2 Corinthians 7:10
For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There's no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death. (NLT)
Throughout my life I have had numerous challenges. Challenge is a nice way of saying problems, difficulties, calamities, etc. Things did not go as I would have like them to go. Some things were a direct result of poor choices on my part. Some were circumstances resulting from poor choices of others. Others were just part of being human. Stuff happens!
I learned from every situation I have encountered in my lifetime. I grow as a direct result of each of them. Some experiences taught me to do things differently the next time. Some put me in a new direction in my vocation. Others made me want to hang a big sign on the wall so I would remember never to do that again!
None of us like to get hurt either physically or emotionally. It happens. Through it all, the Holy Spirit is with us to comfort us and to direct our steps. Not only do we learn from the experience we gain a new understanding about our relationship with the Lord. We see how committed He is to us.
Do not get the title wrong. We can certainly gain without pain as long as we are moving forward with the Holy Spirit's help on the right path. However, where there is pain there can be great gain. We have to look for it and grab a hold of it. We have to let the Holy Spirit teach us and then go forward with our new knowledge.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Clean Up
2 Corinthians 7:1
Because we have these promises, dear friends, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that can defile our body or spirit. And let us work toward complete holiness because we fear God. (NLT)
My mother taught me that cleanliness is next to godliness. You may have heard the same thing. And before we sat down to eat a meal I had to wash my hands to clean them of all the dirt of the day. We did not want all that dirt mixed into the delicious meal she had prepared.
Now we are told in the newspapers, on television, and on email how important it is to wash our hands throughout the day. What we pick up from shaking someone's hand, handling money, pumping gas, and even just opening a public door can give us something we may not want. It is a way that viruses get propagated throughout society-anything from the common cold, to the H1N1 virus, to AIDS.
As believers we want spiritual food and look to the Holy Spirit to help us obtain it. We want all we can get but often forget about washing up before eating. Just like soap and water before a natural meal, we need to clean up our act if we expect to move out spiritually.
How can we keep doing the things we did before we were saved and expect to fully receive all that God has for us? He has promised us much, but we need to cleanse ourselves from everything that can defile our body or spirit. Not some things, but everything. This is how we work toward complete holiness.
Because we have these promises, dear friends, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that can defile our body or spirit. And let us work toward complete holiness because we fear God. (NLT)
My mother taught me that cleanliness is next to godliness. You may have heard the same thing. And before we sat down to eat a meal I had to wash my hands to clean them of all the dirt of the day. We did not want all that dirt mixed into the delicious meal she had prepared.
Now we are told in the newspapers, on television, and on email how important it is to wash our hands throughout the day. What we pick up from shaking someone's hand, handling money, pumping gas, and even just opening a public door can give us something we may not want. It is a way that viruses get propagated throughout society-anything from the common cold, to the H1N1 virus, to AIDS.
As believers we want spiritual food and look to the Holy Spirit to help us obtain it. We want all we can get but often forget about washing up before eating. Just like soap and water before a natural meal, we need to clean up our act if we expect to move out spiritually.
How can we keep doing the things we did before we were saved and expect to fully receive all that God has for us? He has promised us much, but we need to cleanse ourselves from everything that can defile our body or spirit. Not some things, but everything. This is how we work toward complete holiness.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Your Team
2 Corinthians 6:14
Don't team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness? (NLT)
When I was growing up I played sports. Little League baseball was my first experience of being on a team. I played second base and sometimes shortstop. I fielded the ball well, but hitting was not my strong point. I either walked to first or was struck out. I just could not connect with the ball.
We were a team and we stood up for each other. Nobody got on my case when I struck out or missed a catch at second. We learned to encourage each other and stick together. If the other team was short handed, we did not switch sides to help them out. A team stays together.
When I was first saved, that is when I first let Jesus be not only my Savior but the Lord of my life as well, I had many friends that did not believe. I was making new friends of the believers I met at church on Sundays.
Spending time with the new friends was different than the old ones. The jokes were clean and the spoken words free of profanities. When we got together we did not have to have a few beers to feel good and our conversations were about godly things instead of gossip about friends that were not present.
I had found a new team to belong to. It was a team that encouraged me toward God. The old team I had been associated with tempted me away from God. I knew this now. What did I do with those old team members? I still keep in touch, but I do not spend the same amount of time with them. I would like to see them able to come onto my new team, but I do not let them influence me.
I believe that In Christ we are all on the same team. Just because we go to a different church on Sunday mornings, we are still on the same team. We are still followers of Jesus. The team is Christ, not Church.
Don't team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness? (NLT)
When I was growing up I played sports. Little League baseball was my first experience of being on a team. I played second base and sometimes shortstop. I fielded the ball well, but hitting was not my strong point. I either walked to first or was struck out. I just could not connect with the ball.
We were a team and we stood up for each other. Nobody got on my case when I struck out or missed a catch at second. We learned to encourage each other and stick together. If the other team was short handed, we did not switch sides to help them out. A team stays together.
When I was first saved, that is when I first let Jesus be not only my Savior but the Lord of my life as well, I had many friends that did not believe. I was making new friends of the believers I met at church on Sundays.
