Grace for your spirit 4-30-18

Grace for your spirit

The name of the Lord is a strong tower; The righteous runs into it and is safe.  Proverbs 18:10

Remember yelling, "Olly olly oxen free?"  When we played "hide & go seek", it was the signal that it was OK to come in free, and safe.  The authority of God gives us a hiding place that is safe and free.  We can run to it and find refuge in the strong tower of God.  Let's enjoy the righteousness that comes from God and His place for us.

Grace for your spirit 4-27-18

Grace for your spirit

The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.   Psalm 34:18

The Apostle Paul felt those afflictions and wrote in II Corinthians 4, "we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;"  How could this be?  Jesus delivered him and saved him.  God offers the same delivery service for all of us too.  We may have many afflictions, but He has more remedies prepared.  Praise the Lord.

Grace for your spirit 4-26-18

Grace for your spirit

Without consultation, plans are frustrated, but with many counselors they succeed.  Proverbs 15:22

There should be concern when anyone thinks they know everything and have no need of anyone's advice.  We should never pursue anything until we have taken counsel from the Lord, and we should never be afraid get input from others.  If the Lord says NO, and everyone else says NO, we better listen. 

Grace for your spirit 4-25-18

Grace for your spirit

The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself: God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collection.  Luke 18:11

Do our prayers sound like that?  "Or, Lord help to consider people's feelings, even if they are dumb. Or, Father help me take responsibility for my own actions, even though they're usually not my fault.  Lord, keep me open to other people's ideas, wrong though they may be.  God give me patience, and I mean right now.  God help me take things more seriously, especially having a good time."  These words don't draw us nearer to God or anyone else.  Let's learn to humble ourselves before God and others asking for His grace and mercy to do our best.

Grace for your spirit 4-24-18

Grace for your spirit

"This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days," says the Lord;  "I will put My laws upon their heart, and on their mind I will write them, and their sins and their lawless deed I will remember no more."  Hebrew 10:16-17

The Old Testament Law of God came to them on stones.  The laws made them aware of their sins but offered no permanent solution.  Jesus came to be our sin offering so the laws would dwell in our hearts and minds.  Not only would we be aware of sin, but we would have a way of permanent forgiveness.  Since the blood of Jesus washes our sins away, there is none for God to remember.  I like it that way better, don't you?

Grace for your spieir 4-23-18

Grace for your spirit

But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.  I Timothy 1:5

Too often the goal of our teaching is external change.  We want to see people baptized, worshiping regularly, and working in the church.  God  knows that when we change our inside, the outside evidences will follow.  God goals are love, pure hearts, good consciences, and sincere faith.  When anyone adopts those kinds of changes in their lives, obedience and service will be evident.  Let's direct our teachings toward the heart and spirit.  It's a good strategy for ourselves as well.

Grace for your spirit 4-20-18

Grace for your spirit

For He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of parched ground; He has no stately form or majesty that we should look upon Him, nor appearance that we should be attracted to Him.   Isaiah 53:2

For centuries people have speculated what Jesus looked like.  Some people think the famous paintings are actually pictures of Him.  In reality, most of these pictures show Him the way we wish He looked.

Specifically, tall, dark, and handsome.  The only hint we get is in Isaiah.  Jesus wants to be attractive by His spirit of love and caring.  Everything about Him made Him our Savior and King.