Daily Devotions from God's Daily Word http://www.gdwm.org/archive.htm Religious/Christian en-us Fri, 5 Mar 2010 09:21:17 -0500 steve@gdwm.org Fri, 5 Mar 2010 09:18:37 -0500 FeedForAll v2.0 (2.0.2.9) http://www.feedforall.com Daily Devotions from God's Daily Word Daily Devotions from God's Daily Word. This podcast is an audio reading by Steve Troxel, author of God's Daily Word devotions. Each podcast will include a daily devotion as well as thoughts and updates about the ministry. Steve Troxel Steve Troxel steve@gdwm.org Daily Devotions no no http://www.gdwm.org/images/gdwmlogo144c.jpg http://www.gdwm.org/archive08.htm PodCast Logo 144 40
When God led the people of Israel out of slavery in Egypt, He told them to prepare for a quick departure by making bread without yeast. He gave instructions to remember their departure through the celebration of Passover - also called the Feast of Unleavened Bread. During this celebration there was a seven day period when yeast was not even allowed in the home: "For seven days no yeast is to be found in your houses. And whoever eats anything with yeast in it must be cut off from the community of Israel" (Exodus 12:19).

When God established the various offerings through Moses, yeast became associated with an unworthy sacrifice; "Every grain offering you bring to the Lord must be made without yeast" (Leviticus 2:11).

About 1500 years later, Jesus used the symbolism of yeast to give His disciples an important warning.

Luke 12:1
"Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy."

With this choice of words, Jesus warned that hypocrisy has the ability to contaminate our lives, and therefore the offering we present to God. The Pharisees had an outward appearance of godliness, but their hearts had compromised true worship and become contaminated; "On the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness" (Matthew 23:28). When we examine our own heart, does it match how we appear on the outside? Or have we too become full of hypocrisy?

The symbolism of yeast gives another clear warning; "A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough" (Galatians 5:9). Every day we are tempted to make compromises with the world; compromises which cause us to behave contrary to our professed beliefs. This is hypocrisy and must be avoided at all cost! Each incident seems so small - like only "a little yeast" - but soon the compromises work through all areas of our life.

The only worthy endeavor during our allotted time on earth is to present ourselves, with complete abandonment, as a living sacrifice to God; "this is your spiritual (or reasonable) act of worship" (Romans 12:1). Our Heavenly Father is worthy of our very best...a pure and holy offering.

Let's celebrate our release from the slavery of sin by cleaning our home and removing all spiritual compromise. Let's give our whole heart to God in loving worship and guard against ANYTHING which pulls us away. Let's fight the hypocrisy in our lives and diligently guard against the yeast.

Have a Christ Centered Day!

Steve Troxel
God's Daily Word Ministries]]> http://www.gdwm.org/archive.htm D955248C-2BB3-43D3-A005-567C811EF960 Fri, 5 Mar 2010 09:18:37 -0500
In the message "What We've Seen and Heard" we were encouraged to press in close to the presence of God and share how His truths have been made real in our life. As we continue to walk with our Heavenly Father and better understand His love, we ought to experience a sense of awe which we can't help but share with others.

The complete story of Jesus Christ - which began before the creation of the world and continues for all eternity - is a love story whose central theme is grace; "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God" (Ephesians 2:8). The moment we believe in Jesus for the forgiveness of our sin, God lovingly welcomes us into His Family; this is His gift of Salvation! We are adopted into His Family before doing anything deserving of being called His child. This means our Salvation is never something we earn - it is a gift of grace.

Romans 11:6
"And if by grace, then it is no longer by works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace."

If we come before our Heavenly Father thinking we can do ANYTHING which makes us deserving of Salvation, then we do not yet understand His gift of forgiving grace. God's grace is extended to all who believe, but we are called to believe His grace is both absolutely necessary AND completely sufficient.

If we truly believe, our life will produce fruit and we will do good works; "Faith, if not accompanied by action, is dead" (James 2:17). But our good works will never save us - Salvation is a gift. If we truly believe, we will desire to obediently follow; "We know that we have come to know Him if we obey His commands" (1 John 2:3). But our obedience will never save us - Salvation is a gift.

If we've never settled the issue of Salvation, then today is the day to "trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding" (Proverbs 3:5). We must come before God with empty hands, acknowledge our sin and need for a Savior, and receive the gift of grace offered through Jesus.

As we then continue our walk with Christ we learn to love Him with all our heart and strive to present our very best, bringing Him glory and honor in ALL we do. But while we walk, love, and strive, we must remember that our "best" is not what earns His favor. Our "successes" will not make us more worthy, and our "failures" will not cause us to lose His love. His gift is everything! Let's give Him everything in return as we continue to live each moment of this wondrous journey by trusting in His grace.

Have a Christ Centered Day!

Steve Troxel
God's Daily Word Ministries]]> http://www.gdwm.org/archive.htm CA8C785F-5F28-4510-8ABE-AB5B27C779F4 Thu, 4 Mar 2010 22:55:30 -0500
How will we respond to those who doubt? What should we say to those with uncertainties, or to those who ask, "Is Jesus really the answer?"

We could begin with how the Bible is the true Word of God: "A collection of 66 books written by many different authors, during a 1500 year time period, and all with the same message." Or, we could discuss the Old Testament prophesies which were fulfilled with Jesus. We could show where Micah said the Savior would be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2) and where Isaiah stated He would be born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14).

We could point to Zechariah who prophesied that our King would enter Jerusalem "gentle and riding on a donkey" (Zechariah 9:9), how David said He would be crucified; "they have pierced My hands and My feet" (Psalm 22:16), and how Isaiah said He would die for our sin; "He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors" (Isaiah 53:12).

These are all good truths to share at the appropriate time; but when someone is doubting or searching, it's usually best to follow the example of Jesus. John the Baptist had sent messengers to ask Jesus, "Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?" (Luke 7:19).

Luke 7:21-22
"At that very time Jesus cured many who had diseases, sicknesses and evil spirits, and gave sight to many who were blind. So He replied to the messengers, 'Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard.'"

While it's good to be able to defend our faith, we will never convince anyone to believe by presenting Biblical "facts." The most convincing argument as to the truth of God's Word is to share how we've seen His Word come alive in our own life; how we've seen Jesus calm the seas and rebuke the storms, heal broken lives and answer prayers. We ought to share how we've heard Him call us to test the waters of faith and seen the waters become solid as we stepped; how we've experienced "the peace of God, which transcends all understanding" (Philippians 4:7). When God's truths become real in our daily life, they cannot be argued against!

If His truths have not yet become absolute and unquestionably real, then I urge you to press VERY close into His presence and allow His light to shine in and through you each and every day. There can be no better preparation for sharing the truth than to live the truth and watch God work in a multitude of ways. Let's prepare to share the gospel; and when the opportunity arises, let's simply report what we've seen and heard.

Have a Christ Centered Day!

Steve Troxel
God's Daily Word Ministries]]> http://www.gdwm.org/archive.htm 1EC832B3-0CA2-4443-A723-CB98DCA038DB Thu, 4 Mar 2010 22:27:08 -0500
About 2600 years ago, God taught the prophet Jeremiah what it meant to be a sovereign God. He taught that His plan WOULD be fulfilled - one way or the other. Either His children would submit to His gentle guidance, or He would bring discipline to teach them the need for obedience.

Although God has the ability to directly give us understanding, His usual method is to teach us through His Word and then allow us to see the application and gain wisdom through our experiences. In order to give a clear understanding of His sovereignty, God told Jeremiah to go to the potter's house and wait for His message.

Jeremiah 18:3-6
"So I went down to the potter's house, and I saw him working at the wheel. But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him. Then the Word of the Lord came to me: 'Can I not do with you as this potter does?' declares the Lord. 'Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in My hand.'"

Jeremiah understood that God was the Potter and had total control over the shape of the clay. How foolish it would be for the clay to complain or rebel; "Can the pot say of the potter, 'He knows nothing'?" (Isaiah 29:16). The Potter will continue to mold the clay. If the clay begins to harden in its unfinished state, the Potter loves the clay enough to crush it down, sprinkle it with water and begin anew.

The only way for us to become all that God desires is to yield and remain moldable. We have no ability to shape ourselves! The Potter is creating something eternally beautiful - we are being "conformed to the likeness of His Son" (Romans 8:29). Oh, if we could only trust that His shaping is so much better than anything we could ever create. How prideful to think we can do better!

There may be times when we have rough edges which must be removed. There may also be times when we need to be crushed down so the shaping process can start over. But we must trust the Potter and believe the results will be worth any pain or discomfort; "I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us" (Romans 8:18).

Our Heavenly Father is in complete (and loving) control. Let's daily be filled with His Spirit and commit our lives to His shaping process - a process which undoubtedly will last a lifetime! Let's remain moldable clay and yield to the shaping of the Potter's Hand.

Have a Christ Centered Day!

Steve Troxel
God's Daily Word Ministries]]> http://www.gdwm.org/archive.htm FD9D7EDB-DF78-4951-9BE4-6FBF0F3097E5 Thu, 4 Mar 2010 19:10:59 -0500
All through the Old Testament, God called the people of Israel to worship Him as the One True God. He spoke through Moses, the priests, and the prophets, but the people continued to turn away. Even after the Babylonians invaded Jerusalem God continued to call His Children to return to Him - to return with ALL their heart!

During the Babylonian captivity, God told Ezekiel to proclaim His Word to all the people of Israel. Ezekiel gave the people several illustrations of how far they had fallen, and how much sorrow their sin was causing for a loving Father. Through Ezekiel, God said the people of Israel were like a helpless newborn baby who had been thrown into an open field; "Then I passed by and saw you kicking about in your blood, and as you lay there in your blood I said to you, 'Live!'" (Ezekiel 16:6).

They had done nothing to deserve His favor, but were chosen to become a great nation, set apart and devoted to God. Without His grace, they would have been as lost as the newborn in the field - but God said "Live!" He picked them up, cleaned them off, loved them, and made them beautiful...but His Children forgot His love and abused His grace.

Ezekiel 16:15-16
"You trusted in your beauty and used your fame to become a prostitute. You lavished your favors on anyone who passed by and your beauty became his...such things should not happen."

The people of Israel forgot all God had done and gave their love to other gods (spiritual prostitution). They used the grace of God for their own benefit and forgot their previous condition: "In all your detestable practices and your prostitution you did not remember the days of your youth, when you were naked and bare, kicking about in your blood" (Ezekiel 16:22).

God loves us so much...and it breaks His heart to see how we abuse His gifts. Without the saving grace of Jesus, each of us are as helpless as the newborn baby. Without Christ, we have no hope of survival: "But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). We were lost in our sin until God reached down, picked us up, and said "Live!" Thank You Lord!!

Let's remind ourselves of the miracle of Salvation! Though we have done nothing to deserve God's grace, He reaches down and gives us eternal life - cleansing us of our sins and making us beautiful in His sight. We who believe have been born into God's Family. Let's not abuse His gift by forgetting when we were helpless, "naked and bare." Let's give Him ALL our love and always remember the days of our youth.

Have a Christ Centered Day!

Steve Troxel
God's Daily Word Ministries]]> http://www.gdwm.org/archive.htm 2449078E-DAA8-47C2-B089-936B18D36723 Sun, 28 Feb 2010 19:59:34 -0500
We are often encouraged to share the wonders of God's love through the uncompromising truth of His Word. There are so many all around us who are in great need! We live in a lost and dying world full of people who desperately need to know God's plan of forgiveness and restoration. But as we share the truth and minister to others, let's also remember to make the time to personally receive ALL our Father has to offer.

When Jesus asked the Samaritan woman for a drink of water, she thought the request was quite odd since Jesus was clearly a Jew, and Jews did not associate with Samaritans; "How can you ask me for a drink?" (John 4:9). Rather than explain His radical views on social interaction, Jesus took the opportunity to introduce the woman to the gift of God.

John 4:10
"Jesus answered her, 'If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked Him and He would have given you living water.'"

If we only knew! I often imagine a loving Father who has given the greatest gift the world has ever known. We approach and examine the gift. We ask questions and study the gift. We even shake the gift and then proudly display it on our shelf, but we never actually open the gift and receive what's inside. If we only knew! "Every good and perfect gift is from above" (James 1:7). His gifts are perfect; and if we only knew, we would open and receive them with abounding joy!

His gift of living water is still available today. This gift refers to our Salvation by the spiritual transformation of our heart, but it also refers to His on-going gift of a victorious life of peace and contentment; "Everyone who drinks this water {from the well} will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst" (John 4:13-14). His gift of Salvation is free through faith in Jesus Christ, and peace is assured through a humble submission to His will. But we continually rebel and pump from the wells of this world - we drink polluted lies and continually thirst for more.

Approximately 650 years earlier, God gave the same message to the people of Jerusalem: "My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken Me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water" (Jeremiah 2:13). If we only knew! We sit beside a Spring overflowing with the best tasting water imaginable, but we turn away and pump sludge into our broken pots.

God has great plans for each of us - and His plans are much bigger and brighter than anything we can accomplish through our own effort. Let's rediscover the gift of living water and put an end to our thirst! Let's return to the Spring and continue our journey in obedience. Let's drink freely and daily receive His perfect gift.

Have a Christ Centered Day!

Steve Troxel
God's Daily Word Ministries]]> http://www.gdwm.org/archive.htm C4D542C7-DD39-46E6-B7C8-803D7D853D06 Sun, 28 Feb 2010 19:42:13 -0500
Our world is full of people in deep spiritual need. Most have never placed their trust in Jesus for the forgiveness of sin and are literally starving right before our eyes. But even many Brothers and Sisters who love the Lord are desperately hungry to know Him more, or they have been wounded and are in need of long term spiritual nourishment.

God's Word tells us to have open eyes and a soft heart such that we can recognize the needs and bring them before our Father in prayer; "In everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God" (Philippians 4:6). But then we are told to carefully listen for God's leading and fully expect to be put to work.

One afternoon, a crowd of over 5000 people had gathered to hear Jesus teach; "He welcomed them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who needed healing" (Luke 9:11). The disciples saw it was getting late and would soon be time to eat. They recognized the need of the people, came before Jesus, and "presented their request."

Luke 9:12-13
"Late in the afternoon the Twelve came to Him and said, 'Send the crowd away so they can go to the surrounding villages and countryside and find food and lodging, because we are in a remote place here.' He replied, 'You give them something to eat.'"

When the disciples approached Jesus, they presented the need...but they also presented their solution. They knew the people were growing hungry, but their solution was to send them elsewhere for food. We often make this same mistake when we limit God by our own vision and understanding. Jesus' solution to this need was to bless the few provisions the disciples could gather and then accomplished His work through their hands; "They all ate and were satisfied" (Luke 9:17).

God never asks us to do something without also providing the necessary tools to accomplish all He desires. We have been empowered by His Spirit and equipped through His Word. Yes, we must continue to pray; but our prayers ought to be with an understanding that God may very well direct US to carry His life-giving food and be a vessel for His healing.

There can be no greater work here on earth than to take part in restoring someone's relationship to our Heavenly Father. Only God can truly heal, but He has invited us to join Him in this awesome work. Let's continue to lift up the many needs to God in prayer, but then let's prepare for His answer - His invitation - which calmly says, "You give them something to eat."

Have a Christ Centered Day!

Steve Troxel
God's Daily Word Ministries]]> http://www.gdwm.org/archive.htm 4A3493C0-3392-49F1-B9FB-95C714230BB9 Sun, 28 Feb 2010 19:14:33 -0500
All I needed was four small bricks to complete the project. Nothing special, just four bricks; and after considering the selection I decided on a charcoal black which cost a little more than the standard red brick. The store was busy with several long lines of shoppers intent on completing projects before the end of the day. I chose a line and waited my turn.

The lines moved slowly and there seemed to be an impatient tension all around. When it came my turn, the clerk quickly computed the price and took my money. As I received my change, I felt something was wrong. And as I stepped toward the door, I knew I had been charged a lower price.

My mind knew a mistake had been made, but my feet kept walking out the door and toward my car. I knew I should have revealed the mistake, but my mind raced into high gear justifying my inaction: "I don't want to make others wait while the correction is made!" "The mistake is small - little more than the cost of a bar of candy." "The profit from my other purchases during the year will certainly make up for this small loss." It's amazing how easy it was to find reasons to keep walking.

Fortunately, my conscience began to counter my rationalization; and by the time I reached my car, that small inner voice was screaming at me to correct the error - and correct it NOW! I walked back into the store, waited in another long line, pointed to the error, and paid the extra money. My conscience hasn't always been so sensitive - and I confess, it's not always so sensitive now - but on this day it was and I praise God!

Acts 24:16
"I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man."

God has created us all with a conscience deep within our soul. At a very young age our conscience helps us maneuver the complex path of right and wrong. And when we place our trust in Jesus for the forgiveness of sin, we are given the Holy Spirit who ignites our conscience and guides us toward the presence of God and a life of holiness.

But when we ignore the prompting of the Holy Spirit, our conscience slowly becomes burned. The burning usually begins small - a little lie, a small deception - but over time, our conscience can become "seared as with a hot iron" (1 Timothy 4:2). Then, when needed in a time of great temptation, there is no "inner voice" to keep us from falling. Our conscience is a precious gift, and it's hard to believe I nearly damaged such a gift in exchange for such a small amount of money.

Is our conscience sensitive to the prompting of the Spirit, or has it developed a hard crust. Let's live so that all areas of our life bring Him glory and honor. In ALL we do, let's listen intently, obey completely, and protect God's wonderful gift as we strive to maintain a clear conscience.

Have a Christ Centered Day!

Steve Troxel
God's Daily Word Ministries]]> http://www.gdwm.org/archive.htm 51B8069E-1934-491A-A161-535FBFCAC0CB Sun, 28 Feb 2010 16:34:30 -0500
In the message "Protection of Truth" we saw that loving the truth of God is our protection against the deceptive attacks of the enemy. By knowing the truth, we can recognize the lies of "worldly wisdom," and continue along God's path without painful detours into the weeds. But we must be willing to faithfully apply the truth in all areas of our life and share the truth with others at every opportunity.

