I've been remiss on posting a devotional lately. You may be thinking this poor brother must be suffering. Perhaps he is going through some stormy season and so has neglected his devotional life. The pressures of ministry have finally gotten to him.
This reasoning couldn't be further from the truth. The exact opposite is true. I have been blessed with a wonderful time of comfort and excitement! I have had the privilege in the last few months of the “mountain top “ experience. I have to admit. It’s mighty nice up here. I’ve had specific prayers answered. I’ve had clear direction form the Lord on various subjects. I’ve preached sermons that were confirmed by several people and spoken prophetically and watched God confirm the prophecy through trusted Godly people all around me. This is the stuff of goose bumps for me. Is our faith based on feelings? No, but it sure is nice to have our faith built up through our feelings once in a while. Don’t misunderstand. There have been the usual challenges of home and ministry. However, it’s as if the Holy Spirit decided recently, “it’s time to build this poor guy up for a while.” Delightful.
So if everything is so ducky then why not share it on my blog? Because I didn’t have permission to do so. ( Read that last sentence again, then read it one more time ) Each time I would sit down to share some thoughts there would be a “check engine light” of sorts in my spirit, that would click on and stop me. I certainly wrote out several devotional thoughts, I simply understood that it was not meant to share.
You see there is a direct correlation between obedience and the joy and blessing I’ve been experiencing. In order for me to enjoy the “mountain tops” I have to be obedient. Let’s connect the dots here. Obedience to the Lord does not guarantee worry free bliss and a constant spiritual giddiness … What it does guarantee is peace, and sustenance and yes, occasionally, the mountain top experience.
Let me be very clear about this. Sharing a devotional thought is fine. Sharing your testimony with someone is terrific. Sharing your thoughts with fellow believers is great. Here is the caveat. Before we do any of these things we need to make sure we’re doing it in obedience! Otherwise we run the risk of sharing our own thoughts filtered through our flesh rather than the Holy Spirit. Am I suggesting that believers ought to just quiet down? Absolutely not! Rather, I want to exhort you to seek the Lord in prayer and in scripture and in times of intimacy so our hearts and actions become attuned with Him. When we allow, daily, our desires to be overshadowed by His we give Him license to use us!
I leave you with a few short scriptures to ruminate. Psalm 32:8-9, Psalm 37:23 Proverbs 20:24, 1 Samuel 15:22.
In the last several weeks the Lord placed in my heart a little nugget of wisdom that is meant for us all. It is far more important for us to be gracious than lawful.
Will you join me in a simple prayer?
Lord, give us wisdom. Help us to be kind, loving one another. Guide our steps. Guide our words. We need your insight. Give us hearts that are soft and sensitive and easily led by your Spirit. Overshadow our desires with yours that we might be useful to the kingdom of Heaven with out wounding those around us. We thank you in advance for the discernment you freely give, as we seek to know you and be obedient. Amen
Showing posts with label obedience. Show all posts
Showing posts with label obedience. Show all posts
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
the grass is always greener but it's not always God
by Pastor Jim Rovaggi
Did you know, it’s been suggested that glass is actually a liquid? If someone had asked me years ago, “Is glass in a solid or a liquid state?” I would have confidently answered; it’s in a solid state. I would have been wrong. Take a look at a really old pane of glass some time. You’ll notice it looks sort of droopy. Have you ever been utterly convinced about something only to find out later you were wrong? When was the last time you asked God, “Am I in the right state? Is my heart and mind in the right condition? Even the Psalmist David had to say “Search my heart and see if there is any wicked way in me”
Let’s talk about obedience briefly. It’s mighty easy to consider myself obedient if I never ask the Lord, “What should I be doing?”
My precious little boy has developed a knack for deflecting blame that would make a politician proud. Here is how the scenario plays out: From a seated position I would say, “Julian, put down the stuffed giraffe and come here, it’s time for breakfast”. His immediate response? “noooo”. “Julian, now!” I’m still sitting, but now my posture has gone rigid. Once again, “noooo”. At this point I’m annoyed that I have to go collect him physically, and it’s written all over my face. Upon reaching the little guy I sternly ask, “Why are you not obeying daddy!?” His reaction? He very sweetly offers up the stuffed giraffe to me accompanied by an adorable smile. Now if I can manage to not break down into a fit of giggles at his diabolical cuteness, it is time to put him in “time out” for being rebellious. At two years of age, these battles with discipline are about fifty-fifty between being strong disciplinarians and smothering the little guy with kisses, but because my wife and I love him and want to see him mature, addressing the rebellion is rapidly climbing. Very much, I imagine, like God does with us.
I’m reminded of the story in 1 Samuel 15:10-25 when Saul gets caught in disobedience and tries to squirm out of it by claiming he was sacrificing for the Lord. Well friends, there’s no squirming out of accountability with God.
1 Samuel 15: 22 But Samuel replied: "Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.
As the children of a loving but disciplinary Father, we need to make a point of examining our hearts to make sure that we find sincere obedience there! I’ve witnessed people who are faithful, and even generous with their tithes and offerings, and use that as license to not get involved in any area of ministry! The reverse is also popular among the faithful. I‘ve heard a brother or sister say, “This is the ministry I sacrifice to the Lord and I’m happy to serve because we’re really in no position to give from our finances.” NEWS FLASH. Neither outlook is acceptable before God. It’s not one or the other. He is looking for obedience.
