Hold On! For Dear Life
Luke 8:15
The Message (MSG)
15″But the seed in the good earth—these are the good-hearts who seize the Word and hold on no matter what, sticking with it until there’s a harvest.
Those who hold on to God’s promises no matter what! They seize the word….sticking with it til there is a harvest. I am ever convinced that nothing good and lasting happens by accident. The Lord is very intentional and precise in His workings. Just a look at creation and it’s order is evidence of this. How much more the pinnacle of His creation….Us! As I was considering this verse the saying, Carpe Diem, came to mind.
Carpe Diem!
Seize the day, trusting as little as possible in the future.
‘Carpe’ translates literally as ‘pluck’, with particular reference to the picking of fruit, so a more accurate rendition is ‘enjoy the day, pluck the day when it is ripe’. The extended version of the phrase ‘carpe diem, quam minimum credula postero’ translates as ‘Pluck the day, trusting as little as possible in the future’.
If we can approach each day with this attitude and mindset just imagine the difference we would make in this world! Changing the way we think and perceive life is so important. I believe it so crucial to the abundant life that Jesus speaks of in John 10:10.
I think it key to note that all of life has fruit for us. Many times the fruit is hidden in dark and lonely places. Buried in pain and suffering – like gold… It must be mined- sought after.
I close with some additional verses and a Streams In The Desert devotional.
Intentionally, Jonathan
James 1:12 Anyone who meets a testing challenge head-on and manages to stick it out is mighty fortunate. For such persons loyally in love with God, the reward is life and more life.
Psalm 90: 12 Oh! Teach us to live well! Teach us to live wisely and well!
Ephesians 5:15-16
Be Filled With the Spirit of God
15 So be careful how you live. Live as men who are wise and not foolish. 16 Make the best use of your time. These are sinful days.
Hebrews 12: 2 Let us keep looking to Jesus. Our faith comes from Him and He is the One Who makes it perfect. He did not give up when He had to suffer shame and die on a cross. He knew of the joy that would be His later. Now He is sitting at the right side of God.
Colossians 3:
16-17 Let Christ’s teaching live in your hearts, making you rich in the true wisdom. Teach and help one another along the right road with your psalms and hymns and Christian songs, singing God’s praises with joyful hearts. And whatever you may have to do, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, thanking God the Father through him.
Steady in Our Walk
“Stablish, strengthen, settle you” (1 Peter 5:10).
In taking Christ in any new relationship, we must first have sufficient intellectual light to satisfy our mind that we are entitled to stand in this relationship. The shadow of a question here will wreck our confidence. Then, having seen this, we must make the venture, the committal, the choice, and take the place just as definitely as the tree is planted in the soil, or the bride gives herself away at the marriage altar. It must be once for all, without reserve, without recall.
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Then there is a season of establishing, settling and testing, during which we must “stay put” until the new relationship gets so fixed as to become a permanent habit. It is just the same as when the surgeon sets the broken arm. He puts it in splints to keep it from vibration. So God has His spiritual splints that He wants to put upon His children and keep them quiet and unmoved until they pass the first stage of faith. It is not always easy work for us, “but the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Jesus Christ, after that ye have suffered awhile, stablish, strengthen, settle you.” –A. B. Simpson
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There is a natural law in sin and sickness; and if we just let ourselves go and sink into the trend of circumstances, we shall go down and sink under the power of the tempter. But there is another law of spiritual life and of physical life in Christ Jesus to which we can rise, and through which we can counterpoise and overcome the other law that bears us down.
But to do this requires real spiritual energy and fixed purpose and a settled posture and habit of faith. It is just the same as when we use the power in our factory. We must turn on the belt and keep it on. The power is there, but we must keep the connection; and while we do so, the higher power will work and all the machinery will be in operation.
There is a spiritual law of choosing, believing, abiding, and holding steady in our walk with God, which is essential to the working of the Holy Ghost either in our sanctification or healing. –Days of Heaven upon Earth
A Wise Heart
Many times in life , it seems, that evil rides on the coat-tails of good intentions. Like Solomon… I pray for a wise and discerning heart.
1 Kings 3:9
Give me a heart that listens so that I can judge your people and tell the difference between good and evil.
1 Kings 3:9
9 So give Your servant an understanding mind and a hearing heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and bad. For who is able to judge and rule this Your great people?
As my journey with the Wild Goose approaches it’s second anniversary, I have come to the conclusion that a wise and discerning heart is of utmost import- A heart that hears the Still Small Voice! If we are to live life at the heart level, it would make sense that we gain a wise heart.
