Read: Matthew 5:21-26
Whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. --- Matthew 5:22
The Bible In One Year:
Numbers 7-9
Proverbs 21:1-10
Several years ago while having lunch with a friend, a white man called me "boy." Shock gave way to anger and hurt. My friend even shed tears. Why? The term boy was an insulting label used of black men in the US during slavery, an attempt to steal their identity by demoting them to less than men. As that ugly word recklessly barreled its way through my soul, I wanted to respond with an equally unkind name. But some ancient words from our Master about murder and anger changed my mind.
As Jesus was teaching His followers, He quoted the sixth commandment --- "You shall not murder" --- and the penalty for breaking it [Matt. 5:21]. Then He gave a fuller interpretation. Taking someone's life was not limited to physical murder; you could show contempt for someone through name-calling and be just as guilty. In Jewish culture, to call someone "Raca" or "Fool" [v.22] was the equivalent of calling someone empty-headed or an idiot. It was used to demean and demote another. What makes name-calling so damaging is that it insults the God who created that person in His image!
Jesus taught His followers that the weight of our neighbor's glory is a burden we carry daily. If we follow His teaching, we won't be guilty of identity theft. --- Marvin Williams
Teach me to love, this is my prayer ---
May the compassion of Thy heart I share;
Ready a cup of water to give,
May I unselfishly for others live. --- Peterson
TO INSULT THE CREATURE IS TO INSULT THE CREATOR.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Friday, February 27, 2009
Buy Without Money
Read: Isaiah 55:1-5
Incline your ear, and come to Me. Hear, and your soul shall live. --- Isaiah 55:3
The Bible In One Year:
Numbers 4-6
Proverbs 20:21-30
A story was told of a wealthy man who felt his son needed to learn gratefulness. So he sent him to stay with a poor farmer's family. After one month, the son returned. The father asked, "Now don't you appreciate what we have?" The boy thought for a moment and said, "The family I stayed with is better off. With what they've planted, they enjoy meals together. And they always seem to have time for one another."
This story reminds us that money can't buy everything. Even though our bodies can live on what money can buy, money can't keep our souls from withering away. In Isaiah 55, we read: "Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat" [v.1].
Is it possible to buy what truly satisfies without money? Yes, the prophet Isaiah is pointing to the grace of God. This gift is so invaluable that no price tag is adequate. And the one who offers it --- Jesus Christ --- has paid the full price with His death. When we acknowledge our thirst for God, ask forgiveness for our sins, and accept the finished work of Christ on the cross, we will find spiritual food that satisfies and our soul will live forever!
He's calling, "Come to Me" [Isa. 55:3]. --- Albert Lee
I came to Jesus, and I drank
Of that life-giving stream;
My thirst was quenched, my soul revived,
And now I live in Him. --- Bonar
ONLY JESUS, THE LIVING WATER, SATISFIES THE THIRSTY SOUL.
Incline your ear, and come to Me. Hear, and your soul shall live. --- Isaiah 55:3
The Bible In One Year:
Numbers 4-6
Proverbs 20:21-30
A story was told of a wealthy man who felt his son needed to learn gratefulness. So he sent him to stay with a poor farmer's family. After one month, the son returned. The father asked, "Now don't you appreciate what we have?" The boy thought for a moment and said, "The family I stayed with is better off. With what they've planted, they enjoy meals together. And they always seem to have time for one another."
This story reminds us that money can't buy everything. Even though our bodies can live on what money can buy, money can't keep our souls from withering away. In Isaiah 55, we read: "Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat" [v.1].
Is it possible to buy what truly satisfies without money? Yes, the prophet Isaiah is pointing to the grace of God. This gift is so invaluable that no price tag is adequate. And the one who offers it --- Jesus Christ --- has paid the full price with His death. When we acknowledge our thirst for God, ask forgiveness for our sins, and accept the finished work of Christ on the cross, we will find spiritual food that satisfies and our soul will live forever!
He's calling, "Come to Me" [Isa. 55:3]. --- Albert Lee
I came to Jesus, and I drank
Of that life-giving stream;
My thirst was quenched, my soul revived,
And now I live in Him. --- Bonar
ONLY JESUS, THE LIVING WATER, SATISFIES THE THIRSTY SOUL.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Making Restitution
Read: Luke 19:1-9
He shall make restitution for his trespass in full. --- Numbers 5:7
The Bible In One Year:
Numbers 1-3
Proverbs 20:11-20
During the compilation of the Oxford English Dictionary, managing editor James Murray received thousands of definitions from Dr. William Chester Minor. They were always sent in by mail and never brought in personally. Murray was curious about this brilliant man, so he went to visit him. He was shocked to find that Minor was incarcerated in an asylum for the criminally insane.
Years earlier, while in a delusional state, Minor had shot an innocent man whom he thought had been tormenting him. Later he was filled with remorse and began sending money to support the widow and her family. Minor was imprisoned for the rest of his life but he found practical ways of easing the pain of his victims and contributing to society through his work on the dictionary.
When the dishonest tax collector Zacchaeus heard Jesus' message of grace, he chose to return more than what he had extorted from others: "Look, Lord, ... if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusations, I restore fourfold" [Luke 19:8]. The gospel of grace stirred Zacchaeus to help those he had harmed.
Have you wronged someone? What steps will you take to help make things right? --- Dennis Fisher
Forgive me, Lord, for all my sins,
The many wrongs that I have done,
And show me how to make things right
Before the setting of the sun. --- Bosch
MAKING RESTITUTION REVEALS GENUINE REPENTANCE.
He shall make restitution for his trespass in full. --- Numbers 5:7
The Bible In One Year:
Numbers 1-3
Proverbs 20:11-20
During the compilation of the Oxford English Dictionary, managing editor James Murray received thousands of definitions from Dr. William Chester Minor. They were always sent in by mail and never brought in personally. Murray was curious about this brilliant man, so he went to visit him. He was shocked to find that Minor was incarcerated in an asylum for the criminally insane.
Years earlier, while in a delusional state, Minor had shot an innocent man whom he thought had been tormenting him. Later he was filled with remorse and began sending money to support the widow and her family. Minor was imprisoned for the rest of his life but he found practical ways of easing the pain of his victims and contributing to society through his work on the dictionary.
When the dishonest tax collector Zacchaeus heard Jesus' message of grace, he chose to return more than what he had extorted from others: "Look, Lord, ... if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusations, I restore fourfold" [Luke 19:8]. The gospel of grace stirred Zacchaeus to help those he had harmed.
Have you wronged someone? What steps will you take to help make things right? --- Dennis Fisher
Forgive me, Lord, for all my sins,
The many wrongs that I have done,
And show me how to make things right
Before the setting of the sun. --- Bosch
MAKING RESTITUTION REVEALS GENUINE REPENTANCE.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
The Kindness Of Strangers
Read: Philippians 2:1-8
Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels. --- Hebrews 13:2
The Bible In One Year:
Leviticus 25-27
Proverbs 20:1-10
While I was taking a flight to Surabaya, Indonesia, for a Bible conference, the flight attendants brought meal service. I had just eaten in the Singapore airport, so I declined, asking only for a soft drink. The Indonesian man next to me, a stranger was visibly concerned.
The man asked if I felt okay, and I assured him I was fine. He then asked if perhaps the meal didn't appeal to me. I responded that I just wasn't hungry. He then surprised me by offering his own meal to me, thinking that if I tried it I might actually enjoy it. It was done in such a gentle and genuine way that it was obviously an expression of his concern for my welfare.
In a self-centered world where we are conditioned to look out for our own interests above and beyond all else, such kindness was unexpected. The man's simple gesture showed a different kind of heart and a different set of values. As followers of Christ, we are called to model a similar counter-cultural attitude toward life [Phil. 2:1-8].
In Hebrews 13:2 we read, "Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels." What better way to represent Christ than with kindness --- even to strangers. --- Bill Crowder
Try to bring God's love and kindness
Into someone's life today,
Even just the gift of caring
Will the Savior's love display. --- Hess
KINDNESS IS ONE GIFT ANYONE CAN GIVE.
Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels. --- Hebrews 13:2
The Bible In One Year:
Leviticus 25-27
Proverbs 20:1-10
While I was taking a flight to Surabaya, Indonesia, for a Bible conference, the flight attendants brought meal service. I had just eaten in the Singapore airport, so I declined, asking only for a soft drink. The Indonesian man next to me, a stranger was visibly concerned.
The man asked if I felt okay, and I assured him I was fine. He then asked if perhaps the meal didn't appeal to me. I responded that I just wasn't hungry. He then surprised me by offering his own meal to me, thinking that if I tried it I might actually enjoy it. It was done in such a gentle and genuine way that it was obviously an expression of his concern for my welfare.
In a self-centered world where we are conditioned to look out for our own interests above and beyond all else, such kindness was unexpected. The man's simple gesture showed a different kind of heart and a different set of values. As followers of Christ, we are called to model a similar counter-cultural attitude toward life [Phil. 2:1-8].
In Hebrews 13:2 we read, "Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels." What better way to represent Christ than with kindness --- even to strangers. --- Bill Crowder
Try to bring God's love and kindness
Into someone's life today,
Even just the gift of caring
Will the Savior's love display. --- Hess
KINDNESS IS ONE GIFT ANYONE CAN GIVE.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
God Is Good
Read: Genesis 3:1-7
Good and upright is the LORD, therefore He teaches sinners in the way. --- Psalm 25:8
The Bible In One Year:
Psalms 21-23
The phrase "God is good, all the time; all the time, God is good" is repeated by many Christians almost like a mantra. I often wonder if they really believe it or even think about what they're saying. I sometimes doubt God's goodness --- especially when it feels as though God isn't hearing or answering my prayers. I assume that if others were more honest, they'd admit they feel the same way.
