Day 227 “If you don't want others to see it, don't waste time trying to hide it.”

Day 227 Matthew 27:1-2 When morning came, all the chief priests and elders of the people plotted against Jesus to put Him to death. And when they had bound Him, they led Him away and delivered Him to Pontius Pilate the governor. There were two reasons it was necessary for the chief priests and elders to take Jesus to Pontius Pilate the governor; the first being that Jewish law required that trials be held during the day, and the first trial of Jesus was held under the cover of darkness. The second reason was that the Jewish leaders did not have the authority to put someone to death; they first had to convince the governor that someone was worthy of death in order that he could pronounce punishment. As I read this, I immediately thought of Luke 12:2-3: “For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken in the ear in inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops.” The Jewish leaders were well aware of the law. As a matter of fact, everything they did revolved around the law. They were the keepers of the law, yet they purposed in their hearts to break that law when they sought out and bound Jesus in Gethsemane. They then held their trial, knowingly breaking the law, the ultimate act of hypocrisy. If anyone has ever wondered why Jesus called them hypocrites so often or wondered what hypocrisy looked like, here would be the shining example. Yet I cannot help but smile when I think of these men who purposed to break their own law, now attempting to cover it up and justify their actions by following the law. Once again, we see the power of the Word, Luke 12:2-3. No one is above the ultimate law of God. There is no avoiding its influence, judgment, fulfillment, and truth. In my former life as a sales manager, the blessing of God upon my role was truly unbelievable for a nonbeliever as well as many who proclaimed to believe. Jealousy was rampant and some thought to find fault as a result. Try as they might, no matter how many tricks they attempted and lies they manufactured, there was no fault or trickery to be found in my success. It was as I had said, “God was blessing it.” In particular, there were two men of power, both professed believers who held double lives, and one of which was serving in ministry. At home, they professed the Lord; at work though, their actions were not glorifying to God. This behavior, of course, made it very difficult for anyone to share Christ because, after all, these men were appearing to be hypocrites. Being called away by the Lord (hallelujah!), I was left open for attack without defense, yet none was needed. Eleven-plus years later, the truth came out, and some have even come to ask forgiveness. God is the vindicator; He brings out the truth, and neither He nor His people will, in the end, be mocked. Hang in there and trust the Lord. He is your guard, and He will be glorified. If you will but trust in Him, no defense will be needed. Daily Prayer: Father, I am eternally grateful for the protection that You offer us against the attacks of the enemy. Thank you that we can trust You and know You will never fail. In Jesus’ name, Amen. “If you don't want others to see it, don't waste time trying to hide it.” Gene Burroughs, Pastor

Day 226 “Your past failures should not control your future except for avoiding them.”

Day 226 Matthew 26:69-75 Now Peter sat outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came to him, saying, “You also were with Jesus of Galilee.” But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you are saying.” And when he had gone out to the gateway, another girl saw him and said to those who were there, “This fellow also was with Jesus of Nazareth.” But again he denied with an oath, “I do not know the Man!” And a little later those who stood by came up and said to Peter, “Surely you also are one of them, for your speech betrays you.” Then he began to curse and swear, saying, “I do not know the Man!” Immediately a rooster crowed. And Peter remembered the word of Jesus who had said to him, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” So he went out and wept bitterly. Peter's denial of Christ is truly one of the most heart-wrenching stories in the gospels. Here he is, this disciple who laid his head on Jesus’ shoulders just 24 or so hours before, now claiming to have never known Him. There are those who would say what a fool or a weakling Peter was, and some may even be foolish enough to think that they would never do such a thing; however, this passage for me brings great hope. You see, if Peter can fail so miserably and go on to accomplish the things he did, then there truly is hope for the rest of us. Peter, after all, is the one God uses to introduce the baptism of the Holy Spirit. He was the leader on the day of Pentecost and established the first organized public gathering of believers; in many ways the first church. Peter became a mighty man of God who later was crucified for his belief. While Peter failed Christ that night, he was forgiven, blessed, and used by God in mighty ways! The heart-wrenching pain of denying Christ before man is not something that anyone can ever forget. Once you have believed and then denied that belief for fleshly reasons, the pain and remembrance of it never leaves. While I had an amazing encounter with God at a very young age and knew beyond a shadow of doubt that He was real and alive in my heart, I denied Him in my teen years. Every day I would awaken with the pain of denying Him in my heart, and eventually, I would use any means possible to soften that pain yet, even then, it never truly went away. The greatest regret I have in my life today is the fact that I walked away from my Lord for a time and denied His existence in me. Those years will never be returned; that fellowship forever lost. That pain, while it will never be forgotten, has now been overridden by the realization of the greatness of His mercy and grace by His redemption of my life upon my return. You see, I believe that God does not remember that I turned from Him (His Word says our sins are forgotten); hence, my walk with Him is new every morning. The challenge, truly, is that I remember as does satan, and at every opportunity he attempts to drag me back into the pit of my failures, sins, and transgressions, and every day I must hold onto Jesus to keep from falling in. Don't let your past control your future; don't let your circumstances affect your communion with your God. The trials of today have no way of separating you from His love, only from His fellowship, and to that we can easily return under the covering of Jesus’ blood. Daily Prayer: Father, I pray that every time we are reminded of our past failures and denials of You, you Father, by Your Spirit, would remind us of Your grace and Your mercy by the provision of Your Son as payment for our sins and transgressions. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. “Your past failures should not control your future except for avoiding them.” Gene Burroughs, Pastor

Day 225 “Living a Godly life speaks of itself.”

