WORDDEVO: "The Weekly Word with Bob Coy" [12-2 thru 12-08] DEVOTIONALS

 

Seven Days of Devotion

  The Weekly Word is a Collection of Devotionals to be read on the Day Listed and presented freely as a service to and for the Body of Christ and Believers throughout the World that We may Hear God Speak to us as the Spirit of God gives us ears to hear and eyes to see what God would have for us daily in relationship to Him.

RELATABILITY

For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Hebrews 4:15 (NKJV)

"You just don't understand!" How many times have you said that? Who have you said it to? Your parents, your boss, your spouse, your kids, your customer service representative?

There's one person you can't say that to: God. None of us, regardless of how tested, tried or tempted we may be, can ever accuse God of not knowing or understanding where we're at. The Book of Hebrews tells us that God Himself, in the person of Jesus Christ, was exposed to the full range of human experiences, short of actually sinning.

Keep in mind that God didn't settle for reading a manual or attending a lecture on what it's like to be a human being. He didn't seek out any second-hand information. He actually became one! And by so doing, He's able to fully relate to us.

Think that one through. The One who is able to hold the entire universe in His hand, the One who spoke everything that is into existence, that same God is able to identify with everything you're going through at this very moment. You'll never hear Him say, "I'm sorry. I wish I could help you with that, but I just don't understand."

By coming to dwell in the rags of human flesh, God forever took the "you just don't understand" card away from us. He does understand, and He's able to give us the support and strength we need to overcome all things.

For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted. (Hebrews 2:18 NKJV)

What does this passage reveal to me about God?

What does this passage reveal to me about myself?

Based on this, what changes do I need to make?

What is my prayer for today?

 

MONDAY

JOYFULNESS

But the fruit of the Spirit is?joy? Galatians 5:22 (NKJV)

Contrary to many misconceptions, God isn't a grumpy old man. He's doesn't putter around Heaven murmuring under His breath about how much better things used to be. He's not cranky, cantankerous, or crabby. As matter of fact, take that irritable image in your mind, find it's polar opposite, and you'll understand God as He truly is...a God of joy.

Joy. It's more than mere happiness, which depends on external circumstances and events. You're happy when you get a promotion, when you win a free lunch, or when you receive a gift of some sort. You feel good-but take away the prize, the promotion, the free lunch, or the gift-and you're right back where you started.

That's not joy. Joy is independent gladness. It doesn't matter what's happening. Joy is glad no matter what. And when we look to Scripture, we find that God and joy are inseparably and intimately linked: 
For the LORD will again rejoice over you for good as He rejoiced over your fathers... (Deuteronomy 30:9 NKJV)

And as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you. (Isaiah 62:5 NKJV)
The LORD your God...He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing. (Zephaniah 3:17 NKJV)

You cannot get away from the fact that God is joyful, and those around Him can't help but be brought under the influence of His joy. The fruit of God's Spirit in a believer's life includes joy, and it's a good indicator of a person's proximity to God's presence. 

So if joy is lacking in your life, go to God. Set aside some time, and spend it in His presence. For when you do, it won't be long before you sense His Spirit speaking and singing His joy over you!

What does this passage reveal to me about God?

What does this passage reveal to me about myself? Based on this,

what changes do I need to make?

What is my prayer for today?

 

   

TUESDAY

Vulnerability

"But you? killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead." Acts 3:14-15 (NKJV)

The words "vulnerability" and "God" don't seem like they should go together. After all, as we've been looking at God's attributes, we've seen how He is all-knowing, all-powerful, and all-authoritative. That certainly prevents Him from being vulnerable, doesn't it?

It does unless He decides to make Himself vulnerable, which is exactly what He did. As unbelievable as it sounds, God opened up and made Himself vulnerable to His creation by willingly putting Himself in a position to be hurt by us both physically and emotionally.

We don't need to look any further than the cross to see this. It's there that God's vulnerability is most vivid. Not only did the Son submit to the physical torture of crucifixion, but think of how the Father's heart broke on behalf of His Son. That isn't a picture of a stoic or distant deity interacting at arm's length. That's God caring enough about His creation to be vulnerable.

And He continues to be vulnerable. In Ephesians 4:30 we're warned against grieving the Holy Spirit who lives inside of us. To grieve someone is to hurt them, and it's actually possible for us to hurt the Holy Spirit by living outside of His will for our lives. For when we do, we subject Him to our disobedience. Again, this is Almighty God putting Himself in a vulnerable position.

So what do we do with it? Do we live in blatant disregard to this amazing attribute of His? Or do we appreciate it to the point where it breaks our heart to knowingly hurt Him any more than we already have? God has made Himself vulnerable to us, so let's do Him the honor of surrendering to Him.

What does this passage reveal to me about God?

What does this passage reveal to me about myself?

Based on this, what changes do I need to make?

What is my prayer for today?

 

 

WEDNESDAY

HUMOR

Now about the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea, and would have passed them by. Mark 6:48 (NKJV)

Deep down, at one time or another, most of us have probably wondered if God has a sense of humor. At the end of the day, does God have the ability to laugh and be funny? The answer is yes, and we're given a glimpse of some heavenly humor here in Mark's gospel.

