Acts 20:35 NLT
And I have been a constant example of how you can help those in need by working hard. You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"
In society we are filled with workers dedicated to serve their superiors so they can keep their job and depend on that weekly paycheck. The basic desire to serve is out of a need to be paid not a desire to bless them.
Oh that is not true, you say. Consider this. When you leave one job for another you no longer have any thought of serving your former bosses. The need is gone for they no longer have any control over you or your paycheck.
God has given us each gifts to serve the body of Christ. This has nothing to do with finances. It has everything to do with helping each other grow in our relationship with God. For the gifts are given to build up the body of Christ.
"Lord show me how I can serve my fellow Christians today. How I can be a blessing to each I come in contact with. Teach me how to pray for their needs. In Jesus name I pray."
Monday, October 28, 2013
Monday, October 21, 2013
Morally Right Lives
Jude 1:4 NLT
I say this because some ungodly people have wormed their way into your churches, saying that God's marvelous grace allows us to live immoral lives. The condemnation of such people was recorded long ago, for they have denied our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.
If they took down all the speed limit signs on the highway would it be lawful for us to go as fast as we wanted? Of course not. The speed limit is the same even if you don't see the sign. If you do not think so just try going as fast as you want. When you get pulled over explain that you did not see the sign and see how that works for you.
By God's grace we are saved. It is not a get of out jail free card. Jesus came to fulfill the law, but not to abolish it. We still have to live an upstanding life guided by His laws. Because of His grace we will not be judged worthy based on our living up to the law. However, grace does not give us a license to blatantly ignore Him and do whatever we want.
His commandments show us how to live a morally right life. The world shows us what it thinks is morally right. The world's view on morality changes like the wind. What was good years ago is the opposite today. More and more we see our society shifting away from God. Let us not do the same. There is no shifting with God. What He established years ago stands firm today.
"Father, help me to stand on your Word in all I do here on earth. Holy Spirit guide me into each day and help be be ready to be the Light of Jesus to all I come in contact with. In Jesus name I pray."
I say this because some ungodly people have wormed their way into your churches, saying that God's marvelous grace allows us to live immoral lives. The condemnation of such people was recorded long ago, for they have denied our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.
If they took down all the speed limit signs on the highway would it be lawful for us to go as fast as we wanted? Of course not. The speed limit is the same even if you don't see the sign. If you do not think so just try going as fast as you want. When you get pulled over explain that you did not see the sign and see how that works for you.
By God's grace we are saved. It is not a get of out jail free card. Jesus came to fulfill the law, but not to abolish it. We still have to live an upstanding life guided by His laws. Because of His grace we will not be judged worthy based on our living up to the law. However, grace does not give us a license to blatantly ignore Him and do whatever we want.
His commandments show us how to live a morally right life. The world shows us what it thinks is morally right. The world's view on morality changes like the wind. What was good years ago is the opposite today. More and more we see our society shifting away from God. Let us not do the same. There is no shifting with God. What He established years ago stands firm today.
"Father, help me to stand on your Word in all I do here on earth. Holy Spirit guide me into each day and help be be ready to be the Light of Jesus to all I come in contact with. In Jesus name I pray."
Monday, October 14, 2013
The Example
John 13:15 NKJV
For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.
Do as I say not as I do. We have all heard that at least once. And we may have even said it when we knew the example we were setting did not live up to how we wanted to live.
We can't do it on our own. Our human desires are used by the enemy to pull us off course; off the course God has for us. So the lifestyle we live may not be portraying a Christ centered one.
Only with God's help can we hope to become the person we truly want to become. I believe we need to rely on Holy Spirit in every facet of our life and not just when we find ourself in need.
Jesus is the way, the truth, and the light. But He is relying on us, our lifestyle, the way we live in the presence of others, to shine His light in the world.
For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.
Do as I say not as I do. We have all heard that at least once. And we may have even said it when we knew the example we were setting did not live up to how we wanted to live.
We can't do it on our own. Our human desires are used by the enemy to pull us off course; off the course God has for us. So the lifestyle we live may not be portraying a Christ centered one.
Only with God's help can we hope to become the person we truly want to become. I believe we need to rely on Holy Spirit in every facet of our life and not just when we find ourself in need.
Jesus is the way, the truth, and the light. But He is relying on us, our lifestyle, the way we live in the presence of others, to shine His light in the world.
Monday, October 07, 2013
The Father's DNA
1 John 4:15 NLT
All who confess that Jesus is the Son of God have God living in them, and they live in God.
We were all born of a father and a mother. Most of us grew up with a mom and dad, but sometimes they were not our birth mother and father. We acknowledged them in the role they were in often not even knowing until later in life that they were not completely who we thought they were.
Years ago there was no way to tell for sure who we came from. Outward appearance was one way. If you looked exactly like your mother or father when they were you age chances are real good they are your parents. The medical way was to check blood types. It could prove they were not your parents, but not definitely tell if they were.
Today we have DNA testing which can tell at the genetic level if we are a match to the DNA of our parents. I have no first hand experience with this but have watched enough examples on the many crime shows on television to get a feel for it.
So if we acknowledge Jesus as God's Son, then we are born again and He lives in us.
How can we prove it? We cannot go to the doctor and ask for a DNA test to show that we are a child of Father God.
1 John 3:9-10 NLT
Those who have been born into God's family do not make a practice of sinning, because God's life is in them. So they can't keep on sinning, because they are children of God. So now we can tell who are children of God and who are children of the devil. Anyone who does not live righteously and does not love other believers does not belong to God.
They will know us by our lifestyle, by how we live our life and love our brothers and sisters in Christ. Our actions as we go about our daily life at home, at work, in the marketplace, and at church is the evidence of who we are in Christ; the evidence of us having the DNA of the Father.
All who confess that Jesus is the Son of God have God living in them, and they live in God.
We were all born of a father and a mother. Most of us grew up with a mom and dad, but sometimes they were not our birth mother and father. We acknowledged them in the role they were in often not even knowing until later in life that they were not completely who we thought they were.
Years ago there was no way to tell for sure who we came from. Outward appearance was one way. If you looked exactly like your mother or father when they were you age chances are real good they are your parents. The medical way was to check blood types. It could prove they were not your parents, but not definitely tell if they were.
Today we have DNA testing which can tell at the genetic level if we are a match to the DNA of our parents. I have no first hand experience with this but have watched enough examples on the many crime shows on television to get a feel for it.
So if we acknowledge Jesus as God's Son, then we are born again and He lives in us.
How can we prove it? We cannot go to the doctor and ask for a DNA test to show that we are a child of Father God.
1 John 3:9-10 NLT
Those who have been born into God's family do not make a practice of sinning, because God's life is in them. So they can't keep on sinning, because they are children of God. So now we can tell who are children of God and who are children of the devil. Anyone who does not live righteously and does not love other believers does not belong to God.
They will know us by our lifestyle, by how we live our life and love our brothers and sisters in Christ. Our actions as we go about our daily life at home, at work, in the marketplace, and at church is the evidence of who we are in Christ; the evidence of us having the DNA of the Father.
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