Humility, March 31

Humility, March 31

For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.
...Do not be wise in your own opinion.

..."he who glories, let him glory in the Lord."
For not he who commends himself is approved, but whom the Lord commends.

Romans 12:3, 16, 2 Corinthians 10:17-18, www.solascriptura.com

Father, we truly seek to be commended by You. We long to hear You say, "Well done, good and faithful servant", noticing that the emphasis is on serving.

We are so tempted to remind others of how we have served You, that it embarrasses us when we reflect on our error. Please turn our tendency to be prideful into joyful humility in serving You. Joyful humility sounds like a non-sequitur but we know that You expect both of us. It is just a little tough to do both at the same time!

Help us O'God not to fail in recognizing that You are the Shepherd and we are the sheep, following Your voice. Call us today to do specific good works in Your name, not in order to gain "merit badges" but to honor You.

In Jesus Holy name, we pray, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

Fidelity, March 30

Fidelity, March 30

... if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning.
For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them.

2 Peter 2:20-21

Father, You have taught us that fidelity counts, both in our relationships with others and in our relationship with You. Help us understand how serious a matter this is. Let us make no vow to You or to others that we are not able to keep.

We know, prior to being saved by Your grace, that we were sinners and that You provided, through Jesus, forgiveness of our sins, forgiveness for our infidelity and You provided for our cleansing. Teach us O'God not to return to infidelity. We have experienced failure and we know how it would disappoint You if we were refute our vows to You and to each other.

You teach us that infidelity is the cardinal sin in a marriage, in the case of those who have committed their souls to You and to each other. You say that to turn away from such a committment is worse than having never made a committment in the first place. You teach us that a vow to each other and to You, once were are enveloped by Your love and the love of our mate, is a most serious matter.

Empower us to obey and to honor our committemnts, we pray. In Jesus Holy name, we pray, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

Industriousness, March 29

Industriousness, March 29

... He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,
for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,
till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;
that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

Ephesians 4:11-16, www.solascriptura.com

Father, Your word has made it clear. Every Christian must do their share if the body of believers is to grow. You have taught us that we are to seek to be mature in our relationship with You, no longer being as children who are deceived by the cunning of evil.

Father, we see that there are different ways to serve You and that You want to equip us to be as Jesus among men. Teach each of us what Your expectations are this day and every day and then enlighten us and lead us as we seek to serve You.

The presence of our fleshly, sinful instincts must decrease and Your perfect presence must increase. In Jesus Holy name, we pray, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

Conscience, March 28

Conscience, March 28

Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.
Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh.
For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully.

I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings.

...I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works.

1 Peter 2:17-19, Jeremiah 17:10, Revelation 2:23, www.solascriptura.com

Father, honoring You is easy and right for You alone are worthy of our eternal love. Honoring the king, when the king is not honoring You is very difficult, from a human perspective. Thank You for teaching us that we are to be different in that regard. Our obedience to people that You have placed in authority is Your will. While we pray for their souls we must be courteous and obedient to those that enforce the laws of the land and to those You have given authority.

If we only honor the good and gentle we have not distinguished ourselves from others in the world. We are to be known by our love for You and for our neighbor and if our neighbor has been granted authority by You (You, Father are sovereign), so be it. The test is theirs.

You search our minds and our hearts. Our agenda, our thoughts and actions are bare before You. How else could You be omnipresent and omniscient if that were not true? It is true and we pray that this day You will not only be a light unto our paths but we acknowledge You as our constant companion and friend. Help us seek your counsel every moment of the day. In Your Holy name, we pray, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

Joy, March 27

Joy, March 27

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,
knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.
But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

James 1:2-4, www.solascriptura.com

Father, it seems that the only way we could possibly feel joyful about experiencing trials, is to know that You permit the trial and that the trial will force our faith to be stronger.

Patience in the midst of a trial is the perfect work that You bestow upon us. It is the Spirit in us that permits our faith to remain strong even when the evidence all around us is making us feel persecuted, guilty or abandoned.

Enable us, we pray, to know, this minute and always, that trials will come but the trials will test and strengthen our faith and that we can, through You, endure and be patient. That is a miracle not available to someone who does not call on You.

