"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms" (Ephesians 6:12)
As we begin to express the life of Christ in our work lives, we need to be aware of another set of Satan's deceptions, namely, the religious spirit.
The religious spirit can best be defined as an agent of Satan assigned to prevent change and maintain the status quo by using religious devices. The religious spirit seeks to distort a genuine move of God through deception, control, and manipulation. This spirit operates out of old religious structures and attempts to maintain the status quo, favoring tradition over a genuine, intimate relationship with God. It influences believers to live the Christian life based on works instead of grace. Similar to the Greek way of thinking, the religious spirit depends on human effort to acquire spiritual knowledge and favor from God.
In the years before the Protestant Reformation, Martin Luther's greatest challenge was to root out the religious spirit. He was told by his religious teachers that there were stringent requirements for receiving the favor of God. "Remember Martin, just to pray by yourself is not enough. The church has to pray for you too. Even when the priest has asked that you be forgiven, God will not listen unless you do good works. The more gifts you give to the church and to the poor, the more trips you make to Rome and Jerusalem, the more pleasures you give up, the better will be your chances for heaven. The best and safest way to do all this, and the one that is most God pleasing, is to give up everything and become a monk." The essence of Martin Luther's struggle to win God's favor still resides in many a Christian worker.
The religious spirit nullifies the importance of faith and grace that has been given to us through the work of the Cross. You cannot gain acceptance from God by doing any works. Accept His unconditional love for you today.
*Frederick Nohl, Luther (St. Louis, MO: Concordia Publishing House, 1962), p. 26.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Monday, March 30, 2009
Goals for Daily Living
This devotional was written by Jim Burns
In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps.—Proverbs 16:9
Have you ever written down goals for living your life? I'm not talking about the do's and don'ts of legalism. I mean forming a philosophy of life and then living your life to the fullest according to your goals.
F.B. Meyer was a great writer and minister of the gospel. He had seven goals for daily living that I use and recommend.
1. Make a daily, definite consecration of yourself to God (audibly).
2. Tell God you are willing to be willing about all.
3. Reckon on Christ to do His part perfectly.
4. Confess sin instantly.
5. Hand over to Christ every temptation and care.
6. Keep in touch with Christ. (Read the Word, and good books; pray; and seek places and people where He is.)
7. Expect the Holy Spirit to work in, with, and for you.
GOING DEEPER:
1. Write Proverbs 16:9 on an index card and put it somewhere where you will see it often. Better yet, memorize it!
2. What are the goals you live by? Today write out some goals or take on F.B. Meyer's goals and pledge yourself to living by them each and every day.
FURTHER READING: Jeremiah 10:23
In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps.—Proverbs 16:9
Have you ever written down goals for living your life? I'm not talking about the do's and don'ts of legalism. I mean forming a philosophy of life and then living your life to the fullest according to your goals.
F.B. Meyer was a great writer and minister of the gospel. He had seven goals for daily living that I use and recommend.
1. Make a daily, definite consecration of yourself to God (audibly).
2. Tell God you are willing to be willing about all.
3. Reckon on Christ to do His part perfectly.
4. Confess sin instantly.
5. Hand over to Christ every temptation and care.
6. Keep in touch with Christ. (Read the Word, and good books; pray; and seek places and people where He is.)
7. Expect the Holy Spirit to work in, with, and for you.
GOING DEEPER:
1. Write Proverbs 16:9 on an index card and put it somewhere where you will see it often. Better yet, memorize it!
2. What are the goals you live by? Today write out some goals or take on F.B. Meyer's goals and pledge yourself to living by them each and every day.
FURTHER READING: Jeremiah 10:23
Friday, March 27, 2009
God's Blueprints for Marriage (Part Two)
Genesis 2:24,25 For this cause a man shall leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and they shall become one flesh. And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.
The second part of God's plan for marriage involves construction. You may be noticing a parallel to the Christian life in these blueprints for marriage. First, you receive (accept) Christ, then you build a lifetime of obedient discipleship. After receiving your mate as God's gift (weaknesses and all), you build a lifetime of obedience as husband and wife.
Genesis 2:24 (above) presents four guidelines for building a strong and godly marriage. These are not multiple choice; all four are required for success.
1. Leave-that is, establish independence from parents or any others who may have reared you. It's amazing how many people have failed to do this. They may look very adult and act very mature and sophisticated, but deep down inside they've never really cut the apron strings.
There is a hidden command in this passage to parents: We should let our children leave. A manipulative parent can undermine a marriage whether it's 10 days or 10 years old. We are to let go of our children and let them go.
2. Cleave-that is, form a permanent bond. To cleave means commitment. When God joins two people together, it is for keeps. As the marriage vows say, "'Til death do us part."
3. Be physically intimate-that is, become one flesh in sexual intercourse. Notice the progression: leave, cleave and then one flesh. Physical intimacy comes after the walls of commitment have totally surrounded and secured the relationship.
4. Become transparent-emotionally intimate, totally open and unashamed with your mate. The Genesis account says Adam and Eve were "both naked and were not ashamed." They felt no fear or rejection. Instead they felt total acceptance by each other. Being bathed in the warmth of knowing another person accepts you is what makes marriage a true joy.
Prayer: That God would give you success as a couple in each of these four areas of your relationship.
Discuss: Evaluate and grade yourselves as a couple on the four components of building a marriage. Where are you winning? Where do you need to work?
The second part of God's plan for marriage involves construction. You may be noticing a parallel to the Christian life in these blueprints for marriage. First, you receive (accept) Christ, then you build a lifetime of obedient discipleship. After receiving your mate as God's gift (weaknesses and all), you build a lifetime of obedience as husband and wife.
Genesis 2:24 (above) presents four guidelines for building a strong and godly marriage. These are not multiple choice; all four are required for success.
1. Leave-that is, establish independence from parents or any others who may have reared you. It's amazing how many people have failed to do this. They may look very adult and act very mature and sophisticated, but deep down inside they've never really cut the apron strings.
There is a hidden command in this passage to parents: We should let our children leave. A manipulative parent can undermine a marriage whether it's 10 days or 10 years old. We are to let go of our children and let them go.
2. Cleave-that is, form a permanent bond. To cleave means commitment. When God joins two people together, it is for keeps. As the marriage vows say, "'Til death do us part."