The serpent planted a doubt in Eve's mind about whether God had been good to her and had her best interest at heart. He said, "God knows that in the day you eat of [the fruit] your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil" [Gen. 3:5]. Satan tried to convince her to believe that God was holding out on her and not giving her something really good --- more knowledge.
Do you feel as though God isn't answering your prayers? Are you tempted to doubt His goodness? When I feel this way, I have to remind myself that my circumstances aren't the barometer of God's love and goodness --- the cross is. He has shown how good He is by giving His only Son Jesus to die for our sin. We can't rely on our feelings. But day by day as we choose to trust Him more, we learn to believe with confidence that God is good --- all the time. --- Anne Cetas
When you are tempted to deny
God's goodness, love, and grace,
Look to the cross of Calvary,
Where Jesus took your place. --- Sper
CIRCUMSTANCES AREN'T THE BAROMETER OF GOD'S LOVE AND GOODNESS --- THE CROSS IS.
Good and upright is the LORD, therefore He teaches sinners in the way. --- Psalm 25:8
The Bible In One Year:
Psalms 21-23
The phrase "God is good, all the time; all the time, God is good" is repeated by many Christians almost like a mantra. I often wonder if they really believe it or even think about what they're saying. I sometimes doubt God's goodness --- especially when it feels as though God isn't hearing or answering my prayers. I assume that if others were more honest, they'd admit they feel the same way.
The serpent planted a doubt in Eve's mind about whether God had been good to her and had her best interest at heart. He said, "God knows that in the day you eat of [the fruit] your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil" [Gen. 3:5]. Satan tried to convince her to believe that God was holding out on her and not giving her something really good --- more knowledge.
Do you feel as though God isn't answering your prayers? Are you tempted to doubt His goodness? When I feel this way, I have to remind myself that my circumstances aren't the barometer of God's love and goodness --- the cross is. He has shown how good He is by giving His only Son Jesus to die for our sin. We can't rely on our feelings. But day by day as we choose to trust Him more, we learn to believe with confidence that God is good --- all the time. --- Anne Cetas
When you are tempted to deny
God's goodness, love, and grace,
Look to the cross of Calvary,
Where Jesus took your place. --- Sper
CIRCUMSTANCES AREN'T THE BAROMETER OF GOD'S LOVE AND GOODNESS --- THE CROSS IS.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Posies
Read: 2 Cor. 2:14-17
We are to God the fragrance of Christ. --- 2 Corinthians 2:15
The Bible In One Year:
Mark 12-16
Proverbs 19:16-29
One morning I was looking at a bouquet of flowers in a vase on an old carpenter's bench in front of our "window on the world." I realized the bouquet was spent; its leaves had wilted and the blossoms were falling.
The same morning I also read George Herbert and quite by "accident" came across his poem titled "Life." In it Herbert talks about a "posy" [a bouquet of flowers] he gathered so that he could smell the fragrance. But, as he put it, "Time did beckon to the flowers, and they by noon most cunningly did steal away, and withered in my hand."
The loss of his flowers caused him at first to see "time's gentle admonition." Herbert wrote that it "[made] my mind to smell my fatal day; yet sugaring the suspicion." Yet even as the wilted flowers reminded him of his own death, he found in the metaphor something that sweetened the thought. Herbert concluded:
Farewell dear flowers, sweetly your time ye spent,
Fit, while ye lived, for smell or ornament,
And after death for cures.
I follow straight without complaints or grief,
Since if my scent be good, I care not, if
It be as short as yours.
What wisdom in this poem! Our time, however short, may be spent "sweetly" --- a sweet fragrance of Christ to others [2 Cor. 2:14-16]. Should not this be our prayer each day as we arise? --- David Roper
A GODLY LIFE IS A FRAGRANCE THAT DRAWS OTHERS TO CHRIST.
We are to God the fragrance of Christ. --- 2 Corinthians 2:15
The Bible In One Year:
Mark 12-16
Proverbs 19:16-29
One morning I was looking at a bouquet of flowers in a vase on an old carpenter's bench in front of our "window on the world." I realized the bouquet was spent; its leaves had wilted and the blossoms were falling.
The same morning I also read George Herbert and quite by "accident" came across his poem titled "Life." In it Herbert talks about a "posy" [a bouquet of flowers] he gathered so that he could smell the fragrance. But, as he put it, "Time did beckon to the flowers, and they by noon most cunningly did steal away, and withered in my hand."
The loss of his flowers caused him at first to see "time's gentle admonition." Herbert wrote that it "[made] my mind to smell my fatal day; yet sugaring the suspicion." Yet even as the wilted flowers reminded him of his own death, he found in the metaphor something that sweetened the thought. Herbert concluded:
Farewell dear flowers, sweetly your time ye spent,
Fit, while ye lived, for smell or ornament,
And after death for cures.
I follow straight without complaints or grief,
Since if my scent be good, I care not, if
It be as short as yours.
What wisdom in this poem! Our time, however short, may be spent "sweetly" --- a sweet fragrance of Christ to others [2 Cor. 2:14-16]. Should not this be our prayer each day as we arise? --- David Roper
A GODLY LIFE IS A FRAGRANCE THAT DRAWS OTHERS TO CHRIST.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Carried In His Strong Arms
Read: Isaiah 46:1-11
I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you. --- Isaiah 46:4
The Bible In One Year:
Leviticus 22-24
Proverbs 19:1-15
Missionary couple Ray and Sophie de le Haye served heroically in West Africa for more than 40 years. As she grew older, Sophie suffered from the loss of all motor control of her body. That once-strong servant of Christ, who had carried on a ministry of unimaginable stress, was suddenly reduced to helplessness, unable to button her clothes or lift a cup of water to her lips. But she refused to become bitter or self-pitying. In her moments of utter weakness, she would quietly remind herself, "For this you have Jesus."
Many centuries ago our heavenly Father gave a reassuring message to a burdened prophet of Israel --- a message that we need today: "Listen to Me, O house of Jacob, ... who have been upheld by Me from birth, who have been carried from the womb: Even to your old age, I am He, and even to gray hairs I will carry you! I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you" [Isa. 46:3-4].
What an encouraging picture of divine grace! It calls to mind the Good Shepherd bearing a helpless lamb. Whether young or old, we can learn to let God carry us. Weak and burdened, we can lean on His everlasting arms and remind ourselves, "For this I have Jesus." --- Vernon Grounds
The King of love my Shepherd is,
Whose goodness faileth never;
I nothing lack if I am His,
And He is mine forever. --- Baker
YOU CAN REST IN THE ARMS OF JESUS --- HE'LL NEVER LET YOU DOWN.
I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you. --- Isaiah 46:4
The Bible In One Year:
Leviticus 22-24
Proverbs 19:1-15
Missionary couple Ray and Sophie de le Haye served heroically in West Africa for more than 40 years. As she grew older, Sophie suffered from the loss of all motor control of her body. That once-strong servant of Christ, who had carried on a ministry of unimaginable stress, was suddenly reduced to helplessness, unable to button her clothes or lift a cup of water to her lips. But she refused to become bitter or self-pitying. In her moments of utter weakness, she would quietly remind herself, "For this you have Jesus."
Many centuries ago our heavenly Father gave a reassuring message to a burdened prophet of Israel --- a message that we need today: "Listen to Me, O house of Jacob, ... who have been upheld by Me from birth, who have been carried from the womb: Even to your old age, I am He, and even to gray hairs I will carry you! I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you" [Isa. 46:3-4].
What an encouraging picture of divine grace! It calls to mind the Good Shepherd bearing a helpless lamb. Whether young or old, we can learn to let God carry us. Weak and burdened, we can lean on His everlasting arms and remind ourselves, "For this I have Jesus." --- Vernon Grounds
The King of love my Shepherd is,
Whose goodness faileth never;
I nothing lack if I am His,
And He is mine forever. --- Baker
YOU CAN REST IN THE ARMS OF JESUS --- HE'LL NEVER LET YOU DOWN.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Between The Eternities
Read: Hebrews 11:8-16
These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them. --- Hebrews 11:13
The Bible In One Year:
Leviticus 19-21
Proverbs 18:13-24
In the television western Broken Trail, cowboy Prentice Ritter must provide words of comfort at the funeral of a friend. Uncomfortable in the situation, he quietly says, "we are all travelers in this world. From the sweet grass to the packing house, birth till death, we travel between the eternities."
In a sense, he was right. We are travelers --- pilgrims --- in a world that offers no lasting peace or rest. And while there is only one eternity, we travel between eternity past and eternity future, waiting for promises of a home and a hope that will last forever --- promises yet to be fulfilled.
In those times of struggle and despair when our pilgrimage of life is difficult, it it helpful to remember that though we are pilgrims who travel between the eternities, we have a Savior who is the Lord and Master of eternity. He has offered us the promise of life with Him forever and has secured that promise with His own sacrifice. This was the promise spoken of by the writer of Hebrews 11:13.
We are locked into the moments and hours and days of life, but we look ahead by faith in Christ. One day, we will experience the promises of eternity when faith will become sight as we see Him. That hope is what lifts us beyond life between the eternities to a joy that is eternal. --- Bill Crowder
Guide me, O Thou great Jehovah,
Pilgrim through this barren land;
I am weak, but Thou art mighty,
Hold me with Thy powerful hand. --- Williams
FOR TIME AND ETERNITY, JESUS IS ALL WE NEED.
