Grace for your spirit
Then Peter answered and said to Him. Behold, we have left everything and followed You; what then will there be for us? Matthew 19:27
Do we ever have that same question for God? Have we truly risked our time, talents, and resources to follow the Lord? Are our lives, fortunes, and sacred honor really on the line for His kingdom? Do we sometimes feel like we are Abraham, Moses, Daniel, and Esther,and the apostles all rolled into one? If we think our sacrifice is too great, we need listen to the answer Jesus gave Peter? Jesus said we would all receive 100 times more in this life plus eternal life to come. With all the promises God gives us for our sacrifices, we should be looking around for something else to give, instead of complaining of how much we have sacrificed. Let's make a renewed commitment for Him and ourselves.
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Sunday, June 10, 2012
Grace for your spirit. June 11, 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. Proverbs 16:7
Jacob dreaded the day that he would cross paths with his brother Esau. He had stolen his brother's birthright and fully expected that Esau would want revenge. In the meantime, Jacob had been serving the Lord. When Esau was coming, Jacob took preventive action. He humbled himself, prepared for action, prayed, and sacrificed. To Jacob's surprise, the healing had already taken place. Esau sought no revenge and was satisfied with what he had. It turns out that God had healed the relationship for them with time and blessings. May we not let past faults and fears keep us from relationships with others. Perhaps the Lord has already healed our breach. Let's set our goals to be pleasing to the Lord, and let Him heal our enemies.
When a man's ways are pleasing to the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. Proverbs 16:7
Jacob dreaded the day that he would cross paths with his brother Esau. He had stolen his brother's birthright and fully expected that Esau would want revenge. In the meantime, Jacob had been serving the Lord. When Esau was coming, Jacob took preventive action. He humbled himself, prepared for action, prayed, and sacrificed. To Jacob's surprise, the healing had already taken place. Esau sought no revenge and was satisfied with what he had. It turns out that God had healed the relationship for them with time and blessings. May we not let past faults and fears keep us from relationships with others. Perhaps the Lord has already healed our breach. Let's set our goals to be pleasing to the Lord, and let Him heal our enemies.
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Grace for your spirit. June 8, 2012
Grace for your spirit
And she said to them, "According to your words, so be it." So she sent them away, and they departed; and she tied the scarlet cord in the window. Joshua 2:21
Rahab the harlot of Jericho was an excellent example of faith at work. She had heard of the power of God's people, and she believed that they would overrun her city. She hid the spies of Israel and helped them leave safely. Before they left she developed her plan for the survival of herself and her family. The spies promised that if she tied the scarlet cord in her window, when the city fell, they would be saved. She not only was saved from destruction, but she ended up in the genealogy of Jesus. Many people develop a survival plan when the storms of life come to save their families. Let's work out a plan to save our families spiritually, so we can all be with Jesus forever. Let's have faith and put it to work today.
And she said to them, "According to your words, so be it." So she sent them away, and they departed; and she tied the scarlet cord in the window. Joshua 2:21
Rahab the harlot of Jericho was an excellent example of faith at work. She had heard of the power of God's people, and she believed that they would overrun her city. She hid the spies of Israel and helped them leave safely. Before they left she developed her plan for the survival of herself and her family. The spies promised that if she tied the scarlet cord in her window, when the city fell, they would be saved. She not only was saved from destruction, but she ended up in the genealogy of Jesus. Many people develop a survival plan when the storms of life come to save their families. Let's work out a plan to save our families spiritually, so we can all be with Jesus forever. Let's have faith and put it to work today.
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Grace for your spirit. June 7, 2012
Grace for your spirit
As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive. Genesis 50:12
The life of Joseph had many ups and downs. His father loved him most, but his brothers hated him the most. His God given dreams so irritated his brothers, that they sold him into bondage at age 17. He was falsely accused and left in prison in Egypt, but he was always faithful. All the positives and negatives worked together to put him in a position to save his family from starvation during a severe famine. His dreams kept coming and eventually they gave him power and insight to save the world. Romans 8:28 tells us that God causes all things to work together for good to those love Him and are called according to His purpose. Joseph is the proof of that promise. When we stay faithful, God can cause it to work for us too
As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive. Genesis 50:12
The life of Joseph had many ups and downs. His father loved him most, but his brothers hated him the most. His God given dreams so irritated his brothers, that they sold him into bondage at age 17. He was falsely accused and left in prison in Egypt, but he was always faithful. All the positives and negatives worked together to put him in a position to save his family from starvation during a severe famine. His dreams kept coming and eventually they gave him power and insight to save the world. Romans 8:28 tells us that God causes all things to work together for good to those love Him and are called according to His purpose. Joseph is the proof of that promise. When we stay faithful, God can cause it to work for us too
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Grace for your spirit. June 6, 2012
Grace for your spirit
Behold I have made your face and hard as their faces, and your forehead as hard as their foreheads. Like emery as harder than flint I have made your forehead. Do not be afraid of them nor dismayed before them, though they are a rebellious house. Ezekiel 3:8-9
When God commissioned Ezekiel to warn His people about their coming destruction, it came with the warning. "You speak the same language, but they will not listen nor understand you. They are hardheaded." God told him he needed to "butt heads" with them without fear until they would listen and take heed. We all know people who are hardheaded and will not listen to warnings. When words that are soft and sweet won't work, maybe it is time to "butt heads" When we get through to them, they will thank us that we got their attention.