The backdrop: Jesus sent His disciples to row across the Sea of Galilee without Him. As night fell, every sailor's nightmare was realized: a storm. This storm was so violent that they had been rowing all night and had only managed to get halfway across the sea.

In a state of extreme exhaustion and stress, Jesus decides to drop in on them and ultimately rescue them. He walks towards them on the water, and this is where it gets very interesting. The sacred scriptures specifically tell us the Lord made like He was going to walk right past them!

Read between the lines here: Jesus, God Almighty in the flesh, is having some fun with the disciples. He pretended to not see them and pass them by, knowing all the while they were scared beyond belief for their lives. Matthew's gospel tells us that when they saw Him they began shrieking like teenage girls at a slumber party. "It's a ghost! It's a ghost!" (Mathew 14:26). And there's Jesus, nonchalantly walking around like it's no big deal!

There's something very comforting in this. It shows us a side of God we seldom associate with...His humor. But humor is an important part of who we are, and remember that God made us in His image. So it shouldn't surprise us that our sense of humor has a heavenly source.

What does this passage reveal to me about God?

What does this passage reveal to me about myself?

Based on this, what changes do I need to make?

What is my prayer for today?

 

 

THURSDAY

VERY BAD

"But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die." Genesis 2:17 (NKJV)

As we saw yesterday, in the beginning God had created something "very good." It was perfect and flawless and man enjoyed the ultimate existence. The Lord personally created a wife for him and placed him in a fruitful and flourishing garden, abounding in beauty and provision. It was all there for his enjoyment and pleasure.

There was just one thing that God wanted him to be mindful of. There was one tree that man and woman were supposed to steer clear of...the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. We all know what happened:

So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate. (Genesis 3:6 NKJV)

It was at this moment, at this instance of disobedience, that evil entered into the human experience. Innocence became infected with iniquity, and death began its dominance over mankind. God's promise that they would die came true as their hearts became corrupted and tainted with sin. What had started out as "very good" had now become very bad.

And it's here, under the shadow of sin, that the human race remains in darkness. Everything that's wrong with the world can be traced back to this single act of disobedience. Like opening a hatch on a submerged submarine, sin came in and consumed God's creation. And as we will see over the next several days, it's against the blackened backdrop of sin that the purpose and priority of the cross can best be seen.

Think about it…

What does this passage reveal to me about God?

What does this passage reveal to me about myself?

Based on this, what changes do I need to make?

What is my prayer for today?

 

FRIDAY

WE’VE GOT A PROBLEM

For the wages of sin is death? Romans 6:23 (NKJV)

At this point we need to step away from the Garden of Eden so we can take a closer look at this thing we call sin. The word sin literally means to miss the mark. It speaks of the great gap that exists between God's perfection and our imperfection. Everything that does not meet His perfectly righteous standard is sin. Our thoughts, our motives, our words, our actions...it all falls short of Him, and as such, is sin.

So, we're sinners...so what? The "so what" is this: Sin is something that must be punished. As much as God loves and cares for people, there's another side to His nature that demands justice, a side that holds people accountable for sin. Understand that God cannot just look the other way or sweep our sin under the rug. If He did, He wouldn't be God because His righteousness and justice would be compromised.

Most of us acknowledge that know we are sinners and that our sin needs to be punished. But the punishment that is required is a little hard to swallow: The Bible says the only adequate punishment for sin is death. What?! Is it really that big of a deal?

Although many of us are quite comfortable with sin, we need to see it from God's perspective. From His perfect vantage point, sin is so offensive, so destructive, so opposite of what's right-that it only has one fitting fate-death! And that, my friends, presents a problem: Every single one of us deserves to die because we're all sinners. Since the moment Adam sinned in the Garden up until this very day, every human being has been guilty of sin and has earned the punishment of God's judgment. Except One.

And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin. (1 John 3:5 NKJV)

Think about it…
What does this passage reveal to me about God?
What does this passage reveal to me about myself?
Based on this, what changes do I need to make?
What is my prayer for today?

 

SATURDAY

FIRST HINT

"He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel." Genesis 3:15 (NKJV)

Take note: It's in Genesis 3:6 where we see mankind's fall from the perfect existence God had created. Adam and Eve disobeyed the Lord when they disregarded His instructions, and as a result, sin infiltrated and infected humanity. But just nine verses later, in Genesis 3:15, we find the first hint of God's remedy for their failure. The Lord addresses the serpent (Satan) who had a hand in man's fall. He tells Satan that he'll face certain judgment for what he's done:

So the LORD God said to the serpent: "Because you have done this, you are cursed more than all cattle, and more than every beast of the field; On your belly you shall go, and you shall eat dust All the days of your life. And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed." (Genesis 3:14-15 NKJV)

Notice that God says Satan's judgment would consist of an ongoing conflict between his seed and the seed of the woman. What's that all about? When we pull back and consider the whole counsel of God's Word, it's clear the serpent's seed refers to Satan's demonic forces, and the seed of the woman is a reference to Jesus Christ.

This showdown would culminate with Christ bruising Satan's head, and with Satan bruising Christ's heel. It's important to see that the wound Jesus receives isn't fatal, yet the wound Satan receives is. Christ would be wounded, but He would emerge victorious.

You don't need to be a Bible scholar to understand that this is actually a foreshadowing of the cross. This is our first hint that God had a plan in place to undo what Satan had done to us and what we've done to ourselves.