These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them. --- Hebrews 11:13
The Bible In One Year:
Leviticus 19-21
Proverbs 18:13-24
In the television western Broken Trail, cowboy Prentice Ritter must provide words of comfort at the funeral of a friend. Uncomfortable in the situation, he quietly says, "we are all travelers in this world. From the sweet grass to the packing house, birth till death, we travel between the eternities."
In a sense, he was right. We are travelers --- pilgrims --- in a world that offers no lasting peace or rest. And while there is only one eternity, we travel between eternity past and eternity future, waiting for promises of a home and a hope that will last forever --- promises yet to be fulfilled.
In those times of struggle and despair when our pilgrimage of life is difficult, it it helpful to remember that though we are pilgrims who travel between the eternities, we have a Savior who is the Lord and Master of eternity. He has offered us the promise of life with Him forever and has secured that promise with His own sacrifice. This was the promise spoken of by the writer of Hebrews 11:13.
We are locked into the moments and hours and days of life, but we look ahead by faith in Christ. One day, we will experience the promises of eternity when faith will become sight as we see Him. That hope is what lifts us beyond life between the eternities to a joy that is eternal. --- Bill Crowder
Guide me, O Thou great Jehovah,
Pilgrim through this barren land;
I am weak, but Thou art mighty,
Hold me with Thy powerful hand. --- Williams
FOR TIME AND ETERNITY, JESUS IS ALL WE NEED.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Threats And Warnings
Read: Deut. 4:32-40
Keep His statutes and His commandments ... that it may go well with you and with your children after you. --- Deuteronomy 4:40
The Bible In One Year:
Leviticus 16-18
Proverbs 18:1-12
God never threatens; the devil never warns," declared Oswald Chambers. We sometimes use the words threat and warning interchangeably, but Chambers saw a principle that suggests a distinction. Threats are used to get people to do what is in our best interest. Warnings are issued to get people to do what is in their best interest. In other words, threats seek to preserve power whereas warnings serve to protect people from danger.
Satan wants us to think of God's loving warnings as mean-spirited threats, but he is wrong. According to Chambers, "A warning is a great arresting statement of God's, inspired by His love and patience." The evidence of this is found in the many commands tha are coupled with phrases like "that it may go well with you" [Deut. 4:40; 12:28].
In loving relationships, people warn one another of the inevitable consequences of foolish behavior. In unhealthy relationships, people threaten one another with punishment if they fail to live up to unreasonable demands.
As we interact with others, it's good to consider the nature of our counsel and commands. Do we use ultimatums to preserve our own well-being? Or do we lovingly warn others to keep them from harm? --- Julie Ackerman Link
The devil is clever, deceiving us all,
He cunningly causes the strongest to fall;
But we his sly methods are sure to discern
By making God's warnings our daily concern. --- DJD
WARNINGS ARE AN EXPRESSION OF LOVE; THREATS ARE AN EXPRESSION OF CONTROL.
Keep His statutes and His commandments ... that it may go well with you and with your children after you. --- Deuteronomy 4:40
The Bible In One Year:
Leviticus 16-18
Proverbs 18:1-12
God never threatens; the devil never warns," declared Oswald Chambers. We sometimes use the words threat and warning interchangeably, but Chambers saw a principle that suggests a distinction. Threats are used to get people to do what is in our best interest. Warnings are issued to get people to do what is in their best interest. In other words, threats seek to preserve power whereas warnings serve to protect people from danger.
Satan wants us to think of God's loving warnings as mean-spirited threats, but he is wrong. According to Chambers, "A warning is a great arresting statement of God's, inspired by His love and patience." The evidence of this is found in the many commands tha are coupled with phrases like "that it may go well with you" [Deut. 4:40; 12:28].
In loving relationships, people warn one another of the inevitable consequences of foolish behavior. In unhealthy relationships, people threaten one another with punishment if they fail to live up to unreasonable demands.
As we interact with others, it's good to consider the nature of our counsel and commands. Do we use ultimatums to preserve our own well-being? Or do we lovingly warn others to keep them from harm? --- Julie Ackerman Link
The devil is clever, deceiving us all,
He cunningly causes the strongest to fall;
But we his sly methods are sure to discern
By making God's warnings our daily concern. --- DJD
WARNINGS ARE AN EXPRESSION OF LOVE; THREATS ARE AN EXPRESSION OF CONTROL.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Courage: Live It
Read: 2 Timothy 1:6-12
God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power. --- 2 Timothy 1:7
The Bible In One Year:
Leviticus 13-15
Proverbs 17:15-28
Courage is one thing you need if you want to get God's work done. That's what I said when I spoke in a church service in Jamaica. I told the people that according to 2 Timothy 1:7, God did not give us a spirit of timidity but a spirit of power.
A couple of days later, I stood 35 feet above the water on the edge of the Caribbean Sea. Should I jump off the precipice into the waters below? The teenagers who were with me said, "Yes!" Most of them had already done so. One told me, "Mr. Branon, if you don't jump, you can't preach about courage again." I knew that sometimes the courageous thing is not to go along with the crowd. But this time, I jumped.
Courage makes a good theory, but sometimes practicing it takes help. As Christians, there are many opportunities to step out of our comfort zone to serve God. When we don't have courage, we need to be reminded of God's promise in 2 Timothy, and we need others' encouragement to take the leap.
Perhaps you need someone to tell you: Volunteer for that job at church --- they need you. Have lunch with your co-worker to discuss matters of faith. Or join that small group.
Be courageous for Jesus. Sometimes it takes just that first step of courage to server our majestic God. --- Dave Branon
Lord, give me the courage to rise above fear,
Even of danger, because You are near;
I would be faithful to face any foe
While I am walking with You here below. --- Hess
COURAGE WILL FOLLOW WHEN FAITH TAKES THE LEAD.
God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power. --- 2 Timothy 1:7
The Bible In One Year:
Leviticus 13-15
Proverbs 17:15-28
Courage is one thing you need if you want to get God's work done. That's what I said when I spoke in a church service in Jamaica. I told the people that according to 2 Timothy 1:7, God did not give us a spirit of timidity but a spirit of power.
A couple of days later, I stood 35 feet above the water on the edge of the Caribbean Sea. Should I jump off the precipice into the waters below? The teenagers who were with me said, "Yes!" Most of them had already done so. One told me, "Mr. Branon, if you don't jump, you can't preach about courage again." I knew that sometimes the courageous thing is not to go along with the crowd. But this time, I jumped.
Courage makes a good theory, but sometimes practicing it takes help. As Christians, there are many opportunities to step out of our comfort zone to serve God. When we don't have courage, we need to be reminded of God's promise in 2 Timothy, and we need others' encouragement to take the leap.
Perhaps you need someone to tell you: Volunteer for that job at church --- they need you. Have lunch with your co-worker to discuss matters of faith. Or join that small group.
Be courageous for Jesus. Sometimes it takes just that first step of courage to server our majestic God. --- Dave Branon
Lord, give me the courage to rise above fear,
Even of danger, because You are near;
I would be faithful to face any foe
While I am walking with You here below. --- Hess
COURAGE WILL FOLLOW WHEN FAITH TAKES THE LEAD.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Lincoln's Testimony
Read: Luke 24:13-27
Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory? --- Luke 24:26
The Bible In One Year:
Leviticus 10-12
Proverbs 17:1-14
Abraham Lincoln was a backwoods-man who rose from humble beginnings to the heights of political power. During the dark days of the US Civil War, he served as a compassionate and resolute president. Depression and mental pain were his frequent companions. Yet the terrible emotional suffering he endured drove him to receive Jesus Christ by faith.
Lincoln told a crowd in his hometown in Illinois: "When I left Springfield, I asked the people to pray for me; I was not a Christian. When I buried my son, the severest trial of my life, I was not a Christian. But when I saw the graves of thousands of our soldiers, I then and there consecrated myself to Christ. I do love Jesus." Life's most painful tragedies can bring us to a deeper understanding of the Savior.
When two men walked the road to Emmaus, they were dumbfounded by the senseless murder of Jesus of Nazareth. Then a stranger joined them and gave scriptural insight about the suffering Messiah [Luke 24:26-27]. The stranger was Jesus Himself, and His ministry to them brought comfort.
Heartache has a way of pointing us to the Lord Jesus, who has shared in our sufferings and can bring meaning to seemingly senseless pain. --- Dennis Fisher
Though tragedy, heartache, and sorrow abound
And many a hardship in life will be found,
Just put all your trust in the Savior of light,
For He can bring hope in the darkest of night. --- D. De Haan
SUFFERING CAN TEACH US WHAT WE CAN'T LEARN IN ANY OTHER WAY.
Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory? --- Luke 24:26
The Bible In One Year:
Leviticus 10-12
Proverbs 17:1-14
Abraham Lincoln was a backwoods-man who rose from humble beginnings to the heights of political power. During the dark days of the US Civil War, he served as a compassionate and resolute president. Depression and mental pain were his frequent companions. Yet the terrible emotional suffering he endured drove him to receive Jesus Christ by faith.
Lincoln told a crowd in his hometown in Illinois: "When I left Springfield, I asked the people to pray for me; I was not a Christian. When I buried my son, the severest trial of my life, I was not a Christian. But when I saw the graves of thousands of our soldiers, I then and there consecrated myself to Christ. I do love Jesus." Life's most painful tragedies can bring us to a deeper understanding of the Savior.
