September 30, 2014

Too often, God gets a bad rap for being harsh and vindictive. A common stereotype is that of an angry God, ready to strike and punish His puny and imperfect creatures at any moment. That image, however, pales in light of this revealed truth: 

"Do I have any pleasure in the death of the wicked," declares the Lord GOD, "rather than that he should turn from his ways and live?" (Ezekiel 18:23)

"For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies," declares the Lord GOD. "Therefore, repent and live." (Ezekiel 18:32)

Judgment and punishment will ultimately be necessities for a holy God, but they are anything but the pleasure of our Creator. His greatest desire is that we change our minds and lives, and pursue the better path He has set before us.

To “repent and live” is ultimately to respond to the call of God’s Son. There is an urgent call to change our minds, and reorient our lives around His Father’s great purpose, the kingdom of God:

“Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.' " (Mark 1:14-15)

The gracious offer of immortality and abundant life in the age to come upon a renewed earth is inconsistent with a God bent on unmerciful judgment. His perfect character does demand judgment, but His abundant grace and love offers a solution. Thus, anyone who will face His fearful wrath in judgment can only blame themselves; His gracious offer needed only to be received in faith, and in a life of obedience.

It is our great privilege to choose - and choose again today - to live within the realm of God’s great plan. Changing our thinking and reorienting our lives around God's great purpose, realized in Christ, is the pathway to incredible joy and blessings.

May His Kingdom realm be yours in abundance today.

Steve

©Steve Taylor, 2014
Be sure to also visit http://thetruthrevolution.wordpress.com/  

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September 23, 2014

Lose sight of the so-called “sweet by and by," and the “nasty now and now” looks; well, pretty nasty. The clearer we see the bright future, the better able we are to put the present in perspective, and persevere.

“Then I will set over them one shepherd, My servant David, and he will feed them; he will feed them himself and be their shepherd. And I, the LORD, will be their God, and My servant David will be prince among them; I the LORD have spoken. I will make a covenant of peace with them and eliminate harmful beasts from the land so that they may live securely in the wilderness and sleep in the woods. I will make them and the places around My hill a blessing. And I will cause showers to come down in their season; they will be showers of blessing.” (Ezekiel 34.23-26)

This is a picture of promise to the people of Israel, but by extension it applies to all the people of God. A day will come in which “one shepherd” will be head of a great and perfect government on earth. Although he is called David here, we understand him to be the Son of David, Jesus the Christ. At the time, God’s covenant of peace will extend even to the animal kingdom on earth. We will peacefully coexist, as in the original garden of perfection. God’s blessings will abound; “showers of blessing”. It will be an absolutely perfect earthly paradise.

Throughout human history, many have dreamed and envisioned utopia. These dreams and ideals have been based on what could be accomplished through human achievement. That which God has described for us of the coming kingdom far exceeds what dreamers can dream, and becomes reality, not but feeble human effort, but only by the dynamic power and ability of our Creator Father.

The opportunity and challenge before us each day is to more clearly grasp the picture God has painted for us, and more fully live within that realm as we await its fullness. The clearer we can see it now, the better able we are to experience it - in our personal lives, and the shared community life of the people of God. 

May it become a clearer reality to each of us today.

Steve

©Steve Taylor, 2014
Be sure to also visit http://thetruthrevolution.wordpress.com/  

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September 22, 2014

Every two years in this country, we are bombarded with political campaign ads. Whether mid-term elections or Presidential elections, it’s all about why we will be better off if they are elected. But, post election, many lament that it’s still more of the same, or worse. Real change seems elusive.

Without benefit of slick media campaign ads, real change is just around the corner. It won’t be ushered in through the next election, but through drastic intervention.

"We give You thanks, O Lord God, the Almighty, who are and who were, because You have taken Your great power and have begun to reign And the nations were enraged, and Your wrath came, and the time came for the dead to be judged, and the time to reward Your bond-servants the prophets and the saints and those who fear Your name, the small and the great, and to destroy those who destroy the earth." (Revelation 11:17-18)

A day is coming when the last experiment in human government will be over. Following an extended chain of abysmal human failures, a perfect system - empowered by none other than Creator God - will be firmly established as the government to end all governments. However, the transition will be anything but smooth because current governments and leaders will offer strong resistance - “the nations were enraged”. Current systems are self-serving and truly territorial, and are bent on self-perpetuation. None will freely and gladly hand the reigns over; even to a perfect system. But, make no mistake, God’s perfect government will be established, and will accomplish what no other government could come mildly close to achieving - the time came for the dead to be judged, and the time to reward Your bond-servants the prophets and the saints and those who fear Your name, the small and the great, and to destroy those who destroy the earth.” 

