Come Up Higher, Vol. 3 | Day 217

Day 217

I   Chronicles 12:22

"For at that time day by day there came to David to help him, until it was a great host, like the host of God."

David was being pursued by King Saul, who wanted to kill him. The Bible says men kept coming to David every day, until he had a great host of them. These men had come to fight with him and for him. They were not recruited by David. It appears that God had touched their hearts, because David was right in his heart before God. He depended on the Lord for His help.

The scripture said the men were like the host of God. It is impossible for there to have been enough men to compare to the host of God in number. However, they were like the host of God, in that they were gathered by God to defend His man. He ordained them for the specific purpose of helping David.

When we are right in our hearts toward God and are fulfilling His purpose for our lives, we can call upon Him for help in the time of need. He will gather aid from near and far. If we need people, He will send them from different places, and they will possibly not know each other. They will respond to the leading of the Lord, coming to our aid. God does not change. We must be confident of that. When we are fully persuaded about God's commitment to support His own; our energies will be directed toward ascertaining the mind of God, not coming up with our own support. Support will be easy to get, once we know beyond doubt that we are on target with the will of our Lord.

I will exert more effort to ascertain the mind of God for my endeavors. Once I know what God wants, I will rest in the fact that He supports all His projects and the assurance that His resources are unlimited.

Come Up Higher, Vol. 3 | Day 216

Day 216

I Chronicles 16:9a

"For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong on the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward Him."

Prior to the statement in II Chronicles 16:9, Hanani, the prophet, reminded King Asa that there was no army large enough to defeat him as long as he depended on the Lord. In the latter part of verse nine, Asa is rebuked for seeking help somewhere else. Hanani informed him that he would suffer as a result of his foolish act of calling on another king for help.

Man has always looked for a god he could see. God warned the Israelites that they should have no other gods beside Him. The principle of other gods includes more than carved images. Idols can be made of people and things. Anyone or anything that becomes to us what God should be to us has become another god. Because we live in a natural world where we constantly need our physical senses to function, it takes effort to walk by faith. We must constantly remind ourselves of how we should behave, bearing in mind that we belong to God and owe full allegiance to Him.

It is easy to look to people instead of God, because we see them, but we do not see Him. Yet, if we are not careful, we will depend on people instead of God. The problem with that is God will leave us at the mercy of what people can do for us if that is where our hope is. When they fail us, we will suffer the consequences. He will look for those whose hearts are perfect toward Him - those who prefer to suffer than put their confidence in man. To have our hearts perfect before Him, we need to be humble and desire that God be glorified instead of ourselves. It is usually an attempt to save our skins or our pride that pushes us to lean on the wrong arm.

Let us examine ourselves and see if God is able to show Himself strong on our behalf today. We must check and see if we are depending on Him for our total supply. If we are tempted to go in another direction in any area of our lives, may we make a right tum into the pathway of godly success. May the words of Moses ring in our ears in the face of seeming impossibilities: "Stand still and see the salvation of God."

I will trust in the Lord with all my heart He is the source of my total supply. All my decisions will be subject to His will All my steps will be guided by Him, who has redeemed me by the blood of Jesus.

Come Up Higher, Vol. 3 | Day 215

Day  215

Lamentations 3:22

"It is because of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not"

It is important to know about and understand the mercy of God toward us. The mercy of God is there to help us in difficult times. It brings healing and deliverance to us. It causes us to receive forgiveness and removes guilt. Mercy is undeserved. It is given because of God's great love for us. He demonstrated this love when He sent Jesus to die for us.

Some have abused the mercy of God by walking in deliberate rebellion to His Word or the leadership of the Holy Spirit. If we would study and gain some degree of understanding of God's mercy, it would motivate us to do what is right. It should increase our love and appreciation for our Father.