Day 225 Matthew 26:57-68 And those who had laid hold of Jesus led Him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled. But Peter followed Him at a distance to the high priest’s courtyard. And he went in and sat with the servants to see the end. Now the chief priests, the elders, and all the council sought false testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, but found none. Even though many false witnesses came forward, they found none. But at last two false witnesses came forward and said, “This fellow said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and to build it in three days.’” And the high priest arose and said to Him, “Do You answer nothing? What is it these men testify against You?” But Jesus kept silent. And the high priest answered and said to Him, “I put You under oath by the living God: Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God!” Jesus said to him, “It is as you said. Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.” Then the high priest tore his clothes, saying, “He has spoken blasphemy! What further need do we have of witnesses? Look, now you have heard His blasphemy! What do you think?” They answered and said, “He is deserving of death.” Then they spat in His face and beat Him; and others struck Him with the palms of their hands, saying, “Prophesy to us, Christ! Who is the one who struck You?” Reading this passage without becoming angry or judgmental is rather difficult for me, yet how can I be angry when, had these things not happened, we would be without hope? It is a similar rage that rises within me when I hear the constant barrage by the world on Christians and Israel. The same spirit that thought it would be victorious by killing Christ is the same spirit that rules the world today. Just as false witnesses were paraded in front of the leaders and people of that day, today we see false witnesses being paraded across our TV screens and hear them over our airwaves. That same spirit that influenced those men who bore false witness is the same spirit that influences people to commit heinous crimes in the name of god, pastors to fail, and so-called believers to water down their faith by compromising in the name of politics, peace, or whatever the latest movement is. Yet for us, as it was with Christ, words used to make a point or to defend ourselves against such a spirit, or with people influenced by it, are a waste of time. Why argue with anyone who has no desire to know the truth? Why try to convince someone they are wrong when, in actuality, they already know it but are too prideful to admit it? I liken it to those who support abortion. Why argue with them? They have made up their minds, and they are not willing to change. My favorite thing to say to abortionists is “If you don't believe it is a life, then why do you need to kill it?” The point is not about abortion; the point is that arguing about truth to those who desire not to know it is often a waste of time and can do more to drive people away than it does to draw them in. Again, were these people afraid of what Jesus said? No, they were afraid of who He was and what He did. His actions spoke louder than words, all the way to His death and resurrection. Are your actions and your lifestyle portraying one of confidence in Christ, love for your God, and obedience to Your savior? If so, you need say very little. If not, you’re probably trying to convince everyone, including yourself, who you are. Daily Prayer: Father, may we follow the example of Jesus in our daily walk. May we live a life that glorifies You rather than talking about it, yet compromising. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. “Living a Godly life speaks of itself.” Gene Burroughs, Pastor

Day 224 “Wait, watch, listen, and pray; things will go much smoother that way.”

Day 224 Matthew 26:47-56 And while He was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, with a great multitude with swords and clubs, came from the chief priests and elders of the people. Now His betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “Whomever I kiss, He is the One; seize Him.” Immediately he went up to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed Him. But Jesus said to him, “Friend, why have you come?” Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and took Him. And suddenly, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword, struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear. But Jesus said to him, “Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels? How then could the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen thus?” In that hour Jesus said to the multitudes, “Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs to take Me? I sat daily with you, teaching in the temple, and you did not seize Me. But all this was done that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples forsook Him and fled. On my first trip to San Francisco I found myself in a very long and dark alley, watching over two women and a teenage boy as they ministered to a very drunk young man and his girlfriend. As I stood there, the only thing I could think about was how I would defend these three if we were assaulted in such a dark place by one of the many groups of thugs looking for such an opportunity. As I stood guard, a man approached us and began speaking the most vulgar things I have ever heard spoken to these ladies. He became louder every moment and I became angrier with every word. After a few moments, I was fed up and had decided to just knock this guy out with a well-placed punch, yet, as I drew back my fist, I was stopped by that all too familiar voice of the Lord. “If you handle this in the flesh, the result will be one of the flesh. I can do my own battles; you haven't even prayed.” Well, needless to say, I dropped my arm and began to pray. I prayed that he would be quiet, and immediately he was. Then I prayed that the girls would not remember, and they didn't. They ended up praying with the man and the woman, and the man I was dealing with disappeared as quickly as he had appeared, so all was well. However, if I had continued down the path I was heading, only God knows what would have happened, but I know it would not have been His will, for His will was for me to pray and see Him win the battle. In Luke's account of this passage, we are told that Jesus healed the ear of the man who was attacked so, in other words, what Peter did as a response in the flesh Jesus made right in the flesh in order that the spirit-led scripture might be fulfilled. Peter did not attack the man out of extreme love for Jesus, for if he did, he would have stayed around. No, he and the other disciples ran in fear. Peter reacted in his flesh both times, and both were wrong. I guess maybe we all could learn to wait a little longer, react a little slower, and pray a little more. Daily Prayer: And that, Lord, would be my prayer, that I would wait on You more, take the time to hear Your leading, and spend more time seeking Your will. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. “Wait, watch, listen, and pray; things will go much smoother that way.” Gene Burroughs, Pastor

Day 223 “Victory in the spirit brings great joy and freedom–‘watch and pray.’”

Day 223 Matthew 26:36-46 Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, “Sit here while I go and pray over there.” And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.” He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.” Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What! Could you not watch with Me one hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done.” And He came and found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy. So He left them, went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. Then He came to His disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going. See, My betrayer is at hand.” The day of betrayal has come, Jesus has just warned His disciples of His impending suffering, they have sworn allegiance, and yet, at the first opportunity, their flesh leads them astray. Jesus is asking His disciples to defeat their flesh for one hour by praying and keeping watch. In essence, He is asking them to be on guard, both in the flesh and in the spirit, by watching with their eyes and praying with their mouths. Yet the eyes soon fail, and by doing so, they shut the mouth. In other words, the flesh takes control and defeats the spirit. In their final hours with Christ before His crucifixion, the final memory the disciples will have is how they failed their Messiah and, yes, the enemy will use that to cause them even greater despair, because that is what he does. I don't know about anyone else, but there was a time in my life where, once I had sinned, I felt so bad that I would run from God, too ashamed to face Him, and in the process, I would sin even more. It was as if I had thrown all care to the wind. At this point, my flesh was in control because of my guilt and shame. I wonder if that is possibly where things went awry for the disciples. Could it be that, because of their failure of Christ in the garden, it became somewhat easier to deny Him the next day? The statement “Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation” was not out of context here, but rather one which we can be aware and cognoscente of for ourselves every day. By allowing their eyes to close and the flesh to rule, the spirit was silenced. Oh, how often have I been guilty of such actions myself? I think about the times when I was in a hurry to arrive at my destination and I would see someone stopped along the road, obviously in need of assistance, yet I didn't stop. Even though my spirit was leading me to, craving for me to do what was obviously right, I allowed my flesh to convince me that its needs were more important, more urgent and pressing. I am confident that many of you have felt this shame as well; it is not the kind one can bear much of. You learn rather quickly yet, even then, it often happens again and again. So, what can we do you ask? We rest when it's time to rest; we take care of ourselves, both physically and spiritually; and we "watch and pray," then obey and, as a result, life will be filled with far more joy and freedom than guilt and shame. Daily Prayer: Father, may we be people who watch and pray. May we be people who seek Your will for our lives every moment of every day. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. “Victory in the spirit brings great joy and freedom–‘watch and pray.’” Gene Burroughs, Pastor

Day 222 “If God said it, you can believe it and react with faith.”

