192

Day 192

Nahum l:7

"The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him."

The Lord is good. Let us ponder that statement, for He is our Lord. When we grasp that reality on a higher level, we will find ourselves drawing nearer to Him. It is only natural to desire to be around and close to good people. That explains why the closer we get to God, the closer we want to be. He is good.

The good Lord is a stronghold in the day of trouble. Our frequenting His presence enables us to remember Him in times of trouble. He brings us strength we would not otherwise have, to endure and survive the troubled times we face. We come forth as gold, not only because we endure temptation, but because we benefit from the strength of the Lord. He strengthens and protects us.

The good Lord, who is our stronghold, knows those who trust Him. We need not be fooled. God responds to every person who is truly dependent on Him. Some people say they are depending on God, but they are actually looking to their resources or the resources of other humans and hoping God will help if all else fails. There is a huge difference between them and those who trust in God and look to Him as the source of their supply. Those who truly trust God see other resources as possible channels God can use. They realize He is not limited to what they know and may not choose to use anything that is familiar to them. He knows them. He recognizes their call and will always respond.

I will trust and rely totally on the good Lord, who is my stronghold in the day of trouble.

Come Up Higher, Vol.3| Day 191

Day  191

Acts 13:48 J.B. Phillips Version

"When the gentiles heard this they were delighted and thanked God for his message. All those who were destined for eternal life believed."

When we are spreading the gospel, we must realize that everyone will not receive, but some will. As Paul and Barnabas preached in Antioch, Luke records in Acts 14 that those who were destined for eternal life believed. In other words, those whose hearts were receptive to God's Word responded positively. Those whose hearts were hard rejected the message.

We do not save, we only preach. Jesus saves. Salvation is not a forced religion, but an offer for a relationship. What we have is good enough to win converts. We must preach with conviction, because we know Jesus and what He has done in our lives. When some do not receive, we regret it and pray they will change their minds. We must go on, however, because somewhere else, others will receive.

It is like being in a big house with a fire blazing on the west side, and a hundred people are on the east side in different rooms. We want to stay in each room until we convince everyone that they need to leave. However, while we linger to convince two in one room, 98 are waiting for the message so their lives can be saved. Like a man on a mission to save as many as possible before the fire consumes the house, let us run with the message and help get the Word to as many as we can, while there is time.

We must never be discouraged by those who refuse. (For one thing, we do not know for sure that they will not change their minds after we leave. So, we pray for them and move on.) Let us stay excited about the ones we have reached and those we will reach at our next stop.

I will pray, give and share the Word to help as many people as possible get the message of Jesus Christ I will pray for those who refuse and rejoice over those who receive. I will keep going until I can do no more.

Come Up Higher, Vol.3 | Day 190

Day  190

Proverbs 11:8

"The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked cometh in his stead."

When a game is being played, the person or the team that is ahead in the middle of the match could be the losers in the end. So, each team must realize that until the game is over, they must continue to do their best. In Proverbs 11:8, Solomon said the righteous person may be the one in trouble at first, but he is delivered, and the wicked man ends up in trouble. This is why we should not become discouraged when it seems the wicked are getting away with everything and the righteous are suffering.

It appeared Satan had won and Jesus had lost, when our Savior hung on the cross. However in the end, Satan was the loser. It seemed as though Herod was winning when he killed James and ordered Peter imprisoned and executed. However, James died and went to Heaven. Peter was supernaturally delivered from his bonds, and Herod was eaten up with worms shortly afterwards and probably went to Hell. Paul and Silas looked like losers in prison at midnight, with their feet in stocks and their backs bleeding. But, before the night was over, they were free, and the jailer and his family received Christ. Those who imprisoned Paul and Silas ended up begging them to leave the city, and the gospel they tried to hinder was spread, even in the prison.

The wicked who appear to be winning will go down for the count and be the losers in the end. Regardless of our present circumstances, the end of our stories is always victory, if we stick with God.

