Grace for your spirit 1-31-18

Grace for your spirit

I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me.  John 17:23

This is the prayer Jesus offered in the garden the night before His crucifixion.  His prayer was for unity.  Unity of His people and His people with His Father.  He desired that we be unified with the Father as He was with Him.  Not only are we made complete in that unity, but it is the best sign that Jesus was sent by God for all of us. We expend lots of effort trying to figure a way to proclaim Christ to a lost world.  The best proclamation is our unity with the Father and each other.

Grace for your spirit 1-30-18

Grace for your spirit

Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.  Isaiah 5:20

It thrills the devil when we believe his lies, forsake the way of salvation, quit studying, allow demonic wisdom to turn us into jealous and fighting people, get choked off from the body of Christ, creating a new morality confusing darkness and light.  Confusion creates a "gray area", where the lies of the devil thrive.  What is good, evil, light, dark, sweet, bitter?  When we don't know, we are easy pickings for the devil.  Let's stay in the good, light, and sweet.

Grace for your spirit 1-29-18

Grace for your spirit

This book of the law shall not depart from you mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous and then you will have success.  Joshua 1:8

We can turn on our TV, pick up a magazine, buy certain books, and we will find what their secret is for success.  Usually it is a certain medicine, diet, exercise program, the right clothes, or the right school.    They are all guaranteed or we get our money back,  God has left us the path to success and prosperity long ago.  Read the word of God, follow the word of God, and He will bless us.   God's products have worked for centuries and He is still faithful now.

Grace for your spirit 1-26-18

Grace for your spirit

Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, "I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you."

How can we keep our conversation and conduct from covetousness?  We must have a character that is free from the love of money.  God warns us that the love of money is the root of all forms evil, and that it can lead us astray.  When we are content believing that the Lord will always provide, it is obvious by the way we talk and the way we live.  May our  character and conduct clearly show our trust is in the Lord to provide and give Him the glory

Grace for your spirit 1-25-18

Grace for your spirit

You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God?  Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.  James 4:4

We might wonder why the unfaithful are called "adulteresses" by God.  A Christian is a betrothed bride of Christ.  He is the bridegroom and we await the wedding supper of the lamb in heaven.  When we are unfaithful to our betrothed, Jesus that is, we are God's enemy.  Let's take our relationship with Christ seriously and stay away from any relationship that endangers it.

Grace for your spirit 1-24-18

Grace for your spirit

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.  Romans 8:28

If we really believe the Bible and believe this verse, why do we spend so much time worrying, fretting, complaining, and living in despair?  Is it because we don't know God, or is it because we don't know ourselves, or both ?  Let's commit to believe God, recommit to loving Him with all our heart, and redirect our lives to live in His purpose.  When we can speak confidently of our salvation, love, and God's promises, we can know He will cause all things work together for good in His time. 

Grace for your spirit 1--23-18

Grace for your spirit

Do not fear what you are about to suffer.  Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days.  Be faithful until death, and I will give you a crown of life.  Revelation 2:10

When I was a kid running the streets, many times our group would face difficult, even dangerous situations.  We always had one confident guy who would lead the way and give us confidence that we could do it too.  Jesus is that guy for us.  As we look at all the challenges placed before us, we can see that He did it all first for us.  He was tested, tried, was faithful unto death, and received His crown.  Where He guides, He always provides.  May that give us confidence.