Day 222 Matthew 26:31-35 Then Jesus said to them, “All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written: ‘I will strike the Shepherd, And the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee.” Peter answered and said to Him, “Even if all are made to stumble because of You, I will never be made to stumble.” Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you that this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” Peter said to Him, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!” And so said all the disciples. As I read this passage, I cannot help but wonder why Jesus said that the disciples would stumble because of Him. After all, He is going to the cross for us; He had no need to suffer and die, he could have made another race on another planet, yet still He bore the complete burden all on his own. Yet no matter how many hypothesis or ideas one has as to why Jesus says these words, there is truly only one conclusion, for He gave us the answer. The reason Jesus said that we would stumble because of him was because it had been prophesied and written in the book of Zachariah, Chapter 13:7; that alone was all of the truth that was needed. You see, the sovereignty of the Word of God is and must be 100 percent truth, for if not, we have no foundation for our belief; we are as shallow as Mormonism, Islam, or any other religion that bases itself upon their so-called Holy writings. All other religions are limited in their foundation. Some are based upon self-professed new truths of the Bible, some upon nonfactual interpretations of the Bible, and others are based upon writings which often have no historical or geographical truth to them. Yet any time the basis for a religion or belief is not held as sovereign, inspired and holy, it has no roots, no base upon which to build. It is shifting sand. The same goes for those who change the meaning of the Word of God or propose new revelations and insights that often contradict the basis of their belief. How can this be? If the God you serve can make mistakes, how then can that god be infallible? In truth, any god who contradicts himself is nothing more than a lying demonic spirit seeking to lead others astray. If Jesus Himself was bound to the Word (and He was), then how can any man professing to serve Him change that very Word in the name of the God who would not? Am I taking this too far? Am I off track? No, I don't really think so. The purpose of this study is and always has been to learn more of Christ. To know Him is to be able to follow Him, and to follow Him is to change our world and rescue those who have yet to hear and receive the truth. Jesus, by obeying the Word of God and surrendering to His death, knew beyond a doubt that every scripture ever written about His death and resurrection would come to pass, as they did. If the disciples had seen this obvious truth, their responses would have been much different. Maybe Peter would have asked how many times he would deny Christ. Maybe they all would have sought His forgiveness beforehand but, you see, they didn't get it either: no man can change the plan of God, no man. If something has been prophesied and written in the Word, then, yes, it is infallible, yet when it is prophesied by man, it must be weighed against the Word before it can be accepted as truth. There are many these days who tell people that God is speaking truth in a prophetic way through them when, quite often, I fear they are simply sharing a feeling or an intellectual thought. Yes, God still speaks through men but God never contradicts Himself, and that, my friend, is the truth! Daily Prayer: Father, thank you that we can test all things against Your Word and know the truth. Teach us, Lord, to recognize those things that are not from You, and help us, Lord, to help those who have gone astray. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. “If God said it, you can believe it and react with faith.” Gene Burroughs, Pastor

Day 221 “His blood, His body, our sin quite amazing!”

Day 221 Matthew 26:26-30 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.” And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. In Exodus, Chapter 12 (if I may paraphrase), the Passover is instituted by God as the final blow to the enemies of Israel and the act that causes them to be given their freedom. The Jewish people were given specific instructions to prepare a lamb for slaughter; they were to place the blood of the lamb over the doorposts and on the sides of the door (the lintels) and then remain inside while feasting on the sacrifice. As they were inside feasting on the lamb and unleavened bread, the spirit of the Lord would pass through the land, and any doorway that did not bear the blood of the lamb He would enter, and the firstborn of that household would be killed. And so it was, and the people of Israel were spared, while their enemies' firstborn children and livestock were destroyed; hence, their enemies released them from captivity. Here in Matthew 26, we see Jesus now performing the first communion or new act of Passover with His disciples and, while they were unable at the time to completely comprehend it, 3 days later it would all become clear. You see, Jesus was now showing them and all who have consequently read this passage that He is now the sacrificial lamb, that His body would be the one broken, and His would be the blood shed to cover our sins for eternity. He is now forever freeing all who believe from the captivity of sin. We must remember that His death and resurrection had not yet happened at this time; therefore, the degree to which this sacrifice was to be has yet to be seen. The suffering of Christ and the shedding of His blood has, unfortunately, been so watered down by many religions that it has lost much of its true intent. You see, God did not institute the blood sacrifice of an innocent animal to satisfy His thirst for blood; He did it to cause pain to the one who offended in order that they might no longer offend. My dad spanked me when I knowingly did wrong; the pain of that spanking and the thought of disappointing him again, that’s what kept me from repeat offenses. The hurt from taking an innocent life and shedding its blood for my mistakes, that is what should keep me from disappointing God as well. By instituting the new covenant, Jesus bore that pain for us as well, yet all too often we now forget His pain for us–that is the purpose of communion–maybe now we can all remember and help others to remember as well. Yes, to receive redemption is easy, but the payment that was made was anything but easy or painless; there was great sacrifice and pain. Daily Prayer: Father, thank You for the redemption of my life by Your son Jesus. May we never forget His suffering for our sake. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. “His blood, His body, our sin quite amazing!” Gene Burroughs, Pastor

Day 220 “Sin is curable, even in the latest of stages, just one drop from the blood of the Lamb.”

Day 220 Matthew 26:20-25 When evening had come, He sat down with the twelve. Now as they were eating, He said, “Assuredly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me.” And they were exceedingly sorrowful, and each of them began to say to Him, “Lord, is it I?” He answered and said, “He who dipped his hand with Me in the dish will betray Me. The Son of Man indeed goes just as it is written of Him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born.” Then Judas, who was betraying Him, answered and said, “Rabbi, is it I?” He said to him, “You have said it.” Can you imagine being Judas, sitting at this table thinking that no one knew what he had done and, suddenly, the very person he betrayed acknowledges His betrayal? Have you ever done something knowing it was wrong, then just about the time you think you have gotten away with it, someone calls you on the carpet? Well, I have, and the feeling in the pit of your stomach is impossible to describe and completely unforgettable. The ironic thing is that none of us (as believers) ever get away with anything unnoticed, and He who sees it all has a way of not letting us forget it until we have dealt with it. Betrayal, as with all sin, is much like a cancer, it grows and grows even unto death until the every last root and cell of it has been destroyed. The longer it is left unattended, the more it grows, even when we ignore the symptoms. No matter how obvious they are, our denial does nothing to ease the pain. I see the pain of sin on the faces of people every day; like that cancer, it grows and grows, never being treated until either death wins out or the realization of Christ has come. If you look, you, too, will see the symptoms of sin on the faces of almost anyone you meet. Here are some examples. Bitterness shows itself as anger and the facial scowl. Unforgiveness often manifests itself as shyness when we can't accept forgiveness or as anger and bitterness when we cannot extend forgiveness. Selfishness is often the result of a childhood of overindulgence by loved ones or a lack of daily necessities, often manifesting itself as impatience and greed. The list truly does go on and on, even such as in Judas’ case: the arrogance of believing your lie so much that it becomes a truth. Judas’ response to Jesus could be interpreted as one of a man who was so deep in his sin he had convinced himself that it wasn't; again, like so many people we know today. Sin, like any other cancer, should and can be dealt with. Sin, unlike cancer, is 100 percent treatable, with a 100 percent non-mortality rate. The cure, of course, is free, somewhat painless, and rather enjoyable but, like cancer, we must first be willing to admit that something just isn't right. We must admit that there are things going on within us that we know are affecting us, and even though we can live with them now, they will only get worse if we wait. Whether it be your physical health or your spiritual health, can you ask yourself this question today and face the truth with strength, “How are you feeling, everything OK?” Daily Prayer: Father, I pray that we would not ignore the warning signs of sickness, either spiritual or physical; they all need to be dealt with. Please give us the strength to do so in the early stages. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. “Sin is curable, even in the latest of stages, just one drop from the blood of the Lamb.” Gene Burroughs, Pastor

