Commit Yourself to God
“So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.”
1st Peter 4:19
Just how committed are we to continually obey and follow the commandments of God every day of our lives? So often people become enthused and excited about their spiritual life, such as after a church revival, but as soon as the excitement wears off they are back to the daily routine and God begins to take a back seat to their other commitments. This reminds me of a story about a man in a fancy restaurant who started to choke on some food. A doctor rushed over, identified himself, and reassured the man that he was going to be all right. He performed the Heimlich maneuver and the food popped out. As the man’s breath and voice returned he said, “I’m ever so grateful, doctor, how can I ever repay you?’ The doctor smiled and said, “I’ll settle for one-tenth of what you were willing to pay while you were choking.” This is so true, as when we’re facing a crisis (especially a life threatening crisis), we would give everything we have to get through it. Money is no object. We do the same thing on a spiritual level. How many times have you faced a hardship or difficult time and prayed, “Lord, if you’ll just see me through this, I’ll serve you faithfully the rest of my life.” But what happens when the crisis passes? Those feelings of urgency about serving God pass as well. If we could commit ourselves to doing one-tenth of what we’re willing to do in those moments, most of us would ascend to a new level of commitment. I would encourage each of you to think about your commitment to God, and determine just how committed you really are to serving Him and obeying His commands. Now is the time to recommit yourself.
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Friday, July 30, 2010
My Daily Devotional
Jesus Loves Us
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
John 3:16
Have you ever really thought just how much Jesus must have loved us, to have suffered so much just to save us from our sins and give us an eternal life? I know that all of us would give our lives for our wife and children, but when it would come down to giving our lives for someone we never met, and suffering the way Jesus did on the cross many would probably hesitate. Have you ever thought how we show our love for our families today, and how Jesus would show His love? Jesus loves us so much that I can just imagine that our pictures are probably pasted on His refrigerator along with all our accomplishments. I can see His wallet completed stuffed with pictures of us, and Him constantly showing these to everyone He would meet and bragging about us. Every spring He sends us bouquets of flowers and the rain to make them grow. In the autumn He shows us the beauty of His creations as magnificent colors surround us everywhere we look. Every morning He sends us the sunrise to announce the beginning of a new day, and every afternoon gives us the beautiful colors of the sunset to signal there is peace in the land. He sends us beautiful rainbows to let us know the storms are over. Whenever we want to talk to Him, even late at night, He is always there to listen to us, no matter what time we call. We can tell Him all about our troubles, and He will listen, and patiently reassure us and give us peace and hope. Jesus could have chosen to live anywhere in the universe, but instead He chose to live in our heart. God sent us a Christmas gift at Bethlehem, but the greatest gift was the sacrifice that Jesus made that Friday at Calvary’s cross.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
John 3:16
Have you ever really thought just how much Jesus must have loved us, to have suffered so much just to save us from our sins and give us an eternal life? I know that all of us would give our lives for our wife and children, but when it would come down to giving our lives for someone we never met, and suffering the way Jesus did on the cross many would probably hesitate. Have you ever thought how we show our love for our families today, and how Jesus would show His love? Jesus loves us so much that I can just imagine that our pictures are probably pasted on His refrigerator along with all our accomplishments. I can see His wallet completed stuffed with pictures of us, and Him constantly showing these to everyone He would meet and bragging about us. Every spring He sends us bouquets of flowers and the rain to make them grow. In the autumn He shows us the beauty of His creations as magnificent colors surround us everywhere we look. Every morning He sends us the sunrise to announce the beginning of a new day, and every afternoon gives us the beautiful colors of the sunset to signal there is peace in the land. He sends us beautiful rainbows to let us know the storms are over. Whenever we want to talk to Him, even late at night, He is always there to listen to us, no matter what time we call. We can tell Him all about our troubles, and He will listen, and patiently reassure us and give us peace and hope. Jesus could have chosen to live anywhere in the universe, but instead He chose to live in our heart. God sent us a Christmas gift at Bethlehem, but the greatest gift was the sacrifice that Jesus made that Friday at Calvary’s cross.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
My Daily Devotional
Serve God Every Day
“Then he said to them all: if anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”
Luke 9:23
Several years ago I heard a dynamic speaker who spoke at our church. He was an eloquent speaker and really had the audience worked up by his rhetoric and his ability to get them enthused and excited. However underneath his sensationalism his words were not exactly what the Bible teaches us. In the book of 2nd John the Bible warns of false teachers, and tells us to “Watch Out”. So often Christians can be led astray by sensationalism, but this is nothing new, as there have always been speakers who know how to get people worked up and excited. Often this kind of speaker majors on excitement, and minors on Biblical truth, and sometimes teaches error. I believe that many Christians are gullible, which could be why they are called sheep, and many are led astray easily when they become excited and enthused by a gifted speaker, even when they are not speaking the truth. It is good to be excited, enthused and renewed from time to time by hearing the word of God taught by an exciting and enthusiastic man of God, however we need to keep this excitement and enthusiasm in our lives on a daily basis, not just occasionally. The scripture above says to “take up his cross daily” not just at special times. Do we think that we are only effective in serving Jesus when we are all revved up and excited? We need to always be excited and enthused about serving Jesus. I would hope that God’s power and presence can be seen in our everyday lives and not just at special times. This faithfulness in our every day life can be a powerful witness to others. We need to focus on glorifying God in our daily lives, even on those days that are average days, and ones that are not so exciting and sensational.
“Then he said to them all: if anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”
Luke 9:23
Several years ago I heard a dynamic speaker who spoke at our church. He was an eloquent speaker and really had the audience worked up by his rhetoric and his ability to get them enthused and excited. However underneath his sensationalism his words were not exactly what the Bible teaches us. In the book of 2nd John the Bible warns of false teachers, and tells us to “Watch Out”. So often Christians can be led astray by sensationalism, but this is nothing new, as there have always been speakers who know how to get people worked up and excited. Often this kind of speaker majors on excitement, and minors on Biblical truth, and sometimes teaches error. I believe that many Christians are gullible, which could be why they are called sheep, and many are led astray easily when they become excited and enthused by a gifted speaker, even when they are not speaking the truth. It is good to be excited, enthused and renewed from time to time by hearing the word of God taught by an exciting and enthusiastic man of God, however we need to keep this excitement and enthusiasm in our lives on a daily basis, not just occasionally. The scripture above says to “take up his cross daily” not just at special times. Do we think that we are only effective in serving Jesus when we are all revved up and excited? We need to always be excited and enthused about serving Jesus. I would hope that God’s power and presence can be seen in our everyday lives and not just at special times. This faithfulness in our every day life can be a powerful witness to others. We need to focus on glorifying God in our daily lives, even on those days that are average days, and ones that are not so exciting and sensational.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
My Daily Devotional
Keep our Faith
“Blessed are you when men hate you, when they exclude and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the son of man. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their fathers treated the prophets.”
Luke 6:22-23
Every successful person wants to be loved, admired and respected during their lives. But so often there are times when we are rebuked, rejected and talked about because of something we did or said. This is no different than what Jesus experienced in His life, as He was slandered, falsely accused, and even told He was possessed with devils. Countless accusations were hurled like stones against Jesus every day of His life. But, it never affected Him, as He knew what He was really about, as He believed in himself and in His mission. He knew that His accusers were ignorant, unlearned and arrogant, and that they simply feared Him. We should learn much from the life of Jesus as we know what we are also about. We know right from wrong and when we take a stand for doing what is right, there may be people who will talk about us, ridicule us and downgrade us, just as they did with Jesus. However we need to stand our ground and not give in to these pressures as the truth will triumph over evil. Jesus never strived to “look good” in the eyes of others, or to try to please others; He simply did what was right. This is the way we need to live our life, doing what is right in our eyes and not in the eyes and ways that others may see it. We should ignore our critics and keep our attention on our goal and stay focused on achieving it. We do not need to waste precious time defending and concerning ourselves what others say about us. We need to thank God for the strength and faithfulness to continue to be a person of truth and character.
