Will You Magnify the Lord? (Luke 1:46-47) – PART 2
Luke 1:46-47, And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. This is Part 2 and the conclusion of the devotion. If you need to refer to Part 1, look to yesterday’s devotion. 4. Path of the Magnifier: Most magnifying glasses usually have a handle on them. The handle gives the owner the ability to use the lens to magnify what he desires. It enables him to take it wherever he needs it. In the same manner, our lives are to be this way. God can use you to magnify Jesus Christ if you will yield to the control of the hand of God. By submitting to His control, direction and will, He will put you where you need to be. You will be willing to go wherever He directs and leads you. The Lord is willing and able to take you to places and to people that perhaps only you can reach for Him. Are you available to Him? That’s what a magnifier of God does. Psalm 32:8, I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye. By humbling and submitting yourself to the Lord, you will have greater ability to magnify God. In turn, God will magnify you as you magnify Him. 5. Purity of the Magnifier: Notice if the lens is smeared with dirt it is not going to be as much help to you. It is very difficult to use any dirty magnifying glass because the view is smeared, or distorted. When the magnifying glass is clean it is consistent with its purpose and use for you. This is why it is so important to keep the lens clean so that the magnification is clear and the glass is effective. In the same manner, if you are going to effectively magnify Jesus Christ with your life, it is critical that your life is clean. I Corinthians 6:20, For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. Sin issues need to be dealt with and conquered in your life so that people will be focused on the Lord and not your sins and imperfections. Bearing spiritual fruit in your personal character and in your witness for Christ will help you immensely to magnify Him. 6. Praise of the Magnifier: Those who magnify the Lord also have a desire to point others to Him so that they will magnify Him, too. Magnifiers enjoy worshiping and honoring God with others. They do not compete in their worship, they complement one another in worship and praise. Magnifiers develop close relationships with other believers who love to magnify God. Their love for Christ generates a love for Christians. In fact, a great verse for Christian friends, a church family, or a husband and wife and their family is Psalm 34:3. Psalm 34:3, O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together. May God’s praise be upon our lips continually and consistently. May we spend each day magnifying HIM! Perhaps the next time you use a magnifying glass this devotion will remind you of how we should magnify the Lord. Prayer: Heavenly Father, as Mary’s desire was to magnify and praise You, so is my desire. Guide my steps that I may encounter others who need to know You. Help me to humble myself that they may see You in me. I will magnify You and praise You before all others when given the opportunity. In Jesus name, Amen! If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com
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Will You Magnify the Lord? (Luke 1:46-47) – PART 1
Luke 1:46-47, And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. What’s evident is the utter humility of Mary. Mary was thrilled with what the Lord had done for her. All she could do was magnify the Lord over what had happened. Her very soul and inner being magnified and praised the Lord. She sought zero acclaim. She found great rejoicing in the Lord her Saviour. Mary's firsthand experience with God prompted her to magnify Him. If you already have possession of a magnifying glass, or the next time you use one, may this devotion remind you of how we should magnify the Lord. There are great lessons we can learn from studying a magnifying glass. Below are at least six ways we can magnify the Lord Jesus Christ. 1. Purpose of the Magnifier: The purpose of a magnifying lens is to enable objects that are small, or very far away, to the eye to be seen up close. Ironically, this is our purpose as Christians. I Corinthians 10:31, Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. As children of the Lord, we have a purpose of magnifying Jesus Christ so that He who is far away in Heaven, and basically unknown, or invisible to the lost, can be revealed by our lives by having a close walk with Him. Those who are without Jesus in their hearts are spiritually blind. By magnifying Christ and sharing the Gospel, we provide an opportunity for people to be saved and get to know Him. Our lives as Christians are to be like the magnifying glass. We all are to be magnifiers of the Lord Jesus Christ. 2. Power of the Magnifier: The greater the bend in the lens, the greater it leads to stronger, or more powerful, magnification. John 3:30, He must increase, but I must decrease. A flatter, or less curvature, lens yields less magnification. What a great truth for us! The more we bend to His will and kneel to the LORD, the greater we will magnify Jesus Christ. 3. Plan of the Magnifier: Matthew 5:14, 16, Ye are the light of the world…Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. A magnifying glass is doing no good as long as it is in the secretary’s desk, or on the shelf. It is only doing its job when it’s in a hand. Only at this time is it fulfilling the purpose for which it was made. If we are to be a useful magnifier of the Lord, we must be willing to fulfill God’s purpose for our lives. Prayer, Lord, I desire to magnify You. You have proven time and time again that Your presence puts everything else in a different light. Even through the admittedly imperfect lens of my life, may others watching catch a glimpse of Your greatness. In Jesus’ name, amen. Please revisit the webpage tomorrow for the conclusion of this devotion. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Living a Life That Will Influence Others (I Corinthians 4:17)
