Proverbs 3:3

“Do not let kindness and truth leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.” (NASB) 

STRONGS HEBREW/GREEK ORIGINS 

“Do not let kindness (checed: mercy, lovingkindness, goodness) and truth ('emeth: stability, continuance, faithfulness, reliableness of testimony, of judgment and of divine instruction) leave (`azab: forsake, depart from) you; bind (qashar: conspire, league together, tie) them around your neck, write (kathab: record, inscribe, engrave) them on the tablet of your heart (leb: mind, understanding, inner man, will, moral character, conscience, seat of emotions and passions).” 

SUMMARY

Don’t let kindness, mercy, goodness, truth, faithfulness and reliableness of divine instruction depart from you. Tie them tightly around your neck, engrave them on the tablet of your inner man, where the seat of your emotions, character and passions reside. 

MEDITATION

What an awesome reality to daily walk in. Also, what a challenge! There’s no debating that living in this world, bombarded by all of its engrained patterns, demands that we be tough, self-seeking and ready to defend ourselves at every moment. But the Scriptures always insist that we respond differently. Actions alone is entirely incapable of bringing this about on their own. As the Word always leads us back to – it’s an issue of the heart. The attributes of the sons and daughters of God must be engraved upon one’s innermost being. When kindness and truth are inscribed on the heart, they’ll have no problem making their way to the surface. Only the exchanging of one’s heart of stone to a heart of flesh (by the agape love of the Father) can allow one to be “tattooed” by these characteristics of Proverbs. So today, take the time, make the time, to do some heart evaluation. Above all else, open yourself before the Father and allow Him access to the deepest part of you – your heart. Then, powered and enabled by His awesome love, surrender to His guidance and write kindness and truth upon it. 

Exodus 17:15

 “Moses built an altar and named it ‘Jehovahnissi’ (Translated, ‘The Lord is My Banner’).

STRONGS HEBREW/GREEK ORIGINS

“Moses built (banah: set up, established) an altar and named (qara’: called out, proclaimed aloud, commissioned) it ‘Jehovahnissi’ (translated, ‘The Lord is My Banner’).

SUMMARY

Moses set up and established an altar and proclaimed aloud that “The Lord is my Banner!”

MEDITATION

I’ve found myself meditating on this verse a lot lately as I continue to strive to lay down all things that compete for top spot in my life in Christ. As I thought about the significance of the Lord being my banner I had several visuals come to mind. First of all, what a banner is not is some tiny flag that you can wave effortlessly with one hand while multitasking with something else in the other. This kind of banner is of the all or nothing sort.

We all have banners that we carry. Some have many. We often see American banners, denominational banners, political party banners, personal accomplishment banners. We could of course go on for days with this. Allow me though to paint a vivid picture of how I see the Lord’s banner. First of all, let’s say its main component is a seven feet by seven feet piece of fabric. Across the material reads “JEHOVAH NISSI” in large block letters. The banner is attached to a solid wood pole that’s ten feet in length. Several conditions are necessary to hoist this banner up and cause it to flow in the air. First of all, you must grab it tightly with both hands. A firm grip and single-minded determination are a must to even be able to hoist it up into the air. You can hold nothing else in your hands and you must be focused on what you’re doing. Secondly, your arms must be extended high, raised to elevate the banner for all to see. Lastly, you must move! In order for the fabric to unfurl, you must be moving in order for the banner to wave and display the name of your covering. Standing still only causes it to fall vertical at your side. Move!

So what does your banner declare? Who or what does your daily life promote? If people who know you were asked to draw a banner over your picture stating what it is that you stand for the most what would it say? My hope and prayer is that the Body of Christ would willingly lay down all other banners and once again stand unified under JEHOVAH NISSI! May the Lord alone be Our banner! He is absolutely enough!

Acts 13:52

"And the disciples were continually filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.” (NASB)

STRONGS HEBREW/GREEK ORIGINS

"And the disciples were continually filled (pleroo: complete, made full, abounding in, liberally supplied) with joy (chara: joyfulness, gladness) and with the Holy Spirit.”
SUMMARY

The disciples were always found to be abounding with joy, gladness and the Holy Spirit. 
MEDITATION

So many Christians get all worked up about how they can stay "unstained by the world" as James taught us. There are books and videos about how to abstain from sin and  be found faithful to God. Sermons, teachings, study guides abound on the topic of how to avoid depression and stop anxiety and worry. You know what though, with all of that aside, I'm thoroughly convinced that it has little to do with what I don't do but entirely to do with what I do. The disciples, although flawed and still in human flesh as you and I, primarily kept their eyes set on Jesus. They left behind all that they knew as existence to know this God-Man. They saw such value in Him that all else that they had previously known became  insignificant. After Jesus died, rose and ascended, they walked filled with joy and the Holy Spirit. Abounding joy! Overflowing with the Spirit of Holiness! Today, who or what is your source? Do you walk in joy and the Holy Spirit as those who went before us? May the Body of Christ shake off Her dust today and arise in fullness of joy and the Holy Spirit. 

