Grace for your spirit
Roam to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem. and look now and take note, and seek in her open squares, If you can find a man, If there is one who does justice, who seeks truth, then I will pardon her. Jeremiah 5:1
With doom immediately on the horizon, Jeremiah is given the formula to save Jerusalem. If he could find one man who knew what was right and did what was right, God would pardon the city. He couldn't. We face doom on the horizon today, and we need the faithful to stand up and be counted. In our churches, can we find one person who truly knows what is right and does it? One person who will give someone a ride to worship services. One person who will visit the sick and feed the poor. One person who will volunteer to teach a Bible class, and study with a lost soul to lead them to Jesus. These things are right and they need to be done, but is there anyone willing to do it? Once there was a church made up with four people. Anybody, Somebody, Everybody, and Nobody. When a job needed to be done, Anybody could do, Somebody should do it. Everybody could do it. But in the end Nobody did. It is time to come alive. Can we hear our storms forming on the horizon. One person can change the course. Will it be us?
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Grace for your spirit. March 9, 2012
Grace for your spirit
You have heard that it was said, "An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth, but I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. Matthew 5:38-39
If we decided to execute judgment like practiced under the Old Law, it would only leave us with a lot of blind, toothless people. If we retaliate on someone throwing rocks at us with throwing rocks at them, we become like them.. They started it and we finished it, but Is that the godly way? Jesus knew that hitting back was not the way to change people. His concept is not hitting back but rather turning the other cheek and going the extra mile. The word of God tells us that "Vengeance is Mine" says the Lord. Since vengeance belongs to God, then it is not our right to take it. Turn the other cheek and smile. God has a better way for us..
You have heard that it was said, "An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth, but I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. Matthew 5:38-39
If we decided to execute judgment like practiced under the Old Law, it would only leave us with a lot of blind, toothless people. If we retaliate on someone throwing rocks at us with throwing rocks at them, we become like them.. They started it and we finished it, but Is that the godly way? Jesus knew that hitting back was not the way to change people. His concept is not hitting back but rather turning the other cheek and going the extra mile. The word of God tells us that "Vengeance is Mine" says the Lord. Since vengeance belongs to God, then it is not our right to take it. Turn the other cheek and smile. God has a better way for us..
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Grace for your spirit. March 8, 2012
Grace for your spirit
When a man's ways are pleasing to the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. Proverb 16:7
Time and time again in the Bible, we see the power of God working in many ways. In Genesis 26,King Abimelech didn't have any use for Isaac until he realized that that the Lord was blessing him greatly. Then he decided it would be in his best interest to make a covenant with the man the Lord loved. Nehemiah; had all kinds of opposition building the walls of Jerusalem. After completing the job in 52 days, his enemies realized that God's hand was with him, and the opposition ceased. Paul wrote that we should not be alarmed by our enemies but stand firm. When we stand firm and faithful, it is the best way to bring peace into our lives and theirs. Let's keep our lives pleasing to the Lord, and leave our enemies to Him.
When a man's ways are pleasing to the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. Proverb 16:7
Time and time again in the Bible, we see the power of God working in many ways. In Genesis 26,King Abimelech didn't have any use for Isaac until he realized that that the Lord was blessing him greatly. Then he decided it would be in his best interest to make a covenant with the man the Lord loved. Nehemiah; had all kinds of opposition building the walls of Jerusalem. After completing the job in 52 days, his enemies realized that God's hand was with him, and the opposition ceased. Paul wrote that we should not be alarmed by our enemies but stand firm. When we stand firm and faithful, it is the best way to bring peace into our lives and theirs. Let's keep our lives pleasing to the Lord, and leave our enemies to Him.
