Busy Bee!

Luke 10:38-42

If Jesus came to visit you for a day, what questions would you ask Him (if any)? Would you spend most of your time making His stay pleasant and comfortable, or would you focus all your attention on hearing everything He has to say? This was the situation that took place in Bethany, when Jesus visited His friends Martha and Mary.

The sisters were fond of Jesus, and He in turn thought it necessary to visit them. Martha received Jesus into their home, then made preparations to accommodate His stay, whereas Mary kept her eyes and ears focused on Jesus alone. At some point during the day, Martha had become aggravated at the fact that while she seemed to be doing all the serving, Mary’s lack of help was bothersome. So, Martha approached Jesus and asked, “Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? Bid her therefore that she help me.” While serving Jesus wasn’t bad at all, hearing what He had to say was more important, in that moment. Jesus was only visiting for a brief time, and it was better to first hear Him speak, then go from there. Not everyone was privileged to be in the presence of Jesus, and Mary knew to take advantage of the opportunity.

Oftentimes we find ourselves being too busy to take time out for God. Many of us work our fingers to the bone, or occupy our time with things that can be delayed, in order to spend a little time in the Word. While Martha did well in serving the Lord, she failed to realize, He came to render service to her household. Never allow yourself to become too busy until God is placed last on your to-do list. Do as Mary did and choose the good part (The Word of God), which is something that can never be taken away from you, then all else will fall into place.

Secret Service

Matthew 2:7-15

Did you know, satan hates you? He literally despises the fact that you even exist. Were you also aware of the fact that every day, evil entities try extremely hard to turn your focus and attention away from God? If the Lord revealed to you all the dangers He daily protects you from, I can guarantee with 100 percent certainty, it would startle your mind.

God has assigned predestined purpose to all who willingly accepts His free gift of salvation, but walking in that purpose can never be attained by any other means. When a man or woman is plugged into God, only then are they granted access to His divine wisdom, knowledge, and protection. This earthly habitation is temporal, and will soon cease to exist, but there is a life, beyond what we see, which God set in place, for all who are obedient to His holy Word.

God had a predestined purpose for His only begotten Son also. Even before Jesus was sent to the earth, prophecy of His arrival was written throughout the Old Testament. During the time when the birth of the Savior was finally fulfilled, king Herod became troubled at the news, so much that he gathered all the chief priests, scribes, and the people of Jerusalem together, to inquire of the startling news. Rather than acknowledge and try to better understand the prophecy of the birth of Jesus, the wicked king felt more threatened for his throne, above all else. Unfortunately, Herod plotted an attempt to have baby Jesus killed, so that his reign would not be hindered. Despite the king’s evil intentions, God’s plan of salvation would not be stopped, as He made certain to keep Jesus safe, by giving words of wisdom to all who watched over Him, to keep the child out of harm’s way.

In your life, you may never know it, but God has people watching over your life, and protecting you also. Many times, we should have been exposed to all sorts of danger, but God had someone standing in the gap, to keep us safe. In your daily prayers, ask God to give strength and peace to those who fight for you, even though it may never be revealed who they are.

“I pray for those who fight for me, even whom I cannot see.” – Ell

My Endearing Heart

Colossians 2:1-5

I am proud of all those who have made Christ their reason for living. I am proud of all the men and women, who gave up their lives of sin, and decided to follow after the things of God. I am proud of everyone who willingly presents their bodies as living sacrifices to God daily, and do so without murmuring or complaining. I am proud of the fathers, who take charge in their homes; leading, teaching, and covering their wives and children in constant prayer. I am proud of the mothers, who understand their role in the family; to be the help, meet (suitable) for the husband, and submit to God’s order of the family. I am proud of the children who obey their parents, in the Lord; who will live long and prosperous, for their obedience. I am proud of those who lead congregations, operating in the fear and admonition of God, who teach the Word, and preach the Gospel boldly in season, and out of season. I am proud of those who remain faithful, even while working in spirituality hazardous environments. I am proud of the people who choose to be modest in their choice of clothing, and refuse to advertise their flesh to the world. I am proud of the men and women who have decided that living for God outweighs living for anything or anyone else. I am proud of those who sacrifice, so that others can benefit from their time, prayers, and other contributions. I am proud of all who are grateful for the blessings God gave to them, and don’t become jealous or envious of the blessings others receive. I am proud of those who remain strong, even during times of great loss. I am proud of those who mourn with those who mourn, and weep with those who weep. I am proud of the people who are not easily provoked, nor stricken with fear, from the biased and corrupt news, broadcasted throughout media streams. I am proud of the Saints, who boldly go where many refuse to, during the good times, and the bad (before the throne of grace). I am proud of the few who walk the narrow path, that leads to life. I am proud of the remnant, who suffer persecution for righteousness sake. I am proud of those, who will not bend or break in these end times. I am proud of those who refuse to quit, despite the pressure pressing against them. I am proud to be a Son of God; saved by grace, filled with His Spirit, and prepared to stand against the wiles of the enemy.