Day 219 “Obedience in the smallest form leads to the greatest of pleasures.”

Day 219 Matthew 26:17-19 Now on the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying to Him, “Where do You want us to prepare for You to eat the Passover?” And He said, “Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, “My time is at hand; I will keep the Passover at your house with My disciples.”’” So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them; and they prepared the Passover. While there are many areas of this passage for one to focus upon, I feel led to focus on the man who owned the home where the Passover was to be held. You see, there were a number of critical things that must take place in order for this home to be secured, yet the gospels make it so matter of fact, as I believe it was and still should be. This man whose home was to be used was obviously a believer in Christ. He may have been someone Christ healed or someone who saw and heard Jesus teaching, this we do not know; he was, however, a believer. How can I say this with such confidence you ask? It appears that God had spoken to this man, for Jesus simply sends His disciples to say that the Master has need and obviously he responds accordingly. You see, this man more than likely had been praying or had been visited and spoken to in some divine manner. He was ready to hear and ready to respond, thus he did. In both Mark and Luke's writing of this passage we see that the disciples were instructed to follow a certain man carrying a pitcher of water to the house he enters and there to address the master. Can you imagine how many men in Jerusalem at any one time could be seen carrying a pitcher of water? The point is that everyone involved in this interaction had two very important things in common: they were listening to the voice of God, and they were obeying. While the details may have been foggy and the exact path was not known, these people needed no other help than the guidance of their Lord to fulfill His will. I could tell you many, many stories of such occurrences in my own life yet, today, one in particular stands out. On one of our many trips to the San Francisco area, one morning I felt like blessing the team with freshly cooked bacon for breakfast, so I grabbed one of the leaders and off we went to find a market. We first, of course, prayed for God to use us and guide us, for we had no idea where there was a market or which one He would have us go to, so following His direction, we went to a particular typical corner grocery. You have Uncle Guido behind the counter giving his daily advice and update on politics to everyone who makes eye contact, which is, of course, the daily routine of folks seeking coffee, advice, and maybe a muffin. This in itself was quite the blessing. As we left the store, bacon in hand, we passed a young twenty-something woman near the front door and made our way down the block toward our destination. We had gone no more than half a block when we both felt the same realization that we were to return and speak with her. As we made our way, I felt very impressed to make her a flower from the balloons I carried and present it to her as a gift, a token of her beauty as seen by the Lord. As we approached her, she looked at us both as if she knew why we were there and, with tears in her eyes, she hugged us and thanked us for coming because she had been waiting. You see, the night before, her much older boyfriend had beaten her and she had spent the night on the streets, during which time she called her mom who prayed with her. Her mother had told her that God was watching over her and there would be people who would see her today and remind her that God had not given up on her. They would remind her that she was His child; a treasure in His eyes. You see, far too often we desire for God to thrust us into situations to allow us to see the outcome before we take the step of faith. Sometimes He just desires to give us a glimpse; sometimes He desires for us to take a step of faith, no matter how foolish it may seem. I suggest that we stop looking for the big picture and respond to the little promptings, for if we do, then God may allow us to view even more, and what a view it is! Daily Prayer: Father, I am blessed beyond measure, yet all too often I fear that I forget to wait upon You for the seemingly smallest of things. Show me how to hear Your voice, and help me to obey, I pray. In Jesus’ name, Amen. “Obedience in the smallest form leads to the greatest of pleasures.” Gene Burroughs, Pastor

The water that Burns like Fire

The Water that Burns with Fire The words you are about to read are the brief overview of a vision revealed to me by the Lord over the past few months. I believe that this year, 2012 is the beginning of the fruition of the things of which I speak. You must arrive at your own conclusion and I encourage you to seek the Lord and test all things against His word. There has been for quite sometime a preparation in the hearts of certain leaders both men and women who have been called to usher in and lead this nation in a move of repentance like none we have ever experienced. These leaders have been undergoing a refinement that was especially chosen for them, one of great pain, sacrifice, and trauma. Through these trials they have been drawn in to a place of understanding, victory, and most importantly intimacy with God. This nation in 2012 will see a rising tide of true repentance, a repentance that causes men and women to be transformed in a moment. I see in my minds eye a crack in the floor of the ocean and new waters pouring in from the deep, the seas are beginning to rise. First covering the lowlands and like a raging fire they will choose what appears to be a random path, yet this path will be one directed from on High. As these waters rise some will run to higher ground, others will recognize them as life giving, and remain to be overcome by them. Soon there will be strongholds where this fire will take up inhabitance and there it will remain as long as holiness resides in the hearts of the leaders. Many so-called prominent leaders will cry out for the water, thinking they are those of which I earlier spoke yet they in their arrogance will be denied. Others will create their own form of water and while it appears fresh and life giving to some, it will be filthy and polluted bringing forth only death and destruction. This false water will require no immersion, little change, no transformation and will appeal to many, there will be a great deception, one that has already begun. Beware of those who say they are the ones of whom I speak, those who are chosen will be evident for this is a fire of repentance. This is not a fire of signs and wonders, this is a fire of repentance, transformation, and free from hype, a pure water of fire! Those who seek to be immersed in the pure water, the water that burns like fire they will be forever changed transformed by its power. Their flesh will burn away and their spirits will be refined. Holiness and righteousness will be given to them and their prayers will bring forth power from on High. They will move upon the earth as directed by their Great Commander carrying forth the waters of fire seeking those willing to be transformed, those wiling to allow the painful consumption of their flesh. They will be clothed in His armor, in their right hands they will carry His Word, a sword rightly divining truth. In their hearts will burn a passion for His righteousness and their spirits will be led by Him. They will not proclaim their name nor seek to steal His glory, humility will be their strength, and pride will not know them. His praise will be upon their lips, and the Word will bear witness to all, for by His name alone will men be saved, and unto Jesus be all glory and honor! Fear, anger, and hopelessness will grip this nation, yet they will be free from the influence. Persecution will come upon them as never before, yet they will remain, and the water of fire will spread, causing all to choose their way. For those of you (and you know who you are) whom the Lord has chosen for this time, and this day, I encourage you, stay strong, remain in your place of prayer, avoid the pitfalls of sin and walk in intimacy with God. The waters are coming forth, be watchful, be ready, fill your lamps, soon you will hear His call, His call to rise up and go forth, be ready! More to come! Pastor Gene Burroughs

218 “The value of everything is determined by what we will pay or be paid for it.”

