Luke 10:40
But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him, and said, "Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me." 41But the Lord answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; 42 but only a few things are necessary, really only one, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her." (NAS)
Distracted, worried and bothered; sound like your life? Martha was serving Jesus as you are and disturbed that her sister, Mary is not as committed to serving Jesus as she is. Martha decides to involve Jesus in a little reprimand for a lazy sister and finds herself at the end of the correction.
Jesus reminds her that she is so busy serving Him that she is missing the most important part. Mary has discovered fellowship with Jesus at His feet. Jesus reminds Martha of the important part of sitting at His feet. He describes her as distracted, worried and bothered by serving
to the point she has little fellowship with Jesus.
Could it be that as a servant of Christ that your ministry has gotten in the way of love for and time with Jesus. Are you distracted, worried and bothered by your ministry and serving God to the point that Jesus Himself is a secondary? Jesus reminds Martha that there is only one thing that is important. You were created to fellowship with the God. Why not take an inventory of your life today and see if Jesus is first.
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, January 29, 2009
Thursday, January 22, 2009
How Full Is Your Glass? #47
Philippians 1:12
12 Now I want you to know, brethren, that my circumstances have turned out
for the greater progress of the gospel, (NAS)
Ever find yourself under the circumstances. Although some people would question you as to why you were under the circumstances, it still may be an accurate description of how you find yourself. However, how you view those circumstances will have a profound affect on how you deal with them and how they impact your whole life.
Paul, the apostle, whose circumstances involved sitting in a jail cell, found that he had a greater opportunity to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ than ever. He saw his circumstances as the hand of God on his life and the result was progress for the Kingdom of God.
Maybe a fresh look at your particular surroundings and circumstances will give you a glimpse into your unique opportunity to share your faith. Your glass may be half full instead of half empty.
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.
12 Now I want you to know, brethren, that my circumstances have turned out
for the greater progress of the gospel, (NAS)
Ever find yourself under the circumstances. Although some people would question you as to why you were under the circumstances, it still may be an accurate description of how you find yourself. However, how you view those circumstances will have a profound affect on how you deal with them and how they impact your whole life.
Paul, the apostle, whose circumstances involved sitting in a jail cell, found that he had a greater opportunity to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ than ever. He saw his circumstances as the hand of God on his life and the result was progress for the Kingdom of God.
Maybe a fresh look at your particular surroundings and circumstances will give you a glimpse into your unique opportunity to share your faith. Your glass may be half full instead of half empty.
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, January 15, 2009
Meditate On The Shepherd #46
Ever say to God, “Where are you? Don’t you care anymore?” Well you are in good company. David the Psalmist said the same thing in similar words.
Psalms 77:7-9
7 Will the Lord reject forever? And will He never be favorable again?
8 Has His lovingkindness ceased forever? Has His promise come to an end forever?
9 Has God forgotten to be gracious? Or has He in anger withdrawn His
compassion? Selah. (NAS)
It happened to David much like it does to you. It came in the night. The darkest times seem to be when all is quiet, you cannot sleep and your mind is filled with disturbing thoughts. Then you wonder where God has gone. David finally realized that God has not changed. He realizes that it is with his own emotions that he is struggling.
Psalms 77:10
10 Then I said, "It is my grief, that the right hand of the Most High has
changed." (NAS)
David then remembers how God has worked in his life in the past and says:
Ps alms 77:11-12
11 I shall remember the deeds of the LORD; surely I will remember Thy
wonders of old.
12 I will meditate on all Thy work, and muse on Thy deeds. (NAS)
Meditate on the way God has blessed and cared for you over the years. Look back across the expanse of God’s working in your life and rejoice. Take your eyes off of your own grief and meditate on God Himself. Remember your God is a Great Shepherd.
Psalms 77:20 “You lead your flock like a caring Shepherd.” (my paraphrase)
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.
Psalms 77:7-9
7 Will the Lord reject forever? And will He never be favorable again?
8 Has His lovingkindness ceased forever? Has His promise come to an end forever?
9 Has God forgotten to be gracious? Or has He in anger withdrawn His
compassion? Selah. (NAS)
It happened to David much like it does to you. It came in the night. The darkest times seem to be when all is quiet, you cannot sleep and your mind is filled with disturbing thoughts. Then you wonder where God has gone. David finally realized that God has not changed. He realizes that it is with his own emotions that he is struggling.