Keep your chin up… it’s easier to see Heaven that way,

Ell

Serve with a smile

1 Corinthians 15:1-11

Those who labor under the umbrella of hospitality, are required to always work with a smile, because good customer service is a valued element that can make a major difference in a guest’s time away from home. Whether the work day is easy breezy, or hectic beyond belief, hotels and other hospitality businesses aim to give high quality service to all who enter their doors. Many who leave their homes to travel, or simply get away for a moment, expect to be treated better than where they left, so it’s imperative that all who render services to guests, maintain a healthy level of humility, to avoid causing travelers to regret leaving their homes in the first place.

Two things I admire most concerning the apostle Paul are, his boldness in proclaiming the Gospel, and his humility in his service to others. From being transformed from the head persecutor of the church, to the hardest working apostle of God, Paul never allowed his position, nor the pressure of men to cause him to forget his humbled beginnings. There are many who convert from sinner to Saint, then forget that humility is priority in godliness. These persons usually allow pride to take over their minds, and end up hurting themselves, and others. But, Paul was indeed grateful for the sacrifice of Christ, that allowed him the opportunity to change from a life of service to the enemy, to standing on the front line for God.

Being eternally linked to his past (in memory), Paul considered himself “the least of the apostles”, because he knew the seriousness of his past crimes. Nevertheless, he chose not to wallow in his mistakes, but to use his past as fuel to work diligently, and in humility, as he represented the God of Heaven and earth.

As you work day-to-day on your job, seeking to please those who are in authority over you, do you put forth the same effort in service to God, toward others? In the same way good customer service is expected of literally every hotel or resort employee, God expects all who call Him Lord, to walk in humility consistently. It’s in our humility, where soul-winning begins. As the old saying goes, “you’ll catch more flies with honey, than with vinegar”. In the same sense, you’ll win more people to God by being nice, than being rude. So, put a smile on, and let the peace of God rule in your heart today.

Walk in love,

Ell

An orderly worship service

1 Corinthians 14:26-33

As you watch a football game, you notice many players of varying size, strength, and ability, spread across the field. All members on a team have specific assignments, based on their skill set, physical ability, and level of importance. For example, rarely would you place a wide receiver in the position of the offensive lineman, because his physical frame, and strength would not prove sufficient enough to hold up against a 300lb defensive lineman. But, spread the receiver outside, and he’d be in a prime position to be an effective part of his team’s offense. When each player plays their own position effectively, there’s little room for error, but when pride and arrogance causes some to make their position more important than the rest of the team, it opens doors for all sorts of problems.

One thing that makes coaches proud is, when their team plays a clean game, where everyone put forth their best effort, and there were minimal penalties called during the game. In the same way a football team assembles together, to get on one accord before performing on the field of play, the body of believers are to take time often to gather together, in order to edify one another, and enjoy the presence of God amongst those of the same mind and spirit. The purpose of church is not to spend hours in a building, collecting multiple offerings, nor attempting to be the next “Star Search”, instead all who gather in the name of the Lord, should come with the intentions of learning, growing, and encouraging everyone in attendance.

When some take advantage of their gift, seeking to make themselves great among the saints, God shuns this behavior, and prefers that gifts be used only to edify, and not promote self. All members of the body of Christ are important, and no one should feel irrelevant, in comparison to another’s gift. Just as the quarterback and center play a major role on the field, the punter and kicker have roles of equal importance as well.

Walk in humility, and exercise your gift to bring honor to God. Shun all things evil, and conduct yourself in an orderly, and decent manner whenever you’re amongst fellow believers.

Wack in love,

Ell

Engaging in spiritual worship

Romans 12:1-8

God is a spirit, and when we come to Him in any fashion, our motives must be centered around spiritual things. Whether we come to the Father with a request, praise, worship, song, or any other reason, all must be rendered with His best interest in mind. God loves His people, and cares enough for them until He sent His only Son to bring them back into right standing with Himself, so when we come unto Him, we should not allow flesh, or carnal thinking to guide our actions. This world, and its treasures, are futile in comparison to the things God has prepared for those who love Him, so it’s only right that we bless God with our whole hearts, for going above, and beyond for His children.

