The Daily Dose

Shepherds??

“Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.”  Luke 2:8 

I was impressed to write about the shepherds today.  The only problem is I don’t know much about shepherds.  So, I asked the LORD, “LORD, why did You send the angels to shepherds as the first people to get the news of our LORD’s birth?” To me they have always seemed like an unlikely group to be chosen to spread the word for such an important event.  As I thought about shepherds in general, I considered, “maybe because they are diligent to watch over their sheep or maybe because they were faithful to stay with their flock to keep them all in one place?”  However, all of my considerations didn’t answer my question.  I thought, “maybe I will do a little research on shepherds so I can begin to understand them more?”  Then my next thought was, “no, I will just let God reveal what I need to know.”  (That’s what I always depend on)  Suddenly, it hit me that Shepherd is another name we call Pastors and Pastors shepherd their “sheep”.  Pastors also preach the good news of the gospel.

So, if we look at today’s scripture, that is exactly what the shepherds did.  First, they went to the place where Jesus was and met Him, then they made widely known the things that were told them concerning their Savior.  Their message caused many to marvel and wonder about the things the shepherds said.  It is the same thing that happens today.  God anoints Pastors to make widely known the gospel concerning our Savior and that anointing on their words causes all who hear to think about the message and receive it.

God knew exactly what He was doing when He sent the angels to the shepherds.  He planned for them to be His ministers of the good news that Messiah had come.  Lastly, they rejoiced because of the great news and because they were chosen to spread that news.

Today I want to encourage you this Christmas season to appreciate your Pastor for the anointing and message he has received from God.  Send him a card or gift to show your grateful heart for watching over and keeping you as part of the flock and for his diligent and faithful service in our LORD’s work.

Today’s scripture reading:  Luke 2:8-20

A Just man

“Joseph, to whom she was engaged, was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly.”  Matthew 1:19

Joseph was a righteous and compassionate man.  Although he was within his rights according to the law, he did not want to disgrace or humiliate Mary when he found out she was with child.  He made the decision to call off the marriage, but before he could do it, God sent an angel to him to give him the message that Mary was carrying the Christ child, the Messiah.  Even though Mary probably told him what had happened, it was too far out there to believe.  What a relief it must have been for Mary when Joseph came and told her the message the angel brought to him and that he would be there to help and protect her and the baby Jesus.

It goes without saying how great a step of faith it was for Joseph.  We can look back now and see that it all worked out.  However, as it was happening, they didn’t know how it was going to be. Even though God sent His messengers to both of them and they had the prophecy in the scriptures to cling to, I know there was still plenty of opportunity to be anxious and worried about being responsible for God’s Son. Joseph, accepting the news of Mary’s condition, was only at step number one in a long nine-month period of faith and trust in what God was doing.  Mary and Joseph submitted their lives to God and allowed Him to complete all that was in His heart to do.

I want to make note of Joseph’s response and reaction to the news Mary brought to him.  She had been gone for three months to visit her relative Elizabeth and when she returned, she came back with the news that she was carrying the Son of God.  Joseph didn’t freak out at the news (although I’m sure the thought crossed his mind) he carefully considered the best way to proceed.  When he finally decided to handle things in a way that wouldn’t shame Mary, that’s when God’s angel showed up.  He never had to take that tough step of breaking the engagement with Mary.  They were able to be married and Joseph provided for and protected his new family.  He was a man full of God’s grace and love.  God knew exactly what He was doing when He placed His Son in the care of this faith filled couple.

Today I want to encourage you when making tough decisions or when you are under pressure to choose a path, to first of all, don’t freak out, but rather wait on God.  God will show up and help you to step out in the right direction.  If you are unclear what the next step might be, don’t move until you are sure you are moving in the direction that God has planned for you to go.  God will always make the way plain and clear, it’s up to us to wait for the plan and not rush into anything. Be that person of faith and trust that God has the perfect plan to see you through any dilemma.