Day 218 Matthew 26:14-16 Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver Him to you?” And they counted out to him thirty pieces of silver. So from that time he sought opportunity to betray Him. There are several very interesting points worthy of mentioning today in this rather short section of scripture which represents a truly pivotal moment in history; the first point being that, to the Jewish leader, Judas could have been viewed as an answer to prayer. Think about it, if they did not believe Jesus was the messiah, then they were obviously praying for His demise. Therefore, Judas could very well have been viewed as one sent by God to deliver this so-called heretic into their hands. So here is a question for each of us: “Are we confident that the prayers we are praying are according to His will or are they according to our own will?” Secondly, Judas had a price. There was an amount of money that Judas was willing to sell out for–in this case, thirty pieces of silver. By the way, thirty pieces of silver was the same price that was paid for a slave if he was killed by your ox (Exodus 21:32) and, oh by the way, the ox was then to be killed. In Zechariah 11:12, it was also the price paid by the people of Israel to release them from the influence of the shepherd (God) whom Zechariah was representing. It is also very ironic that the Lord told Zechariah to throw the thirty pieces of silver to the potter, as the potter was considered to be the lowest form of laborer. As we will see later on, when Judas gives back the money to the high priests, they purchase a potter’s field to bury people in. I remember the day very well when I was working in the corporate world and the realization of selling out hit me. I was in my office in agony over tough decisions the corporate office had made that I was being demanded to enforce. I didn't agree with them yet I was responsible for carrying out their will. It was then that I realized that I had sold out, that they were the ones in control, and I had agreed to the price; it was also the day I purposed to leave. Have you sold out? How much will or did it take? Just remember, it will never be enough. You see, once the price has been paid for something, there is no turning back. Even if, by some chance, you didn't fulfill what you agreed to, you have done it in your heart, and you are now a thief and a liar– there is no winning! Once we step over the threshold of considering doing wrong and we enter into the place of purposing to do wrong, we have stepped into the place of complete separation from God–we have set the price and the value of His influence and control of our lives. Fortunately, we do have the grace and mercy of God that reconciles us through the blood of Christ, but we, and all of those affected by our choice, will face the consequences of our decision. Once Judas had accepted the money, he was past the point of turning back. His next option was to go forward with his plan; right or wrong, there was no turning back in his mind. Judas had purposed to betray God and for whatever reason he did, yet even Judas regretted his decision, but by then it was too late for him. Praise God that until His return or our death, both of which may be at any instance, it is never too late for us. Daily Prayer: Father, I ask forgiveness for those times where I have purposed in my heart to sell out; for giving into the gratification of my flesh rather than the fulfillment of Your will in my life. May I learn from the mistakes of my past and avoid these same pitfalls in the future. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. “The value of everything is determined by what we will pay or be paid for it.” Gene Burroughs, Pastor

Day 217 “I would rather bless God and satisfy my spirit than ignore God and satisfy my flesh.”

Day 217 Matthew 26:10-13 But when Jesus was aware of it, He said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a good work for Me. For you have the poor with you always, but Me you do not have always. For in pouring this fragrant oil on My body, she did it for My burial. Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her.” During Jesus’ short time on this earth, His suffering, both up to and upon the cross, will forever be remembered as the most selfless act of any man ever recorded in history. However, rarely will anyone think of the daily sacrifices that Christ made, particularly in His final three years (as, historically, we know very little about His childhood). He had no home, few close friends, denied His family, and was seemingly rarely concerned about His own comfort. His time on earth is coming to an end; most of the people around Him have no idea of what He is going through or what is about to happen. Obviously, His heart was heavy for His people, yet, as a man, He surely longed for some comfort for His weary body and soul. With everyone else clueless, suddenly this woman who had sat at His feet, one who had purposed to know Him, realizes that He is in need, and without thought of cost she takes action. She takes the most valuable of all of her possessions and gives it to her savior. And note that she doesn't just give Him a flask of oil; no, she takes this oil and begins to anoint her messiah. She lovingly and carefully rubs the oil into His very pores, even the souls of His feet, and she blesses our Lord and savior. How is it that so many so close to our Lord would miss such an opportunity? How is it that they ridiculed her rather than join her in this selfless act? It is a rare opportunity when someone is allowed to bless God; after all, what does He long for? what are His needs? I liken it to trying to buy something for the person who has everything–what do you give them? I personally struggle often to the point of giving up and sending a card, yet somehow my wife always knows just how to bless them. I truly don't get it, but she does. So the question for us today is how do we bless God? What can we possibly give that would bless the King of Kings and Lord of Lords? Well, for once I do have the answer: we give Him us and make the sacrifice of giving our time, our talents, our gifts, and our resources, all for the sake of Him rather than the selfishness of us. Daily Prayer: Father, I desire to bless You, and all I have is me and the decisions I make. I pray that you will help me to purpose in my heart to give you my all in order that I might be a blessing to You. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. “I would rather bless God and satisfy my spirit than ignore God and satisfy my flesh.” Gene Burroughs, Pastor

