Getting the Word Below the Surface

Luke 9:44 Let these sayings sink down into your ears: for the Son of man shall be delivered into the hands of men.

"sink down" - That's an interesting description used by Jesus, especially since He is referring to spoken words and not something tangible like a submarine submerging beneath the surface of the water.

How many times have we been accused of not listening? Perhaps we heard what was being said, but we didn't really understand what was being communicated. Maybe we were only "half-way" listening. It could have been that we simply forgot what we were told.

Ever heard a parent tell a child, "you need to get it through your thick head..."?

When the Lord speaks to us, somehow, we must be able to get His words beneath the surface of our lives. We have a tendency to retain so little of what we hear through the course of a day. But, if we are privileged to hear from God, we want to be able to keep it.

Paul said, "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom;" (Colossians 3:16). Said another way, "Let His words go deep and not remain on the surface."

Moses wrote that His words should be laid up in our heart and soul (Deuteronomy 11:18-20).

The Psalmist wrote about the Word being hid in his heart (Psalm 119:11).

The prophet mentions that when he found the Word, he ate it (Jeremiah 15:16).

Jesus said His words should abide in us (John 15:7).

May the Lord help us today to not only HEAR His words, but RETAIN His words.

Numbers 14

Numbers 14:4 (ESV) - "And they said to one another, 'Let us choose a leader and go back to Egypt.'"

It is notable the things that were being said by those who lacked faith in God and possessed a rebellious spirit toward the man of God.

First, they desired a different leader. God had chosen Moses. He put Moses in their lives to lead them out of their slavery. Yet, consistently, we find a people that lacked a loyalty toward Moses and faith in God.

It is telling of individuals that regularly criticize godly leadership. Many times people begin looking for different leadership when their faith in God is lacking. Often times, they need someone or something to blame. The natural thing to do is condemn the leader instead of looking in the mirror.

Second, they desired to return to Egypt. Of all the places to want to go, they wanted to go back the land of their bondage. Again, when there is a lack of faith in God, people want to go back to their "comfort zone." When there is a fear, people turn back.

When God brings a person out of the world, it is important they maintain their confidence in God to see them through. There is a temptation in most to return to the beggarly elements of the world at the first sign of discomfort.

Have faith in God.

Resist the temptation to question everything about the man of God in your life.

Refuse the pull to return to the pit from which you were delivered.

The Fear of the Lord

The Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, so writes the wise man of Proverbs. A healthy fear of God is Scriptural. A "fear" of God is best described as a reverence. God is to be revered for who He is. Many times a person's level of understanding of God will determine their level of respect and awe of God.

Notice the word of the Lord as He comments on their fear.

Isaiah 29:13 ESV

And the Lord said:
“Because this people draw near with their mouth
and honor me with their lips,
while their hearts are far from me,
and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men,

Their fear did not come as a result of a respect for God, rather their "fear of me is a commandment taught by men."

Some have come to the place that their respect, reverence, and awe of God is based on a man-made commandment and not out of humility before Him.

Man may have the ability to persuade others to fear God based on a man-made commandment. This seems to produces hypocrisy and empty Christianity.

But a genuine and true fear of the Lord is born out of revelation of the greatness of God.

David wrote in Psalms 8 - "O LORD, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth... what is man that thou art mindful of him."

David's fear came not from man's word, but from a healthy reverence for the King of glory.

Fear God for who He is and not based on the commandment of men!

The Enemy is Defeated

Isaiah 14 gives a good summary of the destiny of our enemy.

v. 12 - "you are fallen...you are cut down"

v. 15 "you are brought down"

v. 19 - "you are cast out"

It is encouraging to know that our enemy is defeated.

Thanks be to God who always causes us to triumph in Christ! - 2 Corinthians 2:14

3 Steps Every Father Should Take

Genesis 28:1a "Then Isaac called Jacob and blessed him and directed him"

There is a simple lesson in this verse for fathers who would like to be better leaders to their children.

First, our children must be "called" by us. That is, they must hear their name come from the lips of their dad. A son should know that his dad has confidence in him and not simply ignoring his potential.

Second, we see that Isaac "blessed" his son. Do we bless our sons or berate them? Instead of becoming our child's best critic, we should become the one that imparts everything godly to them. When we bless our sons, we are giving them the tools they need to succeed.

Finally, it is the duty and obligation of every father to give "direction" to their son. Proverbs 22:6 instructs parents to train up a child in the way he should go and the Apostle Paul 6 says to raise them in the admonition of the Lord (Ephesians 6:4) . There is a path that seems right to every man, but like the Ethiopian in the book of Acts children need "some man should guide me" (Acts 8:31).

Dads should rise to the position of leading their homes by "calling", "blessing", and "directing."

Take Up Thy Bed

Luke 5:25 - "And immediately he rose up before them and picked up what he had been lying on and went home, glorifying God." (ESV)

The preceding verse is taken from the story of the paralytic that Jesus healed after he was lowered into a room through a hole in the roof by some of his companions. Jesus was initially challenged when he told the man that his sins had been forgiven, but afterward, healed him also.

It is noteworthy that Jesus told the man to pick up his bed (v.24). Interestingly enough, Jesus healed the man, but then instructed him to take up the couch that he had been lying. The bed was the place that he had been confined to for years. His bed, in a sense, had power over him because he was unable to get away from it. His bed represented who he was.

When Jesus told him to pick up his bed, verse 25 tells us "immediately he rose...and picked up what he had been lying."

The very place that he had been confined to was the thing that he took control over. He was not only forgiven and physically healed, he now held in his hands everything that represented who he was for so many years. He was at a place that he now had victory over it.

When Jesus Christ changes our lives, He gives us the power and victory over our past! Our past might be filled with excuses and reasons of why it didn't happen, or why it could never happen. It might be circumstances that have dictated us for many years.

At some place in time, we must take control over the thing that has held us prisoner for so many years. Low self esteem, addictions, vices, broken relationships, abuses are all things that seem to plague many people. But when Jesus Christ gives the command to RISE and TAKE UP THY BED - that is the time to get up and take control and claim victory over the your "bed."