Matthew 19:27
27 Then Peter answered and said to Him, "Behold, we have left everything and followed You; what then will there be for us?" (NAS)
Peter is so much like you and me. He wanted an answer to a tough question. He asked Jesus the question you probably also ponder. “What am I going to get out of this?” Sounds pretty selfish on the surface, but don’t you ever want to know answers like that? A Christian who is following Christ with their whole being and has given up family, possessions, jobs, money and recognition to follow Jesus that question is a legitimate one.
Peter truly wanted to know what would happen to those who had left everything to follow Jesus. Peter had given up everything. “What am I getting out of this” is a normal question. Jesus’ answer to Peter was that he would rule with Him in His kingdom and have eternal life. In other words Jesus was promising the disciples eternal life in exchange for their total surrender to Him in this life.
To give your life to God and allowing Him to direct you day by day is a guarantee that your next
life would be in heaven. It is not wrong to ask what you will receive from following Christ. The answer is also very simple. You will have eternal life.
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, March 26, 2009
Thursday, March 19, 2009
No More Than I Can Handle #55
1 Corinthians 10:13
13 No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, that you may be able to endure it. (NAS)
You have no doubt heard that God will not put more on you than you can handle. This verse is the text used to support that statement. The word temptation can mean a test, trial or adversity. You have experienced those trials in your life. The promise of the scripture is that what you experience is normal.
It also promises that God is faithful to not allow you to have more than what you are able to handle. The way of escape is merely the process by which God gives you the strength to endure what is coming your way. It may not be that the trial is less, but the grace is more. After all did not God promise that “My Grace is Sufficient.”
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.
13 No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, that you may be able to endure it. (NAS)
You have no doubt heard that God will not put more on you than you can handle. This verse is the text used to support that statement. The word temptation can mean a test, trial or adversity. You have experienced those trials in your life. The promise of the scripture is that what you experience is normal.
It also promises that God is faithful to not allow you to have more than what you are able to handle. The way of escape is merely the process by which God gives you the strength to endure what is coming your way. It may not be that the trial is less, but the grace is more. After all did not God promise that “My Grace is Sufficient.”
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, March 12, 2009
My Desires or God's Desires #54
Psalms 37:3-5
3 Trust in the LORD, and do good; dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.
4 Delight yourself in the LORD; and He will give you the desires of your heart
5 Commit your way to the LORD, trust also in Him, and He will do it. (NAS)
Ever have something of a passion in your life, something that you just wanted so much you could hardly stand to wait. The verse “delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart” is often used out of context to prove that by delighting in God you can have whatever you want.
However the idea of getting ‘whatever you desire’ is couched between two very important verses. First you need to trust God and do good. Second you need to commit your way to the Lord. Delighting yourself in the Lord means He is first; His will and His way. When you delight in Him, trust Him, commit your way to Him then the desires that are placed in your heart are His desires.
The question is not “how can I get what I want, but how can I make sure that what I desire is what God desires.” Quite a difference!
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 Trust in the LORD, and do good; dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.
4 Delight yourself in the LORD; and He will give you the desires of your heart
5 Commit your way to the LORD, trust also in Him, and He will do it. (NAS)
Ever have something of a passion in your life, something that you just wanted so much you could hardly stand to wait. The verse “delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart” is often used out of context to prove that by delighting in God you can have whatever you want.
However the idea of getting ‘whatever you desire’ is couched between two very important verses. First you need to trust God and do good. Second you need to commit your way to the Lord. Delighting yourself in the Lord means He is first; His will and His way. When you delight in Him, trust Him, commit your way to Him then the desires that are placed in your heart are His desires.
The question is not “how can I get what I want, but how can I make sure that what I desire is what God desires.” Quite a difference!
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, March 5, 2009
Joy, Joy, and More Joy #53
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 come forth from authors concerning attitude. Charles Swindoll declared attitude 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. The Apostle Paul long ago 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.
It is not easy to accomplish this feat. To have your heart full 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.”
It is through prayer that you express your heart. It is by the choice of your will that you can thank God for everything. God is concerned about everything in our lives and knows that with prayer we 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.
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 come forth from authors concerning attitude. Charles Swindoll declared attitude 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. The Apostle Paul long ago 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.
It is not easy to accomplish this feat. To have your heart full 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.”
It is through prayer that you express your heart. It is by the choice of your will that you can thank God for everything. God is concerned about everything in our lives and knows that with prayer we 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.
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