We feel joyful Father, not about the trial but about Your grace to us that we might endure the test without falling apart. In Jesus Holy name, we pray, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

Prayer, Part I, March 26

Prayer, Part I, March 26

Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning, for in You do I trust; cause me to know the way in which I should walk, for I lift up my soul to You.
Deliver me, O LORD, from my enemies; in You I take shelter.
Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God; your Spirit is good. Lead me in the land of uprightness.
Revive me, O LORD, for Your name's sake! For Your righteousness' sake bring my soul out of trouble.
In Your mercy cut off my enemies, and destroy all those who afflict my soul; for I am Your servant

Psalms 143:8-12, www.solascriptura.com

Father, if King David, a man after Your own heart, said, "teach me, lead me, revive me", we surely want to look to his example and do the same. Our lives are so full of decision-making opportunities from very minor things to life-changing things, that we confess we need Your direction, Your counsel.

We are knocked about by evil influence and angry people. Our souls are troubled and our faith is tested by the circumstances of our lives. Help us O'God to know that You are present, every moment and give us peace as we go about Your business this day. We say "Your business" because our lives ultimately have no enduring meaning if we do not seek to do Your will.

Show us today what we can do to draw nearer to You and surely You will draw nearer to us. In Jesus Holy name, we pray, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

Revenge, March 25

Revenge, March 25

... it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you,
and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels,
in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power...

II Thessalonians 1:6-9, www.solascriptura.com

Jesus, Paul reminds us that when judgment is dispensed it will be a righteous thing because it will be based upon justice. We know Father that the mercy seat sits upon the top of the Ark of the Covenant (the Law) and that mercy will prevail for those who seek it.

Revenge will be taken upon the enemy, not the children of You, Father. We, in sadness and with a sense of despair, see people pursuing sin and running from obedience. Give us, this day, a sense of urgency in our witness to those who seem to be fleeing from You.

The death of a saint is glorious but the death of an unrepentant sinner is an eternal tragedy. Help us focus on the things You would have us do in the face of such circumstances. We know that Your love in us is our only hope in reaching out to others. In Jesus Holy name, we pray, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

Mind of Christ, March 24,

Mind of Christ, March 24

... since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin,
that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.
For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles—when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries.
In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you.
They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.
For this reason the gospel was preached also to those who are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.
But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers.
And above all things have fervent love for one another, for "love will cover a multitude of sins."

1 Peter 4:1-8

Father, when we read of Peter's life, prior to the resurrection of our Savior, Jesus, and the gift of the Holy Spirit, he was quite a problem, not in things of faith, but in things of temperament. We too are ill-tempered at times but here we read the words of a Spirit filled Peter, a perfect example of a changed heart and an example of what You can do in the life of a person.

Peter says we need to be armed with the mind of Christ that we should not live the rest of our lives filled with the lust of men but instead we should serve the will of God. We know that when we decide to follow You, some people will think we are foolish if not crazy. Strengthen us to withstand the ridicule, expressed or implied, of our acquaintances.

Peter teaches that You, Jesus, preached to those who died before You were crucified and resurrected, those whose death was a result of judgment as unto a physical man, but that in their resurrection those who have accepted Your Spirit will live forever. Your word tells us the end is near. We know that with You Father, a day is as a thousand years and a thousand years as a day.

Those who are suffering, especially, wait for Your redemption of their tired flesh but in any event, we who are able, must resolve to serve You this day and every day. Strengthen us to do so, we pray, in Jesus' name, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

Law of God, March 23

Law of God, March 23

"This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them,"
then He adds, "Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more."
Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin.
Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus,
by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh,
and having a High Priest over the house of God,
let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,

Hebrews 10:16-22, 26, www.solascriptura.com

Father, the promise You have made to us concerning the law being written upon our hearts is a gift of immeasurable value. We are never far from the truth. All we need to do is to seek You and You will shed Your light on our souls and teach us afresh of that which we have sensed from the beginning.

You say that if we but ask, you will forgive. Such grace and mercy, so undeserved, is an incomparable gift. "Thank You for going to the cross that our sins might be forgiven Jesus" seems like a totally inadequate statement. The suffering You endured is beyond our understanding. Help us this day not to sin intentionally.

