Grace for your spirit 10-12-18

Grace for your spirit

But God said to him, "You fool! This very night your soul is required of you, and now who will own what you have prepared?"  So is the man who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God."   Luke 12:20-21

Here is a parable about a man who was greatly blessed, but was mistaken about who blessed him.  He mistook his bankbook for his Bible, his body for his soul, and time for eternity.  He measured all his wealth, condition, and time available by the world, instead of by God.  Our blessing are only for us to use for a while.  Then we all must go back, and our possession go on to someone else.  Let's not make the same mistakes as he did.

Grace for your spirit 10-11-18

Grace for your spirit

Were there not ten cleansed?  But the nine--where are they?  Was no one found who returned to give glory to God, except this foreigner ?    Luke 17:17-18

Jesus had compassion on 10 lepers one day and healed them.  As the were sent on to show themselves to the priest, only one came back to say "thank you."  Why did all of them know how to say "please", but only one knew "thank you?"  The only one who said thanks, was a foreigner.  We might conclude that the nine Jews thought they deserved the healing, but the foreigner was amazed.  Expectation can be a wonderful humbling experience.  Let's never think God's blessings are "too little, too late."  May our humble spirit rise in rejoicing when His blessings come to us.

Grace for your spirit 10-10-18

Grace for your spirit

Simon answered and said, "Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing, but I will do as You say and let down the nets."  When they had done this, they  enclosed a great quantity of fish, and their nets began to break:  Luke 5:5-6

Two messages for these future apostles that day.  Boys, if you stay in the fishing business without my blessings, you won't catch anything.  If I call you to drop your nets and become fishers of men, you better listen.  If you follow me, you will have great success.  Whatever our pursuits today, these messages apply to us as well.  When we try for success and leave Jesus out, our road will be difficult.  When we respond to His call to be fishers of men, He will give us success in every area of our lives.  Let's say a short prayer to clear our minds, and then arise to action.

Grace for your spirit 10-9-18

Grace for your spirit

Then when he arrived and witnesses the grace of God, he rejoiced and began to encourage them all with resolute heart to remain true to the Lord;    Acts 11:23

Barnabas was sent to Antioch to help the church there.  They were growing steadily but were threatened daily with persecution from all sides.  Barnabas, called the son of encouragement, made a big difference.  He came with rejoicing, encouragement, and helped them remain true to the Lord.  The Christians rose up and continued to grow and prosper.  Sometimes, people may think the way to make changes it to divide and destroy.  We need a few more volunteers to be a "Barnabas" among us.  Any volunteers to rejoice, encourage, and help?  We know you can do it.

Grace for your spirit 10-8-18

Grace for your spirit

Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.  No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier.  II Timothy 2:4

We all have to live in this world and it is difficult for this world not to control us.  One of the hardships we must face when we decide to follow Jesus is to make Him a priority in our lives.  God wants Jesus to be first place in everything.  When we truly make Jesus first in everything, all our activities, schedules, and priorities will change.  When we enlist in the Lord's army, may be begin to march with the cadence of His drum. 

Grace for your spirit 10-5-18

Grace for your spirit

Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be.  We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.       I John 3:2

The question is often asked, "What will we be like in heaven?"  The Bible lets us know that we will have a new imperishable body whether we are raised or changed.  Here our identity is even clearer.  When we meet Him and see Him, we will be like Him.  If we hope and expect to meet such purity face to face, it is time for us to become pure and be ready to meet Him.  If our life on that path? 

Grace for your spirit 10-4-18

Grace for your spirit

And they got up at that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found gathered together the eleven and those who were with them, saying, "The Lord has really risen and has appeared to Simon."   Luke 24:33

One day Henry met Mary.  Do you wonder why Henry suddenly had energy and enthusiasm to go see Mary all the time ?  That's because you haven't seen Mary yet.  

The night of Jesus' resurrection, He walked to Emmaus with two men.  Once they recognized Him, He faded from their presence.  Immediately, although very late at night and seven miles from Jerusalem, they returned  with their hearts burning.  They had a message that had to be revealed right then.  When we really see Jesus by faith, our hearts will burn with a message that must be declared.  Let's catch fire for Jesus.

Grace for your spirit 10-3-18

Grace for your spirit

Now may  the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.  Romans 15:13

Every try blowing up a beach ball?  It's not hard.  Getting the ball sealed up without losing all the air can be very difficult.  It is easier for God's spirit to fill us up than to keep it in us.  Let's all ask God to fill us with His Spirit, then seal us quickly and permanently to do His will.  Success in this pursuit will put a little bounce in our lives.

Grace for your spirit 10-2-18

Grace for your spirit

In everything therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.  Matthew 7:12

I hold in my hand a 12" ruler that is painted gold.  Imprinted on it, "Do Unto Others As You Would Have Them Do Unto You."  When I was in grade school, the Coca Cola Bottling Company gave these to the schools and every kid got his golden ruler on the first day of class.  The so-called, "Golden Rule" made a big difference in our world.  It still can and will.  We all need this reminder each day as well.

Grace for your spirit 10-1-18

Grace for your spirit

My children, with whom I am again in labor until Christ is formed in you.  Galatians 4:19

The message of the gospel is totally Christ oriented.  We cannot be saved by keeping rules and regulations.  We will not be saved by joining churches and following worship forms.  The way of salvation is in Christ.  When we obey from the heart, arise to walk in newness of life, open our spirit and allow His Spirit to fill us up, Christ will fill us and be formed in us.  He changes us from the inside out.  The world wants to change from the outside in and take credit for their faithfulness.  The world is wrong.  Being filled with Christ is the way, the truth, and the life.