Prior to the final invasion of Jerusalem by the Babylonians, God spoke through Jeremiah to warn the people of their coming destruction and their need to repent. Needless to say, this was not a popular message and Jeremiah was not a welcomed prophet. But there were other self-proclaimed prophets who provided a much more comfortable message. These prophets made people feel good by telling them what they wanted to hear - telling them they could continue down their same path without fear. But God warned about falling into their seductive trap of false security.

Jeremiah 23:16-17
"Do not listen to what the prophets are prophesying to you; they fill you with false hopes. They speak visions from their own minds, not from the mouth of the Lord. They keep saying to those who despise Me, 'The Lord says: You will have peace.' And to all who follow the stubbornness of their hearts they say, 'No harm will come to you.'"

The ministry of encouragement is a vital part of our Christian walk. We all face valleys and need encouragers to provide a lift. And since we know there are many others who are walking through valleys today, we should encourage in every way possible; "Encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today!" (Hebrews 3:13).

However, in our zeal to encourage and build up, we must never compromise by presenting a message which falls short of the absolute truth. We must never present an "all is well" message if all is not well. When God's children wander from His path and plant themselves amongst the weeds, there must be someone willing to "gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance" (2 Timothy 2:25).

Our task as an encourager is not always to make others comfortable or to deliver a pleasing message; we are not called to tell people "what their itching ears want to hear" (2 Timothy 4:3). Rather, our task is to "speak the truth in love" (Ephesians 4:15). We never help when we make someone comfortable with sin.

The absolute best encouragement we can give is to help someone have a right relationship with their Heavenly Father through a surrendered faith in Jesus Christ. God's truth can and will set us free (John 8:32)! Let's encourage in every way possible; but let's make certain we always encourage with a message of truth!

Have a Christ Centered Day!

Steve Troxel
God's Daily Word Ministries]]> http://www.gdwm.org/archive.htm F58AC8B1-1AC9-4F43-8E33-8B2152961D60 Sun, 28 Feb 2010 16:10:58 -0500
In the message "Wisdom of The World" we saw that "the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God's sight" (1 Corinthians 3:19). But we also saw that the enemy uses the world's wisdom as a very effective weapon. This false wisdom has permeated our society to the point where it's difficult, if not impossible, to avoid being attacked. Yet the attacks can be so subtle we often don't even realize we're hit until we've wandered far from God's path.

Since this is such a powerful and deceptive weapon, we need the ability to recognize the attack and protect against harm. Fortunately, God has provided a sure way for both.

Psalm 40:11
"Do not withhold Your mercy from me, O Lord; may Your love and Your truth always protect me."

In the financial world, there is always concern about counterfeit. Ever since the first currency, there have been those who make and distribute unauthorized money. The absolute best way to recognize these counterfeits is to know the fine details of the real thing. When the truth is fully known, the counterfeit is easily revealed.

God has given an unchanging standard against which all others must be judged. His standard is His Word - and His Word is TRUTH! Jesus taught a message of truth for His entire earthly ministry. Nearly one hundred times in the gospels Jesus began His message with, "I tell you the truth."

Jesus even referred to Himself as the complete manifestation of truth; "I am the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6). And if properly applied, the truth will never be a burden: "If you hold to My teaching, you are really My disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free" (John 8:31-32).

Paul said in the last days people will be deceived and perish, "because they refused to love the truth and so be saved" (2 Thessalonians 2:10). Notice that our protection is not simply learning about the truth; rather, it requires a love - a passionate desire to know and apply the truth of His Word. We must allow His truth to become entwined in ALL we do, say, and think.

Let's pray that God would reveal His truth more and more every day. Let's commit to learning His truths and applying them as the absolute standard in our life. The enemy will continue to attack with his weapons of deception, but as we remain in Christ and firmly hold to His Word we can be assured we have the protection of truth.

Have a Christ Centered Day!

Steve Troxel
God's Daily Word Ministries]]> http://www.gdwm.org/archive.htm 2C6F402A-BBD5-4B76-8847-74E8CD5A3664 Sun, 28 Feb 2010 15:36:54 -0500
There are many influences which compete for our attention; many different inputs which seek to shape our view of the world and, in turn, direct how we make decisions about our life. There is also an enemy who greatly desires to win this competition. The enemy is battling for the hearts of men, women and children; and he knows if he can win the battle of the mind, the heart will remain his.

Many of the battle lines are easy to recognize. For example, the direct assault from various forms of sexual temptation and drugs claim numerous victims every day. But there are many other plans of the enemy which place hidden mine fields along the path and destroy those who are not careful where they step. Perhaps the best disguised and most effective weapon of the enemy is that of worldly wisdom.

Since the Garden of Eden the enemy has propagated a set of values which sound wise and appealing, but which consistently lead down a path of destruction. His "wisdom" attempts to define happiness and success - tells us we must achieve, push, and obtain in order to succeed and be fulfilled. But if we will come into the presence of God, we will see the world's wisdom for what it truly is...foolishness.

1 Corinthians 3:18-19
"Do not deceive yourselves. If any one of you thinks he is wise by the standards of this age, he should become a "fool" so that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God's sight."

The values of the world are continually promoted in every type of media and from every possible class of people - even sometimes from those who profess faith in Jesus. But these values are lies! They are weapons of the enemy used to pull us away from God...they are foolishness!! And when we choose to live as a captive to world values, we have chosen to live outside of God's perfect plan; "Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God" (James 4:4).

God's plan will always require faith - always require us to be "sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see" (Hebrews 11:1). This often means we must have the faith and courage to stand alone. Though the world may label us a "fool," we must continue (and continue some more) to "trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding" (Proverbs 3:5).

We are being called to become a fool to the world, but this is not an easy task. We have been well "educated" in the world system, and now must reshape the way we think; "be transformed by the renewing of your mind" (Romans 12:2). This renewal process will take determined, consistent, and intentional prayer and the study of His Word; but God will provide sufficient strength for the process. Let's refuse to live in a cloud of deception. Let's make an uncompromising commitment to God and break free from the wisdom of the world.

Have a Christ Centered Day!

Steve Troxel
God's Daily Word Ministries]]> http://www.gdwm.org/archive.htm 1AAD0809-EF96-426E-871E-EB7E95B10EAF Fri, 26 Feb 2010 18:07:23 -0500
Ahithophel was a highly regarded advisor to King David; "Now in those days the advice Ahithophel gave was like that of one who inquires of God" (2 Samuel 16:23). But when David's son, Absalom, rebelled and sought to become the new king, Ahithophel joined with Absalom. Ahithophel had reason to be angry with David; he was the grandfather of Bathsheba and had watched as David violated his granddaughter and then had her husband killed (2 Samuel 11).

In his anger Ahithophel advised Absalom how to defeat David, but God had other plans; "The Lord had determined to frustrate the good advice of Ahithophel in order to bring disaster on Absalom" (2 Samuel 17:14). When Absalom refused to follow his advice, Ahithophel took the rejection very personally.

2 Samuel 17:23
"When Ahithophel saw that his advice had not been followed, he saddled his donkey and set out for his house in his hometown. He put his house in order and then hanged himself."

Ahithophel had once been close to God and was used for many years to give godly direction. But at some point Ahithophel began to take too much ownership of his ministry. He determined his self-worth based on the results of his ministry and began to use his gifts for his own selfish purpose. When his message was no longer trusted and his ministry was not going in the direction he desired, his self-worth fell and he found he had no reason to continue.

God has called each of us to be His messengers and has given us a ministry of sharing the Gospel; "We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us" (2 Corinthians 5:20). Some are called to preach a message of hope to a large congregation. Others have been called to instruct a small group or to encourage just one...but we have all been called!

We are never responsible for the outcome of a ministry, only for the obedience of faithfully delivering His message. God remains in complete control of any and all results: "My Word that goes out from My mouth: It will not return to Me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it" (Isaiah 55:11). As we walk in obedience, His purpose (not ours!) will be accomplished.

We must never lose sight of the One who called us to serve. Our worth is in being a Child of God, not in the praises we receive or in what we can accomplish. We must continue to be obedient messengers who proclaim the Good News, teach the truth, and encourage at every opportunity. And when we become discouraged, we must check our focus and always remember...this is His message and His ministry.

Have a Christ Centered Day!

Steve Troxel
God's Daily Word Ministries]]> http://www.gdwm.org/archive.htm C254AA73-96E9-43F1-8CEE-54774119CE3E Fri, 26 Feb 2010 16:32:44 -0500
During the week before He was crucified, Jesus was asked many questions by the religious leaders. However, their questions were never asked for the purpose of education or to satisfy their true curiosity, they were asked with the intent of finding fault; "The Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap Him in His words" (Matthew 22:15). Jesus answered each of their questions, but then He warned the crowds about the hypocrisy of those who were trying to trap Him.

Matthew 23:5-6
"Everything they do is done for men to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues."

The phylactery was a small box containing scripture, worn on the forehead or arm to fulfill the command of God as given through Moses; "Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads" (Deuteronomy 11:18).

The Pharisees strictly followed God's commands, but they also followed many self-created rules and "enhanced" God's commands to make themselves feel more righteous. Jesus never rebuked them for following rules, but He greatly questioned the motivation of their heart. The Pharisees had forgotten that the purpose of everything they did was to worship God and glorify His name. Instead, they began to focus on their outward appearance as they sought to look holy and obtain the approval of others; "You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self indulgence" (Matthew 23:25).

This problem was definitely not new. Over 700 years earlier, God's children had lost their heart for worship: "These people come near to Me with their mouth and honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. Their worship of Me is made up only of rules taught by men" (Isaiah 29:13).

Unfortunately, this problem is still with us today. We've created a list of rules and religious activities which somehow define our relationship with God. We define our "Godliness" by our church attendance, our acts of service, or even our time spent reading His Word. But all these good and worthwhile actions do not define our relationship - they do not define our love. Our love is, and always has been, defined by the condition of our heart; "Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart" (1 Samuel 16:7). All our actions simply flow as an outward expression of the condition of our heart.

EVERYTHING we do must be motivated by a desire to praise and honor our Heavenly Father. Our religious acts mean absolutely nothing if not accompanied by a heart full of love and thanksgiving. Let's become true worshipers who express our love for God in all we do and say! Let's never allow our lives to be driven by the look of holiness.

Have a Christ Centered Day!

Steve Troxel
God's Daily Word Ministries]]> http://www.gdwm.org/archive.htm DD44ADCA-D375-4C72-A304-879A8E7B06B4 Wed, 24 Feb 2010 17:34:35 -0500
In the message "To Whom We Sacrifice" we saw how our daily actions reflect our priorities and values, and become, in a very real sense, the sacrifices we place on the altar. Everyday we make many decisions which either draw us closer to God or lead us further away - few decisions are truly neutral.

The Jewish leaders had passed judgement on Jesus; "He is worthy of death!" (Matthew 26:66). But Roman law required a sentence of death to be approved by the Roman Court. Therefore, Jesus was brought before Pontius Pilate, the governor of the region around Jerusalem.

Pilate was in a tough situation. He had talked with Jesus and could find nothing deserving death; "I have examined Him in your presence and have found no basis for your charges against Him" (Luke 23:14). But Pilate was also under great pressure to keep peace in the region, so he allowed the people of Jerusalem to make the final decision.

Matthew 27:17
"Which one do you want me to release to you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?"

Barabbas was a convicted murderer, Jesus was the Son of God. The people loved Jesus when He was feeding them or healing their sick; but when required to make a decision, the people chose Barabbas: "'What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called Christ?' Pilate asked. They all answered, 'Crucify Him!'" (Matthew 27:21-22).

We take the first crucial step in our Christian walk when we believe in Jesus for the forgiveness of our sins. But as important and significant as this first step is, the purpose of this step is to then begin a lifetime journey of abiding in His presence and living a life which is "holy and pleasing to God" (Romans 12:1). The presence of God is never found through specific prayers or religious activity; rather, the peace of His presence is found only through our moment-by-moment choice to allow Jesus to be Lord of our life and to follow wherever He leads. We must learn to choose each daily step based on what is pleasing to a loving and holy God.

Are we part of the crowd who is easily swayed, or are we willing to stand firm in our faith? Has God become a God of convenience, used only in emergencies, or is He truly LORD of our life? We all face the same decision (many times each day) as the people in front of Pilate: Jesus or Barabbas; the ways of God or the ways of the world; life or death? If we desire a life of closeness with God - a life given as a living sacrifice to bring Him glory and honor - then we must begin to choose wisely. We must boldly face the multitude of daily decisions and be determined to never choose Barabbas.

Have a Christ Centered Day!

Steve Troxel
God's Daily Word Ministries]]> http://www.gdwm.org/archive.htm 41842042-87A7-46AE-A134-0328E9D4998C Wed, 24 Feb 2010 17:32:32 -0500
By the time Jeremiah became a prophet, the people of Israel had occupied the land of Canaan for about 800 years. Those years were generally characterized by a continuing rejection of God. Time and again the people turned from God and embraced the gods of the world.

Through Jeremiah God called His people to return and worship Him as the One True God: "Tell them everything I command you; do not omit a word. Perhaps they will listen and each will turn from his evil way" (Jeremiah 26:2-3). His words reflect the heart of a Father longing to be reunited with His children. We can almost feel God's heart breaking as He tells Jeremiah how far His children have fallen.

Jeremiah 19:4-5
"For they have forsaken Me and made this a place of foreign gods; they have burned sacrifices in it to gods that neither they nor their fathers nor the kings of Judah ever knew. They have built the high places of Baal to burn their sons in the fire as offerings to Baal - something I did not command or mention, nor did it enter My mind."

When God led the Israelites out of Egypt, He warned them about following the practices of the local people; "You must not do as they do in the land of Canaan" (Leviticus 18:3). The Canaanite values were evil and in conflict with the way God was calling His children to live. In fact, anytime we seek to follow the path of God, we soon discover the values of the world are always in conflict with the values God calls us to hold.

God's chosen people not only turned their backs, but they even became involved in a local form of "worship" that included sacrificing their own children. It's almost as if God was shaking His head in sad disbelief: "How could they have drifted so far away?" Of course, we must wonder if God is still shaking His head today.

Through faith in Jesus Christ, we have become children of God and can enjoy the blessings of a restored relationship with our Heavenly Father. We have also been given the ability to be blessed through relationships in our family and among our friends. And yet, how often do we sacrifice these blessings to the gods of this world? How often do we follow the practices of the world - with its "rules" for value and importance - and watch as our children are sacrificed in the fire of materialism? How often do we sacrifice loving relationships on the altar of selfish pride or lustful pleasure?

Our Heavenly Father calls us to sacrifice. But His call is to a complete sacrifice of worship to Him; "Offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God" (Romans 12:1). This sacrifice involves the continual releasing of our will until we are "poured out as a drink offering" (2 Timothy 4:6). Let's bring Him our very best and worship Him with a pure and complete devotion. Let's evaluate our actions today and carefully consider what, and to whom, we sacrifice.

Have a Christ Centered Day!

Steve Troxel
God's Daily Word Ministries]]> http://www.gdwm.org/archive.htm B76B16D8-EC1C-43D9-8DB9-91B358959E65 Sun, 14 Feb 2010 21:40:00 -0500
In the message "A Divided Kingdom" we saw how Solomon's divided heart - his lack of complete devotion to God - eventually led to the division of the kingdom of Israel. We were then encouraged to continually draw closer to our Heavenly Father and prevent the kingdom of God within us from becoming divided in the sense of rebellion and lack of pure worship.

When we consider our closeness to God, we tend to look at our priorities and schedules. Closeness to our Heavenly Father requires a certain amount of dedicated time. We cannot expect to hear His direction if we don't spend time learning to recognize His voice and make the effort to turn off the competing inputs so we can truly listen. And once we have set aside those times to hear God through prayer, preaching, or reading of His Word we are encouraged in the very strongest of terms to pay close attention to what we hear.

Hebrews 2:1
"We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away."

It will do no good to make adjustments to our schedule - to give God more priority - if we don't become disciplined students of His Word. We can fill our time with good preaching and quality books, but if we don't do as the Bereans who "examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true" (Acts 17:11), we will be easily swayed and subject to spiritual drift. As disciplined students we must maintain an excitement for the things God has done as well as for the promises He has made for our future through every letter of His Word.

God has given us a wonderful gift - a gift without which we could never know Him. Through inspiration of the Holy Spirit working in the lives of many different writers, God has dictated a love letter which calls us into fellowship through Jesus Christ...we call His letter the Bible. In His absolutely authoritative and essential letter, God has revealed the fullness of His character and established a set of unchanging truths. A deep belief and understanding of these truths will push aside fears, erase lingering doubts, and instill a new sense of hope.

We need not allow our kingdom to be divided; we need not drift away. The Spirit has made our hearts receptive and hungry for God's Word. We must now submit to His leading and become as the workman who "correctly handles the word of truth" (2 Timothy 2:15). Let's give Him the total devotion of our heart as we pray, read, and listen to His Word. And as we hear, let's maintain a great excitement and always pay more careful attention.

Have a Christ Centered Day!

Steve Troxel
God's Daily Word Ministries]]> http://www.gdwm.org/archive.htm 6A796F1E-6A5C-46FD-92BB-6B15AA661E55 Sun, 14 Feb 2010 21:37:15 -0500
Solomon was the third king of Israel, the son of David and Bathsheba. And although not the eldest son, he was chosen by David to be his successor. As David was about to die, he gave Solomon some final counsel for ruling the kingdom.

1 Kings 2:2-3
"Observe what the Lord your God requires: Walk in His ways, and keep His decrees and commands, His laws and requirements, so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you go."

David knew that Solomon would influence an entire nation - influence it either toward the good...or the bad. This was an awesome responsibility which would require a deep commitment to God.

Solomon initially established a God-centered kingdom; "Solomon showed his love for the Lord by walking according to the statutes of his father David" (1 Kings 3:3). He ruled with great wisdom and spent seven years building a magnificent temple in which God would be worshipped. Yet Solomon failed to demonstrate total commitment to the One True God.

Solomon married many women from the surrounding nations and allowed these wives to turn his heart toward other gods; "His heart was not fully devoted to the Lord his God" (1 Kings 11:4). God was greatly angered at Solomon's lack of commitment and rose up enemies who would eventually divide the kingdom and create civil war.