It is not a wonder to us Jesus that You would be extremely disappointed if we intentionally sin. It would be like asking You to return to the cross, repeating the sacrifice, for each of us who consciously choose to sin. We need to walk with You, fully aware of Your presence in all matters. Bless us we pray, in Your name, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

Prayer, Part 2, March 22

Prayer, Part 2, March 22

I will praise You, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will tell of all Your marvelous works.
I will be glad and rejoice in You; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High.

Psalms 9:1-2, www.solascriptura.com

Dear Jesus, our Lord and Savior, we do praise You from the depths of our soul. There is no one or nothing that deserves our praise and our attention like You.

We look to all that You have given us to enjoy and to work with and we rejoice in Your omniscience for no one but You could have conceived such a perfect circumstance for us to know You.

Jesus, help us take nothing for granted in terms of the gifts You have given us. Help us use those gifts to bring glory to Your Holy name, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

Peace, March 21

Peace, March 21

...where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.
But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.

Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

James 3:16-18, www.solascriptura.com

Father, James, the half brother of Jesus, taught us some wonderful things and we are so grateful for his words. Here he reminds us that envy and self-seeking lead us into evil and confusion. We know, Father, that all people naturally seek to have more and better stuff. That instinct leads us into very immature behavior, at times.

We do seek Your blessing but help us to know why You have blessed us and why You will yet bless us. You have taught us that to whom much is given, much is required. Your blessings to us should cause us to want to be a blessing to others. That seems so right and so natural compared to being envious or self-seeking.

It is Your wisdom we seek, Your gentle and peaceful nature rendered to us without partiality. Help us to be helpful to others today, to deliver peace where there is strife and to trust You in all things. We pray in Jesus' Holy name, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

Courage, March 20

Courage, March 20

... I ..., after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints,
do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers:
that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him,
the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,
and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power
which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,
far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.

Ephesians 1:15-21 www.solascriptura.com

Jesus, this is the perfect prayer that we should offer for each other. Paul says he continues in prayer for these children of God. Can we do less? Help us today to focus on praying for each other and to encourage each other in the faith.

Paul says witness of who Jesus was and why He matters in your life. His name is above every name! We pray that His name and our Lord's Holy name is only spoken in fear and reverence. Forgive those who believe Your name, O' God, is an exclamation point. How Father did we become so irreverent?

Have mercy on the souls of those who are disobedient, we pray. Amen.

Bruce Caldwell

God’s Children, March 19

God's Children, March 19

My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.
And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.
Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments.
He who says, "I know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him.
He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.
I write to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for His name's sake.

I John 2:1-6, 12, www.solascriptura.com

Father, we come to You, cleansed of our sin because Jesus, our advocate, has made it all possible. We know there is no other way to be in Your presence except by Your grace and merch and at the nomination of ourselves by Jesus.

Our advocate, the One who appeals to You, Himself, paid the price for our sins. This is true of no one else; therefore all judgment has been assigned to Jesus. We can boldly enter into Your presence because our faith is based on the gift of the Holy Spirit, the gift of a new heart and a completely new start.

The Apostle John speaks plainly about obedience. "He who says, "I know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him." Keeping Your commandments is not easy. We know our walk with You is a little "uphill" but each day of obedience makes the next day's hill, easier. John says, "Walk just as He walked." That is our prayer today. Help us to be more like You every day. We pray in Jesus' name, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

The Narrow Gate, March 18

The Narrow Gate, March 18

In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.
In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.

Ephesians 1:11-14 www.solascriptura.com

Jesus, again we hear the word "predestined" to describe what is the reality of a born-again believer, One that You knew in the beginning would turn to You, trusting You, depending upon You in even the smallest things.

You teach us here that the presence of the Holy Spirit in our hearts is Your seal upon our souls, our guarantee of an inheritance so indescribably perfect that we can not even visualize it.

How are we to know that the seal of the Holy Spirit is upon us? Your word answers that question in so many ways but it seems to always come back to this verse: "You shall know them by their fruits." If we say we love You, let our thoughts, choices and actions confirm that truth. Help us, this day, to seek You, to learn from You and to experience Your presence and friendship, all day. We are Your "purchased possession". Is there anyone else we would like to commit our future to besides You?