There is another side to all this of course. The negative side is that we invite discipline of our Father’s love when we are disobedient, but conversely, when we follow the Lord in obedience, we are rewarded with peace and confidence!
I had a conversation last week with a dear sister who shall remain nameless. Let’s call her Ethel. She’s married to an officer, lives a handful of blocks from my wife and I, and works for an attorney, but I digress. So as we chatted, “Ethel” shared how much she had enjoyed a recent trip, and how nice it would be to relocate there but the difficult truth was, that wasn’t in the plan of God at this time. My wife and I experienced a similar situation years ago. We thought perhaps the Lord was moving us to “greener pastures” but as we sought to be obedient we realized it wasn’t to be. I’m not able to say, “Everything has been just perfect!” but I am able to clearly see the many blessings we received for being obedient, including the birth of our precious child. As I spoke with “Ethel”, a thought settled into my spirit. How many followers of Christ have stepped off the path of obedience God had for them in favor of chasing greener grass only to find God putting them in “time out”? Will you take some time today and have a conversation with Jesus? He went to the very cross for you and I. Are you willing to go where He asks? Or for that matter, are you willing to stay put? Are you willing to obey? I pray that you are so that you can experience His great blessing.
Well I have to go folks. A giraffe just came flying by head. It’s time for a father’s love.
God Bless You! ...And may He make us blessable!
Pastor Jimmy E. Rovaggi
Associate Pastor
West Hudson Christian Center
557 Kearny Avenue Kearny, NJ 07032
p 201-997-7762
c-973-600-8544
Did you know, it’s been suggested that glass is actually a liquid? If someone had asked me years ago, “Is glass in a solid or a liquid state?” I would have confidently answered; it’s in a solid state. I would have been wrong. Take a look at a really old pane of glass some time. You’ll notice it looks sort of droopy. Have you ever been utterly convinced about something only to find out later you were wrong? When was the last time you asked God, “Am I in the right state? Is my heart and mind in the right condition? Even the Psalmist David had to say “Search my heart and see if there is any wicked way in me”
Let’s talk about obedience briefly. It’s mighty easy to consider myself obedient if I never ask the Lord, “What should I be doing?”
My precious little boy has developed a knack for deflecting blame that would make a politician proud. Here is how the scenario plays out: From a seated position I would say, “Julian, put down the stuffed giraffe and come here, it’s time for breakfast”. His immediate response? “noooo”. “Julian, now!” I’m still sitting, but now my posture has gone rigid. Once again, “noooo”. At this point I’m annoyed that I have to go collect him physically, and it’s written all over my face. Upon reaching the little guy I sternly ask, “Why are you not obeying daddy!?” His reaction? He very sweetly offers up the stuffed giraffe to me accompanied by an adorable smile. Now if I can manage to not break down into a fit of giggles at his diabolical cuteness, it is time to put him in “time out” for being rebellious. At two years of age, these battles with discipline are about fifty-fifty between being strong disciplinarians and smothering the little guy with kisses, but because my wife and I love him and want to see him mature, addressing the rebellion is rapidly climbing. Very much, I imagine, like God does with us.
I’m reminded of the story in 1 Samuel 15:10-25 when Saul gets caught in disobedience and tries to squirm out of it by claiming he was sacrificing for the Lord. Well friends, there’s no squirming out of accountability with God.
1 Samuel 15: 22 But Samuel replied: "Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.
As the children of a loving but disciplinary Father, we need to make a point of examining our hearts to make sure that we find sincere obedience there! I’ve witnessed people who are faithful, and even generous with their tithes and offerings, and use that as license to not get involved in any area of ministry! The reverse is also popular among the faithful. I‘ve heard a brother or sister say, “This is the ministry I sacrifice to the Lord and I’m happy to serve because we’re really in no position to give from our finances.” NEWS FLASH. Neither outlook is acceptable before God. It’s not one or the other. He is looking for obedience.
There is another side to all this of course. The negative side is that we invite discipline of our Father’s love when we are disobedient, but conversely, when we follow the Lord in obedience, we are rewarded with peace and confidence!
I had a conversation last week with a dear sister who shall remain nameless. Let’s call her Ethel. She’s married to an officer, lives a handful of blocks from my wife and I, and works for an attorney, but I digress. So as we chatted, “Ethel” shared how much she had enjoyed a recent trip, and how nice it would be to relocate there but the difficult truth was, that wasn’t in the plan of God at this time. My wife and I experienced a similar situation years ago. We thought perhaps the Lord was moving us to “greener pastures” but as we sought to be obedient we realized it wasn’t to be. I’m not able to say, “Everything has been just perfect!” but I am able to clearly see the many blessings we received for being obedient, including the birth of our precious child. As I spoke with “Ethel”, a thought settled into my spirit. How many followers of Christ have stepped off the path of obedience God had for them in favor of chasing greener grass only to find God putting them in “time out”? Will you take some time today and have a conversation with Jesus? He went to the very cross for you and I. Are you willing to go where He asks? Or for that matter, are you willing to stay put? Are you willing to obey? I pray that you are so that you can experience His great blessing.
Well I have to go folks. A giraffe just came flying by head. It’s time for a father’s love.
God Bless You! ...And may He make us blessable!
Pastor Jimmy E. Rovaggi
Associate Pastor
West Hudson Christian Center
557 Kearny Avenue Kearny, NJ 07032
p 201-997-7762
c-973-600-8544
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