No matter what trouble I find myself in, I will be delivered. I cannot lose with God, because God cannot lose. I will stick with God and experience guaranteed victory. Through Jesus Christ, I am more than a conqueror.

Come Up Higher, Vol.3 | Day 189

Day  189

Psalm 73:2-3

"But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped. For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked."

It is amazing how our perspectives can change. based on what we see. The psalmist said his steps almost slipped because of envy, when he saw the prosperity of the wicked. This means he was content before he saw something that made him uncomfortable, so his dissatisfaction was not prompted by his distress of present circumstances.

Much of our discontent with our present state centers around what we see or what we have been exposed to. When the winter takes away the greenery from our view, we become accustomed to looking at brown branches stripped of leaves. Then, as spring returns, the hillsides regain their green color. New leaves fonn, and our lawns once again take on a more pleasant appearance. It is so refreshing and pleasant to the eyes to watch this change of scenery. Flowers bloom in a beautiful array of colors, and beautiful birds fly from tree to tree. By the time fall approaches again, we have seen so much color, we do not notice the greenery any more. If someone suggested we look out the window to see some natural beauty, it is unlikely that we would focus on the plush greenery outside. We would probably bypass the grass and trees and look for colorful flowers or birds. What pleases us is relative.

Our fickleness may be why we should heed the words of the songwriter who wrote, "Count your blessings." It is important that we evaluate our discontent. It is usually inappropriate and normally a result of improper focus. Paul and Silas sang praises to God when they were imprisoned and their backs were bleeding, having been beaten by people who hated Jesus. They were not guilty of any wrongdoing. They certainly had an opportunity to become discouraged. Instead of evaluating their circumstances in light of what wicked people were enjoying outside the prison doors, they focused on the goodness of God, which was still evident to them. God was tickled by it and set them free supernaturally.

Those of us who lived before air conditioning are more uncomfortable with hot weather, now that we have been exposed to the modem convenience of artificially cooled air. We are more discontent when our phones are out of order, because we are accustomed to their convenience. However, people can live most of their lives without a phone and deal with the inconvenience when they cannot reach someone. These same people would have far more anxiety over the identical situation after getting used to modem means of communication.

We should be grateful for all the conveniences we have. It is not necessary to pretend we do not see our neighbor's better car, their house or other material things. We must simply put everything in proper perspective and obey the Bible. I Thessalonians 5:16 says "Rejoice evermore." Philippians 4:4 says, "Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice." Ephesians 5:20 says, "Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." I Thessalonians 5:18 says, "In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. God wants us to keep our joy stirred up. He wants us to be constantly thankful for all the things He has provided for us and done for us. Let us do the Word.

I will rejoice in the Lord. I will be thankful continually for all God has done in the midst of all circumstances - pleasant or unpleasant.

Come Up Higher, Vol. 3 | Day 188

Day 188

Psalm 37:1-2

"Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity."

For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb."

This psalm of David reminds us not to be jealous of those who do wrong. The sinners he is referring to are experiencing a degree of prosperity that appears to be desirable. Christians who are making every effort to live right can wonder why a wicked person seems so much more blessed than they are. The psalmist reminds us that prosperity is more than meets the eye. As Jesus said, "For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" David said the workers of iniquity will be cut down quickly like the grass.

It is important that we remember it is not us, but the wicked that need to be concerned about being cut down like the grass or withering like the green herb. Satan may try to make us feel like we are not going to make it. Thoughts of our being cut off suddenly may visit us in times of trouble. Ideas that our effectiveness may come to a screeching halt may invite themselves into our imaginations. Situations in our lives can tempt us to think there is nothing left to do but hide and fade away quietly. However, let us slap ourselves in times like these and read Psalm 37:1-2 aloud. It is not the godly, but the sinner who needs to be concerned about being cut down or withering away. Psalm 1 says this about the godly man: "His leaf shall not wither and·whatsoever he doeth shall prosper."