3. Be physically intimate-that is, become one flesh in sexual intercourse. Notice the progression: leave, cleave and then one flesh. Physical intimacy comes after the walls of commitment have totally surrounded and secured the relationship.
4. Become transparent-emotionally intimate, totally open and unashamed with your mate. The Genesis account says Adam and Eve were "both naked and were not ashamed." They felt no fear or rejection. Instead they felt total acceptance by each other. Being bathed in the warmth of knowing another person accepts you is what makes marriage a true joy.
Prayer: That God would give you success as a couple in each of these four areas of your relationship.
Discuss: Evaluate and grade yourselves as a couple on the four components of building a marriage. Where are you winning? Where do you need to work?
Thursday, March 26, 2009
God's Blueprints for Marriage
Genesis 2:22 And the Lord God fashioned into a woman the rib which He had taken from the man, and brought her to the man.
To discover God's plan for marriage, let's return to Genesis 2. As we revisit the Garden of Eden, we watch the drama unfold. God makes Adam, but then says, "It isn't good for man to be alone; I will make a companion for him, a helper suited to his needs"(see v. 18). God causes a deep sleep to fall upon Adam. He takes one of his ribs and fashions it into the woman. There is a picture of completeness, and I also believe it's a picture of oneness because man and woman are made from the same material.
But now we have an all-important question: How would Adam receive Eve? The way many read the familiar Genesis account, Adam's response seems rather ho-hum: "This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man" (v. 23). But I like The Living Bible paraphrase: "This is it!" In other words, Adam was excited-he was beside himself!
Now, obviously, Eve looked pretty good to Adam. That's why he said, "This is bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh." She definitely looked better to him than all the animals he had just named, but there is a cornerstone principle for marriage here that we don't want to miss: Adam had faith in God's integrity.
Eve had done nothing to earn Adam's response. Adam knew only one thing about Eve-she was a gift from the God he knew intimately. Adam simply accepted her because God made her for him, and he knew that God could be trusted.
Today, God wants us to receive the spouse He has custom made for us. He can still be trusted.
To reject your mate is to reflect negatively on the character of God. It's as though you are saying, "God, You slipped up, You didn't know what You were doing when You provided this person for me." Rejection of your mate for weakness, or for any other reason, is disobedience toward God and failure to fulfill His plan and purpose for your life.
Will you receive your spouse as God's gift for you?
Prayer: Thank God for His gift to you of your spouse.
Discuss: Is there anything about your mate that you don't accept? Are there areas in which you don't feel accepted by your mate?
To discover God's plan for marriage, let's return to Genesis 2. As we revisit the Garden of Eden, we watch the drama unfold. God makes Adam, but then says, "It isn't good for man to be alone; I will make a companion for him, a helper suited to his needs"(see v. 18). God causes a deep sleep to fall upon Adam. He takes one of his ribs and fashions it into the woman. There is a picture of completeness, and I also believe it's a picture of oneness because man and woman are made from the same material.
But now we have an all-important question: How would Adam receive Eve? The way many read the familiar Genesis account, Adam's response seems rather ho-hum: "This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man" (v. 23). But I like The Living Bible paraphrase: "This is it!" In other words, Adam was excited-he was beside himself!
Now, obviously, Eve looked pretty good to Adam. That's why he said, "This is bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh." She definitely looked better to him than all the animals he had just named, but there is a cornerstone principle for marriage here that we don't want to miss: Adam had faith in God's integrity.
Eve had done nothing to earn Adam's response. Adam knew only one thing about Eve-she was a gift from the God he knew intimately. Adam simply accepted her because God made her for him, and he knew that God could be trusted.
Today, God wants us to receive the spouse He has custom made for us. He can still be trusted.
To reject your mate is to reflect negatively on the character of God. It's as though you are saying, "God, You slipped up, You didn't know what You were doing when You provided this person for me." Rejection of your mate for weakness, or for any other reason, is disobedience toward God and failure to fulfill His plan and purpose for your life.
Will you receive your spouse as God's gift for you?
Prayer: Thank God for His gift to you of your spouse.
Discuss: Is there anything about your mate that you don't accept? Are there areas in which you don't feel accepted by your mate?
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Marriage Is a Three-Legged Race
Amos 3:3 Do two men walk together unless they have made an appointment?
Among my favorite childhood memories are the picnics our family held every summer. I played all kinds of games with my cousins, including the three-legged race, which was everyone's favorite.
To make the game more interesting, partners were often tied together so one faced backward and the other forward. The starter gave the signal, and what happened next would best be described as chaos. Everyone would cheer as the forward-facing participants would half drag, half carry their backward-facing teammates toward the finish line. There were always plenty of grass-stained knees, piercing screams and roars of laughter.
The three-legged race is hard enough when everyone is facing the same direction. The teams can lock arms and step out in unison. They might stumble and fall along the way, but they always get there much faster and more efficiently.
A marriage is a lot like the three-legged race. A husband and wife can face in the same direction and try to run in step with each other, or they can run in totally different directions. I've counseled couples where the wives were headed south at 65 miles an hour and the husbands were going north at 90 miles per hour! When that happens, it means pain, difficulty and isolation.
One woman said, "My husband and I have been married for 20 years. There is nothing he wouldn't do for me and there is nothing I wouldn't do for him...and that's exactly what we do for each other-nothing."
One reason many couples face different directions in the race is they have bought into the illusion fostered by the popular culture's claim that we can live independently of each other. A healthy marriage requires two people who agree to become mutually dependent on each other.
When was the last time you and your spouse sat down and talked about the race you're running and the direction you're facing? It could explain why there's been some pain recently.
Prayer: That God will show you, as a couple, the race He wants you to run, the direction He wants you to face and the pace for the race.
Discuss: Do you sometimes feel you and your mate are not always moving in the same direction? In what ways? Be specific.
Among my favorite childhood memories are the picnics our family held every summer. I played all kinds of games with my cousins, including the three-legged race, which was everyone's favorite.
To make the game more interesting, partners were often tied together so one faced backward and the other forward. The starter gave the signal, and what happened next would best be described as chaos. Everyone would cheer as the forward-facing participants would half drag, half carry their backward-facing teammates toward the finish line. There were always plenty of grass-stained knees, piercing screams and roars of laughter.
The three-legged race is hard enough when everyone is facing the same direction. The teams can lock arms and step out in unison. They might stumble and fall along the way, but they always get there much faster and more efficiently.