Generally speaking, only very wicked people will deliberately hurt the kindest people they know. Normal people usually respond positively to a person who is full of love and compassion. People who get bitter at God and rebel against Him do not know Him. Christians who refuse to do as the Holy Spirit leads them do not comprehend the mercy of God. It is because of the Lord's mercy that we are not consumed, as the scripture says. We deserve judgment, but we receive mercy instead. After all the Lord has done for us, which includes forgiving us over and over again, we should not need any more motivation to obey Him completely.

I appreciate the mercy of God, and my life will show it. I will walk in constant obedience to His Word and His leading.

Come Up Higher, Vol.3 | Day 214

Day 214

I   Chronicles 22:5

"And David said, Solomon my son is young and tender, and the house that is to be builded for the Lord must be exceeding magnijical, of fame and glory throughout all countries: I will therefore now make preparation for it. So David prepared abundantly before his death.

Even though God would not permit King David to build the house for Him that he desired to construct, it did not stop David from participating. That showed that the motives of the king were pure. It revealed that his heart was to do something to the glory of God and not to his own credit. Later, the temple was called Solomon's temple, but it was actually the temple of David that Solomon built. Before his death, David gathered the materials they needed, set forth plans and ordered officials to assist his son in the most fabulous building project taken on up to that point. He knew he would never see it, but he gave abundantly toward it. He gave time, energy and materials.

Some people will give freely only to something they can receive credit for. If they can say, "This is my church," or "This is my denomination," or "This is my family's," or something similar to that, they will support it wholeheartedly. But, when it comes to the kind of giving they will not be recognized for, they are not interested in participating. A dead denomination only supports its own projects. If they don't get the credit for a project, they will not support it. Others will see a need and give generously, even if no one ever finds out they gave. People have left money in their wills to support ministries that are doing things they will never live to see happen.

We must examine our hearts from time to time and check our attitudes when it comes to giving. Every now and then, we should give something anonymously. If at any time we find it hard to do that, then we know it is time for us to go before the heart fixer and have some repair work done. For one thing, we should always be aware that God sees us. We should direct our giving toward Him anyway. Many times, giving publicly or directly is good and beneficial. People need to be inspired to give by our good examples. Others need to be encouraged to know we love them and care about them. On the other hand, there are occasions when the recipient does not need to know who has given. Then there are times when nobody but God needs to know.

I will give in different ways. I will give publicly, directly, and anonymously. I will support good works, for which I will receive no credit or recognition. My heart is to please God and see His will done on earth. I am a cheerful giver with pure motives.

Come Up Higher, Vol.3 | Day 213

Day  213

Isaiah 43:l

"But now thus saith the Lord that created thee, 0 Jacob, and He that formed thee, 0 Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine."

God loves each of His own in a special way. He was speaking to the nation of Israel when He said "O Jacob." He referred to all of them as one person. It was because of His relationship and covenant with Jacob, who was later named Israel, that the whole nation became special to Him. Let us notice how lovingly He speaks to them. "Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name, thou art mine."

Now let us consider the fact that the whole body of Christ is special to God, because of His relationship with Jesus, His son. Before He left the earth, Jesus prayed that the world would see that God loved his disciples as much as He loved Jesus. What would God do for Jesus? He would do the same for us. Let us take hold of that and let go of all our fears.

The Bible says in Romans 8 that if God gave Jesus for us, He obviously would not hesitate to give us all things. We should pause and let our specialness to God sink in. May we receive the Father's love and be energized by it. There is a reason to live, a reason to love and a reason to give our everything and make our lives count on this earth.

I receive God's love for me. I will live my life on earth in response to His love by making my life count.

Come Up Higher, Vol. 3 | Day 212

Day 212

lsaiah 53:5

"But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed.

If I were to pick up a package for someone else, it would be obvious that I intended to save that person the trouble of having to pick it up. Whenever someone does something for someone else, a substitution is involved. They do it so the other person will not have to do it. That makes Isaiah 53:5 one of the most wonderful verses in the Bible. Sometimes, a person will do a favor for someone else, not because the recipient could not do it, but as an act of kindness. What Jesus did was an act of kindness toward us, but it was much more than that. He did something for us that we could not do for ourselves.

