Are you needed?

Click here to read the Old Paths Journal.

The LORD Hath Need of You

 

Matthew 21:3

"And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them."

What an astonishing statement when God says, "The Lord hath need of them..." Can you imagine the God of the Universe having a need?  Can you imagine the Creator of all things lacking something that you have?  Can you imagine that the God Who owns the cattle on the thousand hills wanting something that you have?  That is what happened in the verse above.  

Jesus was about to make His triumphal entry into Jerusalem before His crucifixion.  He sent His disciples to a man who had something that He needed.  Without this man allowing his livestock to be used by God, prophecy would have been voided.  Without this man being willing to give up what he had, Scriptures would have been deemed a lie, because it was prophesied in the Old Testament that Jesus would ride "upon an ass" into Jerusalem.  Jesus had a need that only this man could fill, and if he didn't fill that need, then a void would have been left in this world.  

Christian, let me make this clear to you, the LORD hath need of you. The very same God that needed this man's animal needs you as well.  You may wonder why God would need you, but let me remind you that you were made for a purpose that only you could fulfill.  God did not place you on this Earth for no reason at all.  God placed you on this Earth because He had a need that only you could fill.  The LORD hath need of you doing what He made you to do.  

Furthermore, when you don't fulfill the purpose of why God made you, then you leave a void on this Earth that nobody can fill.  We wonder why this world is in the shape that it's in, and the reason is because there are so many Christians who are not fulfilling the purpose of why God made them.  Though others may try to fill in where you are not doing your part, nobody can fill your position quite like you.  

I challenge you to do your part in filling the purpose of why you were made. Yes, the LORD hath need of you.  Whatever your shortcomings are in life, let me remind you that the LORD hath need of you.  However your physical frailties may limit you, let me remind you that the LORD still hath need of you.  Whatever your education level is, the LORD hath need of you.  Fill in the blank and we can still say that the LORD hath need of you.  Don't leave the LORD with a need unfulfilled.  Just think, you have something that the God of the Universe needs; that need is you.  Let God have His need filled by you surrendering to do whatever He needs you to do.  When you fill God's need, then He will fill your need.

Stealing

Click here to read the Old Paths Journal.

Who's Stealing from You?

 

Matthew 24:43

"But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up."

One of the most invasive things that can happen to you is to be burglarized.  To know that someone broke in and invaded your property without your knowledge is very disturbing to say the least.  Years ago when I was a teenager, I had my car stereo stolen from me.  It was a summer morning, and when I went out to my car to go to work I noticed that my window was broken and that someone had ripped my stereo out of the dash. It is amazing after you have been burglarized how you come up with all kinds off ideas on how to punish a thief if they attempt it again.  

That is exactly what Jesus was saying in the verse above.  Jesus said, "...if the goodman of the house had known what watch the thief would come, he would have watched..." The goodman is talking about the leader of the home.  It was sad that it was only after the goodman had his house burglarized that he became aware of the thief.  The goodman should have been aware that there were thieves that would steal from him before he was burglarized.  Instead, it wasn't until it his house was broken up that he became concerned about the thief.  

This story of the goodman could be told over and over again in today's society.  What many people don't understand is that their are thieves that are breaking up their homes on a daily basis. The sad part is, it isn't until after the home is broken that people become concerned about who's stealing from their family.  You may think that your family is safe, but you better be careful about those things that could be stealing from your family.  Don't wait until your family is broken to become concerned about the thief.  

Let me caution married couples to watch out for the thieves that would break their marriages.  Some of the thieves that break up marriages are: no time for each other; lack of communication; not meeting the physical needs of your spouse; dishonesty between each other; manipulation to get your way; getting involved with other people; wrong websites, etc. Watch your marriage so that you don't allow a thief to steal the relationship that you have with your spouse.  

Likewise, there are thieves that would break your home.  The family relationship is very important, and you must not let your home be broken before you become concerned about the thieves.  Some of the thieves that break up a home are: television; wrong friends; never spending time with the family; video games; social networking; unfaithfulness to church; worldly activities, etc.  I'm trying to get you to see that you must constantly be on the alert to watch out for thieves that would break up your home.  Don't wait until your home is destroyed before you start becoming concerned with those thieves.  

There is no way in this short devotional that I can deal with marriage and home thieves in a proper way.  What I want you to do is stop, look at each area, and identify the thieves that are trying to break up your home and marriage.  Don't let the destruction of your home and marriage be the thing that it takes to get you to be aware of the thieves that would steal from you.  Secure your home and marriage from those thieves before they are broken up.

Earplugs

Click here to read the Old Paths Journal.