Psalms 77:10
10 Then I said, "It is my grief, that the right hand of the Most High has
changed." (NAS)
David then remembers how God has worked in his life in the past and says:
Ps alms 77:11-12
11 I shall remember the deeds of the LORD; surely I will remember Thy
wonders of old.
12 I will meditate on all Thy work, and muse on Thy deeds. (NAS)
Meditate on the way God has blessed and cared for you over the years. Look back across the expanse of God’s working in your life and rejoice. Take your eyes off of your own grief and meditate on God Himself. Remember your God is a Great Shepherd.
Psalms 77:20 “You lead your flock like a caring Shepherd.” (my paraphrase)
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, January 8, 2009
Spiritual Privacy #45
Matthew 6:5-7
5 "And when you pray, you are not to be as the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners, in order to be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.
6 "But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will repay you. (NAS)
To whom do you pray? For what reason do you pray? What do you expect in return? Jesus knew his audience well and approached their prayer life accordingly. He warns them to be careful of their audience. Your prayers are to be directed to God and not to people. God desires for you to communicate with Him.
If you pray in public in order that people might hear you and be impressed with your spirituality then you have received all the answer you will get. When you speak to God go into a closet and shut the door. The God who is everywhere will meet with and listen to you in private. Your communication and relationship with God as well as your answers to prayer are the true rewards.
God desires that you only pray to Him and He promises to respond to your prayers. When you pray talk to God in private and expect God to answer your prayers.
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.
5 "And when you pray, you are not to be as the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners, in order to be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.
6 "But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will repay you. (NAS)
To whom do you pray? For what reason do you pray? What do you expect in return? Jesus knew his audience well and approached their prayer life accordingly. He warns them to be careful of their audience. Your prayers are to be directed to God and not to people. God desires for you to communicate with Him.
If you pray in public in order that people might hear you and be impressed with your spirituality then you have received all the answer you will get. When you speak to God go into a closet and shut the door. The God who is everywhere will meet with and listen to you in private. Your communication and relationship with God as well as your answers to prayer are the true rewards.
God desires that you only pray to Him and He promises to respond to your prayers. When you pray talk to God in private and expect God to answer your prayers.
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, January 1, 2009
Whatever He Says #44
John 2:5
5 His mother said to the servants, "Whatever He says to you, do it." (NAS)
Need some good advice for this New Year? Jesus was at the wedding feast of Cana of Galilee when He was asked to take care of a problem. The problem was simply that they had run out of wine; not a good thing to happen at a Jewish wedding. Jesus’ mother instructed the servants with a course of action. The incredible advice she gave them was, “Whatever He says to you, do it.”
Even though it seems fewer people are making New Year’s resolutions, let me encourage you to make a decision instead. Follow the advice of Mary and do what Jesus says. Instead of asking, “what would Jesus do?” ask yourself “what is Jesus saying for me to do?” Mary realized that the best thing anyone could ever do would be to listen to Jesus and do what He says.
In all our new beginnings; whether it is a new year, a new job, a new relationship, or just a new day, why not just pay close attention to what Jesus says for you to do, and then do it. Jesus gave to the servants the job of filling the water pots with water and then drawing from the pots. They made an incredible discovery. The water had turned to wine. The need of the wedding feast was fulfilled. Think of your possibilities if you would only, do whatever He says.
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.
5 His mother said to the servants, "Whatever He says to you, do it." (NAS)
Need some good advice for this New Year? Jesus was at the wedding feast of Cana of Galilee when He was asked to take care of a problem. The problem was simply that they had run out of wine; not a good thing to happen at a Jewish wedding. Jesus’ mother instructed the servants with a course of action. The incredible advice she gave them was, “Whatever He says to you, do it.”
Even though it seems fewer people are making New Year’s resolutions, let me encourage you to make a decision instead. Follow the advice of Mary and do what Jesus says. Instead of asking, “what would Jesus do?” ask yourself “what is Jesus saying for me to do?” Mary realized that the best thing anyone could ever do would be to listen to Jesus and do what He says.
In all our new beginnings; whether it is a new year, a new job, a new relationship, or just a new day, why not just pay close attention to what Jesus says for you to do, and then do it. Jesus gave to the servants the job of filling the water pots with water and then drawing from the pots. They made an incredible discovery. The water had turned to wine. The need of the wedding feast was fulfilled. Think of your possibilities if you would only, do whatever He says.
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.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)