We need to monitor the thoughts we entertain. A person once actually committed suicide because of a false report, and they never lived to find out that they responded to the wrong report. Their death was a wasteful mistake. Let us make sure our reactions and responses match our nature. We do not want to be deceived into signing for a package that was intended for someone else's address. When Satan attempts to discourage us, we need to check the Bible to see if the words we are about to respond to are intended for us or for someone else.

I will order my life by the Word of God and respond as a godly person. Giving up and being afraid of sudden destruction is not appropriate behavior for God's people. I will press on until Jesus calls the church to Heaven, or until my work is complete and it is time for me to leave. I am an overcomer.

Come Up Higher, Vol. 3 | Day 187

Day 187

Proverbs 26:12

 "Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? There is more hope of a fool than of him."

One of the worst states we can find ourselves in is one of conceit. When we are always right or always have the better idea, we become unpleasant to be around and are in great danger of becoming self-deceived. The more learned we become, the more we have to watch out for conceit. Knowledge can be harmful without wisdom on how to use it.

Our way may be the best way. However, if we are in a group, and ours has been the best way for the last 19 out of 20 times, perhaps we should settle for someone else's second best idea, without making it known that we think our idea is the best. After all, what we are  considering  is only our  personal  opinion. (We are   not  dealing   with  hard  facts  and  figures  that  cannot  be disputed.) For example, the picture on the wall may look better two inches to the left, but if we have. adjusted the last IO pictures, perhaps this one should be left alone and admired as it is. It may disturb us, but there are many more people involved who are not disturbed. We can just pretend they are right for a change.

It is not to our advantage to have it our way all the time. Always being right can lead to a lonely, miserable life. Solomon says there is more hope for a fool than for a man who knows a lot, but is not teachable. Humility should be practiced. We must not fail to give our opinions to help things turn out better. However, we must find a balance, so brilliance does not become a burden.

I will monitor my conduct among those I live and work with. I will practice humility. When my suggestions and opinions are a potential nuisance, I will yield to the suggestions and opinions of others. I will encourage them verbally or through silence and pleasant gestures.

Come Up Higher, Vol.3 | Day 186

Day 186

I Peter 1:8

"Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory."

It is amazing how real Jesus is to us although we have never seen Him. Some of us may have had a vision of Him, but most of us have never seen Him. Yet, we love Him. The spiritual world is more real than the physical, because the physical came out of the spiritual. By the spiritual force of faith, we are connected to the spiritual world. Once we make the initial connection, it is easy to increase awareness of the unseen realm. We become more deeply involved through communication.

Often, as we talk to God and express our thanks to Him for His goodness, we can sense His presence. As He responds to us through answering prayers or manifesting Himself in some oilier way, the reality of His existence becomes stronger to us. When we fellowship with Him and walk in obedience to Him, the joy of knowing Him increases. He brings us a kind of joy we cannot explain. It is just a taste of the ecstasy we are going to experience in Heaven.

After the first step of believing, we study His Word and commune with Him. Then, believing Him becomes easier because of our experience. When we pause to try to reason it all out in our natural minds, it is always amazing to see how we can become so close, so intimately involved with someone we have never seen. We learned to love someone who brings us unspeakable joy, yet He has never met us physically or spoken to us in our natural ears. However, we know that we know that we know that Jesus is real. We know Him, and we love Him.

I love Jesus more than any human being or anything. He brings me joy I cannot explain. I look forward to meeting Him face to face. I am getting closer and closer to Him all the time.

Come Up Higher, Vol. 3 | Day 185

Day 185

Genesis 41:16

"And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace."

Pharaoh was troubled by two dreams he had. No one he consulted ,ws able to interpret them. Then someone told him about

Joseph, who had interpreted a dream for them. He sent for Joseph to interpret his dreams. As Joseph responded to Pharaoh, he wanted it to be clear up front that he was not the one providing the answer. He referred to God as the source of the interpretation. He said, "God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace."

Whenever we are unsettled or troubled about something,  it is important to remember that nothing or no one  can  provide  us with what we need. Only God can give us an  answer  of  peace. Even though He sometimes uses people and things, let us always look to the Lord for our answers. Let us be thankful to Him when they come, regardless of what means He uses to deliver them.

