Grace for your spirit October 20, 2014

Grace for your spirit

When the Pharisees saw this, they said to His disciples, "Why is your Teacher eating with tax collectors and sinners?"  Matthew 9:11

The Pharisees felt that their mission was to represent God on the earth. They reckoned themselves to be righteous and did not wish to be infected by the sinful people around them.  Jesus the only truly righteous one, loved to be around people in need.  Like a physician is drawn to sick people in need, Jesus was drawn to sinners in need.

Sometimes our church buildings become sanctuaries for saints, instead of hospitals for sinners.  Which reputation do we prefer?  It is a shame to worship with sinners, or our mission to do so?

Grace for your spirit October 17, 2014

Grace for your spirit

Son of man, I have appointed you a watchman to the house of Israel; whenever you hear a word from My mouth, warn them from Me.  Ezekiel  3:17

Jerusalem and Judea were on the brink of destruction.  The Babylonians were threatening and would soon attack.  God revealed to Ezekiel the strength of the enemy and the vulnerability of His people. His job was to watch, warn, and prepare.  His life depended on it.  We are somewhat like Ezekiel.  We have been appointed watchmen on the wall.  We also are commissioned to watch, warn, and prepare.  The stronger our enemies get, the more important our task becomes. The devil is getting stronger, are we?  Are we standing on the promises, or sleeping on the premises?

Grace for your spirit October 16, 2014

Grace for your spirit

Now I exhort you brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment.  I Corinthians 1:10

Once in an African village, a pig died and fell into a stream.  Everyone upstream from the pig were well, but everyone downstream were always sick.  The dead pig was poisoning the water, but because it was submerged, no one could see it.  Why are there divisions in the body of Christ?  Something or somebody has poisoned our water supply.  It seems we are all drinking from the same water, but false teachers have changed things.  Our water supply defines us.  Let's get the "dead pig" our of our stream, enjoy the pure living water of Jesus, and unity will soon follow.

Grace for your spirit October 15, 2014

Grace for your spirit

Likewise, I want women to adorn themselves with proper clothing, modestly and discreetly, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly garments; but rather by means of good works, as befits a women making a claim to godliness.  II Timothy 2:9-10

What is proper to wear when assembling for church services? Traditionally we have been taught to wear our very best, but there may be a higher priority.  Scripture calls for proper, modest, and discreet, not flashy and high priced.  The real thing we should want to be noticed for is good works and godliness, not our latest fashion conquest.  If we think better of those who look rich, we're thinking about the wrong things. 

Grace for your spirit October 14, 2014

Grace for your spirit

Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.  Proverbs 27:17

God has a plan to keep us sharp and ready for use.  The plan is stay together, work together, and keep each other sharp.  Are we hanging in the shed, gathering dust, and rusting?  When we get together we can knock the rust off, sharpen our tools, and quit gathering dust. Whether we are spending time with our Christian brothers or working with those in the world, the result is the same.  Look sharp, be sharp, and stay sharp.  Let's get back in the game.

Grace for your spirit October 13, 2014

Grace for your spirit

I have set the Lord continually before me; because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.   Psalm 16:8

What do we focus on, and from where does our strength come?Hebrews encourages as we the run the Christian race, to fix our eyes on Jesus and be lifted up by those who have ran before us.  If our focus waivers, and if our fellowship waivers, we all call be shaken. Right hand in the sign of strength in scripture.  His hand in our hand brings us ultimate strength.

Grace for your spirit October 10, 2014

Grace for your spirit

What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it.  Luke 15:4

Remember the nursery rhyme, "Little boy peep has lost her sheep and doesn't know where to find them.  Leave them alone and they'll come home wagging their tails behind them."  Cute but not true.  Sheep cannot find their way alone, nor can they defend themselves.  That is why sheep need a shepherd, and why Jesus is portrayed as our good shepherd.  The good shepherd who will come looking for us.  If your church is employing the "Little Bo Peep" plan of evangelism, don't wait up.