Think about it…

What does this passage reveal to me about God?

What does this passage reveal to me about myself?

Based on this, what changes do I need to make?

What is my prayer for today?

THE WEEKLY WORD WITH BOB COY

Can be found here:

 

http://theweeklywordbobcoy.blogspot.com/

 

WORDDEVO: "The Weekly Word with Bob Coy" [11-25 thru 12-02] DEVOTIONALS

 

Seven Days of Devotion

  The Weekly Word is a Collection of Devotionals to be read on the Day Listed and presented freely as a service to and for the Body of Christ and Believers throughout the World that We may Hear God Speak to us as the Spirit of God gives us ears to hear and eyes to see what God would have for us daily in relationship to Him.

KNOWABILITY

"I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. John 10:14 (NKJV)

There's a big difference between "knowing of" someone and "knowing" someone. You know of the President and the latest A-list celebrities and athletes. But chances are, you don't really know any of these people. It's a one-sided and one-way relationship. You might invite them into your life, but they aren't allowing you into theirs...and they probably never will.

When it comes to the people you really know, it's the people in your life who are knowable-your spouse, your children, and your friends. It's those who allow and invite you into their lives. You experience a two-way relationship with these people. Now carry that idea over to God. He isn't just someone we can know of but someone we can actually know. He makes Himself open and accessible to us. He invites and allows us into a personal, two-way relationship with Him.

Think about it for a moment. The almighty Creator of the universe, the One who keeps the galaxies and constellations from colliding into each other, the One who keeps every single atom from flying apart, wants to be known-and wants to be known by us! And as if that weren't enough, He sent His own Beloved Son to suffer and die so that we could know Him (John 17:3).

There are two types of people: those who know of God and those who know God. May we be those who not only know Him for ourselves, but also who make Him known to others.

Thus says the LORD: "Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, let not the mighty man glory in his might, nor let the rich man glory in his riches...let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me.... (Jeremiah 9:23-24 NKJV)

What does this passage reveal to me about God?

What does this passage reveal to me about myself?

Based on this, what changes do I need to make?

What is my prayer for today?

MONDAY

Holiness

"Who is like You, O LORD, among the gods? Who is like You, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?" Exodus 15:11 (NKJV)

What comes to mind when you hear the word holiness? Is it a wild-eyed, crazy man screaming through a megaphone on a street corner? Is it a pompous person looking down his nose at you? Or is it a preacher calling down fire and brimstone in a fever-pitched voice?

Put those preconceived notions out of your mind, because they're counterfeit reflections of the holiness of God. The holiness of God has been described as "the antithesis of all moral blemish and defilement." In other words, it's the exact opposite of our fallen condition.

In God, there is no evil, no wickedness, no impurity, not even the slightest hint of the slightest deviation from absolute moral perfection. From eternity past, He has never had a random sinful thought nor has He ever done a single thing tainted by sin. Beyond that, God is so morally pure in nature that He can't even look at sin (Habakkuk 1:13). He is all we wish we were and know we never could be. He is holy.
But here's the real mind-blowing thought: His holiness is something He's called us to share in (Hebrews 12:10).

"How is that possible?" It's possible because it's His Spirit in us that's progressively purifying and cleansing us. It's true: We still sin by saying, thinking, and doing unholy things. But by the power of God's Spirit, we're on a trajectory towards holiness. We're on course to be completely set free and released from our sinful state (Philippians 3:21), and we're destined to dwell in His holiness for all eternity (Revelation 4:8).

But as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct.... (1 Peter 1:15 NKJV)

What does this passage reveal to me about God?

What does this passage reveal to me about myself?

Based on this, what changes do I need to make?

What is my prayer for today?

   

TUESDAY

MINDFULNESS

What is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him? Psalms 8:4 (NKJV)

Do you realize that God is mindful of you? Not just aware of you in a generic sense, but mindful of you in a more meaningful sense. What's the difference?

When David wrote the proceeding passage in Psalm 8, he used a very specific Hebrew word for mindful. It means to reflect upon or make record of something. It speaks of not only the ability to know things, but the willful desire to know and keep track of things. This amazing attribute of God was something that drew followers to Jesus during His earthly ministry. 

"Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father's will. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered." Matthew 10:29-30 (NKJV)

Don't miss the significance of this. God reflects upon you and everything that occurs within your life! You get a splinter in your finger; God knows about it. You accidentally bite your lip; God knows about it. You misplace your keys; God knows about it. He knows all these things, not because He's obligated to as God, but because He wants to as your Heavenly Father. 

You never escape God's attention. He's always reflecting on you and keeping record of even the minutest details of your life. So when the weight of this world starts to discourage and drag you down, be mindful of God's mindfulness toward you.

Your thoughts toward us cannot be recounted to You in order; If I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered. (Psalms 40:5 NKJV)

What does this passage reveal to me about God?

What does this passage reveal to me about myself?

Based on this, what changes do I need to make?

What is my prayer for today?

 

 

WEDNESDAY

PERFECTION

As for God, His way is perfect? 2 Samuel 22:31 (NKJV)

"Perfect!" Ever say that? Of course you have. Maybe it was after you took a picture. The lighting, the pose, the scenery...it all beautifully blended together in a snapshot of time. You clicked and caught it. You formatted and framed it. And now it sits on your desk or hangs on your wall, a small sliver of this thing we call "perfection."

