Titus 2:9-10
Slaves must always obey their masters and do their best to please them. They must not talk back or steal, but must show themselves to be entirely trustworthy and good. Then they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive in every way. (NLT)
We may think it terrible to think about slaves and masters. I know my great grandfather Evans was from Massachusetts and fought in the civil war to free the slaves in this country. But don't we have a similar situation in our workplace today?
We may be free and lead our own life outside of work, but during those working hours we are just as beholding to our boss as those slaves were back then to their masters. Of course the penalties for not obeying were much stricter, even unto death.
We are to show ourselves trustworthy in all we do and be an example to the world around us of the love of Jesus.
Monday, July 25, 2011
Monday, July 18, 2011
The Good Silver
2 Timothy 2:20-21
In a wealthy home some utensils are made of gold and silver, and some are made of wood and clay. The expensive utensils are used for special occasions, and the cheap ones are for everyday use. If you keep yourself pure, you will be a special utensil for honorable use. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work. (NLT)
When I was growing up my mother had every day forks, knives, and spoons we used for all our meals. Then there was that special set stored in the dining room in a drawer with felt cloths covering them. They were sterling silver and only used on very special occasions like when my father's family would come for dinner.
Before use each had to be polished with a special silver cleaner. For those occasions we also had individual silver napkin holders engraved with our initials that held our cloth napkin and a set of dishes that were not used on a daily basis also known as the good china.
What is our life like? Do we have two sets of "me"; one we take out when around other's we value as Christians and another around our everyday friends? Which set is the real us?
Who we are every day is a reflection of the real person. If our day-to-day lifestyle is not a reflection of Christ, then who really lives in us?
As we allow our relationship with Jesus to grow, it becomes easier to live a clean life. Our everyday "me" will be the reflection of Him and that old "me" will never have to be seen again.
So let's keep our selves pure, so we will be a special utensil for honorable use. For we desire our life to be clean, and ready for the Master to use us for every good work.
In a wealthy home some utensils are made of gold and silver, and some are made of wood and clay. The expensive utensils are used for special occasions, and the cheap ones are for everyday use. If you keep yourself pure, you will be a special utensil for honorable use. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work. (NLT)
When I was growing up my mother had every day forks, knives, and spoons we used for all our meals. Then there was that special set stored in the dining room in a drawer with felt cloths covering them. They were sterling silver and only used on very special occasions like when my father's family would come for dinner.
Before use each had to be polished with a special silver cleaner. For those occasions we also had individual silver napkin holders engraved with our initials that held our cloth napkin and a set of dishes that were not used on a daily basis also known as the good china.
What is our life like? Do we have two sets of "me"; one we take out when around other's we value as Christians and another around our everyday friends? Which set is the real us?
Who we are every day is a reflection of the real person. If our day-to-day lifestyle is not a reflection of Christ, then who really lives in us?
As we allow our relationship with Jesus to grow, it becomes easier to live a clean life. Our everyday "me" will be the reflection of Him and that old "me" will never have to be seen again.
So let's keep our selves pure, so we will be a special utensil for honorable use. For we desire our life to be clean, and ready for the Master to use us for every good work.
Monday, July 11, 2011
Fulfilling the Law
Galatians 3:10
Those who depend on the law to make them right with God are under his curse, for the Scriptures say, "Cursed is everyone who does not observe and obey all the commands that are written in God's Book of the Law." (NLT)
Before Christ it was easy to know the laws to be obeyed. Think about it; there were the Ten Commandments. All those after Moses probably knew them by heart. And they still could not obey them. As hard as they tried, they fell into one mistake after another.
Then religion came into the act and created more laws. Laws are like rabbits; they seem to multiply at an ever increasing pace.
Today we have so many laws on the books that nobody can know them all. And yet ignorance of the laws of the land is not a sufficient excuse for breaking them. We are guilty of breaking laws each day that we do not even know of.
How about that speed limit sign you missed seeing? The officer pulled you over and you asked why. When he told you about the speed limit and what he clocked you traveling at, you responded that you never saw the sign. Ignorance is no excuse. You were guilty and had to pay the fine.
John 15:12 This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. (NLT)
Mark 16:15 Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone. (NLT)
Jesus came to fulfill the law. He came to take away from us the burden of fulfilling it to satisfy requirements to be made right with God. He gave us one commandment and a commission. Yet, He made us right with God by having us simply believe in Him.
As we live out this Christian life as born again believers, we are not made wrong with God when we fail to fulfill that commandment or miss an opportunity to fulfill the great commission. Once made right, we remain.