In a sense, every believer in Jesus has been given a kingdom. Jesus said, "the kingdom of God is within you" (Luke 17:21). This kingdom is established when we believe, in faith, that Jesus died for our sins; it is therefore a kingdom of "righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit" (Romans 14:17).

The kingdom we've been given is more precious than ANY other. But, as with Solomon, it's also a kingdom which must be "ruled" with an absolute, undivided love for the Lord; with a commitment to walking in the ways He establishes for our life and worshiping Him with the pure focus of our heart.

If we desire God's kingdom to remain firmly established and at peace in our life, then we must keep our heart completely devoted to Him and guard against the influences which seek to pull us away. Let's not become distracted by the other "gods" of this world. Let's make the necessary adjustments to our priorities and schedules which will allow us the time to continually draw closer to the one true God and prevent a divided kingdom.

Have a Christ Centered Day!

Steve Troxel
God's Daily Word Ministries]]> http://www.gdwm.org/archive.htm 6A3453C6-7CB1-4BFD-979D-44B7B8E9731D Wed, 10 Feb 2010 22:01:23 -0500
In the message "Rend Our Heart" we saw how God commands us to recognize our sin and tear our heart in sorrowful repentance as we cry out for His gracious and abundant forgiveness. The instant we first place our complete trust in Jesus we are born of the Spirit and released from the bondage of our sinful nature. Sin may still war within us and sometimes cause us to stumble, but it no longer has dominion and control over our lives - we have been set free!

Jesus often taught of this radical transformation in terms of our need for a clean heart.

Mark 7:20-23
"What comes out of a man is what makes him 'unclean.' For from within, out of men's hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and make a man 'unclean.'"

Our heart pumps life into all the other parts of our body. If our heart is made clean through the forgiveness of Jesus, the rest of our life will also become clean as His life flows through us; "First clean the inside...and then the outside also will be clean" (Matthew 23:26). But if our heart remains soiled by an unrepentant sinful nature, no amount of outside scrubbing and polishing will ever make us clean.

In the above passage, Jesus presented a list of "evils" for our self evaluation, as an outward test of inward cleanliness. Our lives may be free from the obvious stealing, murder, and adultery; but the rest of the list requires us to look a little deeper. Folly is the lack of good sense. Arrogance is an overbearing confidence. Slander is making false statements against someone. Envy is discontent due to another's good fortune. Lewdness is indecent language or action. Deceit means to conceal the truth. Malice means to cruelly tease, and greed is excessive desire.

A transformed believer in Jesus Christ, one who is "circumcised of the heart" (Romans 2:29), should never be characterize by this type of behavior. As the Spirit of Jesus makes us into a "new creation" (2 Corinthians 5:17) and begins to flow through our life, these old sins ought to slow to a trickle and eventually pass away. Though sin will never completely disappear, it no longer should define who we are.

Is the cleansing power of Jesus flowing into all areas of our life? Or are there still areas we claim as our own? If we desire to offer our lives as "living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God" (Romans 12:1), then we must allow our sacrifice to be completely cleansed - we must place our heart more fully in His hands. Let's come before our Heavenly Father, confess our sins, and allow the transforming forgiveness of Jesus to make us clean from within.

Have a Christ Centered Day!

Steve Troxel
God's Daily Word Ministries]]> http://www.gdwm.org/archive.htm E6167B68-A186-44D3-AEDC-E961A71D00C7 Wed, 10 Feb 2010 21:34:55 -0500
Every prophet in the Bible proclaimed a message which called the people to repentance. From Moses to John the Baptist, Jesus, and the Apostles the message was consistent; "Repent and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord" (Acts 3:19). Repentance is essential to a restored relationship with our Heavenly Father - essential to Salvation. Repentance is a condition of our heart whereby we recognize our sin and, in desperation and sorrow, turn and cry out in faith to God for help...the help of forgiveness which only comes through Jesus Christ.

Joel 2:12-13
"'Even now,' declares the Lord, 'return to Me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning. Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love.'"

In the Old Testament times it was common for someone to tear (or rend) their clothes when they were expressing great sorrow. For example, when Jacob thought that Joseph had been killed by wild animals, he "tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and mourned for his son many days" (Genesis 37:34). When the Israelites were beaten when attacking the city of Ai, Joshua "tore his clothes and fell facedown to the ground before the ark of the Lord" (Joshua 7:6).

Tearing your clothes was an outward expression of sorrow. But all through Scripture, God makes it abundantly clear that He looks deep into our heart; "These people come near to Me with their mouth and honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. Their worship of Me is made up only of rules taught by men" (Isaiah 29:13). Jesus referenced this exact passage when He confronted the hypocritical worship of the Pharisees (Matthew 15:7-9).

We must never even hint that repentance involves "right" outward behavior. We have no ability to do right in the eyes of God without receiving, by faith, His gift of Salvation and allowing His Spirit to transform us into a "new creation" (2 Corinthians 5:17). Only through His power can we be set on a path of being "conformed to the likeness of His Son" (Romans 8:29) - only in His strength can we ever do "right."

God has more grace to forgive than we can possibly imagine; but our loving Father expects - even demands - true repentance. He's fully aware of the many ways we sin and fall short of His glory; but until we understand how far we have fallen and genuinely desire to change, we will never appreciate His grace in making us clean - never experience His "times of refreshing." Let's seek His forgiveness and walk in closer harmony with our Heavenly Father. Let's confess our sins and, with repentant sorrow, stand before Him today and rend our heart.

Have a Christ Centered Day!

Steve Troxel
God's Daily Word Ministries]]> http://www.gdwm.org/archive.htm 8393418F-0B31-4247-AA19-AFE9ABEEB210 Mon, 8 Feb 2010 21:41:35 -0500
In the message "From A Pure Heart" we saw that God has blessed each of us with gifts, talents, and abilities; and we are to be good stewards by faithfully giving our blessings back to God with a pure heart. But what determines a pure heart?

When Jesus saw the widow offer her two small coins, He said she had given "out of her poverty" (Mark 12:44). It required great humility to offer those coins, a true lack of self importance. She knew her coins had no real value, but with a deep devotion for God and a strong desire to obediently serve she gave what she had. The widow offered her gift with a pure heart!

We are all called to this type of pure giving - a giving motivated by love and "valued" by obedience. Our gifts to God may appear big or small in our eyes and in the eyes of the world, but when lovingly given in response to His leading, every gift is received as a sweet and fragrant offering.

As we give back to the Lord by ministering to the needs of others, we often find actual "results" fall far below expectations. To keep from being discouraged, we must always remember that our true offering is in our obedience and love. Our offering must never be judged by the outward appearance of results.

This truth is even more crucial when the results of ministry begin to exceed our expectations. The great danger of "success" in any ministry effort is the tendency to shift our focus to what WE have accomplished and given with OUR abilities. But again, our offering must NEVER be judged by the outward appearance of results!

1 Corinthians 4:7
"For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?"

God deserves the glory for ALL the results. He gave us our ability as well as the opportunity to minister and give. We fall into sinful pride anytime we forget the One who has provided all; "Your boasting is not good. Don't you know that a little yeast works through the whole batch of dough?" (1 Corinthians 5:6). We must always maintain a sense of poverty as we give back and minister to the Lord. We can give nothing of real value - indeed, we are very poor! Yet, we continue to give our all and love Him with all our heart.

Let's give praise and glory to the Potter who continues to shape and mold us into a vessel of great beauty. Let's guard against every attempt to place a value, large or small, on what we offer our Heavenly Father. And, with a spirit of humility, let's continue to abundantly give out of our poverty.

Have a Christ Centered Day!

Steve Troxel
God's Daily Word Ministries]]> http://www.gdwm.org/archive.htm 49FF64D0-F2C3-41B6-BA30-724BCACD0BEA Tue, 2 Feb 2010 15:35:24 -0500
As Jesus watched people place their offering into the temple treasury, He noticed a poor widow who put in two coins valued at less than a penny.

Mark 12:43-44
"Calling His disciples to Him, Jesus said, 'I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything - all she had to live on.'"

This passage gives us a wonderful example of faith and how God must be the Lord of our finances - but the real message actually goes much deeper.

We have all been blessed in so many ways; and we are called to be good stewards, or managers, of all our blessings. As a good steward, we must present all we possess back to our Heavenly Father as an offering of love. Yes, this relates to our financial resources, but it also means we are to offer our gifts, abilities, talents, and time back to God through service and ministry to others. God created us (the complete package of who we are) for a purpose. We will need to spend good quality time with God to fully understand our purpose, but we can be absolutely sure that God has NOT blessed us so we can advance our own selfish agenda!

Every one of our blessings, no matter how small, are given so we can bless God in return. We often hold back from ministry opportunities because we feel our "offering" is insignificant. We feel inadequate to serve or unworthy to make a true contribution to the work of God's Kingdom; but God is never concerned with the magnitude of a gift. He is, and always has been, concerned and blessed by the condition of our heart: "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" (1 Samuel 15:22). How we give is much more important than what we give.

God does not need our money, time, ability, or anything we accomplish or produce. But He loves us dearly and desires to receive the complete love and devotion which is given with our offering. Jesus was blessed by a widow who gave from her heart, even though the actual gift carried very little earthly value.

If we want our service or ministry to have significance in the eyes of God, we must focus on the One to whom we are giving rather than on the value of the gift in the eyes of man. With our eyes focused, we must then give with all the love in our heart. If our heart is pure in the giving, God will receive our offering as a true blessing. There are no worthless or insignificant gifts when the gift is given from a pure heart.

Have a Christ Centered Day!

Steve Troxel
God's Daily Word Ministries]]> http://www.gdwm.org/archive.htm 2DE711A3-F628-431D-98E1-2C76EA67E8CA Mon, 1 Feb 2010 20:19:59 -0500
Jeremiah warned the people of Jerusalem for many years that they must repent or be destroyed. He often warned with direct words from God: "I am preparing a disaster for you and devising a plan against you. So turn from your evil ways" (Jeremiah 18:11). It's hard to imagine a more direct warning.

But the people of Jerusalem ignored God's warning and failed to repent. And once the attacks on Jerusalem began, the promised destruction would not be stopped; "I will hand all Judah over to the king of Babylon, who will carry them away to Babylon or put them to the sword" (Jeremiah 20:4).

The righteousness of God requires that sinful hearts be punished. But the mercy of God always provides a path for those who place their trust in Him. This path may contain some painful consequences; but as we continue to trust, it will always lead us closer to His side. Jerusalem would be destroyed, but God provided one final opportunity for His chosen people to live.

Jeremiah 21:8-9
"I am setting before you the way of life and the way of death. Whoever stays in this city will die by the sword, famine or plague. But whoever goes out and surrenders to the Babylonians who are besieging you will live; he will escape with his life."

The people of Jerusalem felt secure in their city. They had weapons, strong walls, and a location which was hard to attack. Their worldly nature told them to remain in the safety of their "created" security, but God said the only way to survive was to trust Him and surrender.

Jesus used similar words when teaching the disciples; "For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for Me will find it" (Matthew 16:25).

Though we are trusting in the sacrifice of Jesus for our eternal forgiveness, are we living in complete surrender for our daily walk? Have we lost our life, in the sense of our control, agenda, and even dreams, for the sake of our faith? Our flesh wants to place trust in what we can touch and feel - in what we can create and control - but Jesus says the only way to truly live is to surrender ALL into His hands. His promise is that if we release all we think we hold, we will find a life more abundant and fulfilling than any we could imagine!

We may not understand how all this works, but the truth remains and the truth will set us free! (John 8:32). God has a wonderful plan for our life - a plan which will bring fulfillment and peace - but it's a plan which requires surrender; and often this surrender will require us to trust Him in an area filled with great uncertainty and fear. Let's begin today to place EVERYTHING in the loving control of His hands. Let's begin a new life as we completely surrender and live!

Have a Christ Centered Day!

Steve Troxel
God's Daily Word Ministries]]> http://www.gdwm.org/archive.htm 2AC0A84E-4071-4BDB-910E-0C4C842D0EE5 Mon, 1 Feb 2010 18:35:44 -0500
In the message "Debt of Love" we saw that God loved us long before we ever knew Him, and loved us far more than we deserved; "While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). Our Heavenly Father sent His Son to die for the forgiveness of our sins "that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16). And He sent His Spirit to comfort, guide, and strengthen us all the rest of our days.

God's love has created a debt we can never fully repay, but it's a debt of love we now honor by loving others; "Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another" (Romans 13:8). As we reach out to those around us, we are actually reaching up and loving our Heavenly Father; "He will not forget your work and the love you have shown Him as you have helped His people" (Hebrews 6:10). We know we should love one another, but what is the proper expression of our love?

Jesus had gathered with His disciples for what would be their last meal together. While they were eating in the upper room, Jesus "showed them the full extent of His love" (John 13:1).

John 13:4-5
"He got up from the meal, took off His outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around His waist. After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash His disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around Him."

In this, His clear demonstration of love, the Creator of the Universe lowered Himself to the position of a common house servant and washed the feet of His disciples. His example of love was completely void of pride or selfish motives. There was no agenda in His actions other than to pour out pure love. Only moments later Jesus told His disciples; "As I have loved you, so you must love one another" (John 13:34).

Jesus was able to love with true humility and self-sacrifice because He was absolutely secure in His Heavenly relationship; "Jesus knew He had come from God and was returning to God" (John 13:3). Jesus knew who He was and where He was going; His self-esteem was independent of feedback from the world - independent of any appreciation He may have received in return. Jesus was sent to love, so He loved!

We are now sent to love with this same servant's heart - a heart that simply considers the needs of others and then reaches out to "take care of My sheep" (John 21:16). Let's secure our Heavenly relationship through faith in the sacrifice of Jesus and then live each day with a humble heart that only His security allows. Let's love our Heavenly Father as we reach out to the world and love as Jesus loved.

Have a Christ Centered Day!

Steve Troxel
God's Daily Word Ministries]]> http://www.gdwm.org/archive.htm DB2C5AF7-A0DB-46C6-B8B4-B95923AB263F Sun, 31 Jan 2010 18:02:07 -0500
Much of Paul's letter to the Romans is a love story between a righteous God and sinful man. Even though our sinful state sentenced us to an eternal death (Romans 6:23), God looked upon us with love: "But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8).

Our Heavenly Father loved us long before we knew Him - He loved us when there was nothing in us that deserved His love - and He gave His Son as a sacrifice for sin so that, through faith, we might experience His deep and wonderful love for all eternity. This is a love I don't think we fully appreciate or even understand. And yet, this love which was demonstrated through the life of Jesus has become the standard for how we are to love others; "As I have loved you, so you must love one another" (John 13:34).

When Jesus came to earth He revealed the true love of God. John wrote of the awesome power of Jesus; "Through Him all things were made" (John 1:3). But we also know that the Creator of the Universe "made Himself nothing...being made in human likeness" (Philippians 2:7). Jesus Christ came to earth in human form; He "humbled Himself and became obedient to death - even death on a cross!" (Philippians 2:8). His entire life was an act of divine love which revealed the love of God.. And this is the same love He commands us to have for one another; the love which Paul says we must continually repay.

Romans 13:8
"Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another."

Paul knew the fullness of Jesus' love and he knew we were commanded to love one another in a like manner. He also knew we could never truly fulfill Jesus' command of love because His love was simply too great. And though the love involved in our Salvation is beyond comprehension, His love continues even more with the gift of His Spirit for daily guidance and strength. The Father, Son and Holy Spirit, each loving one another, together pour out their love on us with a blessed abundance. We definitely have a large love-debt!

But notice that our debt of love to God has become a debt of love to others - a "continuing debt" which will be with us for the rest of our life. Though we can never fully repay, we can honor Jesus' command by welcoming our debt and joyfully loving those who are placed in our path; "We love {others} because He first loved us" (1 John 4:19).

Honoring the command of Jesus doesn't mean we love just the loveable or those who love us in return - it means we love...and then we love some more! Let's accept our debt and love one another as we make regular (daily) payments toward our continuing debt of love.

Have a Christ Centered Day!

Steve Troxel
God's Daily Word Ministries]]> http://www.gdwm.org/archive.htm ACBF79C4-AF29-4203-B6C5-45341B0D0A88 Sat, 30 Jan 2010 23:16:44 -0500
As wars continue around the world, we must remember our true battles are not against flesh and blood - not against terrorism or deceptive governments, nor an oppressive boss or unappreciative spouse - but "against the spiritual forces of evil in the Heavenly realms" (Ephesians 6:12). The true battles occur in a world which is real, but unseen; and yet, the battles we see and hear everywhere we turn are the ones which tend to consume our thoughts and cause us to become angry...and to fear.

As Jesus was teaching and healing around the Sea of Galilee, large crowds of people began to come out to Him. One evening, Jesus decided to leave the crowds behind and sail with His disciples to the other side of the sea. As Jesus slept in the back of the boat, a terrible storm soon developed. The disciples woke Jesus and cried out in fear, "Teacher, don't You care if we drown?" (Mark 4:38).

Mark 4:39-40
"He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, 'Quiet! Be still!' Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to His disciples, 'Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?'"

The disciples had seen Jesus cure a man with leprosy, heal a paralytic, and teach with the authority of Almighty God; but now they thought Jesus didn't care. When Jesus rose, He rebuked the storm as well as His disciples. These men who were chosen to walk with the Son of God were now accused by Jesus of being afraid and living without faith.

This same event occurs in our life today. Jesus climbs into our boat and directs us to a distant shore. We've heard about His miracles so we joyfully cast off, expecting a smooth sail. Suddenly, the wind begins to blow and the waves turn white - this is probably not the voyage we had in mind. No longer able to see the shore, we begin to wonder why we ever set sail. Did we really hear His voice? And in our desperation we pathetically cry out, "Don't You care if we drown?" ... Is our faith really so weak?

In the midst of our fears, we must remember that He is the same God who created the Heavens and the earth, sent His Son to die for our sins, and gave us His Spirit "with whom we were sealed for the day of redemption" (Ephesians 4:30). He is the same God who chose us to walk by His side!