"Good Friday" Day 235 Matthew 27:45-50 Now from the sixth hour until the ninth hour there was darkness over all the land. 46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” Some of those who stood there, when they heard that, said, “This Man is calling for Elijah!” Immediately one of them ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine and put it on a reed, and offered it to Him to drink. The rest said, “Let Him alone; let us see if Elijah will come to save Him.” And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. I don't know about anyone else, but for as long as I can remember, I have been confused about verse 46; not to the point of it driving me to find answers or to the point of it affecting my relationship with God. No, it was more like one of those things that every time you read it you think, hmm, that just doesn't make complete sense; however, today for me it does (thank you Holy Spirit). I am reminded that when Moses was meeting with God in Exodus 33: 20-23: But He said, “You cannot see My face; for no man shall see Me, and live. And the LORD said, “Here is a place by Me, and you shall stand on the rock. So it shall be, while My glory passes by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock, and will cover you with My hand while I pass by. Then I will take away My hand, and you shall see My back; but My face shall not be seen.” The Lord made it very clear to him that he could not look upon God. The reason was not that God didn't want Moses or anyone else to see Him, but rather that God did not want Moses to perish. You see, the human body is not holy; it is not consecrated, and any time a non-consecrated human body comes in contact with a holy and pure God, the human body literally perishes and ceases to be. Remember 1 Samuel 6:19: Then He struck the men of Beth Shemesh, because they had looked into the ark of the LORD. He struck fifty thousand and seventy men of the people, and the people lamented because the LORD had struck the people with a great slaughter. Or 2 Samuel 6:6-7 when Uzzah tried to stabilize the Ark: And when they came to Nachon’s threshing floor, Uzzah put out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen stumbled. Then the anger of the LORD was aroused against Uzzah, and God struck him there for his error; and he died there by the ark of God. Now, back to Jesus, the reason He was feeling forsaken by God was because He was, for Jesus was at that time the very manifestation of sin; therefore, God had for the first time ever separated Himself from Jesus; Jesus felt and was abandoned! The compassion of Christ is now complete. You see, He suffered in sin just as we suffer in sin, and because He did, He can now relate to you and me in every aspect of life. That, my friend, should bring great hope to all mankind! Jesus understands the pain of separation from God the result of sin; He knows how you feel when the loneliness of sin overcomes you! Just as you can comfort those who have been through similar trials, your savior can comfort you in every way; Praise God! Daily Prayer: Father, thank You that every aspect of salvation and redemption has been covered by the blood of Jesus. Thank You, Lord, that we can now commune with You. Help us, Lord, to never forget and to passionately share this hope with all mankind. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. “Communion with God can only come through communion with Christ.” Gene Burroughs, Pastor

Day 235 Matthew 27:45-50 Now from the sixth hour until the ninth hour there was darkness over all the land. 46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” Some of those who stood there, when they heard that, said, “This Man is calling for Elijah!” Immediately one of them ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine and put it on a reed, and offered it to Him to drink. The rest said, “Let Him alone; let us see if Elijah will come to save Him.” And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. I don't know about anyone else, but for as long as I can remember, I have been confused about verse 46; not to the point of it driving me to find answers or to the point of it affecting my relationship with God. No, it was more like one of those things that every time you read it you think, hmm, that just doesn't make complete sense; however, today for me it does (thank you Holy Spirit). I am reminded that when Moses was meeting with God in Exodus 33: 20-23: But He said, “You cannot see My face; for no man shall see Me, and live. And the LORD said, “Here is a place by Me, and you shall stand on the rock. So it shall be, while My glory passes by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock, and will cover you with My hand while I pass by. Then I will take away My hand, and you shall see My back; but My face shall not be seen.” The Lord made it very clear to him that he could not look upon God. The reason was not that God didn't want Moses or anyone else to see Him, but rather that God did not want Moses to perish. You see, the human body is not holy; it is not consecrated, and any time a non-consecrated human body comes in contact with a holy and pure God, the human body literally perishes and ceases to be. Remember 1 Samuel 6:19: Then He struck the men of Beth Shemesh, because they had looked into the ark of the LORD. He struck fifty thousand and seventy men of the people, and the people lamented because the LORD had struck the people with a great slaughter. Or 2 Samuel 6:6-7 when Uzzah tried to stabilize the Ark: And when they came to Nachon’s threshing floor, Uzzah put out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen stumbled. Then the anger of the LORD was aroused against Uzzah, and God struck him there for his error; and he died there by the ark of God. Now, back to Jesus, the reason He was feeling forsaken by God was because He was, for Jesus was at that time the very manifestation of sin; therefore, God had for the first time ever separated Himself from Jesus; Jesus felt and was abandoned! The compassion of Christ is now complete. You see, He suffered in sin just as we suffer in sin, and because He did, He can now relate to you and me in every aspect of life. That, my friend, should bring great hope to all mankind! Jesus understands the pain of separation from God the result of sin; He knows how you feel when the loneliness of sin overcomes you! Just as you can comfort those who have been through similar trials, your savior can comfort you in every way; Praise God! Daily Prayer: Father, thank You that every aspect of salvation and redemption has been covered by the blood of Jesus. Thank You, Lord, that we can now commune with You. Help us, Lord, to never forget and to passionately share this hope with all mankind. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. “Communion with God can only come through communion with Christ.” Gene Burroughs, Pastor

Day 216 “His will is always worth waiting for.”

Day 216 Matthew 26:6-9 And when Jesus was in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, a woman came to Him having an alabaster flask of very costly fragrant oil, and she poured it on His head as He sat at the table. But when His disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, “Why this waste? For this fragrant oil might have been sold for much and given to the poor.” In the gospel of John, Chapter 12, we are told that this woman was Mary, the sister of Martha, both the sisters of Lazarus whom Jesus had raised from the dead. John also tells us that the disciple who was so critical of this selfless act was none other than Judas Iscariot, the one who was soon to betray Jesus. Judas was also the one in charge of the money or the treasurer for the disciples. Therefore, the fact that this oil was worth about one year’s wages was of particular interest to him, for had they been given the oil and been able to sell it, he, of course, would have control of a larger amount of money. You see, it is generally accepted as fact that Judas was stealing from the disciples in order to further his own agenda; little did he know. It is also noteworthy to mention that Mary was the same one who had been criticized for sitting at Jesus’ feet and listening to His teachings rather than helping Martha with the chores. Mary was one who was in touch with what was going on and where things were headed; she had paid attention, listened, and waited, often to the chagrin of those around her. Yet now, when things are getting serious, she is actually the one who understands better than anyone else what is about to happen. I want to be more like Mary and less like the others, but to be more like Mary takes a lot of work. You see, most of us are Martha's; we tend to be impatient and want to see things being resolved rather than waiting and listening. We tend to be doers and fixers often to the point of missing the point. I believe that this can be illustrated by a flurry of activities that I had been involved in, and before I go on, I would like to say that this, in no way, reflects the depth or conviction of those involved in the story; it is rather an observation. About four years ago, just prior to Christmas, I was involved in three rather major construction projects at the church. It seemed that no matter what I did, I was bombarded with a plethora of opinions and discussions on what and how I should be doing things. It was so aggravating and counterproductive that I simply shut down and avoided everyone in order to accomplish my task. In the end, I was actually forced to delay the projects due largely in part to these distractions. However, if I desired to have a discussion regarding how God was leading or what passages meant, I could hardly drum up a conversation or anyone to speak with. You see, we have become such a society of doing and so results oriented that I fear our time seeking the Lord and His direction has moved down the list of priorities when, in fact, His will for us should never leave the top of the list. Our commitment to daily seek Him and His direction for us truly should be our first and foremost task, so I ask you today "How are you doing with that?" If you're like me, it is truly a struggle yet it is a battle that each one of us must win. We truly must overcome our fleshly desires and influences and daily fill ourselves with His Word and seek His will for each of us in prayer. Daily Prayer: Father, I confess to you that I have spent far too much time doing and far too little time waiting and listening for Your lead. Please forgive me, I ask, and teach me how to be more patient with life. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. “His will is always worth waiting for.” Gene Burroughs, Pastor

Day 215 "Evil has no rules; therefore, against evil neither do I."