I will continually look to God as my source. He will give mean answer of peace, and I will thank Him for it.

Come Up Higher, Vol. 2 | Day 184

Day  184

James 1:6,7

"But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord."

Faith is an absolute necessity to our spiritual health and well-being. James, in talking about how we can obtain wisdom from God, made two things clear. Wisdom is available for the asking, because God does not hesitate when it comes to distributing wisdom. We must approach God in faith to receive that wisdom.

Hebrews Chapter  I I reveals that God responds to faith. It

says for us to approach God, we must believe in His existence and His character of rewarding diligent seekers. Faith comes by hearing the Word of God. We received faith for salvation through the Word we heard when we were saved. lbat great faith was a starting point. When we accepted the plan of salvation, which is impossible to understand with the natural mind, we were ready to believe ahnost anything. Then, the faith fight began, as Satan came to steal that which would ultimately destroy him. The devil's ungodly system, which exists in this world, began to feed us negative information to challenge our faith. Without the knowledge of God's Word, our fight was difficult. Thus, studying and meditating God's Word became essential to our survival.

Jesus is our source of faith. He uses the Word of God. Just spending time in the Word alone does not accomplish the task, but spending time with Him in the Word makes the difference. It is not just reading black or red ink on white paper that makes the difference. We receive the revelation of God through the words we read, as we are illumined by the Holy Spirit.

Let us come clean and be honest with ourselves. When we were truly in faith based on God's Word and were not wavering, we had no difficulty receiving our answers. God remains faithful to His Word. Sometimes, we are attempting to build faith, but are having difficulty, because we are attempting to get it off the paper the scripture was written on or the tape it was played on. We may even try to get it from the preacher or teacher. We will only get it through these means when we get it from God. Paul said of the Thessalonian Christians, "When you heard the Word of God from us you accepted it, not as a mere human message, but as it really is, God's Word, a power in the lives of you who believe." (I Thessalonians 2:13, J.B. Phillips translation)

Whenever we are operating in unwavering faith, we are receiving. Whenever we are lacking in receiving, we are lacking in unwavering faith. Let us strengthen our faith today, as we spend time with God in His Word. Our praise and worship of Him will help increase our awareness of His presence, which will make it easier for us to receive the Word as His Word to us.

I will praise and worship God today. I will fellowship with Him through His Word. My faith will be strengthened, and I will receive from Him.

Come Up Higher, Vol. 2 | Day 183

Day 183

Psalm 34

 "0 fear the Lord, ye his saints for there is no want to them that fear him."

The psalmist said there is no want to those who fear the Lord. Let us examine our lives. Is there any want? If there is, we must do one of two things. Either we need to make an adjustment where our fear of God is concerned, or we need to exercise patience, as our wants are being satisfied. The hard fact is there is no want to them who fear Him. God has provided many things for us that we can never earn by our works. However, our behavior can effect what is being released to us, because God is a good father.

As we respond to God's Word and the leading of the Holy Spirit, our fear of the Lord will be evident by our conduct and attitude. Since there are varying degrees of respect, results may vary. Our wants can be partially satisfied, as God works in us to help us upgrade our respect. We may need to ask God about some of our wants that have not yet been satisfied, just so He can alert us to areas of disrespect in our lives that need to be corrected. Though we fear the Lord in general, we are all growing in respect for Him. Sometimes, unconsciously, our response to God about a particular thing may be out of order. As we are honest before Him, He can show us what needs to be corrected.

We must know that the Word of God abides for ever. He has exalted His Word above His name. It never changes. When we run into lack of any kind, we need to examine ourselves and not God's Word to see what we need to change. It does not mean we should condemn ourselves, but we should instead realize the Holy Spirit is at work in us and is pleased to assist us, as we grow in the grace of God. When He shows us something that needs to be adjusted or corrected, it is a time to be grateful, not sad or frustrated. God is not bothered by our shortcomings. He knows our frailty. That is why He has offered to help us. The problem arises only when we know clearly what needs to be done and refuse to do it.

