Philippians 2:14-16
Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people. (NLT)
Sounds just like me. Right! I wish this is how others saw me all the time. But it is probably not true. I can be seen complaining and arguing. When I am right, how can I help but challenge those who disagree with me?
It is tough to live life in this fast paced, competitive world and be the person this passage is suggesting. However, this is what we should be like. As believers and followers of Jesus who was just like this, doesn't God expect it of us?
How can we be shining His light in the world if we are engaging in things others can criticize us for? Being a believer is not a "do as I say not as I do" venture.
"Father, I know I fall short as I live this life you gave me. I want to be just like Jesus in all I do and say. Help me. Change me. Make me a living example of Jesus to all I come in contact with. In Jesus name, I pray."
Monday, January 28, 2013
Monday, January 21, 2013
Gossip
Proverbs 26:20.
Fire goes out without wood, and quarrels disappear when gossip stops. (NLT)
I wish I could say I am not one to gossip. But I guess I am. We just cannot seem to keep our nose out of others business. Of course everyone wants to tell us their business. That is not gossip. When we tell others about what they told us it becomes gossip.
Often we might meddle just to get the latest scoop on what is happening. Then we tell others what we heard and that is gossip.
Fact is, it is easier to deal with everyone elses stuff than to deal with our own. It is easy to understand their problems. We even have answers for them. We can tell them exactly why they are in the middle of their mess and what they have to do to fix it. This probably is because of all the movies and television we have watched. Isn't that where we get to be detectives and psychologists?
They ought to give a degree for the amount of crime shows we have digested. Go to college and earn an AS, BS, or PHD. Watch enough television and earn a TV degree.
It is often the meddling and resultant gossip that causes quarrels among family members and friends. If we could just stop the gossip, the quarrels will disappear.
Fire goes out without wood, and quarrels disappear when gossip stops. (NLT)
I wish I could say I am not one to gossip. But I guess I am. We just cannot seem to keep our nose out of others business. Of course everyone wants to tell us their business. That is not gossip. When we tell others about what they told us it becomes gossip.
Often we might meddle just to get the latest scoop on what is happening. Then we tell others what we heard and that is gossip.
Fact is, it is easier to deal with everyone elses stuff than to deal with our own. It is easy to understand their problems. We even have answers for them. We can tell them exactly why they are in the middle of their mess and what they have to do to fix it. This probably is because of all the movies and television we have watched. Isn't that where we get to be detectives and psychologists?
They ought to give a degree for the amount of crime shows we have digested. Go to college and earn an AS, BS, or PHD. Watch enough television and earn a TV degree.
It is often the meddling and resultant gossip that causes quarrels among family members and friends. If we could just stop the gossip, the quarrels will disappear.
Monday, January 14, 2013
He Intercedes
Hebrews 7:25.
Therefore he is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf. (NLT)
When I was growing up my parents had my back. They were praying for me and there for me whenever I did anything wrong and encouraging me through good and bad times as I learned to stand on my own two feet. Of course I did not realize this until I was a bit older and on my own.
Even later in life as I dealt with grown up issues, I know they were back at their home interceding for me. And I am sure you are doing the same for those close to you. We care and pray for those we love without any need for them to know we are doing so.
As believers who have asked Jesus into our hearts, He forever intercedes for us. He is a shield between us and the Father only allowing our best to pass through. He protects us and forgives us as we go about our lives bouncing from temptation to temptation trying hard to live as He who lives in us.
Monday, January 07, 2013
Drifting Away
Hebrews 2:1
So we must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it. (NLT)
It is so easy to drift away. Remember those friends you had at the last job your worked at? There were some you were close to, even did things with them outside of work. Then you left for another job. You still lived in the same city, but your relationship with them drifted away to a card at Christmas or perhaps to no contact at all.
Daily contact kept that relationship alive. Keeping in contact is a conscience decision we have to make. Sure the phone rings both ways, but that is not an excuse for not making the effort. And today with emailing, texting, and Facebook there is no reason we cannot retain some type of contact with others.
What about our relationship with God? Have we kept in contact with Him? Do we take the time to talk to Him, to pray to Him, to read His Word daily? That conscience decision of ours to stay in touch is all it takes to keep us from drifting away from Him.
So we must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it. (NLT)
It is so easy to drift away. Remember those friends you had at the last job your worked at? There were some you were close to, even did things with them outside of work. Then you left for another job. You still lived in the same city, but your relationship with them drifted away to a card at Christmas or perhaps to no contact at all.
Daily contact kept that relationship alive. Keeping in contact is a conscience decision we have to make. Sure the phone rings both ways, but that is not an excuse for not making the effort. And today with emailing, texting, and Facebook there is no reason we cannot retain some type of contact with others.
What about our relationship with God? Have we kept in contact with Him? Do we take the time to talk to Him, to pray to Him, to read His Word daily? That conscience decision of ours to stay in touch is all it takes to keep us from drifting away from Him.
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