Today’s scripture reading:  Matthew 1:18-25

Answer the call

“Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.”  Luke 1:38

Today I want to consider Mary and her life of faith and obedience.  Having grown up in a Jewish home, she was well train in scripture and prepared for the arranged marriage she would one day be given into.  She was submissive, humble/selfless, and well prepared for every “good work” she would be called to.  However, the thing that is most impressive about Mary is her words of faith.  When she was visited by the angel Gabriel and after she heard the message he was sent to give her, she didn’t argue or make excuses or even object.  Instead, she said, “Look, I am here (in the world) to serve the LORD, let it be, (or give it to me) just like God said it.”  She recognized the message was from God, believed she was born/called for this mission, and received it immediately.  She didn’t say, “Let me pray and think about it.”  She didn’t consider the struggle or the inconvenience of her calling.  She didn’t even say, “I’ll have to talk to Joseph first.”  She believed God would handle all the details and would get her through every battle she would face.  This is what true faith is all about.

Let’s take a look at the steps Mary took when she received her calling/mission from God through the angel.  

1. She heard the word. 
2. She didn’t argue or make excuses, she gave no objections or refusal.  
3. She recognized the word/call was the reason she was given life on earth.
4. She received the word and didn’t consider the struggles or impossibilities that would have to be overcome.  
5. She rejoiced in that word and let it become a part of her.  
6. Then she watched as God fulfilled the word in her life.  
7. She didn’t try to make it happen, all she had to do was cling to that word, rejoice in the assignment and obey any instruction the Holy Spirit gave to move her in the direction of her calling/mission.

Maybe you are thinking, “That’s nice, but how is that relevant for me today?”  The answer to that question is:  Faith still works the same way today and so does God‘s calling.  Each one of us has been or will be called for a specific mission here in this life and if we follow the same steps and example that Mary gave, we will be empowered to complete that mission.  The process will look generally the same.  

1. “Hear” the word from God about where and what He is calling you to.  It will come from the Holy Spirit within you and be backed up by the written Word of God (scripture).  
2. Don’t argue or make excuses why you can’t or don’t want to do what God is putting on your heart to do.  
3. Recognize the call is the reason you were given life on the earth.  Receive the word and do not consider the impossibility of it.  
4. Rejoice in the word and calling that God has given you and let it become a part of you by meditating it and thanking God for it daily.  
5. Watch God fulfill that mission in your life through your obedience to the promptings of the Holy Spirit in the right timing.

Today I want to encourage you to consider your calling.  We all have one and we all were born into this world for a purpose.  If you are a young person just starting out into your adult life, ask God for the wisdom to discern the call and mission He has for you.  If you are older, consider if you have allowed/given God access to complete His plan in your life.  Ask Him to make the path plain and clear and sincerely desire to fulfill your purpose.  God will lead you in the perfect path to get you to your blessed place and fulfill in you all you were created to be.

Today’s scripture reading:  Luke 1:26-38

        Come and see

“And Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.”  John 1:46

Many of Jesus’ disciples were called personally by Jesus Himself, but some were brought to Him by the invitation of the other disciples.  Nathanael was invited to “come and see” by Philip and although he wasn’t listed among the twelve, he did come to know that Jesus was indeed the Son of God.

Philip looked for Nathanael one day to tell him that they had found the One they were waiting for.  To say Nathanael was skeptical would be an understatement.  You can hear in his response to Philip’s invitation the doubt and unbelief that was in his heart.  Philip was very wise in his answer to Nathanael’s lack of enthusiasm.  He didn’t try to convince him based on what Philip had experienced himself, he simply said, “come and check it out for yourself.”  It wasn’t long at all before Nathanael was 100% convinced of Philips’ claims.

This same approach can be used today when sharing your faith with others.  It can be intimidating to come right out and say, “Jesus is my Savior” or “I’m a Christian”.  Saying things like that can sometimes cause a person you are trying to lead to Jesus to shut down immediately.  Then they will not hear anything else you have to say after that.  However, if you have an approach like, “I know someone who has the answer to all your trouble” or “there is someone who can turn your struggles around.”  Then you may have the opportunity to get another sentence in about the things your Heavenly Father has done in your life.  When you get a resisting response, don’t take that as a rejection or not interested answer, simply invite them to “come and see for yourself.”  Give them the option to make that choice by giving them an invitation to come with you to church or a small group meeting or concert, then they can decide if He’s real or not.  Just like He did for Nathanael, He will show Himself to your invited friend in a way that will touch their heart and turn their life toward God.