A marriage is a lot like the three-legged race. A husband and wife can face in the same direction and try to run in step with each other, or they can run in totally different directions. I've counseled couples where the wives were headed south at 65 miles an hour and the husbands were going north at 90 miles per hour! When that happens, it means pain, difficulty and isolation.
One woman said, "My husband and I have been married for 20 years. There is nothing he wouldn't do for me and there is nothing I wouldn't do for him...and that's exactly what we do for each other-nothing."
One reason many couples face different directions in the race is they have bought into the illusion fostered by the popular culture's claim that we can live independently of each other. A healthy marriage requires two people who agree to become mutually dependent on each other.
When was the last time you and your spouse sat down and talked about the race you're running and the direction you're facing? It could explain why there's been some pain recently.
Prayer: That God will show you, as a couple, the race He wants you to run, the direction He wants you to face and the pace for the race.
Discuss: Do you sometimes feel you and your mate are not always moving in the same direction? In what ways? Be specific.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
The Trouble with the "50/50 Plan"
Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
When two people get married, they have expectations of how the relationship should work. Often, the unspoken assumption is that "My spouse will meet me halfway." Sometimes it's called "The 50/50 Plan." When the husband and wife operate on this pattern, it's easy for it to spread to other members of the family.
The "50/50 Plan" says, "You do your part, and I'll do mine." This concept sounds logical, but families who use it are destined for disappointment.
Among the problems with "The 50/50 Plan" is that giving is based on merit and performance. We focus more on what the other person is giving than on what we are doing. Love is withheld until the other person meets our expectations. Since this way of measuring out our love is subjective, the motivation for our actions is based merely on how we feel.
It's impossible to ever know if a person has ever met you halfway. As Thomas Fuller said, "Each horse thinks his pack is heaviest."
Early in our marriage we tried this plan. I would give affection to Barbara only when I felt she had earned it by keeping the house running smoothly. Barbara would show me affection and praise only when I would hold up my end by getting home on time, keeping the house in a reasonable state of repair, or working in her garden.
Contrast this with the type of love God shows for us. You might say that, no matter what we do, He gives us 100 percent. As Romans 5:8 shows, He gives us love even when we don't deserve it.
I propose that couples adopt "The 100/100 Plan" in marriage. Under this plan, each person gives 100 percent no matter what the other person does.
Prayer: That God's spirit of unmerited giving will permeate the heart of each member of your family.
Discuss: As you look at your marriage, do you think you've been operating according to "The 50/50 Plan"? Write down some specific ways.
When two people get married, they have expectations of how the relationship should work. Often, the unspoken assumption is that "My spouse will meet me halfway." Sometimes it's called "The 50/50 Plan." When the husband and wife operate on this pattern, it's easy for it to spread to other members of the family.
The "50/50 Plan" says, "You do your part, and I'll do mine." This concept sounds logical, but families who use it are destined for disappointment.
Among the problems with "The 50/50 Plan" is that giving is based on merit and performance. We focus more on what the other person is giving than on what we are doing. Love is withheld until the other person meets our expectations. Since this way of measuring out our love is subjective, the motivation for our actions is based merely on how we feel.
It's impossible to ever know if a person has ever met you halfway. As Thomas Fuller said, "Each horse thinks his pack is heaviest."
Early in our marriage we tried this plan. I would give affection to Barbara only when I felt she had earned it by keeping the house running smoothly. Barbara would show me affection and praise only when I would hold up my end by getting home on time, keeping the house in a reasonable state of repair, or working in her garden.
Contrast this with the type of love God shows for us. You might say that, no matter what we do, He gives us 100 percent. As Romans 5:8 shows, He gives us love even when we don't deserve it.
I propose that couples adopt "The 100/100 Plan" in marriage. Under this plan, each person gives 100 percent no matter what the other person does.
Prayer: That God's spirit of unmerited giving will permeate the heart of each member of your family.
Discuss: As you look at your marriage, do you think you've been operating according to "The 50/50 Plan"? Write down some specific ways.
Monday, March 23, 2009
Giving to Others
This devotional was written by Jim Burns
This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.— I John 3:16-18
A little boy was told by his doctor that he could actually save his sister's life by giving her some blood. The six-year-old girl was near death, a victim of disease from which the boy had made a marvelous recovery two years earlier. Her only chance for restoration was a blood transfusion from someone who had previously conquered the illness. Since the two children had the same rare blood type, the boy was the ideal donor.
"Johnny, would you like to give your blood for Mary?" the doctor asked. The boy hesitated. His lower lip started to tremble. Then he smiled and said, "Sure, Doc. I'll give my blood for my sister."
Soon the two children were wheeled into the operating room–Mary, pale and thin; Johnny, robust and the picture of health. Neither spoke, but when their eyes met, Johnny grinned.
As his blood siphoned into Mary's veins, one could almost see new life come into her tired body. The ordeal was almost over when Johnny's brave little voice broke the silence, "Say, Doc, when do I die?"
It was only then that the doctor realized what the moment of hesitation, the trembling of the lip, had meant earlier. Little Johnny actually thought that in giving his blood to his sister he was giving up his life! And in that brief moment, he had made his great decision!
This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.— I John 3:16-18
A little boy was told by his doctor that he could actually save his sister's life by giving her some blood. The six-year-old girl was near death, a victim of disease from which the boy had made a marvelous recovery two years earlier. Her only chance for restoration was a blood transfusion from someone who had previously conquered the illness. Since the two children had the same rare blood type, the boy was the ideal donor.
"Johnny, would you like to give your blood for Mary?" the doctor asked. The boy hesitated. His lower lip started to tremble. Then he smiled and said, "Sure, Doc. I'll give my blood for my sister."
Soon the two children were wheeled into the operating room–Mary, pale and thin; Johnny, robust and the picture of health. Neither spoke, but when their eyes met, Johnny grinned.
As his blood siphoned into Mary's veins, one could almost see new life come into her tired body. The ordeal was almost over when Johnny's brave little voice broke the silence, "Say, Doc, when do I die?"
It was only then that the doctor realized what the moment of hesitation, the trembling of the lip, had meant earlier. Little Johnny actually thought that in giving his blood to his sister he was giving up his life! And in that brief moment, he had made his great decision!
GOING DEEPER:
- Read John 15:13. How does this Scripture apply to this incredible story of Johnny and his sister? Where is Jesus in this story?