We should be punished for our sins, but He was punished in our places. Now, we simply confess our sins with sincere sorrow, and He forgives us and cleanses us. Although we may suffer natural consequences for our sins, we escape eternal judgment for them. We have also received God's grace to cope with the natural results. Sometimes, because of God's mercy, we escape the normal results of our actions.

The world offers temporal peace based upon circumstances. On this earth, we have limited means of obtaining healing for our bodies. But Jesus paid for a greater peace and supernatural healing for us. So, anytime we find ourselves suffering the things Jesus paid for us to be delivered from, we should position ourselves for a change. We do this by vocalizing our agreement with what Jesus did. We can ask God to show us any hindrances to our receiving, if immediate results do not follow. We should not quit until we know we have our desired answers. We should always desire to be in the will of God. Jesus made His will clear by His substitutionary sacrifice. Let us appreciate that and receive.

I receive all Jesus suffered in my place to give me. I am free from sin. I have supernatural peace and health.

Come Up Higher, Vol.3 | Day 211

Day  211

Numbers 23:20

"Behold, I have received commandment to bless: and He hath blessed; and I cannot reverse it."

The reliability of God's Word is marvelous. It is fascinating. It is thrilling. Weather forecasters do the best they can with the most elaborate machines available, but we cannot depend on their word. Economic forecasters are men of vast experience, who study diligently in their areas of expertise, but they also make mistakes. Then there are astrologers, psychics and fortune-tellers, whose words are extremely unreliable. Thank God we have a certain word we can depend on to always come to pass.

The prophet in Numbers 23:20 said he had been commanded by God to bless the Israelites. After he obeyed the command, God blessed them, and the prophet could not reverse what had been done. As he stated in verse 19, God cannot lie, and He does not change His mind. In a later account, the Lord told His people they would not receive the benefits of His promise, because they refused to believe and cooperate with Him. However, that still did not change His Word. Whoever believed and acted on God's Word experienced the blessing. That is exciting!

As we read the Bible, we can be encouraged in knowing that the words written by the prophets could not be reversed, even by those who delivered the prophecy. They spoke by commandment, God guaranteed their words, and there was no turning away from what was declared. Today, we can choose to agree with God and be blessed. Caleb and Joshua were two Israelites who inherited the promised land, while many thousands of others died without experiencing what was promised to them. The difference between them was the majority operated in unbelief and rebellion, while the Joshua and Caleb operated in faith.

Some have tried to declare that some promises or blessings no longer apply to us today. If the Bible does not tell us there is an expiration date on a promise, then remember that even the prophets who made the statements cannot nullify or reverse the blessings of God. So, when we discover a blessing pronounced on us in the scriptures, we can reach out for it in faith, knowing that it still applies to whomever will receive it.

I will lay hold of God's Word for me and receive all that is due me. The Word of God is true, and it cannot be reversed. Therefore, I claim every blessing given me by my Heavenly Father.

Come Up Higher, Vol.3 | Day 210

Day  210

Numbers 23:20

"Behold I have received commandment to bless and He hath blessed and I cannot reverse it. "

We must always be aware of the state God has put us in. We are blessed. In Numbers 23:20, the prophet was speaking about the Israelites. Someone wanted them cursed, but that was not possible, since the blessing of God was upon them, and nobody could reverse what God had done.

The Bible tells us in Galatians 3:13,14 that Jesus delivered us from the curse and gave us the blessing of Abraham. Ephesians 1:3 tells us that God has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ, so we are not trying to get there. We are already there. Let us never waver from this basis. Sometimes, it may seem that we are not blessed. The circumstances may scream at us to the contrary. However, we walk by faith and not by sight.

There are things we must do to position ourselves to receive what is ours. Obedience is the path to the blessings God has provided for us. For example, when we tithe and give offerings, we position ourselves for financial prosperity. We do not earn the prosperity. It is already ours. It has been given to us. We simply position ourselves to receive it by cooperating with God and obeying His instructions. It is important that we not see ourselves as those who are seeking to earn favor and blessings, because that would hinder our faith. It is difficult to determine which or how many good works will earn a particular blessing. When we understand that all things are already ours, we simply remind ourselves to be obedient and wait patiently on the Lord.