But as you know, perfection is something we can never truly capture. Even the perfect picture is subject to being torn or damaged. One sprinkler head goes off, and the picture is no longer perfect. That's the fall-out of living in an imperfect world. As long as we're trapped in this fallen environment, true perfection will always be fleeting.

Now think about this: All that God is and all that God does is perfect. Meditate on that for a moment. This thing called perfection that we persistently pursue and never quite capture is found in God and what He does. He never is or does anything less. 

For a few years, the world was witness to this perfection in the life of Jesus. As He walked this earth, humanity had the opportunity to see the Perfect Man do perfect things and eventually offer Himself as the perfect sacrifice. Everything about Jesus reflected the perfection of God that we instinctively appreciate and strive for.

The only place we'll find true perfection is in God's presence. He alone will ensure we're progressively perfected until the day we finally see Him face to face.

When that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away...For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face (1 Corinthians 13:10-12 NKJV).

What does this passage reveal to me about God?

What does this passage reveal to me about myself?

Based on this, what changes do I need to make?

What is my prayer for today?

 

THURSDAY

MERCY

And while he lingered, the men took hold of his hand?the LORD being merciful to him, and they brought him out and set him outside the city. Genesis 19:16 (NKJV)

Context is key when it comes to understanding mercy. For example, in the passage above, which is the first time mercy is mentioned in the Bible, we need to understand the circumstances in order to understand the meaningfulness of the Lord's mercy.

The setting is Sodom, and God is about to bury it in judgment. But before He does, He warns Lot and his family to flee. As time is running out, Lot lingers. It's then that the Bible says the Lord mercifully has Lot taken by the hand and saves him from destruction. That's such an apropos portrait of mercy, because mercy is the act of sparing and saving us from judgment and destruction. 

That's how God is. He's merciful. He doesn't stand back with folded arms as people face imminent judgment, and He doesn't delight in their destruction but desires to preserve and rescue them from it (Ezekiel 18:23, John 3:17).

God's mercy means He meets us in our proverbial Sodom, takes us by the hand, and mercifully leads us out of our destructive situations. Unfortunately, that's such a far cry from the image many people have of God. They picture Him impatiently poised and ready to incinerate us at the first opportunity.

That's not mercy, and that's not the God of Scripture, whose mercy endures forever (Psalm 136). May we not only receive God's merciful nature for ourselves but also reflect it for those who don't know it. 
Who is a God like You, pardoning iniquity and passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in mercy. (Micah 7:18 NKJV)

What does this passage reveal to me about God?

What does this passage reveal to me about myself?

Based on this, what changes do I need to make?

What is my prayer for today?

 

 

 

FRIDAY

GRACE

For You are God, gracious and merciful. Nehemiah 9:31 (NKJV)

Yesterday we saw that God is merciful, and today we want to focus on the fact that He is also gracious. What's the difference? Aren't mercy and grace the same thing? While the two attributes are similar, they do have a significant difference.

Mercy, as we saw, is the act of sparing and saving from judgment and condemnation. In relation to God, it speaks of Him rescuing us from the punishment we deserve for our sin. Put another way, mercy is a matter of not giving us what we deserve. Grace, on the other hand, goes above and beyond mercy by giving us what we don't deserve. Some have aptly defined grace as "God's unmerited favor towards the infinitely undeserving."

It's merciful of God to save us from eternal condemnation and death, but it's gracious of God to then adopt us as His own, to make us inheritors of eternal life, and to give us every spiritual blessing in heaven (Ephesians 1:3). Mercy removes the burden, grace adds the blessing.

That's how God operates in our lives, because it's His nature to be gracious. He isn't satisfied with simply not giving us what we deserve, but He delights in taking it a step further by giving us what we don't deserve. A life that's surrendered to God represents an abundance of riches...it's overloaded with evidences of His graciousness. 

So if God is gracious and pours out His grace in our lives, what's next? The next step is for us to follow His example by allowing His Spirit to work through us in a way that enables us to be gracious to others. For then, and only then, do we become good stewards of God's grace.

As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. (1 Peter 4:10 NKJV)

What does this passage reveal to me about God?

What does this passage reveal to me about myself?

Based on this, what changes do I need to make?

What is my prayer for today?

 

SATURDAY

If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself. 2 Timothy 2:13 (NKJV)

At the end of a long and tested life of spiritual service, after countless brushes with death, Paul was able to point to God and say, "He remains faithful." Why? Because faithfulness is God's nature, and not even He can deny that about Himself!

Let's make an important distinction here. God doesn't just do faithful things, He doesn't just act faithfully. No, it's much deeper than that. It's who He is. We could even go so far as to say that God can't not be faithful.

It's always a challenge for us to fully receive this wonderful truth, because we tend to view God through the lens of the humans around us. We see hints of His attributes here and there in our earth-bound relationships: the kindly neighbor, the parent who's there for us, and the pastor who help us through life's trials. But no matter how well-intentioned or sincere someone might be, they're bound to fail because they're fallen.

Not God. He's completely different. God is never going to fail us the way others have because He's never fallen as they have. From the very first moments in the Garden of Eden to the End of the Age...one thing that's never in question is the faithfulness of God. It's more reliable than the Law of Gravity.