Even as the members of the body of Christ express their gifts to God, they are to put their all into what they do, because it means much when we sing, praise, worship, minister, or teach with all the effort we have abiding in us. God made every man fearfully and wonderfully, so as we present our bodies back to Him, He will get all the glory from our good deeds. What makes it difficult for some to give their all to God is, they are still conformed in some way to the world. Our past can sometimes cause us to fall back into things we once let go of, which can then hinder our reasonable service to God. Fortunately, we have been blessed with the Holy Ghost, who will nudge us whenever we begin to sway into those things which can easily beset us.

The power of God is real, and works in us to make us better, so the next time you offer God a praise, prayer, or exercise your gift, be certain to allow His Spirit to lead you, as you present your service.

Walk in love,

Ell

Treat each other like Jesus does

John 13:12-20

Some of the hardest things for men to do is deny themselves, render unselfish services to others, and prefer the least honor for themselves. Today’s society focuses more attention on self-promotion, rather than unified efforts, and men often boast in themselves, rather than uplift those who truly need encouragement. While the world is expected to behave according to its master (money/satan), the church was commanded to love God and keep His commandments, love their neighbors as themselves, and do unto others, as they would have others do unto them.

In our text, Jesus gave the perfect example of self-denial, when He washed the disciple’s feet. Jesus used the example of foot washing to teach his disciples the importance of service to others. Earlier in the chapter, Jesus arose from supper, laid aside His garments, then prepared Himself to wash the feet of His followers. In Bible days, foot washing took place when visitors entered a person’s home, because sandles were the typical footwear, and hosts would offer water for their guests to wash their filthy feet. When Jesus approached Peter, the often strong-willed disciple refused to allow the Son of God to wash his feet. It’s not difficult to understand why Peter felt the way he did concerning His master condescending to his level, because He considered himself unworthy to have Jesus wash his feet, but Jesus wanted to teach a valuable lesson His disciples would find of great importance, after His departure. Jesus quickly changed Peter’s mind when He said, “If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me”. Jesus knew His position on the earth, as well as in Heaven, so rendering a selfless service to those who served Him, did nothing to taint, or diminish His authority as their Master and Lord.

Even during this age of selfishness and pride, the body of Christ is to continue performing selfless acts to mankind. Just as God is no respecter of persons, we shouldn’t be too proud, or consider ourselves too good to serve others as well. WWJD (What Would Jesus Do)!

Walk in love,

Ell

Samuel is dedicated to the Lord

1 Samuel 1:24-28

Samuel was one of the most prominent men in Bible history. He had the favor of God, and of men, was established as the prophet of the Lord, was acknowledged as a true prophet of God by all Israel, became the 16th judge of Israel, delivered Israel from the Philistines, and even anointed David as king, later on in his life. This man was so anointed, even as a child, that every prediction or word of prophecy he spoke was literally fulfilled. He knew that God was the Lord of all creation, and allowed His words to inspire him, so that all his counsels could be received as coming from God Himself. Had it not been for a faithful, and God-fearing mother and father, there’s no telling what kind of man Samuel would have become.

Hannah was truly “souled” out for God, and was unselfish in fulfilling her promise to Him, in giving her promised child back to Him. When little Samuel was weaned, and old enough to be separated from his mother, Hannah took him up with her, along with offerings of sacrifice, to the Lord in Shiloh. When she reached the temple, or wherever they gathered, she approached the prophet Eli, and reminded him who she was, and that she had come to deliver her child to the Lord. While it’s unlikely Hannah was the only woman to pray by the high priest, asking for a child the way she did must have impressed Eli so that he’d never forget her.

Hannah’s prayer was direct, and definite, and God honored her words. Our prayers should be that way as well, and not a bunch of emotional and not fully thought out petitions. When we pray, we are to first believe that God can, and will answer us, then make our request known to Him, and follow that request with a life of dedicated service to His purpose, until He answers us. Sometimes, God will even honor our thoughts. I can recall a few times when God answered things I only considered in my head. That’s amazing, but I lived in a way that pleased Him, so He showed me just how great a Father He was.

Live your life in a way that God can’t hold back any good thing from you. When He’s searching the earth, seeking whom to bless, make sure He never passes you by without loading you with good things.

Walk in love,

Ell

The Nazarite vow

Numbers 6:1-5, 13-15

Marriage vows spoken publicly between a man and woman, are strict, yet necessary terms that represent the promises each partner is willing to keep, as they pursue a fruitful and lasting relationship. While some couples choose to write their own personal vows, and others prefer to recite the traditional marriage vows, each promise is expected to be fulfilled, once the ceremony is sealed and completed with a kiss (and marriage licenses are valid). The husband is to keep God first, and remain faithful to his wife, while not allow distractions from disrespectful women to draw his attention away from the woman he promised to love without conditions. The wife is also required to keep God first, and be faithful, while making sure that all of her attention is directed toward her husband, and not the immature men on her job who constantly make passes at her. Both the husband and wife are to care for each other in sickness, and in health. Whatever vow they committed to, couples will see a successful end, if only they take serious the promises they made to each other at their wedding ceremony.