I Corinthians 4:17, For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church. Paul wanted to make sure that these believers in Corinth were going in the right spiritual direction. To help them remember Paul's teachings, the apostle sent Timothy to teach them. It was a great blessing that Paul had someone who was faithful, available and could be relied upon to go to Corinth. Over a century and a half ago, there lived a humble pastor in a small village in Leicestershire, England. He had never attended college and had no degrees. He was just an ordinary, faithful pastor. In his church was a young student to whom he gave special attention, teaching him the Word of God. This young man was later to be renowned as William Carey, one of the greatest missionaries of modern times. This same pastor had a son, a boy whom he taught faithfully and constantly encouraged. The boy's character and powers were profoundly affected by his father's life. The son was Robert Hall, the mightiest public orator of his day, whose sermons influenced the decisions of statesmen and whose character was as godly as his preaching was phenomenal. It seemed that the small village pastor accomplished very little. But his faithful witness and godly life had much to do with giving India its William Carey and England its Robert Hall. God honors and blesses faithfulness. As a young boy, I remember skipping rocks with my older brother into creeks and across ponds. My brother and I would often compete in trying to see whose rocks skipped the most, or made the biggest splash. I can remember my brother picking up and hurling a large rock into the water and watching the ripples reach clear across the other side of the pond. When I think back to those times, I’m amazed that such a small rock compared to a large body of water could make such a huge impact on the entire body of water. If God is the force behind the large faith-rock of your life, He can toss you higher than any other and cause you to make waves in the water of this world that will reach and influence many lives. The first time we came to Carrabelle it was our desire to be a blessing and an encouragement to the people for the weekend. Since becoming pastor, it’s my desire to not only see our church grow in the Word of God, but also to impact the community for Christ. Allow the Lord to launch you into someone’s life today and make an impact for Christ. Prayer: Lord, make a difference in me. Make a difference through me. Make me a difference maker. Each day You give me opportunities to reach others with the Gospel. I ask You to use me as one of Your instruments to restore one who has fallen in this broken world. In Jesus name, Amen. If this post has blessed you in any way please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Dilemma in the Den of Lions (Daniel 6:11-15) – PART 4
Once the decree had been declared the conspirators didn’t waste time. Daniel's enemies were watching and waiting to report Daniel's behavior to the king. These men knew Daniel would never pray to any man, nor would he ever cease from praying to God. They knew it would happen quickly. And when it did, they first reminded Darius of his decree. These conspirators were counting on Daniel to be true to his conviction (Acts 5:29). It should be noted that when there is a conflict between human law and divine law, God’s law always takes precedence. They did not want Daniel, a Jew being promoted. They knew, obviously, that the king favored Daniel. In fact, that was why they wanted to get rid of Daniel. It was after the Scripture says that the king "thought to set him over the whole realm" (Daniel 6:3), that the plotters took action. Proverbs 29:27, An unjust man is an abomination to the just: and he that is upright in the way is abomination to the wicked. Once Daniel had prayed to the Lord, as he had done many times before, the conspirators did not waste any time at all. With urgency they went straight to King Darius and reminded him of the law he executed. It was now time to promptly carry out the sentence and take Daniel directly to the lions. Instantly, Darius knew he had been set up and duped! He clearly understood his mistake and serious error in judgment. Why hadn't he asked these men if Daniel had agreed to this proposal? Better yet, since he had such respect for Daniel, why hadn't he consulted him before he issued this disastrous decree? Perhaps the answer is pride. After all no man could pray to any man, or god, except King Darius for thirty days. King Darius was probably thinking, "How could I have been so foolish? Why did I not see this?" Darius realized what had been done and how he had been made an unknowing and unwilling part of the plot of Daniel’s enemies. As a result, King Darius was disgusted with himself. Darius was in turmoil over this tragedy of injustice. He would lose his appetite. He did not eat or enjoy "instruments of music." His couch was like a bed of thorns. Sleep said to the king, "You shall not know me tonight, nor will you know my warm and comforting embrace." King Darius was about to lose the best man in his administration. He responded by setting his heart diligently