Over and over in scripture the mention of a wise heart is paramount to an abundant life. Here are just a couple passages….
Ecclesiastes 10:2
A wise person’s heart leads the right way. The heart of a fool leads the wrong way.
Proverbs 16:21
21 The wise in heart are called prudent, understanding, and knowing, and winsome speech increases learning [in both speaker and listener].
Coupled with a wise heart is a renewed mind…. We need a complete change in the way we think!
Romans 12:2
2 Do not conform yourselves to the standards of this world, but let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of your mind. Then you will be able to know the will of God—what is good and is pleasing to him and is perfect.
And it seems that with wisdom comes the ability to see that our days are numbered and then live with a focus and purpose that makes the most of each day.
Let’s say that you went to the Dr and were just told that you have three months to live. Chances are great that this knowledge will change the way you view life and go about each day, hour and moment. I belief that’s what Moses is talking about in Psalm 90.
Psalm 90:12
12 Teach us how short our life is,
so that we may become wise.
12 Teach us to understand how many days we have. Then we will have a heart of wisdom to give You.
12 So teach us to number our days,
That we may gain a heart of wisdom.
The Apostle Paul concurs with Moses…..
Ephesians 5:15-17
15 So then, be very careful how you live. Don’t live like foolish people but like wise people. 16 Make the most of your opportunities because these are evil days. 17 So don’t be foolish, but understand what the Lord wants.
In closing, I go back to Psalm 90. I think it very important to note how Moses talks with God. He is obviously comfortable in his relationship with the Father. By the sounds of it, he is not afraid to tell him how he feels. He comes boldly! Not cowering and afraid as if God is a mean spirited task master, but as one who has proven that his Heavenly Father is loving and compassionate and a giver of good and perfect gifts.
Psalm 90:12
12-17 Oh! Teach us to live well!
Teach us to live wisely and well!
Come back, God—how long do we have to wait?—
and treat your servants with kindness for a change.
Surprise us with love at daybreak;
then we’ll skip and dance all the day long.
Make up for the bad times with some good times;
we’ve seen enough evil to last a lifetime.
Let your servants see what you’re best at—
the ways you rule and bless your children.
And let the loveliness of our Lord, our God, rest on us,
confirming the work that we do.
Oh, yes. Affirm the work that we do!
It all goes back to our view of the Father, how we perceive him with our hearts and think of him in our minds. This is vital to real life! That is why our enemy is ever after us. To pierce our hearts with his lies about the Father. To muddy our minds with his propaganda!
That is why Jesus’ statement in John 10 is crucial for us who seek Life… Real Life!
John 10:10
10 The thief comes only in order to steal, kill, and destroy. I have come in order that you might have life—life in all its fullness.
Note- both Jesus and Satan are very intentional in their purpose and objective. They know their roles and pursue them with all they have, utilizing every resource available to them. Thanks be to God who has won our victory in Christ Jesus!
Live, Love, Laugh! Jonathan
Vessels of Greatness – Our Super-Natural Weapon
Do we know the power of our supernatural weapon? Do we dare to use it with the authority of a faith that commands as well as asks? God baptize us with holy audacity and Divine confidence! He is not wanting great men, but He is wanting men who will dare to prove the greatness of their God. But God! But prayer!
–A. B. Simpson
I have found that the moment I need to pray the most is when I don’t feel like praying. Realizing my weakness apart from Christ is the beginning of Supernatural possibilities. Paul says it so well-
2 Corinthians 12:10
10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
2 Corinthians 12:9
9 But his answer was:
My grace is all you need, for my power is greatest when you are weak. I am most happy, then, to be proud of my weaknesses, in order to feel the protection of Christ’s power over me.
May we give up our silly illusions of our own strength and come to the realization that apart from Christ…. We can do nothing!
John 15:5
5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”
– Jesus of Nazareth
I have included some great quotes regarding prayer. May they encourage and even challenge you to be a man or woman of prayer. Prayerfully, Jonathan
“The prayer power has never been tried to its full capacity. If we want to see mighty wonders of divine power and grace wrought in the place of weakness, failure and disappointment, let us answer God’s standing challenge, “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things which thou knowest not!'” (J. Hudson Taylor)
“Don’t pray when you feel like it. Have an appointment with the Lord and keep it. A man is powerful on his knees.” Corrie ten Boom
“Satan trembles when he sees the weakest Christian on his knees.” William Cowper
“Prayer is not overcoming God’s reluctance, but laying hold of His willingness.” Martin Luther.
