Friday, June 29, 2012
"Living the Life"
Scripture: 1 Thess 1:3-10
Observation:
The Thessalonians demonstrated the pattern of life for Believers:
1. Chosen by God :4
2. Witnessed power, conviction of HS :5
3. Turned from idols to serve true, living God :9
4. Imitators of Paul :6
5. Demonstrated works of faith, labor of love, steadfastness of hope in the midst of great tribulation :3, 6
6. Examples to other believers (reputation of faith, Word spread) :7-8
7. Waiting for Jesus' return :10
Application:
It isn't enough to hear the Word and believe, and then just go on with life as "normal". God chose me for a purpose, and He wants my whole being. My life, every day, ought to reflect the Holy Spirit's transforming power, faith demonstrated by wholehearted service, always looking for the return of my Savior.
Prayer:
Lord, thank You for choosing me to be Your child. Help me today, empowered by Your Holy Spirit, to imitate what I see in godly examples, to demonstrate my trust in You. I can't wait to see You face to face! Amen.
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Don't just sit there...
.Ezra 10:1 "Now while Ezra was praying and making confession, weeping and
prostrating himself before the house of God, a very large assembly, men,
women and children, gathered to him from Israel; for the people wept
bitterly."
Ezra 10:4 "Arise! For this matter is your responsibility, but we will be with you; be courageous and act."
The remnant of Israelites had returned from captivity in Babylon. The first group had succeeded in rebuilding the temple. Now Ezra and another group arrived, and when they got there he heard disturbing news. Many of the Jews had intermarried with the pagan inhabitants. This was the same sin for which the nation had been taken into bondage over seventy years prior!
Ezra was beside himself in anger, grief, and penitence. Finally, one of the priests stepped forward and, in so many words, said to Ezra," Okay, that's enough! Don't just sit there. You're our leader. Suck it up! Get up and do something and we'll back you up."
It's not enough to mourn over our sin. At some point we need to "show acts worthy of repentance." For Ezra, the decision was obvious. Get rid of the foreign wives. While it sounds simple enough, can you imagine the pain and anguish of splitting up all those families? It took them three months to sort it all out.
Separating ourselves from the sin is an essential aspect of repentance. It not only demonstrates our sincerity; it also puts us back on track. It requires wisdom, courage, and determination. It also helps to have the support of a friend in the process.
Holy Spirit, please reveal in me those areas where I have compromised and allowed the world to creep into my heart. I want to be soley committed to You. Give me the courage to act upon what You reveal to me. Amen.
Ezra 10:4 "Arise! For this matter is your responsibility, but we will be with you; be courageous and act."
The remnant of Israelites had returned from captivity in Babylon. The first group had succeeded in rebuilding the temple. Now Ezra and another group arrived, and when they got there he heard disturbing news. Many of the Jews had intermarried with the pagan inhabitants. This was the same sin for which the nation had been taken into bondage over seventy years prior!
Ezra was beside himself in anger, grief, and penitence. Finally, one of the priests stepped forward and, in so many words, said to Ezra," Okay, that's enough! Don't just sit there. You're our leader. Suck it up! Get up and do something and we'll back you up."
It's not enough to mourn over our sin. At some point we need to "show acts worthy of repentance." For Ezra, the decision was obvious. Get rid of the foreign wives. While it sounds simple enough, can you imagine the pain and anguish of splitting up all those families? It took them three months to sort it all out.
Separating ourselves from the sin is an essential aspect of repentance. It not only demonstrates our sincerity; it also puts us back on track. It requires wisdom, courage, and determination. It also helps to have the support of a friend in the process.
Holy Spirit, please reveal in me those areas where I have compromised and allowed the world to creep into my heart. I want to be soley committed to You. Give me the courage to act upon what You reveal to me. Amen.
Friday, June 15, 2012
Walking the Tightrope...
Micah 6:8
"He has told you O man what is good; and what does the Lord require of you, but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?"
I remember as a child, trying to emulate a tight- rope walker. There wasn't much danger. I was trying to walk the span of an 8' 2X4 laid on edge. But, in my mind's eye, I was 30' above the circus floor, without a safety net, struggling to traverse a 50' span on a tiny cable. I wobbled this way and that, several times nearly crashing to my death, until I finally reached the safety of the other side.
