1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
16 Rejoice always;
17 pray without ceasing;
18 in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. (NAS)
Scores of books and articles have been written by authors concerning attitude. Charles Swindoll declared attitude as the most important criteria of a positive life. Norman Peale wrote the classic, The Power of Positive Thinking to encourage everyone to express a positive attitude.
It was the Apostle Paul long ago who admonished the Thessalonians toward an attitude of thanksgiving and rejoicing. He speaks to them of rejoicing always and giving of thanks for and in everything. How to accomplish this feat of constant gratitude and joy truly is an adventurous endeavor, and only to be fulfilled through prayer.
That is why in the middle of the sentence Paul says, “Pray without ceasing.” Only through prayer can you truly express your heart of rejoicing and thanksgiving. God is concerned about everything in your live and knows that with prayer you can have an attitude of gratitude.
I hope you find purpose for your life today as you grow in Christ. May God bless you as your spiritual life prospers in Jesus.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Watch Out! #34
Philippians 3:2
2 Watch out for those dogs, those men who do evil, those mutilators of the flesh. (NIV)
The song says, “Who let the dogs out.” No matter who it was, the Bible warns us to, "Watch out for the dogs." For you who have grown up around animals you may be concerned that the Bible is a little critical of man's best friend. However the scripture is not speaking of dogs as an animal but as those people who are out to destroy your freedom and your joy that you have found in a relationship with Jesus Christ.
The dogs the Bible speaks of here were the Judaizers or the legalist that would have you live by the Law in order to have a relationship with God. You know your salvation is based on grace and faith, yet there are those wellmeaning religious people who would have you believe that rules, regulations and trying to keep the Law of Moses would somehow provide you with a personal
relationship with God. This was characterized by circumcision or as the Bible calls it mutilation.
Be assured the dogs want you to be controlled by something other than the Holy Spirit. The Bible warns you to watch out for those dogs. God's purpose is for you to have the joy of the Lord and purpose in life by grace through faith. Thank God for the freedom from the Law and its demands. Remember the Law shows you what sin is but has no power to produce a Godly life. Only God’s Holy Spirit can do that. The ‘dogs’ are everywhere. Watch out for the dogs.
I hope you find purpose for your life today as you grow in Christ. May God bless you as your spiritual life prospers in Jesus.
2 Watch out for those dogs, those men who do evil, those mutilators of the flesh. (NIV)
The song says, “Who let the dogs out.” No matter who it was, the Bible warns us to, "Watch out for the dogs." For you who have grown up around animals you may be concerned that the Bible is a little critical of man's best friend. However the scripture is not speaking of dogs as an animal but as those people who are out to destroy your freedom and your joy that you have found in a relationship with Jesus Christ.
The dogs the Bible speaks of here were the Judaizers or the legalist that would have you live by the Law in order to have a relationship with God. You know your salvation is based on grace and faith, yet there are those wellmeaning religious people who would have you believe that rules, regulations and trying to keep the Law of Moses would somehow provide you with a personal
relationship with God. This was characterized by circumcision or as the Bible calls it mutilation.
Be assured the dogs want you to be controlled by something other than the Holy Spirit. The Bible warns you to watch out for those dogs. God's purpose is for you to have the joy of the Lord and purpose in life by grace through faith. Thank God for the freedom from the Law and its demands. Remember the Law shows you what sin is but has no power to produce a Godly life. Only God’s Holy Spirit can do that. The ‘dogs’ are everywhere. Watch out for the dogs.
I hope you find purpose for your life today as you grow in Christ. May God bless you as your spiritual life prospers in Jesus.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
How Much Love? #33
Romans 8:38-39
38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,
39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (NAS)
The little boy in Sunday School was asked how much God loved him. He stretched out his hands as if to measure the biggest fish he could imagine and said, “This much.” I don’t know how you measure God’s love but God’s love is so great that it is hard for us to even imagine. The Apostle Paul was so convinced that God’s love was so amazing and powerful that he penned the great words which proclaim that ‘nothing can separate us’ from His great love.
There is something wonderful to be said about love that nothing can destroy. Jesus’ death and resurrection prove He is a God of love. He reached out to you and forgave your sin and gave you freedom and a peace that passes understanding. Only love can achieve those ends.
God loves you because you are His creation, His child, and His inheritance. Through His Son, Jesus Christ, He expressed His love that can never be taken from you. Would you praise God right now that Jesus is your Savior and Lord?
I hope you find purpose for your life today as you grow in Christ. May God bless you as your spiritual life prospers in Jesus.
38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,
39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (NAS)
The little boy in Sunday School was asked how much God loved him. He stretched out his hands as if to measure the biggest fish he could imagine and said, “This much.” I don’t know how you measure God’s love but God’s love is so great that it is hard for us to even imagine. The Apostle Paul was so convinced that God’s love was so amazing and powerful that he penned the great words which proclaim that ‘nothing can separate us’ from His great love.