During the days of Moses, men and women had the opportunity to commit to the Nazarite vow. This vow required an individual to separate themselves to render special services unto the Lord. I added the “special services” part (it’s not mentioned in Scripture per se) because God never allows anyone to sacrifice for Him, and He not do something great through them (Samson, for example). Separating themselves unto the Lord, also required the volunteer to separate himself/herself from wine and strong drink, vinegar of wine or strong drink, liquor of grapes, ripe grapes, dried grapes, and anything made from the vine, from the kernels to the husk. That’s an interesting list of things to give up when vowing the Nazarite vow, because I grew up eating raisins, and they can become an addiction. In addition to not drinking from the vine, the hair of those who willingly chose to make this vow was never to be cut, “until the days be fulfilled, in which he separateth himself unto the Lord”. In the Jewish culture, an abundance of hair was considered a mark of physical strength and perfection, and baldness was considered imperfection. Growing their hair out in long lengths, the Nazarites represented the dedication of a person with their whole strength and powers focused on God’s service. The most important promise of this vow was that the man or woman remain holy all the days which they were separated unto the Lord. It’s obvious that while God was using the Nazarite for His purpose and will, He didn’t want them to come into contact with anything that would cause them to not be sober, and have a sound mind. He demanded their full attention while they fulfilled whatever assignment He tasked them with.

While you may not be a Nazarite, I’m certain you’ve made promises to God in your lifetime. Have you kept all of them? Do you even remember them? Whatever the case, as a believer, you chose to separate yourself from the world, and the things that cause you to sin. Stay faithful and true to keeping your promises to God, and He’ll stay faithful to blessing you accordingly.

Walk in love,

Ell

We will serve the Lord

Joshua 24:14-18

If you had the option to start life over, and choose between two lives; one where you’re given all the things you could ever desire, including money, fame, wealth, health, and success, but that life ends in eternal damnation, or the life that guarantees suffering, pain, and persecution, with occasional moments of joy, but that life ends in eternal glory, provision, and peace; which would you choose? Men today are following the example of those in the past, who believed they’d benefit more by following strange and perverted gods, over the God of all creation. While it seems, at times, that following the God of Heaven causes us to suffer and experience moments of pain and shame more often than blessings, while living according to worldly standards offer more appeal, God’s love is pure and He offers a better end, while satan only holds us back, long enough for us to miss Heaven in the end.

In this life, there are only two religions; one that is aligned with godliness, and the other that’s anti-God, and supports sin and ungodliness. There are many names associated with man-made religions today, but at the heart of what religion really is, centers around whether one believes in God, or not. According to James 1:27, godly religion is defined as this, “pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world”. In other words, we are to be selfless, and humble, while caring for the needs of others in our daily living.

In the beginning, Able offered to God of the firstlings of his flock, and the Lord had respect unto Able and his offering, because of his faith, and the right kind of sacrifice. On the other hand, Cain offered a sacrifice that God disapproved of, and had no respect for, because he gave to Him a cheap and selfish offering. In my opinion, this is where the two religions originated, one where God was honored and reverence, and the other where self was exalted and promoted over God.

Our text discusses the time when Joshua presented to the people of God the opportunity to make a final decision on who they would ultimately serve; God, or satan. He reminded the people of the time when those before them submitted to serving other gods, in contrast to how God blessed Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Moses for being obedient to His will. God protected their forefathers from evil, yet they willingly chose to go after those same evil entities after being delivered from them. What a shame. As Joshua stood before the people, he made it plain that whether they chose to live for God or not, he and his house would undoubtedly serve the Lord. He realized that the only way to serve God was through fear, sincerity, and truth, which aids in the putting away of the false gods which the people’s forefathers once served in the past.

The people gathered before Joshua made six confessions in response to his demand. They mentioned, “God forbid that we should forsake the Lord, to serve other gods; For the Lord our God, he it is that brought us up and our fathers out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage, and which did those great signs in our sight, and preserved us in all the way wherein we went, and among all the people through whom we passed: And the Lord drave out from before us all the people, even the Amorites which dwelt in the land: therefore will we also serve the Lord; for he is our God” (vs. 16-18).

God will never force a man to serve Him, because He created us with the free moral agency to choose according to our desires. Whether we choose to live for God, or not, is up to us. But one must remember, whatever choice you make, the consequences are the product of your own doing.

Walk in love,

Ell