2 Corinthians 9:7

“Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

STRONGS HEBREW/GREEK ORIGINS

“Each one must do just as he has purposed (proaireomai: brought forward for one's self, preferred, made up one’s mind) in his heart (kardia: the seat of one’s physical and spiritual life, innermost), not grudgingly (lupe: sorrowfully, heaviness, grievous, grudgingly) or under compulsion (anagke: by law of duty regarding to one's advantage, distress, necessity), for God loves (agapao: well pleased with, to be contented at or with a thing) a cheerful (hilaros: joyous) giver.”

SUMMARY

Each one must do just as he has made up his mind in his innermost being, not in sorrow or heaviness, or out of duty and necessity, for God is well pleased with a joyous giver.

MEDITATION

Recently, while dining out, I overheard the patrons next to us being told about how the restaurant was requesting donations for a certain organization. After the server asked them if they’d like to have a donation added to their bill, the patron began to thoroughly explain how she already has a certain dollar amount taken out of a her paycheck each week that goes to a charity, so they would not be making a donation at this time. While the lady’s regular, repeat donation is surely a great thing indeed, it got me to thinking. First of all, she didn’t just say “no”. She felt obligated to thoroughly tell the server why she was saying no - justifying her disinterest in giving again. (Which I’d like to point out, I’m not criticizing whatsoever.) In her mind though, she had already given “enough”. My mind wandered all over the place for several hours and I meditated on a couple Scriptures that came to mind, like the one above. Most Christians have resolved to adhere to the common “10% rule”. The problem that I have with the “10% tithe” mentality is that it can so easily lead to the “I gave already” mindset (as I overheard in the restaurant). Also, it can direct you to live a life that is duped to believe that the remaining 90% is somehow “yours” to use as you wish. Perhaps most dangerously, it can have a strong tendency to lead one to believe that God somehow owes you because you gave your minimum requirement. (We could explore how this approach actually defines God as your employee but I won’t get into that.)

All of this being said, I’m a huge proponent of the lifestyle of giving. After years and years of never being able to sort out the “what exactly is 10%?” question, guilt over when I didn’t even have it to give, dreading giving at all because I’d rather use it for something else and the twisted thoughts of how God owes me a blessing because I gave my 10%, I laid it all down (several years ago). These days I cheerfully give out of what I have whenever I see a need. People I give rides to. Neighbors that we take food. Cash given to the homeless and poor, no matter whether they “misuse” it or not! My time to sit and listen to others who are hurting, whether or not I actually have the time. I keep no records, never ask for tax write-offs (seriously?!) and never think for a moment that “I gave enough already”. I don’t choose to do it out of duty, repetition or begrudgingly because my Father gave me everything. My possessions, my money, what I hold as valuable in my life, I want to give – cheerfully! And the things that I cling to with clenched fist, well those are things that I still need to lay at the beautiful feet of my Jesus. We’re all surely a work in progress. What is “purposed in your heart” today?

James 5:16a

“Confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed.”

STRONGS HEBREW/GREEK ORIGINS

“Confess (exomologeo: profess, acknowledge openly) your sins (paraptoma: faults, trespasses, offenses) to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed (iaomai: made whole, cured, brought into salvation).”

SUMMARY
Openly acknowledge your sins, faults and offenses to one another. And pray for one another so that you may be healed, made whole and brought into salvation.

MEDITATION

Ah, the age-old “unspoken” prayer request. I remember clearly countless times within my Baptist upbringing this mysterious activity. Hands pop up all over the group whenever prayer requests were well, requested. Once one person would say “unspoken”, it seemed the rest of those who followed would say likewise. As I’m nearing forty now, I reflect back on these activities with a heavy heart as I now know that this directly contradicts Scripture. (Do people still do the “unspoken” prayer thing?!?) The teaching of James that instructs us to openly share our shortcomings and errors has been replaced by quiet solitude and shame. Darkness to be exact for that is where secrets and lies live and thrive. Taking away this simple act of being transparent with each other might seem trivial but as I look at the Body of Christ, She’s often veiled in secrets and fabricated holiness. “How are you this morning Jason?” “Me, I’m just great! God is so good. And how are you and your family Richard?” “Oh man, we’re just all awesome!” All the while both families are hurting and in desperate need of being healed. Nothing is revealed, therefore nothing is cured. Salvation is never found. 

How sad that we’ve been taught to run from one of the main things that will bring our sins and shame into the light? I’ll admit, confession is often not easy. (Not to mention, most Christian gatherings don’t even allow for this to properly take place.) But if we’re really in true biblical relationship with one another, it has got to be a part of our journey together. So first of all, share life with those who desire transparency and openness and give you the freedom to do likewise. Time after time after time I’ve experienced one person stepping out to share some pretty intimate issues in their life and it absolutely opens the floodgates for others to do likewise. We must heed the wisdom of James. Confess. Pray. Receive salvation and healing. Amen.