Today as we approach Christmas, it is the greatest opportunity of the year to invite people to candlelight services, Christmas programs, and concerts.  Remind others why we celebrate the day and if the response is unbelieving, invite them to “come and see!”  Then leave it up to God to show up and introduce Himself to that person that has questions.  He will remove their doubts far from them.

Today’s scripture reading:  John 1:43-51

Hold it together

They are not connected to Christ, the head of the body. For He holds the whole body together with its joints and ligaments, and it grows as God nourishes it. Colossians 2:19

Hold it together!  Have you ever felt like it all depended on you to hold something together?  Maybe it was at your job, school or maybe your family?  Sometimes I feel like I am the one holding my life together and even holding together the things that God has called me to accomplish.  How absurd is that?  Do I really believe that I could actually contain, control and organize that plans of God’s heart?  Then why do I feel stressed sometimes when working on the things He has asked me to do?

Today’s scripture says “HE is the one that is holding the body of believers together.”  My part is just a small part of the whole body.  I’m certainly not doing it all, and the things I am doing, He is the one that is holding it all together, not me.  This is hard for me to grasp.  I feel like it’s always on me to do the working and organizing and whatever else there is to do.  In reality, it’s all on His grace to get those things done.  Here’s what I’ve learned and that is … I can’t do it all on my own and when I try, I get stressed.  That is how I know I am trying to do it in my own strength.  However, when I say “Father, please give me the grace to accomplish the thing you have put in my heart to do for Your Kingdom?”  He does, and He holds it all together and makes it beautiful in the process.  That’s when His nurturing enters in and grows not only the things I am working on, but that same nurturing grows in the hearts of others to receive what He is preparing for others to receive.

This passage says don’t let anyone condemn you for the things you do and certainly don’t condemn yourself.  Learn to use the feelings of stress, condemnation and anxiety as warning signs that you are striving and working in your own strength.  Instead, thank God for the things He has called you to and that He gives His grace to share with you to accomplish these things.  They will turn out much better with His hand holding them all together instead of your own.

Today I want to encourage you to let Him hold it all together for you.  He is the head of the entire body of believers, so what ever part He has given you to do, He will hold you in the place and fill you with His grace to accomplish it.  Your part is to listen, follow and receive His grace, not to stress and strive.

Today’s scripture reading: Colossians 2:16-19

It’s cancelled

He cancelled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. Colossians 2:14

Have you ever cancelled anything before?  Maybe an appointment or a meeting of some kind?  What happened?  Did you go there, sit through it and then say, “that’s it, I’m cancelling.”?  No, at the moment when the meeting was cancelled, it didn’t happen.  The only reminder you have of that meeting is in your thoughts.  You remember there was a meeting scheduled, but it was cancelled, so it never made it into reality.

That is what today’s verse says.  He cancelled my sin debt. He cancelled the entire record of charges against me.  That means, when He took my sin on the cross, He cancelled all my guilt, all my shame and all my punishment.  He wiped it out and threw it away with the cross.  It’s gone.  It has been cancelled like it never happened.  It’s true, it is just like when you cancelled that appointment.  It never happened.  Your appointment with sin never happened, because it was cancelled!

I know that it is hard to grasp because even though sometimes we still miss it, Jesus paid the price and that sin never makes it into reality.  It has been cancelled before it ever happened.  You can think of it this way, your appointment to pay the punishment, carry the guilt and bear the shame of your sin has been cancelled.  It will never happen.  Glory to God.  I am so thankful, I never have to carry the load of my sin because it was carried away with the cross!

Today I want to encourage you to get rid of any guilt and shame you may be carrying.  That load is not yours to bear. In Christ Jesus, that doesn’t exist.  You are carrying a burden that is not real in the kingdom of Heaven, it is an earthly burden and it doesn’t belong to you.  See yourself risen up with Him and unload that cross today.  The cross Jesus died on was thrown away 2000 years ago and your sin was destroyed with it.  If you have never received Jesus as your LORD and cancelled your sin, do that today by praying this pray of salvation.  Jesus will come into your life and save you.  He has cancelled your debt of sin as if it never existed.