This does not mean we have the right to ignore Jesus' commandments or the great commission. We cannot turn our back on them or we are turning our back on Jesus. We have a responsibility to work out our salvation doing what the Holy Spirit leads us into knowing that He will never give us a task we are not capable of fulfilling.
Those who depend on the law to make them right with God are under his curse, for the Scriptures say, "Cursed is everyone who does not observe and obey all the commands that are written in God's Book of the Law." (NLT)
Before Christ it was easy to know the laws to be obeyed. Think about it; there were the Ten Commandments. All those after Moses probably knew them by heart. And they still could not obey them. As hard as they tried, they fell into one mistake after another.
Then religion came into the act and created more laws. Laws are like rabbits; they seem to multiply at an ever increasing pace.
Today we have so many laws on the books that nobody can know them all. And yet ignorance of the laws of the land is not a sufficient excuse for breaking them. We are guilty of breaking laws each day that we do not even know of.
How about that speed limit sign you missed seeing? The officer pulled you over and you asked why. When he told you about the speed limit and what he clocked you traveling at, you responded that you never saw the sign. Ignorance is no excuse. You were guilty and had to pay the fine.
John 15:12 This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. (NLT)
Mark 16:15 Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone. (NLT)
Jesus came to fulfill the law. He came to take away from us the burden of fulfilling it to satisfy requirements to be made right with God. He gave us one commandment and a commission. Yet, He made us right with God by having us simply believe in Him.
As we live out this Christian life as born again believers, we are not made wrong with God when we fail to fulfill that commandment or miss an opportunity to fulfill the great commission. Once made right, we remain.
This does not mean we have the right to ignore Jesus' commandments or the great commission. We cannot turn our back on them or we are turning our back on Jesus. We have a responsibility to work out our salvation doing what the Holy Spirit leads us into knowing that He will never give us a task we are not capable of fulfilling.
Monday, July 04, 2011
Freedom
Galatians 5:13
You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. (NIV)
Every day I am thankful for the freedom we have in this country of ours. As much as we may complain there is not another to compare us to. Even just having the freedom to complain is unheard of in other places.
Our freedom is based on the freedom Jesus died for us to have. In our following of God's principles which we read about in His Holy Word, we exercise freedom in all we do and say. It is freedom in Christ it was all based on. This country was founded on Christian principles and as hard as the enemy tries to change it, we continue to be led by His principles laid out over two hundred years ago by our founding fathers.
In freedom we have choice and of course that includes the freedom to choose to follow the enemy instead of God. And we make choices every day that push and pull us off the line leading to truth and eternity with our Father God.
If we truly follow the principles laid out in the Bible and the leading of the Christ within, the Holy Spirit, we will continue to walk in that freedom and our rewards will be great.
But our freedom of choice allows us to step over the line and indulged the sinful nature present in each of us. This is what has us ignore the speed laws, accept payment "under the table", tell white lies, get angry at other drivers giving them the one finger salute, drink and drive, cheat on our taxes, steal cable channels, and more. You know what you do, but may not attribute it to your sinful nature.
"Lord God, help us toe the line. Give us the wisdom to know when we are tempted to cross that line and indulge in sin. Open our ears to the cry of the Holy Spirit warning us. When we mess up, accept our apology and forgive us. In Jesus name; Amen."
You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. (NIV)
Every day I am thankful for the freedom we have in this country of ours. As much as we may complain there is not another to compare us to. Even just having the freedom to complain is unheard of in other places.
Our freedom is based on the freedom Jesus died for us to have. In our following of God's principles which we read about in His Holy Word, we exercise freedom in all we do and say. It is freedom in Christ it was all based on. This country was founded on Christian principles and as hard as the enemy tries to change it, we continue to be led by His principles laid out over two hundred years ago by our founding fathers.
In freedom we have choice and of course that includes the freedom to choose to follow the enemy instead of God. And we make choices every day that push and pull us off the line leading to truth and eternity with our Father God.
If we truly follow the principles laid out in the Bible and the leading of the Christ within, the Holy Spirit, we will continue to walk in that freedom and our rewards will be great.
But our freedom of choice allows us to step over the line and indulged the sinful nature present in each of us. This is what has us ignore the speed laws, accept payment "under the table", tell white lies, get angry at other drivers giving them the one finger salute, drink and drive, cheat on our taxes, steal cable channels, and more. You know what you do, but may not attribute it to your sinful nature.
"Lord God, help us toe the line. Give us the wisdom to know when we are tempted to cross that line and indulge in sin. Open our ears to the cry of the Holy Spirit warning us. When we mess up, accept our apology and forgive us. In Jesus name; Amen."
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