Spiritual Earplugs

 

Matthew 21:33

"Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country:"

Your hearing is one of the most important senses that God gave you.  Though every sense is important, no doubt hearing is at the top.  When you can't hear, you will miss many important sounds that you need to hear.    

In the verse above, Jesus made the statement, "Hear another parable..." He made this statement as though He tried to get them to hear and understand other parables before, but for some reason they never really heard what He was trying to say.  Because they didn't hear before, Jesus had to teach "another parable" to these people.  

I find in churches today there are many people who for several reasons do not hear what the preacher is teaching and preaching.  Because they don't hear, the preacher has to preach "another parable" to try and get the same truth across because they didn't get the truth in a previous sermon.  Let me show you several reasons why people don't hear.  

First, people don't hear because they are not there.  It is hard to hear the truth God wants you to hear when you are not in church.  This is why it is important to be faithful to every service.  It might be that one service you miss causes the preacher to have to preach "another parable."  

Second, some don't hear because they don't pay attention. This type of person is there, but their mind is not there. They hear a noise, but they are not really listening to what is being said. They are thinking about what is going to happen after the services or later on that week and miss the truth God wanted them to hear. You must be sure that you pay attention to the preaching, so you don't miss the truth God wants you to hear.  

Third, some don't hear because they are not listening.  This crowd just isn't listening to the preaching. Instead, they are texting or writing notes during the preaching time. They are messing with people around them and missing a truth that could change their life.  When you are in church, you must not allow yourself to do other things while the preacher is preaching.  When he preaches, you need to listen.  

Fourth, some don't hear because of sin.  Sin will deafen your ears to the truth. You can sit there and actually pay attention, but because sin is in your life you will not get the truth God wants you to hear.  Christian, you must take care of your sin. I know I sound like a broken record, but sin will become like spiritual earplugs that will cause you not to hear the truths of God.  

Last, some don't hear because they are unteachable.  This crowd already has their mind made up and it doesn't matter how the truth is presented, they will not hear and change.  When you go to church, stay teachable.  If you think you know everything, then the preacher cannot help you. If you already have your mind made up on the subject before the preacher can present the truth, then you will not hear what God wants you to hear.  

Are you not hearing the truth the first time it is presented to you?  Is God telling your preacher to preach "another parable" because you didn't get it the first time for one of the reasons mentioned above? Take the spiritual earplugs out that are deafening your ears so you can hear the truths of God the first time they are preached.

Voices

Strength for Today Header

Join Our Mailing List!
Click here to read the Old Paths Journal.

The Voices of Fear or Faith

 

Matthew 14:32

"And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased."

One of the greatest stories that I enjoy reading in the Scriptures is about Peter walking on water to go to Jesus.  Jesus commanded the disciples to get into the boat and go to the other side.  Yes, Jesus knew that a storm would come and nearly take their lives, but He had a great miracle in store for them if they would listen to His voice.  While they were in the middle of the sea, a fierce storm came, and it was so fierce that it nearly sunk their boat.  While they were rowing as hard as they could to get to land, they saw a figure walking on the water.  Peter, being afraid, cried out only to have a voice come back.  This voice was the voice of Jesus.  Peter asked if it were Jesus to bid him to come unto Him.  To his surprise, Jesus bid him come.  Peter listened and came.  Yes, he failed while walking on the water, but he had the opportunity to walk on water because he didn't listen to the voice of fear.  

There are many Christians who miss the walking on water experience because they listen to the voice of fear.  The other eleven disciples heard the same bidding that Peter heard, but they stayed in the boat while he got out and walked on the water.  Though he heard the voice of fear, he listened to the voice of Jesus and acted on faith which allowed him this great opportunity.  You will never accomplish much in life if you always listen to the voice of fear.  

Christian, whenever faith says to come, you will always hear the voice of fear as well.  The voice of fear is trying to stop you from listening to the voice of faith, but you must listen to faith because it has something great in store for you.  You must always remember that God will never ask you to step out on faith without His presence being near you.  Moreover, when you step out by faith, God expects that you will probably fail.  Yet, that is why He is there to help you out of your failure.  

What is the voice of fear keeping you from doing for God?  What voice are you listening to in your life?  God's will is never going to be easy.  Whenever God's will calls, you can count on the voice of fear sounding off and telling you how foolish you are. If you listen to it, you will be like the eleven disciples who stayed in the boat and you will never experience the walking on water experience of your life.  When God called me to go into full-time evangelism, I heard the voice of fear, but I stepped out on the voice of faith and trusted God, and I can say that I have had the walking on water experience.  It is great, but you must listen to God's bidding and obey.