God in heaven, I know I’m a sinner and I need a Savior.  I want to have my sin debt cancelled and turn to the life You have planned for me.  Please forgive me for my sins, cleanse me from my past, and make me new.  I know your Son, Jesus died for me.  I believe in my heart that You raised Him form the dead.  At this very moment, I accept, confess, and proclaim Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior . . . to be Lord of my life from this day forward.  I now have a right relationship with God my Father. I also ask for Your Holy Spirit to guide me and to empower me to do the things that You have planned for my life in Jesus name, Amen

Today’s scripture reading: Colossians 2:11-15

Hidden treasure

In Him (Christ Jesus) are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Colossians 2:3

Hidden treasures!  They are hidden for you, not from you.  Treasures are hidden for you to have and live your life by.  These are treasures that are beyond this world.  Priceless treasure that never run out.  They are the treasure of heaven.  You can have them right now.  They are waiting for you to find them and use them.  These great heavenly treasures that are available for you to draw from here in the life you are living in this world today.

It’s true! God has given us great treasure to help us navigate life.   These are the treasure of wisdom and knowledge.  Maybe you are thinking “I sure could use some wisdom in my life, but how do I find what is hidden?”  It does seem like it might be difficult to find because it is hidden, but it isn’t.  These great treasures are available to you as a child of God and as His child, you can reach out to Him and receive them at anytime.  These gifts of wisdom and knowledge will bring you to success in everything you come up against in life.  They will lead you to victory and always cause you to triumph in Christ Jesus.

So how do we get our hands on these wonderful gifts from God?  How do we access the heavenly treasury to bring them into the natural world.  James 1:5 tells us that if we are lacking wisdom, we should ask for it from God our heavenly Father.  This asking does require a humble heart.  You don’t have to go to God groveling and begging, but you do need to go with the attitude that “I don’t have the wisdom I need here, but I know You do, my Father.  I ask for it to be known to me, right now in this situation, in Jesus name.”  Proverbs 8 tells us that wisdom stands at the crossroads.  It is there when you are at a point of making a choice which road take.  Instead of rushing to make a decisions that looks good to you, pause and ask for wisdom to lead you down the right path.  Then follow the wisdom you are given, even if you are not sure where you will end up. The best part about following God’s wisdom is that it will always lead to His goodness.

Today I want to encourage you to access the treasure of heaven and get the wisdom and knowledge that your heavenly Father has stored up for you there.  He wants to give you His wisdom and He wants to give you His knowledge, but in the same way we receive anything from Him, we have to ask by faith, nothing wavering and believe we receive it (Mark 11:23).

Today’s scripture reading: Colossians 2:1-10

Your completeness

You are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.  Colossians 2:10

 Have you ever felt incomplete?  Like something was missing, but you just didn’t know what it was?  How about this:  Have you ever thought “if I could just have a million dollars, a new car or the latest devise, then I will achieve wholeness.”?  Maybe you have tried this through the course of your life time only to be dissatisfied and disappointed every time.

Today’s verse gives us some insight into this idea of completeness and wholeness.  It says we are complete in Christ Jesus. Not only that, but the previous verse says that in Him (Christ Jesus) lives the fullness of the God head.  So why wouldn’t we be complete in Him. When we are in Him, we are in the fullness of the God head.   The problem is that we can only recognize this completeness/wholeness as we renew our mind to it.  We have to feed on it.  Here’s the thing:  if you spend the majority of your time looking at and thinking about the million dollars, the new car and the latest devise, then that is where you believe your fulfilment will come from.  In contrast, if you take time to purposefully focus on, learn more about and press into your completeness in Him, that is where your complete satisfaction will come from.  It is not an automatic thing, just as living by faith is not automatic. 

The bottom line is there is nothing else in this entire world that can satisfy our desire for wholeness.  You are complete, but it is not in yourself and it is not in things.  It is only in the love and salvation of the one who died for your freedom and wholeness.

Today I want to encourage you to focus on, learn more about and press into the head of the body of believers.  Make a special effort to spend time with Him today.  Not only time reading His Word and praying, but also spend time listening to the love Words He speaks to your heart each day.  Ask Him to help you locate the place of fulfilment and satisfaction that only He gives. Then put aside distractions and desires that will never be enough to fill you up. 

