Rev. Bsette's E-Devotion

Then he said to me, "Son of man, look toward the north." So I looked, and in the entrance north of the gate of the altar I saw this idol of jealousy.

And he said to me, "Son of man, do you see what they are doing — the utterly detestable things the house of Israel is doing here, things that will drive me far from my sanctuary? But you will see things that are even more detestable."  

Ezekiel 8:5-6 NIV

Those on my facebook page may know that I am currently reading and studying the book of Ezekiel.  Today, as I was listening to this book on my bible cd in the car, this verse screamed at me to meditate on this week, so I thought I'd share with this devotion.  Unfortunately, I don't have much insight (so don't know how much of a devotion this will be for you) but only thoughts and reflection.

Basically, this text is expressing a type of apostate worship.  This means that the people of God have turned away from God and rebelled against God.  Maybe not so much in their profession, but in their actions. Actions really say everything.  Israel's actions indicated they were guilty of idolatry.  Putting something or someone before God.  Even though people show up to worship, God see's their hearts.  As a result, in this text, the actions drove God away from His sanctuary.  I offer no suggestions on this today, but only questions where we can reflect.  Do we feel as if the acts of God's people have driven the fullness of God's presence from the church?  Have the people of God, replaced worship for some form of idolatry?  As we look at our local churches as well as our denominational churches, do we see the truth of this scripture in our culture?  Do we see the truth of this scripture in our own personal lives?

God brought this to Ezekiel in a vision and showed him the sort of idolatry that was within the house of Israel that He detested.  The specifics of what He saw or detested is not in the text.  In our places of worship, does God see anything He detests?  As our bodies are temples where the Holy Spirit dwells (thus the sanctuary of God as well), is there anything in us that God detests?  This is a wake up call for us as we examine our lives to see if there are any things or anyone that causes us to be guilty of idolatry.  We ought to want God's presence in our churches and in our lives.  As I heard and read this text, I had to reflect because I know that something is missing in today's church.  Church doesn't seem to have the same impact on people.  Don’t' get me wrong, I know people are still being saved, called, delivered, set free, etc., but even with all that, something is missing. The text ends by saying that there will be more detestable things that will be seen.  Perhaps we are living in that day……

Today, we ought to commit ourselves to letting it start with us.  Perhaps God has saved us for this purpose, to be used in restoring His church.  Lord, I'm available!  We're available!  Use us for your glory!

(I know this is not my usual writing style, so it may not make any sense or help at all.  I'm just jotting down some thoughts I had reflected upon and wanted to share.  Maybe we can turn this into a group discussion and take this further)

God our Father, we bless your name!  We ask for you to forgive us and to forgive your people for turning away from you.  We make ourselves available today for you to use us to do with us as you desire to restore your church!  Bless us with endurance, long-suffering, patience and love.  Use us to turn this around for your glory!  In Jesus name, Amen.

Pastor Bsett's E-Devotion

"When you fast , do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.  But when you fast , put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.   (Matthew 6:16-18 NIV)

I usually don't share too much the details of how often I fast, because of this text, spoken by Jesus.  Fasting should be personal, between you and your Father in Heaven.  It should not be broadcasted because it should not be obvious to men/women  that you are fasting as Jesus stated.  Saying that (hoping I'm not contradicting myself, but I must share) I have just completed a season of fasting - a period of where I abstained from food, and completely sought the LORD.  It was a wonderful experience, one that I have not felt in a long time.  It makes me realize how much I need to fast.  As I sit here today, I miss that time of seeking the LORD.  And that is not to say that I did not pray or read my bible today, but to be in a period of fasting is different.  I can't explain how it's different, but it is just different.  I am desiring more of God's presence in my life, and that only comes through fasting.  I have come to understand that in order to be able to walk in God's authority, fasting must become a regular discipline in the life of the believer.  It must be a discipline to abstain from food, and seek the LORD for a period of time.  Once you do this, you will realize that you can't do without it.  This life will have you frustrated and thinking about 10 things at once.  We need time to just think about the LORD.  When we do this, we will see how much the LORD will reveal to us and how much we won't trip on stuff that doesn’t really matter.  Most of all, I've found that while fasting, the LORD will begin to prepare you for whatever is ahead of you.  Without fasting, we enter into what the LORD has for us unprepared.

