Acts 17:28 NIV
‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’
Personal Challenge...
If we are truly a follower of Christ then He will permeate our entire life. It amazes me how easy it has become for us who claim to be Christians to compartmentalize our lives. We live one way on Sunday and another way at work, or at home, or in private. If we are a child of God then all of our life, all of our being is in Him.
This does take work when we live in a world that is also compartmentalized. I must constantly weigh what I think and do against His values, His plans, His truth and then choose to be obedient to Him. I am often sobered when at the end of the day I look back and ask the question, "Did people see Jesus today in my life?"
Friday, November 18, 2011
Thursday, November 17, 2011
November 17, 2011
John 15:9-11 NASB
Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.
Encouraging Words...
If we are followers of Christ then we are not on this journey through life alone. If we keep His commandments: love the Lord our God with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength, and love our neighbor as ourselves, then we will be abiding in His love. We will have lives that are filled with His joy and presence.
Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.
Encouraging Words...
If we are followers of Christ then we are not on this journey through life alone. If we keep His commandments: love the Lord our God with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength, and love our neighbor as ourselves, then we will be abiding in His love. We will have lives that are filled with His joy and presence.
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
November 16, 2011
Proverbs 14:30 NASB
A tranquil heart is life to the body, But passion is rottenness to the bones.
Personal Challenge...
It is so much more valuable to us, to our health, to our well-being, to our life, to be at peace with what we have and where we are in our lives. This is having a tranquil heart. It does not mean that we do not keep trying to improve our lives or to do better, but it does mean that we do not desire these things to the point that they become our gods.
A tranquil heart is life to the body, But passion is rottenness to the bones.
Personal Challenge...
It is so much more valuable to us, to our health, to our well-being, to our life, to be at peace with what we have and where we are in our lives. This is having a tranquil heart. It does not mean that we do not keep trying to improve our lives or to do better, but it does mean that we do not desire these things to the point that they become our gods.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
November 15, 2011
Psalm 5:11-12 NASB
But let all who take refuge in You be glad, Let them ever sing for joy; And may You shelter them, That those who love Your name may exult in You. For it is You who blesses the righteous man, O LORD, You surround him with favor as with a shield.
Encouraging Words...
If we are a child of God then we are never alone. We can take refuge in His mighty and loving arms and be glad. We can sing for joy and be sheltered. We can exult Him. He is the one who blesses us and surrounds us with His favor. These are His promises to His children...claim them and live within them.
But let all who take refuge in You be glad, Let them ever sing for joy; And may You shelter them, That those who love Your name may exult in You. For it is You who blesses the righteous man, O LORD, You surround him with favor as with a shield.
Encouraging Words...
If we are a child of God then we are never alone. We can take refuge in His mighty and loving arms and be glad. We can sing for joy and be sheltered. We can exult Him. He is the one who blesses us and surrounds us with His favor. These are His promises to His children...claim them and live within them.
Monday, November 14, 2011
November 14, 2011
Esther 4:13-16 NASB
Then Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, “Do not imagine that you in the king’s palace can escape any more than all the Jews. “For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place and you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?” Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai, “Go, assemble all the Jews who are found in Susa, and fast for me; do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maidens also will fast in the same way. And thus I will go in to the king, which is not according to the law; and if I perish, I perish.”
Personal Challenge...
As I have been reading through the Bible I came across this passage and it really jumped out at me. Here Esther is in the perfect place in the palace of the king where she can save her people from an impending disaster. Upon expressing her concern that if she does what she is being asked the law says that she could be put to death.
Mordecai's answer is what hit me so hard. He informs Esther that maybe God put her where she was for this very purpose, but that it was her choice whether or not she acted as needed. He also told her that if she did not do this then God would certainly raise up someone else to do it in her stead.
Esther's response also struck me...she chose to step out in faith and trust in God, and if the result was her death, then that was okay. She also stepped out in this act of faith fasting an praying for God's protection, as well as having everyone around her fast and pray as well.