May our conduct and conversation demonstrate our confidence in the integrity of God's Word. May we constantly seek to please Him in all our ways and, with grateful hearts, thank Him for every good and perfect gift that comes from above.

I will declare that I am blessed, because I believe God's Word. I will walk in obedience and position myself to receive what has been provided for me by my Father.

Come Up Higher, Vol. 3 | Day 209

Day 209

Ephesians 6:17

"And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the spirit, which is the Word of God:"

Paul told the Ephesian Christians to take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the spirit, which is the Word of God. We should handle the armor of God with a certain attitude when we are engaging in spiritual war. Imagine the demeanor of a seasoned soldier, as he dresses himself in preparation for battle. He displays a forcefulness, a sense of purpose, a determination in his conduct. This would not be a time for him to laugh and play. It would be serious moment, because his attitude would help determine the outcome, which would mean life or death for him.

Many times we are not as serious as we should be, and it hinders our effectiveness in battle. It does not matter to us that much if we win or not, since we think we can handle the consequences either way. However, we must renew our minds and take on the attitude that our Savior suffered, shed His blood, and died for our right to inherit the kingdom, and we will not let His sacrifice be in vain. We may not win every fight, but that should be our aim. Because we are not perfected yet, we may lose a few rounds here and there. Yet, we should not suffer losses due to carelessness or complacency.

Let us remember that every inch we allow the enemy to take gives him more territory to use against us. Our aim should be to take all we can and recover as much as possible of what we lose. Let us not in the least bit be nice to the devil. He is not at all considerate of our needs and our feelings. He is full of hate for God and for us, and we must operate with an awareness of that. We have been given authority to enforce his defeat. Let's do it!

I will examine my attitude about the armor of God and make adjustments where it is necessary. I will give no place to the devil, and I will aim to recover what he has taken unlawfully. In the name of Jesus Christ, I am more than a conqueror, and I will triumph to His glory.

Come Up Higher, Vol. 3 | Day 208

Day 208

Micah 7:7

"Therefore I will look unto the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me."

What a beautiful statement in Micah 7:7. The prophet speaks of the confidence God's people can have in Him. It does not matter what the circumstances appear to be. We can exercise patience, because God hears and responds to all His children who call on Him in faith. That is absolutely special.

A songwriter wrote, "Because He lives, I can face tomorrow." The key is not just the fact that Jesus is alive, but that he also loves us and is actively involved in our lives. If He would give His life for us, what will He not do for our benefit when we serve Him? Paul said in Romans 8:32, "He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?"

It is essential that we remain aware of our divine connection. It will bring us peace and comfort in pleasant and unpleasant times. Let us thank the Lord today for the blessed assurance that He never leaves us or forsakes us and always listens to and responds to us.

I will look to God, my salvation. I will wait for Him. He always hears me.

Come Up Higher, Vol. 3 | Day 207

Day 207

Revelation 4:9-11

"And when those beasts give glory and honor and thanks to Him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever,

The four and twenty elders fell down before Him that sat on the throne, and worship Him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne saying,

Thou art worthy, 0 Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: For thou hast created all things and for thy pleasure they are and were created."

John wrote in Revelation 4:9, "And when...." He  told how 24 elders fell down when the beasts gave glory and honor and thanks. This was not a ritual or a routine - this was a reaction.

When we give glory and honor and thanks properly to Him who sits on the throne, it will cause a reaction among true worshipers. We must learn this, so we can measure our levels or quality of worship. If we read on in Chapter 5 of Revelation, we will find the 24 elders falling down in worship in the presence of Jesus (verses 6,7,8) and in response to the praise of Him (verses 11,13,14).

Let us ask God to give us a revelation of His glory and splendor. When we begin to see Him more as He is, we, too, will worship out of reaction, instead of a ritual or routine.