When two men walked the road to Emmaus, they were dumbfounded by the senseless murder of Jesus of Nazareth. Then a stranger joined them and gave scriptural insight about the suffering Messiah [Luke 24:26-27]. The stranger was Jesus Himself, and His ministry to them brought comfort.
Heartache has a way of pointing us to the Lord Jesus, who has shared in our sufferings and can bring meaning to seemingly senseless pain. --- Dennis Fisher
Though tragedy, heartache, and sorrow abound
And many a hardship in life will be found,
Just put all your trust in the Savior of light,
For He can bring hope in the darkest of night. --- D. De Haan
SUFFERING CAN TEACH US WHAT WE CAN'T LEARN IN ANY OTHER WAY.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Join The Choir
Read: Psalm 89:1-8
I will sing of the mercies of the LORD forever; with my mouth will I make known Your faithfulness to all generations. --- Psalm 89:1
The Bible In One Year:
Psalms 18-20
I'll never forget the first time I saw the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir in concert. Nearly 200 people who had been redeemed out of the bowels of Brooklyn --- former crack addicts and prostitutes included --- sang their hearts out to God. Their faces glistened with tears running down their cheeks as they sang about God's work of redemption and forgiveness in their lives.
As I watched them, I felt somewhat shortchanged. Since I was saved when I was 6, I didn't feel the same depth of gratefulness that they displayed as they sang about the dramatic rescue God had provided for them. I was saved from things like biting my sister --- not exactly a significant testimony!
Then the Spirit reminded me that if He had not rescued me when I was young, who knows where my life would be today? What destructive paths would I have stumbled down if He had not been teaching me qualities like servanthood and self-control?
It became clear that I too am a great debtor to His grace. It's not only what we are saved "out of" but what we have been saved "from" that makes our hearts worthy of a spot in the chorus of the redeemed. Anyone who receives Jesus as Savior is welcome to join in the choir of praise: "I will sing of the mercies of the LORD forever" [Ps. 89:1]. --- Joe Stowell
He's been faithful, faithful to me;
Looking back, His love and mercy I see.
Though in my heart I've questioned, even failed to believe.
He's been faithful, faithful to me. --- Cymbala
PRAISE FLOWS FREELY FROM THE CHOIR OF THE REDEEMED.
I will sing of the mercies of the LORD forever; with my mouth will I make known Your faithfulness to all generations. --- Psalm 89:1
The Bible In One Year:
Psalms 18-20
I'll never forget the first time I saw the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir in concert. Nearly 200 people who had been redeemed out of the bowels of Brooklyn --- former crack addicts and prostitutes included --- sang their hearts out to God. Their faces glistened with tears running down their cheeks as they sang about God's work of redemption and forgiveness in their lives.
As I watched them, I felt somewhat shortchanged. Since I was saved when I was 6, I didn't feel the same depth of gratefulness that they displayed as they sang about the dramatic rescue God had provided for them. I was saved from things like biting my sister --- not exactly a significant testimony!
Then the Spirit reminded me that if He had not rescued me when I was young, who knows where my life would be today? What destructive paths would I have stumbled down if He had not been teaching me qualities like servanthood and self-control?
It became clear that I too am a great debtor to His grace. It's not only what we are saved "out of" but what we have been saved "from" that makes our hearts worthy of a spot in the chorus of the redeemed. Anyone who receives Jesus as Savior is welcome to join in the choir of praise: "I will sing of the mercies of the LORD forever" [Ps. 89:1]. --- Joe Stowell
He's been faithful, faithful to me;
Looking back, His love and mercy I see.
Though in my heart I've questioned, even failed to believe.
He's been faithful, faithful to me. --- Cymbala
PRAISE FLOWS FREELY FROM THE CHOIR OF THE REDEEMED.
Monday, February 16, 2009
It's A Fact
Read: Ephesians 4:1-6
[I pray] that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You. --- John 17:21
The Bible In One Year:
Mark 7-11
Proverbs 16:22-33
In doing research for his epic story Roots, Alex Haley embarked on the freighter African Star, sailing from Monrovia, Liberia, to Jacksonville, Florida. He did so to better understand the travails of his ancestors, who were brought in chains to America.
Haley descended into the ship's hold, stripped himself of protective clothing, and tried to sleep on some thick, rough-hewn bracing. After the third miserable night, he gave up and returned to his cabin. But he could now write with some small degree of empathy of the sufferings of his forebears.
It's one thing to say we believe that Jesus Christ, the second Person of the holy Trinity, identifies Himself with us. It's quite another to feel the blessed experience of our identification with Him. But we need not resort to extreme measures to grasp the truth of that oneness, for Christ Himself has endured the most extreme of all measures to identify with us. He went to the cross to reconcile a sinful human race to Himself [Rom. 5:10-11].
Reading Scripture, praying, and partaking of the Lord's Supper can help us gain at least some awareness of our identification with our Lord and Savior. But regardless of how we feel, our unity with Him is a fact that we must grasp in faith. --- Vernon Grounds
With longing all my heart is filled
That like Him I may be,
As on the wondrous thought I dwell,
That Christ liveth in me. --- Whittle
THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH --- NOT BY FEELING.
[I pray] that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You. --- John 17:21
The Bible In One Year:
Mark 7-11
Proverbs 16:22-33
In doing research for his epic story Roots, Alex Haley embarked on the freighter African Star, sailing from Monrovia, Liberia, to Jacksonville, Florida. He did so to better understand the travails of his ancestors, who were brought in chains to America.
Haley descended into the ship's hold, stripped himself of protective clothing, and tried to sleep on some thick, rough-hewn bracing. After the third miserable night, he gave up and returned to his cabin. But he could now write with some small degree of empathy of the sufferings of his forebears.
It's one thing to say we believe that Jesus Christ, the second Person of the holy Trinity, identifies Himself with us. It's quite another to feel the blessed experience of our identification with Him. But we need not resort to extreme measures to grasp the truth of that oneness, for Christ Himself has endured the most extreme of all measures to identify with us. He went to the cross to reconcile a sinful human race to Himself [Rom. 5:10-11].
Reading Scripture, praying, and partaking of the Lord's Supper can help us gain at least some awareness of our identification with our Lord and Savior. But regardless of how we feel, our unity with Him is a fact that we must grasp in faith. --- Vernon Grounds
With longing all my heart is filled
That like Him I may be,
As on the wondrous thought I dwell,
That Christ liveth in me. --- Whittle
THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH --- NOT BY FEELING.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Growing Through Grief
Read: Psalm 119:65-80
It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn Your statutes. --- Psalm 119:71
The Bible In One Year:
Leviticus 7-9
Proverbs 16:12-21
A woman who lost her husband of 40 years to a sudden heart attack said that the resulting grief had caused her to value love more. When she heard couples arguing, she sometimes spoke to them, saying, "You don't have time for this." She noted that the wasted moments in all our lives become more precious when they cannot be repeated.
Grief changes our perspective on life. It is trite but true that how we deal with sorrow will make us either bitter or better. In a remarkable statement, the psalmist actually thanked God for a difficult experience: "Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep Your word....It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn Your statutes" [Ps. 119:67,71].
We don't know the nature of the psalmist's affliction, but the positive outcome was a longing to obey the Lord and a hunger for His Word. Rarely can we use this truth to comfort those who hurt. Instead, it is the Lord's word to us from His compassionate heart and the touch from His healing hand.
When we grieve, it feels more like dying than growing. But as God wraps His loving arms around us, we have the assurance of His faithful care. --- David McCasland
I have been through the valley of weeping,
The valley of sorrow and pain;
But the God of all comfort was with me,
At hand to uphold and sustain. --- Anon.
PRECIOUS IN THE SIGHT OF THE LORD IS THE DEATH OF HIS SAINTS. --- Psalm 116:15
It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn Your statutes. --- Psalm 119:71
The Bible In One Year:
Leviticus 7-9
Proverbs 16:12-21
A woman who lost her husband of 40 years to a sudden heart attack said that the resulting grief had caused her to value love more. When she heard couples arguing, she sometimes spoke to them, saying, "You don't have time for this." She noted that the wasted moments in all our lives become more precious when they cannot be repeated.
Grief changes our perspective on life. It is trite but true that how we deal with sorrow will make us either bitter or better. In a remarkable statement, the psalmist actually thanked God for a difficult experience: "Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep Your word....It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn Your statutes" [Ps. 119:67,71].
We don't know the nature of the psalmist's affliction, but the positive outcome was a longing to obey the Lord and a hunger for His Word. Rarely can we use this truth to comfort those who hurt. Instead, it is the Lord's word to us from His compassionate heart and the touch from His healing hand.
When we grieve, it feels more like dying than growing. But as God wraps His loving arms around us, we have the assurance of His faithful care. --- David McCasland
I have been through the valley of weeping,
The valley of sorrow and pain;
But the God of all comfort was with me,
At hand to uphold and sustain. --- Anon.
PRECIOUS IN THE SIGHT OF THE LORD IS THE DEATH OF HIS SAINTS. --- Psalm 116:15
Saturday, February 14, 2009
The Best Companion
Read: 1 John 3:1-3
Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! --- 1 John 3:1
The Bible In One Year:
Leviticus 4-6
Proverbs 16:1-11
Some people looking for love have found help in an unusual place --- a taxicab in New York City. Taxicab driver Ahmed Ibrahim loves to set up blind dates for his single passengers. His matchmaking services have been featured on the Fox News Channel, The Wall Street Journal, and NBC's Today show. He doesn't assist just anybody though: they have to be serious about looking to settle down with someone. Ahmed loves to help romance blossom, and he even hands out roses on Valentine's Day.