Balance. The older I get, the more I have come to realize that maintaining balance in every aspect of my life is the key to success and happiness. I must balance my work and personal life, my need for relaxation and my drive to accomplish a task list, my appetite for sweets and my need for nutrition, etc.
I must also temper my sense of justice with kindness and mercy. Each is vitally important and, as I deal with children, I often find myself in a quandary, seeking God's wisdom in applying His Word to those whose choices have led them to my office for discipline.
Thank God that we are not dependent solely on our own wisdom, but that God is always available for counsel. This verse has become my "North Star", my point of reference in navigating each day. The Holy Spirit constantly brings it to mind and He uses it to help me maintain my balance.
Thank you, Lord, for giving me Your perspective on life and for giving me Your Word and Your Holy Spirit to keep me balanced. I look forward to walking the tight-rope with You today!
"He has told you O man what is good; and what does the Lord require of you, but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?"
I remember as a child, trying to emulate a tight- rope walker. There wasn't much danger. I was trying to walk the span of an 8' 2X4 laid on edge. But, in my mind's eye, I was 30' above the circus floor, without a safety net, struggling to traverse a 50' span on a tiny cable. I wobbled this way and that, several times nearly crashing to my death, until I finally reached the safety of the other side.
Balance. The older I get, the more I have come to realize that maintaining balance in every aspect of my life is the key to success and happiness. I must balance my work and personal life, my need for relaxation and my drive to accomplish a task list, my appetite for sweets and my need for nutrition, etc.
I must also temper my sense of justice with kindness and mercy. Each is vitally important and, as I deal with children, I often find myself in a quandary, seeking God's wisdom in applying His Word to those whose choices have led them to my office for discipline.
Thank God that we are not dependent solely on our own wisdom, but that God is always available for counsel. This verse has become my "North Star", my point of reference in navigating each day. The Holy Spirit constantly brings it to mind and He uses it to help me maintain my balance.
Thank you, Lord, for giving me Your perspective on life and for giving me Your Word and Your Holy Spirit to keep me balanced. I look forward to walking the tight-rope with You today!
Monday, June 4, 2012
"A Father's Gift...."
Proverbs 4:3-5 "When I was a son to my father,
tender and the only son of my mother, then he taught me and said to me,
'Let your heart hold fast my words; keep my commandments and live!
Acquire wisdom! Acquire understanding!'"
Solomon, the author of Proverbs, was the wisest man who ever lived. His discernment was a gift from God. At the beginning of his reign, the Lord appeared to the newly-crowned king in a dream and said, "Ask what you will..." Solomon's request was for wisdom, the ability to discern, to judge the people rightly.
Why did Solomon ask for wisdom? Why not ask for wealth, power, long life? I believe he remembered the advice of his father, David. David was a man after God's own heart, and he poured what he had learned into Solomon. David's words bore fruit in his son.
As Father's Day approaches, I look back over my relationship with my son and my daughter and I pray that the legacy of faith in Jesus, handed down to me from my father and his father before him, will continue in them and their children. No other gift I could have given them is more valuable or more important.
Lord, thank you for giving me a godly father, for giving me a heritage of faith. Thank you for the privilege of sharing it with my son and daughter. Thank you for letting me see my children and grandchildren walking with You. Amen
Solomon, the author of Proverbs, was the wisest man who ever lived. His discernment was a gift from God. At the beginning of his reign, the Lord appeared to the newly-crowned king in a dream and said, "Ask what you will..." Solomon's request was for wisdom, the ability to discern, to judge the people rightly.
Why did Solomon ask for wisdom? Why not ask for wealth, power, long life? I believe he remembered the advice of his father, David. David was a man after God's own heart, and he poured what he had learned into Solomon. David's words bore fruit in his son.
As Father's Day approaches, I look back over my relationship with my son and my daughter and I pray that the legacy of faith in Jesus, handed down to me from my father and his father before him, will continue in them and their children. No other gift I could have given them is more valuable or more important.
Lord, thank you for giving me a godly father, for giving me a heritage of faith. Thank you for the privilege of sharing it with my son and daughter. Thank you for letting me see my children and grandchildren walking with You. Amen
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