“Blessed are you when men hate you, when they exclude and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the son of man. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their fathers treated the prophets.”
Luke 6:22-23
Every successful person wants to be loved, admired and respected during their lives. But so often there are times when we are rebuked, rejected and talked about because of something we did or said. This is no different than what Jesus experienced in His life, as He was slandered, falsely accused, and even told He was possessed with devils. Countless accusations were hurled like stones against Jesus every day of His life. But, it never affected Him, as He knew what He was really about, as He believed in himself and in His mission. He knew that His accusers were ignorant, unlearned and arrogant, and that they simply feared Him. We should learn much from the life of Jesus as we know what we are also about. We know right from wrong and when we take a stand for doing what is right, there may be people who will talk about us, ridicule us and downgrade us, just as they did with Jesus. However we need to stand our ground and not give in to these pressures as the truth will triumph over evil. Jesus never strived to “look good” in the eyes of others, or to try to please others; He simply did what was right. This is the way we need to live our life, doing what is right in our eyes and not in the eyes and ways that others may see it. We should ignore our critics and keep our attention on our goal and stay focused on achieving it. We do not need to waste precious time defending and concerning ourselves what others say about us. We need to thank God for the strength and faithfulness to continue to be a person of truth and character.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
My Daily Devotional
Be Patient and Prepared
“By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family.”
Hebrews 11:7
So often I have been guilty of not being patient enough and doing the proper preparation before I ventured out and committed myself to a task or project, and then have it become a failure and not succeed. I realize that a great concert pianist invests hundred of hours of practice before their concerts. They know that the quality of those many grueling hours of practice will prepare them for their greatest performance. The world champion heavyweight boxer knows that he must prepare himself before he steps into the ring with his opponent. So, for many weeks before his fight, he toils with his morning workout, running and exercise program. When Jesus began His ministry He had waited over thirty years preparing himself. His ministry was a short three and one half years, but His preparation time was thirty years. He was patient and did not begin until He was prepared and ready. The quality of preparation determines the quality of performance. Preparation time is never wasted time. Whatever business you are in it will take time to know your business. It will take time to know your product. It will take time to develop a list of customers and clients. Think about the life of Jesus. He saw hundreds die around Him because of sickness and disease. He saw thousands warped with the traditions and legalism of religious systems. But His time had not come, as He knew that His Father was letting Him grow and preparing Him for what lay ahead. “And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.” Luke 2:52. I would encourage each of you to be patient and keep your faith and trust in God, as He has great things planned for you and in His time will reveal these plans.
“By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family.”
Hebrews 11:7
So often I have been guilty of not being patient enough and doing the proper preparation before I ventured out and committed myself to a task or project, and then have it become a failure and not succeed. I realize that a great concert pianist invests hundred of hours of practice before their concerts. They know that the quality of those many grueling hours of practice will prepare them for their greatest performance. The world champion heavyweight boxer knows that he must prepare himself before he steps into the ring with his opponent. So, for many weeks before his fight, he toils with his morning workout, running and exercise program. When Jesus began His ministry He had waited over thirty years preparing himself. His ministry was a short three and one half years, but His preparation time was thirty years. He was patient and did not begin until He was prepared and ready. The quality of preparation determines the quality of performance. Preparation time is never wasted time. Whatever business you are in it will take time to know your business. It will take time to know your product. It will take time to develop a list of customers and clients. Think about the life of Jesus. He saw hundreds die around Him because of sickness and disease. He saw thousands warped with the traditions and legalism of religious systems. But His time had not come, as He knew that His Father was letting Him grow and preparing Him for what lay ahead. “And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.” Luke 2:52. I would encourage each of you to be patient and keep your faith and trust in God, as He has great things planned for you and in His time will reveal these plans.
Monday, July 26, 2010
My Daily Devotional
Take a Stand
“So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables.”
John 2:15
The scripture above describes the scene where Jesus cleansed the Temple which was being desecrated by evil. I have often thought about the kind of personality that Jesus must have had. We can see that He could become angry from the scripture above. We can also see that He was very compassionate, “As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it.” Luke 19:41. Jesus evidently was not afraid to show His emotions and feelings, as we can find instances such as this above, where He displayed both anger and compassion. He was enthusiastic when He saw a demonstration of faith, and He wept when He saw unbelief. The disciples were affected by the personality of Jesus, as they saw Him express His pleasure and displeasure first hand, and they changed the course of history by following His lead. I believe that we can learn much from the personality of Jesus. We need to be bold in expressing our opinions as He was. When things are not right we need to take a firm stand, just as Jesus did when He cleansed the temple, but we also need to be compassionate and understanding in other situations. Just as the personality of Jesus set the tone for His disciples, our personalities can set the tone for the people we come into contact with. We do not need to hide our feelings and emotions, but express them when we see things that are wrong, and also show compassion, love and understanding at the good things. We can be such an influence for good all around us, when we take a stand and not be afraid to express our feelings and opinions. We need to not be afraid to let others know about the things that matter in our lives.
“So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables.”
John 2:15
The scripture above describes the scene where Jesus cleansed the Temple which was being desecrated by evil. I have often thought about the kind of personality that Jesus must have had. We can see that He could become angry from the scripture above. We can also see that He was very compassionate, “As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it.” Luke 19:41. Jesus evidently was not afraid to show His emotions and feelings, as we can find instances such as this above, where He displayed both anger and compassion. He was enthusiastic when He saw a demonstration of faith, and He wept when He saw unbelief. The disciples were affected by the personality of Jesus, as they saw Him express His pleasure and displeasure first hand, and they changed the course of history by following His lead. I believe that we can learn much from the personality of Jesus. We need to be bold in expressing our opinions as He was. When things are not right we need to take a firm stand, just as Jesus did when He cleansed the temple, but we also need to be compassionate and understanding in other situations. Just as the personality of Jesus set the tone for His disciples, our personalities can set the tone for the people we come into contact with. We do not need to hide our feelings and emotions, but express them when we see things that are wrong, and also show compassion, love and understanding at the good things. We can be such an influence for good all around us, when we take a stand and not be afraid to express our feelings and opinions. We need to not be afraid to let others know about the things that matter in our lives.
Sunday, July 25, 2010
My Daily Devotional
Be a Tomorrow Thinker
“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.”
Isaiah 43:18
Are you a tomorrow thinker, or do you dwell in the past? I believe Jesus was a tomorrow thinker as when He met the Samaritan woman at the well, He barely mentioned that she had been married five times. He pointed her to her future. He said that he would give her water and she would never thirst again. Another example of tomorrow thinking concerns the woman caught in the act of adultery. Jesus never discussed her sin, but simply said unto her, “Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.” John 8:11. So often people get caught up in the past and dwell on past hurts, disappointments and situations that they have gone through and cannot plan for their futures. I realize that it is difficult to release the past hurts from our memories, but when we are unable to do so, we are not really able to focus on our futures the way we should. We must let go of our past and get on with our lives, as there is nothing we can do to change things that happened in the past, instead we have to plan for what lies ahead. Satan wants us to be constantly reminded of the past, as it brings us down and keeps reminding us of the failures, hurts and disappointments, and keeps us in the frame of mind where we are vulnerable to his attacks. Jesus is not concerned about your past, as when you are reborn and have accepted Jesus in your heart, the past is forgotten and you will start anew. We need to stop taking journeys into our past and start living for our tomorrows. We need to thank Jesus for giving us a new beginning, and pointing us to our future successes. We need to thank Him for wiping our hearts clean and giving us a chance for a better future. We can now move forward and not keep dwelling on what happened in the past, but focus on what is to come tomorrow.