Remember that the next time your faith in God's faithfulness is challenged. Remember that His faithfulness is a fixed part of His very nature. Remember that He can't not be faithful to you. And remember that His faithfulness remains regardless of how faithless you may be.

"Blessed be the LORD...there has not failed one word of all His good promise... (1 Kings 8:56 NKJV)

What does this passage reveal to me about God?

What does this passage reveal to me about myself?

Based on this, what changes do I need to make?

What is my prayer for today?

THE WEEKLY WORD WITH BOB COY

Can be found here:

 

http://theweeklywordbobcoy.blogspot.com/

 

WORDDEVO: "The Weekly Word with Bob Coy" [11-11 thru 11-17] DEVOTIONALS

 

Seven Days of Devotion

  The Weekly Word is a Collection of Devotionals to be read on the Day Listed and presented freely as a service to and for the Body of Christ and Believers throughout the World that We may Hear God Speak to us as the Spirit of God gives us ears to hear and eyes to see what God would have for us daily in relationship to Him.

SATISFACTION GUARANTEED

Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thessalonians 5:23 (NKJV)

Did you know that you're a three-part person? I say this because the Bible tells us that each person has a spirit, soul, and body. Each part has its own set of appetites. Our bodies have physical appetites, which include hunger and thirst. Our souls have emotional appetites, such as acceptance and appreciation. And our spirits? They too possess an appetite that cries out for fulfillment. 

Most people are adept at taking care of their physical and emotional appetites. Restaurants cater to any craving, and many television programs and books are designed to help us find good emotional health. Yet, despite all this, our society still screams out for a sense of satisfaction. What's wrong? 

The problem lies in the fact that we often ignore our spiritual appetite. Our hearts are hungry for something that all the food and self-help in this world can never affect. We long for something that only heaven can give to us. Jesus identified Himself as the source of this spiritual satisfaction: 

"Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you . . . ." (John 6:27 NKJV)

A life apart from Christ will always be empty and unfulfilled. Only when Jesus is brought into the picture is the spiritual appetite truly satisfied. If your spirit has been satisfied by Jesus, rejoice and give Him thanks. But if it hasn't, do the sensible thing by placing your faith in Him and asking Him into your heart. When you do, He guarantees to fulfill you as only He can. 

And Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst." (John 6:35 NKJV)

Discuss why you think so many people are unsatisfied with their lives. Dig into John 3:1–21. How would you explain to a friend how to satisfy one’s spirit? Decide to share the resource for meeting spiritual hunger with someone this week.

Whether it’s with a family member, a Facebook friend, or a neighbor, don’t keep the good news of Jesus to yourself!

 

MONDAY

ABIDING ISN?T AUTOMATIC

LORD, who may abide in Your tabernacle? Who may dwell in Your holy hill? -Psalm 15:1 (NKJV)

The modern English language has strayed away from using the word abide. The word is considered old-fashioned, and that's a shame because it's one of the most important and insightful words in all the Scriptures.

The word abide literally means "to settle down and dwell comfortably along with." Harmony, unity, communion, and peace are all assumed under the umbrella of abiding with someone. In Psalm Chapter 15, David asks, "Lord, who may abide in Your tabernacle?" Another way of saying that would be: "What kind of person can rest easy and be at home in Your presence?"

We'd all like to be in sync and in step with God's heart. But it's important to understand that it isn't automatic. There are certain conditions that need to be met on our part in order to arrive at this place of abiding. David enumerates them as he continues the Psalm; a person who walks righteously (v.2), speaks truthfully (v.2), doesn't gossip (v.3), is a faithful neighbor and friend (v.3), despises evil (v.4), honors God (v.4), keeps his or her word (v.4), and isn't greedy for personal gain (v.5).

Don't misunderstand. David isn't declaring that we can become right with God by virtue of our good works. But he does describe the kind of heart a person has when he or she is at peace with God-a person who is able to abide with God. This should cause us to hold up a mirror and examine whether or not these conditions are being kept in our own lives.

Abiding isn't automatic, but it is attainable. May the Lord help us to be completely honest with ourselves and fill us with His Spirit so that we can meet the conditions needed in order to abide.

What does this passage reveal to me about God?

What does this passage reveal to me about myself?

Based on this, what changes do I need to make?

What is my prayer for today? 

 

   

TUESDAY

 

Off Limits?

Therefore I will give thanks to You, O LORD, among the Gentiles, and sing praises to Your name. -Psalm 18:49 (NKJV)

"I will give thanks to you, O LORD, among the Gentiles." That was a very strange thing for David to write here in Psalm Chapter 18. Why? Because Gentiles, who were non-Jews, were typically regarded by the Israelites as being beyond the promises or even the reach of God. In fact, the term Gentile had become synonymous with "heathen" or "pagan." It just wasn't a word you would associate with the sacred name of God.

So when David declares that he would praise God among the Gentiles, it must have perked up a few ears and raised a few eyebrows. The Gentiles? Why is David dragging them into our special and sacred relationship with God? Why is he mixing the two when they have nothing to do with us?

To be fair, it was understandable why the Israelites viewed their bond with God as something that primarily separated them from everyone else. It had kept them relatively safe and secure from the evil influences of the nations surrounding them. But David reaches a point of praise where he declares that God's goodness is so great that it transcends these divisions. For David, nobody was off limits from hearing about the grace and glory of his God, not even the Gentiles.

