Author Archives: lrbartel

Apr 20 2020
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Devos

Integrity matters… especially for Christians!

Integrity
I can tell you, people who are faithful, dependable, honest, and true to their word are appreciated… and rare! Ethics and integrity matter… they matter a lot! Those who claim to be Christians should be people of integrity and the highest ethics!
This morning in my Bible reading during my time of “coffee with the Lord” I read a personal statement of ethics by Apostle Paul that deeply challenged me! No, it did more than that… it convicted me! It caused me to pause and confess my personal lapses in integrity and repent of them! In the words of an old cross-country coach I had in high school… “No excuses!”
Here is Apostle Paul’s statement of personal ethics and integrity…
“I can say with confidence and a clear conscience that we have lived with a God-given holiness and sincerity in all our dealings! We have depended on God’s grace, not on our own human wisdom. That is how we have conducted ourselves before the world, and especially toward you. Our letters have been straightforward, and there is nothing written between the lines… Do you think I am like people of the world who say ‘Yes’ when they really mean ‘No’? As surely as God is faithful, our word to you does not waver between ‘Yes’ and ‘No.’ For Jesus Christ, the Son of God, does not waver between ‘Yes’ and ‘No.’ He is the one who… is God’s ultimate ‘Yes,’ he always does what he says. For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding ‘Yes!’ And through Christ, our ‘Amen’ (which means ‘Yes’) ascends to God for his glory.” (from 2 Corinthians 1:12–20 NLT)
So this morning, first of all I jotted in the margin of my Bible these words: “I want to live this way!” And then I paused and prayed asking the Lord to help my live with that level of integrity… EVERY day of my life… EVERY moment I live! Following Apostle Paul’s example is one thing… Following Christ, my Savior, is quite another! With God’s help I intend for follow Him!
Apr 17 2020
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Devos

Can you imagine… “Blessed with every blessing!”

God's blessingCan you imagine…
There is a knock at your front door, a well-dressed person stands there, identifies himself as the official representative of an incredibly well-known, influential, powerful and wealthy person, and informs you that he has been sent officially to inform you of a wonderful gift that will be given to you… His words, “Be prepared for it – the benefactor, who authorized me to deliver this message, assures its arrival!”
I thought of that scenario as I read these well-known words in the Bible this morning…
“Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Tell Aaron and his sons [the Lord’s official representatives] to bless the people of Israel [God’s chosen people] with this special blessing:
‘May the Lord bless you and protect you.
May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you.
May the Lord grant you His favor and give you His peace.’
Whenever Aaron and his sons bless the people of Israel IN MY NAME, I MYSELF WILL BLESS THEM.” (From Numbers 6:22-27 NLT)
A few observations…
1) It is Almighty God’s intention to bless His people!
2) He has authorized His representatives to bless those who are His children!
3) When they bless God’s people in His name, in this way (either using these exact words or similar blessings)
4) God Himself, with all the resources of heaven and earth, stands behind the blessing and declares, “I Myself will bless them!”
This I believe! And in this way, in His name, I intend to bless others of His children!
Oh, you want a New Testament passage to back it up? How’s this one… “All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus!” (Ephesians 1:3 NLT)
Apr 16 2020
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Devos

“God Bless America, Land that I Love…”

God bless AmericaI thought of the nation I love and am concerned about when I read Jeremiah 18.7-10 this morning:

“If at any time I [God] declare concerning a nation or a kingdom, that I will pluck up and break down and destroy it, and if that nation, concerning which I have spoken, turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I intended to do to it…

“…and if at any time I declare concerning a nation or a kingdom that I will build and plant it, and if it does evil in my sight, not listening to my voice, then I will relent of the good that I had intended to do to it.

… Or at another moment I might speak concerning a nation or concerning a kingdom to build up or to plant it; if it does evil in My sight by not obeying My voice, then I will think better of the good with which I had promised to bless it.”

“Therefore… the Lord says, “Return, every one of you from his evil way, and amend your ways and your deeds!” (From Jeremiah 18:7-11 ESV)

I didn’t say it… It’s a message God spoke through Jeremiah, the prophet, concerning Judah.  And it was fulfilled in the painful experience of the Babylonian exile.  And it is a message that applies to our nation as well!  Which will we choose – the mercy of God or the judgment of God?  I am praying we will choose His mercy!

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