Jesus is still committed to our journey, and still in complete control. In His perfect timing He will calm ALL the wind and waves - ALL the roaring seas. When doubts begin to surface, we must draw even closer, hold on even tighter, and trust Him even deeper. No matter what battles we see with our eyes and hear with our ears, we must be determined to live each moment by faith and refuse to be afraid.

Have a Christ Centered Day!

Steve Troxel
God's Daily Word Ministries]]> http://www.gdwm.org/archive08.htm EF0B771F-5CCA-4C75-919E-5862984A373F Fri, 20 Nov 2009 09:23:36 -0500
After Joshua led the Israelites into the promised land, the nation was governed by a series of judges. The period of the judges lasted several hundred years and ended with the prophet Samuel. Samuel lived his entire life dedicated to God. In fact, Samuel's mother dedicated him to God before he was even born.

For many years Hannah and her husband had tried to have a child, but God did not allow her to conceive. The desire for a child continued for several years and became such a consuming portion of Hannah's life that she could think of little else; "In bitterness of soul Hannah wept much and prayed to the Lord" (1 Samuel 1:10).

Finally, Hannah's heart softened and she made a vow that if God would give her a son, "then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life" (1 Samuel 1:11). God honored Hannah's vow and she soon became pregnant. A few years after Samuel was born Hannah brought him to Eli, the priest.

1 Samuel 1:27-28
"I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of Him. So now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord."

When Hannah made her vow, she no longer desired a child to satisfy her own needs but truly desired to honor God by returning her son to Him. In turn, God blessed Hannah with five additional children after Samuel (1 Samuel 2:21). God did not bless Hannah because of her vow (we can never "bargain" with God); rather, God blessed Hannah because her heart desired to glorify Him with her blessing.

We must learn to consider everything in our life from the same perspective as Hannah. We have created nothing of lasting value with our own hands. Everything we have - everything which defines who we are - is a precious gift from God. This includes our possessions, family, business, school, special skills, and talents. ALL we have is by the grace of God.

And just as it's prideful sin to take self-credit for God's many blessings, it's equally shameful to shun His gifts - to pretend they don't exist - and fail to use them for His glory. God always blesses with a purpose; and we live a shallow life if we ignore His gifts or use them solely for our own benefit and pleasure.

Let's bless our Heavenly Father by fully receiving His gifts, and then by giving back what we've so graciously been given. Let's praise Him and determine to use even the gift of our own life to bring Him glory and honor. God has showered us with many wonderful gifts, but they are ALL gifts to be returned.

Have a Christ Centered Day!

Steve Troxel
God's Daily Word Ministries]]> http://www.gdwm.org/archive08.htm B9046052-B271-4402-AD4D-022D9B0891AF Fri, 20 Nov 2009 09:01:17 -0500
In the message "An Eternal Perspective" we saw the need to consider our life on an eternal time scale and to weigh our current burdens against the eternal glory of Heaven. But there are many believers who are unable to gain strength or comfort from this view of life. Although they know the concept, they lack anything on which to base their hope.

This lack of tangible hope is unfortunate, but understandable. If our view of Heaven contains no real foundation, the thought of eternity will never make our troubles seem "light and momentary" (2 Corinthians 4:17). And while it's true that "faith is the substance of things hoped for" (Hebrews 11:1), we still need some understanding or our faith will never generate the hope which can truly impact our life.

When Jacob was looking for a wife, he found Rachel. Jacob quickly fell in love and promised to work seven years in exchange for receiving Rachel as his wife.

Genesis 29:20
"So Jacob served seven years to get Rachel, but they seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her."

Jacob worked hard for many years, but the hope of being with the one he loved eased any burden he might have felt. Jacob had a good understanding of the one he hoped for - and this brought him great comfort. He saw Rachel's beauty every day and was certainly permitted to talk with her often. He knew Rachel and probably spent many hours dreaming of her and holding her in his arms. There was undoubtedly a longing inside Jacob which he knew only Rachel could fill.

God gave His Son so we could be brought back to a full and right relationship with Him for all eternity. But God did not leave us with an empty view or ask us to cling to a blind hope. He allows us into His presence and gives us the ability to know Him NOW! We will never grasp all that Heaven has to offer until we see Him face to face. But God allows us to taste eternity if we will remove the competing distractions, draw near to His side, and ask for our hunger to be satisfied.

Let's dedicate our lives to knowing the One with whom we will spend eternity - the One on whom we base our hope. Let's commune with our Father in prayer and learn of His nature through His Word. Let's strive for an all-consuming love - a love complete with the empty ache which only His presence can fill. Let's rejoice, receive comfort and gain strength, as we draw near and are allowed a taste of eternity.

Have a Christ Centered Day!

Steve Troxel
God's Daily Word Ministries]]> http://www.gdwm.org/archive08.htm 16BC65AE-BC3F-4D25-94B5-A0DC392AE582 Fri, 20 Nov 2009 08:38:13 -0500
The path of a "successful" Christian walk is one of daily commitment to Christ and submission to the leading of His Spirit. Jesus said, "If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me" (Luke 9:23). Paul understood this commitment when he said, "I die every day" (1 Corinthians 15:31). Our old nature died when our heart was transformed by the Spirit of God; yet, there remains an on-going death which occurs as we continue our walk and battle temptations from a world which seeks to pull us away from Christ.

Our daily commitment, denial, and "self-death" can become a painful burden if we focus on our present circumstances. Anytime our walk is characterized by self-pity, and our trials become viewed as the heavy cross we must bear for Jesus, we have missed the true joy and peace - the true success - that God desires for our life.

1 Corinthians 15:19
"If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men."

If our hope in Christ is only for today's protection and blessings, then we have grossly underestimated the power of the gospel. This limited view of a Christian life will always fall short of our expectations. Through faith in Jesus, we have been given eternal life. This means the life we now live must be viewed on an eternal time scale.

When we place our faith in the sacrifice of Jesus for the forgiveness of sin, our life begins anew. But this means far more than a fresh start. In an instant, EVERYTHING has changed. The burdens that were once so heavy must now be weighed against the magnificent glory of Heaven. And our "never-ending" trials must now be timed on the clock of eternity.

The world screams at us to focus on the here and now - on immediate gratification from what we can see and feel. It tells us life is short so fill it with sensual pleasures and tangible possessions. God's Word agrees that our earthly life is short; "A mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes" (James 4:14). But it also teaches that our spiritual life continues forever! "What is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal" (2 Corinthians 4:18).

We have been given new eyes! Let's begin to view our life in the context of eternity and gain the greater hope and power this view can provide today. Let's carry our cross with greater joy, live with more peace and contentment, and experience new victories in life's many battles. Let's find true success as we evaluate all areas of our life from an eternal perspective.

Have a Christ Centered Day!

Steve Troxel
God's Daily Word Ministries]]> http://www.gdwm.org/archive08.htm D8825441-678F-42BD-8363-71D974DD7A6D Sun, 15 Nov 2009 21:32:44 -0500
The term leprosy, as used in the Bible, actually refers to a whole variety of skin conditions ranging from rashes, to open sores, to various infectious diseases, and includes true leprosy as we know it today.

According to God's Law given through Moses, a person with leprosy was ceremonially unclean and not allowed to take part in any form of worship. They were to live in isolation or cry out "Unclean! Unclean!" as they walked about the community (Leviticus 13). Lepers were strictly avoided since even accidental contact would cause a person to become unclean. Therefore, imagine the turmoil in the crowd as a leper boldly approached Jesus.

Matthew 8:2-3
"A man with leprosy came and knelt before Him and said, 'Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.' Jesus reached out His hand and touched the man. 'I am willing,' He said. 'Be clean!' Immediately he was cured of his leprosy."

Yes, imagine the turmoil as many in the crowd scattered to get out of the leper's way. Some must have been calling out warnings, others delivering harsh rebukes. But even more importantly, consider the faith of the leper as he stepped forward. He knew he would face ridicule and scorn, but he had heard about Jesus and his faith propelled him to action.

Jesus looked past the ugliness of the man's condition and saw directly into his heart. In the heart, Jesus saw a beautiful man of faith reaching out to be made clean - He saw a heart which reflected the heart of king David; "Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin" (Psalm 51:2).

Our sin creates an ugliness far greater than any skin disease. Sin caused man to be repulsive to God and totally separated from His presence. But while we were in this terminal state, "God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8).

No matter how bad we think we "look" - no matter how much sin is covering us and making us unclean - Jesus sees directly into our heart. No amount of sin can keep Him from rescuing those with a repentant heart and a desire to be cleansed.

If there is anything causing us to be separated from the presence of our Lord today - any past sin, any current temptations, or any lack of obedience - we must kneel before Him and seek forgiveness. Others may turn away and not understand, but Jesus stands ready to lovingly touch us with His outstretched hand and say, "Be Clean!"

Have a Christ Centered Day!

Steve Troxel
God's Daily Word Ministries]]> http://www.gdwm.org/archive08.htm 641DB0E8-6509-47F1-AB52-3B6C077DD165 Sun, 15 Nov 2009 21:29:51 -0500
Prayer is a vitally important part of our Christian walk, but it's often greatly misunderstood. Prayer is how we talk with our Heavenly Father. It can never be used to manipulate God nor cause Him to do anything outside His perfect will. God is not our magic genie who has to grant our wishes!

Our attitude toward prayer reveals much about how we view God and the closeness of our relationship through faith in Jesus. If we continually wait for a crisis before we pray, we actually demonstrate a lack of love. A man may say he loves his wife but if he only occasionally talks with her, he reveals a shallow relationship. True love will always be reflected by a desire to spend time together.

And if we lift our problems to God in prayer but also give Him our expected solutions, we demonstrate a lack of trust and reveal a misunderstanding of His sovereign nature and limitless ability.

Ephesians 3:20
"Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us."

The consistent message through all of scripture is that God is calling us to a closer relationship - calling us to love Him with ALL our heart, soul, mind and strength (Mark 12:30). Therefore, our prayers MUST begin from a position of love. He wants us to continually know Him more and understand the true meaning of "My God will meet all your needs" (Philippians 4:19), and "with God all things are possible" (Matthew 19:26). He wants us to love Him and trust Him to provide!

It's foolish for us to limit God to our own understanding. He created the Universe and knew the end of time before the beginning. He can, and will, "perfectly" solve our problems. He is working all things together for the good and using all situations to conform us to the likeness of His Son (Romans 8:28-29).

Through a proper attitude of prayer, we acknowledge and submit to God's sovereignty. We praise Him because we know He is able to do much more than anything we ask, and we submit because we know His understanding and purpose is perfect; "Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven" (Matthew 6:10). Our prayer is not a matter of "working things out" with God - not of wrestling until we obtain OUR solution - rather, prayer simply becomes submission to His direction and trust in His plan.

We must present ourselves as empty vessels and allow God to work through us each and every day. Let's love Him enough to "pray continually" (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Let's make our requests known, but then let's submit and humbly acknowledge that He can do immeasurably more.

Have a Christ Centered Day!

Steve Troxel
God's Daily Word Ministries]]> http://www.gdwm.org/archive08.htm 5ABE95EC-BFAF-49F1-828C-7025FBFCA9C7 Sun, 15 Nov 2009 21:25:59 -0500
In the last two messages we've considered our need to walk with God in continued obedience in order to honor Him and allow us to experience His very best. God's plan is that we learn to live in His presence and become "conformed to the likeness of His Son" (Romans 8:29). This means we must listen intently for God's direction and follow where He leads, not just blindly walk down what appears to be His path.

David was crowned king of Judah soon after Saul died in about the year 1010 BC. About seven years later, all of Israel acknowledged David as their new king. One of David's first actions as king was to attempt to move the Ark of God from the home of Abinadab to Jerusalem. David and all the officials believed that by making the Ark a more central focus for the nation, God would bless all of Israel.

This was a very exciting time. The Ark was being transported on a new cart pulled by oxen, and over thirty thousand people were "celebrating with all their might before the Lord, with songs and with harps, lyres, tambourines, sistrums and cymbals" (2 Samuel 6:5). But even during this time of great excitement, God clearly demonstrated the need for obedience.

2 Samuel 6:6-7
"When they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah reached out and took hold of the Ark of God, because the oxen stumbled. The Lord's anger burned against Uzzah because of his irreverent act; therefore God struck him down and he died there beside the Ark of God."

Uzzah's intentions were good, but God considered his actions "irreverent." Uzzah desired to serve God by keeping the Ark from falling to the ground, but his enthusiastic and well intentioned actions were not directed by God. In fact, Uzzah's actions were in direct conflict with God's Word.

During the time of Moses, God had given instructions that the Ark should be moved with poles (Exodus 25:14-15) and that anyone who touched the Ark must be put to death (Numbers 4:15). Uzzah served where he thought there was a need, but he served at the expense of true obedience.

We must learn great sensitivity to God's leading. Seemingly godly action, if done outside the will of God, is sin. We must never assume that what "looks" good and godly is truly of God. Our Heavenly Father will always be faithful to lead us in His perfect will. But we must be willing to spend time (often, lots of time!) worshiping at His feet, communing with Him in prayer, and waiting patiently for His direction. As we serve our Lord, let's do so with great enthusiasm; but let's always allow Him to lead and serve Him in obedience.

Have a Christ Centered Day!

Steve Troxel
God's Daily Word Ministries]]> http://www.gdwm.org/archive08.htm 4E43A267-A2B1-4BE1-8795-CD4AABC11F7C Mon, 9 Nov 2009 18:26:57 -0500
In the message "Don't Strike The Rock" we saw how Moses disobeyed God's command with obtaining water from the rock. God called Moses' disobedience a lack of trust and punished him quite harshly; "Because you did not trust Me enough to honor Me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them" (Numbers 20:12). God did not destine Moses for failure; rather, He sovereignly allowed Moses to choose which path he would travel.

Nearly forty years earlier, God allowed the entire nation of Israel to make a similar choice. When God brought the people out of Egyptian slavery, His plan - His destiny for His chosen people - was to lead them into the promised land of Canaan. But when the twelve spies gave their report, the people chose the path of fear and disobedience.

God always attributes disobedience to a failure to believe and trust; "How long will they refuse to believe in Me?" (Numbers 14:11). God was about to "strike them down with a plague and destroy them" (Numbers 14:12), but Moses pleaded for mercy; "In accordance with Your great love, forgive the sin of these people" (Numbers 14:19). God heard Moses and was indeed merciful.

Numbers 14:20-23
"I have forgiven them, as you asked. Nevertheless, not one of the men who saw My glory and the miraculous signs I performed in Egypt and in the desert but who disobeyed Me and tested Me ten times - not one of them will ever see the land I promised on oath to their forefathers. No one who has treated Me with contempt will ever see it."

Today, those who receive the gracious gift of eternal life through faith in Jesus are God's chosen people. We have believed and promised to walk in obedience; and He has promised to forgive us when we disobey and even when we fail to trust Him with ALL our heart. But God also has a plan - a destiny - for His chosen people; "For those He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of His Son" (Romans 8:29).

Our Heavenly Father knew us before the foundations of the world and, in His perfect plan, has destined us to walk in faith and become more and more like Jesus. But He also gives us the freedom to choose. Every day we must choose to walk in faith - choose to trust and believe. Every day we either walk down a path of obedience or down the destructive path of sin. Yes, God will forgive; but He also will not withhold His discipline!

Let's live each day in obedient faith and continue to believe His Word is true. Let's submit our lives to His conforming Hands and trust Him to guide us down the path of our perfect destiny.

Have a Christ Centered Day!

Steve Troxel
God's Daily Word Ministries]]> http://www.gdwm.org/archive08.htm E4E97168-81DC-43EC-B48C-2EF057950F69 Mon, 9 Nov 2009 18:22:47 -0500
Moses was chosen by God to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt. Through Moses, God demonstrated His awesome power and holiness. At the time, there was no one closer to God than Moses. However, even with this wonderfully close relationship, Moses still struggled at times with trusting God.

After being led out of Egypt, the people often brought their complaints to Moses. On one occasion, the people complained about their lack of drinking water; "Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to this terrible place?" (Numbers 20:5). When Moses entered the presence of God with this concern, he was given clear direction for solving the problem: "Gather the assembly together. Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water" (Numbers 20:8).

Moses gathered the people as he was told. But rather than simply speaking to the rock, Moses tried to accomplish God's work with a method of his own choosing.

Numbers 20:10-11
"'Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?' Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff. Water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank."

Moses had seen God's power and knew how much He hated disobedience; yet, at this moment, Moses did not follow God's command. Moses may have become prideful while leading the Israelites through the desert; "Must WE {Aaron and I} bring you water out of this rock?" Or, he may have thought God needed help from the same staff used to turn the Nile river into blood and part the Red Sea. Either way, his disobedience stemmed from a lack of trust in God - trust is always related to obedience!

God still loved Moses and will fellowship with him for all eternity, but his failure to obey was severely punished; "Because you did not trust in Me enough to honor Me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them" (Numbers 20:12). God's perfect plan for Moses clearly included a trip into the Promised land; but, even after 40 years of faithful leadership, Moses' lack of trust caused him to miss out on God's very best.

God knows our needs and has a detailed plan which is unfolding according to His perfect timing. Let's listen intently for His direction and then fully obey. Let's take the steps to ensure all we do in our ministry - all we do in our family and in every area of our life - is done to bring Him glory and honor. Let's trust Him and His ways with ALL our heart, and always remember...don't strike the rock!

Have a Christ Centered Day!

Steve Troxel
God's Daily Word Ministries]]> http://www.gdwm.org/archive08.htm 70242865-4371-4A9F-9797-A970713FACBD Wed, 4 Nov 2009 20:23:26 -0500
In the message "Living a Holy Life" we saw that though we have freedom in Christ, we are also called to live a life of holiness. As we continue to walk with Jesus, we are called to strive for purity in our worship while understanding that nothing we do can ever add to His gift of Salvation.

Perhaps this relationship is best understood by considering our "marriage" to Christ; "I promised you to one husband, to Christ" (2 Corinthians 11:2). Jesus demonstrated His love for us, His eternal bride, when He gave His life; and NOTHING "will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:39). He promised to never leave us nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5), and even "if we are faithless, He will remain faithful" (2 Timothy 2:13). His love is perfect!

