Category: Uncategorized
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August 15, 2012
Titus 3:1-2 NASBRemind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed, to malign no one, to be uncontentious, gentle, showing every consideration for all men.Personal Challenge…
As we enter into the final, and often aggressive, stage of the election season it becomes all the more important for those of us who claim to be followers of Christ to be reminded of our role within our society. We are commanded to live our lives in subjection to our leaders and authorities. Elsewhere in the scripture we are reminded that our leaders are in positions of authority by God’s appointment. We can follow the process available to us to elect new leaders, and we should do so in an informed and prayerful way, but we are still expected to respect those in authority. This may be challenging when we believe the current leaders are not what we think they should be, but this like so many other “opportunities”in life, become part of our journey of theosis, to be like Christ.
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August 14, 2012
Ephesians 4:29 NASBLet no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.Personal Challenge…
It is so easy to get caught up in the vernacular of the day and to start speaking in a way that cuts little microscopic slices in those around us. It has become the norm, what we in our home often call the “Jerry Seinfeld” way of talking to people. We often read a verse like this and say that it doesn’t apply to me because I don’t tear people down. Even if we just do little cuts and digs we are still slicing away at someones person. The scriptures tells us to have no unwholesome word proceed from our mouths. Something that I need to watch continually so that I can be building up those whom God has put into my life.
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August 10, 2012
Acts 4:19-20 NASBBut Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge; for we cannot stop speaking what we have seen and heard.”Personal Challenge…
Peter and John hand to make that decision, that decision that can be the hardest in anyone’s life, to stand up for their faith when they knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that the would be challenged and condemned for their faith. My prayer is that I would be able to speak as they did whenever that challenge confronts me someday. My desire is to be as bold as Peter and John every day of my life. -
August 9, 2012
Matthew 10:28 NASBDo not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.Personal Challenge…
Have you ever found yourself at that place in life where you are so concerned about your welfare, your life, that you compromise on your relationship with your Heavenly Father. Or worse yet, so concerned about the image that you might make with your friends, acquaintances or family that you back down on your representation of your life as a Christian. How easy it is for us to forget that it is our Lord who is the sustainer of our life, the provider of all that we have, the One who deserves all of our worship. Even if we are in a situation where our life could be taken from us only God holds our eternity in His hands. Stand up for Him at all times. Glorify Him in all things. Be bold and courageous for Him.
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August 8, 2012
Psalm 55:16-17 NIVBut I call to God, and the LORD saves me. Evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress, and he hears my voice.Encouraging Words…
Our Lord, my Lord, promises to reach out to me in the midst of my distress and save me. He hears my voice and responds. Do you notice though that there is the expectation that I will be calling out to Him, not just once in a while, but evening, morning, and noon. I don’t just turn to Him in times of need, but at all times. Only then will I know His voice.
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August 2, 2012
Deuteronomy 10:12-13 NASBNow, Israel, what does the LORD your God require from you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways and love Him, and to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the LORD’S commandments and His statutes which I am commanding you today for your good?Personal Challenge…
The expectation is simple…however the execution is a lifelong journey. This is what we call theosis, living a life that is constantly being refined by the grace of our Lord so that we can be molded into His image. The steps of this journey are outlined in this command to Israel, it is our responsibility and should be our desire to follow these steps.
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August 1, 2012
1 Peter 2:1-3 NASBTherefore, putting aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord.Personal Challenge…
Have you ever found yourself having a difficult time “studying” the scriptures? I have often heard the excuse that the enemy is thwarting one from reading the scriptures. Even though this is true maybe it is more that we are attempting too hard to study and not just spend time reading them. Maybe there is something to how this verse describes this as longing for the pure milk of the word, not slicing into a thick steak. Maybe it is time to spend more time just reading God’s word and let the Holy Spirit be the one that impresses the teaching upon you.
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July 31, 2012
1 Timothy 4:10 NASBFor it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers.Encouraging Words…
I have had the awesome privilege of walking with our Lord, our Savior, for most of my life. One thing that has often shown up in this journey, and always caused me great concern, are those who claim to have the proper method of becoming a Christian. It turns out to be their way, actually their way of putting God in their box. This verse reminds us that its the living God, the Savior of all men, who defines what it is to be His child, a Christian. It is interesting to me that this verse clearly claims that God is the Savior of all men, especially those who believe in Him. I know that looking at it this way will definitely generate a lot of contention, but there are so many other scriptures that profess the work of Christ as bringing to mankind victory over death.
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