Anchor Your Life

And he spoke and said to those who were standing before him saying, “Remove the filthy garments from him.” Again he said to him, “See, I have taken your iniquity away from you and will clothe you with festal robes.” (NAS) Zechariah 3:4

In Zechariah 3, God gives us a picture of what Jesus Christ accomplished for us on the cross. . .

Joshua, the high priest (not the Joshua at Jericho), has returned from captivity in Babylon. He stands before God and Satan in filthy garments. Joshua is representing the sinful people. God is there to judge him. Satan is there to accuse Joshua - he’s like the prosecuting attorney with a seemingly open and shut case. But Joshua has an advocate, Jesus Christ, acting as the defense attorney. Jesus stands at God’s right hand, and silences all the accusations of Satan. Christ has already served the sentence for the peoples’ sin. Instead of condemnation, God removes Joshua’s filthy clothes, symbolizing his sinful nature, and replaces them with clean, rich garments. Joshua is made clean. He is forgiven.

This is what Jesus Christ has done for us. He has already paid the price, on the cross, for our sins. God removes the filthy garments of our sin and clothes us in His righteousness.

God’s desire is that we repent of (or turn away from) our sins and turn to Him. Have you, in faith, turned to God? confessed that you have sinned? and believe that Jesus’ death on the cross is payment for your sins? If not, please don’t waste another day, investigate Jesus Christ. Why not trade in those “old dirty rags” for a set of “clean royal garments” given by the King of Kings?

As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. (NIV) Isaiah 55:10-11

“I’ve been receiving your daily emails since 2000. I just want to thank you for your effort and perseverance in maintaining your website, especially the section of the ‘Thought For The Day’. It has been a daily source of inspiration. I look forward to reading it each morning after I spend my quiet moment with the Lord. Finally, I’ve also started your Bible reading calender this year.” Joyce - Singapore.

“I have been receiving Anchor Your Life in my e-mail for over 3-years now. There are many days when the message that is shared fits right into where I’m at in my life. Whether I’m needing comfort, encouragement, a lesson, or love - whatever my need is on that particular day or hour Anchor Your Life fits right in. That’s how I know that Anchor Your Life is God-filled and God-directed. I have been able to use your teaching as part of the jail ministry that I am active in. When I find myself waiting for what the Lord would have me teach while preparing a lesson, the message from Anchor Your Life fits right in as a confirmation.” Debbie - USA

“I am probably like a number of your readers. I work in IT and my day is full of emails and telephone calls.  For me the “Thought Of The Day” provides an important balance - alkaline to the acid of daily life if you like. Your email arrives in my inbox just like any other email and sits there among the problems and challenges of my day.  The value to me is the balance you bring to a hectic pace - an opportunity to pause for a minute or so and read something non work-related and a million miles (seemingly) from my daily challenges.  A peaceful space, a pause for reflection, a reminder to examine my values and a gentle guidance when dealing with others.” Keith - Australia

“I have been receiving the “Thoughts for the Day” for about 3 years and I read it first thing every morning in the office before the day gets going…some of them have really hit home and I print them and read them over and over…you and your team are doing a wonderful job of teaching and spreading the knowledge we all need to learn and know more about…thanks and keep on doing what you are doing.” Tom - USA

“I wanted you to know how much Anchor Your Life has touched and guided in my life.  I find that it many times relates to exactly the kind of situation that I am experiencing in my life.  It is as if God just sends the right words at the right time through Anchor Your Life.  I am the director of the lay counseling ministry at my church and have printed out and used Anchor Your Life many times in counseling others. Thanks for allowing God to use you to minister to others!” Joy - USA

Many of you indicated that you use the material from Anchor Your Life for Bible studies, small group studies, choir devotionals, church bulletins. . . even sermons! You’ve used the content at Christian coffee houses, in jail ministries, for Youth groups, for dorm floor devotions. But, perhaps the most creative use of the devotionals came from a woman who selects specific messages, makes a dozen copies on colorful paper, places them in her desk drawer at work and gives them to everyone who visits her - the postman, the paper boy, the cleaner, the plant keeper. All I can say is keep on keepin on with sharing God’s Word with those around you!

Lastly, I appreciated some special comments that a few of you made - It “is so nice to know that there are actual people behind this email and not just a micro chip programmed to pump out the data each day.” Another reader wrote, “In this rat race and high technology world we live in, it is good to know that there are people out there like you that use it to give God honor and glory.”

We will keep proclaiming God’s Word on the Internet. . . you keep sharing it with others!

How has God used Anchor Your Life to draw you closer to Himself?

Yet those who wait for the LORD will gain new strength; they will mount up {with} wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary. (NAS) Isaiah 40:31

Except for the Garden of Eden, never in history has man escaped troubles, suffering and trials. Oftentimes the world seems to be without meaning or purpose, but God promises the people of Judah, as well as Christians today, that He will give hope, strength and comfort to those who trust in Him. But, the key to receiving God’s strength is revealed in Isaiah 40:31. Isaiah states that those who hope, or wait in the Lord, are the ones who renew their strength. But, “waiting” as used here, is not meant to suggest a neutral position. The verb means to wait with confidence, in expectation, trusting in God.

Waiting for men is difficult. In a society where instant gratification is expected, it is against human nature to patiently wait. Instead, we try to make things happen in our own way, by our own doing. But, as Christians, waiting on God is the rule, not the exception.  We must learn to accept the fact that it takes time to grow and become the product that God desires for us. As David tells us in Psalm 62, we should wait in silence, in stability, and in confidence, which comes only from God.

The Hebrew word to “wait” is “qavah,” meaning “to bind together,” perhaps by twisting. It is by twisting ourselves around God’s strong nature that we ourselves receive strength and confidence in Him. We do not possess these traits ourselves, but God makes them available to those who wait and hope in Him. In return, God promises to “renew their strength.” The Hebrew verb used here for “renew” means to “exchange power or strength,” indicating that God will exchange man’s weakness for His strength.

Are you in a waiting mode? Are you waiting in silence, in stability, and in confidence? or have you given up hope? Try “twisting” yourself around God’s strong nature and in turn, receive His strength!

Written by Marji “Mike” Kruger

What kinds of things are you waiting on? What do you do while you’re waiting?

Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him to make him stumble. (NIV) I John 2:10

I have a friend that has a huge heart. It is evident to anyone who spends even a short amount of time with her. People are quick to say, “She’s so nice” or “I really like her”. I imagine that’s how people felt when they encountered Jesus. Just as my friend has a special ability to extend her heart to people, Jesus perfectly and consistently extended love to everyone He came in contact with, regardless of how they felt about Him.

How have you experienced the love of Christ through others?

Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, who rely on horses, who trust in the multitude of their chariots and in the great strength of their horsemen, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel, or seek help from the LORD. (NIV) Isaiah 31:1

Israel, under the leadership of King Hezekiah, once again ignored warnings from God and from history, and went their own way. In terms of protection, the people chose to place greater value on Egypt’s alliance and army than on the living God. They did not look to God for protection nor seek His help.

Today we wouldn’t rely on horses or chariots for security, but we still have the tendency to rely on things seen, rather than on the living God!

What are your horses and chariots? What are you depending upon instead of trusting God? Money? A secluded neighborhood? Your income level? Your good health? A pollyanna attitude? Your intelligence? Your job security? Your retirement fund? Your spouse? Your inheritance?

No matter what you’re depending upon, if it is anything other than God, expect to be disappointed! There is nothing in life that is dependable and unchanging in nature other than God Himself!

What do you depend on?

Written by Marji “Mike” Kruger