to find a way to deliver Daniel. Daniel’s accusers reminded the king that he could not change the law once the law was enacted. Darius was stuck. Any attempt to deliver Daniel himself was to no avail. He had no recourse but to execute sentence against Daniel. What is worth noting is the fact that Daniel was a man who had such a sweet spirit, celebrated character, true testimony and loyalty to his LORD that a heathen king wanted to defend him and to save his life. Prayer: Lord, You have delivered me from countless circumstances. You have parted waters for me and have delivered me from fiery trials by Your sovereign hand. While my enemies were encouraging me to doubt and deny You. You hastily answered my simple cry for help. Thank You for preserving me from my persecutors. In Jesus name, Amen! If this post has blessed you in any way please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Being A Reflector of the Lord (Philippians 2:15)
Philippians 2:15, That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; As we engage the Lord in our walk and our words, we will be shining lights to a dark world. A Bible teacher had just finished speaking to a large class of businessmen on the Christian's responsibility to be a "light" in the world. He emphasized that believers are to reflect the Light of the world, the Lord Jesus. After the class, one of the members related to him an experience he had in his home which had impressed upon him this same truth. He said that when he went into his basement, he made an interesting discovery. Some potatoes had sprouted in the darkest comer of the room. At first, he couldn't figure out how they had gotten enough light to grow. Then he noticed that the cook had hung a copper kettle from the ceiling near a cellar window. She kept it so brightly polished that it reflected the rays of the sun onto the potatoes. The businessman said, "When I saw that, I thought, I may not be a preacher or a teacher with ability to expound Scripture, but at least I can be a copper kettle catching the rays of the Son and reflecting His light to someone in a dark corner." May that be true of all of us. We are to follow Jesus Christ by our walk, by our words. Matthew 5:14, Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Believers are to shine! We are to be lighthouses, warning men of the dangers of sin and pointing them to the safe harbor of salvation. We are to be light reflectors, always reflecting the light of Jesus to those in darkness. We are to light the way for others, just as the way was lit for us by others! The Word of God reminds us that God desires His children to shine in this present world! Everyone values light and regardless of how small the light may be it is shining, it can lead one out of darkness. We are to shine as lights in the world. If we were to shine brightly, holding forth the Word of life, people would see the beautiful promises of God, regardless of how crooked and perverse the world. It is our responsibility to shine the light in the darkness. We have the answer in our Saviour, Jesus Christ. If we keep the light of God’s truth and love shining brightly in our lives, it will impact the darkness around us. When we are in line with God, we are spotlights in a dark world! How’s your light shining? Prayer, Lord, sometimes my life seems like I'm just stumbling in the dark, scrabbling for the light switch. Let your light shine through my life that will lead others to Your Son. In Jesus name, Amen! If this post has blessed you in any way please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Dilemma in the Den of Lions (Daniel 6:10) – PART 3
Daniel 6:10, Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime. Nathan Hale, a great American patriot during the evolutionary War, was captured and hung by British soldiers. His now famous final words were, "I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country." He was willing to die for his nation and its freedom. Here in Daniel 6, we find a man that would rather die than to give up his prayer time with God. These 122 conspirators plotted against Daniel that they might destroy him. They just presented a falsehood to King Darius in Daniel 6:7. They lied to the king by telling him that all the presidents and princes were in agreement on making a decree that prevented anyone from asking a petition from any God or man, except the king. Then they flattered the king by elevating him to equal ground with Deity. Darius, having been lied to and flattered with praise, signed the decree. Daniel, knowing the writing was signed, went into his house and his windows being opened in his chamber toward Jerusalem, kneeled down and prayed three times a day and gave thanks as at other times. Daniel was a busy leader but not too busy to pray. If we are too busy to pray then we are too busy! We, as God’s people, need to maintain a constant attitude of prayer. We shouldn’t wait until disaster strikes before we try to pray. Daniel’s prayer time was already open. He prayed and thanked God as he always did. Here was a man who had a consistent walk with God. Daniel was such a godly man that no threat would stop him from praying. Daniel knew full well what this decree meant and to whom it was aimed. Daniel is one of many in the Bible that were devoted to the Lord in the face of death. It did not change him at all and his enemies were counting on it! He was not going to pray to any man. He was faced with the conflict between man's law and God's law and chose to follow the Lord, no matter what the cost. Daniel witnessed God’s power. We must recognize God’s power.