The best place to find love is not in another person but in a book, the Bible. The Bible tells of God's great love for us. This is expressed in what my friend called the best love note she had ever received. It's found in John 3:16.
For God so LoVed the world,
That He gAve
His onLy
BegottEn
SoN
That whoever
Believes In Him
Should Not perish,
But have Everlasting life.
God loves us like no one else ever could. He showed that love when He sent His Son, Jesus, to be our Savior. He's also the best companion we'll ever have.
Open your Bible and learn more about Him. --- Anne Cetas
THE MORE YOU READ THE BIBLE, THE MORE YOU'LL LOVE ITS AUTHOR.
Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! --- 1 John 3:1
The Bible In One Year:
Leviticus 4-6
Proverbs 16:1-11
Some people looking for love have found help in an unusual place --- a taxicab in New York City. Taxicab driver Ahmed Ibrahim loves to set up blind dates for his single passengers. His matchmaking services have been featured on the Fox News Channel, The Wall Street Journal, and NBC's Today show. He doesn't assist just anybody though: they have to be serious about looking to settle down with someone. Ahmed loves to help romance blossom, and he even hands out roses on Valentine's Day.
The best place to find love is not in another person but in a book, the Bible. The Bible tells of God's great love for us. This is expressed in what my friend called the best love note she had ever received. It's found in John 3:16.
For God so LoVed the world,
That He gAve
His onLy
BegottEn
SoN
That whoever
Believes In Him
Should Not perish,
But have Everlasting life.
God loves us like no one else ever could. He showed that love when He sent His Son, Jesus, to be our Savior. He's also the best companion we'll ever have.
Open your Bible and learn more about Him. --- Anne Cetas
THE MORE YOU READ THE BIBLE, THE MORE YOU'LL LOVE ITS AUTHOR.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Fresh
Read: Psalm 51:8-13
Restore to me the joy of Your salvation. --- Psalm 51:12
The Bible In One Year:
Leviticus 1-3
Proverbs 15:22-33
What do you think of when you hear the word fresh? When the weather is nice, my husband and I enjoy going to the farmers market so we can buy produce that was picked that very morning. To me, fresh means just-harvested fruits and vegetables --- not stale or spoiled, but crisp and full of exquisite flavor.
I need that kind of freshness in my relationship with God. I can have too many stale attitudes --- impatience, criticism, and selfishness --- and not enough "longsuffering, kindness, ... gentleness," which are "the fruit of the Spirit" [Gal. 5:22-23].
As David repented of the sin in his life, he prayed, "Create in me a clean heart." Then he petitioned God: "Restore to me the joy of Your salvation" [Ps. 51:10-12]. Confession and repentance of our sin renews our fellowship with the Lord and allows us to joyously begin anew.
What better time than today to ask God to give you a new-ness of spirit, a freshness of faith, and a renewed appreciation of Him!
Lord, we want the fruit of our lives to always be "fresh and flourishing" [Ps. 92:14]. Help us to experience Your love, compassion, and faithfulness that are "new every morning" [Lam. 3:22-23]. Amen. --- Cindy Hess Kasper
The Master is seeking a harvest
In lives He's redeemed by His blood;
He seeks for the fruit of the Spirit,
And works that will glorify God. --- Lehman
TO BEAR GOOD FRUIT, CLEAR OUT THE WEEDS OF SIN.
Restore to me the joy of Your salvation. --- Psalm 51:12
The Bible In One Year:
Leviticus 1-3
Proverbs 15:22-33
What do you think of when you hear the word fresh? When the weather is nice, my husband and I enjoy going to the farmers market so we can buy produce that was picked that very morning. To me, fresh means just-harvested fruits and vegetables --- not stale or spoiled, but crisp and full of exquisite flavor.
I need that kind of freshness in my relationship with God. I can have too many stale attitudes --- impatience, criticism, and selfishness --- and not enough "longsuffering, kindness, ... gentleness," which are "the fruit of the Spirit" [Gal. 5:22-23].
As David repented of the sin in his life, he prayed, "Create in me a clean heart." Then he petitioned God: "Restore to me the joy of Your salvation" [Ps. 51:10-12]. Confession and repentance of our sin renews our fellowship with the Lord and allows us to joyously begin anew.
What better time than today to ask God to give you a new-ness of spirit, a freshness of faith, and a renewed appreciation of Him!
Lord, we want the fruit of our lives to always be "fresh and flourishing" [Ps. 92:14]. Help us to experience Your love, compassion, and faithfulness that are "new every morning" [Lam. 3:22-23]. Amen. --- Cindy Hess Kasper
The Master is seeking a harvest
In lives He's redeemed by His blood;
He seeks for the fruit of the Spirit,
And works that will glorify God. --- Lehman
TO BEAR GOOD FRUIT, CLEAR OUT THE WEEDS OF SIN.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Dwell With Understanding
Read: Ephesians 5:25-33
Husbands ... dwell with [your wives] with understanding .. that your prayers may not be hindered. --- 1 Peter 3:7
The Bible In One Year:
Exodus 39-40
Proverbs 15:12-21
My wife, Marlene, and I have been married for some 30 years, and have learned to appreciate each other and enjoy each other's unique qualities. But even after all these years she still surprises me from time to time. Recently, she reacted to a news report in a way that was opposite to what I expected. I told her, "Wow, that shocks me. I never would have thought you would land there on this issue." Her response? "Your job is to figure me out, and my job is to keep your guessing!" The responsibility to understand your spouse is what keeps married life interesting and stretching.
This is an ancient challenge. Peter wrote: "Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered" [1 Peter 3:7]. He saw it as a priority for the husband to become a student of his wife --- to know and understand her. Without that commitment to understanding his spouse, a husband is not capable of doing what comes next --- honoring her.
As a husband, if I am to love my wife as Christ loves the church [Eph. 5:25], it will begin with the intentional effort to grow in my understanding of her. --- Bill Crowder
The quality of a union
And a happy married life
Depend upon a loving husband
Who understands his wife. --- Hess
MARRIAGE THRIVES IN A CLIMATE OF LOVE AND RESPECT.
Husbands ... dwell with [your wives] with understanding .. that your prayers may not be hindered. --- 1 Peter 3:7
The Bible In One Year:
Exodus 39-40
Proverbs 15:12-21
My wife, Marlene, and I have been married for some 30 years, and have learned to appreciate each other and enjoy each other's unique qualities. But even after all these years she still surprises me from time to time. Recently, she reacted to a news report in a way that was opposite to what I expected. I told her, "Wow, that shocks me. I never would have thought you would land there on this issue." Her response? "Your job is to figure me out, and my job is to keep your guessing!" The responsibility to understand your spouse is what keeps married life interesting and stretching.
This is an ancient challenge. Peter wrote: "Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered" [1 Peter 3:7]. He saw it as a priority for the husband to become a student of his wife --- to know and understand her. Without that commitment to understanding his spouse, a husband is not capable of doing what comes next --- honoring her.
As a husband, if I am to love my wife as Christ loves the church [Eph. 5:25], it will begin with the intentional effort to grow in my understanding of her. --- Bill Crowder
The quality of a union
And a happy married life
Depend upon a loving husband
Who understands his wife. --- Hess
MARRIAGE THRIVES IN A CLIMATE OF LOVE AND RESPECT.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
The Wounds Of A Friend
Read: 2 Samuel 12:1-13
Faithful are the wounds of a friend. --- Proverbs 27:6
The Bible In One Year:
Exodus 37-38
Proverbs 15:1-11
Not everyone appreciates correction. But David did. He felt indebted to those who corrected him and realized how much he owed them. "Let the righteous strike me; it shall be a kindness. Let him rebuke me; it shall be as excellent oil; let my head not refuse it" [Ps. 141:5].
Correction is a kindness, David insists, a word that suggests an act of loyalty. Loyal friends will correct one another, even when it's painful and disruptive to relationships to do so. It's one of the ways we show love and help one another to grow stronger. As Proverbs 27:6 states: "Faithful are the wounds of a friend."
It takes grace to give godly correction; it takes greater grace to receive it. Unlike David, who accepted Nathan's correction [2 Sam. 12:13], we're inclined to refuse it. We resent the interference; we do not want to be found out. But if we accept the reproof, we will find that it does indeed become "excellent oil" on our heads, an anointing that makes our lives a sweet aroma wherever we go.
Growth in grace sometimes comes through the kind but unpleasant correction of a loyal friend. Do not refuse it, for "he who receives correction is prudent" [Prov. 15:5] and "wise" [9:8-9]. --- David Roper
When others give us compliments,
They are so easy to believe;
And though it's wise to take rebukes,
We find them harder to receive. --- Sper
CORRECTION FROM A LOYAL FRIEND CAN HELP US CHANGE FOR THE BETTER.
Faithful are the wounds of a friend. --- Proverbs 27:6
The Bible In One Year:
Exodus 37-38
Proverbs 15:1-11
Not everyone appreciates correction. But David did. He felt indebted to those who corrected him and realized how much he owed them. "Let the righteous strike me; it shall be a kindness. Let him rebuke me; it shall be as excellent oil; let my head not refuse it" [Ps. 141:5].
Correction is a kindness, David insists, a word that suggests an act of loyalty. Loyal friends will correct one another, even when it's painful and disruptive to relationships to do so. It's one of the ways we show love and help one another to grow stronger. As Proverbs 27:6 states: "Faithful are the wounds of a friend."
It takes grace to give godly correction; it takes greater grace to receive it. Unlike David, who accepted Nathan's correction [2 Sam. 12:13], we're inclined to refuse it. We resent the interference; we do not want to be found out. But if we accept the reproof, we will find that it does indeed become "excellent oil" on our heads, an anointing that makes our lives a sweet aroma wherever we go.