It should be comforting and encouraging for every follower of Christ to know that our confidence and hope are placed, not in a reformation system, but in a replacement one. Current systems are beyond repair; replacing them with a radically different system is all that will work.

Amidst the frenzy of campaign ads, be reminded of the ultimate government to come, and your role in it. You are its ambassador today (2 Corinthians 5.20), as you prepare and train in all you do to rule the world with Christ at His return. May this overwhelmingly victorious government to come bring confidence and encouragement to you today.

Steve

©Steve Taylor, 2014
Be sure to also visit http://thetruthrevolution.wordpress.com/  

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September 17, 2014

Historians and analysts tell us that two major events in this country’s history - the attack on Pearl Harbor, and the September 11, 2001, attacks - were major intelligence and security lapses. The warning signs were all there, but the threats were not taken seriously. Disaster resulted.

There are very clear signs and indicators of a major event to come. As such, there is also a clarion call to vigilance and preparedness. To do otherwise places each of us in extreme peril. 

"Take heed, keep on the alert; for you do not know when the appointed time will come. It is like a man away on a journey, who upon leaving his house and putting his slaves in charge, assigning to each one his task, also commanded the doorkeeper to stay on the alert. Therefore, be on the alert - for you do not know when the master of the house is coming, whether in the evening, at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning - in case he should come suddenly and find you asleep. What I say to you I say to all, ‘Be on the alert!' “ (Mark 13.33-37)

The call to be alert could not be more clear. The times we live in are fraught with distractions, frenetic activity, menacing evil, and unnerving natural phenomena. Panic and fear can easily prevail, instead of much-needed sober and sane vigilance. Wise people of God will be aware that such times will come into the world as we near the time of the end, but will continue to live faithfully and serve diligently. While many in the world lose their wits at such time, we prayerfully and carefully navigate through the challenges of those times.

Biblical “intelligence” tells us that a key event is coming. For the unprepared, it will be far worse that 9/11 or Pearl Harbor. For the vigilant, it will be the great realization of long-desired hope. The event is certain; how it impacts us personally is up to each of us personally. This day could be that day. How watchful and prepared are you right now?

Steve

©Steve Taylor, 2014
Be sure to also visit http://thetruthrevolution.wordpress.com/  

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September 16, 2014

Distracted motorists are my pet peeve. I’m not exactly sure when the general shift occurred in which driving ceased to be the main thing, but texting, talking, eating, and applying makeup seem to be valid activities today while driving. From my perspective, the main thing ought to be the main thing; namely, driving.

I’m wondering if modern driving habits don’t exemplify a more serious lifestyle issue. Are followers of Christ distracted from key priorities, and consumed with unimportant diversions?

“Be on guard, so that your hearts will not be weighted down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of life, and that day will not come on you suddenly like a trap; for it will come upon all those who dwell on the face of all the earth. But keep on the alert at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are about to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.” (Luke 21.24-26)

Daily living often seems like running through an obstacle course. Crises, emergencies, and urgent issues suddenly appear that demand our attention and action. It’s easy to live daily in crisis management mode, while struggling to be pro-active with personal priorities. Nothing is easier than for our hearts to be “weighed down”. Valuable energies can be drained away on secondary pursuits, and the allure and appeal of the world system. 

One thing is certain: Jesus is returning to planet earth. His coming will be with abrupt suddenness. It will be perilous for the unprepared, and it’s possible for God’s people to be among the unprepared if we’ve been anesthetized by daily living and the world system. These are the days to live with a heightened awareness of priorities, and to safeguard against the world’s influence. Fervent prayers for strength in these last days are more important than ever.

May we live wisely and faithfully.

Steve

©Steve Taylor, 2014
Be sure to also visit http://thetruthrevolution.wordpress.com/  

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September 9, 2014

Never underestimate the influence of one individual. It’s easy enough to see the power and influence of the majority, but we can easily overlook the incredible impact just one life can have.

