Author Archives: lrbartel

Feb 03 2017
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Devos

As a child of God, I don’t want to have to learn the hard way!

sulky angry childWillful children are a challenge and disappointment to loving, nurturing, caring parents. I don’t know how many discouraged and frustrated parents of children like that have sighed deeply in my presence and uttered these words, “I guess they’ll just have to learn the hard way!”

I think God often feels that way… In fact, I am sure of it based upon the Biblical record. In fact, I read a chapter this morning during my Bible reading in which God expresses those exact sentiments through His prophet Isaiah! Here are the Lord’s own words (from Isaiah 30)…

“Ah, stubborn children,” declares the Lord, “who carry out a plan, but not mine, and who make an alliance, but not of my Spirit, that they may add sin to sin; who set out…without asking for my direction… They are a rebellious people, lying children, children unwilling to hear the instruction of the Lord.” (vss. 1-2, 10)

And the fact is, their Heavenly Father stands ready to instruct, guide, help, and deliver those who will turn to Him! He tells them…

“For thus says the Lord God, the Holy On of Israel, ‘In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.’ But you were unwilling! … Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you, and therefore He exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the Lord is a god of justice; blessed are all those who wait for Him!” (vss. 15, 18)

Oh, I don’t want to be a rebellious and self-willed, child of God, refusing my loving Heavenly Father’s direction, determined to go my own way! Instead, may I listen carefully to His direction, follow His leading, and experience His grace and blessing! May I avoid the pain of “learning the hard way!” If and when He must discipline me may I cling to His steadfast love and benevolent purposes for my life (see Hebrews 12:5-11)

Feb 01 2017
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Devos

“Just like heaven on earth!”

house-church-home-bible-study

Can you imagine being a part of a group of people that exhibited the following qualities?  …I mean can you imagine it?!

  • People with sincere, genuine love
  • They hate what is evil and cling to what is good.
  • They are devoted to each another
  • They honor one another above themselves – they put others first
  • They are zealous about spiritual things and serving the Lord.
  • They are hopeful and joyful
  • They’re patient in their affliction,
  • They are faithful in prayer
  • They are generous with those who are in need.
  • They practice hospitality.
  • They bless those who persecute them (and never curse their enemies)
  • They rejoice with those who rejoice and mourn with those who mourning
  • They live in harmony with one another.
  • They are not proud and never conceited, but willingly associate with ordinary people
  • They never repay anyone evil for evil or seek revenge.
  • They are careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone
  • If it is at all possible, as far as it depends on them, they seek to live at peace with everyone
  • In fact, If their enemy is hungry, they feed him; if he is thirsty, they give him something to drink
  • Here’s their overall principle… Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

(Adapted from Romans 12:9-21… You should read it right out of your Bible!  I did this morning.)

Wow!!  What a wonderful thing to be a part of a group like that!  What a reputation they would have – what a testimony!  What healing potential!  Almost like “heaven on earth!”  (Not heaven yet, but almost!)  That’s what an authentic community of Christ followers ought to be like… That is what they should aspire to… That’s what they should be becoming!

Oh Lord, I cry out to You… Help any community of Christ followers that I am a part of to have those qualities as their goal, their vision, their mission!  And may I do everything in my power to contribute to them being more and more like that – more like Jesus!  Help me Lord!

Jan 30 2017
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Devos

Where can wisdom be found? Take an awesome trip… Job 28 in your Bible!

beauty-of-the-earthToday’s “coffee with the Lord” post is simply one of my very favorite passages in the Bible – Job 28. This passage will be awesome for you if you are a visual learner and can imagine the scenes it describes… So let your imagination be like an incredible high definition video. (In fact sometime, somewhere, I’d like to see a gifted creative team, including videographers, sound effects, and a interpretive reader create a video of it!) Until then, however, I guess you’ll just have to use your imagination! So here goes…

“Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place for gold that they refine. Iron is taken out of the earth, and copper is smelted from the ore. Man puts an end to darkness and searches out to the farthest limit the ore in gloom and deep darkness. He opens shafts in a valley away from where anyone lives; they are forgotten by travelers; they hang in the air, far away from mankind; they swing to and fro. As for the earth, out of it comes bread, but underneath it is turned up as by fire. Its stones are the place of sapphires, and it has dust of gold. That path no bird of prey knows, and the falcon’s eye has not seen it. The proud beasts have not trodden it; the lion has not passed over it.

“Man puts his hand to the flinty rock and overturns mountains by the roots. He cuts out channels in the rocks, and his eye sees every precious thing. He dams up the streams so that they do not trickle, and the thing that is hidden he brings out to light.

“BUT WHERE SHALL WISDOM BE FOUND? AND WHERE IS THE PLACE OF UNDERSTANDING? Man does not know its worth, and it is not found in the land of the living. The deep says, ‘It is not in me,’ and the sea says, ‘It is not with me.’ It cannot be bought for gold, and silver cannot be weighed as its price. It cannot be valued in the gold of Ophir, in precious onyx or sapphire. Gold and glass cannot equal it, nor can it be exchanged for jewels of fine gold. No mention shall be made of coral or of crystal; THE PRICE OF WISDOM IS ABOVE PEARLS! THE TOPAZ OF ETHIOPIA CANNOT EQUAL IT, NOR CAN IT BE VALUED IN PURE GOLD!

“FROM WHERE, THEN, DOES WISDOM COME? AND WHERE IS THE PLACE OF UNDERSTANDING? It is hidden from the eyes of all living and concealed from the birds of the air. Abaddon and Death say, ‘We have heard a rumor of it with our ears.’

“GOD UNDERSTANDS THE WAY TO IT, AND HE KNOWS ITS PLACE! For He looks to the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens. When He gave to the wind its weight and apportioned the waters by measure, when He made a decree for the rain and a way for the lightning of the thunder, THEN HE SAW IT AND DECLARED IT; HE ESTABLISHED IT, AND SEARCHED IT OUT. AND HE SAID TO MAN, ‘BEHOLD, THE FEAR OF THE LORD, THAT IS WISDOM, AND TO TURN AWAY FROM EVIL IS UNDERSTANDING!’ ” (Job 28 ESV)

Enough said, eh? Wow!!!

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