Is that our heart, as well? Or do we have a list of those who we consider to be "off limits" when it comes to sharing the goodness of our God? Are there people we instinctively write off as lost causes? The gospel is such Good News that it deserves and needs to be shared with absolutely everyone, even the modern-day Gentiles in our lives.

What does this passage reveal to me about God?

What does this passage reveal to me about myself?

Based on this, what changes do I need to make?

What is my prayer for today? 

 

 

WEDNESDAY

THE CAPSTONE OF CREATION

The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul? -Psalm 19:7 (NKJV)

Psalm 19 is one of the most interesting Psalms in the Bible. It begins by describing the grandeur and glory of God's creation in the first six verses. Our eyes are drawn toward the handiwork of the heavens, the splendor of the sun, toward things above and beyond our ability to fathom.

And then, without warning, the Psalm switches gears and goes into a discourse on, of all things, the law of the Lord. Doesn't that seem somewhat anti-climactic? We begin with the beauty and majesty of creation and then we end with...the law?

Far from being anti-climactic, there's a powerful point being made here. For as awesome as the stars in the sky are, and as glorious as the galaxies are, they all pale in comparison to the law of the Lord, because the law of the Lord possesses the power to do what nothing else in the entire universe can. It can convert the soul.

The natural created order gets our attention. It opens our eyes. But it's the law, or the Word of God, that informs and transforms our hearts. It alone goes down deep into our heart and spirit, where our deepest difficulties reside, where we aren't even able to discern what's wrong with us...it's here that the law of the Lord, the capstone of creation, goes to work in us in a way that saves us:

For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12 NKJV)

 

What does this passage reveal to me about God?

What does this passage reveal to me about myself?

Based on this, what changes do I need to make?

What is my prayer for today? 

 

THURSDAY

PRAYPARE FOR TROUBLE

May the LORD answer you in the day of trouble? -Psalm 20:1 (NKJV)

Unlike other religions, Christianity never shies away from the reality of trouble and trials in the world around us. It doesn't pretend they don't exist and are mere mirages of our imagination. In fact, it actually levels with us by drawing our attention to the existence of trials and deals with them head on.

We see an excellent example of this in the opening words of Psalm Chapter 20, where David writes, "May the LORD answer you in the day of trouble." Notice that he clearly states there's trouble in this life, that there's a day of trouble, and that encountering it is inevitable. As much as we don't want to hear it, the fact is that trouble is coming-no matter how we position or posture to avoid it.

It's important to recognize this because trouble, when seen in all of its inevitability, becomes a catalyst for our prayer life. If we don't appreciate our need for God's help, then we're less likely to ask for it. But when we're thoroughly convinced there's a day of trouble coming, our hearts find the necessary motivation to prepare for it by grabbing hold of God's presence in prayer.

And when we turn to prayer in preparation for our troubles, there's no surer way to fortify and safeguard ourselves than through this mighty provision God has graced us with. Trouble is there, trouble is real, but equally so is prayer and the promise that the Lord will answer us.

What does this passage reveal to me about God?

What does this passage reveal to me about myself?

Based on this, what changes do I need to make?

What is my prayer for today? 

 

 

FRIDAY

CONNECTED TO THE CROSS

My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? -Psalm 22:1 (NKJV)

The words of Psalm 22 are significant for a couple of reasons. First, they describe David's heartache at this particular point in his life. Secondly, and more significantly, they prophetically point to Christ's suffering on the cross.

We know this, not only because the Psalm gives a graphic account of the then-unknown practice of crucifixion, but also because Jesus directly quoted from this Psalm as He hung on the cross:

And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying..."My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" (Matthew 27:46 NKJV)

Even as He endured the shame and pain of the cross, Jesus, the consummate teacher, was instructing the people who were watching Him die. He was pointing them to Psalm 22 so as to say, "See, what I'm doing right here and right now is the fulfillment of David's Psalm!"

There's an unbreakable connection between Psalm 22 and the Cross. But in all actuality, the same can be said of every page and passage in God's Word. One way or another, every bit of the Bible relates to the Cross. No matter where you happen to be, it anticipates and looks forward to the Cross, or it commemorates and looks back at it. The Cross is the central theme and event in the Bible.

Psalm 22 is a powerful reminder of this as it transports us to Calvary. It connects our hearts to the saving scene that determined our destiny. That's a connection we would do well to keep and maintain.

What does this passage reveal to me about God?

What does this passage reveal to me about myself?

Based on this, what changes do I need to make?

What is my prayer for today? 

 

SATURDAY

A NEW APPETITE

LORD, I have loved the habitation of Your house, and the place where Your glory dwells. -Psalm 26:8 (NKJV)

Something special happens inside a heart once it opens up to God. It develops a new appetite and begins to hunger and thirst for something that it never had before. That thing is God's glory, and David expresses this truth here in the eighth verse of Psalm 26.

He writes how he has loved being in the place where the Lord's glory dwells. At the time this was written, God's glory was manifested in a sacred tent called the Tabernacle. It was there that God would visibly reveal His glorious presence to His people, and it served as the center of the Israelite's society. Eventually, the Tabernacle was replaced by the Temple, which was built in the city of Jerusalem. Every Israelite's heart was drawn to this one spot, because it was the home of God's glory.