“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.”
Isaiah 43:18
Are you a tomorrow thinker, or do you dwell in the past? I believe Jesus was a tomorrow thinker as when He met the Samaritan woman at the well, He barely mentioned that she had been married five times. He pointed her to her future. He said that he would give her water and she would never thirst again. Another example of tomorrow thinking concerns the woman caught in the act of adultery. Jesus never discussed her sin, but simply said unto her, “Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.” John 8:11. So often people get caught up in the past and dwell on past hurts, disappointments and situations that they have gone through and cannot plan for their futures. I realize that it is difficult to release the past hurts from our memories, but when we are unable to do so, we are not really able to focus on our futures the way we should. We must let go of our past and get on with our lives, as there is nothing we can do to change things that happened in the past, instead we have to plan for what lies ahead. Satan wants us to be constantly reminded of the past, as it brings us down and keeps reminding us of the failures, hurts and disappointments, and keeps us in the frame of mind where we are vulnerable to his attacks. Jesus is not concerned about your past, as when you are reborn and have accepted Jesus in your heart, the past is forgotten and you will start anew. We need to stop taking journeys into our past and start living for our tomorrows. We need to thank Jesus for giving us a new beginning, and pointing us to our future successes. We need to thank Him for wiping our hearts clean and giving us a chance for a better future. We can now move forward and not keep dwelling on what happened in the past, but focus on what is to come tomorrow.
Saturday, July 24, 2010
My Daily Devotional
Guard Yourself Against Greed
“Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”
Luke 12:15
Rich people are not always happy people. Your hands can be full of money; your head can be full of information, but if your heart is empty your life can be very empty. The Bible is filled with scriptures about money and material possessions and the power it can have over people. Just think for a moment. Most people probably possess more today than any of their ancestors ever imagined, and more than any time in their whole life. But do you feel more joy than you’ve ever had in your life? Do you laugh more now than you’ve ever laughed? Are you happier now than you’ve ever been? If you are truly honest with yourself you may find that you now have more money and more material possessions than you ever had, but you are not the happiest you have ever been. Jesus knew that money and material possessions does not bring happiness, but so often can do just the opposite, as man is never satisfied with what he owns but wants to accumulate more. Our prosperity should be measured by having enough to provide for our needs and to complete the purpose and plan God has for us. There are things that must matter more than our money and possessions. Jesus saw this and talked to the rich, and looked into their eyes and saw a longing for something that money could not buy. King Solomon was a wealthy king, yet he confessed “Therefore I hated life.” Ecclesiastes 2:17. I would encourage you that when you achieve success, please remind yourselves that money and possessions cannot bring you happiness, but giving it to others can. There are many other things in our lives that matter more than money.
“Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”
Luke 12:15
Rich people are not always happy people. Your hands can be full of money; your head can be full of information, but if your heart is empty your life can be very empty. The Bible is filled with scriptures about money and material possessions and the power it can have over people. Just think for a moment. Most people probably possess more today than any of their ancestors ever imagined, and more than any time in their whole life. But do you feel more joy than you’ve ever had in your life? Do you laugh more now than you’ve ever laughed? Are you happier now than you’ve ever been? If you are truly honest with yourself you may find that you now have more money and more material possessions than you ever had, but you are not the happiest you have ever been. Jesus knew that money and material possessions does not bring happiness, but so often can do just the opposite, as man is never satisfied with what he owns but wants to accumulate more. Our prosperity should be measured by having enough to provide for our needs and to complete the purpose and plan God has for us. There are things that must matter more than our money and possessions. Jesus saw this and talked to the rich, and looked into their eyes and saw a longing for something that money could not buy. King Solomon was a wealthy king, yet he confessed “Therefore I hated life.” Ecclesiastes 2:17. I would encourage you that when you achieve success, please remind yourselves that money and possessions cannot bring you happiness, but giving it to others can. There are many other things in our lives that matter more than money.
Friday, July 23, 2010
My Daily Devotional
God Will Provide a Way
“Therefore let everyone who is godly pray to you while you may be found; surely when the mighty waters rise, they will not reach him. You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.”
Psalm 32:6-7
The scripture above is one that all of us should aspire to, and claim as a promise of God that He will protect us and deliver us from our difficulties. Have you thought about what you do in your times of troubles and difficulties? Most of us are looking to friends, our pastor or a more experienced Christian to provide a certain level of instruction in spiritual things. These kinds of people are wonderful to have, and I believe accountability is an important key to our spiritual formation and growth. All of us have a need to have godly, spiritual guidance throughout our life, but Jesus gives us some advice about this when He said in Matthew 15:14 “If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a ditch.” We should rely on these people for comfort and counsel, but it is important to know the wisdom and guidance that only God gives. There is not much that is not covered in God’s word to help us get through the darkest moments. We are all going to have our trials and troubles as God tells us we will have, but there are also the assurances that God gives us that He will provide for us and protect us and get us through these times. The Israelites thought that things were hopeless when they arrived at the Red Sea, and saw the Egyptians behind them. They felt that they were doomed, but God provided a way for them and delivered them. When we see that there is no way out of our individual situations, God is still there and will provide a way for us as well. When we see our Red Seas in front of us, God can also part the waters and let us pass through to safety.
“Therefore let everyone who is godly pray to you while you may be found; surely when the mighty waters rise, they will not reach him. You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.”
Psalm 32:6-7
The scripture above is one that all of us should aspire to, and claim as a promise of God that He will protect us and deliver us from our difficulties. Have you thought about what you do in your times of troubles and difficulties? Most of us are looking to friends, our pastor or a more experienced Christian to provide a certain level of instruction in spiritual things. These kinds of people are wonderful to have, and I believe accountability is an important key to our spiritual formation and growth. All of us have a need to have godly, spiritual guidance throughout our life, but Jesus gives us some advice about this when He said in Matthew 15:14 “If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a ditch.” We should rely on these people for comfort and counsel, but it is important to know the wisdom and guidance that only God gives. There is not much that is not covered in God’s word to help us get through the darkest moments. We are all going to have our trials and troubles as God tells us we will have, but there are also the assurances that God gives us that He will provide for us and protect us and get us through these times. The Israelites thought that things were hopeless when they arrived at the Red Sea, and saw the Egyptians behind them. They felt that they were doomed, but God provided a way for them and delivered them. When we see that there is no way out of our individual situations, God is still there and will provide a way for us as well. When we see our Red Seas in front of us, God can also part the waters and let us pass through to safety.
Thursday, July 22, 2010
My Daily Devotional
God Opens Our Gates
“But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out.”
Acts 5:19
Have you ever thought of the miraculous deeds that God has performed which are accounted for in the Bible? The parting of the Red Sea to let the people of Israel escape, the healing of the blind, raising Lazarus from the dead and all the other miracles He performed. This simple example in the scripture above is just another example where God showed His power and rescued the apostles. But on other occasions He did not open the gates, as we find that James, the brother of John was put to death with a sword, John the Baptist was beheaded, and many of the early apostles remained in prison and were eventually killed. Why did God open the gates for some and did not open them for others. I believe that if God chooses not to open a gate, then other means of support will be provided. James was not freed from Herod, but through his faith in Jesus Christ, James did experience heaven’s open door. God can also open our gates and free us from bondage, but does He and why not? I believe that when God does not open our gates it is because He is telling us that He has better plans for us. So often we think that the gate we want opened is the right one for us, but God knows which gate we need to enter and even though we see this gate being closed, God is opening up another gate for us, an even better gate. He is leading us on the right path, as the one that we are traveling, many times is not the one He has designed for us. When our gates do not open we need to trust and have faith in God that they are not opened for our benefit. We need to thank Him always whether we are in front of a gate waiting for it to open, or through a gate on the other side, and be grateful that He is there with us leading and guiding us in His plan for us.