Day 215 Matthew 26:1-5 Now it came to pass, when Jesus had finished all these sayings, that He said to His disciples, “You know that after two days is the Passover, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified.” Then the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders of the people assembled at the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas, and plotted to take Jesus by trickery and kill Him. But they said, “Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar among the people.” The word plotted here, as defined in Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, means “a plan secretly devised to accomplish an evil or treacherous end.” From the same source, the word trickery means: “The practice of crafty underhanded ingenuity to deceive or cheat.” Why do I bring this up you ask? The tendency of believers is to always think the best, to never assume that there are those who would desire to perform evil or mischievous acts against them. Why would people practicing witchcraft pray against us or why would satanists desire to see Christians, churches, ministries, and leaders fall? Surely they wouldn't waste their time on such things or would they? Let me ask you this: do you pray for the unsaved, do you pray for the lost to find Christ, do you pray for healings, for God's will, for miracles, signs and wonders? If you would pray such things against darkness, then why would they not pray against you to their deities? The answer is, I believe, that they do and, yes, they have power and, yes, sometimes they succeed, but only because we stand idly by assuming the best, ignoring the possibilities, and suffering the consequences of our actions. While Jesus did not desire to stop the crucifixion, if He had, He would have prevented it; therefore, it happened according to his will. Yet even then it was an evil scheme and a plan formed and executed very well and purposefully by the powers of darkness who conspired to kill the Messiah. Could it be that those powers of darkness have conspired in some manner to influence you in order to keep you from walking in faith, from stepping out? Have they prevented you in some way from being all that God would have you be? Could it be that by believing evil has rules, you have, to a certain degree, allowed evil to rule over you? I'm not a devil hunter; however, I do understand that I have an enemy, one who desires to destroy me and all who know me. He has nothing to lose, no rules to play by, and he needs no rest; he is patient and scheming, and by knowing this I can defeat him by the power of God with my prayers. Daily Prayer: Father, I do ask that You, Lord, by Your Spirit would reveal the scheming of the enemy to me in order that I might avoid the pitfalls and walk victorious in You. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. "Evil has no rules; therefore, against evil neither do I." Gene Burroughs, Pastor

Day 214 “Life is not a game, it's a challenge; live it well.”

Day 214 Matthew 25:41-46 “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’ Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” The selfishness of the human race has never seemed so apparent in my lifetime as it is today. The seemingly endless question of “What's in it for me?” is running rampant through our Nation and our world. Not only is this question alive and well in the world, it is additionally and unfortunately growing in occurrence among members of the body of Christ. Why is this so? This question truly is one of great importance, so important, I believe, because it truly could be one of the greatest downfalls of Christianity in America and across the world. The selfish nature of mankind has no place in the body of Christ, for Christ Himself was as unselfish as any man has ever been or ever will be. We say that we are members of His body, partakers of the guidance of the Holy Spirit, yet all too often our actions in few ways reflect the actions of the one we are to emulate. When given an opportunity to shine for the Lord, we tend to first ask questions like: “Why should I do this?” – “How will this affect me?” – or, I love this one – “Is God asking me to make this sacrifice?” When we first ask these questions of ourselves, it truly does show how little we are willing to give or to sacrifice. Do we actually believe that it is possible to out give, out love, or out do God in the dispensation of grace? Yes, I realize that each of us is to be a good steward of what God has given us; however, being a good steward does not include hording or holding onto blessings–that, my friends, is selfishness, pure and simple. When I read this passage, I see God being very upset and judgmental against those who have placed themselves and their wants above those of their fellow man, and I, myself, am quite convicted as well. You see, Jesus is not just speaking of material things; He is also speaking of behaviors, attitudes, and a willingness to give of ourselves in order to bless others, especially those we do not know. Some time ago, I was at a scrimmage for my daughter's basketball team at a public school. This was a scrimmage between our Christian school and a local public school, and the children were from fifth and sixth grades. This game had absolutely no bearing on standings in the league; it was simply a scrimmage. It was so unimportant that we had one of our assistant coaches, somewhat inexperienced and by no means a league referee, donated her time to oversee the game. I watched and listened in horror as some of the parents of our team yelled at this poor woman for missing or making calls they did not agree with. By the way, I thought she was doing a great job! First of all, this woman is donating her time, she is giving of herself, and she is our sister in Christ. Secondly, this is just a glorified practice, and thirdly, and equally important, is the fact that the other team’s parents, those in public school who may or may not be believers, never said a cross word! What kind of witness are we when we act worse than those of the world in the name of good wholesome competition? May I dare say we are very poor ones? These people were not generous, loving, kind, or self-sacrificing; they were the opposite, so I guess the question today would be “Which are you?” If you doubt the validity of my words, I would encourage you to read His Word and pray. Don't do things because I say to; do them because your Lord and Savior is directing you to. Daily Prayer: Father, may we learn to be on guard and faithful to You at all times. Help us, Lord, to be unselfish and giving to all mankind in order that You may be glorified through us. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. “Life is not a game, it's a challenge; live it well.” Gene Burroughs, Pastor

Day 213 “The stranger you help is the child of the God you serve.”