I will receive more of a revelation of God's glory and splendor and worship Him more adequately.

Come Up Higher, Vol. 3 | Day 206

Day 206

Psalm 119:41-42 NIV

"May your unfailing love come to me, 0 Lord, your salvation according to your promise; then I will answer the one who taunts me, for I trust in your word."

The psalmist requested God to deliver him. He based his request on God's Word. He wanted to respond to the one who was taunting him. The promises of God encouraged him to expect salvation and not to be discouraged by the unkind words of his enemy.

It is so important that we meditate, memorize and confess God's Word regularly. We must also practice doing what it says. The Word of God never fails. By following the instructions of the Lord, we will find success over and over again. By agreeing with God, we will find ourselves prevailing in every circumstance. When the enemy comes to discourage us, he will end up discouraged instead. God will deliver us, and we will have the last laugh. The psalmist said when his deliverance came, he would answer the one who was taunting him. It is great that he would expect God to come through and allow him to respond to his enemy. However, like the Hebrew men who were thrown into King Nebuchadnezzar's furnace, we can go beyond that and answer before the deliverance comes. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego told the king if he threw them into the furnace, God would deliver them.

The important thing is that we have an answer based on God's Word. When the enemy talks ''junk" to us, it is an opportunity to see how much we trust in the Word. The tests we face reveal where we are spiritually. If our response is to answer immediately with confidence, based on the Word, then we know the Word of God has taken root in our hearts. If on the other hand, we are almost defeated before we remember what God has said, or we remember but it does not comfort us much, then we know we have work to do. We may not have developed our walk with God to the point of total trust in Him, or we may have gotten slack in our relationship with Him.

Faith comes by hearing the Word of God. So, we must begin to hear the Word from ourselves, as well as from others and declare what the Lord has said. We must fellowship with God and draw close to Him to make this real. For us to hear the Word of God and not just words from the Bible, we must know God and listen to the scriptures as though He was speaking to us personally.

I will meditate, memorize and confess God's Word. I will be obedient to God. As a result, my experiences will help me increase in confidence where the Word is concerned. I will have an answer for my enemy when He attempts to torment me. My answer will always mean defeat for him and victory for me.

Come Up Higher, Vol. 3 | Day 205

Day 205

Matthew 14:17-18 NIV

"We have here only five loaves of bread and two fishes," they answered. "Bring them here to me," he said.

Matthew 14 tells the story of how Jesus took five loaves of bread and two fishes and miraculously fed more than 5,000 people. The men in the crowd numbered at least 5,000 alone. Based upon normal crowds, the number of women and children was probably more than twice the amount of the men present. Therefore, it would be reasonable to estimate that over 15,000 people were present. It is amazing that Jesus was not moved by the size of the crowd, in light of the amount of food that was available.

The disciples said, ''We have here only..." Jesus said,. "Bring them here to me." Jesus demonstrated to us that God is not intimidated by our limitations. He also showed us that God works with what we can offer Him. The Father could have made bread and rained it down from heaven. However, we rarely see Him do things that way. There are many more examples of His using what we have. Obviously, He wants us to learn to be faithful over what He has given us. Instead of making excuses about what we cannot do because of what we do not have, God wants us to exhaust what we do have. He also wants us to remember that we must depend on Him, and not ourselves as the source of all our supply. "He will use what we have, but He is not limited by it.

Let us think about it. Where did everything we have come from? Who made it all? Has He forgotten how to create? Has He lost control of His sovereignty, that enables Him to manipulate what is already His and transfer wealth or material things to where it needs to be? Let us not underestimate God. Whatever we do have, let us bring it to Him. Notice that Jesus did not ask for some of the food, but for all of it. When what we have is not enough, there is no point in holding onto some of it. We might as well give it all. When we have done all we can do, God will take over and make up the difference.

I will forget about what I do not have and begin to give all I do have. God will take my limited supply, whether talents, abilities or possessions, and multiply it. My giving will bless a multitude of people.