Prayer, Father in Heaven, I’m often reminded to pray and leave the results up to You. As You stopped the mouths of the lions from killing Daniel, I depend on You to deliver me from our adversary the devil. As I humbly turn to You, help me to follow You faithfully all the days of my life. In Jesus name, Amen! If this post has blessed you in any way please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Taming Your Temper (Proverbs 15:18)
Proverbs 15:18, A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife. In the spring of 1894, the Baltimore Orioles came to Boston to play a routine baseball game, but what happened that day was anything but routine. The Orioles' John McGraw got into a fight with the Boston third baseman. Within minutes all the players from both teams had joined in the brawl. The warfare quickly spread to the grandstands. Among the fans, the conflict went from bad to worse. Someone set fire to the stands and the entire ballpark burned to the ground. Not only that, but the fire spread to 107 other Boston buildings as well. It has been rightly said that when your temper boils over, you usually end up in hot water. We have seen that in our lives over and over again. It never pays to lose your temper. If you're angry, you'll say or do something you'll wish you never had said or done. The consequences of your rage may affect you and the lives of others for the rest of your life because you behaved foolishly. A man that is quick-tempered does things without stopping to consider the consequences of his actions. He may shoot off his mouth with curses or insults, slam doors, or throw whatever is at hand to express his rage. The thought is how one with a quick temper stirs up trouble. In contrast, one who controls his temper and is slow to anger pacifies potential trouble. A hot temper is never a virtue. It inevitably ignites even worse trouble. The Biblical concept of meekness is of one who controls his emotions and certainly his temper. The latter tends to put out fires of strife while the former ignites them. Not all anger is wrong. Controlled anger rouses us to stand against injustice and corruption. The anger of Jesus caused Him to flush the money-changers from the Temple area. The person who has a short fuse and loses self control when he gets angry is the one who behaves foolishly and behaves in such a way where his actions lead to failure. 10 Warnings about man's unrighteous anger: (1) It causes one to do foolish things (Proverbs 14:17). (2) It is the result of pride (Proverbs 13:10). (3) It poisons others (Proverbs 22:24-25). (4) It stirs up strife and sin (Proverbs 15:18; 29:22). (5) It results in punishment (Proverbs 19:19). (6) It can be tempered with soft words (Proverbs 15:1). (7) God warns about becoming friends with an angry man (Proverbs 22:24-25). (8) Control of anger requires that one have rule over his own spirit (Proverbs 16:32; 25:28). (9) A man's wisdom causes him to control his anger (Proverbs 19:11). (10) It is to be put away from the Christian's life (Colossians 3:8). Prayer, Father in Heaven, You know the struggles I have with anger and bitterness. You know the reasons I wrestle with resentment. You know how deep the hurt goes and how long I have lived with it. But I don’t want to live with it any longer. I don’t want to be an angry, resentful and bitter person. With Your help, I release my anger into Your hands. In Jesus name, Amen! If this post has blessed you in any way please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Dilemma in the Den of Lions (Daniel 6:4-9) – PART 2
It was those in high position who envied Daniel and as a result conspired against him. Jealously was the motive for the lions' den for Daniel. Daniel’s high position was an obstacle to the other rulers who sought to take advantage of their power. His testimony was like salt and light to their evil ambition (Matthew 5:13-14; John 3:20). Daniel’s profession was matched by his practice. These conspirators could find no ground for complaint, or any fault, against him (Daniel 6:4). His books were in order. His numbers all added up. No bribes had been taken and witnesses to the contrary could not be found. These men investigated Daniel's performance but could find no fault in his work. Few men in high places have much character, so Daniel wasn’t liked by his peers. Jealousy is a powerful and destructive force. These men felt that the only way they could entrap Daniel was in the matter of his worship of God. The Word of God had a huge impact in Daniel's life and will impact your life, too. Psalm 119:11, “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” Daniel was a man of godly character and consistency. Could this be said of you? What kind of example are you to others? The challenge of God's Word is to have a sterling life that is right with God and with men. The Bible says in Daniel 6:6-7, they assembled together with the king. 1. They lied to the king (Daniel 6:7a) They told the king it was unanimous – but Daniel (the chief) was not with them. 2. They flattered the king (Daniel 6:7b) They appealed to the kings pride. This is always the design of flattery. Three times these 122 men gathered behind closed doors to conspire against Daniel (Daniel 6:6, 11, 15). It was their intent to remove Daniel from his position in the kingdom. Daniel performed so well at his job that the plotters concluded the only way they could "get" him was through his religion—that is, make some law that he would violate in his faithfulness to God. It was an ingenious, though insidious, plot and it worked just as they had planned. His conspirators were depending on Daniel being true to his convictions. They were correct. Daniel was going to pray to God even if it cost him his life. They suggested that prayers, or petitions, be made only to the king for thirty days. He was looked upon as a god. The plotters played on the pride of Darius with their petition by making him so great people had to forgo any petition to anyone except him for thirty days. They told the king that all the presidents and princes were in agreement on this law. This was a lie because Daniel was not a part of this. Prayer, Father in Heaven, I humbly seek Your grace and guidance that I might honor and please You in all I do. Help me as I encounter daily challenges at work that I may glorify You in all my activities with honesty, integrity, character and fairness. I pray Your blessings on all I do. In Jesus name, Amen. If this post has blessed you in any way please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Our Faithful God (II Thessalonians 3:3)