Then Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, “Do not imagine that you in the king’s palace can escape any more than all the Jews. “For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place and you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?” Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai, “Go, assemble all the Jews who are found in Susa, and fast for me; do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maidens also will fast in the same way. And thus I will go in to the king, which is not according to the law; and if I perish, I perish.”
Personal Challenge...
As I have been reading through the Bible I came across this passage and it really jumped out at me. Here Esther is in the perfect place in the palace of the king where she can save her people from an impending disaster. Upon expressing her concern that if she does what she is being asked the law says that she could be put to death.
Mordecai's answer is what hit me so hard. He informs Esther that maybe God put her where she was for this very purpose, but that it was her choice whether or not she acted as needed. He also told her that if she did not do this then God would certainly raise up someone else to do it in her stead.
Esther's response also struck me...she chose to step out in faith and trust in God, and if the result was her death, then that was okay. She also stepped out in this act of faith fasting an praying for God's protection, as well as having everyone around her fast and pray as well.
Friday, November 11, 2011
November 11, 2011
1 Peter 3:8-12 NASB
To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit; not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing. For, “LET HIM WHO MEANS TO LOVE LIFE AND SEE GOOD DAYS REFRAIN HIS TONGUE FROM EVIL AND HIS LIPS FROM SPEAKING GUILE. AND LET HIM TURN AWAY FROM EVIL AND DO GOOD; LET HIM SEEK PEACE AND PURSUE IT. FOR THE EYES OF THE LORD ARE UPON THE RIGHTEOUS, AND HIS EARS ATTEND TO THEIR PRAYER, BUT THE FACE OF THE LORD IS AGAINST THOSE WHO DO EVIL.”
Personal Challenge...
Whoever said that living the life of a Christian was easy was grossly mistaken. It is not just suggested that we live a certain way, but it is commanded. And what are some of the ways that we are commanded to live? Harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit; not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead. We are to refrain our tongue from evil and our lips from guile, to turn away from evil and do good. We are to seek peace and pursue it. Only though the work of Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit can we ever hope to achieve this.
To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit; not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing. For, “LET HIM WHO MEANS TO LOVE LIFE AND SEE GOOD DAYS REFRAIN HIS TONGUE FROM EVIL AND HIS LIPS FROM SPEAKING GUILE. AND LET HIM TURN AWAY FROM EVIL AND DO GOOD; LET HIM SEEK PEACE AND PURSUE IT. FOR THE EYES OF THE LORD ARE UPON THE RIGHTEOUS, AND HIS EARS ATTEND TO THEIR PRAYER, BUT THE FACE OF THE LORD IS AGAINST THOSE WHO DO EVIL.”
Personal Challenge...
Whoever said that living the life of a Christian was easy was grossly mistaken. It is not just suggested that we live a certain way, but it is commanded. And what are some of the ways that we are commanded to live? Harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit; not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead. We are to refrain our tongue from evil and our lips from guile, to turn away from evil and do good. We are to seek peace and pursue it. Only though the work of Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit can we ever hope to achieve this.
Thursday, November 10, 2011
November 10, 2011
1 Thessalonians 2:3-4 NASB
For our exhortation does not come from error or impurity or by way of deceit; but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who examines our hearts.
Personal Challenge...
God expects us to represent Him and His gospel without error, impurity, or deceit. This can be a difficult and sobering responsibility...especially when the world is so full of teachings such as the gospel according to Fox, or the gospel according to CNN, or the gospel according to my political party, or the gospel according to my own needs and desires, or the gospel according to ________ (fill in the blank). It is not my gospel, or the gospel of men, that we are called to share...it is His gospel.
For our exhortation does not come from error or impurity or by way of deceit; but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who examines our hearts.
Personal Challenge...
God expects us to represent Him and His gospel without error, impurity, or deceit. This can be a difficult and sobering responsibility...especially when the world is so full of teachings such as the gospel according to Fox, or the gospel according to CNN, or the gospel according to my political party, or the gospel according to my own needs and desires, or the gospel according to ________ (fill in the blank). It is not my gospel, or the gospel of men, that we are called to share...it is His gospel.
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