However, His perfect love must never produce complacency. We have no fear of losing our Bridegroom or driving Him away, and we need not earn His acceptance. But if we truly understand His love, we ought to be compelled to return His love in everything we do and live to bring Him glory and honor.

When the people of Israel turned their hearts away from God, it caused Him great pain. They were His chosen people - His chosen bride whom He dearly loved - and yet, they continued to seek a life apart from Him.

Ezekiel 6:9
"How I have been grieved by their adulterous hearts, which have turned away from Me, and by their eyes, which have lusted after their idols."

This pain still occurs today whenever we withhold even a portion of our heart. We are married to a loving God who gave His life so we could live; but He is also "a consuming fire, a jealous God" (Deuteronomy 4:24). When we allow our heart to become attracted to the things of this world or controlled by its set of values, we become an adulterous bride; "Don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God?" (James 4:4).

Many of our discussions of what is "acceptable" behavior for the bride of Christ, miss the true essence of our relationship. We are to be passionately in love! Our greatest desire should be to do those things which please the Bridegroom, not to cause Him grief as we live on the cold edge of what is "allowable." Everything is allowable! But what are the things which properly express our love?

Let's keep our heart pure and devoted to Him. Let's abide in Him and love Him with ALL our heart. Let's commit to living the remainder of our days as a faithful and loving bride.

Have a Christ Centered Day!

Steve Troxel
God's Daily Word Ministries]]> http://www.gdwm.org/archive08.htm 6BD8FBDF-3E55-4E6E-983E-3A43DEE3AD32 Wed, 4 Nov 2009 20:21:37 -0500
In the message "Believe and Be Restored" we considered our need to believe that what God said is true. He said the death and resurrection of Jesus was the final sacrifice for our sin, and that those who believe would receive the gift of eternal life.

Our Salvation is clearly a gift from God; "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith" (Ephesians 2:8). We did nothing to earn our Salvation and there is nothing we must now do to keep it, we simply must believe; "there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:1).

Though our sins are forgiven and Jesus is 100% sufficient for Salvation - though we walk in grace and are absolutely free of condemnation - sin in our life still causes temporary separation and tension in our relationship with God. Therefore, over and over in scripture, we are called to a life of holiness: "As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do" (1 Peter 1:14-15). Holiness is to receive top priority in our life; "Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy" (Hebrews 12:14).

So why such an emphasis on holy living? After all, if we are saved by grace, our effort toward holiness plays no part in our Salvation. The answer is found in examining our purpose for life beyond Salvation: "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship" (Romans 12:1).

2 Peter 1:5-7
"For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love."

After we are saved, we live to worship and glorify God; but this can only be done by growing in our faith and presenting ourselves as a living sacrifice. For any sacrifice to be pleasing to God, the sacrifice itself must be pure, and the one who presents the sacrifice must be holy. So when we "make every effort" toward a life of holiness, we don't do so in order to earn or maintain our Salvation; rather, we strive for holiness because we desire to truly worship our Heavenly Father with every heartbeat of our life.

We must never lose sight of God's wonderful gift given purely by His grace. But now our Father's plan is for us to be conformed to the likeness of His Son and live in a continual state of worship. His design for our life is that we mature in our faith and worship Him by living a holy life.

Have a Christ Centered Day!

Steve Troxel
God's Daily Word Ministries]]> http://www.gdwm.org/archive08.htm 0021FFDE-4331-45B6-A535-2C81B1178063 Wed, 4 Nov 2009 20:18:53 -0500
When God created man, He gave him dominion over all the earth; "fill the earth and subdue it" (Genesis 1:28). Man was created with a great amount of freedom. He was to take care of God's Garden and obey a single command: "You must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die" (Genesis 2:17). Adam did not believe what God said was true and he ate fruit from the tree. His sin (failure to believe) caused man to be separated from God.

When God used Moses to lead His chosen people out of Egypt, He gave them rules for their personal, social, and spiritual life. If these rules were obeyed, God promised to restore His people to a right relationship with Himself; "If we are careful to obey all this law...that will be our righteousness" (Deuteronomy 6:25). But the people did not obey God's law and so remained separated. Their lack of obedience demonstrated a lack of belief that what God said was true.

When God sent His Son as the final sacrifice for our sin, He gave one basic command: "Believe in the one He has sent" (John 6:29). Those who do not obey this final command (those who do not believe) are condemned to an eternal separation filled with torment. But those who believe in Jesus Christ are restored!

Hebrews 8:10
"This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people."

Relationship with God has always been based on belief - a belief that what God said is true. But for this belief to be real it was always expected to produce obedience. The wonder of our relationship today is that God gives us His law written on our heart AND He gives us His Spirit to guide and strengthen us to obey; "And I will put My Spirit in you and move you to follow My decrees and be careful to keep My laws" (Ezekiel 36:27).

Through belief in Jesus for the forgiveness of our sin, we become a "new creation" (2 Corinthians 5:17) with a new heart and new strength. What an awesome blessing!! By His grace we are completely restored into the relationship for which we were created - a relationship of love, a relationship of trust, and a relationship of obedience.

God's Word is true! If He is calling, do not turn away; "Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts" (Hebrews 3:7). Today, if you hear His voice, believe and be restored.

Have a Christ Centered Day!

Steve Troxel
God's Daily Word Ministries]]> http://www.gdwm.org/archive08.htm 20DE53A7-0E8F-4301-993B-D98668602558 Tue, 3 Nov 2009 22:35:57 -0500
Unfortunately, the world trains us to simply set and then exceed our goals without ever taking the time to examine what our heart really longs for - we all are striving for peace! I'm certainly not opposed to goals; but we must understand that meeting every single goal, by itself, will NEVER result in peace.

The lack of peace is, first and foremost, the result of our sinful condition. When Adam and Eve chose to place their will ahead of God's by eating the forbidden fruit, sin entered the world and true peace became illusive; "when you eat of it you will surely die" (Genesis 2:17). We will never obtain true peace through different governments; nor will we ever be able to purchase our peace or create peace by changing our surroundings. Peace begins with the forgiveness of sin through faith in Jesus and grows as we live in submission to the Holy Spirit; "The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace" (Romans 8:6).

In Paul's letter to the Philippians, he said those who have placed their faith in Jesus now have a basic formula for a life of peace.

Philippians 4:4-7
"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

Our formula for peace is: 1) Rejoice, 2) Rejoice some more, 3) Be gentle, 4) Know God is near, 5) Remove all anxiety, and 6) Pray about everything with a thankful heart. Jesus promised that those who trust in Him will receive a peace beyond anything this world can understand: "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid" (John 14:27).

If our lives are lacking peace, the ONLY solution is to draw nearer to God, trust Him more, and rejoice (and rejoice and rejoice) as we are guided by His Spirit. Only then will we find the "success" we have been striving for - only then will we obtain what our heart longs for...the true peace of God!

Have a Great Day!

Steve Troxel
God's Daily Word Ministries]]> http://www.gdwm.org/archive06.htm 3355CA64-CDD0-4E8C-AEB4-E3CC8BF8C6A2 Wed, 29 Mar 2006 19:49:40 -0500
Nehemiah's request was granted. He traveled to Jerusalem in the year 445 BC and motivated the people to rebuild the walls in record time. But Nehemiah discovered there was more broken in Jerusalem than just physical walls. It had been many years since the people truly worshipped God - Spiritual walls were now in desperate need of mending.

Nehemiah knew the only way toward Spiritual repair was through the Word of God. He gathered the people, and they wept as Ezra read God's Word "from daybreak till noon" (Nehemiah 8:3). For seven days, Ezra continued to read from God's Word. On the eighth day, walls began to mend as the people "spent another quarter {of the day} in confession and worshipping the Lord" (Nehemiah 9:3). True repair occurred as they recommitted their lives to following the commands of God.

Nehemiah 10:29
"All these now bind themselves with a curse and an oath to follow the Law of God given through Moses...and to obey carefully all the commands, regulations and decrees of the Lord."

Our world continues to change. Nations continue to build physical walls and attack one another, but show little concern for the Spiritual walls which protect from the real enemy. Years of neglect, and large scale drifting from God's path, have left our Spiritual walls cracked and vulnerable. Our families are seldom led by God and our courts make laws without seeking His counsel. Attacks come from every direction and our defenses are weak!

The repair of our Spiritual walls will not occur at the national level. Governments have become too large and diverse to even recognize this need. But we have the opportunity all around the world to rebuild one individual, one family, one church, and one community at a time. We have the ability to repair the portion of wall within our circle of influence. Together, we CAN rebuild and strengthen!!

As in the time of Nehemiah, we must return to a passion for the Word of God. His Word reveals His plan through faith in His Son, and guidance and strength through His Spirit. Let's become people dedicated to study and prayer, and allow each day of our lives to be led by God's Spirit. Let's make a lasting commitment to focus on the eternal and rebuild our Spiritual walls.

Have a Great Day!

Steve Troxel
God's Daily Word Ministries]]> http://www.gdwm.org/archive06.htm 6F70879F-2CFC-432B-B6E6-5F3DF451829F Tue, 28 Mar 2006 19:49:40 -0500
After many years of being pursued by king Saul, David demonstrated his belief that every victory he enjoyed came as a direct result of God's hand.

The Amalekites had raided the village where David and his men were living. Under God's promise of victory, David set off with six hundred men to battle the enemy and take back their stolen possessions; but two hundred of the men were too tired to join the fight. After the victorious battle, the four hundred who fought wanted to exclude the two hundred who stayed behind; "Because they did not go out with us, we will not share with them the plunder we recovered" (1 Samuel 30:22). But David reminded them Who really won the battle.

1 Samuel 30:23
"No, my brothers, you must not do that with what the Lord has given us. He has protected us and handed over to us the forces that came against us."

David understood it wouldn't have mattered whether four hundred or forty, or even four, had gone into battle - it wouldn't have mattered whether the men were skilled or unskilled - the battle would have been won. The battle was won because of God's promise and His provision, not because of the men's ability.

As we see the battle approaching we must draw even closer to our Heavenly Father. He has given us abilities which we must use, but then we must place all our trust in Him for the results. If the battle appears to be a failure, we must trust that God is in control and working toward His good and perfect plan. When God is in control, there are no failures as viewed through His eyes. And if the battle appears to be victorious, we must not allow our pride to take credit for the work God has done - for this always results in failure, regardless of our view.

God owns ALL and provides ALL. He owns our possessions, our relationships, and our ministries. He owns our abilities as well as our lack - our successes as well as our failures. As we come through our next battle (and we will!) - in fact, even in the midst of the battle - let's return the ownership and give Him all the glory. We must never attempt to control or hold tight to what the Lord has provided.

Have a Great Day!

Steve Troxel
God's Daily Word Ministries]]> http://www.gdwm.org/archive06.htm 4EDCF6F8-9D99-4C39-B876-AA1CD05D4AA2 Mon, 27 Mar 2006 19:49:40 -0500
Is our worship spiritual and true? We should note that the words worship and worth come from the same root meaning. Worship then becomes acknowledging God's worth by acknowledging who He truly is; "Your word is truth" (John 17:17). We only know who God is by how He has revealed Himself in His Word.

But worship is more than simply a mental exercise. Study is important, but only as a beginning not as an end. Worship is entering into the presence of God and being in love with Who He is, with the overflow of our heart; "In Your presence is fullness of joy" (Psalm 16:11). This is how we must worship (or it is not truly worship) - and this worship is not determined by location or time, but by the condition of our heart.

John 4:25-27
"The woman said to Him, 'I know that Messiah is coming' (who is called Christ). 'When He comes, He will tell us all things.' Jesus said to her, 'I who speak to you am He.' And at this point His disciples came, and they marveled that He talked with a woman; yet no one said, 'What do You seek?' or, 'Why are You talking with her?'"

The Samaritans only recognized the first five books of the Old Testament. Their view of "Messiah" was the promised prophet spoken of by Moses; "a Prophet like me" (Deuteronomy 18:15). The woman says that when the anointed one comes, He will answer all questions - He will be the trusted authority.

Jesus' response was unusually direct. The time was gone for wordplay with debatable meaning. He simply says, I am the One you are looking for! This woman had made many bad choices and knew just enough about religious issues to create a wall to hide behind. But Jesus stepped into her world and said, I am He!!

We don't yet see the woman's response to Jesus because the disciples returned and "marveled that He talked with a woman." Sure they "marveled"! The Rabbis taught it was better to burn the Word of God than give it to a woman. It was not normal to be in a public conversation with a woman, and especially not about spiritual matters. But the disciples had learned to trust Jesus and knew He moved with purpose.

The promised one is here. He has made Himself clearly known and said the forgiveness and fulfillment we seek are found in Him. The question is the same as it is every time we're presented with His truth: How will we respond? Let's truly worship Him today. Let's place our trust in the One who came to say, I am He.

Have a Great Day!

Steve Troxel
God's Daily Word Ministries]]> http://www.gdwm.org/archive06.htm 78FDB92E-BCD3-45D3-9843-8A94596FD4F0 Fri, 24 Mar 2006 19:49:40 -0500
This prayer was written after the tragedy with the Space Shuttle on February 1, 2003. But a similar prayer was distributed after September 11, 2001 because of the World Trade Center tragedy. And unfortunately, it could also be a prayer for every day of the year because of the thousands who die in automobile accidents, or as a result of senseless violence or disease; or those whose life ends because of starvation or addiction to drugs. These lives seem needlessly shortened, but even life which reaches its "full-potential" is incredibly short; "What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes" (James 4:14).

When tragedy occurs we ought to sincerely pray for those affected; it's not often the whole world can pray for a specific group of people. But we also should take a moment to consider the frailty and brevity of life, and how our priorities reflect this truth. We must strive for a firmer understanding that anything outside the will of God will one day fade away. Any other "god" who receives our worship in the form of excess time, thought, energy, or resources will most surely burn and be swept aside.

1 Corinthians 7:29,31
"What I mean, brothers, is that the time is short. From now on...those who use the things of the world, {use them} as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away."

No matter how many times I read these truths of God's Word, I know I don't yet fully understand. I know our time is short, but I continually gain my identity and become engrossed in my toys. Father forgive me!

If there is any good to come out of tragedy, it will only be as we resolve to "fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen" (2 Corinthians 4:18a). We must allow events such as these to firmly establish that "what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal" (2 Corinthians 4:18b).

It's time we turn our heart to God in true revival and do ALL as unto the Lord. We can no longer give our lives to what is temporary and passing away. It's time we unashamedly worship Him and follow where He leads. It's time we draw close to His presence and remember the eternal.

Have a Great Day!

Steve Troxel
God's Daily Word Ministries]]> http://www.gdwm.org/archive06.htm DA440A80-FF1B-4EC1-B5C9-FAB269D44B5A Thu, 23 Mar 2006 19:49:40 -0500
But how can we guard against such wandering? How can we recognize when we are beginning to stray? And how can we return to the place we truly desire?

The answer to these questions will always be found in a deep and passionate love! Our relationship with God is not based on an exercise of our intellect, it is based on a transformation of our heart. Our relationship began with a work of the Spirit as our heart became His. It must now continue as we walk so close that our only desire is to give Him ALL our heart - to give Him what is already His.

After years of successful rule, David's kingdom was now in total rebellion. His son, Absalom, was attempting to become the new king and had forced David to flee into the desert. With his life's work falling apart, and far from his home and place of worship, David turned to God and gave us a clear picture of Godly passion.

Psalm 63:1-4
"O God, You are my God, earnestly I seek You; my soul thirsts for You, my body longs for You, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. I have seen You in the sanctuary and beheld Your power and Your glory. Because Your love is better than life, my lips will glorify You. I will praise You as long as I live, and in Your name I will lift up my hands."

Although it may be difficult to maintain this level of passion every moment of the day, this IS the relationship to which we have been called. This is worship! We must realize that this world is a "dry and weary land" when compared to walking in His presence. We must long for God's love more than life itself and seek to glorify Him in all we do.

If this type of relationship sounds foreign - maybe even a little radical - then I invite you to "taste and see that the Lord is good" (Psalm 34:8). He will pour out His blessings on those who step out in faith and truly give Him their heart. If you already understand this relationship but realize the passion has faded, then I boldly exhort you to return. Return to what you know will truly satisfy - to what you know is eternal, imperishable. Let's all return to the place of true worship. Let's all draw near and worship with a heart full of passion.

Have a Great Day!

Steve Troxel
God's Daily Word Ministries]]> http://www.gdwm.org/archive06.htm 281C6FD2-1E90-4F9E-B1F9-17CC3BF7ABE5 Wed, 22 Mar 2006 19:49:40 -0500
Acts 24:24-25
"He sent for Paul and listened to him as he spoke about faith in Christ Jesus. As Paul discoursed on righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said, 'That's enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you.'"

Governor Felix had the ability to hear the gospel from the greatest theologian of all time and yet failed to act on what he heard.

Several years earlier, Herod had arrested John the Baptist for speaking against his marriage (Herod was married to his own brother's wife). Though Herod wanted to kill John, he also feared and respected him because he was a righteous and holy man: "When Herod heard John, he was greatly puzzled; yet he liked to listen to him" (Mark 6:20). Herod liked to listen to John's uncompromising message of repentance, and yet he failed to act on what he heard.

When Jesus was arrested, Pilate came face to face with the Son of God. He heard Jesus calmly claim to be King of the Jews and to have special favor from God; "You would have no power over Me if it were not given to you from above" (John 19:11). Pilate listened to Jesus, found no fault, and tried to set Him free (John 19:12) - but in the end, Pilate failed to act on the truth.

Most of us experience a wonderful religious freedom today. We have free access to God's Word and can usually find a local church willing to preach the truth. Yet, how often do we fail to act on what we receive? How often do our religious activities become cold and mechanical, lacking any real interest? "These people come near to Me with their mouth and honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me" (Isaiah 29:13).

If our worship does not invade every area of our life, then God is not on the throne. We must trust Him in ALL things! We must have a passion for His Word as well as an uncompromising willingness to act. We must long for His presence each and every day - not just during our once a week worship.

Let's NEVER put God on the shelf or ask Him to be "on-call." He's the Creator of the Universe who has called us to a life of full time worship. Let's never treat our Heavenly Father as a God of convenience.

Have a Great Day!