We pray these things in Jesus' name, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

Perseverance, March 17

Perseverance, March 17

For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit,
and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come,
if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.
For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated, receives blessing from God;
but if it bears thorns and briars, it is rejected and near to being cursed, whose end is to be burned.
But, beloved, we are confident of better things concerning you, yes, things that accompany salvation, though we speak in this manner.
For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.
And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end,

Hebrews 6:4-11, www.solascriptura.com

Father, we confess our dependence on You. You have taught us that to know You and then abandon You is a grave error. Those who do so are like the thorns and briars that will be destroyed in the end. But we who love You and all the works we do in Your name will not be forgotten. We know that our works, in and of themselves, merit us nothing. Our works only count if they are truly a labor of love to You and to those created in Your image.

Help us to "finish well", to show the same diligence towards You, every day until the end. Help us O'God to be as the cultivated herb, bearing fruit worthy of our calling. In Jesus Holy name, we pray, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

God’s Gifts, March 16

God's Gifts, March 16

Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour.

But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth.

As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit-just as it has taught you, remain in him.

1 John 2:18, 20, 27

Father, John, the beloved Apostle, tells us what is repeatedly made clear; the antichrist is coming.

We know that with You Father, a thousand years is as a day and a day as a thousand years. We sometimes over rate these few years we have on earth, not realizing they are less than a speck of sand on the beaches of eternity.

But, even if we do not fully grasp the concept of eternity, we do know that this small allotment of years is all that we have to work with in terms of accepting Your grace and mercy to us. Life seems long to some and too brief to others but You have taught us it is as a vapor that disappears.

Your word says that Jesus, when He died for our sins and rose again, said You would send the Holy Spirit to all men. Jesus said that the truth would be written on our hearts and that those who do not acknowledge that truth will be without excuse.

Here, John clearly makes the same point. We need to look no further than our own hearts to know You. We enjoy being taught by others but here John says You are our teacher, it is Your anointing, Your healing hand upon us that saves us if we will but respond to Your love. May we each receive Your wonderful gift of anointing this day, afresh. We pray in Jesus' name, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

March 15 Read, read, read!

What is the big deal about reading the Bible?

How many people do you think read the Bible very often, often, not often, or hardly at all? If you are among those who read "not often" or "hardly at all", why is that true? Are you able to you know the heart of God without listening to Him? Read what the Bible says about the Word of God.

"For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." Hebrews 4:11 NKJV

Discuss what the words in that verse mean and then discuss why it would seem unwise to not read the Bible enthusiastically and often. There are many verses that speak to why you should know God's word.

"How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word. With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments! Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You." Psalms 119:9-11
"I will meditate on Your precepts, And contemplate Your ways. I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word." Psalms 119:15-16 NKJV

The 119th Psalm is full of this kind of admonition and encouragement. Discuss each of the verses you just read. Then, ask yourselves, how important is God's word in your daily life? The Apostle Paul had a student named Timothy. This is what he told the young man:

"Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15 NKJV

"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:16-17 NKJV

Listen to the words of the Psalmist: "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. The entrance of Your words gives light; I rise before the dawning of the morning, And cry for help; I hope in Your word. My eyes are awake through the night watches, that I may meditate on Your word." Psalms 119:105, 130, 147-148 NKJV Why the early morning…you can make it available!

Again, how important is the Word of God to you? Do you sense that a Bible, on a shelf, unstudied, may as well not exist? Discuss ideas about getting more time with the Scriptures. And realize this: "Behold, the days are coming," says the Lord GOD, "That I will send a famine on the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD." Amos 8:11 NKJV Discuss what that verse means.

Core Christian value: God's word is Holy, it is the truth and I need to absorb as much as I can while I can. The entrance of Your word gives light. It will not always be available.

Temple of God, March 14

Temple of God, March 14

...God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.

1Thessalonians 5:9-10, www.solascriptura.com

Father, indeed, we who love You with all our heart, mind and soul and love our neighbor as ourselves, are not appointed to Your wrath. We know that does not mean that we are protected from the wrath of mankind, where people are capable of heinous crime.

We are protected from Your wrath and most theologians take that to mean we will not endure Armageddon, because we will have been caught up in the clouds, either before the 7 years of tribulation, in the middle of the 7 years or at the end of the 7 years. You have chosen to not make it perfectly clear whether we should hold a pre-trib, mid-trib or post-trib view but You have made it clear we should be "ready." If we are ready we will be taken to Your side and we will not endure the final trials that will occur.