There is something wonderful to be said about love that nothing can destroy. Jesus’ death and resurrection prove He is a God of love. He reached out to you and forgave your sin and gave you freedom and a peace that passes understanding. Only love can achieve those ends.
God loves you because you are His creation, His child, and His inheritance. Through His Son, Jesus Christ, He expressed His love that can never be taken from you. Would you praise God right now that Jesus is your Savior and Lord?
I hope you find purpose for your life today as you grow in Christ. May God bless you as your spiritual life prospers in Jesus.
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Look Out For The Small Things #32
Joshua 7:3
3 And they returned to Joshua and said to him, "Do not let all the people go up; only about two or three thousand men need go up to Ai; do not make all the people toil up there, for they are few." (NAS)
Beware: It is sometimes the small, seemingly insignificant events, people, places and experiences that will defeat you. After the great victory at the Battle of Jericho the Children of Israel came up against a much smaller enemy, the City of Ai. After spies checked out the city they returned with a report of “easy victory.” They noticed that Ai was a small city in size and in number and after such an incredible victory at Jericho it seemed relatively easy to capture.
They recommended that only two or three thousand soldiers go up to battle. Their reasoning was simply “they are few.” Few or small does not mean easy. Some of your greatest spiritual battles are not the big things but the small and the few. As you face the spiritual battles in your life never look at something as insignificant or easy. In the journey of life the war is real and the enemy is ready to bring you down over the easy and the few. The nation of Israel lost the battle to Ai for many reasons. One of the major reasons for failure was the assumption that just because the enemy was few in number that it was going to be a snap to defeat Ai. Your enemy may look small, but it is often the small things that defeat us. Be on alert.
I hope you find purpose for your life today as you grow in Christ. May God bless you as your spiritual life prospers in Jesus.
3 And they returned to Joshua and said to him, "Do not let all the people go up; only about two or three thousand men need go up to Ai; do not make all the people toil up there, for they are few." (NAS)
Beware: It is sometimes the small, seemingly insignificant events, people, places and experiences that will defeat you. After the great victory at the Battle of Jericho the Children of Israel came up against a much smaller enemy, the City of Ai. After spies checked out the city they returned with a report of “easy victory.” They noticed that Ai was a small city in size and in number and after such an incredible victory at Jericho it seemed relatively easy to capture.
They recommended that only two or three thousand soldiers go up to battle. Their reasoning was simply “they are few.” Few or small does not mean easy. Some of your greatest spiritual battles are not the big things but the small and the few. As you face the spiritual battles in your life never look at something as insignificant or easy. In the journey of life the war is real and the enemy is ready to bring you down over the easy and the few. The nation of Israel lost the battle to Ai for many reasons. One of the major reasons for failure was the assumption that just because the enemy was few in number that it was going to be a snap to defeat Ai. Your enemy may look small, but it is often the small things that defeat us. Be on alert.
I hope you find purpose for your life today as you grow in Christ. May God bless you as your spiritual life prospers in Jesus.
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Refreshment #31
Mark 6:31
31 And He said to them, "Come away by yourselves to a lonely place and rest a while." (For there were many people coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.) (NAS)
Are you tired? Even while doing the work of God you will get tired. That kind of tiredness is physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. Jesus recognized the need for the disciples to come away from the hustle and bustle of the city life and be alone. Interestingly enough even Jesus needed refreshed. You are certainly no stronger or better than Jesus. You need refreshing in body, soul and spirit. You may be so involved with serving others, doing your job, taking care of your home or family that you forget your own needs. The disciples were so busy that they did not even have time to eat. Take a break. Take some time today to refresh your life. Spend some time alone with God and let Him refresh you.
To renew your strength and find purpose in life it may be necessary to withdraw, be alone for awhile and find some food for your body, your soul and your spirit.
I hope you find purpose for your life today as you grow in Christ. May God bless you as your spiritual life prospers in Jesus.
31 And He said to them, "Come away by yourselves to a lonely place and rest a while." (For there were many people coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.) (NAS)
Are you tired? Even while doing the work of God you will get tired. That kind of tiredness is physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. Jesus recognized the need for the disciples to come away from the hustle and bustle of the city life and be alone. Interestingly enough even Jesus needed refreshed. You are certainly no stronger or better than Jesus. You need refreshing in body, soul and spirit. You may be so involved with serving others, doing your job, taking care of your home or family that you forget your own needs. The disciples were so busy that they did not even have time to eat. Take a break. Take some time today to refresh your life. Spend some time alone with God and let Him refresh you.
To renew your strength and find purpose in life it may be necessary to withdraw, be alone for awhile and find some food for your body, your soul and your spirit.
I hope you find purpose for your life today as you grow in Christ. May God bless you as your spiritual life prospers in Jesus.
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