Humanity stood on the brink of total annihilation. "Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. The LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. The LORD said, ‘I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, from man to animals to creeping things and to birds of the sky; for I am sorry that I have made them.’ ” (Genesis 6.5-7) The fate of humanity was sealed due to rampant wickedness. It would seem that you and I would not even be here today to consider those crucial events and times. Except that one man named Noah made all the difference. “But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD.” (Genesis 6.8)

The impact of Noah’s life is well summarized in this verse: “Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his time; Noah walked with God.” (Genesis 6.9)

Does your personal relationship with your Creator matter? Is a devoted, righteous life worthwhile? If Noah’s life is any indication (it is), then the take away is that one righteous life literally saved humanity from total extinction. You and I would not be here today if Noah hadn’t taken his walk with the LORD seriously. 

When the day of our passing comes, the world may not devote even one line of press to the fact. But, the world will have been impacted in unseen and momentous ways through the salt and light that our lives were. So, our personal devotion and walk with our Father, and His Son, matter far more than we will know.

Walk faithfully and righteously. In all that you do, take time to know your Father and His Son. They will one day make plain to us just how significant that priority was.

Steve

©Steve Taylor, 2014
Be sure to also visit http://thetruthrevolution.wordpress.com/  

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September 8, 2014

Heavy rain and flooding are not unusual in many places, but they are rare in the desert Southwest where I live. Thus far today we have experienced historic rain; more in one day than since the beginning of weather records. And, it was largely unexpected. Rain was predicted, but nothing of this magnitude. 

"For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be.” (Matthew 24.37-39)

It is amazing how quickly normal life routines can be disrupted by calamities. Modern society, with its need for access to public utilities and technology, is especially vulnerable. It is much too easy to assume that comfortable routines and lifestyles will continue, when one natural event can disrupt all. More importantly, it is important to remember that the Day of God’s ultimate intervention will burst through with abrupt suddenness. They key is, how prepared are we for that great event?

For the prepared, there is nothing to be more greatly anticipated than they day when the skies open, and the Son of God gloriously returns. For the unprepared, there cannot, and will not be, a greater disaster. 

This day where I lives serves as a very significant reminder of how abruptly things can change. The reminder in Scripture of the coming Day of the LORD challenges us each to be prepared. Are you ready for God to send His Son back to planet earth?

Steve

©Steve Taylor, 2014
Be sure to also visit http://thetruthrevolution.wordpress.com/  

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September 3, 2014

Knowing the outcome makes all the difference. We fret and worry about situations and circumstances whose outcome isn’t evident. If we were confident of a good outcome, stress would be minimized. 

The precedent for a good outcome to personal circumstances is the revealed outcome of the course of this age. Consider:

“I kept looking in the night visions, And behold, with the clouds of heaven One like a Son of Man was coming, And He came up to the Ancient of Days And was presented before Him. And to Him was given dominion, Glory and a kingdom, That all the peoples, nations and men of every language Might serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion Which will not pass away; And His kingdom is one Which will not be destroyed.” (Daniel 7.13-14)

Daniel was given a vision of four great earthly powers, and the fourth was especially fearful. It was revealed to Daniel that it “was waging war with the saints and overpowering them until the Ancient of Days came and judgment was passed in favor of the saints of the Highest One, and the time arrived when the saints took possession of the kingdom.” (Daniel 7.21-22) There would be a period of time when all would not appear to go well for the saints of God, but all will end well with the triumph of the kingdom of God.

Now, consider what this all says to us about personal circumstances. If God will accomplish something so great as victory over the nations for the people of God, will He not also bring about triumph amidst today’s challenges and battles? The answer seems obvious.

Today’s circumstances loom large because they are right in front of us. But, how very limited they are in light of the long view of God’s plan. Whatever setbacks and challenges may come, they cannot last. Since we know God’s ultimate “end game," we have every reason for optimism today. May we live this day with clarity and appreciation of God’s coming triumph on that day.

Steve

©Steve Taylor, 2014
Be sure to also visit http://thetruthrevolution.wordpress.com/  

Amazon ebook & print devotional -http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FQ1Q9GW
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