Spending time with the new friends was different than the old ones. The jokes were clean and the spoken words free of profanities. When we got together we did not have to have a few beers to feel good and our conversations were about godly things instead of gossip about friends that were not present.
I had found a new team to belong to. It was a team that encouraged me toward God. The old team I had been associated with tempted me away from God. I knew this now. What did I do with those old team members? I still keep in touch, but I do not spend the same amount of time with them. I would like to see them able to come onto my new team, but I do not let them influence me.
I believe that In Christ we are all on the same team. Just because we go to a different church on Sunday mornings, we are still on the same team. We are still followers of Jesus. The team is Christ, not Church.
Monday, March 15, 2010
Serve God
2 Corinthians 6:8
We serve God whether people honor us or despise us, whether they slander us or praise us. (NLT)
I grew up in a godly home. My parents brought me to church every Sunday and they went to a midweek service on Wednesday evenings. Their friends were also involved in church, but not always the same one my parents went to. And they had a few friends that Dad new from work. But it was not a religious life. It was a God centered life. I thought that is what everyone had until I got out on my own.
Years ago, when I was first married, I can remember thinking it strange when people would be so religious. That is what I called it, but now I know the difference between being godly and being religious. We are to be who we are in Christ and that does not have to come across to others as being religious.
So you were normal if you went to church and religious if you stood on a street corner and preached about Jesus. Feeding the homeless at a shelter was weird and part of that religious stuff. Only those Jesus people did that. They were those Born Again folks who raised their hands and sang far out songs about Jesus. I did not know about having a relationship with Jesus.
We do tend to stay away from those who are unlike us. It is easier that way. And if unlike us they must we weird and wrong. We live in a box with walls made from our life experiences and the teaching we have sat under. Even entire countries have the same box mentality.
My parents did not have God in a box, but I did. Logic put God in a Sunday box even though I believed He was everywhere. If I ignored that fact, I could keep Him in His box. I tried to live my worldly life and even stayed away from the God box for years. It was too religious. It would bring me too far away from those I called friend.
Now I know that what I want is for God to call me friend. I want a closer relationship with Him. I want to serve Him every day and to be open to hear His call-open to meet the opportunities He places in my path.
We serve God whether people honor us or despise us, whether they slander us or praise us. (NLT)
I grew up in a godly home. My parents brought me to church every Sunday and they went to a midweek service on Wednesday evenings. Their friends were also involved in church, but not always the same one my parents went to. And they had a few friends that Dad new from work. But it was not a religious life. It was a God centered life. I thought that is what everyone had until I got out on my own.
Years ago, when I was first married, I can remember thinking it strange when people would be so religious. That is what I called it, but now I know the difference between being godly and being religious. We are to be who we are in Christ and that does not have to come across to others as being religious.
So you were normal if you went to church and religious if you stood on a street corner and preached about Jesus. Feeding the homeless at a shelter was weird and part of that religious stuff. Only those Jesus people did that. They were those Born Again folks who raised their hands and sang far out songs about Jesus. I did not know about having a relationship with Jesus.
We do tend to stay away from those who are unlike us. It is easier that way. And if unlike us they must we weird and wrong. We live in a box with walls made from our life experiences and the teaching we have sat under. Even entire countries have the same box mentality.
My parents did not have God in a box, but I did. Logic put God in a Sunday box even though I believed He was everywhere. If I ignored that fact, I could keep Him in His box. I tried to live my worldly life and even stayed away from the God box for years. It was too religious. It would bring me too far away from those I called friend.
Now I know that what I want is for God to call me friend. I want a closer relationship with Him. I want to serve Him every day and to be open to hear His call-open to meet the opportunities He places in my path.
Friday, March 12, 2010
Christ Character
2 Corinthians 6:6
We prove ourselves by our purity, our understanding, our patience, our kindness, by the Holy Spirit within us, and by our sincere love. (NLT)
When I was growing up I wanted to be just like my Dad. He was my hero and my role model. As I grew into my teen years, neither of my parents was on my "I want to be like them" list. As I grew older, I realized how foolish those thoughts were. They were wonderful examples of Christ's love in all they said and did.
I hope my life today shows purity, understanding, patience, kindness, and sincere love to others. That is a big piece of pie to eat. I don't think I can honestly say I excel in any of those attributes, but I desire to. I try each day to live up to the character of Christ. That is who I want to be like.
I see now that my parents really did live up to those qualities in all I can remember them doing. They lived a pure lifestyle, were filled with understanding, were patient especially with me, showed kindness in everything they did, were led by the Holy Spirit daily, and showed sincere love to all.
We prove ourselves by our purity, our understanding, our patience, our kindness, by the Holy Spirit within us, and by our sincere love. (NLT)
When I was growing up I wanted to be just like my Dad. He was my hero and my role model. As I grew into my teen years, neither of my parents was on my "I want to be like them" list. As I grew older, I realized how foolish those thoughts were. They were wonderful examples of Christ's love in all they said and did.