Steve Troxel
God's Daily Word Ministries]]> http://www.gdwm.org/archive06.htm 6B183F94-BEFB-40DB-9E25-63A4EF3E6BF9 Tue, 21 Mar 2006 19:49:40 -0500
As we see the multitude of sin in the world today, which cause others such pain, we must be reminded that all sin can be traced to pride and a lack of humility - to arrogance, a self-exaltation where we think of ourself and our abilities more highly than we should; and, in the end, attempt to elevate ourself above God.

James wrote about this arrogance when he said, "do not slander one another" (James 4:11). He said when we are unfairly critical of others we not only disobey God's law of love, but we are actually speaking against God's law and sitting in judgment over the law - and there is only one Judge! (James 4:11-12). Willful disobedience involves elevating ourself to the throne of God and judging which of His truths apply to our life. This is the ultimate arrogance!

Isaiah 14:13-15
"You said in your heart, 'I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.' But you are brought down to the grave, to the depths of the pit."

This passage may be referring to Satan, or an earthly king in the time of Isaiah. Either way, it clearly details the true heart of pride as well as the end result for such a heart. Isaiah is warning us all about the danger of attempting to raise ourself to the level of God. After all, this temptation is what caused the fall of all mankind in the Garden of Eden; "when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God" (Genesis 3:5).

We must continue to examine our heart and aggressively cut away all areas of pride before they infect and contaminate our whole being. Can we ever rid ourself of all pride? Can we ever cease all sin? I don't believe we can! But I know that on the day we see Him face to face, we will be fully transformed, fully glorified, and fully able to praise Him for all eternity. Until the day He calls us home, we must continually say, "He must become greater, I must become less" (John 3:30). Until that day, we must diligently battle the sin of arrogance.

Have a Great Day!

Steve Troxel
God's Daily Word Ministries]]> http://www.gdwm.org/archive06.htm D4802AB9-BA56-44D8-801C-C87FB64CADD4 Mon, 20 Mar 2006 19:49:40 -0500
John 4:20-24
"'Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, and you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship.' Jesus said to her, 'Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.'"

The Samaritan woman employed the old confrontation tactic of diverting the argument. Seeing that her sin was exposed, her immediate defense was to bring up a theological question which had been argued for hundreds of years. It grieves me to reflect on how many heated arguments there are today about things like Spiritual gifts, the end times, eternal security and free will, and yet so little talk about Jesus dying for the forgiveness of sin so we can be brought back to a loving relationship with God for all eternity.

The issue of the day between the Samaritans and Jews was the proper place to worship. Before the Israelites first entered the land of Canaan - approximately 1400 years before Christ - God gave instruction through Moses that there was to be an established place of worship; "you shall seek the place where the Lord your God chooses, out of all your tribes, to put His name for His dwelling place; and there you shall go" (Deuteronomy 12:5).

Since Solomon built the temple in Jerusalem, the Jews believed this was the place to forever worship God. The Samaritans believed the location for proper worship was the Mountain from which blessings were given; "These shall stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people, when you have crossed over the Jordan" (Deuteronomy 27:12). As is usually the case, both sides used scripture to support their position.

But rather than even engaging in the debate - rather than beating her down - Jesus takes the woman to a higher level by telling her the real issue is not about where, but about Who. Jesus was not concerned with where or how the woman worshipped, only that she knew the One to Whom worship was due.

Our Father is to be worshipped from a pure heart whenever and wherever we go. Let's embrace the gospel, embrace the Savior, and with this as our intense focus, worship God in Spirit and in truth.

Have a Great Day!

Steve Troxel
God's Daily Word Ministries]]> http://www.gdwm.org/archive06.htm F9095391-4A6C-484A-9517-AF4342AF4F6C Fri, 17 Mar 2006 19:49:40 -0500
Then one day Joseph got his opportunity to make a change. Pharaoh had some dreams that bothered him greatly. But when he sent for the wise men of Egypt, no one could help; "Pharaoh told them his dreams, but no one could interpret them for him" (Genesis 41:8). Pharaoh was told of a young Hebrew slave who was in prison, but had demonstrated a unique ability to interpret dreams.

Pharaoh quickly summoned Joseph from the dungeon; "I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it" (Genesis 41:15). Wow! This was Joseph's big chance - his opportunity to take matters into his own hands and shape his circumstances. He certainly deserved a break. And after all, doesn't God help those who help themselves?

Unfortunately, this is one of the biggest misquotes of the Bible - and a shameful misrepresentation of God. It's much more accurate to say God will faithfully work our circumstances to the good as we diligently seek Him and love Him with all our heart; and faithfully follow where He leads.

Joseph could have used this opportunity to bring glory and honor to himself. But He had learned the important lesson that ALL things come from God and should be used to glorify His name.

Genesis 41:16
"'I cannot do it,' Joseph replied to Pharaoh, 'but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires.'"

Joseph had been given a wonderful gift, but this gift would only produce fruit as God worked through Joseph's life. This was the same lesson Paul tried to teach the Church in Corinth: "What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?" (1 Corinthians 4:7).

It's by God's grace we accomplish anything; "apart from Me you can do nothing" (John 15:5). It's by His grace we have talents and abilities - it's by His grace we obtain direction and motivation. In fact, it's by His grace we take our next breath! If God provides all the tools, He certainly deserves ALL the praise. Let's never miss an opportunity to use the gifts God has provided. And when our lives produce fruit, let's never miss an opportunity to give Him all the glory!

Have a Great Day!

Steve Troxel
God's Daily Word Ministries]]> http://www.gdwm.org/archive06.htm 4C277FE5-144D-486B-BA01-1840E36DE3DB Thu, 16 Mar 2006 19:49:40 -0500
Ezekiel 3:17-18
"I have made you a watchman; so hear the Word I speak and give them warning from Me. When I say to a wicked man, 'You will surely die,' and you do not warn him...that wicked man will die for his sin, and I will hold you accountable for his blood."

God called Ezekiel and clearly gave him a message of truth that was expected to be shared; "whether they listen or fail to listen" (Ezekiel 3:11). Ezekiel was not responsible for how many people obediently followed God's Word; but he was definitely accountable for sharing the message God gave.

God's call is not reserved for pastors, missionaries, or ministry leaders. His call goes out to each of us who hear His message of forgiveness. Yes, the world is still full of "obstinate and stubborn" people (we probably need look no further than the mirror); but God's truth is good news which can save lives and give hope - it's a truth which must be shared.

Now here's the difficult part: Sharing God's truth is not an optional part of our walk. Each of us have been called and given a mission field in which to minister; and we are held accountable for our ministry into this field. Notice we're not accountable for the response, only for our action or inaction; "Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins" (James 4:17). Failure to respond to God's leading is sin!

What field has God called you to today? What message has He placed on your heart? There are family, friends, and coworkers who desperately need to hear the gospel message. There are people all around us who need to be encouraged to draw closer to God; encouraged to forgive and restore relationships; encouraged to live according to who they are in Christ. This is our mission field and this is our message! We must obediently share, in love, and under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, even if no one listens.

We are God's watchman over whatever field He provides. Let's draw near and love Him with all our heart - so close to His side that His message and direction are absolutely clear. We must proclaim His truth wherever He leads. Let's accept the responsibility, and accountability, of the watchman.

Have a Great Day!

Steve Troxel
God's Daily Word Ministries]]> http://www.gdwm.org/archive06.htm 7CF734B8-3771-4120-8E43-B881BDBFE7DC Wed, 15 Mar 2006 19:49:40 -0500
The walk of a Christian is a life-long process of being transformed into the likeness of Jesus. This process brings us continually closer to God and tangibly shows the gospel message to the world. There is no clearer demonstration of a transformed heart and true love for Christ than when we forgive one another. The simple fact that it's so difficult makes forgiveness a blazing light into a dark and dying world. The unity obtained through forgiveness causes those in the world to be drawn closer to Christ.

John 17:23
"May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that You sent Me and have loved them even as You have loved Me."

Being united is never a call to compromise the essential truths of the gospel; but it's clearly a call to put aside quarreling over trivial issues and stamp out all jealously, envy, and one of the greatest evils known to man...pride! Pride keeps more people separated from God and more relationships locked in unforgiveness than any other sin.

Continued forgiveness demonstrates the gospel because it requires us to honestly face our pride, place our trust in God, and walk in absolute humility. Forgiveness is not something we can do in our own strength. When we've been "wounded," unfairly treated and misunderstood, our pride wants things to be "even" - demands the other person to confess, repent, and bow to kiss OUR feet. True forgiveness of others brings us back to the cross where we must confess the ugliness of our heart, acknowledge our need for His forgiveness, and, once again, remove ourself from the throne.

Continued forgiveness requires a daily crucifixion of our fleshly, pride-filled self, a submission to the leading of the Holy Spirit, and a complete trust in our Heavenly Father to continue the process He has begun in our life and to fully work in the life of others (according to His perfect timing). This is a life which definitely shines and causes the world to notice.

Let's take a new look at any unforgiveness and determine once and for all to give it to the Lord. Let's glorify our Father and become a living example of the gospel - let's live in unity through love and forgiveness...so the world may know!

Have a Great Day!

Steve Troxel
God's Daily Word Ministries]]> http://www.gdwm.org/archive06.htm 4EFFCDBE-506F-445C-AD8B-39CA161E1789 Tue, 14 Mar 2006 19:49:40 -0500
This is a consistent message through all the New Testament: through faith in Jesus we are given a new birth, with a new heart, a new Spirit, and a new mind. However, we are continually exhorted to live as a new creation, worship with a new heart, receive guidance and strength from a new Spirit, and make decisions and set priorities with a new mind. We must learn to walk according to the transformed life we have been granted.

Philippians 2:5
"Your attitude (or mind in the KJV) should be the same as that of Christ Jesus."

Many portions of Jesus' life were for the express purpose of giving us an example by which to live. With all the power of the Universe at His command, He humbled Himself and demonstrated the mind and attitude of a servant; "The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve" (Matthew 20:28).

He demonstrated a mind of obedience and lived to honor His Father in ALL He did - even though being obedient might result in discomfort or pain...or even death: "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will" (Matthew 26:39).

As He obediently served, Jesus also demonstrated a mind void of all pride. With more abilities than we can possibly comprehend, Jesus still gave all the glory to His Father; "By Myself I can do nothing...for I seek not to please Myself but Him who sent Me" (John 5:30). His entire life became an example of how we are to be an empty vessel through which God may work.

And even moments before He died - even after being beaten, whipped, spit upon and nailed to a cross - Jesus demonstrated the mind of supreme forgiveness; "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing" (Luke 23:34).

Though we know we have far to go, the mind of Christ becomes our example. We must develop the mind of a humble servant, void of pride, who desires nothing more than for our Heavenly Father to work in and through our life. We must humbly submit and learn to forgive others as Christ first forgave us. Let's live as His Child. Let's continue to be transformed, and more fully develop the mind of Christ.

Have a Great Day!

Steve Troxel
God's Daily Word Ministries]]> http://www.gdwm.org/archive06.htm 451E0FB4-5289-43A3-85E7-07C5823D5310 Mon, 13 Mar 2006 19:49:40 -0500
John 4:16-19
"Jesus said to her, 'Go, call your husband, and come here.' The woman answered and said, 'I have no husband.' Jesus said to her, 'You have well said, "I have no husband," for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; in that you spoke truly.' The woman said to Him, 'Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet.'"

Jesus has known this Samaritan woman before the foundations of the earth. He has never been talking about mere water - He has been engaged in a battle for her soul. Changing the conversation by saying "Go, call your husband" was brilliant because it maintained proper custom. If the discussion was to become more involved, it would be proper for a man to request to visit with the husband. However, this shift was primarily designed to expose the one thing which was keeping the woman from seeing the Spiritual nature of the gift. The woman needed to recognize the sin in her life.

The gospel message is about the forgiveness of sin! Why has that basic message become so lost in our world today? We say things like, "Ask Jesus into your heart" or "Let Jesus fill that empty spot in your life." We have teachings about how to better cope in this world and live a "better" life, but if we do not talk about sin we have NO gospel message!!

Jesus came to earth to proclaim the glory of the Father and to die for the forgiveness of sin; "this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission {forgiveness} of sins" (Matthew 26:28). His death paid the penalty for sin, and belief in Jesus allows this payment to be applied to our account; "To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission {forgiveness} of sins" (Acts 10:43).

We will never believe in a Savior until we recognize we need to be saved. Without the recognition of sin, Jesus becomes optional - something helpful but not essential. Without an understanding of sin, Jesus is seen as a crutch for those not willing to work hard. The woman had all the facts, but her eyes were not opened until she came face to face with her sin, then she began to believe; "Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet."

Our sin caused us to be enemies with God, "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). Let's recognize our sinful state without Christ and receive His eternal forgiveness. Jesus said; "I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance" (Luke 5:32). Let's present the true gospel message and call all sinners to Christ.

Have a Great Day!

Steve Troxel
God's Daily Word Ministries]]> http://www.gdwm.org/archive06.htm 69B65E9D-CB09-4391-B834-6EE0F94B9360 Fri, 10 Mar 2006 19:49:40 -0500
These distractions always come in some form of temptation. There's the wide range of self indulging, flesh-filled desires and power hungry ambitions which tempt us at every turn, but there's also the more deceptive temptations like laziness, worry, pride, and overfilled schedules. Each of these are common tools of the enemy used to separate us from an intimate relationship with God. But God is not surprised by temptation - He understands and has provided a way out.

1 Corinthians 10:13
"No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it."

In our fight against temptation, we must first understand that being tempted does not mean we've been singled out. Temptations are not an issue of Salvation, and they don't diminish God's love - our temptations are "common to man." Though we don't seem very good at talking about our struggles, we ALL face forms of temptation. We are a Family and have much more in common than we realize.

Since we know we will face temptation as part of our daily battle, let's start our day by getting prepared. No soldier enters war without the proper equipment. Neither should we enter a clearly hostile environment without making sure to get properly dressed; "Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground" (Ephesians 6:13).

The middle of a tempting situation is not the time to make decisions on how to react. Temptation decisions must be solidified in our heart long before the enemy attempts to pull us off God's path. Conquering temptation is only possible by growing deep roots of commitment and Godly character through daily studying His Word, praying for strength, and trusting in the Holy Spirit to guide our steps - by putting on the "FULL armor of God."

Our Heavenly Father has given us the tools, and He desires for us to live a victorious life. The attacks are going to come (and they will keep coming!) but our way out is to be prepared. If we will begin each day by getting fully dressed for battle, we WILL bear the temptation - we WILL stand our ground.

Have a Great Day!

Steve Troxel
God's Daily Word Ministries
]]> http://www.gdwm.org/archive06.htm D5C2C4B1-10F7-4324-88F7-2D9339704BAF Thu, 9 Mar 2006 19:49:40 -0500
Initially, Joshua sought God's counsel for every step he took. Joshua received direction for crossing the Jordan river (Joshua 3), building a lasting memorial (Joshua 4), renewing the covenant of circumcision (Joshua 5) and defeating the fortified city of Jericho (Joshua 6). In all of this Joshua listened and obeyed; "So the Lord was with Joshua, and his fame spread throughout the land" (Joshua 6:27).

However, after the miraculous success at Jericho - after Joshua witnessed the city walls fall with the sound of a trumpet and a shout - Joshua's confidence began to grow. When it was time to attack the small city of Ai, Joshua relied on his own strength and the advice of men rather than seeking God.

Joshua 7:3-4
"'Send two or three thousand men to take it and do not weary all the people, for only a few men are there.' So about three thousand men went up; but they were routed by the men of Ai."

Attacking the city of Ai seemed an insignificant decision. It was a small city and the Israelite army was mighty; and God had already given general instructions to conquer the entire land and an assurance of victory in battle: "I will give you every place where you set your foot...No one will be able to stand up against you" (Joshua 1:3,5). But, unknown to Joshua, there was sin in his camp - spiritual battles which would hinder any physical victory; "That is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies" (Joshua 7:12). Our assurance of victory always assumes we are walking with God and in His strength.

When did we last seek and received counsel from God? If it's been longer than the time it took to take our last step, we may be attempting to fight a battle we cannot win. We must never presume to know God's specific plan without asking for specific directions. Just because He said "Go and make disciples of all nations" (Matthew 28:19), doesn't mean we can presume on His method or His timing; "Apart from Me you can do nothing" (John 15:5).

God will show us the way, but we must ask for His guidance; "I have set the Lord always before me. Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken" (Psalm 16:8). Our battles are never won because of our strength or the enemy's weakness. They are won only as we allow God to guide our every step. No matter how insignificant the decision may appear, let's be sure to walk in His strength and always seek His counsel.

Have a Great Day!

Steve Troxel
God's Daily Word Ministries
]]> http://www.gdwm.org/archive06.htm 379E5578-D3D4-4DD7-9BEC-3D069187F061 Wed, 8 Mar 2006 19:49:40 -0500
When a child is born into a family, there is almost an instant bond of love. The parent and child spend LOTS of time together and truly begin to know each other. The parent knows the needs of the child, and the child knows the parent as the provider of comfort and security.

But as the child grows, other activities and friends begin to limit time with parents. In the search for independence, there is often rebellion toward parental instruction and counsel. Soon, the parent and child drift apart and no longer communicate as they once had - they sadly cease to know one another.

Ephesians 1:16-17
"I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him better."

Notice this is Paul's continuous prayer; that we be given revelation and wisdom. Revelation is the unveiling of God's truth and wisdom is the application of His truth in our lives. Both of these are necessary and serve the single purpose of knowing Him better.

As we continue in our relationship with Jesus Christ, there is a tendency to hit those Spiritual teenage years where we have things pretty well figured out - or so we think. We begin to gain "self" confidence and trust in our own ability. We get more involved in activities (maybe even "good" activities) and with friends (maybe even "good" friends); but one day we wake and find we've drifted. We didn't intentionally walk away, but there's a definite loss of passion - we no longer really know God.

As a loving father longs to hold his children, our Heavenly Father longs for us to draw near and know Him; "Let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows Me" (Jeremiah 9:24). The Bible always speaks about knowing someone as a very personal and loving relationship: "Adam knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain" (Genesis 4:1 KJV). Jesus even defined eternal life as a state of knowing; "Now this is eternal life: that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent" (John 17:3).