- How can you apply this type of sacrificial giving to your own life?
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Ecclesiastes 5
Approaching God with Care
1 [a]As you enter the house of God, keep your ears open and your mouth shut. It is evil to make mindless offerings to God. 2 [b]Don’t make rash promises, and don’t be hasty in bringing matters before God. After all, God is in heaven, and you are here on earth. So let your words be few.
3 Too much activity gives you restless dreams; too many words make you a fool.
4 When you make a promise to God, don’t delay in following through, for God takes no pleasure in fools. Keep all the promises you make to him. 5 It is better to say nothing than to make a promise and not keep it. 6 Don’t let your mouth make you sin. And don’t defend yourself by telling the Temple messenger that the promise you made was a mistake. That would make God angry, and he might wipe out everything you have achieved.
7 Talk is cheap, like daydreams and other useless activities. Fear God instead.
The Futility of Wealth
8 Don’t be surprised if you see a poor person being oppressed by the powerful and if justice is being miscarried throughout the land. For every official is under orders from higher up, and matters of justice get lost in red tape and bureaucracy. 9 Even the king milks the land for his own profit![c]
10 Those who love money will never have enough. How meaningless to think that wealth brings true happiness! 11 The more you have, the more people come to help you spend it. So what good is wealth—except perhaps to watch it slip through your fingers!
12 People who work hard sleep well, whether they eat little or much. But the rich seldom get a good night’s sleep.
13 There is another serious problem I have seen under the sun. Hoarding riches harms the saver. 14 Money is put into risky investments that turn sour, and everything is lost. In the end, there is nothing left to pass on to one’s children. 15 We all come to the end of our lives as naked and empty-handed as on the day we were born. We can’t take our riches with us.
16 And this, too, is a very serious problem. People leave this world no better off than when they came. All their hard work is for nothing—like working for the wind. 17 Throughout their lives, they live under a cloud—frustrated, discouraged, and angry.
18 Even so, I have noticed one thing, at least, that is good. It is good for people to eat, drink, and enjoy their work under the sun during the short life God has given them, and to accept their lot in life. 19 And it is a good thing to receive wealth from God and the good health to enjoy it. To enjoy your work and accept your lot in life—this is indeed a gift from God. 20 God keeps such people so busy enjoying life that they take no time to brood over the past.
1 [a]As you enter the house of God, keep your ears open and your mouth shut. It is evil to make mindless offerings to God. 2 [b]Don’t make rash promises, and don’t be hasty in bringing matters before God. After all, God is in heaven, and you are here on earth. So let your words be few.
3 Too much activity gives you restless dreams; too many words make you a fool.
4 When you make a promise to God, don’t delay in following through, for God takes no pleasure in fools. Keep all the promises you make to him. 5 It is better to say nothing than to make a promise and not keep it. 6 Don’t let your mouth make you sin. And don’t defend yourself by telling the Temple messenger that the promise you made was a mistake. That would make God angry, and he might wipe out everything you have achieved.
7 Talk is cheap, like daydreams and other useless activities. Fear God instead.
The Futility of Wealth
8 Don’t be surprised if you see a poor person being oppressed by the powerful and if justice is being miscarried throughout the land. For every official is under orders from higher up, and matters of justice get lost in red tape and bureaucracy. 9 Even the king milks the land for his own profit![c]
10 Those who love money will never have enough. How meaningless to think that wealth brings true happiness! 11 The more you have, the more people come to help you spend it. So what good is wealth—except perhaps to watch it slip through your fingers!
12 People who work hard sleep well, whether they eat little or much. But the rich seldom get a good night’s sleep.
13 There is another serious problem I have seen under the sun. Hoarding riches harms the saver. 14 Money is put into risky investments that turn sour, and everything is lost. In the end, there is nothing left to pass on to one’s children. 15 We all come to the end of our lives as naked and empty-handed as on the day we were born. We can’t take our riches with us.
16 And this, too, is a very serious problem. People leave this world no better off than when they came. All their hard work is for nothing—like working for the wind. 17 Throughout their lives, they live under a cloud—frustrated, discouraged, and angry.
18 Even so, I have noticed one thing, at least, that is good. It is good for people to eat, drink, and enjoy their work under the sun during the short life God has given them, and to accept their lot in life. 19 And it is a good thing to receive wealth from God and the good health to enjoy it. To enjoy your work and accept your lot in life—this is indeed a gift from God. 20 God keeps such people so busy enjoying life that they take no time to brood over the past.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Let them know we are Christians!
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
--John 13:34-35
If being a servant to others is such a simple concept to grasp, why don’t more people actually do it?
The answer is because we’re too focused on ourselves and our own needs! And in a culture that celebrates self above all else, it’s easy to understand why this is.
Yet the Bible doesn’t let us off the hook because the culture we live in doesn’t embrace humility or serving others unselfishly. The Scripture says that Jesus made himself nothing and took the form of a servant. And if Jesus who was God incarnate did this, so should we!
Think about the people with whom you live life. Think about your neighbors. Which of them could use your help? Who needs their yard mowed? Their trees pruned? Their leaves raked?
Think about work or school. Who needs help with their workload? Who needs a smile or word of encouragement given in the name of Christ? Think about your home life. How could you help your spouse out today? How could you serve your children?
It’s one thing to say you’re a Christian. It’s quite another thing to show that you’re a Christian.
Genuine love shown through humble service is a sure-fire way to turn people on to Jesus Christ. As he says in today’s verse, “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
So my challenge to you is simple: Put on your badge as a believer by displaying a sacrificial, steadfast, and selfless love expressed in acts and deeds of kindness and ministry to the body of Christ and to the people who do not know him.
By this all people will know that you are his disciple!
IT’S ONE THING TO SAY YOU’RE A CHRISTIAN. IT’S QUITE ANOTHER THING TO SHOW THAT YOU’RE A CHRISTIAN.
--John 13:34-35
If being a servant to others is such a simple concept to grasp, why don’t more people actually do it?
The answer is because we’re too focused on ourselves and our own needs! And in a culture that celebrates self above all else, it’s easy to understand why this is.
Yet the Bible doesn’t let us off the hook because the culture we live in doesn’t embrace humility or serving others unselfishly. The Scripture says that Jesus made himself nothing and took the form of a servant. And if Jesus who was God incarnate did this, so should we!
