​24 November 2020
1 Peter 1:3-4 NLT 
Real Real Estate
All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. 

The Believer clings to all God has promised... 
Eternal Life – John 3:16
Being like Jesus – 1 John 3:2
No more death, sickness or tears – Revelation 21:4
Being in HIS presence – John 14:3
Our REAL Home – Hebrews 11:13-16

The moment we believe we are not whisked away into all of these things. We joined the team, partnering with God to be a witness and example so that many can not only hear the Good News but see it through the testimony we show as we live our lives with Jesus. How will anyone be saved if there’s no one to tell?

For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” 14 But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? 15 And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!”
(Romans 10:13-15)

So all God’s promises are kept safe for us. If we receive them now they would not be beyond the reach of change and decay, because that’s what happens to stuff on earth – lots of change and lots of decay. I’m glad my “priceless inheritance” is secure. Anyone would be. Lots of people invest in lots of real estate to provide an inheritance one day for their families. That’s nice, but not beyond the reach of the change and decay of the financial market. Our Real Estate, the estate of our Inheritance from God, is in heaven. And, yes, I am excited and thankful God keeps his precious promises safe for me!

PS. I did steal the Real Estate part from Rob’s message on November 18th. (wink emoji)
Watch it here.

Dear God,
Thank you for keeping me safe, and thank you for keeping the things you have for me safe! Help me to be your partner in sharing the Good News, and thank you for your proven faithfulness that allows me to wait with eager hope for the things to come. I love you, and I love your ways. And I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Something to Think About:
What am I usually eager for? How do I prepare for what I am anticipating? Will I ask Jesus to help me eagerly anticipate my real life with him over getting caught up in what’s going on now?

23 November 2020
Who is Poor in Spirit?
Psalm 34:18-19 NLT
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted;
    he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.
The righteous person faces many troubles,
    but the Lord comes to the rescue each time.

A person who is crushed is a person who is spent. All they can do is receive help. They are crushed; they have nothing left. That’s the kind of person God is interested in talking to. 

Jesus calls these people the ones who are “poor in spirit.”
God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him,
    for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. (Matthew 5:3)

Even those who have realized our need for him have many opportunities to push him away when we continue rely on our own wits, abilities, preferences, energy and will power to live a godly life. By doing this we cement our hearts, and a cemented heart is not a broken heart; it is in a fixed state all it’s own.

A continual need to realize a continual need for Jesus is whom he rescues every time. The others are too busy rescuing themselves. 
God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. (Romans 3:24)

God’s grace isn’t something I conjure. God’s grace is what those who are poor in spirit receive. That’s what that means.

Dear God,
Thank you for protecting me from cementing my own heart. Thank you for showing me my need for you and for your beautiful and wonderful gift of grace available to me all the time. I love you and thank you and pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Something to think about:
1. In what areas of my life am I purposefully or accidentally guilty of conjuring up righteousness on my own?  What has been the result?
2. How does Psalm 72:12-14 further describe God’s help for those who know they need it?  How do these words make me feel?

20 November 2020 Double Standards
Proverbs 20:23
The Lord detests double standards;
    he is not pleased by dishonest scales.

Proverbs 20:23 tells me why I have a problem with my state governor. He vigorously makes commands that he himself will not follow. He doubled down on mask mandates and travel bans, work and gatherings while he was in another state working and partying without a mask on. This really happened just this week. Not to mention he doesn’t have the authority to do any of this anyway. Emergency powers are temporary to give the Legislature time to gather. It is now November; he has had plenty of time to “safely” gather the law makers. Instead, he keeps making proclamations like some kind emperor. Why don’t I like this? Because God doesn’t like it either. Gavin is the poster child for Proverbs 20:23. The Lord detests double standards. If this gov really believed everything he was demanding of us, he would lead by example.

People in general don’t like seeing politicians say one thing and then do another. We didn’t like it from authority figures when we were growing up, and it keeps many people out of church. But God has pointed out why we don’t like this. It’s because he “detests” it; and he put his laws on our hearts just like Romans 2:15 declares:

They demonstrate that God’s law is written in their hearts, for their own conscience and thoughts either accuse them or tell them they are doing right. 

Lots of Californians are frustrated with this guy and can’t put their finger on why. This is why; our own consciences and thoughts tell us this is all absolutely wrong.

Dear God,
First of all, help me not to fall in the trap of setting detestable double standards. Help me lead my family by example, encouragement and enthusiasm for your Word. And don’t let our politicians get away with trading one crisis for another. Protect the people who are losing their jobs and their sanity while remaining perfectly healthy. Let wisdom and justice prevail “on earth as it is in heaven.” Let the crazy governors be put out of work, and don’t let them enjoy and single moment until they turn their hearts to you – the One who is holy, righteous and fair. I love your indestructible ways and I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.