Behold I have made your face and hard as their faces, and your forehead as hard as their foreheads. Like emery as harder than flint I have made your forehead. Do not be afraid of them nor dismayed before them, though they are a rebellious house. Ezekiel 3:8-9
When God commissioned Ezekiel to warn His people about their coming destruction, it came with the warning. "You speak the same language, but they will not listen nor understand you. They are hardheaded." God told him he needed to "butt heads" with them without fear until they would listen and take heed. We all know people who are hardheaded and will not listen to warnings. When words that are soft and sweet won't work, maybe it is time to "butt heads" When we get through to them, they will thank us that we got their attention.
Monday, June 4, 2012
Grace for your spirit. June 5, 2012
Grace for your spirit
A woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyratira, a seller of purple fabrics, a worshiper of God, was listening; and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul. And when she and her household had been baptized, she urged us saying, "If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house and stay. Acts 16:14-15
When the apostle Paul answered the Macedonian call and came to Philippi, his first meeting was with a group of women. The Lord chose the first convert in Europe to be a Gentile, business woman. when He opened her heart. Talk about tearing down walls. The home of a Gentile woman, would be the first center of evangelism and fellowship. The first apostles might have skipped this opportunity not wishing to teach women, Gentiles, and slaves. The power of the Lord exploded in this city with long term benefits for the church and Paul's mission. Let's be careful not to ignore those whom the Lord has touched. When the Lord has opened the door of opportunity, and opened the hearts of people, may we not be the ones who close it.
A woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyratira, a seller of purple fabrics, a worshiper of God, was listening; and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul. And when she and her household had been baptized, she urged us saying, "If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house and stay. Acts 16:14-15
When the apostle Paul answered the Macedonian call and came to Philippi, his first meeting was with a group of women. The Lord chose the first convert in Europe to be a Gentile, business woman. when He opened her heart. Talk about tearing down walls. The home of a Gentile woman, would be the first center of evangelism and fellowship. The first apostles might have skipped this opportunity not wishing to teach women, Gentiles, and slaves. The power of the Lord exploded in this city with long term benefits for the church and Paul's mission. Let's be careful not to ignore those whom the Lord has touched. When the Lord has opened the door of opportunity, and opened the hearts of people, may we not be the ones who close it.
Sunday, June 3, 2012
Grace for your spirit. June 4, 2012
Grace for your spirit
Finally then, brethren, we request and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that as you have received from us, instruction as to how you ought to walk and please God (just as you actually do walk), that you excel still more. I Thessalonians 4:1
When we were in school, people would often ask about our goals Most would say something like, "Get a good job, be successful, and be happy. Now when people ask us the goals for our personal life, family life, occupational life, and church life, wouldn't it be great that our answer for all of those would be the same? To please God, to excel in our walk more and more, and be entirely at His disposal in everything. Let's try that answer on for size. What is our goal for my family? Please God. Goals for my job? Please God. Goals for our church? Please God. Now there is the answer that will lead to success and happiness forever.
Finally then, brethren, we request and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that as you have received from us, instruction as to how you ought to walk and please God (just as you actually do walk), that you excel still more. I Thessalonians 4:1
When we were in school, people would often ask about our goals Most would say something like, "Get a good job, be successful, and be happy. Now when people ask us the goals for our personal life, family life, occupational life, and church life, wouldn't it be great that our answer for all of those would be the same? To please God, to excel in our walk more and more, and be entirely at His disposal in everything. Let's try that answer on for size. What is our goal for my family? Please God. Goals for my job? Please God. Goals for our church? Please God. Now there is the answer that will lead to success and happiness forever.
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