We can use our wants to correct areas that need to be corrected. We can also use them to allow patience to go to work. James Chapter I tells that us when we allow patience to work properly in our lives, we end up wanting nothing.

When I think of wants yet unsatisfied, I will examine myself for areas that need to be corrected. I will allow patience to run its full course in me, causing me to want nothing when it is finished.

Come Up Higher, Vol. 2 | Day 182

Day 182

Matthew 1:1 (J.B. Phillips Version)

"This is the record of the ancestry of Jesus Christ who was the descendant of both David and Abraham:"

As Matthew recorded the earthly genealogy of Jesus, He began by pointing out that he was connected to two great men in Jewish history. Abraham was, respected among the Jews as the father of their faith. The religious leaders were proud to say, "Abraham is our father." David was an outstanding king. He was described as a man after God's own heart. He was of the tribe of Judah, and God promised that the Messiah would come through that tribe.

Both of these men had their shortcomings. David's were a lot worse than Abraham's. Still, the achievements of these men and their overall character and relationship with God made their names great. Paul said in Galatians 3:29 that as believers we are all descendants of Abraham through Christ. Through Jesus, we are connected with these great men. Spiritually, we are Abraham's seed and members of the tribe of Judah. We are heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, according to the eighth chapter of Romans.

May we be proud of our spiritual heritage in a positive way today. May we show gratitude to God for the honor of being associated with Abraham, God's friend, and David, a man after His heart. Let us walk worthy of the names we are associated with through Christ.

I am thankful for the honor of having Abraham and David as a part of my heritage through Christ. With God's help, I will walk worthy of the names I have been privileged to be associated with, Jesus' name being the first.

Come Up Higher, Vol. 2 | Day 181

Day 181

Matthew 14:27

“But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer, it is I; be not afraid.”

After feeding over 5,000 people, Jesus sent His disciples by boat to Gennesaret. He then went up to a mountain to pray. When the evening came, He went walking on the water to catch up with them. (By that time the weather had turned rough, and the vessel they were in was being tossed by the wind and waves.) When they saw Him coming, they were frightened, thinking He was a ghost. Their fear caused them to cry out. To calm them down, He called out to them, assuring them He was not a ghost and telling them to get rid of their fear.

Mathew quoted Jesus as saying, “It is I, be not afraid.” To eliminate fear from our lives, we must first have a relationship with God where He is real to us. To some, He is just like a ghost. When we talk with Him in our everyday activities and commune with Him as we would with anyone who is close to us, He will become more and more real to us.

Once we have developed a relationship with God that causes Him to be real to us, we need to rehearse the fact that He is always with us. The psalmist said in Psalm 46 that God is very present in times of trouble. As we remind ourselves of His constant presence and continue communing with Him throughout the day, our fears will diminish. Jesus assured the disciples that He was real and was there with them so they could calm down. It is this same awareness that keeps us calm. God is real and present with us.

I will commune with God daily. I will rehearse the fact that He is always with me. I will eliminate fear from my life.

Come Up Higher, Vol. 2 | Day 180

Day 180

Matthew 15:14

"Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into the ditch."

It is the willfully blind who Jesus was referring to in Matthew 15:14, when He said, "Let them alone." What  a  horrible state to be in - left alone. That is the consequence of those who refuse to see. When we do not understand, God pursues getting insight to us. However, we are accountable for the enlightenment we do receive. If we refuse to act upon what we know, we will be permitted to "fall in the ditch." It behooves us to be doers, and not hearers only.