You have appointed us to salvation. Your grace called us and Your Son took away our sin. Help us, today, to respond to Your love and mercy. Being protected by You, for eternity, is Your promise.

When we do experience the wrath of man, help us know that the suffering of this present time is not worthy to be compared to what You have prepared for us. We are Yours, forever, not just for this extremely brief moment of time (a finite number is incomparable to an infinite number) but for eternity. If we live less than three score and ten, we graduate early (to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord) and if we live longer we get to serve longer. Bless us this day, we pray in Jesus' name. Amen.

Bruce Caldwell

Courage, March 13

Courage, March 13

… do not hide Your face from Your servant, for I am in trouble; hear me speedily.
Draw near to my soul, and redeem it; deliver me because of my enemies.

Psalms 69:17-18, www.solascriptura.com

Father, You tell us, over and over, that if we draw near to You, You will draw near to us. Yet, when are facing difficult circumstances, we cry out for your help, forgetting at times, that You completely understand the anguish we are feeling.

We pray God for Your comfort and counsel in times of trouble. Distress seems to be as certain as the sunrise in some of our lives, far too often. Why Father must we endure tests, permitted by You? Are the tests intended to strengthen us? Could a muscle grow stronger that is never tested? Of course not Father but as much as we want to be in strong physical condition we now see that our spiritual strength must be developed by testing.

When we are tested we do resent the enemy that is tempting us to give up hope, to buckle under the pressure of the moment. Father, You have taught us that this life is as a vapor that quickly disappears. Help us today not to overly focus on the transitional but to see it as a very short trial that leads to an eternal triumph. Hear us, speedily, we pray and encourage us in every way; in Jesus name, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

Forgiven, March 12

Forgiven, March 12

... Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, "Abba, Father!"
Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

Galatians 4:6-7, www.solascriptura.com

Father, we have learned that "Abba" is translated as Daddy, a term of endearment we use to express love and trust. Has anyone that has embraced a child not understood what a privilege it is to be as "Daddy or Mommy" to a child? There is nothing more tender than a child absorbing the love and embrace of their father or mother.

This scripture teaches us of Your love. It is a scripture that says we are no longer slaves, but we are Your children, You are our Father, who tenderly loves us. You say we are heirs to Your throne because Jesus has cleansed us and we are now encapsulated in His purity. We do not come into Your presence Father on our own merit. We are only able to enter into Your presence because we have been regenerated from sinner to son, from failures in the flesh, to sons and daughters able to radiate Your love.

When we see the purity of our children, our babies, we see a picture of how we appear to You. Innocent, even though guilty, cleansed even though we need daily renewal. Bless us as we seek Your perfection. In Jesus' Holy name, we pray, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

Salvation, March 11

Salvation, March 11

... Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation.

Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.

For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh,

how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.

So Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.

Hebrews 9:11-15, 28, www.solascriptura.com

Father, You teach us here how Jesus replaced the Old Covenant and how the animal sacrifices Jews made for their sins were no longer sufficient.

You, Jesus, are the Mediator of the New Covenant, redeeming the souls of all who accept You as the Son of God. Sacrifice for sin is finished. You, Jesus covered all sin for all time with Your act of atonement.

You have taught us that the New Covenant is not "in addition" to the Old Covenant, but that it replaces the Old Covenant, yet, we who love You will naturally obey the commandments of our Lord. We do not obey in order to be saved, we obey because we love You and we are saved.

Eternal life is ours, thanks to the grace of You Father and the enabling act of sacrifice by You, Jesus.

We await Your glorious, triumphant return!

Bruce Caldwell

Joy, March 10

Joy, March 10

Wait on the LORD, and keep His way, and He shall exalt you to inherit the land...
... the salvation of the righteous is from the LORD; he is their strength in the time of trouble.

Psalms 37:34, 39, www.solascriptura.com

Father, may we exhort one another to love and obey your Holy word and to keep Your way. Teach us new truths, afresh every day, so that the life You have given us might bring glory to you.

Help us Father not to be overwhelmed with the cares of this world, so pre-occupied that we leave You out of the issues we face and the decisions we must make. Joy does not come easy to a burdened heart. Help us to look past the moment and to resolve to focus on the perfection that awaits us. Our faith in Your love can and will sustain us.

