Grace for your spirit 11-18-16

Grace for your spirit

And He was saying to them, "Take care what you listen to.  By your standard of measure it will be measured to you; and more will be given you besides.    Mark 4:24

Do we take care about what we listen to?  Have we ever asked anyone to stop telling us something that is totally inappropriate for our lives?  We will ultimately become what we listen to, as it changes our thinking and our talking.  Let's learn to measure carefully what we listen to, so we can control the things that clog our thinking.  Then we will find ourselves speaking only the things the build up ourselves and others.

Grace for your spirit 11-17-16

Grace for your spirit

Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.  John 12:24

This one short thought from Jesus can teach us so much.  We get the secret of farming, the way of salvation, and our path to victory.  When a grain of wheat is planted, it dies and germinates, bringing a crop a hundredfold for each grain.  The success of Jesus' mission came with His death and spread salvation to millions.  For us, when we choose to die to sin, we can be born again, and bless many.  Without His death, He remains alone, and without our death, we remain the same.  The gospel call is for us to come and die.

Grace for your spirit 11-16-16

Grace for your spirit

For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.  For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son.  Romans 8:2-3

We all have three choices, but only one good one.  Jesus Christ sets us free from the law of sin and death, and breaks us free from commandments we could not keep that condemned us.  If we choose to do nothing, or try to earn our salvation, we will surely fail.  There is truly no condemnation, but only In Christ.  Let's make the right choice.

Grace for your spirit 11-15-16

Grace for your spirit

But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.  II Corinthians 3:18

Our transformation from the flesh to the Spirit is a combination of active and passive changes.  Presenting ourselves to God and living for Him is part of our active change.  The passive changes that take place in us are even greater.  As we continue to behold the image of His glory, His glory will gradually change us to be like Him.  Let's keep our eyes on Jesus, and do our best to renew our minds.  That combination will complete the total change we all need. 

Grace for your spirit 11-14-16

Grace for your spirit

And she called the boy Ichabod, saying, "The glory has departed from Israel," because the ark of God was taken and because of her father-in-law and her husband.   I Samuel 4:21

In one day, Israel lost the ark of the covenant to the Philistines, they lost their Judge, and his two sons died  in battle.  Actually, the glory had departed long before this day.  When the leadership of Israel turned their back on God and decided to misuse God's blessings, that was the day the glory departed.  The loss in the battle was the day in became evident to all.  When tragedy hits our lives we think that is day God departed us, when in fact, He has already been gone quite a while. Let's keep our eyes on the Glory.

Grace for your spirit 11-11-16

Grace for your spirit

From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan did not turn back, and the sword of Saul did not return empty.  II Samuel 1:22

This is David's "Song of the bow"  His funeral dirge over  the death of Saul and Jonathan in battle.  "Your beauty, O Israel, is slain on your high places! How have the mighty fallen!"  David reminded the people of the blessings they enjoyed because of their sacrifices.  Today on this Veteran's Day, may we all pause to remember that blessings come our way on the sacrifices of those who serve and have served. 

Grace for your spirit 11-10-16

Grace for your spirit

David inquired of the Lord, saying, "Shall I pursue this band? Shall I overtake them?"  And He said to me, "Pursue, for you will surely overtake them, and you will surely rescue all."  I Samuel 30:8

While David was away, his camp was raided by the Amalekites.  All their families and possession were taken, bringing great grief to all his men.  As his men turned on him, he did just the right thing. He asked the Lord what he should do.  God told him to pursue them and he would sure rescue all. Along the way, God provided him with directions leading him to ultimate complete victory. When we're in trouble, do we ask God first or last.  When He gives us directions, are we ready and willing to follow?  Are we asking?   Are we listening?