Apart from grasping this warning for ourselves, we can also use what Jesus said to help guide us in our pursuit to get truth to others. As sowers, we must continue to plant the seeds God has given us. It is a temptation sometimes to stay with the seed that falls on stony, thorny or wayside ground. We try to force the unreceptive ground to encompass our seed and  begin the fruit-bearing process. However, while we are exerting energy on the wrong soil, other good soil candidates are waiting for seed. It is important to learn when to "let them alone." Jesus wanted everyone to receive and be blessed. He even wept over the city of Jerusalem, because He wanted so much for them to receive what God had planned for them. In Matthew  23:37, Jesus said, "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!" Nevertheless, He realized that every man must make his own choice, and God respects the choices we make, no matter how much He wishes they would be different.·

So, let us do two things. First, let  us make sure we do not become ditch victims, by refusing to do what we know is right. Secondly, let us respect the choices of others, and allow  the Holy Spirit to guide us, when it is time to move on to other ground with our seed basket.                 ·

I will practice following the Lord  completely.  I  will fall into ditches less and less, as I increase more and more in obedience. I will respect the choices of others, as I continue to sow the precious Word of God to those I am able to reach.

Come Up Higher, Vol. 2 | Day 179

Day 179

Matthew 10:24

 "The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord."

In Matthew 10, Jesus sent His disciples out to minister on His behalf. He gave them instructions on what to carry and how to conduct themselves. He warned them about unpleasant things they might encounter. When He described the persecution they would face, He told them that whatever men had done, or would do to Him, they would also do to them, and even worse. Verse 25 of this same chapter says, "It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?"

We expect to endure persecution. We are not supposed to allow anything to discourage us from our mission as ambassadors for Christ. He is to be our example of enduring suffering and staying committed. It may seem simple. Yet, it is something we must ponder from time to time. The way many Christians react to difficulty shows we are still not prepared to handle challenges to our faith and commitment. Understanding thoroughly what Jesus taught about persecution will lead us to a life of consistency in endurance and obedience.

From time to time, we have done things that  were against the still small voice in our spirits. It was the gratification of our flesh that motivated us to make the wrong move. The disciple moved out of position and put himself above his Lord, who was attempting to guide him through his inner man. When the negative consequences came along, we reacted, saying something like, "OOPS! I missed it again. That was not unnecessary. If I had only followed my spirit, I could have avoided that blunder."

So, let us ponder Matthew I 0:24 today. We can endure more than we have already endured. We have not suffered as much as our master. It is in our power to be consistently obedient, as we use the tools God has given us. Among those tools are prayer, Bible study, meditation and regular confession of the Word out of a spirit of agreement with God.

I am submitted to my master and Lord, Jesus Christ. I will be a good ambassador of Christ, as I allow the Holy Spirit to help me. I can endure and overcome  anything  that comes my way, through Christ who strengthens me. I am obedient.

Come Up Higher, Vol. 2 | Day 178

Day 178

II Chronicles 32: 7,8

“Be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude tht is with him: for there be more with us than with him: With him is the arm of flesh: but with us the Lord our God to help us, and to fight our battles. And the people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah King of Judah.”

Whose words carry the most weight with us? That is an important question we must ask ourselves. The answer reveals the kind of relationship we have with God and the level of faith we walk in. The passage above says the people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah, king of Judah. Regardless of what may have come to their minds or what others may have said, they chose to accept the words of the king as most reliable. Thus, their behavior was one of rest, or confidence.

Jeremiah 17:5 tells us that a man brings a curse on himself by departing from the Lord in his heart and putting his trust in man, or making flesh his arm. We can tell where our confidence is when we react to circumstances. For example, if we were to go to the doctor and he gave us a bad report, would we fall apart as though his word were the most reliable - the word we would rest ourselves on? What about the banker, the realtor, the judge, or any other official? If we act as though a man’s word is the final one, we are relying on flesh. We must always see what God has to say about the subject and let His Word be the last thing we say about the matter.

God’s last word for those who trust Him is always victory. That does not mean everything will be rosy or without trouble, hardship or heartache. It simply means that if we keep our confidence in Him, respecting Him as final authority, He will take even tragedy and turn it into triumph. It means sad moments may occur during our story, but there will always be a happy ending.

God’s Word is my word to rest on. I will look to the Lord, who is my shepherd, for the final word in every situation.