We pray this day for your Spirit and our spirit to be as one. That is a huge hope, Father, but we know it is Your will for each of us. In Jesus' Holy name, we pray, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

Hope, March 9

Hope, March 9

... Beloved, we are confident of better things concerning you, yes, things that accompany salvation, though we speak in this manner.
For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.
And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end,
that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

Hebrews 6:9-12, www.solascriptura.com

Father, You expect more from those that love You because You empower them. You remind us that You will not forget our work of love that we have advanced in Your name.

Father, You have also taught us that the works that we do in Your name must spring from our faith, not our sense of duty. Thank You for teaching us that our works are in response to Your love. O' God, is there any option for Your children but to respond to Your love?

We do pray for the strength and the endurance to persist in faithful endeavor even when we are tired and frustrated. Father, when we hang our head, we are looking the wrong way. Help us look up, seeking Your guidance in all things. We pray these things in the name of Jesus, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

Temptation, March 8

Temptation, March 8

... let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.
No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.

1 Corinthians 10:12-13, Galatians 6:1, www.solascriptura.com

Help us today, we pray, to simply turn away from temptation. To yield is to become a victim and to flee from its grasp is Your stated will. You know that we can not even watch the media without titillating ads or immoral messages bombarding our home.

Put Your hand, we pray, against those who conspire to ruin the moral fiber of our country and who prey upon the lower nature present in all of us. Guide us in paths of righteousness and give us the resolve to look for alternatives, we pray.

When we or a loved one fails, momentarily we pray, help us remember how you have forgiven each of us and that we must be prepared to forgive others. In Jesus Holy name, we pray, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

Providence of God, March 7

Providence of God, March 7

Give us help from trouble, for the help of man is useless.
Through God we will do valiantly, for it is He who shall tread down our enemies.
...Saying, "Do not touch My anointed ones, and do My prophets no harm."

Psalms 105:15, 108:12-13, www.solascriptura.com

Father, we know there are those who dislike or hate us, especially if we are very public about our commitment to you. You promise to intervene on our behalf, many times without us even knowing we were being persecuted, and You assure us that whether now or later, Your love for us will prevail.

O' God, we know of cases where Your children are persecuted, even unto physical death. First, we know this life is as a vapor when compared to eternity and that Your children are safely in Your hand, forever. We also see here that revenge belongs to You and those who set out to harm Your children will be dealt with on Judgement Day.

We look to you constantly but never enough. Your thoughts toward us exceed number. Help us we pray to respond to your love, today, all day. In Jesus Holy name, we pray, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

Perseverance, March 6

Perseverance, March 6

I rise before the dawning of the morning, and cry for help; I hope in Your word.
My eyes are awake through the night watches, that I may meditate on Your word.
Hear my voice according to Your lovingkindness; O LORD, revive me according to Your justice.
They draw near who follow after wickedness; they are far from Your law.
You are near, O LORD, and all Your commandments are truth.
Concerning Your testimonies, I have known of old that You have founded them forever.
Consider my affliction and deliver me, for I do not forget Your law.
Plead my cause and redeem me; revive me according to Your word. Salvation is far from the wicked, for they do not seek Your statutes. Great are Your tender mercies, O LORD; revive me according to Your judgments.
Many are my persecutors and my enemies, yet I do not turn from Your testimonies.
I see the treacherous, and am disgusted, because they do not keep Your word.
Consider how I love Your precepts; revive me, O LORD, according to Your lovingkindness.
The entirety of Your word is truth, and every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever.
Princes persecute me without a cause, but my heart stands in awe of Your word.
I rejoice at Your word as one who finds great treasure.
I hate and abhor lying, but I love Your law.
Seven times a day I praise You, because of Your righteous judgments.

Psalms 119:147-164, www.solascriptura.com

Father, in this busy life of ours, we find that our will to spend time with You is preempted by the affairs of life. We are stretched too far and we are doing important things, some time, but Father, we know that failing to look to You, to notice Your love for us, to thank You for all that You have provided, is a mistake.