The road back to a restored relationship begins with spending time together. No matter how busy we get we must continue to humbly come into the presence of God, confess the sin which causes separation, fellowship with Him in prayer and the quiet study of His Word, and listen intently for His direction. Let's commit (or recommit) to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength; and let's be determined to take the necessary steps to draw near and know Him better.

Have a Great Day!

Steve Troxel
God's Daily Word Ministries
]]> http://www.gdwm.org/archive06.htm BE7813AC-12AB-46E2-A6F2-A62FF3FA9B97 Tue, 7 Mar 2006 19:49:40 -0500
We often forget there's a war being fought all around us. We tend to become passive because we don't actually see the fighting. There are no official announcements of enemy strength and no news flashes of casualties. But make no mistake...it's a war!

Ephesians 6:12
"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."

Just as surely as there is a God who gave His Son to die for our sins, there is also a devil and spiritual forces doing battle. The good news is that we know the final outcome of this war; "And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur" (Revelation 20:10).

The devil's end is certain; but in the meantime, he's on a mission to take as many with him as possible; "If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was {also} thrown into the lake of fire" (Revelation 20:15). The stakes of this war are high. The enemy continues to attack and rejoices when we think we're defeated.

But we are NOT defeated! We may lose our focus; we may stray from what's really important and trust in things which are fading; we may even experience times of fear and doubt; but we are definitely not defeated! The road to victory has been placed at our feet. It begins with our next determined step of drawing closer to God and loving Him with all our heart.

As our strength returns (and it will!) we must pick up the Word of God and become a soldier! There are many all around us with deep wounds who are literally dying for help. Let's not be content to sit on the sidelines or be forever carried. Let's present our lives to God and allow Him to work through us to encourage others in their walk and share the hope of Jesus with whoever crosses our path. Let's rededicate our lives to an uncompromising faith and, once again, join the battle!

Have a Great Day!

Steve Troxel
God's Daily Word Ministries]]> http://www.gdwm.org/archive06.htm DB37C180-37A2-4FE7-8F60-6B7E0AE15164 Mon, 6 Mar 2006 15:55:45 -0500
John 4:13-15
"Jesus answered and said to her, 'Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.' The woman said to Him, 'Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw.'"

The gift which Jesus brings cannot be compared to anything in the physical world. Those who drink from earthly wells can only be satisfied for a short while and then they thirst again, but those who drink the water of Christ are satisfied eternally. This comparison of thirst certainly speaks to the superiority of the gift which Jesus offers, but it also speaks to the absolute sufficiency. He is not simply saying we will be satisfied longer if we drink His water but that we will never need to drink from earthly wells again because we will never thirst! Old habits may bring us back to the well, but our dependent need has been removed.

Living water from Christ will become a fountain, springing up and bursting forth. When we drink of His water, there will be a new life which cannot be contained. The prophet Jeremiah understood this in relation to God's Word, "like a burning fire shut up in my bones; I was weary of holding it back, and I could not" (Jeremiah 20:9). This is the life Jesus was offering and continues to offer today.

The woman asks for some of the water but with a complete lack of understanding - she may even be mocking Jesus with her reply. Even if she is being sincere, her only concern is her physical needs - take away my thirst and my need to keep coming to this well.

No eternal life can flow from a heart filled with selfish motives. Someone once told Jesus, "Lord, I will follow You wherever You go" (Luke 9:57), but Jesus identified the selfish motives with His reply, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head" (Luke 9:58). In other words, do not follow if you think that comfort and material gain are the result.

What is our motivation in following Christ? If we come for advancement or social acceptance, freedom from pain and sickness or even seeking excitement and change, then we are not prepared to drink. Let's take the time to truly understand His gift of living water. Let's empty ourselves before the One who is eternal and allow His life to fill us and then spring forth everlasting.

Have a Great Day!

Steve Troxel
God's Daily Word Ministries]]> http://www.gdwm.org/archive06.htm ED2B5E84-F97E-46B9-A0F4-ED2FACCCEEF9 Fri, 3 Mar 2006 07:11:30 -0500
Revelation 2:7
"He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God."

In the second and third chapters of Revelation, the Apostle John is simply dictating the words spoken by Jesus. In these two chapters, Jesus speaks seven times about "him who overcomes." Each time there is a gift or reward for the one who is "successful" and overcomes. This is certainly good motivation for us to endure, but the question still remains: How can we overcome as our strength begins to fade?

John knew what it took to overcome. Several years earlier, he had written a letter to encourage believers to stay committed and to give the assurance of eternal life. He also specified exactly who would overcome: "Everyone born of God overcomes the world... Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God" (1 John 5:4-5). Read this carefully and rejoice! Those who believe are those who will overcome!!

We must endure and overcome the world; but our faith in Jesus and NOT our strength is what causes us to endure. There are times we must run and times we must fight - times we will be called to be a mighty warrior for the Lord. But there are also times when we are terribly weak - times we must grab on to Jesus and allow HIS strength to carry us through the storm. These are times we will need to simply hold on!

When the battle seems unbearable, "Hold on to what you have - I {Jesus} am coming soon" (Revelation 3:11). When we feel surrounded by evil and the darkness is closing in, "Hold on to the good" (1 Thessalonians 5:21). And when we become overwhelmed with doubt and fear, "Hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast" (Hebrews 3:6).

When we are weary in the storm, let's take comfort in the peaceful waters ahead. Let's fix our eyes on Jesus and hold on...He will never let us go. He has given His Children a wonderful promise: as we continue to believe and trust Him with all our heart, we WILL overcome!
Have a Great Day!

Steve Troxel
God's Daily Word Ministries
]]> http://www.gdwm.org/archive06.htm E8CF5902-086B-4EFD-9EBF-485F06AD5A37 Thu, 2 Mar 2006 07:11:30 -0500
God knows every detail of our heart; "Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account" (Hebrews 4:13). But our Heavenly Father desires for us to know what we believe as we are being transformed; "Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves" (2 Corinthians 13:5).

As we seek to understand our heart - with all our hidden motives, pride, and selfishness - we find we're somewhat difficult to understand. Without the Spiritual help which God freely gives, there will be parts of our life which remain covered and dark. There may also be portions of our heart we would rather not face.

Psalm 139:23-24
"Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."

It's foolishness to think we can hide anything from God! It's equally foolish to intentionally close areas of our heart from examination when we know what's inside is keeping us separated from God. What do we really believe? And are we living consistent with that belief?

We have been given God's Word as a guide; "a lamp to my feet" (Psalm 119:105). And as we dig deeper into His Word, we find the same lamp which guides our steps also reveals our heart: "The lamp of the Lord searches the spirit of a man; it searches out his inmost being" (Proverbs 20:27). Using God's Word to truly examine our heart can be painful. It seems we strip back one layer only to expose additional layers of sin we didn't even know we had; but this process must continue without fear!

If we desire to live in His presence and bring Him glory and honor in all we do, we must determine today to know ourselves. We must know what we believe, with all our strengths and weaknesses, and know our level of resolve to follow where He leads. Let's open our heart and allow His Spirit to search and wash us with His Word. Let's follow according to a consistent belief and commit to living the examined life.
Have a Great Day!

Steve Troxel
God's Daily Word Ministries
]]> http://www.gdwm.org/archive06.htm 9325A4E0-65BB-4C27-8FA4-B3BDA3DEF9CA Wed, 1 Mar 2006 07:11:30 -0500
The world definitely trains us to take control. There even seems to be special rewards for those who can say, "I did it my way!" But the truth is, "my" way will always fall short of God's desire. Our biggest struggle is often finding the balance which keeps us on His path and traveling at His pace. Lack of faith causes us to lag behind, and our pride and desire to control causes us to try and push ahead.

2 Samuel 22:31
"As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the Lord is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in Him."

These words are part of a song of praise King David sang to God. Several times in his life David ventured out to do things his own way. Yet time after time he found that walking down God's path was not only the best way, it was the perfect way. We must obviously learn this same lesson. We are given many options - many roads to travel as we seek a better way - but His narrow road is the only way to true life...the only road to peace and true contentment.

Living by God's way requires constant renewal of faith and trust. It first requires faith in Jesus for the forgiveness of sin, and then complete trust as we continue down His path. While God's way is definitely perfect, it's not always easy to understand. His way will often conflict with what we just "know" is best; "The man who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know" (1 Corinthians 8:2). These times of apparent conflict are times to humbly increase our faith and better learn how to trust.

But the "wisdom" of the world will continually battle against this trust. Jesus said, "do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear" (Matthew 6:25). The world's wisdom says we will soon be hungry and naked; but God's wisdom says that as we trust Him with all our heart, we will soon find rest and peace; "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well" (Matthew 6:33).

God has gifted each of us in unique and wonderful ways. But our gifts must be used along His path, for His glory, or they become nothing but "filthy rags" (Isaiah 64:6). Let's stop seeking our way, with our goals and our desires. Instead, let's daily release to the guidance of the Holy Spirit and boldly follow where He leads. Let's trust and walk each and every step according to His perfect way.
Have a Great Day!

Steve Troxel
God's Daily Word Ministries
]]> http://www.gdwm.org/archive06.htm AC1F9922-84A1-4B3C-AE80-79A9A94A0693 Tue, 28 Feb 2006 07:11:30 -0500
Ephesians 5:19-20
"Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."

As Paul wrote these instructions to the Ephesians he never said, "give thanks only during your worship service," or, "make music in your heart only when you gather together with other believers." He clearly instructed "always" and "for everything." The "music" of praise and worship to God should always reside in our heart.

This can be a real challenge without a shift in the way we view our life - a shift from the way we've been "trained" by the world. We absolutely must learn to "trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding" (Proverbs 3:5). Though the world teaches us to "take charge of your own destiny," we are called to release control to our Lord and patiently trust. For it's only through faith and trust that we can praise in ALL situations, even through our confusion and pain.

One of my favorite praise songs contains the words: "Lord prepare me to be a sanctuary; pure and holy, tried and true. With thanksgiving, I'll be a living sanctuary for You." The word sanctuary means: "A place set aside as sacred and holy, especially a place of worship." The meaning of this song then becomes: Lord prepare my life to be a sacred and holy place of worship!

There can be no greater ambition for the Child of God. With a proper understanding of eternity and the saving grace of Jesus, our life only has real purpose as we live each day to bring Him glory and honor - as we live each moment in praise and worship, no matter what circumstances our day may bring. The way we walk through our trials as well as how we accomplish our daily tasks, ministry activities, or times of prayer and study should all be done through a heart devoted to worship.

Let's allow the "music" of our heart to sing out with praise and worship - not just for a few set hours each week, but every day with every word, thought and deed. Let's patiently trust in all areas of our life and ask our Father to teach us to live as a living sanctuary.
Have a Great Day!

Steve Troxel
God's Daily Word Ministries
]]> http://www.gdwm.org/archive06.htm B6F44119-B501-498E-B1E0-ADEB00952F75 Mon, 27 Feb 2006 07:11:30 -0500
But Jesus, a man on a mission, the Son of God come to reveal and declare the glory of the Father, broke through the established boundary lines of His day and offered this woman an eternal gift - the gift of living water.

John 4:11-12
"The woman said to Him, 'Sir, You have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep. Where then do You get that living water? Are You greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank from it himself, as well as his sons and his livestock?'"

Jesus had appealed to her curiosity by speaking of living water, but as was the case with Nicodemus, the Samaritan woman completely missed the Spiritual implications and focused purely on the realm of the physical. To her, living water meant water from a moving stream - water which was almost always superior to the water of a stagnant well. And if this Rabbi could produce living water, she was interested.

However, this must be a weak offer because she sees Jesus without anything which would hold water. So she proceeds to question His sincerity, "Are you greater than our father Jacob...?" This was a question with an implied answer of no, and was also used to establish the Samaritan claim to Jewish ancestry - a "Who do you think you are?" type of question.

Having eyes which are focused on the physical keeps so many people from responding to the call of Christ. Many people in the world are focused on simply trying to survive, wondering when their next meal will arrive. But many others are so entangled in their "stuff" that any thought of Spiritual matters have been pushed far, far away. They may attend church every week, maybe even read the bible - maybe even study! - but the Word of God has no impact on their life! "He who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful" (Matthew 13:22).

We must not allow our physical circumstances to consume, control, or define our life. We are called to a life in Christ - a life of eternal joy which has nothing to do with the comforts of this world. Let's begin the process of untangling our life so we can receive His gift and truly drink.

Have a Great Day!

Steve Troxel
God's Daily Word Ministries
]]> http://www.gdwm.org/archive06.htm 1B11DACC-E0B2-4FD9-BA04-5561982A7D78 Fri, 24 Feb 2006 12:26:32 -0500
Without communication, we begin to drift and will soon be unable to even recognize His voice. When faced with sudden burdens we will feel alone. We may awkwardly call out to God but find our communication line has become noisy, filled with distractions. It's difficult to receive direction or comfort when we can't even hear or understand what God is saying.

To keep the communication lines clear, we must develop the habit of continually talking with God; "Pray continually" (1 Thessalonians 5:17). We cannot limit prayer to those times of great need. David was in the habit of morning prayer; "In the morning, O Lord, You hear my voice; in the morning I lay my request before You and wait in expectation" (Psalm 5:3). But we must also learn to talk with God throughout our day so we are prepared for those times of extra need.

Jesus never suffered from a breakdown in communication with His Father; "I and the Father are one" (John 10:30). And yet, when faced with major decisions or burdens, Jesus still set aside special time to talk with God.

Luke 6:12-13
"One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. When morning came, He called His disciples to Him and chose twelve of them, whom He also designated apostles."

There are always going to be times in our Christian walk where we need dedicated time with God - times which involve "critical" or "crisis" situations. This time is greatly enhanced if we have already been walking in daily communion with the Father. Our "crisis" prayers may be more intense and contain a heightened sense of urgency, but at least we will know the One to whom we pray - we will know His voice and understand His ultimate plan for our life.

Our Heavenly Father desires to light our path by giving daily guidance. Let's develop the habit of continual prayer so we will follow His leading and walk each step in praise. Let's KNOW Him during the trivial and mundane portion of our day so we will be prepared to know Him during the urgent. Let's prioritize our life to ensure we have a free and clear line of communication.

Have a Great Day!

Steve Troxel
God's Daily Word Ministries
]]> http://www.gdwm.org/archive06.htm DAD276EF-2A28-4113-A6B1-C8B78E9BDF81 Thu, 23 Feb 2006 12:26:32 -0500
What knowledge and "facts" form our view of the world today? We probably have a better understanding of the physical workings of our world, but what knowledge determines how we view our life? Do we begin with the unlimited power and sovereignty of God, an understanding of eternity, the consequences of sin, and the saving grace of Jesus Christ?

If we allow our beliefs to be formed by the world system, our view of life will always remain limited. Rather than seeing God's loving hand at work in our life and clearly recognizing His tools of transformation, we will see only unnecessary suffering and the apparent absence of God; "The fear {or holy reverence} of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge" (Proverbs 1:7).

Clearly, God is calling us to a closer and more meaningful relationship: calling us to love Him and trust Him more. But we will never truly grow closer until we examine the foundation of our beliefs; "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth" (Genesis 1:1). The entire Universe, and certainly our life, was formed by God and continues to exist because of His grace. To believe anything less is to fail to understand God and fail to believe His Word.

Spiritual understanding is gained through the guidance and power of the Holy Spirit as we diligently pray and study God's Word. Initially, our prayers may seem empty and His Word full of disjoint stories which don't seem to apply; but if we continue to seek with all our heart, He will reveal His truth and we will soon begin to understand.

Proverbs 2:3-5
"If you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God."

God has gifted us with the ability to learn, the power to seek, and the freedom to choose how we use our time. Let's use His gift to find the knowledge of God based on the reverence of His name. Let's build a world view which is consistent with God's Word and will stand the test of eternity. Let's refuse to limit God, and forevermore base our lives on the foundation of truth.

Have a Great Day!

Steve Troxel
God's Daily Word Ministries
]]> http://www.gdwm.org/archive06.htm 2AB59A25-423B-49A7-AF47-74CAE9A712D4 Wed, 22 Feb 2006 12:26:32 -0500
Lamentations 3:22-23
"Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness."

God has expressed His absolute love and compassion through the forgiveness found in Jesus Christ. This forgiveness is total and complete for those who believe. When we place our trust in Jesus, we are washed clean - we become "a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come" (2 Corinthians 5:17). And we continue to be washed clean "every morning."

We all have days when our sinful nature wins a battle and we stumble. We have a day when our anger, pride, fear, or lust is brought to the surface and we "do what we do not want to do" (Romans 7:16). We may need to seek forgiveness and earn back trust from those we've hurt, but God's forgiveness and love is free for the asking; "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins" (1 John 1:9). We may lose some of the battles, but through Jesus, the war has been won.

Since we have been washed clean - and continue to be washed clean - we must stop walking as though we are still soiled. We are children of God and in the process of being conformed to the likeness of His Son. This process of growth and maturity - of victorious transformation - must continue each and every morning. We must shed the heavy burdens of past failures (and the fear of future disappointments) and walk in the freshness of His forgiveness.

Is our relationship with God fresh and new? Do we still comprehend the magnitude of love encompassed in the gift of forgiveness? Or have we grown complacent and cold? When was the last time our love for God was so fresh on our heart that we couldn't help but say THANK YOU!?

We are invited to a relationship with our Heavenly Father - an intimate relationship which involves loving and being loved; a relationship which allows us to walk in victory for His glory and to be guided by the power of His Spirit. Let's give Him our all and receive His all in return. Let's rise up in His strength and determine to make our relationship of love new every morning.

Have a Great Day!

Steve Troxel
God's Daily Word Ministries
]]> http://www.gdwm.org/archive06.htm AD65018A-7EAE-418D-8525-8557E41BA1FE Tue, 21 Feb 2006 12:26:32 -0500
Over the last several years, God has performed a radical change in my life. I no longer see with the same eyes and my definition of "important" has been completely transformed. I try to live each day in submission to the Spirit of Christ and seek to glorify Him in all I do. The result has been a wonderful peace and contentment. I'm often overwhelmed with the blessings of God and can't help but praise Him for being set free.