Growth in grace sometimes comes through the kind but unpleasant correction of a loyal friend. Do not refuse it, for "he who receives correction is prudent" [Prov. 15:5] and "wise" [9:8-9]. --- David Roper
When others give us compliments,
They are so easy to believe;
And though it's wise to take rebukes,
We find them harder to receive. --- Sper
CORRECTION FROM A LOYAL FRIEND CAN HELP US CHANGE FOR THE BETTER.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Ending Escalation
Read: Matthew 5:38-48
I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right check, turn the other to him also. --- Matthew 5:39
The Bible In One Year:
Psalms 15-17
The pastor of an inner-city church told his congregation: "Some people believe in 'an eye for an eye.' But in this neighborhood, it's two eyes for an eye. You can never even the score; you can only raise the stakes." The people nodded in solemn understanding of the reality they faced each day.
We've seen it happen on a school playground or in our own homes --- a child bumps into another during a game. The one who was bumped pushed back, and the shoving quickly grows into a fight. It's the process of retaliation and escalation in which each act of revenge exceeds the one that provoked it.
In Matthew 5, Jesus tackled a number of key relational issues by raising the standard to the one that pleases God: "You have heard that it was said .... But I tell you ..." [vv.38-39]. His words about turning the other cheek, going the second mile, and giving to those who ask may sound as radical and unrealistic to us as they did to those who first heard them [vv.38-42]. Are we willing to ponder and pray about His teaching? Are we ready to apply it when we are wronged at home, at work, or at school?
The cycle of escalation can be broken when a courageous, faith-filled person refuses to strike back. --- David McCasland
Lord, help me not retaliate
When someone wants to pick a fight;
Instead, give me the strength and faith
To show Your love and do what's right. --- Sper
TO RETURN GOOD FOR GOOD IS NATURAL; TO RETURN GOOD FOR EVIL IS SUPERNATURAL.
I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right check, turn the other to him also. --- Matthew 5:39
The Bible In One Year:
Psalms 15-17
The pastor of an inner-city church told his congregation: "Some people believe in 'an eye for an eye.' But in this neighborhood, it's two eyes for an eye. You can never even the score; you can only raise the stakes." The people nodded in solemn understanding of the reality they faced each day.
We've seen it happen on a school playground or in our own homes --- a child bumps into another during a game. The one who was bumped pushed back, and the shoving quickly grows into a fight. It's the process of retaliation and escalation in which each act of revenge exceeds the one that provoked it.
In Matthew 5, Jesus tackled a number of key relational issues by raising the standard to the one that pleases God: "You have heard that it was said .... But I tell you ..." [vv.38-39]. His words about turning the other cheek, going the second mile, and giving to those who ask may sound as radical and unrealistic to us as they did to those who first heard them [vv.38-42]. Are we willing to ponder and pray about His teaching? Are we ready to apply it when we are wronged at home, at work, or at school?
The cycle of escalation can be broken when a courageous, faith-filled person refuses to strike back. --- David McCasland
Lord, help me not retaliate
When someone wants to pick a fight;
Instead, give me the strength and faith
To show Your love and do what's right. --- Sper
TO RETURN GOOD FOR GOOD IS NATURAL; TO RETURN GOOD FOR EVIL IS SUPERNATURAL.
Monday, February 09, 2009
Life Beyond The Rituals
Read: Mark 1:16-20
They immediately left their nets and followed Him. --- Mark 1:18
The Bible In One Year:
Mark 1-6
Proverbs 14:25-35
A royal dignitary was greeting residents at a nursing home, when he was surprised by the unresponsiveness of one woman who just sat there and stared at him. Finally, the dignitary asked, "Do you know who I am?" --- to which the woman responded: "No. But that nurse over there helps us with those kinds of things."
Many people are confused about who Jesus is. But through His Word, God helps us know and enjoy the real Jesus. You will find Him wonderfully compelling. Tough fishermen, tax collectors, and zealots gave up everything to follow Him [Mark 1:18]. Women felt safe with Him. Crowds stood in awe of His power and authority.
Jesus is not content to be just our "fire insurance," saving us from eternal punishment in hell. Rather, He wants us to know Him for who He really is and desires to connect with us on a deeper, more personal level.
If you are weary of a religion that is about rules and regulations, then welcome to life beyond the rituals. Welcome to a relationship in which you can find companionship, comfort, wisdom, and reality. Welcome to the wonderful privilege of getting to know Jesus and the joy of following Him.
Get to know Him --- and you'll grow to love Him more and more each day. --- Joe Stowell
Which of all our friends, to save us,
Could or would have shed their blood?
But our Jesus died to have us
Reconciled in Him to God. --- Newton
TO KNOW JESUS IS TO LOVE JESUS.
They immediately left their nets and followed Him. --- Mark 1:18
The Bible In One Year:
Mark 1-6
Proverbs 14:25-35
A royal dignitary was greeting residents at a nursing home, when he was surprised by the unresponsiveness of one woman who just sat there and stared at him. Finally, the dignitary asked, "Do you know who I am?" --- to which the woman responded: "No. But that nurse over there helps us with those kinds of things."
Many people are confused about who Jesus is. But through His Word, God helps us know and enjoy the real Jesus. You will find Him wonderfully compelling. Tough fishermen, tax collectors, and zealots gave up everything to follow Him [Mark 1:18]. Women felt safe with Him. Crowds stood in awe of His power and authority.
Jesus is not content to be just our "fire insurance," saving us from eternal punishment in hell. Rather, He wants us to know Him for who He really is and desires to connect with us on a deeper, more personal level.
If you are weary of a religion that is about rules and regulations, then welcome to life beyond the rituals. Welcome to a relationship in which you can find companionship, comfort, wisdom, and reality. Welcome to the wonderful privilege of getting to know Jesus and the joy of following Him.
Get to know Him --- and you'll grow to love Him more and more each day. --- Joe Stowell
Which of all our friends, to save us,
Could or would have shed their blood?
But our Jesus died to have us
Reconciled in Him to God. --- Newton
TO KNOW JESUS IS TO LOVE JESUS.
Sunday, February 08, 2009
The Secret Garden
Read: Proverbs 4:20-27
Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life. --- Proverbs 4:23
The Bible In One Year:
Exodus 34-36
Proverbs 14:12-24
The Secret Garden, a novel by Frances Hodsgon Burnett, tells the story of Mary, a young girl who goes to live with her wealthy Uncle Archibald on his estate in England. Mary gets to know Dickon, a working-class boy who loves nature. The two children discover a fenced-in garden that Mary's uncle has locked up because it reminds him of his deceased wife. The garden looks dead because of neglect, but Dickon assures Mary that, with proper tending, it will recover with new life. With the children's help, "the secret garden" eventually bursts forth with colorful, fragrant blooms.
All of us have a secret garden of the heart. How we tend it will determine what speech and behavior it produces. Proverbs wisely admonishes us: "Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life" [Prov. 4:23]. The word keep means "to watch or guard with fidelity." Guarding what we take into our hearts and monitoring our response will determine what takes root there. As we remove the thorns of resentment, weeds of lust, and roots of bitterness, we can replace them with the fruit of the Spirit: "love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control" [Gal. 5:22-23].
Are you tending the garden of your heart? --- Dennis Fisher
Think not alone of outward form;
Its beauty will depart;
But cultivate the Spirit's fruits
That grow within the heart. --- D. De Haan
GOD WANTS YOU TO WATER THE SEED HE'S PLANTED IN YOUR HEART.
Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life. --- Proverbs 4:23
The Bible In One Year:
Exodus 34-36
Proverbs 14:12-24
The Secret Garden, a novel by Frances Hodsgon Burnett, tells the story of Mary, a young girl who goes to live with her wealthy Uncle Archibald on his estate in England. Mary gets to know Dickon, a working-class boy who loves nature. The two children discover a fenced-in garden that Mary's uncle has locked up because it reminds him of his deceased wife. The garden looks dead because of neglect, but Dickon assures Mary that, with proper tending, it will recover with new life. With the children's help, "the secret garden" eventually bursts forth with colorful, fragrant blooms.
All of us have a secret garden of the heart. How we tend it will determine what speech and behavior it produces. Proverbs wisely admonishes us: "Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life" [Prov. 4:23]. The word keep means "to watch or guard with fidelity." Guarding what we take into our hearts and monitoring our response will determine what takes root there. As we remove the thorns of resentment, weeds of lust, and roots of bitterness, we can replace them with the fruit of the Spirit: "love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control" [Gal. 5:22-23].
Are you tending the garden of your heart? --- Dennis Fisher
Think not alone of outward form;
Its beauty will depart;
But cultivate the Spirit's fruits
That grow within the heart. --- D. De Haan
GOD WANTS YOU TO WATER THE SEED HE'S PLANTED IN YOUR HEART.
Saturday, February 07, 2009
Calling Myself
Read: Psalm 26
Vindicate me, O LORD, for I have walked in my integrity. --- Psalm 26:1
The Bible In One Year:
Exodus 31-33
Proverbs 14:1-11
As I was moving my laptop, cell phone, and assorted books and papers from one room to another, the "regular" phone rang. I hurriedly set down my stuff and rushed to answer the call before the answering machine kicked it. "Hello," I said. No reply. I said hello again when I heard rustling, but still no response. So I hung up and went back to my stuff on the floor. When I picked up my cell phone I realized that I had accidentally speed-dialed my home phone number!