Help us find time, every day, to focus on Your presence and Your Holy word. May we never stand before You and say we were too busy to talk to You, acknowledge You and seek to know You better. In Christ's enabling power, guide us to the foot of the Cross that we might worship You in Spirit and in truth. Amen

Bruce Caldwell

Providence of God, March 5

Providence of God, March 5

... the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

Romans 8:26-28, www.solascriptura.com

Father, these are wonderful verses, the kind we ought to memorize. Thank you for interceding for us with feelings and words we can not even express. We do become impatient as we wait upon You. Increase our faith, we pray. You are Omniscient, we are extremely limited by contrast and yet You call us saints.

This day Father, remind us that all things do work to the good for those who love You. You see what we can not see and you lead us in paths toward Your goals for our lives. Such intercession is too marvelous to fully grasp. Give us faith, every moment of every day to experience Your Holy presence, Your leading. In Jesus' name, Amen

Bruce Caldwell

Perseverance, March 4

Perseverance, March 4

I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom:
Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers;
and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.
But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

2 Tim 4:1-5, www.solascriptura.com

Father, witnessing, preaching the word, and living in such a way that we give off the aroma of one saved by the grace of God, is what You have said You expect. These commandments require that we know the word.

Father, this scripture says the time will come when people will seek out teachers who tell them what they want to hear. O' God, how we pray that You will teach Your teachers; that You will convict them and lead them to preach the whole truth, in season and out of season, when it is easy and when it is difficult.

Help us O'God to be seekers of the truth and to overcome evil in our lives by the power of the Holy Spirit that lives in us. Lead us this day in paths of righteousness for Your name's sake. Amen.

Bruce Caldwell

A Chuck Smith commentary, March 3

This is a point of view/experience Chuck Smith (Founder of the Calvary Chapel movement)posted on his web site. It may give you a new perspective on an important matter.

Now this last week I had a very interesting experience. We have a fellow in our church who is the president of a polygraph firm, and so he has been doing some experiments with his polygraph machines. By hooking the connections up to a plant leaf and then watching the responses on the polygraph as the electrodes are hooked up to a plant. And he had been doing these experiments and he wanted me to come over and observe some of the things that he had discovered. And I found them very interesting.

As we are thinking about the earth showing His handiwork and day unto day they're uttering speech. And the question is, just how much understanding or knowledge is there in a plant? And so, as he hooked up the electrodes to the plant, and the needles started just moving up and down as it was measuring the responses within the leaf, he said, "Now move the needle upwards. Move in an upward position on the graph." And as he commanded it to do so, the needle started moving upward. And he said, "Now show us the downward movement." And the needle moved down on the graph. And then he said, "Now show us some violent motion," and the needle began to swing all the way across. Then he said to me, "Now you choose a number in your mind." And so he said, "Is the number one?" And of course I didn't answer. But he was just measuring the graph. "Is the number two? Is the number three?" And the needle was just going up and down, and when he got to my number seven, the needle goes way up and then came
back down again and leveled off, and then, "Eight? Nine? Ten?" And I looked at the thing and I thought, "I can't believe it." What kind of communication, you know.

Now I am certain that there are many things of God's creation that we don't understand. That there are vast facets within nature that we have only begun to scratch the surface. That God has coded in many things, wisdom that is phenomenal, things that are just amazing. And I think that there is much to be learned and much to be discovered. God says that day unto day they are uttering their speech. That it's a universal language. There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard. You say, "Well, what do you make of it?" I don't know what to make of it; it was weird. But it was interesting. And it just sort of opens up your mind to the fact that God's creation is far vaster than what we ever dreamed. What kind of intelligence is just in a cell itself?

There was a gal who pinched the leaf, one of the leaves on the plant, not the one that the electrode was attached to, and the needle began to move violently. She went out of the room to get something and the needle settled down. When she came back in the room, the needle started moving violently again. The way this was all discovered is a fellow had attached the electrodes to a plant and he was just watching the movement of the needle, sort of fascinated with it. And he decided to water the plant, and as he picked up the water to water the plant, the needle started going crazy. So instead of watering it, he stopped and he put the water back down, and the needle settled back down again and so he picked it up as though he was going to water, deciding he wasn't going to do it, but just see what the needle would do, and this time it didn't do anything. And he made several gestures like he was going to water it, but not intending to do it, and the needle did nothing. And this guy started
getting bugged. And so he finally decided, "Okay, I really will water it this time. I'll go ahead and really water it." And the needle started jumping again and he watered the thing. Now I don't know the explanations of it. I have no explanation for it. But it's interesting. "All nature," we sing, "All nature sings, and round me rings the music of the spheres." Who knows? The wisdom of God who has created life forms, the infinite variety of life forms. What kind of understanding has He put into some of these life forms? I don't know. It is fascinating.