Jesus began this verse by saying "when you fast"…….we cannot apply His teachings unless we do fast.

Father in Heaven, as the deer pants for streams of water, our soul pants for you!  We thank you for another day and for the blessings you give us with each day.  Give us the desire to fast more LORD!  Give us the desire for intimate fellowship with you!  Prepare us for your work, building up the kingdom of God on earth!  We will give you all praise and all glory for what you do through us!  In Jesus name, Amen.

Pastor Bsett's E-Devotion

Jesus said, "I am thirsty ."  (John 19:28b NIV)

As I am sitting here today, pondering over various things in life and ministry, these words of Jesus just penetrated my soul - I am thirsty.  These words caused me to reflect and direct my attentions and desires appropriately.   This is the presence of the LORD in my life.  We understand this is the fifth word of the Christ on the cross of Calvary.  In His anguish and despair, He cried out these words.  Physically, He probably was thirsty.  But this text suggests that His cry was to fulfill prophesy.  Psalm 42:1-2 and Psalm 63:1 appropriately explain to us what exactly Jesus was thirsty for. 

As the deer pants for streams of water,

so my soul pants for you, O God.

My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.

When can I go and meet with God?

Psalm 42:1-2 NIV

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.

Psalm 63:1 NIV

This is the prophesy Jesus was fulfilling.  As I reflect, Jesus is on the cross, already abandoned by the Father for our sake.  Alone with no where to go.  Yet in this condition, Jesus reminds me that the what was important in His life is the presence of the Father and completing His work.  Wouldn't you suggest that Jesus was in bad shape at this time.  Alone, in physical pain, about to die.  Yet Jesus was thirsty for God - for His Father's presence.  Maybe in our condition, with all the stuff we are going through right now, this is what we should be focusing on.  He had previously said that if anyone was thirsty, he should come to Him and drink (John 7:37) and yet we see Him backing up what He said, reminding us that even Jesus was thirsty for God's presence.

Today, I am thirsty for God.  I want more of God.  I love being in the presence of God.  This is what should be important to us.  Are you thirsty?

Heavenly Father, as the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you!  We love you today Father and we praise you!  We thank you for another day and as we thirst more and more for you, we ask for you to manifest your presence strong in our lives today, as we seek to share the light of Christ with someone who needs to know you!  We bless you and thank you, in Jesus name, Amen.

Pastor Bsett's E-Devotion

And he said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fish for people."  (Matthew 4:19 NRSV)

Jesus had walked by the Sea of Galilee and he saw two brothers, Simon (Peter) and Andrew, working.  They were fishermen.  Jesus then told them if they follow Him, He'll make them fish for people.  It's amazing that Jesus appears to be saying that He can show us how to take our normal living and use it as a platform for ministry.  These men were fishermen and I see Jesus telling them basically, "I'm going to use what you do and show you how to catch people for the kingdom."  That's my interpretation (one of them).  It makes me wonder how many people that we come in contact with on a daily basis, that we can impact for Christ.  What do you do for a living?  Whatever it is, we can ask the LORD to help us to use our living to impact lives.  If we are truly following Jesus, how can we not have an impact at our work place?  This involves a change of our mindset (referring to yesterday's devotion).  Everywhere we go, is a platform for ministry.  At work, at the gym, at school, enjoying a day out with the family, etc.  Where ever there are people, there's an opportunity for ministry in the kingdom of God.  So let us ask the LORD to show us how to use what we have, to catch people for the kingdom of God.