Think about the people with whom you live life. Think about your neighbors. Which of them could use your help? Who needs their yard mowed? Their trees pruned? Their leaves raked?
Think about work or school. Who needs help with their workload? Who needs a smile or word of encouragement given in the name of Christ? Think about your home life. How could you help your spouse out today? How could you serve your children?
It’s one thing to say you’re a Christian. It’s quite another thing to show that you’re a Christian.
Genuine love shown through humble service is a sure-fire way to turn people on to Jesus Christ. As he says in today’s verse, “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
So my challenge to you is simple: Put on your badge as a believer by displaying a sacrificial, steadfast, and selfless love expressed in acts and deeds of kindness and ministry to the body of Christ and to the people who do not know him.
By this all people will know that you are his disciple!
IT’S ONE THING TO SAY YOU’RE A CHRISTIAN. IT’S QUITE ANOTHER THING TO SHOW THAT YOU’RE A CHRISTIAN.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Refiner and Purifier
Malachi 3:3 says; 'He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver.'
This verse puzzled some women in a bible study and they wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of God.
One of the women offered to find out the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next Bible Study.
That week, the woman called a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him at work. She didn't mention anything about the reason for her interest beyond her curiosity about the process of refining Silver.
As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest as to burn away all the impurities.
The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot; then she thought again about the verse that says: 'He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver.' She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time.
The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver was left a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed.
The woman was silent for a moment.. Then she asked the silversmith, 'How do you know when the silver is fully refined?'
He smiled at her and answered, 'Oh, that's easy -- when I see my image in it.'
If today you are feeling the heat of the fire, remember that God has his eye on you and will keep watching you until He sees His image in you.
This verse puzzled some women in a bible study and they wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of God.
One of the women offered to find out the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next Bible Study.
That week, the woman called a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him at work. She didn't mention anything about the reason for her interest beyond her curiosity about the process of refining Silver.
As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest as to burn away all the impurities.
The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot; then she thought again about the verse that says: 'He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver.' She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time.
The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver was left a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed.
The woman was silent for a moment.. Then she asked the silversmith, 'How do you know when the silver is fully refined?'
He smiled at her and answered, 'Oh, that's easy -- when I see my image in it.'
If today you are feeling the heat of the fire, remember that God has his eye on you and will keep watching you until He sees His image in you.
Monday, March 16, 2009
The Power of Your Presence
Jesus said in Matthew 5:16,
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”
The way you let your light shine is just being yourself around people. Witness everywhere you go through your life, and use words, if necessary.
You can sow seeds just by showing people that you are real. Some people call it friendship evangelism: being a genuine friend, touchable, genuinely caring for people, just letting your light shine.
Jesus also said you are a city set on a hill. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nobody lights a lamp and puts it under a basket. You and I are to live a life that brightly shines the gospel to the unsaved.
I read a story years ago about a guy who had his doorbell hooked up to a big buzzer in the back room. The buzzer was really loud. He wanted to change it and put a light there instead that would illuminate when somebody pushed the doorbell. So he rigged it up to do just that.
The problem was the light would barely illuminate. He could not figure out what was wrong, so he called an electrician friend. His friend looked at it and told him, “Oh, you don’t understand. It takes more power to shine than it does to make noise.”
That is very true. Jesus said, “Let your light shine.” Without having to necessarily confront people, they will just notice something different about you. If you are walking with God, it is reflected in your attitude, your work ethic, and your countenance. It is a discernable difference that will lead some people to ask about your faith. You will be able to sow seeds just with your presence.
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”
The way you let your light shine is just being yourself around people. Witness everywhere you go through your life, and use words, if necessary.
You can sow seeds just by showing people that you are real. Some people call it friendship evangelism: being a genuine friend, touchable, genuinely caring for people, just letting your light shine.
Jesus also said you are a city set on a hill. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nobody lights a lamp and puts it under a basket. You and I are to live a life that brightly shines the gospel to the unsaved.
I read a story years ago about a guy who had his doorbell hooked up to a big buzzer in the back room. The buzzer was really loud. He wanted to change it and put a light there instead that would illuminate when somebody pushed the doorbell. So he rigged it up to do just that.
The problem was the light would barely illuminate. He could not figure out what was wrong, so he called an electrician friend. His friend looked at it and told him, “Oh, you don’t understand. It takes more power to shine than it does to make noise.”
That is very true. Jesus said, “Let your light shine.” Without having to necessarily confront people, they will just notice something different about you. If you are walking with God, it is reflected in your attitude, your work ethic, and your countenance. It is a discernable difference that will lead some people to ask about your faith. You will be able to sow seeds just with your presence.
Friday, March 13, 2009
New Beginnings
This devotional was written by Mike DeVries
And so we are transfigured much like the Messiah, our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like him. 1 Corinthians 3:18 (MSG)
I don’t know about you, but I’m a huge movie fan. I love a great story, especially the kind that keeps you guessing all the way to the end. I love that sensation of awakening, when all of sudden everything just clicks and you think to yourself, “Now I get it! That’s why…”
I have this theory. I think we love stories so much because we connect with them in very deep and profound ways. We see ourselves in them. We connect with the emotion and the drama. Even if we know how the story ends, we are still captured in the moment.
But what if we don’t know how the story ends? We find ourselves in the middle of the story wondering if this is all there is going to be. How will the story end?
Have you ever met those people whose entire lives are defined by something that happened in the past? It’s as if whatever took place in the past, whatever pain might have happened, affects how they respond to the present. Their entire identity is defined by their past experience. It is as if the story stopped right then and there.
Perhaps you’ve met someone like that. Perhaps it’s you.
Jesus made this fascinating statement once. He said, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full" (John 10:10, TNIV). One Bible paraphrase puts it this way, “I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of" (John 10:10, The Message).
It appears that Jesus is inviting us into something so much larger than just getting into heaven when we die. Jesus is inviting us into the kingdom kind of life now – a life that is whole and free, forgiven and redeemed, restored and renewed. Jesus came not to give us a religion, or a set of beliefs; He came to set us free, not only from something, but also to something. We’ve been set free so that we can really, really live in the here and now, not just someday, somewhere else.
The hope of Jesus is that what we are experiencing is not the end of the story. Our lives are a grand story, with many chapters. So no matter what chapter you are in right now, there is another one coming. Whatever you are going through in life right now, know that the message of Jesus is that whatever has previously affected you is not the end of the story. God has the final word.