Come Up Higher, Vol. 3 | Day 204

Day  204

Psalm 44:l NIV

"We have heard with our ears, 0 God; our fathers have told us what you did in their days, in days long ago."

As we ponder what our elders have told us about what God has done for them, we can recall how they emphasized that the power of God can do for us what we cannot do for ourselves. Whether we are hearing a story from the Bible, a testimony about someone who lived since the Bible was written or a report about someone who is alive today, the theme is the same. Through the power of God, we can overcome insurmountable odds.

Let us be encouraged today to take on a higher view of what seems impossible. When we cannot handle challenges in our own strength, we should not panic. We should not even flinch. If we need to leave something alone, then let us leave it alone. If something must be done, then let us ignore what we cannot do and trust God to do what He has always done. After all, why do we need God if everything can be accomplished without His aid? Since He is there to make up the difference, why do we react as if all hope is gone?

Let us imagine what we would do if, while operating a piece of equipment at home or at work, it stops working, and we cannot figure out how to fix it. If there is someone in the house or the office who knows how to fix that piece of equipment, we would call them to help and expect that in a matter of time all would be back to normal. We would not throw up our hands and complain continually about the situation. That would appear so foolish. If someone caught us doing that, the first thing they would want to know is why we did not ask for help, since the one who could have fixed it was present.

The angels who have been sent to minister for us are wondering why we act so silly, when Almighty God is present to fix everything that goes wrong. They have been agents of our Father for so long and have never seen a problem He could not solve. Our behavior appears so foolish to them, and rightfully so. Maybe we need to meditate more on the greatness of God and His track record in our lives, as well as in the lives of others. Then we need to practice living in the presence of God so much that we never forget he is there.

Jesus left us His peace. It is a peace that is secure, no matter what the circumstances are, because we know of God's constant presence and involvement in our lives. Let us pause and see if we are ruffled about anything. If we are, then we need to make an adjustment in our attitudes and change the puzzled look on the faces of the angles who are observing us.

I will act like God is who He said he is. I believe He can and will do what He says He will do. I will not panic or become unsettled about any challenge. God is with me always, and He is ready at all times to do what I cannot do.

Come Up Higher, Vol. 3 | Day 203

Day 203

Psalm 44:1 NIV

"We have heard with our ears, O God; our fathers have told us what you did in their days, in days long ago."

Psalm 44 is about a cry to God for help from the nation of Israel. It begins by telling God what they heard He had done for their ancestors. Their knowledge about what God had done prompted them to look to Him for assistance with current challenges.

It is so important that we pass our testimonies on to the next generation. In a country like America that was founded on godly principals and once functioned as a Christian nation, a large number of youth know nothing about Jesus Christ. They do not know what God can do, because they have never heard the testimonies of what He has done for people. Paul said in Romans 10:14, "How shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard?"

The stories of the Bible must be told. The personal testimonies of those of us who are alive today must also be told. Our generation and the next generation need to know what God has done, as well as what He is still doing. So, when trouble comes, they should know where real help comes from.

Let us make it a  point today to tell someone either a story from the Bible,  a  personal testimony,  or both.  We can tell a  relative, a neighbor, an acquaintance or a stranger. If we do not go out today, we can call someone. Young children especially like to hear stories. We can tell them a true story today that they will not only enjoy, but one they will learn an important lesson from.

With God's help, I will pass a story on to someone about His power today, which will help them in time of need. I will help someone know, and even remind myself of where real help comes from.

Come Up Higher, Vol. 3 | Day 202

Day 202

Proverbs 25:8

"Go not forth hastily to strive, lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbor hath put thee to shame."

We often get ourselves in trouble when we react too quickly. Someone may have told us something, and we rushed to deal with a situation without understanding the full story. As a result, we were embarrassed and had to apologize for misunderstandings.

In Proverbs 25:8, Solomon said, "Go not forth hastily." We should calm ourselves down and realize that the end of the world has not come, and the situation we are confronted with will probably not drastically alter the course of nature for us. Solomon advised us to slow down and avoid rushing into situations we do not understand completely. We could end up not knowing how to get ourselves out of the messes we create because of our ignorance.

