Now it came about when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing opposite him with his sword drawn in his hand, and Joshua went to him and said to him, "Are you for us or for our adversaries?" He said, "No; rather I indeed come now as captain of the host of the LORD." Josh 5:13-14
It was a fair question. "Are we for us or against us with that big sword?" Joshua was new in town and he had a big responsibility with the walls of Jericho in his sights, and all of Israel behind him. The answer is interesting. "Neither" the captain said, "I’m here for God." The message that followed was clear. God was going to be on the side of the ones that obeyed Him. The difference was not who’s side was God on, but who was on God’s side? God is sovereign and He doesn’t need to pick sides. We need to choose carefully, Our future depends on it.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Grace for your spirit October 8, 2008
For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead. James 2:26
I drove through a construction zone today. At least it had all the signs of construction, except for one thing. There was no work. Signs are up, detours are in place, machinery is present, supplies have arrived, but where are the workers. There is an important job to be done, but everyone is on a break. I saw a diamond shaped warning sign in front of a church one day that simply said, "God Working". He’s always working, but what about us? We can have the faith, the signs, the supplies, the people, but if everyone is on a permanent break, where is the working? Is there a faith that does not work? Yes, dead faith. The break needs to be over, or take the signs down.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23
I drove through a construction zone today. At least it had all the signs of construction, except for one thing. There was no work. Signs are up, detours are in place, machinery is present, supplies have arrived, but where are the workers. There is an important job to be done, but everyone is on a break. I saw a diamond shaped warning sign in front of a church one day that simply said, "God Working". He’s always working, but what about us? We can have the faith, the signs, the supplies, the people, but if everyone is on a permanent break, where is the working? Is there a faith that does not work? Yes, dead faith. The break needs to be over, or take the signs down.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Grace for your spirit October 7, 2008
She said to her mistress, "I wish that my master were with the prophet who is in Samaria! Then he would cure him of his leprosy." II Kings 5:3
These are the words of a little girl who had been taken captive by her enemies, and was working as a slave. Her master was Naaman, her captor, who had leprosy. At the end of this story Naaman meets the prophet Elisha and receives healing from the dreaded disease. The one detail of the story I like the best is the connection created by this little girl. Even though her life may have been much less than perfect, she loved her enemies and had faith in her God. That bridge of love and faith, built a bridge that brought about healing in the lives of her enemies. What have we ever done that would equal that? Most of the time we are only concerned about when God is going to do something for us. Let the little child lead us.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23
These are the words of a little girl who had been taken captive by her enemies, and was working as a slave. Her master was Naaman, her captor, who had leprosy. At the end of this story Naaman meets the prophet Elisha and receives healing from the dreaded disease. The one detail of the story I like the best is the connection created by this little girl. Even though her life may have been much less than perfect, she loved her enemies and had faith in her God. That bridge of love and faith, built a bridge that brought about healing in the lives of her enemies. What have we ever done that would equal that? Most of the time we are only concerned about when God is going to do something for us. Let the little child lead us.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23
Monday, October 6, 2008
Grace for your spirit October 4, 2008
Now it came about when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing opposite him with his sword drawn in his hand, and Joshua went to him and said to him, "Are you for us or for our adversaries?" He said, "No; rather I indeed come now as captain of the host of the LORD." Josh 5:13-14
It was a fair question. "Are we for us or against us with that big sword?" Joshua was new in town and he had a big responsibility with the walls of Jericho in his sights, and all of Israel behind him. The answer is interesting. "Neither" the captain said, "I’m here for God." The message that followed was clear. God was going to be on the side of the ones that obeyed Him. The difference was not who’s side was God on, but who was on God’s side? God is sovereign and He doesn’t need to pick sides. We need to choose carefully, Our future depends on it.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23
It was a fair question. "Are we for us or against us with that big sword?" Joshua was new in town and he had a big responsibility with the walls of Jericho in his sights, and all of Israel behind him. The answer is interesting. "Neither" the captain said, "I’m here for God." The message that followed was clear. God was going to be on the side of the ones that obeyed Him. The difference was not who’s side was God on, but who was on God’s side? God is sovereign and He doesn’t need to pick sides. We need to choose carefully, Our future depends on it.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23
Friday, October 3, 2008
Grace for your spirit October 3, 2008
This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil, Heb 6:19
As Christians we have a sure and steadfast hope in this life and the life to come. An anchor to hold us, encourage us, and give us refuge in the storms of life. The verses just before this one tells us that hope is created by two things. First of all, God’s purpose never changes, and God never lies. What we hear from Him is will always be true and never changing. Hope is created by what we know. We have to study, learn, and know, and then hope develops. With these two things we know about God, let’s go learn some more about all He has for us.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23
As Christians we have a sure and steadfast hope in this life and the life to come. An anchor to hold us, encourage us, and give us refuge in the storms of life. The verses just before this one tells us that hope is created by two things. First of all, God’s purpose never changes, and God never lies. What we hear from Him is will always be true and never changing. Hope is created by what we know. We have to study, learn, and know, and then hope develops. With these two things we know about God, let’s go learn some more about all He has for us.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Grace for your spirit October 2, 2008
Because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin. But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets. Romans 3:20-21
People are often uncomfortable talking about sin and righteousness. If we live by the Law, we have the knowledge of sin, and that makes us feel guilty. If we understand that God sent His righteousness to us as a free gift, and that free gift makes us righteous, we know we are forgiven. No one wants to talk about the things that condemn them. Maybe that’s the reason why so many don’t understand why the gospel is good news. Good news does not leave us guilty, but to give us the freedom of God’s righteousness. That is really good news. Enjoy the forgiveness and share the good news with someone today.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23
People are often uncomfortable talking about sin and righteousness. If we live by the Law, we have the knowledge of sin, and that makes us feel guilty. If we understand that God sent His righteousness to us as a free gift, and that free gift makes us righteous, we know we are forgiven. No one wants to talk about the things that condemn them. Maybe that’s the reason why so many don’t understand why the gospel is good news. Good news does not leave us guilty, but to give us the freedom of God’s righteousness. That is really good news. Enjoy the forgiveness and share the good news with someone today.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Grace for your spirit October 1, 2008
That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; Philippians 3:10
Paul thought he knew everything as a Pharisee, but he found out he was willing to trade it all for knowing Jesus Christ. There are hundreds of things listed in the New Testament that He wants us to know. Let’s search the scriptures, find out what He wants us to know, and be ready to give an answer of the knowledge He has given us. It won’t be very long until someone greets us by saying, "What d’ya know?" Then we won’t have to say "nuttin’" or "it’s all on me, and I’m not telling." We will recognize that this is a perfect opening to share what we know about Jesus. Let’s quit looking stupid, and start looking like a disciple of Christ.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23
Paul thought he knew everything as a Pharisee, but he found out he was willing to trade it all for knowing Jesus Christ. There are hundreds of things listed in the New Testament that He wants us to know. Let’s search the scriptures, find out what He wants us to know, and be ready to give an answer of the knowledge He has given us. It won’t be very long until someone greets us by saying, "What d’ya know?" Then we won’t have to say "nuttin’" or "it’s all on me, and I’m not telling." We will recognize that this is a perfect opening to share what we know about Jesus. Let’s quit looking stupid, and start looking like a disciple of Christ.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23
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