Our lives are a part of a much larger story, the story of what God is doing in this world, and dreaming for it.
Take hope today – your life matters. There’s a story being told and you are a part of it. When you are tempted to dwell on the past, or even the present, remember that this is not the end of the story. God is the God of the story – including this chapter, and the next.
Going Deeper:
-Where in your life today do you need the reminder that “this is not the end of the story”?
-What can you do over the next few days to remind yourself of this truth?
Further Reading: Acts 3:19-21; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11; 2 Corinthians 5:17-20; Revelation 21:1-5
And so we are transfigured much like the Messiah, our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like him. 1 Corinthians 3:18 (MSG)
I don’t know about you, but I’m a huge movie fan. I love a great story, especially the kind that keeps you guessing all the way to the end. I love that sensation of awakening, when all of sudden everything just clicks and you think to yourself, “Now I get it! That’s why…”
I have this theory. I think we love stories so much because we connect with them in very deep and profound ways. We see ourselves in them. We connect with the emotion and the drama. Even if we know how the story ends, we are still captured in the moment.
But what if we don’t know how the story ends? We find ourselves in the middle of the story wondering if this is all there is going to be. How will the story end?
Have you ever met those people whose entire lives are defined by something that happened in the past? It’s as if whatever took place in the past, whatever pain might have happened, affects how they respond to the present. Their entire identity is defined by their past experience. It is as if the story stopped right then and there.
Perhaps you’ve met someone like that. Perhaps it’s you.
Jesus made this fascinating statement once. He said, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full" (John 10:10, TNIV). One Bible paraphrase puts it this way, “I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of" (John 10:10, The Message).
It appears that Jesus is inviting us into something so much larger than just getting into heaven when we die. Jesus is inviting us into the kingdom kind of life now – a life that is whole and free, forgiven and redeemed, restored and renewed. Jesus came not to give us a religion, or a set of beliefs; He came to set us free, not only from something, but also to something. We’ve been set free so that we can really, really live in the here and now, not just someday, somewhere else.
The hope of Jesus is that what we are experiencing is not the end of the story. Our lives are a grand story, with many chapters. So no matter what chapter you are in right now, there is another one coming. Whatever you are going through in life right now, know that the message of Jesus is that whatever has previously affected you is not the end of the story. God has the final word.
Our lives are a part of a much larger story, the story of what God is doing in this world, and dreaming for it.
Take hope today – your life matters. There’s a story being told and you are a part of it. When you are tempted to dwell on the past, or even the present, remember that this is not the end of the story. God is the God of the story – including this chapter, and the next.
Going Deeper:
-Where in your life today do you need the reminder that “this is not the end of the story”?
-What can you do over the next few days to remind yourself of this truth?
Further Reading: Acts 3:19-21; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11; 2 Corinthians 5:17-20; Revelation 21:1-5
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Lean On Me
"Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.… Each one should test his own actions.… each one should carry his own load." Galatians 6:2-5 NIV
Thoughts for Today
As we lean on God, he often answers our prayers through other people. He calls Christians to lean on each other.
Although independence is not always admirable, interdependence is a biblical principle that carries the idea of mutual dependency.
There are times when you need to lean on others, allowing them to demonstrate God's love by helping you through a difficult time. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness. It is a step of reaching out for one of God's provisions for you—the Christian community.
Consider this…
It is important to recognize that there is a difference between leaning on others and using them. (Also a difference between helping others and allowing them to use you.)
We are to carry each other's burdens, but we are also to carry our own load. Carrying our own load means taking personal responsibility. It is a matter of finding the right balance. These verses describe that kind of balance: "Get along among yourselves, each of you doing your part. Our counsel is that you warn the freeloaders to get a move on. Gently encourage the stragglers, and reach out for the exhausted, pulling them to their feet. Be patient with each person, attentive to individual needs. And be careful that when you get on each other's nerves you don't snap at each other. Look for the best in each other, and always do your best to bring it out." 1 Thessalonians 5:13-15 MSG
Prayer…
Father, help me not to be too proud to ask others for help. Also, help me never to take advantage of other people's willingness to give. Teach us to find the right balance in leaning on each other. In Jesus' name …
Thoughts for Today
As we lean on God, he often answers our prayers through other people. He calls Christians to lean on each other.
Although independence is not always admirable, interdependence is a biblical principle that carries the idea of mutual dependency.
There are times when you need to lean on others, allowing them to demonstrate God's love by helping you through a difficult time. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness. It is a step of reaching out for one of God's provisions for you—the Christian community.
Consider this…
It is important to recognize that there is a difference between leaning on others and using them. (Also a difference between helping others and allowing them to use you.)
We are to carry each other's burdens, but we are also to carry our own load. Carrying our own load means taking personal responsibility. It is a matter of finding the right balance. These verses describe that kind of balance: "Get along among yourselves, each of you doing your part. Our counsel is that you warn the freeloaders to get a move on. Gently encourage the stragglers, and reach out for the exhausted, pulling them to their feet. Be patient with each person, attentive to individual needs. And be careful that when you get on each other's nerves you don't snap at each other. Look for the best in each other, and always do your best to bring it out." 1 Thessalonians 5:13-15 MSG
Prayer…
Father, help me not to be too proud to ask others for help. Also, help me never to take advantage of other people's willingness to give. Teach us to find the right balance in leaning on each other. In Jesus' name …
Monday, March 09, 2009
Bitterness
See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled. -- Hebrews 12:15
We’ve all been hurt or mistreated by others. It’s part of life. And the truth is, we can’t change the past. And it does no good to ask “Why?” All we can do is move forward.
Yet one of the things that holds most people from moving on from hurts in life is unforgiveness.
If your heart has been broken, but you want to get on with your life today, you must forgive.
You can never fully realize the grace of God in your own life if you are harboring hate, bitterness, resentment, or pain from your past.
But what if you don’t forgive? Today we’ll look at the consequences of unforgiveness. And tomorrow we’ll see how you can begin the process of forgiveness.
The first consequence of unforgiveness is that it will contaminate your personality with bitterness.
It’s like a weed that grows out of control in your life. When you become bitter, you become negative and critical. Anger and resentfulness can grow unchecked, and before you even realize it, joy and happiness has been choked out of your life.