Today’s scripture reading: Colossians 2:8-10

Walk in Him

As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.  Colossians 2:6-7

I love how God’s Word gives us simple formulas to live life God’s way.  Most passages that give us direction on what to do, follows with the process of how to do it.  Today’s passage is no different.  It says that in the same way that we received Jesus as our Lord, now we are to walk as He did in life.  Then the scripture goes on to tell us how to do it.  It says to be:

1. Rooted in Him
2. Built up in Him
3. Established in the faith
4. Abounding with thanksgiving

Let’s unpack these steps to make them a little more practical in our daily walk.  First, we are to be rooted in Him.  Being rooted is being so firmly attached that nothing can separate us from Him.  Ephesians 3:17 says that we are rooted and ground in love.  Our roots grow deep by having a personal revelation of the love of God for our lives. That revelation comes by reading, meditating the Word of God and spending time with Him on the daily basis.

Being built up is being encouraged.  Ideally, someone else comes along and cheers you on in life.  However, you cannot always depend on that happening.  You must learn how to trust the LORD to be your encourager.  The best way to do that is by reading the Word of God, spend time in worship or listening to messages.  Make a plan for when the low times come.  They are inevitable, so why not put an escape route in place now, then when you are feeling down, you can turn to the things that will lift you back up again.

To be established in the faith means that your feet are on solid ground.  You have been rooted, and now nothing can move you from your faith stand.  You know that faith grows by hearing the Word of God, (see Romans 10:17) so you stand on it continually as evidence that you are a child of God.

Lastly is my favorite!  Overflowing with thanksgiving.  A thankful heart changes things.  It changes your perspective, it changes your disposition and it changes your attitude.  Being thankful opens up the way for you to receive everything you need from your Heavenly Father.  An unthankful heart is like a closed door to the blessings of God.

Today I want to encourage you to walk in Christ Jesus the same way you received Him, by faith.  By faith, be rooted and firmly secure in Him.  By faith, be built up and encouraged in Him.  By faith, be established in Him and by faith, abound in thankfulness.  By following these simple steps consistently, you will solidify your life in the love of God and walk in Christ Jesus just as you received Him.

Today’s scripture reading: Colossians 2:4-7

Woven together

That their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, Colossians 2:2

Chapter 2 of Colossians begins with Paul expressing an internal conflict he is having.  He doesn’t think people are understanding the gospel message and what it means to be a Christ follower (Christian).  He gives them some simple steps to assess their faith walk.  He starts with telling them to encourage and love each other.  He says that when they love one another they will be knit together or in complete unity/agreement.

Paul’s words to encourage and love sound like a simple command to follow, but mostly it doesn’t come naturally.  Love is a choice that must be chosen continuously.  I like the wording used in this passage of being “knit” together in love.  It is like being woven together in the fabric of life to become a beautiful garment that is the work of the LORD.  One of the practices to come into agreement with others is by encouraging those around you.  Take time to notice and appreciate what people are doing for kingdom progress.  Send messages of thankfulness and applaud individuals for the work they are doing in God’s kingdom.  Appreciate the time and effort that goes into the things God has called us all to do.  Then let those around you know you noticed their work and labor of love.  Not because they need your approval or a sense of pride but only because it will tighten and strengthen the fabric of the “garment” with the love that you are sharing.

It is easy to get caught up in sitting back, observing and criticizing how others are doing kingdom work.  Wouldn’t it make more sense that instead of pointing out what others are doing wrong, that you step in and offer to help.  Maybe they are doing it wrong because they are not gifted in that area, but filling a place that is void of the person with the gift.  You are the missing part of the picture if you are not serving along with the rest of the body.

Today I want to encourage you to offer love and encouragement to those serving in the work of the LORD. Even if you think your words or opinion won’t make a difference, send a message of appreciation simply because you want to be an inspiring voice to others. If you find yourself continuously finding fault and noticing imperfection in the work, you are probably the missing ingredient of the recipe needed to move the project forward.  Raise you hand and volunteer to step into a supportive role today.  It will probably not start out as the lead, but begin with filling an empty slot, then as you learn and grow, it will not be long until you accomplish all that God has planned for you to do.  The bottom line is to be an encouragement and love others.  If that means serve along side them, than do that too.

Today’s scripture reading: Colossians 2:1-3