Author Archives: lrbartel

Apr 05 2017
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Devos

The challenges, adversaries, difficulties you are facing… He is able!

He is able!Challenges, adversaries, difficulties… Two ways to handle them: You can try to solve them on your own – or you can seek help from someone who has the ability to solve the problem. As a Christian, it’s either you “and your lonesome” – or seeking the help of the Almighty God – the great “I AM!” – the “able” and “willing” One!
 
Perhaps you, or someone you love and care about, is facing a need like that… I know I am! And there are several I care deeply about who are facing daunting challenges! Here’s what I read this morning from the Bible during my time of “coffee with the Lord”…
 
“O God, we have heard with our ears, our fathers have told us, what deeds you performed in their days, in the days of old! You with your own hand drove out the nations, but them you planted – You afflicted the peoples, but them you set free. For not by their own sword did they win the land, nor did their own arm save them, but Your right hand and your arm, and the light of your face, for You delighted in them… For not in my bow do I trust, nor can my sword save me. But You have saved us from our foes and have put to shame those who hate us. In God we have boasted continually, and we will give thanks to your name forever! … Rise up; come to our help! Redeem us for the sake of your steadfast love!” (From Psalm 44 ESV)
 
Probably you, like myself, have heard the wonderful stories of God’s mighty, miraculous acts in the past, from family and Christian friends! They trusted the Lord and he delivered them, healed them, defended them and answered their prayers. I don’t know about you, but I this morning during “coffee with the Lord” I determined to trust the Lord in the challenges I am facing… After all His tomb is empty!
Apr 04 2017
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Devos

Living counter-cultural… God’s people really need to realize who they are!

Set Apart - sanctifiedIn my Bible reading yesterday and today I have been deeply challenged by God’s claim on our lives! In the words of Apostle Paul, “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, Whom you have from God. You are not your own, you were bought with a price! So, glorify God in your body!” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20 ESV)

This concept – this understanding – this truth runs so counter to the world view and values of the popular culture! In every way it is “counter-cultural!”

It has been, however, the core truth and foundational concept of God’s people down through the ages!

The passages I’ve been reading have been from Leviticus in the Bible… My Bible reading the past two days have been Leviticus 18-20 – passages where God through Moses identifies the unique and distinct lifestyle God expected of His redeemed people and the rationale – the truth – that was foundational to it. Phrases are piled up and repeated over and over again in the passage that identify that rationale…

  • “And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, ‘Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, I am the Lord your God! You shall not do as they do in the land of Egypt where you lived, and you shall not do as they do in the land of Canaan, to which I am bring you… You shall follow my rules and keep my statutes and walk in them. I am the Lord your God!’
  • “And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, ‘Speak to all the congregation of the people of Israel and say to them, You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy!
  • “I am the Lord your God!
  • “I am the Lord your God!
  • “I am the Lord your God!
  • “I am the Lord!
  • “You shall fear [reverence] your God: I am the Lord!
  • “I am the Lord
  • “You shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord!
  • “I am the Lord your God!
  • “I am the Lord!
  • “I am the Lord!
  • “I am the Lord your God!
  • “You shall fear [reverence] your God: I am the Lord!
  • “You shall love your neighbor as yourself… I am the Lord your God!”
  • “Consecrate yourselves, therefore, and be holy, for I am the Lord your God! Keep my statutes and do them; I am the Lord who sanctifies you [sets you apart as My holy people]!
  • “You shall not walk in the customs of the nations that I am driving out before you, for they did all these things… I am the Lord your God, who has separated you from the peoples…
  • “You shall be holy to Me, for I the Lord am holy and have separated you from the peoples, that you should be mine!” (Repeated refrains from Leviticus 18-20)
  • I don’t know how all of that strikes you, but it sounds to me a lot like 1 Peter 1:14-16 and 2:9-10:

“As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as He who called you is holy, so you also be holy in all your conduct! Remember it is written, ‘You shall be holy as I am holy!”

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called out of darkness into His marvelous light! Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people! Once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy!”

We belong to the Lord! He has redeemed us with the precious blood [the life sacrifice] of Jesus! He has set us apart to Himself as His very own people! He has called us to live by a different code of conduct and values than the broader culture… The truth is, He has called us to be “counter cultural!” And by the grace of God that is how I intend to live! Don’t you?

Mar 31 2017
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Devos

Sometimes your witness is like a seed sprouting where and when you don’t expect it!

SeedlingEver had the experience of planting some seeds in the garden or flowerbed and inadvertently dropping one? Perhaps you were not even aware of it… or you were aware, looked around a bit to see if you could find it, and you couldn’t … it was just to small. Later, to your surprise, there it was – a sprig of green coming up where and when you least expected it!

Sometimes sharing your testimony, living out the Christian life, and sowing the seed of the Gospel is like that. You do it regularly, sowing your testimony, living as a witness, planting the see of the gospel every time you get an opportunity… here, then there, to this person, and then that… all the while hoping, praying, expecting a harvest for the seed sown. And then to your complete surprise someone you didn’t expect responds to the gospel, and the seed you’ve sown bears fruit!

I had an experience like that one day… As a young man in high school, running a bit late for work one day, I had to stop and put gasoline in my car. I was in a bit of a hurry… And on my way into the service station to pay for my gasoline I saw a high school classmate – a young man who lived quite a sinful life and gotten into a lot of trouble. I greeted him warmly as I entered the service station and simply said, “Good morning, Larry! How are you doing today?” (Didn’t have time for much more, but I wanted to be friendly.) I went on into the service station, paid for my gas and left… And that was it (so I thought) …

Fast forward several years… I am standing in line, registering for classes in Bible college. Suddenly I hear a voice behind me saying, “Well hello, Bartel, how are you?” It was Larry!!! I turned, shocked, and said, “What are you doing here?” And he told me this story… He said, “Do you remember a day in Ronan, Montana, when you saw me at Moody’s Service Station? You greeted me as you went in to pay for your gas. As you left, I said to myself, I don’t know what Bartel has, but one day I’m going to have it too! As I result of that, I eventually became a Christian, and I’m here in Bible school, preparing for Christian service!”

True story – actually happened!! And here’s what I read in the Bible this morning… “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground. He sleeps and rises night and day, and seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how. The earth produces by itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. But when the grain is ripe, at once he put in the sickle because the harvest has come.” (Mark 4:26-29 ESV)

You know what? I’m going to keep on sowing… going to keep on sharing my faith… going to keep on witnessing… going to keep on living out my life as a Christ follower… I believe it’s going to bear fruit somewhere, somehow!

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