If left unchecked, unforgiveness will devour your relationships and jeopardize your future.
Bitterness can spread to your marriage and be passed along to your children from generation to generation. Worst of all, unforgiveness can rob you of a growing relationship with God.
YOU CAN NEVER FULLY REALIZE THE GRACE OF GOD IN YOUR OWN LIFE IF YOU ARE HARBORING BITTERNESS FROM YOUR PAST.
We’ve all been hurt or mistreated by others. It’s part of life. And the truth is, we can’t change the past. And it does no good to ask “Why?” All we can do is move forward.
Yet one of the things that holds most people from moving on from hurts in life is unforgiveness.
If your heart has been broken, but you want to get on with your life today, you must forgive.
You can never fully realize the grace of God in your own life if you are harboring hate, bitterness, resentment, or pain from your past.
But what if you don’t forgive? Today we’ll look at the consequences of unforgiveness. And tomorrow we’ll see how you can begin the process of forgiveness.
The first consequence of unforgiveness is that it will contaminate your personality with bitterness.
It’s like a weed that grows out of control in your life. When you become bitter, you become negative and critical. Anger and resentfulness can grow unchecked, and before you even realize it, joy and happiness has been choked out of your life.
If left unchecked, unforgiveness will devour your relationships and jeopardize your future.
Bitterness can spread to your marriage and be passed along to your children from generation to generation. Worst of all, unforgiveness can rob you of a growing relationship with God.
YOU CAN NEVER FULLY REALIZE THE GRACE OF GOD IN YOUR OWN LIFE IF YOU ARE HARBORING BITTERNESS FROM YOUR PAST.
Friday, March 06, 2009
LIFESTYLE
by Charles R. Swindoll
Philippians 2:1-11
We live in a negative, hostile world. Face it, my friend, the system that surrounds us focuses on the negatives: what is wrong, not what is right; what is missing, not what is present; what is ugly, not what is beautiful; what is destructive, not what is constructive; what cannot be done, not what can be done; what hurts, not what helps; what we lack, not what we have. You question that? Pick up your local newspaper and read it through. See if the majority of the news doesn't concern itself (and the reader) with the negatives. It's contagious!
This negative mindset leads to incredible feelings of anxiety. Surround most people with enough negatives and I can guarantee the result: fear, resentment, and anger. Negative information plus hostile thinking equals anxiety.
We are also engulfed in mediocrity and cynicism (a direct result of living in a negative world). Without the motivation of divinely empowered insight and enthusiasm, people tend toward the "average," doing just enough to get by. Thus, the fallout from the system is mediocrity. The majority dictates the rules, and excitement is replaced with a shrug of the shoulders. Excellence is not only lost in the shuffle, whenever it rears its head, it is considered a threat.
That's why most people choose not to live differently. Those who take their cues from the system blend into the drab backdrop of the majority. Words like "Just go with the flow" and "Don't make waves" and "Who cares?" begin to gain a hearing.
Stop and think. In a world where all that cynicism is present, what is absent? Courage! That strong muscle of character that gives a nation its pride and gives a person the will to excel is gone.
I challenge you to be different, to stand apart from the crowd, with inner fortitude and strength of character. Be disciplined to remain consistent, strong, and diligent regardless of the odds or the demands. Have courage!
Reprinted by permission. Day by Day, Charles Swindoll, July 2005, Thomas Nelson, inc., Nashville, Tennessee. All rights reserved. Purchase "Day by Day" here.
Philippians 2:1-11
We live in a negative, hostile world. Face it, my friend, the system that surrounds us focuses on the negatives: what is wrong, not what is right; what is missing, not what is present; what is ugly, not what is beautiful; what is destructive, not what is constructive; what cannot be done, not what can be done; what hurts, not what helps; what we lack, not what we have. You question that? Pick up your local newspaper and read it through. See if the majority of the news doesn't concern itself (and the reader) with the negatives. It's contagious!
This negative mindset leads to incredible feelings of anxiety. Surround most people with enough negatives and I can guarantee the result: fear, resentment, and anger. Negative information plus hostile thinking equals anxiety.
We are also engulfed in mediocrity and cynicism (a direct result of living in a negative world). Without the motivation of divinely empowered insight and enthusiasm, people tend toward the "average," doing just enough to get by. Thus, the fallout from the system is mediocrity. The majority dictates the rules, and excitement is replaced with a shrug of the shoulders. Excellence is not only lost in the shuffle, whenever it rears its head, it is considered a threat.
That's why most people choose not to live differently. Those who take their cues from the system blend into the drab backdrop of the majority. Words like "Just go with the flow" and "Don't make waves" and "Who cares?" begin to gain a hearing.
Stop and think. In a world where all that cynicism is present, what is absent? Courage! That strong muscle of character that gives a nation its pride and gives a person the will to excel is gone.
I challenge you to be different, to stand apart from the crowd, with inner fortitude and strength of character. Be disciplined to remain consistent, strong, and diligent regardless of the odds or the demands. Have courage!
Reprinted by permission. Day by Day, Charles Swindoll, July 2005, Thomas Nelson, inc., Nashville, Tennessee. All rights reserved. Purchase "Day by Day" here.
Wednesday, March 04, 2009
DISTINCTION
by Charles R. Swindoll
Psalm 1:1-6
The essential question isn't difficult to state: How can I, a person who has absorbed so many years of mediocre thinking, change? How can I, like a caterpillar, move from squirming in the dirt to enjoying the sweet nectar in God's creation? As in the caterpillar's case, a radical metamorphosis must occur. It is a process that will be difficult, demanding, and lengthy---but, oh, how sweet the results! If you are really serious about conquering mediocrity (which, remember, starts in the mind), then I have three words to offer---memorize, personalize, and analyze.
Memorize. In order for old defeating thoughts to be invaded, conquered, and replaced by new, victorious ones, a process of reconstruction must transpire. The best place I know to begin this process of mental cleansing is with the all-important discipline of memorizing Scripture. I realize it doesn't sound very sophisticated or intellectual, but God's Book is full of powerful ammunition! And dislodging negative and demoralizing thoughts requires aggressive action. I sometimes refer to it as a mental assault.
Personalize. Here's where the excitement intensifies. As you begin the process of replacing old, negative thoughts with new and encouraging ones, put yourself into the pages of the Bible. Use I, me, my, mine as you come across meaningful statements.