I laughed at myself, but then wondered: How often are my prayers more like calling myself than calling on God?
For example, when I am falsely accused, I plead with God for vindication. I want my name cleared and the guilty person held accountable for the harm done to my reputation. But then I get impatient with God and try to vindicate myself. I may as well be praying to myself.
Vindication does not come from self-defensive arguments; it stems from integrity [Ps. 26:1]. It requires that I allow God to examine my mind and heart [v.2] and that I walk in His truth [v.3]. This, of course, requires patient waiting [25:21].
When we call on God, He will help us --- but in His perfect time and in His perfect way. --- Julie Ackerman Link
I prayed: the answer long deferred
Brought not the thing I sought;
He answered better than my plea,
Yes, better than my thought. --- Anon.
THE PURPOSE OF PRAYER IS NOT TO GET WHAT WE WANT, BUT TO BECOME WHAT GOD WANTS.
Vindicate me, O LORD, for I have walked in my integrity. --- Psalm 26:1
The Bible In One Year:
Exodus 31-33
Proverbs 14:1-11
As I was moving my laptop, cell phone, and assorted books and papers from one room to another, the "regular" phone rang. I hurriedly set down my stuff and rushed to answer the call before the answering machine kicked it. "Hello," I said. No reply. I said hello again when I heard rustling, but still no response. So I hung up and went back to my stuff on the floor. When I picked up my cell phone I realized that I had accidentally speed-dialed my home phone number!
I laughed at myself, but then wondered: How often are my prayers more like calling myself than calling on God?
For example, when I am falsely accused, I plead with God for vindication. I want my name cleared and the guilty person held accountable for the harm done to my reputation. But then I get impatient with God and try to vindicate myself. I may as well be praying to myself.
Vindication does not come from self-defensive arguments; it stems from integrity [Ps. 26:1]. It requires that I allow God to examine my mind and heart [v.2] and that I walk in His truth [v.3]. This, of course, requires patient waiting [25:21].
When we call on God, He will help us --- but in His perfect time and in His perfect way. --- Julie Ackerman Link
I prayed: the answer long deferred
Brought not the thing I sought;
He answered better than my plea,
Yes, better than my thought. --- Anon.
THE PURPOSE OF PRAYER IS NOT TO GET WHAT WE WANT, BUT TO BECOME WHAT GOD WANTS.
Friday, February 06, 2009
Peripheral Vision
Read: Luke 9:51-62
Now it came to pass, when the time had come for [Jesus] to be received up, that He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem. --- Luke 9:51
The Bible In One Year:
Exodus 28-30
Proverbs 13:13-25
Peripheral vision enables us to be aware of our surroundings while remaining focused on our destination. What we see from "the corner of our eye" can be useful, unless it distracts us from our goal.
During the weeks leading to Easter, as we think about the cross, we may be struck by our Lord's purposeful approach to the city where He knew crucifixion and resurrection awaited Him. "Now it came to pass, when the time had come for Him to be received up, that He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem" [Luke 9:51]. From that moment on, Jesus' eyes were on the cross. Every obstacle to accomplishing His Father's will became part of His peripheral vision.
When a man professed an interest in following Him, Jesus told him: "No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God" [v.62]. The issue was probably not the man's family [v.61] but his focus. We can't move ahead while looking at what we've left behind.
Neither cries of "Hosanna" nor shouts of hatred could deter Jesus from His goal "to give His life a ransom for many" and to pay the price to set us free [Matt. 20:28].
Where is our focus today? --- David McCasland
Some people follow Jesus Christ,
Then obstacles get in their way;
But if they'll focus on the Lord
They won't be led astray. --- Sper
YOU DON'T NEED TO KNOW WHERE YOU'RE GOING IF YOU KNOW THE ONE WHO DOES.
Now it came to pass, when the time had come for [Jesus] to be received up, that He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem. --- Luke 9:51
The Bible In One Year:
Exodus 28-30
Proverbs 13:13-25
Peripheral vision enables us to be aware of our surroundings while remaining focused on our destination. What we see from "the corner of our eye" can be useful, unless it distracts us from our goal.
During the weeks leading to Easter, as we think about the cross, we may be struck by our Lord's purposeful approach to the city where He knew crucifixion and resurrection awaited Him. "Now it came to pass, when the time had come for Him to be received up, that He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem" [Luke 9:51]. From that moment on, Jesus' eyes were on the cross. Every obstacle to accomplishing His Father's will became part of His peripheral vision.
When a man professed an interest in following Him, Jesus told him: "No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God" [v.62]. The issue was probably not the man's family [v.61] but his focus. We can't move ahead while looking at what we've left behind.
Neither cries of "Hosanna" nor shouts of hatred could deter Jesus from His goal "to give His life a ransom for many" and to pay the price to set us free [Matt. 20:28].
Where is our focus today? --- David McCasland
Some people follow Jesus Christ,
Then obstacles get in their way;
But if they'll focus on the Lord
They won't be led astray. --- Sper
YOU DON'T NEED TO KNOW WHERE YOU'RE GOING IF YOU KNOW THE ONE WHO DOES.
Thursday, February 05, 2009
The Atrocious Mathematics Of The Gospel
Read: Matthew 18:23-35
The master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt. --- Matt. 18:27
The Bible In One Year:
Exodus 25-27
Proverbs 13:1-12
From childhood we are taught how to succeed in the world of ungrace. "You get what yo pay for." "The early bird gets the worm." "No pain, no gain." I know these rules well because I live by them. I work for what I earn; I like to win; I insist on my rights. I want people to get what they deserve.
But Jesus' parables about grace teach a radically different concept. In Matthew 18, no one could accumulate a debt as huge as the servant did [vv. 23-24]. This underscores the point: The debt is unforgivable. Nevertheless, the master let the servant off scot-free.
The more I reflect on Jesus' parables proclaiming grace, the more tempted I am to apply the word atrocious to describe the mathematics of the gospel. I believe Jesus gave us these stories to call us to step completely outside our tit-for-tat world of ungrace and enter into God's realm of infinite grace.
If I care to listen, I hear a loud whisper from the gospel that I did not get what I deserved. I deserved punishment and got forgiveness. I deserved wrath and got love. I deserved debtor's prison and got instead a clean credit history. I deserved stern lectures and crawl-on-your knees repentance. Instead, I got a banquet spread for me. --- Philip Yancey
His love has no limit, His grace has no measure,
His power has no boundary known unto men;
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus,
He giveth and giveth and giveth again. --- Flint
OUR SIN IS GREAT --- GOD'S GRACE IS GREATER.
The master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt. --- Matt. 18:27
The Bible In One Year:
Exodus 25-27
Proverbs 13:1-12
From childhood we are taught how to succeed in the world of ungrace. "You get what yo pay for." "The early bird gets the worm." "No pain, no gain." I know these rules well because I live by them. I work for what I earn; I like to win; I insist on my rights. I want people to get what they deserve.
But Jesus' parables about grace teach a radically different concept. In Matthew 18, no one could accumulate a debt as huge as the servant did [vv. 23-24]. This underscores the point: The debt is unforgivable. Nevertheless, the master let the servant off scot-free.
The more I reflect on Jesus' parables proclaiming grace, the more tempted I am to apply the word atrocious to describe the mathematics of the gospel. I believe Jesus gave us these stories to call us to step completely outside our tit-for-tat world of ungrace and enter into God's realm of infinite grace.
If I care to listen, I hear a loud whisper from the gospel that I did not get what I deserved. I deserved punishment and got forgiveness. I deserved wrath and got love. I deserved debtor's prison and got instead a clean credit history. I deserved stern lectures and crawl-on-your knees repentance. Instead, I got a banquet spread for me. --- Philip Yancey
His love has no limit, His grace has no measure,
His power has no boundary known unto men;
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus,
He giveth and giveth and giveth again. --- Flint
OUR SIN IS GREAT --- GOD'S GRACE IS GREATER.
Wednesday, February 04, 2009
Unlocking The Gate
Read: Numbers 5:5-8
When a man or woman commits any sin ... against the LORD, ... then he shall confess the sin which he has committed. --- Numbers 5:6-7
The Bible In One Year:
Exodus 22-24
Proverbs 12:15-28
Researchers at the University of Toronto reported in 2006 that people who are suffering from a guilty conscience experience "a powerful urge to wash themselves." To study this effect, the researchers asked volunteers to recall past sins. They were then given an opportunity to wash their hands as a symbol of cleansing their conscience. Those who had recalled their sins washed their hands at "twice the rate of study subjects who had not imagined past transgressions."
The Bible proposes the only effective way of dealing with sin --- confession. In the Old Testament, one of the ways the Israelites were supposed to cleanse themselves and maintain purity before God and in their community was by confessing their sins [Num. 5:5-8]. To confess means "to speak the same; to agree with; to admit the truth." When the people confessed to God, they were not telling Him anything He did not already know. But their confession was a demonstration of a change of heart. Refusing to confess their sins allowed sin to take deeper root within their lives and community.
Admitting our sin unlocks the gate so that we can have forgiveness, joy, and peace. If we confess our sins, God is faithful to forgive [1 John 1:9]. --- Marvin Williams
If we would know God's power to heal
And cleanse us from within,
We must acknowledge when we're wrong---
Confessing it as sin. --- Fasick
CONFESSION IS AGREEING WITH GOD ABOUT OUR SIN.