“But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out.”
Acts 5:19
Have you ever thought of the miraculous deeds that God has performed which are accounted for in the Bible? The parting of the Red Sea to let the people of Israel escape, the healing of the blind, raising Lazarus from the dead and all the other miracles He performed. This simple example in the scripture above is just another example where God showed His power and rescued the apostles. But on other occasions He did not open the gates, as we find that James, the brother of John was put to death with a sword, John the Baptist was beheaded, and many of the early apostles remained in prison and were eventually killed. Why did God open the gates for some and did not open them for others. I believe that if God chooses not to open a gate, then other means of support will be provided. James was not freed from Herod, but through his faith in Jesus Christ, James did experience heaven’s open door. God can also open our gates and free us from bondage, but does He and why not? I believe that when God does not open our gates it is because He is telling us that He has better plans for us. So often we think that the gate we want opened is the right one for us, but God knows which gate we need to enter and even though we see this gate being closed, God is opening up another gate for us, an even better gate. He is leading us on the right path, as the one that we are traveling, many times is not the one He has designed for us. When our gates do not open we need to trust and have faith in God that they are not opened for our benefit. We need to thank Him always whether we are in front of a gate waiting for it to open, or through a gate on the other side, and be grateful that He is there with us leading and guiding us in His plan for us.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
My Daily Devotional
Remove Sin From Your Life
“If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.”
Matthew 5:20
This past week I heard the story of a man who was clearing land in Pennsylvania. In the process, a tree rolled onto his leg causing a severe break and pinning him to the ground. He called for help, but no one came. He concluded that the only way to save his life would be to cut off his leg. So he made a tourniquet out of his shoestrings and proceeded to cut off his leg just below the knee. He then crawled to his truck where he drove to the nearest house who took him to the hospital. This man knew that he must remove a part of his body in order to live. This story reminded me about the scripture above, and just how much humans love to live. Jesus tells us that if one part of our body begins to contaminate the rest of our body that we need to remove it before it destroys all our body. Sin also can spread throughout us and destroy us, and Jesus warns us to be aware of this in so many ways. “But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” Matthew 5:28. Many people think that what they do with their bodies and their minds is no big deal, however if it’s sin that is driving them, it is still a sin and will eventually lead them to hell. Jesus is telling us that we must remove whatever is driving us to sin. If it is our eyes we must remove them, if it is our hearts we must change them. Whatever is causing us to remain in sin must be removed, because left unchecked it will contaminate and destroy the rest of us. God’s final judgment will determine the fate for each of us, and will decide whether we live forever in heaven with God, or face our eternity in hell, and the removal of sin from our life is critical.
“If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.”
Matthew 5:20
This past week I heard the story of a man who was clearing land in Pennsylvania. In the process, a tree rolled onto his leg causing a severe break and pinning him to the ground. He called for help, but no one came. He concluded that the only way to save his life would be to cut off his leg. So he made a tourniquet out of his shoestrings and proceeded to cut off his leg just below the knee. He then crawled to his truck where he drove to the nearest house who took him to the hospital. This man knew that he must remove a part of his body in order to live. This story reminded me about the scripture above, and just how much humans love to live. Jesus tells us that if one part of our body begins to contaminate the rest of our body that we need to remove it before it destroys all our body. Sin also can spread throughout us and destroy us, and Jesus warns us to be aware of this in so many ways. “But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” Matthew 5:28. Many people think that what they do with their bodies and their minds is no big deal, however if it’s sin that is driving them, it is still a sin and will eventually lead them to hell. Jesus is telling us that we must remove whatever is driving us to sin. If it is our eyes we must remove them, if it is our hearts we must change them. Whatever is causing us to remain in sin must be removed, because left unchecked it will contaminate and destroy the rest of us. God’s final judgment will determine the fate for each of us, and will decide whether we live forever in heaven with God, or face our eternity in hell, and the removal of sin from our life is critical.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
My Daily Devotional
Jesus Loves Us
“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”
James 1: 17
When I think about the scripture above where God tells us that every good and perfect gift are ones that He sends to each of us so freely, and we see the love that He has for us, which never changes no matter what we do, there is hardly any comparison to this kind of love. It is sometimes hard for people to show and express their love to others in a way that is instantly recognizable, but I believe that dogs do this about as well as anyone. We have a little dog named Teddy which we adopted about two years ago. The moment I enter the house he instantly shows his love for me by wanting to jump into my arms and brings me a toy of some kind. The love he shows is instantly demonstrated by his behavior. I can reward this kind of love by gathering him up in my arms and petting him, but how can we reward Jesus for His love. Our society has not done a very good job of rewarding Jesus. A good example can be seen in the humorous joke below. A fourth grader’s dog followed him to school one morning, and when the bell rang for class, the dog snuck inside the building and made it all the way to the boy’s classroom before a teacher noticed him and put him outside, and closed the door. The dog sat down, whimpered and stared at the closed doors. Then God appeared beside the dog, patted his head, and said, “Don’t feel bad fella’…they won’t let me in either.” Jesus loves us so much and many times we show little love in return. Our thoughts, our actions and our life’s should be centered on returning His love, and thanking Him for forgiving our sins and giving us eternal life, but we do so little to let Him know and return the love.
“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”
James 1: 17
When I think about the scripture above where God tells us that every good and perfect gift are ones that He sends to each of us so freely, and we see the love that He has for us, which never changes no matter what we do, there is hardly any comparison to this kind of love. It is sometimes hard for people to show and express their love to others in a way that is instantly recognizable, but I believe that dogs do this about as well as anyone. We have a little dog named Teddy which we adopted about two years ago. The moment I enter the house he instantly shows his love for me by wanting to jump into my arms and brings me a toy of some kind. The love he shows is instantly demonstrated by his behavior. I can reward this kind of love by gathering him up in my arms and petting him, but how can we reward Jesus for His love. Our society has not done a very good job of rewarding Jesus. A good example can be seen in the humorous joke below. A fourth grader’s dog followed him to school one morning, and when the bell rang for class, the dog snuck inside the building and made it all the way to the boy’s classroom before a teacher noticed him and put him outside, and closed the door. The dog sat down, whimpered and stared at the closed doors. Then God appeared beside the dog, patted his head, and said, “Don’t feel bad fella’…they won’t let me in either.” Jesus loves us so much and many times we show little love in return. Our thoughts, our actions and our life’s should be centered on returning His love, and thanking Him for forgiving our sins and giving us eternal life, but we do so little to let Him know and return the love.
