by George Runyan | Mar 25, 2015 | Devotional, George Runyan
Matthew 5:10 – Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Most in the western world do not have an appreciation for Jesus’ statement. We might receive some rejection from folks, but for the most part, Christianity has been accepted. This is not at all true in many places in the world. A Jewish convert may be rejected by their own family. In the Islamic world, a price can be put on one’s head. A family member would be honored for killing the Christian convert. In places like Pakistan, the Christian is paid the lowest of wages and has a difficult time getting ahead. In China, many are in prison for not being part of the so-called state-run church.
When the church in the West begins to stand up against unrighteousness, it will draw persecution. Today, many have suffered financially and even gone to jail for trying to protect the life of innocent babies in the womb. In our government, there are those who want to silence those who are crying out against the injustices in today’s society. The Scriptures command us to obey the laws of the land. There are those who are calling on the government to enforce laws that were implemented to protect us. Many are persecuted for their righteous positions by a government that is sworn to uphold the law and provide protection for each member of society.
Today, in America, preachers have to make a choice between easy street and persecution for righteousness sake. The true believer must be willing to be persecuted, but one must be sure it is for righteousness and not one’s individual morality. It must be a righteousness that comes from God, rooted in Jesus Christ, and clearly supported by the Word of God.
Ask the Lord to make clear what He considers “righteousness.” Surrender to His will for your life and ask Him for strength to endure hardship for righteousness’ sake. Then enter into your Lord’s kingdom reign by allowing the Holy Spirit to lead you.
by George Runyan | Mar 24, 2015 | Devotional, George Runyan
Matthew 5:9 – Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
Jesus said, “Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword” (Matthew 10:34). This statement seems to be in direct contrast to what Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount. Is He contradicting himself? Jesus is the Prince of Peace. At His birth, the angels announced, “peace on earth, good will to men” (Luke 2:14). In Matthew 10:34, Jesus is describing the separation of those who belong to His Father from those belonging to this world’s systems. Many families and nations have divided over Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Jesus made it possible to have peace inside oneself, with one’s neighbors, and even among the nations. The hardness of men’s hearts keeps peace from being a reality. Many today pray for the peace of Jerusalem, not understanding the answer to that prayer was a person and not a city. The Prince of peace entered the city, but they received Him not.
Jesus reconciled us to God through His sacrificial death on the cross. “Therefore having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1). He made peace possible for all those who would believe on Him. This has enraged the world’s systems against those who are the sons of God. We are peace carriers as Jesus was, but many reject the peace we carry and in doing so, reject becoming a son of God. Peace is in the Father’s DNA. That same peace is in every true son and daughter of God. Those who will not harden their hearts can become peacemakers. To those whose hearts are hardened in unbelief, Christ’s peacemakers will be a problem. This is what the sons of God do. On one hand they offer peace, on the other, they cause division. There have been many times when the Lord sent me to stir the pot. In doing so, I found out who really wanted the peace of God.
Ask our Father to make you a peacemaker, while realizing there will be some that will reject you as “a son of God.” Ask the Holy Spirit for His strength to help you be faithful in your role as a peacemaker. The world still rejects the “Prince of Peace,” but those who receive Him have peace beyond comprehension.
by George Runyan | Mar 23, 2015 | Devotional, George Runyan
Matthew 5:8 – Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
When the Scripture speaks of purity of heart, it is addressing motivations. The subject of the heart is a large topic in God’s Word. Here are some samplings. God searches the heart (Jeremiah 17:10). Unbelief comes from a hardened heart (Mark 8:17). Jesus knew what they were thinking in their hearts (Luke 9:47). The heart is where one’s treasure is (Luke 12:34). The heart is where secrets are kept (1 Corinthians 14:25). Paul prayed for the eyes of the heart to be enlightened, so that we may know what is the hope of His calling (Ephesians 1:18). Consider Paul’s admonition in Colossians 3:12-13. “So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also you forgive.” The pure in heart have received forgiveness and forgiven all those who have sinned against them.