“There is not in the world a kind of life more sweet and delightful than that of a continual conversation with God.” Brother Lawrence
When asked how much time he spent in prayer, George Muller’s reply was, “Hours every day. But I live in the spirit of prayer. I pray as I walk and when I lie down and when I arise. And the answers are always coming.” Source Unknown.
“The one concern of the devil is to keep Christians from praying. He fears nothing from prayerless studies, prayerless work and prayerless religion. He laughs at our toil, mocks at our wisdom, but he trembles when we pray.” Samuel Chadwick
“I would rather teach one man to pray than ten men to preach.” Charles Spurgeon
“…[the] power of prayer can never be overrated. They who cannot serve God by preaching need not regret. If a man can but pray he can do anything. He who knows how to overcome with God in prayer has Heaven and earth at his disposal.” Charles H. Spurgeon
Freedom To Forgive
It takes a strong person to say sorry, and an even stronger person to forgive.
– Unknown
I believe one of the keys to a rich life is choosing to keep no record of wrongs- to forgive! When we choose to not forgive, we become judge and jury. In becoming the judge we,in essence, become our own judge and condemn and enslave ourselves.
Jesus has come to set us free from the power that sin has over us. When we choose unforgiveness , we choose the law and not grace!
So often, in our relationships, we will extend grace to ourselves , But law to others! How damaging this is!
I have compiled a few quotes and verses that should be helpful in your pursuit of peace. May you choose to daily offer and receive grace and mercy. Gods peace, Jonathan
Galatians 5:1
Freedom in Christ
5 So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law.
If we practice and eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth, soon the whole world will be blind and toothless.
— Mahatma Gandhi
We will always find new reasons -not to forgive, especially if we are currently in the grip of unforgiveness – jmc
Matthew 5:9
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.”
Matthew 6:
14 “If you forgive others the wrongs they have done to you, your Father in heaven will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive the wrongs you have done. ”
The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.
— Mahatma Gandhi
The day the child realizes that all adults are imperfect, he becomes an adolescent; the day he forgives them, he becomes an adult; the day he forgives himself, he becomes wise.
— Alden Nowlan
To err is human; to forgive, divine
— Alexander Pope
1 Corinthians 13
4 Love is patient and kind; it is not jealous or conceited or proud;
5 love is not ill-mannered or selfish or irritable; love does not keep a record of wrongs; 6 love is not happy with evil, but is happy with the truth. 7 Love never gives up; and its faith, hope, and patience never fail.
8 Love is eternal.
Proverbs 19:11
11 Good sense makes a man restrain his anger, and it is his glory to overlook a transgression or an offense.
Jesus- A Real Man!
John 11:
33 When Jesus saw her weeping and saw the other people wailing with her, a deep anger welled up within him,[f] and he was deeply troubled. 34 “Where have you put him?” he asked them.
They told him, “Lord, come and see.” 35 Then Jesus wept. 36 The people who were standing nearby said, “See how much he loved him!”
In light of this passage… What can we say about this man, Jesus of Nazareth? In just four verses he shows us much. Compassion , deep anger, anguish, raw emotion – Love!
If you thought that Jesus was God just “playing man” , this scene must leave you wondering. Wonder no more! These are emotions of a Real Man! Not the worlds view of a man..
You know- the one who shows no emotion, never lets his guard down, knows no weakness…. Is a man’s man! A self-made man. Aloof, a loner- an island. One who holds to the motto, “Real Men Don’t Cry”.
I love how, in just one scene, Jesus blows that “poser image” out of the water! He is very comfortable in his own skin. Shows no concern about “appearances”. Even though he knows what he is about to do, he still gets caught up in the moment. Doesn’t sound like God “playing man” to me!
He even shows anger at a very tender moment! What’s that all about? I think he is angry at the evil one! Angry at what he has done. He sees this scene and is reminded of the thief’s mission – to steal, kill and destroy. After-all, It wasn’t very long ago that he told his disciples about the devils purpose….
John 10:10
10 The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.
I love this verse! In just two sentences he sets the record straight. Clears the air! Leaves no doubt about what he has come to do- his intentions toward us and those of our enemy!
In closing, I leave you with this thought.
When life happens and you are tempted to doubt Gods intentions… Whether he is good. Remember this scene and John 10:10. Let the Real Jesus set the record straight and set your heart and mind in the right direction….. He has come to give you a rich and satisfying LIFE!
Live, love, laugh! Happy Easter!
Jonathan