I hope my life today shows purity, understanding, patience, kindness, and sincere love to others. That is a big piece of pie to eat. I don't think I can honestly say I excel in any of those attributes, but I desire to. I try each day to live up to the character of Christ. That is who I want to be like.
I see now that my parents really did live up to those qualities in all I can remember them doing. They lived a pure lifestyle, were filled with understanding, were patient especially with me, showed kindness in everything they did, were led by the Holy Spirit daily, and showed sincere love to all.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Stumble
2 Corinthians 6:3
We live in such a way that no one will stumble because of us, and no one will find fault with our ministry. (NLT)
I remember when I was in High School. Many of my friends were trying alcohol by tapping into their parents supply. I did not have a parents supply because they did not drink. I managed to find some and left it in the car. Like my parents could not find what I left in their car. Hello! Yep, you guessed it. I got caught and there went the privileges to the car for a while. I just wanted to be like everyone else and was willing to stumble along with them.
When we volunteer to work at a soup kitchen or some other place where the homeless or less fortunate will be we dress down. It would not be good to get on our Sunday best to serve spaghetti and meatballs and would project the wrong image about how we saw them. They are equals in Christ to us.
More to the point is what we order when we go out to eat dinner with friends who have had a problem with alcohol in the past. They may be active in a 12 step program. This is not the time to order a beer with dinner. Our doing so may just give them the excuse that if we can, they can. We would be messing up their commitment to life with drinking. We could cause them to stumble.
Drinking is not the only thing. What comes out of our mouth could be even worse. How often would it be easy to gossip about someone else? How often could we get angry? How often could we curse someone when we are driving? Our sins could validate another's weakness and cause them to stumble.
We live in such a way that no one will stumble because of us, and no one will find fault with our ministry. (NLT)
I remember when I was in High School. Many of my friends were trying alcohol by tapping into their parents supply. I did not have a parents supply because they did not drink. I managed to find some and left it in the car. Like my parents could not find what I left in their car. Hello! Yep, you guessed it. I got caught and there went the privileges to the car for a while. I just wanted to be like everyone else and was willing to stumble along with them.
When we volunteer to work at a soup kitchen or some other place where the homeless or less fortunate will be we dress down. It would not be good to get on our Sunday best to serve spaghetti and meatballs and would project the wrong image about how we saw them. They are equals in Christ to us.
More to the point is what we order when we go out to eat dinner with friends who have had a problem with alcohol in the past. They may be active in a 12 step program. This is not the time to order a beer with dinner. Our doing so may just give them the excuse that if we can, they can. We would be messing up their commitment to life with drinking. We could cause them to stumble.
Drinking is not the only thing. What comes out of our mouth could be even worse. How often would it be easy to gossip about someone else? How often could we get angry? How often could we curse someone when we are driving? Our sins could validate another's weakness and cause them to stumble.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Ignoring the Gifts
2 Corinthians 6:1
As God's partners, we beg you not to accept this marvelous gift of God's kindness and then ignore it. (NLT)
As a child is growing up we see the natural gifts that God has given them. For some it is a gift of music. They are talented and can play an instrument almost by just picking it up. Others can draw. They seem to be able to just look at something and then make it appear on a piece of paper. It is like they are a copy machine.
Our system is such that people are more interested in a high paying profession then pursuing the talents God has given them. They look at the numbers and decide what they want to be. Gone are the desires to be a fireman or an astronaut. College looms on the horizon and they have to make up their minds. They ignore their talents.
God has also imparted us with spiritual gifts. Paul speaks of these in 1 Corinthians. The Holy Spirit will give them out on certain occasions as He needs them used. However, we each have been given some to use all the time.
His biggest gift to us was sending His Son Jesus so we could be reconciled to God. It was in His kindness that he did this. Yet how many ignore it? Paul speaks of accepting it and then ignoring it. What is that all about?
How many accept the gift of salvation and then sit back and wait? It is not a gift to be left on the shelf. We are call to GO and tell others what He has done for us. We are to talk about the Jesus we know.
As God's partners, we beg you not to accept this marvelous gift of God's kindness and then ignore it. (NLT)
As a child is growing up we see the natural gifts that God has given them. For some it is a gift of music. They are talented and can play an instrument almost by just picking it up. Others can draw. They seem to be able to just look at something and then make it appear on a piece of paper. It is like they are a copy machine.
Our system is such that people are more interested in a high paying profession then pursuing the talents God has given them. They look at the numbers and decide what they want to be. Gone are the desires to be a fireman or an astronaut. College looms on the horizon and they have to make up their minds. They ignore their talents.
God has also imparted us with spiritual gifts. Paul speaks of these in 1 Corinthians. The Holy Spirit will give them out on certain occasions as He needs them used. However, we each have been given some to use all the time.
His biggest gift to us was sending His Son Jesus so we could be reconciled to God. It was in His kindness that he did this. Yet how many ignore it? Paul speaks of accepting it and then ignoring it. What is that all about?
How many accept the gift of salvation and then sit back and wait? It is not a gift to be left on the shelf. We are call to GO and tell others what He has done for us. We are to talk about the Jesus we know.
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