Daily Diary - January 7th, 2016

Pick a Card

(Revelation)

Once saved by accepting Jesus Christ as savior we need to know what our choices are so we can grow in God to walk out our salvation and reach our destiny. 

Daily Scripture: Deuteronomy 30:19 I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; 

Daily Parable:   During a youth message on a Wednesday night, God showed me a parable with cards that brought out a great revelation about choices.

I needed three people to come forward and pick out a card from the deck. They all chose their cards. I asked the first person to either keep his card or exchange it for someone else’s card. He exchanged. The person he exchanged with didn’t want to give up his card. He liked it! After trading, he decided to trade his new card with the third person. This took place and I told the third person that they had to keep their card they ended up with.

Now it was time for each person to show his or her card. The first person had an Ace and he was proud. The second had a ten and the third person had a two.

I told the group that the person with the two had won the game. They were shocked at the outcome and said that it wasn’t correct.  They were upset thinking I had tricked them.  I told them “they didn’t know the rules of the game”.

Now it was time to explain the parable. I asked the group a question: “How many of you thought the Ace was the best card?” Everyone raised their hand. I explained that this is how life is.  They didn’t read the manual for this game.  They assumed based on their past experiences that the Ace is the best card. 

Since birth our flesh has told us what is good and what is bad for us. We have formed our opinions strongly. This “identity” has been formed by the world, and most of the things we have been used to are the opposite of what God’s plan is for us. We seek the big house, the fancy cars, the best looking spouse, and the money. These can all be good things, but they are out of order according to God’s plan. “Things” can be our focus and our source of happiness instead of God. This is our fleshly conflict.

Matthew 6:33 tells us, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”

God wants us to have great things, but we need to seek Him first and learn to build a foundation for our lives in Christ. His identity will put into perspective what is truly good and important for us. 

To understand this we must turn to the “manual” of life, which is the Bible.  It gives clear and unshakable instructions about our future and how to obtain successful outcomes based on God’s plan.  It is what Deuteronomy 30:19 is talking about.  He has set before us in His “WORD” life and death.

I believe that what God has for us is so much better than the things we desire in our flesh.

The youth in this demonstration didn’t know the rules of the game. The selfishness and pride of life had been established in the group to the point that everyone in the room was deceived by believing the Ace had to be the best card. 

This game exposed our selfish nature and our ability to even deceive ourselves. We gained a revelation that we need to renew our mind based on the goodness of God’s Word and not on our past experience. If it looks good to our flesh, we need to ask the question, “What does God tell us in His Word?”

Question of the Day:   What will you choose today.  Is it Life or Death from a spiritual aspect?

Global Perspective:   With the issue of Gun control and President Obamas latest action we need to seek the “Manual” and see what God says about it. 

The Word of God based on Deuteronomy 30:19 would tell us that people are making a “Choice” on life and death.  This means both physically and spiritually.  That choice is laid out before individuals.  We do not fight against flesh and blood but rather a spiritual enemy that is developing the minds of people to cause evil. 

Controlling the guns will not change the “Choice” a person makes!  Guns don’t make decisions.

Statement of the Day:   I have not met a person that has been saved and developing Himself in the Word of God daily that is committing criminal acts of murder. 

Only Biblical instruction can change the outcome of people’s choices.  When we are deceived by the wrong plan to choose the wrong card from the wrong deck we cannot be expected to choose correctly because the foundation is “Wrong” from the beginning.

We can’t change all the Rules of all the circumstances that cause criminal acts, but we can teach people about the Bible. 

Each week you will probably hear me make this statement: “The process for success is right in front of us in the Word of God and it’s simple!”

Final Note:   I have been seeking God for many years and I still am being transformed by His word daily.  Life continues to improve as we apply the Word.  It doesn’t mean that we make all the right choices because we can react in our flesh and fall short.  This part is guaranteed at times, but we have a “PLAN” through the Word and a process to succeed in life “HERE” and “NOW” and God’s Word works.

Personal Note:  Carrie and I concluded that our first choice could be wrong based on our past and we began to seek God in making basically every decision.  Especially the big ones and it works for our peace, love and joy in life!

Thought for Tomorrow:   We must surrender the temporary for the eternal!

Thank you God for giving us the “Manual” for life.  You gave us all we need by sending your only son Christ Jesus for our salvation and the perfect plan for life in the Bible.  May we all gain the Revelation of the power we have in following you in Jesus name!  Amen!