Monday, July 19, 2010
My Daily Devotional
God’s Love for Us
“For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”
John 3: 17
It is sometimes hard to understand that there is nothing that we can do to make God love us more, and there is nothing we can do that can make God love us less. Why is this true? I have a dear friend who is battling with his fifteen year old daughter, as she is rebelling against any authority placed upon her. She has gotten into the wrong crowd, and they have influenced her and gotten her to follow their ways. Many nights she will not come home until very late, and even though her parents have tried every form of discipline, none have seemed to work. Several nights ago the parents were very angry as it was after 12 and their daughter was still not home, and they were becoming very angry. Yet when she finally came home, all they wanted to do was to take her in their arms and love her. Does this sound strange to you? Or does it sound like loving parents? When we sin we are much like this wayward daughter. Jesus, our Father, wants to welcome us back home with open arms, no matter what we have done or how much we have sinned. Nothing will or can keep Him from loving us. Our Father wants to love us so much that He sent His Son, Jesus, to die on the cross so that we can come back home and be welcomed with open arms. I would encourage any of you that are involved with anyone that has strayed away from the fold and gotten into the wrong crowd, become involved with drugs, alcohol, sex or any other activity, to think about what Jesus would do. The Bible is filled with how Jesus would react, as He would welcome them back with open arms and accept them back into His fold. He would forgive them of their sins and would accept them back into His kingdom and love them.
“For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”
John 3: 17
It is sometimes hard to understand that there is nothing that we can do to make God love us more, and there is nothing we can do that can make God love us less. Why is this true? I have a dear friend who is battling with his fifteen year old daughter, as she is rebelling against any authority placed upon her. She has gotten into the wrong crowd, and they have influenced her and gotten her to follow their ways. Many nights she will not come home until very late, and even though her parents have tried every form of discipline, none have seemed to work. Several nights ago the parents were very angry as it was after 12 and their daughter was still not home, and they were becoming very angry. Yet when she finally came home, all they wanted to do was to take her in their arms and love her. Does this sound strange to you? Or does it sound like loving parents? When we sin we are much like this wayward daughter. Jesus, our Father, wants to welcome us back home with open arms, no matter what we have done or how much we have sinned. Nothing will or can keep Him from loving us. Our Father wants to love us so much that He sent His Son, Jesus, to die on the cross so that we can come back home and be welcomed with open arms. I would encourage any of you that are involved with anyone that has strayed away from the fold and gotten into the wrong crowd, become involved with drugs, alcohol, sex or any other activity, to think about what Jesus would do. The Bible is filled with how Jesus would react, as He would welcome them back with open arms and accept them back into His fold. He would forgive them of their sins and would accept them back into His kingdom and love them.
Sunday, July 18, 2010
My Daily Devotional
Jesus Cares for Us
“But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.”
1st Timothy 6:11
Over the past ten years or so as I have been studying my Bible and seeking a closer walk with God, I have realized that the majority of my life was devoted to acquiring and obtaining the finer and nicer things in life, instead of being content and happy with things that would have met my needs but did not have the glamour or appeal. I remember the scene in the movie “Raiders of the Lost Ark, with Indiana Jones, where the man had to choose the cup that Christ used at the last supper. There were many cups on the table; most were gold or silver and very elaborate. These were the cups that most people would want and desire as they would have been worthy of a king. However the cup that Christ drank from was a very plain cup that was not impressive, but one that would have fitted the lifestyle of a carpenter. Just think that if we were in line at any event to get a cup of coffee, and we had to choose our cup from a table such as this, most of us would choose the most elaborate and expensive cup over the plain cup. I would also suspect that most people would be eyeing other people’s cup to see who got the best one. Now think about this: our life is the coffee, and the kind of person we are does not require any special cup or packaging. The jobs, houses, cars, things, money and our position in society is the cup. They are used to hold and contain our life. The type of cup we have does not define or change the quality of life that we live, but rather many times can contaminate it. So often we concentrate only on the cup, and fail to enjoy the coffee God has provided us. Just remember that God brews the coffee, not the cups. When you live your life following the way of our Savior the cup doesn’t matter, only the coffee matters to Jesus.
“But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.”
1st Timothy 6:11
Over the past ten years or so as I have been studying my Bible and seeking a closer walk with God, I have realized that the majority of my life was devoted to acquiring and obtaining the finer and nicer things in life, instead of being content and happy with things that would have met my needs but did not have the glamour or appeal. I remember the scene in the movie “Raiders of the Lost Ark, with Indiana Jones, where the man had to choose the cup that Christ used at the last supper. There were many cups on the table; most were gold or silver and very elaborate. These were the cups that most people would want and desire as they would have been worthy of a king. However the cup that Christ drank from was a very plain cup that was not impressive, but one that would have fitted the lifestyle of a carpenter. Just think that if we were in line at any event to get a cup of coffee, and we had to choose our cup from a table such as this, most of us would choose the most elaborate and expensive cup over the plain cup. I would also suspect that most people would be eyeing other people’s cup to see who got the best one. Now think about this: our life is the coffee, and the kind of person we are does not require any special cup or packaging. The jobs, houses, cars, things, money and our position in society is the cup. They are used to hold and contain our life. The type of cup we have does not define or change the quality of life that we live, but rather many times can contaminate it. So often we concentrate only on the cup, and fail to enjoy the coffee God has provided us. Just remember that God brews the coffee, not the cups. When you live your life following the way of our Savior the cup doesn’t matter, only the coffee matters to Jesus.
Saturday, July 17, 2010
My Daily Devotional
Our Battle with Satan
“Be self controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.”
1st Peter 5:8-9
Since becoming a Christian I am becoming more aware of the continual battle we face each day against Satan, the most persistent and intimidating enemy we will ever face. I have found that any time our defenses are down that he is ready to pounce and invade our minds, create doubt and bring fear into our life. Satan is not an enemy of flesh and blood, but rather a spirit being, and affects our minds and our thoughts which ultimately affect our actions. His sole arsenal of weapons is to cause havoc and confusion in our lives which gets us off the path that God has for our life. Usually we are most vulnerable when there is doubt and fear in our minds and the path is not well lighted for us to follow. Satan wants to discourage us and make us believe that we will never be successful, and that we will always be a failure. We need to remember that we are not alone in our battle against Satan as he is attacking all those around us, including our government, our justice system and all authority that governs us. He is a powerful enemy that must be resisted. God gives us the only way to do battle against Satan in Ephesians Chapter 6, “Finally be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 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.” There is only one defense against Satan and that is to use God as our weapon against him.
“Be self controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.”
1st Peter 5:8-9
Since becoming a Christian I am becoming more aware of the continual battle we face each day against Satan, the most persistent and intimidating enemy we will ever face. I have found that any time our defenses are down that he is ready to pounce and invade our minds, create doubt and bring fear into our life. Satan is not an enemy of flesh and blood, but rather a spirit being, and affects our minds and our thoughts which ultimately affect our actions. His sole arsenal of weapons is to cause havoc and confusion in our lives which gets us off the path that God has for our life. Usually we are most vulnerable when there is doubt and fear in our minds and the path is not well lighted for us to follow. Satan wants to discourage us and make us believe that we will never be successful, and that we will always be a failure. We need to remember that we are not alone in our battle against Satan as he is attacking all those around us, including our government, our justice system and all authority that governs us. He is a powerful enemy that must be resisted. God gives us the only way to do battle against Satan in Ephesians Chapter 6, “Finally be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 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.” There is only one defense against Satan and that is to use God as our weapon against him.
Friday, July 16, 2010
My Daily Devotional
Always Do What is Right
“To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.”