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Grace for your spirit. March 7, 2012
Grace for your spirit
For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Matthew 5:46-47
Jesus gives us a big challenge in His" Sermon on the Mount". When it comes to the ways we treat others, are we any better than the scum of the world? He compares His disciples to the crooked tax collectors of the day, and to those who don't know God at all. Are we just like them? What are we really doing more than others. Let's make a list. Do we only love those who love us? Do we greet only our brothers? Are we in any way different than the worldly? We all need to start focusing on our heavenly Father. Let's all draw up to be more like Him, and quit challenging ourselves to be just a little bit better than the worldly. May we strive for that maturity, completeness, and perfection only found in Christ
For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Matthew 5:46-47
Jesus gives us a big challenge in His" Sermon on the Mount". When it comes to the ways we treat others, are we any better than the scum of the world? He compares His disciples to the crooked tax collectors of the day, and to those who don't know God at all. Are we just like them? What are we really doing more than others. Let's make a list. Do we only love those who love us? Do we greet only our brothers? Are we in any way different than the worldly? We all need to start focusing on our heavenly Father. Let's all draw up to be more like Him, and quit challenging ourselves to be just a little bit better than the worldly. May we strive for that maturity, completeness, and perfection only found in Christ
Monday, March 5, 2012
Grace for your spirit. March 6, 2012
Grace for your spirit
But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned. Matthew 12:36-37
I saw a movie once entitled, "What the deaf man heard". A boy grew up in a community where no one knew him. He pretended he could not hear or speak to protect himself as a boy. With the assumption that he was a deaf mute, he was privy to the conversations of everyone in the town, no matter now rotten they were. One day, he spoke and they all realized they were in deep trouble. We need to be careful about the things we say. God hears and so do others of which we may not be aware. Our words most certainly reveal to everyone, what is in our hearts. We can declare ourselves justified or condemned by the words coming out of our mouths. How will we do in the court of public opinion, and ultimately before the judgment seat of Christ? Let's clean up our hearts and our mouths, so we have to worry about who's listening today
But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned. Matthew 12:36-37
I saw a movie once entitled, "What the deaf man heard". A boy grew up in a community where no one knew him. He pretended he could not hear or speak to protect himself as a boy. With the assumption that he was a deaf mute, he was privy to the conversations of everyone in the town, no matter now rotten they were. One day, he spoke and they all realized they were in deep trouble. We need to be careful about the things we say. God hears and so do others of which we may not be aware. Our words most certainly reveal to everyone, what is in our hearts. We can declare ourselves justified or condemned by the words coming out of our mouths. How will we do in the court of public opinion, and ultimately before the judgment seat of Christ? Let's clean up our hearts and our mouths, so we have to worry about who's listening today
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Grace for your spirit. March 5, 2012
Grace for your spirit
I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things to draw away the disciples after them. Acts 20:29-30
Jesus, our good shepherd, admonished us to be faithful sheep. To let Him shepherd us, and stay in the sheepfold unless He guides us to safe pastures. Sheep are weak and vulnerable outside the fold, and predators attack. Many of our congregations are like that now. Churches made weak by unfaithfulness are vulnerable too. Predators hear our cry, like weak and wounded sheep, and come to attack, divide, and destroy. We need to keep Jesus at the door of our sheepfold, and strengthen ourselves to the attacks that are ahead. They might come from outside the church or even from our own people. Our strength comes in prayer, study and fellowship support. Let's not be a statistic on the church obituary list.
I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things to draw away the disciples after them. Acts 20:29-30
Jesus, our good shepherd, admonished us to be faithful sheep. To let Him shepherd us, and stay in the sheepfold unless He guides us to safe pastures. Sheep are weak and vulnerable outside the fold, and predators attack. Many of our congregations are like that now. Churches made weak by unfaithfulness are vulnerable too. Predators hear our cry, like weak and wounded sheep, and come to attack, divide, and destroy. We need to keep Jesus at the door of our sheepfold, and strengthen ourselves to the attacks that are ahead. They might come from outside the church or even from our own people. Our strength comes in prayer, study and fellowship support. Let's not be a statistic on the church obituary list.
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Grace for your spirit. March 2, 2012
Grace for your spirit
Casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. I Peter 5:7
I will never forget the first time I went out to feed the chickens. I walked through the barnyard dropping the chicken feed as I walked. It wasn't very long until every chicken my grandma had was pecking me to death. I didn't think I would make it out alive. I soon learned that the best way was to throw the chicken feed far away, and watch the chickens run another way. It is a good rule for dealing with our anxiety and cares. If we walk close to our anxiety and our troubles, they will peck us to death. We need to learn to cast our cares far away on to God. He will take care of our troubles because He cares for us and in the mean time they won't peck us to death
Casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. I Peter 5:7
I will never forget the first time I went out to feed the chickens. I walked through the barnyard dropping the chicken feed as I walked. It wasn't very long until every chicken my grandma had was pecking me to death. I didn't think I would make it out alive. I soon learned that the best way was to throw the chicken feed far away, and watch the chickens run another way. It is a good rule for dealing with our anxiety and cares. If we walk close to our anxiety and our troubles, they will peck us to death. We need to learn to cast our cares far away on to God. He will take care of our troubles because He cares for us and in the mean time they won't peck us to death
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