A Continual Burning Heart For Christ

King James Bible Daily Devotion – Learning Scripture One Day At A Time
Date: Sunday, November 01, 2015
Chapters: Luke 23-24 http://imfollowingjesus.com/Bible-Reading-305.html
Message Title: A Continual Burning Heart For Christ

Hello My Friend,

Of all the years since I have dedicated my life to my Lord, Jesus Christ I have not seen God working in me more than this one. I look at all the directions I can go, and honestly, I don't want to go anywhere in which I am not led by Christ. I have been tempted, tried, and even got to the edge of the cliff, but He mercy and grace endured. I admit that the reason I was struggling this year was because I was dealing with a lot of setbacks, no matter what I tried to do I seemed to keep going in circles. This got me thinking, as Christians, how often do we trusting Him with out lives? If it seems like you are facing one set back after another, even while Christ is in your life, perhaps it's time to reexamine what you are putting you're trusting in. Are you trusting Christ or your circumstances? “In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God. Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.” - Psalms 62:7,8.

“Trust in him at all times” Most God fearing, walking with Christ Christians do not like charity, they don't want to beg for things, they want to work for them, and will do anything within the morals of God to do it. Believe it or not, God wants us to be strong and do the work needed to get things done, but He wants to be a part of it, He wants our dependence upon Him for everything. Selah, that is really one powerful word, stop and meditate on what is being said. Trust in Him at all times, meaning good, bad, ugly, and sad. We must realize that God loves us more than we can ever imagine, and proved that by sending His Son to die for us. Now, every Gospel tells a different side to Jesus being captured and tried, this one reflects on both Pilate and Herod.

“And the whole multitude of them arose, and led him unto Pilate. And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ a King. And Pilate asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answered him and said, Thou sayest it. Then said Pilate to the chief priests and to the people, I find no fault in this man. And they were the more fierce, saying, He stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all Jewry, beginning from Galilee to this place. When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked whether the man were a Galilaean. And as soon as he knew that he belonged unto Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who himself also was at Jerusalem at that time. And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was desirous to see him of a long season, because he had heard many things of him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him.” - Luke 23:1-8.

“For he was desirous to see him of a long season,” So many times we go through things and do not see Jesus, for we desire His presence, but He seems to be gone for a while? Can I tell you that Jesus is always with us, if you are saved, He's right there with You, and hasn't gone anywhere. The reason we do not see Him is because we are wanting a different outcome than what we see. God will never put us in a position where it's going to take us away from Him so, He's gonna fight for us because He has much better things in store for us. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” - Isaiah 55:8-11.

“So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth” Whatever God says, it will happen. While Pilate wanted nothing to do with Jesus being out to death, He handed Him over where He was led to Calvary, crucified, and died for everyone's sins. “And there were also two other, malefactors, led with him to be put to death. And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst. And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost. Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man. And all the people that came together to that sight, beholding the things which were done, smote their breasts, and returned.” - Luke 23:32-34,44-48.

“Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” Sometimes we just don't know what we are doing, we can harden our hearts to the point that we resort to ungodly things. The sad thing is, every time we do something through a hardened heart, whether it's through anger, sadness, or loneliness, we crucify Him all over again. Thankfully we are forgiven, we are always forgiven, and He never forsakes us for our sometimes terrible actions, no matter how bad they have been. “For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak.” - Hebrews 6:4-9.

“But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you” God doesn't want us living a mediocre, take it as it is life, He wants us to live a blessed, prosperous life with Him guiding us. We must never forget that even though Jesus died for us that He also arose for us, giving all who believe in Him victory over any mess we make of ourselves. No matter how strong our faith, we can forget God's promises and as some ladies arrive at the tomb of Jesus three days later to prepare His body as they would have any other, they find something shocking.

“Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them. And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre. And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments: And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again. And they remembered his words, And returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest.” - Luke 24:1-9.

“remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee” We must never forget that no matter what we have done, no matter how rough things get, and no matter how many setbacks we get that God always follows through with what He says. We merely need to get in His Word to remember what He said. We are not alone, even the Apostles had forgotten what Jesus said. In fact, He spent an entire day with them giving Scripture after Scripture about His death, burial, and resurrection before they realized He was right there with them.

“Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further. But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them. And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight. And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures? And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them, Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon.” - Luke 24:25-34.

“Did not our heart burn within us” The problem is that when our heart hurts it doesn't always burn for Christ, we forget that He is right there with us. He gives us all kinds of signs, but because we are hurting, we don't realize He's right in front of us. This is when something happens to get our attention, something simple and not even through affliction. Then He's gonna fuss at us for our slowness of our heart, and when we need to focus on what our lives are really about, to please God and nothing more. “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.” - Psalms 51:10-13.

Today's Prayer: God You know the desires of my heart, and while I know that all things are possible with You, I often let my circumstances blind me from that truth. Lord, increase my trust in You, let me no longer be blinded from seeing that You are right there with me. Give me Your power to overcome all my emotions, the pains, the sorrows, and the obstacles I create in the midst of my circumstances. Give me Your grace to keep going, even when I do not see You, trusting that with You all things are possible. And let me not ask You for anything that is not in Your will for me. Keep me in Your Word and will to know what You want for my life. In Jesus' name, Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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