Proverbs 21:3
A few weeks ago several of us had a discussion during a Bible Study session about what the appropriate behavior should be when someone has made a mistake and given us too much change. There were several different opinions discussed as to how this should be handled. This discussion brought to mind a story that a pastor friend told me, and I believe is the real way to deal with this kind of situation. He said that when he first moved to town that he had an occasion to ride the bus from his home to the downtown area. When he sat down he realized that the bus driver had given him a quarter too much change. He thought for a few moments about what he should do, whether he should keep the quarter or give it back to the driver. It did not take him long to decide to give it back, and as he exited the bus he handed the quarter back to the driver and said, “You gave me too much change.” The driver smiled at him and said, “Aren’t you the new pastor in town? I have been thinking about starting to church and I just wanted to see what you would do if I gave you too much change. I will see you in Church on Sunday. This is such a good example as to how we react to situations may be the only Bible that some people will ever see, and should encourage each of us to always be aware of how much people watch us as Christians and will put us to the test. This is also such a valuable lesson that our sins will find us out in all our behavior and actions. Many times we may be the only contact they have with Jesus and our behavior and actions could make a difference in their lives. Always be on guard and remember (as I try to remember) that you carry the name of Christ on your shoulders when you call yourself a “Christian.”
“To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.”
Proverbs 21:3
A few weeks ago several of us had a discussion during a Bible Study session about what the appropriate behavior should be when someone has made a mistake and given us too much change. There were several different opinions discussed as to how this should be handled. This discussion brought to mind a story that a pastor friend told me, and I believe is the real way to deal with this kind of situation. He said that when he first moved to town that he had an occasion to ride the bus from his home to the downtown area. When he sat down he realized that the bus driver had given him a quarter too much change. He thought for a few moments about what he should do, whether he should keep the quarter or give it back to the driver. It did not take him long to decide to give it back, and as he exited the bus he handed the quarter back to the driver and said, “You gave me too much change.” The driver smiled at him and said, “Aren’t you the new pastor in town? I have been thinking about starting to church and I just wanted to see what you would do if I gave you too much change. I will see you in Church on Sunday. This is such a good example as to how we react to situations may be the only Bible that some people will ever see, and should encourage each of us to always be aware of how much people watch us as Christians and will put us to the test. This is also such a valuable lesson that our sins will find us out in all our behavior and actions. Many times we may be the only contact they have with Jesus and our behavior and actions could make a difference in their lives. Always be on guard and remember (as I try to remember) that you carry the name of Christ on your shoulders when you call yourself a “Christian.”
Thursday, July 8, 2010
My Daily Devotional
God’s Timing
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
Galatians 6:9
After many years of doing things on my own I am finally coming to the conclusion that everything is based on God’s timing. I know that my heart has been focused on doing what is right for the past ten years, and although I have already reaped a good harvest from my efforts, I have had thoughts of giving up many times because of what I thought was a lack of progress. Obeying scriptures like the one above is not always an easy thing to do. It is not easy sometimes to see a young man or woman become afflicted with a deadly disease, or to see disasters such as tornadoes and hurricanes destroy homes and take peoples lives. But I now feel that all these situations are all part of God’s plan and is part of His timing for everything. He tells us to have faith and trust in Him for everything, and I believe He tests our faith and trust by making us wait sometimes to see our results. I would encourage each of you, when storms begin raging in your lives, and when your mountains seem too steep to climb, to turn the situation over to Jesus and let Him calm the seas and get you to your mountain tops where you will find peace. When we have reached the end of our ropes and done what we think we can do, I believe that God knows all this, and will then step in and help us complete our journey and fulfill the plan He has for us. I know that when we plant a seed that sometimes it takes time to reap a harvest, and when we do good works in the name of Jesus, that it may take time for these works to really begin to bring forth fruit. All of these are best left to the timing of Jesus as we need to do what we are commanded to do, but the rest is in His hands and in His timing, and if we have done our part a good harvest will result.
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
Galatians 6:9
After many years of doing things on my own I am finally coming to the conclusion that everything is based on God’s timing. I know that my heart has been focused on doing what is right for the past ten years, and although I have already reaped a good harvest from my efforts, I have had thoughts of giving up many times because of what I thought was a lack of progress. Obeying scriptures like the one above is not always an easy thing to do. It is not easy sometimes to see a young man or woman become afflicted with a deadly disease, or to see disasters such as tornadoes and hurricanes destroy homes and take peoples lives. But I now feel that all these situations are all part of God’s plan and is part of His timing for everything. He tells us to have faith and trust in Him for everything, and I believe He tests our faith and trust by making us wait sometimes to see our results. I would encourage each of you, when storms begin raging in your lives, and when your mountains seem too steep to climb, to turn the situation over to Jesus and let Him calm the seas and get you to your mountain tops where you will find peace. When we have reached the end of our ropes and done what we think we can do, I believe that God knows all this, and will then step in and help us complete our journey and fulfill the plan He has for us. I know that when we plant a seed that sometimes it takes time to reap a harvest, and when we do good works in the name of Jesus, that it may take time for these works to really begin to bring forth fruit. All of these are best left to the timing of Jesus as we need to do what we are commanded to do, but the rest is in His hands and in His timing, and if we have done our part a good harvest will result.
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
My Daily Devotional
God’s Roadblocks
“In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps.”
Proverbs 16:9
Just last week as I was going to a board meeting there was a detour sign that said the bridge was out ahead, and that I needed to go another way to get to my meeting. This obviously told me that there was trouble ahead if I continued on the road I was on. This reminded me that maybe sometimes God is putting up roadblocks in front of us when he wants us to change directions in our lives. We all know the story of the children of Israel and their path to leave Egypt after four hundred years of captivity, and inherit their promised land. Instead of God taking the shortest way possible, which was only a eleven day journey, he took them through the wilderness which took 40 years. In another Biblical example God led Paul and Silas to a different area to preach the gospel instead of where they had planned to go, this change could have changed the course of history, as only God knew what His plans were for them. I know that God’s plans for my life have been different than what I had planned for myself, and I am confident that each of your lives is different as well. I also know that I have not been concerned where God is leading me, as I am following the course He has for me. I realize that it’s easy to become confused and sometimes upset when God puts up a detour sign in front of you, and appears to be blocking your way and not letting you go where you want to go. But these detours could be God’s way of keeping you on the right path. God is not there to hinder you in your journey if this is His plan for you, but when you begin to wander from your plan, God can bring you back to the right path by His roadblocks. So, the next time you see a roadblock ahead, look to God and determine if He wants you to change directions.
“In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps.”
Proverbs 16:9
Just last week as I was going to a board meeting there was a detour sign that said the bridge was out ahead, and that I needed to go another way to get to my meeting. This obviously told me that there was trouble ahead if I continued on the road I was on. This reminded me that maybe sometimes God is putting up roadblocks in front of us when he wants us to change directions in our lives. We all know the story of the children of Israel and their path to leave Egypt after four hundred years of captivity, and inherit their promised land. Instead of God taking the shortest way possible, which was only a eleven day journey, he took them through the wilderness which took 40 years. In another Biblical example God led Paul and Silas to a different area to preach the gospel instead of where they had planned to go, this change could have changed the course of history, as only God knew what His plans were for them. I know that God’s plans for my life have been different than what I had planned for myself, and I am confident that each of your lives is different as well. I also know that I have not been concerned where God is leading me, as I am following the course He has for me. I realize that it’s easy to become confused and sometimes upset when God puts up a detour sign in front of you, and appears to be blocking your way and not letting you go where you want to go. But these detours could be God’s way of keeping you on the right path. God is not there to hinder you in your journey if this is His plan for you, but when you begin to wander from your plan, God can bring you back to the right path by His roadblocks. So, the next time you see a roadblock ahead, look to God and determine if He wants you to change directions.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
My Daily Devotional
Do Not Judge
“Stop judging by mere appearances, and make a right judgment.”