Father, we thank you and praise you for another day.  Forgive us LORD for wasting so many opportunities to tell people about salvation through Jesus Christ.  Show us what we can do today, to point someone to the Christ.  In Jesus name, Amen.

Pastor Bsett's E-Devotion

You are my friends if you do what I command.  (John 15:14 NIV)

I remember when I was younger I thought I had a lot of friends.  Whenever I would refer to someone I knew from school or from around the way to my mom and dad as my "friend", my mom would always say "Is that really your friend?  What do you have in common with that person?  Just because you know someone doesn't make them your friend (she still does this too)!"  She was right too - a true friend is one who has common and shared interests which draws you to each other.  Anyone who does not have common interests with you is just someone you know (acquaintance).  Many times we hold to the fact that Jesus calls us His friend.  The song by Israel Houghton "I am a friend of God" comes to my mind when we think of this fact.  But look at the truth of what is required to be a friend of Christ.  Jesus said, you are my friend "if" you do what I command.  The word "if" is a conditional word which means basically that there is something required of you to maintain the friendship status with God through Jesus Christ.  You must do what He commands!  The text continues in verses 15-16 to say that Jesus revealed and everything that He learned from the Father and taught them to us.  This is taught to us by Jesus so we can now go and bear fruit (this is the command) - fruit that will last.  Interesting that Jesus is suggesting that we make lasting impact in peoples lives to the point that they will come to know Christ or for those we know who are already in Christ, we would want to help in strengthening that relationship.  Not just quote a scripture and push on, but attach ourselves to their lives so that there will be an permanent impact. This is fruit that lasts.  No, we can't impact everyone's lives, but what about the lives we can impact?  What are we doing about that?  Perhaps, we could listen to another command of Jesus (v. 17).  Love each other.

Obedience is the condition of friendship with Christ.  So I guess we should ask the question, are we friends or acquaintances?

Father in Heaven, we thank you for this day and another opportunity to praise you and serve you!  There is no one like you!  As we reflect on our relationship with you, help us with your Holy Spirit to be obedient to what you have commanded us to do.  Show us what we can do today to either introduce others to you or to encourage and strengthen someone's relationship with you.  This is our prayer, in Jesus name, Amen.

Pastor Bsett's E-Devotion

Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we try to persuade others; but we ourselves are well known to God, and I hope that we are also well known to your consciences.  (2 Corinthians 5:11 NRSV)

Yesterday, I asked for everyone in the congregation to think of one person in their life that they know who does not know Jesus as Lord and Savior.  I asked for us to be in prayer and to reach out to that person this week to see where they are in their life and look for an opening to share your relationship with Jesus with the intention of offering Jesus to come into their life so they may be saved.  As servants of the Most High God, this is our duty and obligation.  This is our ministry.  This text by Paul suggest that because we as Christians should understand that in fear of the LORD, we should try to persuade others.   The definition of persuade is to prevail on (a person) to do something, as by advising or urging; to induce to believe by appealing to reason or understanding; to convince (Dictionary.com).  We should try to persuade others.  When was the last time you've done this?  We all have brothers, sisters, parents, spouses, neighbors, co-workers, childhood friends, etc., that we still talk to who do not know Jesus.  Have we made efforts to persuade them?  As we discuss various things with the people we engage with every day, our attempts should be to persuade them to be reconciled to God (2 Cor. 5:20). Let us try to do this today.

Word of caution.  It's difficult to persuade others to know Christ if our lives are not completely sold out to Christ.  Part of our strategy to persuade others is to have a faithful, consistent and growing relationship with Christ that is an example to others.

Final note, read John 4 for insight and reflection on persuading others.

Heavenly Father, we rejoice in this day you have given to us.  You are worthy of our praise!  We love you today!  We thank you for new mercies you have provided for us.  Father, what would you have us do today?  Show us how we can persuade others to be reconciled to you!  We pray for our friend/family member who does not know you.  Give us an opportunity this week to try to persuade them to know you.   We thank you for being our Father!  In Jesus name, Amen.