"The heavens declare the glory of God, the firmament shows His handiwork, and day unto day they utter their speech." They are talking to us. "Night unto night their voice goeth forth. There is not a speech nor a language where there voice is not heard." God speaks to man universally through nature. But though nature speaks to you of the existence of God, the testimony or the witness of nature then falls short because it cannot tell you of the love of God and the redemptive plan of God for your life. For that we needed the special revelation, and God has thus given us the special revelation that we might know His love and His plan for our lives. But the fact that God exists, we all know just by the fact of life around us and life forms around us.

This is Bruce talking now and I just want to say this "story" awakened a sense in my heart that I have always had: God is omnipresent, He is the Living Water, He knows when a hair falls from your head, the air we breathe is as the Holy Spirit made alive, the Scriptures say that the very rocks would cry out if we did not declare God. In another place the Bible says a dove descended and said "this is My Son in whom I am well-pleased". We know that not a bird falls from the sky of which He is unaware, the trees clap their hands in praise of him and on an on as the Bible teaches us how it is that He cares about us, loves us, protects us and encircles us in a more complete way than we may have ever imagined. Our God is present in every created thing. We truly never walk alone. Acknowledge Him as you feel the breeze, see the flowers, breathe the air and drink the water He has provided. He is truly omnipresent.

Praise God for His revelations. He is indeed Abba, Father, as a caring Dad and He sent His only Son, Jesus, who makes it possible for us to stand in the Father's presence. We could never encounter God's presence and experience His leading if we were approaching him as sinners, haters of the Word or enemies of all that is good.

One final point; we are sinners, saved by grace and we are servants of our Father, the Living God, all day, every day. The following words characterize the fruit of a servant and they open us up and enable us to experience the presence of the Holy Spirit: love, peace, joy, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control. If we are angry, impatient, depressed and unkind, we are missing what our God intends. Father, we are alive in You, we shed Your Light, we are energized by Your indwelling Spirit. Jesus, our worthiness is in You. In Jesus' name, amen.

Fidelity, March 2

Fidelity, March 2

I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.
Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus who dwells in us.
That good thing which was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.

2 Timothy 1:12-14, www.solascriptura.com

Father, not only is this verse from a wonderful old song, but it is a statement of truth. You will help us keep the faith to which we have committed. You will help us see that our commitment is a response to Your commitment. We never walk alone.

Father, You ask us to hold fast to the sound words You have taught us. This day, we pray that You will help us commit to a pattern of reading Your word that matches your expectations. It is so hard, given the everyday pressures of family life, to make "listening to You" a priority.

Father, we know that each day that passes is either an opportunity realized or an opportunity we passed up. Help us to be diligent in our response to Your love. We know that good works should spring from our faith and that our faith should produce good works. Teach us and guide us and comfort us with the indwelling Holy Spirit, Your Light within us.

In thy Son's Holy name, we pray, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

Industriousness, March 1

Industriousness, March 1

Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.
And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.
But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and there is no partiality.
... we urge you, brethren, that you increase more and more;
that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you,
that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing.

Ephesians 4:28, Colossians 3:23-25, 1Thessalonians 4:10-12, www.solascriptura.com

Father, we know that your desire is that we are fruitful. You have taught us that one of the reasons to accumulate assets is to share them with those in need. Help us to know that assets, granted to us by You, make us a custodian, one who administers benefits to others.

Working with enthusiasm and joy is your hope for us. Again Father, help us to know that what we do, for and unto men, should be as if we were doing it for You personally. We work and serve, not to our glory, but to Yours. How tempting it is Father to take credit for dispensing Your gifts. Even the gift of love and caring, though free to us, came at a great cost to You. Help us this day to freely give that which we have been given.

In the material sense, most of us lack nothing that we truly need. Help us to be spiritually satisfied by Your word and presence and to generously share Your love. In Jesus Holy name, we pray, amen.

Bruce Caldwell