But there are times I begin to doubt and become tentative with my message. I question whether the peace I've received is truly available to those who are in such pain. Can the miracle which occurred in my life really happen in the life of others? I now confess this doubt to you as sin! God has transformed my life and led me to this ministry for the purpose of proclaiming His truth: He came to set us free, but freedom is only found through submission and devotion.

Martha had become irritated that her sister Mary was sitting at the feet of Jesus rather than helping her prepare the meal. In fact, she was so bothered she approached Jesus and said: "Lord, don't You care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!" (Luke 10:40). But Jesus very patiently replied:

Luke 10:41-42
"Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."

The world continually tries to tell us what's necessary and important - but it's a lie! And we never really understand nor see the deception until we consistently make the time to worship at the feet of Jesus and hear Him say; "You have now chosen what is better."

No matter what this day may bring, we must live each and every moment in devotion to our Lord. No matter what our circumstances, we CAN be set free! We may need to adjust our priorities and eliminate some things which consume our time and clutter our thoughts; but true worship at His feet is worth it ALL. Let's take a stand for Christ, faithfully proclaim His truth to the world, and build our life on His solid foundation. Many things may seem important, but only one is needed!

Steve Troxel
God's Daily Word Ministries]]> http://www.gdwm.org/archive06.htm 2F48F536-CCCB-4B74-A557-ACD4985134F5 Mon, 20 Feb 2006 12:26:32 -0500
John 4:9-10
"Then the woman of Samaria said to Him, 'How is it that You, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?' For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans. Jesus answered and said to her, 'If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, "Give Me a drink," you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.'"

We have already examined the enormous tension which existed between the Jews and Samaritans during the time of Christ. We see this tension in the response of the Samaritan woman. She was surprised that she was being spoken to by a Jewish Rabbi, but her response was mixed with a large dose of sarcasm - "How can you, a mighty Jewish Rabbi, speak to me, a lowly swine of a woman?"

It's wonderful to see that Jesus doesn't waste any time addressing her inappropriate reply. It was well within His right - certainly within His right as the Son of God, but also within His right as a Rabbi, even within His right as a mere man. Jesus could have put her in her place. But instead, He immediately moved the conversation to the next level - a level which would call her to a place by His side.

Notice the similarity to the conversation with Nicodemus in Chapter three. Both times Jesus looked past the initial comments and led the discussion directly to Spiritual matters. Also notice how Jesus looked past the social status of both individuals. Nicodemus was on the highest step of the Jewish ladder and this Samaritan woman on the absolute lowest, but each received full attention and a clear call to eternal life.

It's certainly no accident that these two meetings are recorded one right after the other. The message is clear, the gospel is for ALL; "for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost" (Luke 19:10). In both cases, Jesus simply saw an individual who needed to hear the truth.

In the conversation with Nicodemus, Jesus spoke about being born again. This had significance to a Jewish leader in terms of a completely new way of life, but Jesus was making a call to a Spiritual understanding. In the case of the Samaritan woman, Jesus spoke of living water - also a term with significance.

In one sense, all water was life-giving. Since it was not so readily available, water was extremely precious as well as essential. The water from this particular well provided life for the whole area. But there was also a deeper meaning to water; "Therefore with joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation" (Isaiah 12:3). Jesus spoke of living water as a precious gift from God. Let's truly hear the One who is calling and take His gift of living water into a very thirsty world.

Have a Great Day!

Steve Troxel
God's Daily Word Ministries]]> http://www.gdwm.org/archive06.htm F6B344D4-FCD9-487C-802D-E025DD117067 Fri, 17 Feb 2006 12:26:32 -0500
Should this command really have been new? Shouldn't the disciples have known they were to love one another? Or is it possible to spend three years with a Master Teacher and yet not grasp that learning must translate to action and that we teach truth by first being an example of truth? If we desire to teach love we must first be loving; to teach the concept of grace we must first be gracious, and in order to "make disciples of all nations" (Matthew 28:19) we must begin by first being a true disciple!

As I continue to study and learn the wonderful truths of God's Word - and as I diligently try to teach these truths to others - I never want us to stop at simply being better educated: "Do not merely listen to the Word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says" (James 1:22). I'll be the first to admit that I fall short in many ways, but we must strive to make His Word real and apply it in all areas of our life.

Our Spiritual growth must never be measured by how much we know, but by how much we are transformed - by how much the Word penetrates to the innermost part of our heart. We have all been blessed by God's love far more than we deserve. We must now better understand this love and then learn to become His expression of love to others.

Ephesians 3:17-19
"I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge."

The ultimate expression of love was that God gave His Son to an undeserving world so "that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16). This is a love we will never fully understand.

Paul had such a deep appreciation for the love contained in God's plan of Salvation through the sacrificial gift of Jesus that he was often completely overwhelmed; "When I think of the wisdom and scope of God's plan, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father" (Ephesians 3:14 NLT). When we begin to truly grasp His love, all we can do is say, Thank You!

Let's pray for a greater understanding of His love and then return His love through a devoted life of worship. Let's make His love real by demonstrating love to those He places in our path. Let's begin to grasp, and then give back and share, the true love of Christ.

Have a Great Day!

Steve Troxel
God's Daily Word Ministries
]]> http://www.gdwm.org/archive06.htm DA2EBF26-AD84-4F5F-8CFD-CB709CF83EF1 Thu, 16 Feb 2006 12:26:32 -0500
Jude wrote only one short letter (25 verses) of the Bible. He began the letter with a desire to encourage his fellow believers with the joy of Salvation. But as he sat down to write, he realized God was directing him to write a different message.

Jude 3
"Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints."

There is great joy in our Salvation - a joy which must be shared. But we have been entrusted with the truth of the gospel message, and this truth is often under attack.

As we draw closer to God and begin to understand His perfect holiness, we are also made aware of the utter sinfulness of man and our hopelessness without Jesus. Each of us are born with a sin nature; and if left to ourselves, we would become "filled with every kind of wickedness" (Romans 1:29). It's not surprising how much evil abounds in the world. To a large degree, the world has rejected the Light of Christ and is living in an empty and confusing darkness.

The church is definitely not immune to the darkness of the world. We are attacked from those who are openly outside the church; but we are also under attack from those who have "secretly slipped in among you" (Jude 4a). These are people who claim to be called by God, but live an immoral life and "deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord" (Jude 4b). They seek to cause division and "follow their own ungodly desires" (Jude 18). We are told to fight this form of attack by strengthening our faith; "build yourself up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit" (Jude 20).

Yes, we must know the truth, protect the truth, and share the truth. If we are to become a light which leads others to the saving grace of Jesus, we must not allow the gospel which has been entrusted into our care to become distorted for personal gain or diluted for greater acceptance. We can personally fight this battle on a daily basis by drawing closer to the presence of God and knowing Him better through study and prayer; and we can fight as groups of believers as we encourage one another to live without compromise. Let's test all teaching against His Word; let's share the absolute truth of our Lord and Savior and be prepared to stand as we contend for the faith.

Have a Great Day!

Steve Troxel
God's Daily Word Ministries
]]> http://www.gdwm.org/archive06.htm 83EA681C-E39E-4767-8035-D2360033B6D6 Wed, 15 Feb 2006 12:26:32 -0500
During this time of conquest, the nation was relatively united as they worshiped and served God. This generation had first hand experience of His majesty and power; of His love and concern for His children. However, when Joshua and the current generation died, things quickly changed.

Judges 2:10
"After that whole generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation grew up, who knew neither the Lord nor what He had done for Israel."

In a single generation, the people forgot! In a single generation, the people lost their respect for God, their desire to worship, and their belief that the Lord was the one true God. How could a generation who walked in fellowship with God fail to transfer the message of truth? How could parents who knew God with such intimacy fail to teach their children who He was and how to love Him? How could an entire nation forget their purpose for existence was to honor God and be a light to the world?

We who have been brought into the Light of Christ must diligently share our faith with others; "Tell it to your children, and let your children tell it to their children, and their children to the next generation" (Joel 1:3). Our children and our friends will never receive the gift of eternal life on the basis of our faith; they must be told of God's love and come to Him through a deep and personal faith in Jesus.

We all know specific individuals who desperately need to know of His saving grace. We all know fellow believers who need to be encouraged in their faith; "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds" (Hebrews 10:24). Our churches are often gatherings for the depressed and troubled who have forgotten (or never heard) of the miraculous and loving works of God. May we never become silent about what He has done and continues to do!

We must never lose the awe of the incredible gift we have been given in Jesus. His sacrifice radically change our eternity! We must allow the understanding of this gift to so fill our hearts that we are compelled to share His on-going gift with those we love and those God places in our path. We who have begun our walk with Christ should continually share our walk with others. We serve an AWESOME God - let's be a light to the world and never let them forget.

Have a Great Day!

Steve Troxel
God's Daily Word Ministries
]]> http://www.gdwm.org/archive06.htm 62486F33-4AD9-49ED-9D80-C499F08EBFEF Tue, 14 Feb 2006 12:26:32 -0500
The disciples walked and talked with Jesus, but they still faced many challenges with faith and obedience. One morning after fishing all night without a catch, Jesus called from the shore.

John 21:6
"He said, 'Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.' When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish."

The disciples were successful that morning. But we must understand that the large number of fish did not define their success. They would have been successful even if the net remained empty. Oh how I wish more in ministry could grasp this truth! The disciples were successful the moment they were obedient and cast the net on the right side of the boat.

One thousands years earlier, King Saul was told to "attack the Amalekites and totally destroy everything that belongs to them" (1 Samuel 15:3). But Saul allowed the Amalekite king and the best livestock to survive. He tried to hide his disobedience by telling the prophet Samuel that the animals were for a sacrifice to God: "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'" (1 Samuel 15:22).

In any task we undertake for God, it's easy to become discouraged by our apparent lack of success. We often feel inadequate; and those feelings increase when our goals seem to be elusive. But we must remember: the outcome of the task is minor compared to our obedience. We have almost no ability to determine how our efforts fit into God's plan. God doesn't need our fish! He can accomplish His plan with the rocks if He chooses; but He desires our willful obedience and trust. He desires a people who will love Him with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength.

Let's take our eyes off the accomplishment of the "catch" and what we can produce. Rather, let's focus on walking each step according to His leading. Let's love Him with an uncluttered heart and concentrate all our effort on obeying His call to cast out the net.

Have a Great Day!

Steve Troxel
God's Daily Word Ministries
]]> http://www.gdwm.org/archive06.htm EEED3DEF-2752-46DD-882F-EE800FF1F4F1 Mon, 13 Feb 2006 12:26:32 -0500
We have seen that it wasn't essential to travel through Samaria. There were other routes, even preferable routes to a true Jew who despised the Samaritans. So to say Jesus "needed" to go through Samaria can only mean the need was Spiritual - Spiritual in regard to the person He knew He would meet.

John 4:5-8
"So He came to a city of Samaria which is called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Now Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied from His journey, sat thus by the well. It was about the sixth hour. A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, 'Give Me a drink.' For His disciples had gone away into the city to buy food."

This area of Samaria had a rich heritage to the Jewish people. The land was first purchased by Jacob (Genesis 33:19) and then given to Joseph as an inheritance (Genesis 48:22). The bones of Joseph were eventually buried on this same plot of land when the Israelites were brought into the land of Canaan (Joshua 24:32). Jacob's well can still be seen today and is located at the foot of Mount Gerizim.

The sixth hour refers to noontime. Certainly after traveling during the heat of the day it would be normal to be thirsty and weary. And that is precisely the significance of this passage. We see the Son of God, the Creator of the Universe, experiencing normal human sensations. The gospel of John continually portrays Jesus as fully God and fully man; "the Word became flesh and dwelt among us" (John 1:14).

We next see a woman of Samaria come to the well by herself. It would not be normal to come at this time of day, and certainly not normal to come alone. Perhaps she was avoiding other women, perhaps she was not welcomed. These possibilities will become more clear as we read her life story.

Jesus initiated the conversation with a simple request, "Give Me a drink." At first we see nothing unusual in this request. It was hot and no one would refuse a drink to a traveller. But the woman did not see an ordinary traveller, she saw a Jewish rabbi. A rabbi would never initiate a conversation with a woman, and a Jew would NEVER drink from a Samaritan cup! No, this Jesus was no ordinary traveller.

I wonder how ordinary we seem in our travels today. How much do we behave and react just like the ordinary world? We have not been called to be ordinary. We must look past the artificial boundary lines and minister with the true love of Christ. We are called to give the entirely of our life because He first gave His life for us. Let's give our all and begin to live a life far beyond the ordinary!

Have a Great Day!

Steve Troxel
God's Daily Word Ministries
]]> http://www.gdwm.org/archive06.htm 28734FD7-9755-44D1-BAEA-A248154D827E Fri, 10 Feb 2006 13:26:32 -0500
We can carry His Word as an offensive weapon used to battle the enemy; "the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God" (Ephesians 6:17). But His Word is also used as a fine surgical tool; "Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joint and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart" (Hebrews 4:12). His Word can purify and refine.

But for God's Word to have its intended purpose in our life, we must accept it as absolute truth, "not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the Word of God" (1 Thessalonians 2:13). The Bible is not just a collection of interesting stories and somewhat profound writings, it is God's Word! We are to receive His Word in faith and apply it with power and authority.

Jesus began His ministry on earth when He was thirty years old. He was baptized by John in the Jordan River and then led into the desert and tempted by the devil. Each time the devil tried to tempt Jesus away from the path which God established, Jesus resisted by directly applying the Word of God.

Matthew 4:4
"Jesus answered, 'It is written: Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"

Three times the devil tempted - and three times Jesus answered, "It is written!" When Jesus spoke these words with complete faith and as absolute truth, there was no room for debate; "The devil left Him, and angels came and attended Him" (Matthew 4:11).

Yes, we have been given a precious gift. We have the words which are able to prepare our heart for the gift of eternal life. We have the words which can yield a life of contentment and peace - a life with purpose. But this gift is only for those who believe and obey. Let's fully accept and apply God's Word today. Let's trust with all our heart so we can face any trial or temptation with a steadfast assurance. His Word is truth and the final authority in every situation! Let's answer this world with a bold confidence by KNOWING that it is written!!

Have a Great Day!

Steve Troxel
God's Daily Word Ministries
]]> http://www.gdwm.org/archive06.htm BC16ED4F-E981-4335-AF3A-5564EB58C700 Thu, 9 Feb 2006 13:26:32 -0500
But God comforted Isaiah by letting him know his sin had been removed; "Your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for" (Isaiah 6:7). God had a purpose for revealing Himself to Isaiah: He was looking for a messenger to deliver His Word to the people of Israel; "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" (Isaiah 6:8).

If we were asked such a question, we might be tempted to request a few details before answering. We might like to know where we would be sent and what we would be doing. But Isaiah had just experienced the full glory of the Lord. He had seen absolute perfection, recognized his utter sinful condition, and received complete forgiveness from a loving Father. With this understanding of the One who was asking, Isaiah had only one reply.

Isaiah 6:8
"And I said, 'Here am I. Send me!'"

Isaiah had no way of knowing his reply would be the start of sixty years of ministry. He had no way of knowing the many hardships his answer would cause, nor the many joys he would experience through walking in the presence of God; but he knew the One who was calling...and that was enough!

As a child of God who has seen and understands His glory, there should be only one response when our Father calls. There's no need for lengthy questions regarding the how, why, or what. When the Creator of the Universe calls, we can assume He has made a wise and perfect choice.

God never makes mistakes and will never call us without also providing the tools to accomplish everything in His plan: "And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work" (2 Corinthians 9:8). We have received His forgiveness and are seeking to abide in the glory of His presence. We must now learn to trust Him more and follow wherever He leads.

God always calls the right person for the job and always provides all we need to fulfill the calling. When God calls, let's trust Him and boldly answer: Here am I - send me!

Have a Great Day!

Steve Troxel
God's Daily Word Ministries
]]> http://www.gdwm.org/archive06.htm AE5A1A02-CE1F-4279-9FEC-F98E6F1A6A07 Wed, 8 Feb 2006 13:26:32 -0500
The oppression by the Midianites was so severe that many people of Israel lived in caves and had to harvest their crops in secret. When the people cried out to God for help, He chose to use Gideon; "'But Lord,' Gideon asked, 'how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family'" (Judges 6:15). God wanted His Children to know that true deliverance is only through His strength and by His grace. By using Gideon to save the people, God was able to teach a lesson of trust.

Judges 7:2-3
"The Lord said to Gideon, 'You have too many men for Me to deliver Midian into their hands. In order that Israel may not boast against Me that her own strength has saved her, announce now to the people, "Anyone who trembles with fear may turn back and leave Mount Gilead."' So twenty-two thousand men left, while ten thousand remained."

God wanted His message to be absolutely clear. His grace and power would not be obvious if the army had any hope of victory by their own strength: "But the Lord said to Gideon, 'There are still too many men'" (Judges 7:4). Gideon's army started with 32,000 but he was not sent into battle until the army was shrunk to only three hundred. These were impossible odds! But God always reigns supreme in the impossible: the battle was completely victorious!!

This is a hard lesson, but God is never interested in the "wonderful" things we can do for Him. He is pleased only by our obedience and our trust. In fact, God allows many of our great endeavors to fail simply because they are being pursued without giving Him absolute control. We are never to rest in our own strength and ability; rather, we are to continually step out and rely on God. Several hundred years after Gideon, the prophet Isaiah gave this same message: "Woe to those who trust in the multitude of their chariots and in the great strength of their horsemen, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel" (Isaiah 31:1).

God will lead us into victory, but we must give Him our total trust. When we walk in His victory, we will have the joy of witnessing His mighty hand and find true fulfillment in bringing Him glory and honor. His victory is never by our strength, savvy, cunning, or intelligence. It is only as we trust Him to work in and through the empty vessel of our life. True victory will only be won as we go into battle with ALL of Him and without too much of us.

Have a Great Day!

Steve Troxel
God's Daily Word Ministries
]]> http://www.gdwm.org/archive06.htm B8CB45CB-6867-4007-A1DF-C03CF0F34679 Tue, 7 Feb 2006 12:19:05 -0500