The heart is what I call “the seedbed of our emotions.” It is the deepest area in a person’s being. Some connect the heart to our human spirit. The pure in heart are those who have opened to God every secret they hold. The pure in heart have repented of unbelief. Although they do not understand everything yet, they trust completely in God. The pure in heart are becoming a treasure house of godliness. This new heart of purity must be received. Paul said to “put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience” (Colossians 3:12). These qualities are not the fruits of a good idea, but of a pure heart!
Today, why not join in Paul’s prayer for the church at Ephesus “that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened to know the hope of His calling”. It is in that seeking of God’s will and purpose that our hearts are changed and purity begins to form. Ask the Holy Spirit for a pure heart. Allow Him to identify areas in your life in need of His cleansing power.
by George Runyan | Mar 22, 2015 | Devotional, George Runyan
Matthew 5:7 – Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
Sir Isaac Newton first presented his three laws of motion in 1686. His third law states “that for every action (force) in nature there is an equal and opposite reaction.” In other words, if object A exerts a force on object B, then object B also exerts an equal and opposite force on object A.
Newton was given revelation by God relating to a law of physics, but we have been given revelation by God in the spiritual realm. When you are merciful, it sets up a spiritual law of receiving mercy. This is true about all the Beatitudes. God’s life exerts a spiritual force of mercy upon us. We in turn exert a spiritual force upon others by showing mercy. They in turn become open to receiving mercy from God and give mercy back. In the law of the Spirit, the Scripture says, “Give, and it shall be given to you” (Luke 6:38). One of the evidences of the new birth in an individual is their desire to give to others.
Let us consider a few biblical statements that bear witness to this truth. Consider what the Psalmist said, “Those who sow in tears shall reap with joyful shouting” (Ps 126:5). Brokenness over others and their condition carries the promise that God will honor your brokenness with a day when the watering from your tears will give a crop of salvation that will produce in you a joy that cannot be contained.
Again consider what Paul said, “If we sowed spiritual things in you, is it too much if we should reap material things from you? (1 Corinthians 9:11). This is a Principle or Law in the New Testament. When God sends those who carry spiritual things that are imparted to our lives, we in turn should respond
by George Runyan | Mar 21, 2015 | Devotional, George Runyan
Matthew 5:6 – Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
As humans, we find ourselves in an impossible situation from a natural perspective. We are slaves to sin. The righteousness of the Law of God continually declares us to be guilty. The Scribes and Pharisees perverted the Law and brought the people under religious bondage by human means. Jesus said, “Unless your righteousness surpasses theirs, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:20). Even the keeping of their strict application of the Law fell short of the requirements of God.
There is a void in every human, a void of the righteousness of God. This void can only be filled by the righteousness of Christ Jesus. “There is none righteous, not even one” (Romans 3:10). People deal with this condition in different ways. Some pervert the need to fill the void by feeding the unrighteousness with increasingly unrighteous acts. Others try to satisfy their need through religion, trying to get to God on their terms. The Scripture says, “We all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Throughout the ministry of Jesus, He taught how to satisfy this hunger and thirst. We learn that Jesus is the Way in John 14:6. Each person who has received the Lord, by giving their life to Him, knows firsthand that He alone satisfies the longing for the void to be filled. We must continually draw on the righteousness of Jesus Christ to know and experience the true satisfaction He alone can bring.
It is not by our performance that we find satisfaction, but through relationship alone. A relationship rooted in Christ Jesus fulfilling the entire requirement of the Father. A relationship filled with the acceptance of our heavenly Father. The true satisfaction comes from knowing that God loves me and in His love I am fully accepted.
Father, I ask for a deepening hunger and thirst for Your righteousness. Release the Holy Spirit to draw me closer to Jesus. I join in the writer of Hebrews’ prayer that we may fix “our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2).