Taking time to calm down not only allows us to sensibly find out more details before we react, but it also allows us time to pray and get in the right frame of mind, so God can help protect us from saying the wrong things. Although men are challenged in this area, women especially have a tendency to unnecessarily turn the regular check-up room into an emergency care unit.

When Jesus was pressured by the religious leaders to respond to the woman caught in adultery, he had a prime opportunity to react irresponsibly. Those low down men brought the woman without the man! For someone who cared so much about the plight of women, Jesus could have blown his cool. Instead, He stooped down and wrote on the ground. When He got up and spoke, the accusers had to leave ashamed.

We must recognize our need to improve in the area of self control. Let us commit this area of need to God and begin to declare by faith our progress in this area. With God's help, we will find ourselves having less and less regrets about the way we handle situations.

God is at work in me. I am improving in self-control My words and actions are appropriate for the situations I deal with.

Come Up Higher, Vol.3 | Day 201

Day 201

Romans 14:2-4 J.B. Phillips Translation

"One man believes that he may eat anything, another man, without this strong conviction, is a vegetarian. The meat­ eater should not despise the vegetarian, nor should the vegetarian condemn the meat-eater-they should reflect  that God has accepted them both. After all, who are you to criticize the servant of somebody else? It is to his own master that he stands or falls. And he will stand for the Lord is well able to make him do so."

Jesus said His disciples would be identified by their love for each other. This lets us know how He expects us to treat and relate to one another. There are issues that can rightfully cause contention, because we must not use love as an excuse to water down the truth and accept ungodly living. However, we should carefully examine the things we make an issue out of. In Romans 14, Paul helps point out some of the things that are not worth contending for.

Christians are people who come to the Lord from various backgrounds. Their choices are affected by their upbringing and the teaching and training they received both before and after receiving Christ. We must show love and acceptance to all our brethren and not try to be God to them. What if we had to be perfected in one day? There are not enough hours in a day to accomplish such a task. We have to learn and grow. As the Holy Spirit is at work in us, we will change from glory to glory. In the meantime, we need love and acceptance from our families.

Paul used the example of vegetarians and meat-eaters getting along in the church. Some may have been taught not to eat meat before they became Christians. Others may have been convinced, after receiving Jesus as Savior, that meat is not good for them. Then, there could be those who believe all foods are good and they have faith to eat anything they choose. As he brought out, this should not give us a cause to fight. It will not determine who is saved or lost, and neither will it damage anyone's godly character. Therefore, it should be a matter left up to the individual and to God, before whom he will answer.

It is fine for each person to present his case if they believe they can help someone, but we should always show respect to those who have different views. As long as being a vegetarian or a meat eater is not presented as a question of sin or righteousness, we are free to disagree agreeably and continue to focus on more important things.

We must be careful not to be lifted up in pride by our knowledge or liberty. When men and women are dying and going to Hell, we must not be fooled by Satan into allowing petty things to distract us from our purpose. Let us exercise social ethics and get along with our brothers and sisters, as we promote the gospel of Jesus Christ together.

With God's help, I will not be sidetracked by unimportant issues. I will live and respect my brothers and sisters who have different views. I trust God, before whom we will all stand, to correct and perfect us all.

Come Up Higher, Vol. 3 | Day 200

Day 200

Matthew 2:3

"When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him."

Matthew's account of the first advent of Christ includes the quest of the Magi. Wise men from the east came to Jerusalem in search of a young king. His birth was certain to them because of their interpretation of the appearance of an unusual star.

Apparently, these men had asked a number of people in Jerusalem about the location of this king, because the scripture said all Jerusalem was troubled. The wise men were not searching for clues to help them decide who the child was. They asked, "Where is he?" The manner in which the question was asked seems to indicate they expected the ones they queried to be aware of his presence. They expected someone to tell them where they could find him. The ignorance of the Jews in regard to their own king probably brought surprised looks from the seekers. Word began to travel around the area. Perhaps the Jews themselves began to wonder who knew the answer and what the meaning of this event was that brought men from such a long distance to Jerusalem. Eventually, Herod the king heard of it. The wicked leader was troubled for selfish reasons. He was the king, and he did not want competition. So, he planned to kill the one who the star supposedly revealed was of royal blood.