John 7:24
So often in life we are all guilty of judging other people by what we see or believe to be true. The Bible tells us never to judge others because we do not know their hearts as only God can be the true judge of others. Things so often are not really what they seem to us and we can make serious mistakes when we begin to judge others, such as the humorous joke below. Henry and Ellen were both patients in a mental hospital. One day when they were walking past the hospital swimming pool, Henry suddenly jumped into the deep end, and slowly sank to the bottom. Ellen quickly jumped in to save him and pulled him to safety. The hospital doctor saw the act of heroism and immediately ordered that Ellen could be discharged, as she had shown good judgment and was now mentally stable. As Ellen was leaving the doctor came to wish her well and gave her some bad news, that Henry had hung himself after he got back to his room and was dead. Ellen replied, “He didn’t hang himself, I put him there to dry.” Can I go home now? This is what can happen when we try to know what really is going on with other people, and is in their hearts and minds. Things many times are not what they appear to be on the surface, as there are things that can cause people to react the way they do. Stress and anxiety, financial pressure, relationship issues and family situations can cause people to react in ways that we are not accustomed to them reacting. We need to withhold our judgment on others as we do not know the real situation behind their actions, as so often we can make mistakes that can damage someone forever. Only God can be the judge of others, and we need to leave their judgment solely to Him.
“Stop judging by mere appearances, and make a right judgment.”
John 7:24
So often in life we are all guilty of judging other people by what we see or believe to be true. The Bible tells us never to judge others because we do not know their hearts as only God can be the true judge of others. Things so often are not really what they seem to us and we can make serious mistakes when we begin to judge others, such as the humorous joke below. Henry and Ellen were both patients in a mental hospital. One day when they were walking past the hospital swimming pool, Henry suddenly jumped into the deep end, and slowly sank to the bottom. Ellen quickly jumped in to save him and pulled him to safety. The hospital doctor saw the act of heroism and immediately ordered that Ellen could be discharged, as she had shown good judgment and was now mentally stable. As Ellen was leaving the doctor came to wish her well and gave her some bad news, that Henry had hung himself after he got back to his room and was dead. Ellen replied, “He didn’t hang himself, I put him there to dry.” Can I go home now? This is what can happen when we try to know what really is going on with other people, and is in their hearts and minds. Things many times are not what they appear to be on the surface, as there are things that can cause people to react the way they do. Stress and anxiety, financial pressure, relationship issues and family situations can cause people to react in ways that we are not accustomed to them reacting. We need to withhold our judgment on others as we do not know the real situation behind their actions, as so often we can make mistakes that can damage someone forever. Only God can be the judge of others, and we need to leave their judgment solely to Him.
Monday, July 5, 2010
My Daily Devotional
Depend on God
“Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me, for in you my soul takes refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed.”
Psalm 57:1
For the past several years we have been going out to eat dinner each Sunday after church with my mother. During our way back home a few weeks ago we encountered one of the worst rainstorms that I’ve driven through in a long time. The rain was so fierce that you could barely see but a few feet in front of you. Many of the other drivers were pulling off the road or slowing down to a crawl, and putting on their warning lights. All the people in our car was warning me to slow down, or pull off the road, or telling me to be careful. I have found through the years that it is usually better to keep driving during these kinds of situations, but to slow down instead of pulling off the road, so I kept driving. This rainstorm reminded me that when you are going through a storm and difficulties in your life, it is so easy to pull over and quit as so many people do. Many people do stop and give up at the first sign of a problem, as they have experienced other difficulties and problems in their past and they were not resolved successfully, so they simply quit. I believe that whenever we are faced with our rainstorms in life that we need to turn them over to God, and listen to what He tells us to do. Many times our fate is in His hands, and God’s will, will be done regardless. But just knowing that God is with us in our times of trouble is usually sufficient to get us through our difficult times. So don’t pull over and quit when your next rainstorm or difficulties come, but look up to your Heavenly Father, depend on Him to lead and guide you, and you will gain the peace that you will need to go through any storm.
“Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me, for in you my soul takes refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed.”
Psalm 57:1
For the past several years we have been going out to eat dinner each Sunday after church with my mother. During our way back home a few weeks ago we encountered one of the worst rainstorms that I’ve driven through in a long time. The rain was so fierce that you could barely see but a few feet in front of you. Many of the other drivers were pulling off the road or slowing down to a crawl, and putting on their warning lights. All the people in our car was warning me to slow down, or pull off the road, or telling me to be careful. I have found through the years that it is usually better to keep driving during these kinds of situations, but to slow down instead of pulling off the road, so I kept driving. This rainstorm reminded me that when you are going through a storm and difficulties in your life, it is so easy to pull over and quit as so many people do. Many people do stop and give up at the first sign of a problem, as they have experienced other difficulties and problems in their past and they were not resolved successfully, so they simply quit. I believe that whenever we are faced with our rainstorms in life that we need to turn them over to God, and listen to what He tells us to do. Many times our fate is in His hands, and God’s will, will be done regardless. But just knowing that God is with us in our times of trouble is usually sufficient to get us through our difficult times. So don’t pull over and quit when your next rainstorm or difficulties come, but look up to your Heavenly Father, depend on Him to lead and guide you, and you will gain the peace that you will need to go through any storm.
Sunday, July 4, 2010
My Daily Devotional
Begin Your Day With Jesus
“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
Matthew 6:33
What do you do when you wake up in the morning? Do you immediately begin to thank God for giving you another day, or does your mind even think about God? This is an important question for you to think about. God’s first and greatest commandment was that we should love God with all our hearts, with all our minds and with all our strength. If we are to love someone more than anything else in this world, our minds should forever be centered around them. If we have a newborn baby we would typically think about it the moment we wake each morning and rush in to its room to make sure it is all right. If we really love Jesus more than anything we should awake each morning and rush to Him to make sure everything is ok as well. Satan is also ready and waiting for us to wake up and wants to be the first to influence the hours ahead. He will make our life confused as he wants us to be consumed with what we are going to eat, what we will wear, what we will do and where we will go; anything to keep our mind focused away from Jesus. I am afraid that so many people do not wake up with Jesus first in their lives, as their minds wander and they begin to think about what Satan wants them to think about. The thought of Jesus usually is far down the list of what first occupies the thoughts of so many. It is extremely important that we need to talk to God first each day, and ask Him to watch over us and lead and guide us in the hours ahead. Taking time with God every morning takes practice and discipline, but is something that should be number one on our priority list. I would encourage each of you to begin to be aware of who you think about each morning when you awake. Is it Jesus?
“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
Matthew 6:33
What do you do when you wake up in the morning? Do you immediately begin to thank God for giving you another day, or does your mind even think about God? This is an important question for you to think about. God’s first and greatest commandment was that we should love God with all our hearts, with all our minds and with all our strength. If we are to love someone more than anything else in this world, our minds should forever be centered around them. If we have a newborn baby we would typically think about it the moment we wake each morning and rush in to its room to make sure it is all right. If we really love Jesus more than anything we should awake each morning and rush to Him to make sure everything is ok as well. Satan is also ready and waiting for us to wake up and wants to be the first to influence the hours ahead. He will make our life confused as he wants us to be consumed with what we are going to eat, what we will wear, what we will do and where we will go; anything to keep our mind focused away from Jesus. I am afraid that so many people do not wake up with Jesus first in their lives, as their minds wander and they begin to think about what Satan wants them to think about. The thought of Jesus usually is far down the list of what first occupies the thoughts of so many. It is extremely important that we need to talk to God first each day, and ask Him to watch over us and lead and guide us in the hours ahead. Taking time with God every morning takes practice and discipline, but is something that should be number one on our priority list. I would encourage each of you to begin to be aware of who you think about each morning when you awake. Is it Jesus?