But in New Testament times, things changed. God's glory was removed from the Temple and poured out upon the corporate body of the Church through the Holy Spirit. So in our day and age, the place where God's glory dwells is in the midst of the Church.

It's becoming more and more common, even among Christians, to question the place and purpose for the church. Past faults and flawed personalities are often cited as reasons why some are trying to do the Christian life outside the church. Granted, no church on earth will ever be perfect. But at the same time, the collective body of believers is where God has chosen to pour out His glory, and if God has indeed done a work within us, then we'll love it and be drawn to it.

What does this passage reveal to me about God?

What does this passage reveal to me about myself?

Based on this, what changes do I need to make?

What is my prayer for today? 

 

THE WEEKLY WORD WITH BOB COY

Can be found here:

 

http://theweeklywordbobcoy.blogspot.com/

 

<<<<CORRECTION>>>>WORDDEVO: "The Weekly Word with Bob Coy" [11-4 thru 11-10]

 

Seven Days of Devotion

 

  Bound to Serve

 

 

And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other's feet. -John 13:14 (NLT)

Bound to Serve

Most of us know the story. On the eve of His arrest and execution, Jesus gave His disciples some final instructions. Throughout His ministry, He always seemed to come up with the perfect illustration to drive His lessons home in people's hearts. This time, His lesson was on servanthood, and He and His disciples would serve as the illustrations.

Jesus did the unthinkable. He stripped down to a towel, grabbed a basin of water, and began to wash His disciple's feet. Talk about an awkward situation! Here was the personification of purity and perfection, the holy Judge of all that ever was and all that ever will be, the great I AM, touching the filthiest part of their bodies.

Then He dropped another bombshell on them. They were to "wash each other's feet."

Clearly, Jesus was speaking in a much broader sense here. He was telling them that His willingness to wash their feet was to translate into a spirit of service toward each other. "Wash each other's feet" really means "Meet each other's needs."

God always knows what He wants, and He always knows how to achieve what He wants. He wants His people to experience community with each other, and He knows that serving achieves this objective. Here's how it works: There's someone in the family of faith who has a need. And as a brother or sister raises their hand and says, "I'll help you with that," it creates a unique bond that time and tragedy can't break.

Look around. Who needs help? Their need is your opportunity. And as you meet their need by serving them, you'll find yourselves bound together the way believers should be.

 

 

MONDAY

 

This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. -John 15:12 (NLT)

Let's Love

Love is the root system that anchors and enables us to fulfill Christ's desire that we, His followers and representatives in this world, be unified. Without it, we don't stand the slightest chance of standing with one other, much less being one with one another. So our unity starts right here with these three words: Love each other.

This comes as a tall order for us. "Nobody ever showed me love growing up; I'm not sure I even know what love looks like. I have a hard time loving my own family. How am I supposed to love someone I barely know?" At first glance, this command seems practically impossible.

But Jesus commanded it, and He never tells us to do something unless it is possible. What makes it possible is embedded in the very word He uses for love. It's the Greek word agape, and it doesn't refer to the conditional "scratch-my-back-and-I'll-scratch-yours" type of love that this world is so used to. It's the unconditional, other-worldly sort of love that flows from God's presence. It isn't something that we find within ourselves; it comes from an outside source. It's poured into us by the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5).

A story is told about a Christian who had grown very frustrated because he couldn't stand the small group of people he kept running into at church. In a moment of total transparency, he cried out, "God, I just can't love these people!" God responded with a question of His own, "Are you trying to love them with your own love or with mine?"

Loving each other is the key to us being "one with one another." And the key to loving each other is to experience and extend God's love, not our own.

 

 

 

TUESDAY

 

 

"I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message." -John 17:20 (NLT)

One with One Another

Did you know that you're specifically mentioned in the Bible? It's right here as Jesus prays for every person who would ever believe in the message proclaimed by His first followers. That message was the Gospel, the good news that God has covered man's sins because of Jesus' death on the cross. If you're someone who believes this, then you're just as much in this verse as anyone.

But let's take it a step further. Let's see what Jesus had to say about you:

"I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one-as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. John 17:21 (NLT)

When Jesus prayed for you, and everyone else who would believe the gospel, Jesus prayed that we would all be one. Stop and consider this. Christ could have prayed for any number of things, but He put unity at the top of His list.

Not only that, He also adds that this "oneness" is to reflect the harmonious unity that exists between Him and His Father. A lifetime can be spent probing how profound this is. But for our purposes, let's shrink it down to one simple take-away truth that we can all agree on: It's important for us to be "one with one another."

We'll spend the rest of this month unpacking what this looks like. But as we begin, we need to agree on the importance of our endeavor. If the Son of God made it a priority to pray for our unity, then we're wise in making it our priority as well. Not just in our prayers, but also in our practice.

 

 

WEDNESDAY

 

 

Therefore He is also able ...Hebrews 7:25 (NKJV)

HE IS ABLE

It's been said that the most effective lessons are the ones that can be succinctly summarized. So how would you summarize what we've learned over the course of this month? Could you get it down to one paragraph, or maybe even a sentence. Could you boil it all down to three words?

