“One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” Eph 4:4

It is hard to image all things. To give consideration for what all things are, what all things have been, what all things will be, both seen and unseen, our mind and imagination is overwhelmed. It is impossible for one who is part of something to consider the whole. We are part of the “all” and we are therefore incomplete. Our scripture passage declares to us the wholeness of God. He is greater than all and all things consist by and for Him (Col 1:17). He is the “one God and Father of all” and there no other like Him, none can compare with Him, and He is complete of Himself. He is the great “I AM” (Ex 3:14). God “who is above all” stepped out of glory and became part of the “all.” He came to all the world that all might be saved, because “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom 3:23). He came “in the likeness of man and…He humbled Himself” (Phil 2:7-8) in obedience to the will of the Father, to make full payment for the penalty for sin to all who would believe. The One righteous became unrighteous for all, that all who believe “might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Cor 5:21). Jesus died for all, and He is “in you all” who accept and receive Him as Savior. My friend, what a marvelous thing it is to have all your sin forgiven and be cleansed in the blood of Jesus. Let us sing with the song writer who pinned the words “All to Jesus I surrender, All to Him I freely give. I will ever love and trust Him, In His presence daily live.” Jesus is my all. Jesus is my everything. I will rejoice and be glad in Him. Father, thank You for all You are, all You have done, and all Your going do. I praise You and bless Your holy Name. In the blessed Name of Jesus. Amen.

And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed. Ex 3:2

Everyday things occur that go unnoticed. Then something unusual or miraculous happens that captures our attention, we may pause, take notice, and wonder “how did this happen?” Yet, for so many, we pass off these occurrences without a moment of thought or real consideration. Prior plans and priorities command our attention and keep our focus, so the moment is pushed aside, and we press on. Our scripture passage demonstrates how God used a common thing to get the attention of a strong-willed man who needed to be broken. Moses had seen lots of fire, but never had he seen a “bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.” Fires are common in the heat of the desert. They come and ago. But something about this fire captured the attention of Moses and he turned aside to investigate. The Bible is not clear on how long the fire burned before Moses took notice, but the Bible is clear that when he ceased his plans and the “flame of fire out of the midst of a bush” became his priority, that “God called unto him” (Ex 3:4). The Father often uses unusual circumstances to gain our attention and to get us to turn our eyes and hearts to Him. God desires to be involved in every area of our life to reveal His presence and His will for us. He may disrupt a job that consumes us, disturb the pleasures of good health, derail our confidence in financial stability, or deem the surprise of an unexpected emergency that causes us to look outside of ourselves. God is always working (Jn 5:16) and He “is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory” (2 Cor 4:17). My friend, God is always present in our circumstance, silently awaiting until we turn aside from the pressures, our plans, and our priorities to Him and hear Him say “be still and know that I am God” (Ps 46:10). God will appear and His holy presence will be known to our hearts that we humbly say as Moses did, “Here am I” (Ex 3:4). Father, help me to see You working in all circumstances of my life and join with You in Your work. Strengthen me to turn aside to You and “lead me in the way of everlasting” (Ps 139:24). In the blessed Name of Jesus. Amen.

Blessed is the man that…his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in His law doth he meditate day and night. Ps 1:1-2

Everyday we are faced with choices and the voices we listen to. Choose who you will serve, and all other decisions will follow that choice. Begin your day with God or go at it alone. Begin your day in prayer, with time in God’s word, and He will bless you with His presence. This is not a formula for success, it is a walk of faith. The walk of faith is a blessed life in God’s presence because of the decision to choose Him and deny yourself to walk alone. The scripture passage declares that the blessed life is the one that involves God. The blessed life begins with “delight…in the law of the Lord.” The one who looks to God’s word and ponders His word in their heart, receive guidance and instruction that leads to long life and one that is pleasing to God. “The word of God is living and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword…a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Heb 4:12). God’s word is discerning and able to cut to the heart of a matter. The one who looks to God’s word, leans on His understanding, and chooses God’s way will have “the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Phil 4:7). My friend, the blessing of God’s peace follows the one who “in His law doth he meditate day and night.” Choose to involve God at the beginning of your day and find His delight as He guides and directs you through the choices you face and the decisions you make. Father, open Your word to my heart and fill me with a passion for Your word and Your presence to walk in the blessed life with You. In the blessed Name of Jesus. Amen.