Analyze. Instead of continuing to tell yourself you are little more than a helpless victim, take charge! As soon as you catch yourself responding negatively or defensively, think---analyze the situation. Then ask yourself a few tough questions. "Why am I getting so hot and bothered by this?" Or "Is there something I'm afraid of?" Or, maybe, "Am I reacting negatively because I have a reason or simply because I've formed some bad habits?"
Maybe the challenge to memorize, personalize, and analyze seems too simplistic to you. Perhaps you expected something else. You really expected some high-powered "secret" to success. No, I have no quick'n easy secret, no overnight-success pill you can take. Perhaps the best single-word picture is visualize. Mentally visualize being on a higher plane. Then once you "see it," begin to believe it and behave like it!
Reprinted by permission. Day by Day, Charles Swindoll, July 2005, Thomas Nelson, inc., Nashville, Tennessee. All rights reserved. Purchase "Day by Day" here.
Psalm 1:1-6
The essential question isn't difficult to state: How can I, a person who has absorbed so many years of mediocre thinking, change? How can I, like a caterpillar, move from squirming in the dirt to enjoying the sweet nectar in God's creation? As in the caterpillar's case, a radical metamorphosis must occur. It is a process that will be difficult, demanding, and lengthy---but, oh, how sweet the results! If you are really serious about conquering mediocrity (which, remember, starts in the mind), then I have three words to offer---memorize, personalize, and analyze.
Memorize. In order for old defeating thoughts to be invaded, conquered, and replaced by new, victorious ones, a process of reconstruction must transpire. The best place I know to begin this process of mental cleansing is with the all-important discipline of memorizing Scripture. I realize it doesn't sound very sophisticated or intellectual, but God's Book is full of powerful ammunition! And dislodging negative and demoralizing thoughts requires aggressive action. I sometimes refer to it as a mental assault.
Personalize. Here's where the excitement intensifies. As you begin the process of replacing old, negative thoughts with new and encouraging ones, put yourself into the pages of the Bible. Use I, me, my, mine as you come across meaningful statements.
Analyze. Instead of continuing to tell yourself you are little more than a helpless victim, take charge! As soon as you catch yourself responding negatively or defensively, think---analyze the situation. Then ask yourself a few tough questions. "Why am I getting so hot and bothered by this?" Or "Is there something I'm afraid of?" Or, maybe, "Am I reacting negatively because I have a reason or simply because I've formed some bad habits?"
Maybe the challenge to memorize, personalize, and analyze seems too simplistic to you. Perhaps you expected something else. You really expected some high-powered "secret" to success. No, I have no quick'n easy secret, no overnight-success pill you can take. Perhaps the best single-word picture is visualize. Mentally visualize being on a higher plane. Then once you "see it," begin to believe it and behave like it!
Reprinted by permission. Day by Day, Charles Swindoll, July 2005, Thomas Nelson, inc., Nashville, Tennessee. All rights reserved. Purchase "Day by Day" here.
Tuesday, March 03, 2009
"Thine is the Kingdom..."
by Max Lucado
There are certain mountains only God can climb. Ascend them and you’ll end up bruised and embarrassed. Stay away from them and you’ll sidestep a lot of stress. These mountains are described in the final phrase of the Lord’s prayer, “Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.” A trio of peaks mantled by the clouds. Admire them, applaud them, but don’t climb them.
It’s not that you aren’t welcome to try, it’s just that you aren’t able. The pronoun is thine, not mine; thine is the kingdom, not mine is the kingdom. If the word Savior is in your job description, it’s because you put it there. Your role is to help the world, not save it. Mount Messiah is one mountain you weren’t made to climb.
Nor is Mount Self-Sufficient. You aren’t able to run the world, nor are you able to sustain it. Some of you think you can. You are self-made. You don’t bow your knees, you just roll up your sleeves and put in another twelve-hour day … which may be enough when it comes to making a living or building a business. But when you face your own grave or your own guilt, your power will not do the trick.
You were not made to run a kingdom, nor are you expected to be all-powerful. And you certainly can’t handle all the glory. Mount Applause is the most seductive of the three peaks. The higher you climb the more people applaud, but the thinner the air becomes. More than one person has stood at the top and shouted, “Mine is the glory!” only to lose their balance and fall.
“Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.” What protection this final phrase affords. As you confess that God is in charge, you admit that you aren’t. As you proclaim that God has power, you admit that you don’t. And as you give God all the applause, there is none left to dizzy your brain.
From The Great House of God© (Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2001) Max Lucado
There are certain mountains only God can climb. Ascend them and you’ll end up bruised and embarrassed. Stay away from them and you’ll sidestep a lot of stress. These mountains are described in the final phrase of the Lord’s prayer, “Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.” A trio of peaks mantled by the clouds. Admire them, applaud them, but don’t climb them.
It’s not that you aren’t welcome to try, it’s just that you aren’t able. The pronoun is thine, not mine; thine is the kingdom, not mine is the kingdom. If the word Savior is in your job description, it’s because you put it there. Your role is to help the world, not save it. Mount Messiah is one mountain you weren’t made to climb.
Nor is Mount Self-Sufficient. You aren’t able to run the world, nor are you able to sustain it. Some of you think you can. You are self-made. You don’t bow your knees, you just roll up your sleeves and put in another twelve-hour day … which may be enough when it comes to making a living or building a business. But when you face your own grave or your own guilt, your power will not do the trick.
You were not made to run a kingdom, nor are you expected to be all-powerful. And you certainly can’t handle all the glory. Mount Applause is the most seductive of the three peaks. The higher you climb the more people applaud, but the thinner the air becomes. More than one person has stood at the top and shouted, “Mine is the glory!” only to lose their balance and fall.
“Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.” What protection this final phrase affords. As you confess that God is in charge, you admit that you aren’t. As you proclaim that God has power, you admit that you don’t. And as you give God all the applause, there is none left to dizzy your brain.
From The Great House of God© (Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2001) Max Lucado
Monday, March 02, 2009
Ephesians 2:1-10
Made Alive with Christ
1 Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. 2 You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world.[a] He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. 3 All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else.
4 But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, 5 that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) 6 For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. 7 So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.
8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. 10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
1 Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. 2 You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world.[a] He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. 3 All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else.
4 But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, 5 that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) 6 For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. 7 So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.
8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. 10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
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