It is rather disappointing to see that men  thousands  of miles away knew more about an important spiritual event that was happening in Judea than the citizens of the land. Often, a wicked person in authority like Herod reflects  the  overall  spiritual condition of the inhabitants.  John said  Jesus attempted  to  minister

to  His own,  but they did  not receive Him. In Matthew  23:37, Jesus cried, "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!"

It may be that we who are truly committed to God are suffering, because of the overall spiritual condition of the people in our land. We can tell this by the kinds of leaders we have, as well as the average person's receptiveness to the gospel. However, Jesus went to Israel, despite their spiritual condition, and gave the good news to all who would listen. Then, He died for the world, including all those who rejected Him. Like Jesus, we have been sent to give the good news to all who will hear. Sometimes, it may be disappointing that people who know nothing about God seem to understand better and are more receptive to the truth than people who are familiar with the Jesus story. However, like Jesus, we must spread the good news to all who will listen.

When time is up for things to continue the way they are going, the sheep and the goats will be separated. Everyone who loves God will enjoy life with godly people, as Jesus will reign forever as King of kings and Lord of lords. Meanwhile, as His representatives, we must realize persecution may come, but our labor will not be in vain. Although we will be presented with opportunities to become discouraged, we will win some people. We can be grateful that Jesus did not allow discouragement to stop Him. Because He kept pressing forward, despite the rejection of those who seemingly should have been the main ones accepting Him, we are enjoying salvation today.

I will not allow the disappointment of rejection by those I expected to be receptive to stop me from pursuing my mission in life. Like my Lord, I intend to finish the work which has been assigned to me. Through my life, God will continue to help as many as will respond to His call.

Come Up Higher, Vol. 3 | Day 199

Day 199

Mark 16:20

''And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen."

In Mark 16:20, we learn that Jesus confirmed His Word, which brought forth the signs that followed the apostles who went out in His name. Jesus confirmed the Word. The Word of God, according to Hebrews 4:12, is alive and powerful. When we speak the Word of God in faith, we invoke the power of God.

The Word will produce when we preach to others. It will also produce when we speak to ourselves. Faith comes by hearing the Word of God. We can cause faith to grow within our hearts, as we hear words spoken from our own lips.

Actually, if we will rehearse the Word to ourselves and build faith in it, our chances of convincing others to believe will increase. A person who believes strongly in a product will have an easier time selling it than someone who is just rehearsing words suggested to him by his supervisor.

I will speak the Word of God to myself. I will share the Word with others. It will produce faith in me and help others gain faith. God will confirm His Word spoken in faith.

Come Up Higher, Vol. 3 | Day 198

Day 198

Psalm 31:1

"In thee, 0 Lord, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness."

The psalmist David expressed his confidence in God and his dependency on His righteousness for deliverance. He could hope in God, because God is righteous. He does whatever He says He will do.

Sometimes, we may not have done all we should have done. We come and sincerely confess our wrong to God, and He forgives us, because He is faithful. Then, when we look to Him for deliverance, we receive it because He is righteous, not because we have done so well. Even when we have done what we should have done and cooperated with God's plan, we cannot depend on our own righteousness to deliver us. Doing right is simply what we ought to do. In all our efforts, though, we still fall short along the way. However, our obedience does count because God said it does. We still give God all the glory for whatever we accomplish, because even our ability to do what is right comes from Him.

Let us do our best to live uprightly. After we have done what we can do and God shows up as our refuge, our strength or whatever we need, let us humbly admit that His righteousness caused our need to be met.

I will do what is right out of my gratitude to God for His goodness toward me. When I experience His power displayed on my behalf, I will thank Him for His righteousness.