Day 213 Matthew 25:31-40 “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’ Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’” But Lord, what about all of the classes I led, or the theological discussions I held, or the many Church and social events, why haven't you mentioned them? I have all of these degrees from seminary; I've read the books and listened to the scholars, doesn't that count? Why don't you mention that, Lord? You see, unfortunately, there are many who profess to believe in and follow Christ who truly cannot relate to the qualities and actions Jesus speaks of rewarding for. They have been so wrapped up in being educated about the Word or the Lord that they have never acted out what He says to do. Does it not make sense that, when inspiring a passage that speaks of who He will bless and reward upon His return, He doesn't mention many of the things some churches and religious leaders place the greatest value upon? When did we make the learning of God more important than the representation of God? Please notice, I said more important; I am not for a second advocating the end of pursuit of the study of the Word or education; however, when it becomes more important than, or the primary focus of, our efforts, we have mixed up our priorities. We must balance our lives well between the Word of God and the God of the Word, we must have both Word and Spirit leading us, one without the other leaves us unbalanced. Dare I say that those who focus upon education, programs, and inspiration for their benefit more than they focus upon extending a helping hand to the children of God have become truly selfish and are in need of a wake-up call? Today, I hear so much talk about community and culture and further discussion from our youth, yet in many places such focus has crippled the church from being effective at reaching out to those in need. We become so introspective and concerned for those who, all too often, are struggling with the same sin and addictions that have plagued them most of their life that we never reach out to those Christ would consider being "the least of these." Believe me when I say that a healthy and vibrant church is important; just how that is defined for some of us would be viewed very differently, but, all in all, I would say a healthy church is a balanced church, and the same could be said for us as individual believers. We should desire to be faithful to the study of the Word, fellowship, and reaching out to those in need and, yes, even the criminals, not just each other; after all, isn't reaching out to each other just a little too easy? He did mention strangers, naked people, the sick, and criminals, not the brothers and sisters in the pews beside you, unless they, too, of course, are in need. I don't know about you, but this passage packs a powerful punch, one that should inspire conversation, one that should cause us to desire to be stretched beyond our comfortable limits, and one that could and would change the world if we all got on board. Oh, and by the way, if you are thinking of using the old standby phrase that says “I don't think I'm called to do this,” you might want to reconsider, we’re all called to live this way. Remember, these are the ones He will be rewarding; His Word says so! Daily Prayer: Father, I pray that You would give us eyes to see and ears to hear in order that we might be more effective for You in this world. Show us those in need, and give us the strength to be bold enough to help them out. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. “The stranger you help is the child of the God you serve.” Gene Burroughs, Pastor

Day 212 “The use of our talents may look different, but the outcome will be the same.”

Day 212 Matthew 25:24-30 “Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’ But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. Therefore take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents. For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’” I have a smitten of fear as I read this passage. I can honestly say that I really don't care for the way it ends, in particular, the statement “…cast the unprofitable servant into outer darkness.” Just how would the Lord define an unprofitable servant anyhow? Obviously, in this parable He is saying that those who do nothing with the "objects of value" which He has left for each of us will be harshly judged. Now, I really am not one who likes to go around scaring believers into thinking they need to do more; after all, I am not infinitely aware of what anyone else is doing with the talents the Lord has given them–each of us must keep our own account. However, this does seem to be a very serious matter to the Lord. Before we allow our minds to get too carried away and let satan wrongly convict us, I would like to share a story with you, one that I dare say many of us share. You see, this story begins with two grandmothers, both of whom loved the Lord: one was a pastor and the other a housewife; both prayer warriors. They not only shared a love for the Lord, they also shared a grandson, the eldest and firstborn; a child they loved dearly and spared no effort in exhibiting the depth of this love to. Then there was the mother, with a love and dedication that only mothers can know, a conviction deep in her soul that drove her to her knees as well pleading for the Lord’s blessings, and will. Each prayed at every thought of this child for his salvation and fulfillment of the will of the Lord in his life, even after he began his time in ministry and full-time service to the Lord. You see, they were the ones who fought the greatest of battles. Whether on their calloused knees or standing with the strength of a roman warrior, they fought night and day for decades and decades, never relenting in their prayers. No one will ever know what pitfalls were avoided or what schemes of the enemy foiled because of their faithful and relentless prayers except the Lord, to whom they pleaded. These women of faith fought long and hard for this "object of value" even though, more often than not, this object felt unworthy and worthless, unable to be loved. Yet, because of those prayers, a man was saved and lives were changed, and this object of value now knows that he is valuable, if only to the King; surely, that is truth enough. You see, no man knows the heart of another or what goes on in the quietness of their hearts, but God knows; He hears the cries of the righteous, and He alone will judge each one according to their faithfulness. Therefore, who is greatest among men, the one who is well-known, seen and loved by many, or the quiet one known only to God, fighting the battle few will ever see? These things will remain a mystery, yet one thing we do know by the Word: those who are lazy and slothful with the things of God will be judged accordingly. Let's do all we can to be counted worthy of His reward! Daily Prayer: Father, I pray for the strength to stand for those who need a hand even when I cannot see the fruit I desire. May I be faithful to serve you well. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. “The use of our talents may look different, but the outcome will be the same.” Gene Burroughs, Pastor

Day 211 “Contrary to what many think, it really isn't all about us.”

Day 211 Matthew 25:14-23 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money. After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them. So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’ His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’ His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’” The word talent here, taken from the Greek tlenai, means "to bear" or "a unit of value"; knowing this, one can truly understand this passage with the depth Jesus intended. You see, Jesus was, I believe, referring to Himself as the man who left and went off to a far country, and we are those He refers to as the ones left behind with "units of value." If this is the case, each one of us is left with the responsibility of making use of those "units of value." In addition, we see the importance that the Lord places upon them and how He will respond to each of us upon His return. So, what is your "unit of value"? How much has the Lord left you to steward in His absence? I believe the proper response, or possibly a better question, would be “What are you doing with what the Lord has left you?” for the amount truly does not matter; what matters is what you are doing with what you have. To each one of us there truly does befall a responsibility to take action, to pull our heads from the sand and take those "units of value" and do something with them, anything other than burying them. Many tend to think that once they receive their ticket to eternity they can simply sit on the train of life until it arrives at the predetermined destination, and while, yes, this may be sufficient, is this what we are called to do? The answer, of course, is, absolutely and unequivocally, “No”! It is my opinion that those who work hard for the kingdom and every "unit of value" will be honored and blessed for their faithfulness. Oh, by the way, just what is a "unit of value"? Is it a person, one who is lost and seeking the truth, or is it possibly someone in need of instruction in the ways of the Lord? Is it gifts? What do you think? For the answer, I believe we need look to the purpose of Christ–what did He focus his attention on while He was on this earth; who or what did He place great value upon? I'll let each one of us decide what we will do or how we will respond to this passage and these thoughts; however, I will leave you with this question, "What is your unit of value, and what are you doing with it?" Oh, by the way, you are more valuable than anything else in this world; after all, he valued you enough to give all for you! Daily Prayer: Father, I pray that each one of us would do all we can to increase and care for the "units of value" You have entrusted to us until Your return. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. “Contrary to what many think, it really isn't all about us.” Gene Burroughs, Pastor