Saturday, July 3, 2010
My Daily Devotional
Learn From Our Mistakes
“No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”
Hebrews 12:11
I can remember many times where I have made mistakes either as a child, in my family and also in my business life which I have been disciplined for. I am not alone as we have all made mistakes in all aspects of our personal and business lives which we have been disciplined for. All of us are also going to continue to make mistakes in the future as we are not perfect and mistakes will happen. The real question that we need to ask ourselves when we make mistakes is how we handle our mistakes. When others do something to harm us we are to forgive them. When we make mistakes we need to forgive ourselves. We need to move on and need to learn from our mistakes as they can become valuable life lessons instead of being crippling defeats. Failure is not something that we need to feel guilty about, as it is a part of life. God tells us that we are not perfect and will make mistakes, and I believe He wants us to learn and grow from these times of disappointments. The scripture above provides much wisdom that tells us that even though our mistake and discipline may be hard to take at the time that it will produce a greater harvest later on in our lives. We need to learn from our mistakes, and each time we fail we will learn just a little more. Each of our mistakes is simply a stepping stone that we can use to build and improve ourselves. We need to use each failure and mistake as our stepping stones to becoming more Christ like, and becoming more of the person Jesus wants us to be. These mistakes and failures may just be God’s way to show us that we were on the wrong path, and that He placed this detour in our path to get us back on the right road.
“No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”
Hebrews 12:11
I can remember many times where I have made mistakes either as a child, in my family and also in my business life which I have been disciplined for. I am not alone as we have all made mistakes in all aspects of our personal and business lives which we have been disciplined for. All of us are also going to continue to make mistakes in the future as we are not perfect and mistakes will happen. The real question that we need to ask ourselves when we make mistakes is how we handle our mistakes. When others do something to harm us we are to forgive them. When we make mistakes we need to forgive ourselves. We need to move on and need to learn from our mistakes as they can become valuable life lessons instead of being crippling defeats. Failure is not something that we need to feel guilty about, as it is a part of life. God tells us that we are not perfect and will make mistakes, and I believe He wants us to learn and grow from these times of disappointments. The scripture above provides much wisdom that tells us that even though our mistake and discipline may be hard to take at the time that it will produce a greater harvest later on in our lives. We need to learn from our mistakes, and each time we fail we will learn just a little more. Each of our mistakes is simply a stepping stone that we can use to build and improve ourselves. We need to use each failure and mistake as our stepping stones to becoming more Christ like, and becoming more of the person Jesus wants us to be. These mistakes and failures may just be God’s way to show us that we were on the wrong path, and that He placed this detour in our path to get us back on the right road.
Friday, July 2, 2010
My Daily Devotional
The Battlefield for our Souls
“Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.”
Matthew 3:8
Several years ago I heard a sermon from the Reverend Billy Graham who said something that has stayed with me for all this time. He said that when it comes to our spiritual walk, we are doing one of two things. We are either moving forward or falling back. There is no in between. As I think about this I can agree with him completely, as I have had periods of time since then that I have been enthused about reading my Bible each day and studying and seeking more wisdom from God about my life. These were the times that I was moving forward in my walk with God. Then there were times that I would put my Bible down for a day or two, maybe a week as I became too busy with other things. These were the times I was falling back. Many times when I only read and study for just a few minutes I am still moving forward, but it is when I stop completely I fall back. Just a little time with God each day lets us continue to move forward. The more time we spend with him, the farther along we will be, but just a little time each day lets us continue to grow and become a better person. The more time we spend with God each day the more fruit we will produce, as we will begin to better obey and follow God’s commands for our lives. There is a constant battle in each of our lives as Satan is competing for us as well. He will attempt and devise ways where we use our time and our talents for his purposes of evil instead of good. When we are moving forward this tells us that God is winning the battle, but when we move backward Satan is winning. Our life is the ultimate battlefield on which the most important war of all times is being fought, with the trophy being our souls. We need to keep our minds and our life focused on Jesus and use all the armor that God provides to defeat Satan as our life is in the balance.
“Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.”
Matthew 3:8
Several years ago I heard a sermon from the Reverend Billy Graham who said something that has stayed with me for all this time. He said that when it comes to our spiritual walk, we are doing one of two things. We are either moving forward or falling back. There is no in between. As I think about this I can agree with him completely, as I have had periods of time since then that I have been enthused about reading my Bible each day and studying and seeking more wisdom from God about my life. These were the times that I was moving forward in my walk with God. Then there were times that I would put my Bible down for a day or two, maybe a week as I became too busy with other things. These were the times I was falling back. Many times when I only read and study for just a few minutes I am still moving forward, but it is when I stop completely I fall back. Just a little time with God each day lets us continue to move forward. The more time we spend with him, the farther along we will be, but just a little time each day lets us continue to grow and become a better person. The more time we spend with God each day the more fruit we will produce, as we will begin to better obey and follow God’s commands for our lives. There is a constant battle in each of our lives as Satan is competing for us as well. He will attempt and devise ways where we use our time and our talents for his purposes of evil instead of good. When we are moving forward this tells us that God is winning the battle, but when we move backward Satan is winning. Our life is the ultimate battlefield on which the most important war of all times is being fought, with the trophy being our souls. We need to keep our minds and our life focused on Jesus and use all the armor that God provides to defeat Satan as our life is in the balance.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
My Daily Devotional
May God Give You Peace
“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
John 14:27
How important is peace to you? Peace was important to the people of Israel as throughout their history they prospered when they were at peace with their enemies. The times they were at peace they were also following and obeying the commands of God. Peace is something that we all want and need. However there is so much going on in the world today that for many of us there are times when we have no peace. There are so many problems in society with our jobs, our relationships, our finances, our spouse and our children, that it is difficult to find peace anywhere. Our attitudes, our emotions and our actions all become confused because of the lack of peace. I believe this is due largely to the fact that so many people are removing God from their lives. The history of the people of Israel reveals so much as to what the power of God can do in our lives when we obey Him and follow His commandments. When the Israelites prospered they were mostly at peace with themselves and were following the ways of God and obeying His commandments. In the scripture above Jesus tells us that He will give us peace, and that we are not to be troubled or afraid. So often we think of peace only when things are going our way and times are good. However Jesus warns us that there will be times of troubles and trials for us all, but that doesn’t mean that the peace and joy of the Lord has to vanish instantly. The Lord’s peace is never failing and will always be with us. The world’s peace can vanish and fade away but God’s peace will stay with us forever. When you are in need of peace in your life turn to Jesus and He will give you peace.
“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
John 14:27
How important is peace to you? Peace was important to the people of Israel as throughout their history they prospered when they were at peace with their enemies. The times they were at peace they were also following and obeying the commands of God. Peace is something that we all want and need. However there is so much going on in the world today that for many of us there are times when we have no peace. There are so many problems in society with our jobs, our relationships, our finances, our spouse and our children, that it is difficult to find peace anywhere. Our attitudes, our emotions and our actions all become confused because of the lack of peace. I believe this is due largely to the fact that so many people are removing God from their lives. The history of the people of Israel reveals so much as to what the power of God can do in our lives when we obey Him and follow His commandments. When the Israelites prospered they were mostly at peace with themselves and were following the ways of God and obeying His commandments. In the scripture above Jesus tells us that He will give us peace, and that we are not to be troubled or afraid. So often we think of peace only when things are going our way and times are good. However Jesus warns us that there will be times of troubles and trials for us all, but that doesn’t mean that the peace and joy of the Lord has to vanish instantly. The Lord’s peace is never failing and will always be with us. The world’s peace can vanish and fade away but God’s peace will stay with us forever. When you are in need of peace in your life turn to Jesus and He will give you peace.
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