Craig's Living H2O

January 31st - “A Spiritual House”

“You also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house.” 1 Peter 2:5a

“For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said,
         "I WILL DWELL IN THEM AND WALK AMONG THEM; AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE.”  2 Corinthians 6:16

 

 WHEN I AM PROPERLY CONNECTED TO THE BODY OF CHRIST, ALL OF HIS LIFE IS AVAILABLE TO ME.

 

God is building a dwelling place within and among us, He wants to be near.

“Now you are Christ's body, and individually members of it.”  1 Corinthians 12:27

 

The full benefits of spiritual gifts can only be enjoyed by those who are truly connected with the body of Christ.

 

“Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. 15If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. 16And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. 17If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20As it is, there are many parts, but one body.”1 Corinthians 12:14-20

 

January 30th - "My Brother's Keeper"

"It is good not eat meat or to drink wine, or to do anything by which your brother stumbles."   Romans 14:21

We are our brother's keeper. We are instructed to be mindful of how our actions affect those who are watching our lives. All of us need to be aware that we influence those around us, either for good or evil. Those who are in leadership positions must be extra careful to walk circumspectly. The Apostle Paul said that he would not even eat meat anymore if it caused his brother to stumble. The Christian life is perfectly displayed when His followers lay down their lives and their rights for the sake of others. That is the example that Jesus gave us when He walked our earth. That is the example He wants His followers to give a lost and selfish world.

January 29th - "Longing for Love"

"Therefore the LORD longs to be gracious to you, and therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you for the LORD is a God of justice; how blessed are all those who long for Him."    Isaiah 30:18

Have you ever truly "longed" for something or someone? This verse describes the divine love affair that should exist between God and His people. A mutual "longing" for one another is the normal Christian life; yet there seems to be such little hunger present in many who name the name of Christ. Substitutes can dull or even extinguish the ache of a longing without truly ever filling it. Do we have a longing, an aching, for more of Christ? Have cheap substitutes quenched are thirst for more of Him? Our posture should mirror God's posture for us - one of a great pursuit. "Blessed are all those who long for Him."

 

"So let us know, let us press on to know the Lord. His going forth is as certain as the dawn; and He will come to us like the rain, like the spring rain watering the earth."    Hosea 6:3

January 28th - "The Pursuit of Life"

"He continued to seek God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding through the vision of God: and as long as he sought the Lord, God prospered him."    2 Chronicles 26:5

 

"As long as he sought the Lord, God prospered him."  This is what Jesus said would happen to all who diligently seek Him. Jesus said in Matthew 6:33, "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."  Why are we so easily sidetracked from pursuing the most important pursuit of life? Why do we seek everything else first, and then seek His kingdom? May we all be reminded today to earnestly seek Him. Our needs will be met as we seek His kingdom and His righteousness first and foremost. This has a Jesus-backed guarantee! 

January 27th - "Station Yourself"

"Thus says the Lord to you, 'Do not fear or be dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours but God's."    2 Chronicles 20:15b

"You need not fight in this battle; station yourselves, stand and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not fear, or be dismayed; tomorrow go out to face them, for the Lord is with you."    2 Chronicles 20:17

You can face your fears today because God is with you. He will work on your behalf. "Stand and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf." "Station yourself" in faith and resist all fear in Jesus Name.

January 26th - "Fighting With God"

"But as for us, the Lord is our God, and we have not forsaken Him... for we keep the charge of the Lord our God... Now behold, God is with us at our head... do not fight against the Lord God of your fathers, for you will not succeed."    2 Chronicles 13:10-12

Whomever will fight against the obedient follower of Christ, in fact, fights with God. We keep ourselves in a protected battle position "under His cover" by "keeping the charge of the Lord."  True battle confidence comes through proven obedience and faithfulness to His charge. In this position we may confidently pray, "Lord, fight my battles, for they are your battles to win."

"For the eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the whole earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His."    2 Chronicles 16:9

"Watch the path of your feet and all your ways will be established. Do not turn to the right nor to the left; turn your foot from evil."    Proverbs 4:26-27

"I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry lands springs of water."    Isaiah 41:18

January 25th - "You're Going to Serve Somebody"

"But they will become his (Egypt's) slaves so that they may learn the difference between My service and the service of the kingdoms of the countries."                    2 Chronicles 12:8

Friend, make no mistake about it, you are going to serve somebody. The only question is who are you going to serve? Will you serve a loving God who is always looking out for your good? Or will you serve the devil who is a liar, a thief, and a murderer? There is no neutral ground and you can't opt out of serving one or the other. So who is it going to be today?

 

"The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him."       Revelation 12:9

"Therefore rejoice, you heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you! He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short."    Revelation 12:12

"The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly."    John 10:10   

January 24th - "Blessed are All who Believe"

"And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what had been spoken to her by the Lord."    Luke 1:45

Elizabeth the mother of John the Baptist spoke these words by the Holy Spirit to Mary the mother of Jesus.  Though this was spoken specifically to Mary, within this proclamation is a divine principal that is applicable to all. Blessed are all who believe that there will be a fulfillment of what has been spoken to them by the Lord. Believing is the prerequisite to victory.

"But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.  For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways." James 1:6-8

January 23rd - "Confidence that Won't Die"

"Say to the righteous that it will go well with them, for they will eat the fruit of their actions."    Isaiah 3:10

The priceless fruit of living a righteous life is the inward stalwart confidence that all of the promises of God are applicable to your life. Though all hell may assail you, you stand in the knowledge the that promises of God are "yes and amen" for you. Though not perfect, every believer that is giving their best to fully obey and follow His commandments can be assured that "it will go well for them." God sends this message of hope to every such believer, in every generation. This is the confidence that He wants us to walk in. It is only truly enjoyed to its fullest by those whose heart does not condemn them.

In a time when the nation of Israel was facing extreme judgment for turning their backs on God, God sent this message through His prophet Isaiah, "Say to the righteous that it will go well with them, for they will eat the fruit of their actions." Perhaps at this moment you don't see how "it will go well" considering what you are facing, but know this, "God is not a man that He should lie." If you are diligently giving you very best to follow after Jesus, IT WILL GO WELL FOR YOU!

 

"God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?    Numbers 23:19

January 22nd - "Not a Man-Made Temple"

"When your people go to war against their enemies, wherever you send them, and when they pray to you toward this city you have chosen and the temple I have built for your Name, then hear from heaven their prayer and their plea, and uphold their cause."    2 Chronicles 6:34-35

 

We no longer need to pray towards a man-made temple or a holy city for God to hear our prayers, for He has made His temple within us. He has taken up residence inside of those who have accepted Jesus as their Savior and Lord. God hears their prayers, their pleas, and He will uphold their cause. What comforting words! What amazing confidence they bring to the troubled heart. The rest and assurance He brings is only fully known by His children. Do you know Him? Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your Master? Find rest, find peace, find assurance in your trouble - FIND JESUS TODAY.