II Thessalonians 3:3, But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil. In II Thessalonians 3:3 of our text, Paul says, “…the Lord is faithful…” That was what the people in Thessalonica needed to hear, and it is the what you and I need to hear today. These thoughts remind us that our God is The Faithful God. I need to be reminded of that fact from time to time. One example of faithfulness is “Old Faithful” in the heart of Yellowstone National Park. It erupts every 60 minutes to 2 hours. Like Old Faithful, our Heavenly Father is faithful. God will be faithful to you because He is fully committed to you. He will keep every promise He has ever made in His Word! The LORD is faithful in many ways, here are two: 1. He is faithful to forgive. I John 1:9, If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Confession simply means being honest with ourselves and with God, and if others are involved, being honest with them, too. God is faithful to His promises. 2. He is faithful to forget. Hebrews 8:12, For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. What comforting Scriptures. God knows everything, but there are some things He has chosen to forget. God will remember our sins no more. When He buries our sin, He chooses not to dig them up and throw them in our face. When we forgive someone we bury the sin and relinquish our right to dig it up and remind the person about it. It is important that we learn to forgive like Jesus and love others like He did. Prayer, Father, I can’t help but think of the hymn, “Great is Thy Faithfulness,” as I think about all You have brought me through. It is true that I have faced many trials and temptations. And as I look back, I see how You protected and strengthened me every time. Thank You for Your personal care for me! Help me to remember these things as new trials and temptations present themselves in the future. In Jesus’ name, Amen. If this post has blessed you in any way please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com What to do with Worry…Cast it on the Lord (I Peter 5:7)
I Peter 5:7, Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. George Muller Massena, one of Napoleon's generals, suddenly appeared with 18,000 soldiers before an Austrian town which had no means of defending itself. The town council met, certain that capitulation was the only answer. The old dean of the church reminded the council that it was Easter, and begged them to hold services as usual, and to leave the trouble in God's hands. They followed his advice and turned their worry over to the Lord. The dean went to the church and rang the bells to announce the service. When the French soldiers heard the church bells ring, they concluded that the Austrian army had come to rescue the town. They broke camp, and before the bells had ceased ringing, vanished. God took care of the problem. He can take care of your problems, too. Don't let worry weaken your faith. Worry will weaken your faith and rob you of your peace. The beginning of worry is the end of faith, and the beginning of true faith is the end of worry. I Peter 5:7, Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. God wants us to throw our cares overboard. He wants us to willingly throw them upon Him. Casting indicates a deliberate act of our will. In other words, “I will thrust my cares upon the Lord.” The LORD is telling us to stop worrying. In other words, we are to stop worrying and never start worrying again. Nothing justifies our worry and anxiousness when we have the Lord. Worry is sinful. We may dignify worry by calling it by some other name—concern, burden, a cross to bear—-but the results are still the same. Worry fails to recognize that God is working in your life. God knows what He is doing. He has not forgotten us. He is at work, but when we worry we are saying that God is not in control. Worry is irrelevant. It cannot change anything. It says that He doesn’t know what He is doing and He can’t take care of us. Worry is like a rocking chair. It doesn’t get you anywhere. There is no need to worry because the Lord can supply every need for every situation that we face in life. God is bigger than our problems. He is never caught off guard, or surprised, at what takes place in our lives. He knows what is going on and will take care of you. The man who feeds his heart on the record of what God has done in the past will never worry about the future. Prayer, Father in Heaven, I regret having carried these burdens and worries so long by myself when, in fact, You were always ready to take them from me and to carry them on my behalf. But it’s never too late to do what is right, so right now I make the decision to yield to You every one of these matters that are troubling me. Thank You for coming alongside me to take these weights from my shoulders. Because You are so loving and attentive to me, I can now go free! I pray this in Jesus’ name! If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com |
AuthorDr. Blackman is passionate about helping others grow in the grace of the Lord. His devotions are centered on how to grow closer to the Lord through a personal relationship with Christ. Archives
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