When a man or woman commits any sin ... against the LORD, ... then he shall confess the sin which he has committed. --- Numbers 5:6-7
The Bible In One Year:
Exodus 22-24
Proverbs 12:15-28
Researchers at the University of Toronto reported in 2006 that people who are suffering from a guilty conscience experience "a powerful urge to wash themselves." To study this effect, the researchers asked volunteers to recall past sins. They were then given an opportunity to wash their hands as a symbol of cleansing their conscience. Those who had recalled their sins washed their hands at "twice the rate of study subjects who had not imagined past transgressions."
The Bible proposes the only effective way of dealing with sin --- confession. In the Old Testament, one of the ways the Israelites were supposed to cleanse themselves and maintain purity before God and in their community was by confessing their sins [Num. 5:5-8]. To confess means "to speak the same; to agree with; to admit the truth." When the people confessed to God, they were not telling Him anything He did not already know. But their confession was a demonstration of a change of heart. Refusing to confess their sins allowed sin to take deeper root within their lives and community.
Admitting our sin unlocks the gate so that we can have forgiveness, joy, and peace. If we confess our sins, God is faithful to forgive [1 John 1:9]. --- Marvin Williams
If we would know God's power to heal
And cleanse us from within,
We must acknowledge when we're wrong---
Confessing it as sin. --- Fasick
CONFESSION IS AGREEING WITH GOD ABOUT OUR SIN.
Tuesday, February 03, 2009
It Looks Bad
Read: Psalm 12
I will set him in the safety for which he yearns. --- Psalm 12:5
The Bible In One Year:
Psalms 12-14
King David looked out at the world and was troubled. He didn't need the Internet to paint a bleak picture of society of The New York Times to remind him of crime and suffering. Even without a cable news show to give him all the bad news, he saw the evil.
He looked around and saw that "the godly man ceases." He noticed that "the faithful disappear." In his world, everyone spoke "idly" to his neighbor "with flattering lips and a double heart" [Ps. 12:1-2].
This description may sound like the theme of a TV show, but it was life circa 1,000 BC. While we may view society's evils as much worse than anything before, David reminds us that evil is not a 21st-century innovation.
But David's words also give us hope. Notice his reaction to the bad news he bore. In verse 1, he turned to God and cried, "Help!" Then he implored God with specific needs. The responses he got was positive. God promised that because He rules righteously, He would provide protection and safety [vv.5-7].
When you are discouraged by all the bad news, cry out for God's help. Then bask in the confidence of His assurance. Three thousand years after David, God is still, and always will be, in control. --- Dave Branon
When through life's darkened maze I go
And troubles overwhelm my soul,
Oh, grant me, Lord, the faith to know
That You are always in control. --- D. De Haan
WE HAVE NOTHING TO FEAR, BECAUSE GOD IS IN CONTROL.
I will set him in the safety for which he yearns. --- Psalm 12:5
The Bible In One Year:
Psalms 12-14
King David looked out at the world and was troubled. He didn't need the Internet to paint a bleak picture of society of The New York Times to remind him of crime and suffering. Even without a cable news show to give him all the bad news, he saw the evil.
He looked around and saw that "the godly man ceases." He noticed that "the faithful disappear." In his world, everyone spoke "idly" to his neighbor "with flattering lips and a double heart" [Ps. 12:1-2].
This description may sound like the theme of a TV show, but it was life circa 1,000 BC. While we may view society's evils as much worse than anything before, David reminds us that evil is not a 21st-century innovation.
But David's words also give us hope. Notice his reaction to the bad news he bore. In verse 1, he turned to God and cried, "Help!" Then he implored God with specific needs. The responses he got was positive. God promised that because He rules righteously, He would provide protection and safety [vv.5-7].
When you are discouraged by all the bad news, cry out for God's help. Then bask in the confidence of His assurance. Three thousand years after David, God is still, and always will be, in control. --- Dave Branon
When through life's darkened maze I go
And troubles overwhelm my soul,
Oh, grant me, Lord, the faith to know
That You are always in control. --- D. De Haan
WE HAVE NOTHING TO FEAR, BECAUSE GOD IS IN CONTROL.
Monday, February 02, 2009
Best In Show?
Read: Matthew 23:1-12
Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart. --- 1 Samuel 16:7
The Bible In One Year:
Matthew 23-28
Proverbs 12:1-14
I enjoy watching dog shows on TV. The dog owners are impeccably dressed and trot along with their pedigreed pooches as they show off their unique canine beauty. The dogs have been trained to stand confidently with chins lifted high, their shiny coats carefully brushed and styled. To me, they all look like winners.
But I wonder sometimes, when their audience is gone, what are these dogs really like? Do they ever relax and let their sleek fur get so matted they're mistaken for mutts? Does their doggie breath start smelling foul?
More important, what are we really like when nobody's watching? In Matthew 23:2-7, Jesus rebuked those who were interested in how they looked in public rather than how they were seen by God. He wants us to be obedient, faithful, and committed to Him --- even when nobody else sees. The Pharisees focused on the way they were perceived by other people. God's focus is on what we're like inside. His desire is for us to look like His Son.
We're not in a competition with other Christians. God will never ask us to compete for "best in show." He measures us by the perfect standard of His Son [Eph. 4:13]. And in love, He provides the righteousness we need so that we can be blameless before Him [Col. 1:21-23]. --- Cindy Hess Kasper
Just live your life before your Lord,
It matters not what others do ---
Your actions will be weighed by Him
Who metes out judgment just and true. --- Roe
LIVING FOR GOD'S APPROVAL IS BETTER THAN LIVING FOR MAN'S APPLAUSE.
Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart. --- 1 Samuel 16:7
The Bible In One Year:
Matthew 23-28
Proverbs 12:1-14
I enjoy watching dog shows on TV. The dog owners are impeccably dressed and trot along with their pedigreed pooches as they show off their unique canine beauty. The dogs have been trained to stand confidently with chins lifted high, their shiny coats carefully brushed and styled. To me, they all look like winners.
But I wonder sometimes, when their audience is gone, what are these dogs really like? Do they ever relax and let their sleek fur get so matted they're mistaken for mutts? Does their doggie breath start smelling foul?
More important, what are we really like when nobody's watching? In Matthew 23:2-7, Jesus rebuked those who were interested in how they looked in public rather than how they were seen by God. He wants us to be obedient, faithful, and committed to Him --- even when nobody else sees. The Pharisees focused on the way they were perceived by other people. God's focus is on what we're like inside. His desire is for us to look like His Son.
We're not in a competition with other Christians. God will never ask us to compete for "best in show." He measures us by the perfect standard of His Son [Eph. 4:13]. And in love, He provides the righteousness we need so that we can be blameless before Him [Col. 1:21-23]. --- Cindy Hess Kasper
Just live your life before your Lord,
It matters not what others do ---
Your actions will be weighed by Him
Who metes out judgment just and true. --- Roe
LIVING FOR GOD'S APPROVAL IS BETTER THAN LIVING FOR MAN'S APPLAUSE.
Sunday, February 01, 2009
Dare To Be Different
Read: 2 Cor. 5:12-21
Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ. --- 2 Corinthians 5:20
The Bible In One Year:
Exodus 19-21
Proverbs 11:22-31
Since my dad was a pastor, I got stuck with the label known to every pastor's kid: PK. But, much to the congregation's disappointment, the title didn't stop me from being my mischievous little self. I can't count the times I heard, "Little Joe, you're the pastor's son. You should be an example." But I didn't want to be an example! I was only 5 and wanted to have fun with my friends!
Most of us don't want to be different. Let's face it, being an example is often about being different. We want people to like us, and the safest way to do that is to blend in. But following Christ has never been about blending in. Following Him means to be like Him, to respond to life and relate to people as He did. It's a little risky and uncomfortable to be different. But that's what being an "ambassador for Christ" [2 Cor. 5:20] is all about --- bringing the wonderful difference of your King to bear on the territory you've been assigned: your home, your office, your friendships. Representing the King is not just our calling; it's a great honor.
In retrospect, I can see how my antics as a PK reflected poorly on my dad. It's motivating to remember that our non-Jesus attitudes and actions also reflect poorly on our King.
Make a difference by daring to be different! --- Joe Stowell
Show me the way, Lord, let my light shine
As an example of good to mankind;
Help them to see the patterns of Thee,
Shining in beauty, lived out in me. --- Neuer
DARE TO BE DIFFERENT --- FOR THE FATHER'S SAKE.
Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ. --- 2 Corinthians 5:20
The Bible In One Year:
Exodus 19-21
Proverbs 11:22-31
Since my dad was a pastor, I got stuck with the label known to every pastor's kid: PK. But, much to the congregation's disappointment, the title didn't stop me from being my mischievous little self. I can't count the times I heard, "Little Joe, you're the pastor's son. You should be an example." But I didn't want to be an example! I was only 5 and wanted to have fun with my friends!
Most of us don't want to be different. Let's face it, being an example is often about being different. We want people to like us, and the safest way to do that is to blend in. But following Christ has never been about blending in. Following Him means to be like Him, to respond to life and relate to people as He did. It's a little risky and uncomfortable to be different. But that's what being an "ambassador for Christ" [2 Cor. 5:20] is all about --- bringing the wonderful difference of your King to bear on the territory you've been assigned: your home, your office, your friendships. Representing the King is not just our calling; it's a great honor.
In retrospect, I can see how my antics as a PK reflected poorly on my dad. It's motivating to remember that our non-Jesus attitudes and actions also reflect poorly on our King.
Make a difference by daring to be different! --- Joe Stowell
Show me the way, Lord, let my light shine
As an example of good to mankind;
Help them to see the patterns of Thee,
Shining in beauty, lived out in me. --- Neuer
DARE TO BE DIFFERENT --- FOR THE FATHER'S SAKE.
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