So Abraham and Sarah gave birth to a son after a lifetime of barrenness, so Moses parted the Red Sea, so the Israelite's sandals didn't wear out in the wilderness, so water was turned to wine, so people were cured of every kind of disease and even death, so the multitudes were fed, so Satan was sent into a herd of swine, so Jesus walked on water . . . but so what? What difference does it make as we make our way through the maze that is our life?

It all comes down to these three words: He is able. If we learn nothing else from our course on miracles, may we know that we belong to a God who is able. When the storms of life suck the courage out of us, He is able. When treasured trusts are trashed, He is able. When we're blindsided by the call that comes from the doctor's office, He is able.

When "that sin" seems more insurmountable than Mt. Everest, He is able. When anything that's hatched in the imagination of the Devil happens, He is able. When all of the above and more happens, He is able.

How do we know? Because He's proven His power. And because He has, we know that He can and will pour out His power upon our lives. Don't let this day pass without asking the Spirit to stitch these words to your soul: He is able.

"For with God nothing will be impossible." Luke 1:37 (NKJV)

 

 

THURSDAY

 

 

Peter said, ". . . Get up and walk!" . . . the man's feet and anklebones were healed and strengthened. -Acts 3:6-7 (NLT)

THE MIRACLE OF US

There are two miracles contained in this passage. The first and most obvious miracle is the healing of the man who had been born lame. The second, and perhaps more impressive miracles, is that Peter was the one who performed it.

Sound harsh? Remember, this is the same man who was personally rebuked by God from Heaven (Matthew 17:5), the man whose motives were identified by Jesus as being satanic (Matthew 16:23), the man who gave his word that he would never leave Christ's side-and then swore he never knew Him-three times in a row (Matthew 26:70-74)!

Yet, for all his flaws, Peter possessed the trait that mattered most: He loved Jesus. That was enough for the Lord to work with, and He did. So much so, in fact, that Peter was the instrument He used to convert thousands to Christ in the first few days of the early Church's existence (Acts 2:41, 4:4). Hotheaded, reckless Peter became the immovable leader the early Church needed. It was a miracle.

Isn't it a miracle that the Lord is able to use any of us? Back-biter, drug addict, alcoholic, prostitute, kleptomaniac, shopoholic, home wrecker, gossiper, hypocrite . . . these are the labels that once defined us. We were identified, driven, and ruled by our faults. But buried deep down, deeper than anyone could see, there was something in us that resembled the kind of love Peter had.

It wasn't much, but it was enough for Jesus to work with, and He did. So much so, in fact, that He's made it possible for us to be Heaven's ambassadors here on earth. Now that's a miracle!

 

 

FRIDAY

 

Jesus answered and said to them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." John 2:19 (NKJV)

THE ALPHA MALE OF MIRACLES

Without question, it's the "alpha male" of all miracles-the crowning act of Christ's career on earth. Above every other miraculous act, this is the one that matters the most. If we understood every other miracle backwards and forwards, yet misunderstood this one, we would miss everything.

It's one of only two miracles recorded in all four accounts of Jesus' life (the other one being the feeding of the 5,000). It's also the most anticipated and predicted miracle. Jesus constantly pointed to it, as He does in the verse above. It's the miracle of the resurrection.

Someone once stated that "Christianity does not explain the resurrection, but the resurrection explains Christianity." That's true because Christianity would be non-existent without the resurrection. We would have a deceased Savior, a slew of unfulfilled predictions, and a group of disciples who were so paranoid about their own safety that they hid behind locked doors. That's not a winning combination.

The resurrection means everything to those who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ. It proves to us that the One we follow is more powerful than the most powerful force known to man: death. Nobody is able to overcome the power death has over humanity-except Jesus. And all who have taken refuge in Him will share not only in His miraculous resurrection power, but also in His miraculous victory.

"O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?". . . thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:55-57 (NKJV)

"I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death. Revelation 1:18 (NKJV)

 

 

SATURDAY

 

Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. John 18:10 (NKJV)

MISTAKE-FREE

Mistakes were nothing new for Peter, but this one has to rank among the very worst of his apostolic career. Jesus is about to be arrested by a detachment of Roman soldiers (which could have been as many as 200 men) and several other religious officers. In the heat of the moment, Peter decides to defend Jesus (as if He wasn't able to defend Himself), draws his sword, and slices off the ear of the high priest's servant.

That was a mistake. Peter basically signed his own death certificate because he wasn't just trying to take off an ear, he was trying to kill a man. And that was an offense that Christ's captors would have surely punished to the fullest extent of the law. One can only imagine what Peter was pondering at this point, but it probably was something like, What was I thinking?!

If the story ended here, there probably would have been four crosses at Calvary the next day instead of just three. However, the story doesn't end there as the book of Luke records an interesting detail for us:

But Jesus . . . touched his ear and healed him. Luke 22:51 (NKJV)

Catch the scene: Jesus picked up the severed ear that Peter was responsible for and miraculously attached it to its rightful, and no doubt bewildered, owner. Peter's mistake had been miraculously erased.

All of us make mistakes. We're not that different from Peter. We lash out in ways that leave us wondering, What was I thinking?! Fortunately, Jesus is greater than our mistakes, and He has the miraculous ability to undo them according to His will.

 

 

THE WEEKLY WORD WITH BOB COY

Can be found here:

 

http://theweeklywordbobcoy.blogspot.com/