Romans 15:4 "For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope."
Lamentations 3:19-24 New American Standard Bible 1995
Hope of Relief in God’s Mercy
19 Remember my affliction and my [a]wandering, the wormwood and bitterness. 20 Surely my soul remembers And is bowed down within me. 21 This I recall to my mind, Therefore I have hope. 22 The Lord’s lovingkindnesses [b]indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail. 23 They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. 24 “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I have hope in Him.”
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
When have you ever felt like your soul was screaming in pain?
Sure, on the outside, you look the same.
You show up, dress up, and tell yourself to hurry up and move past this … but deeper inside, you feel a deeper chasm of grief that shouts, This is not fair!
For you, maybe it’s a broken heart you never expected or a season where it feels like the hard things never end.
Maybe you’re longing for days gone by and wondering if life will ever be good again.
Psalm 13 New American Standard Bible 1995
Prayer for Help in Trouble.
For the choir director. A Psalm of David.
13 How long, O Lord? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me? 2 How long shall I take counsel in my soul, Having sorrow in my heart all the day? How long will my enemy be exalted over me?
3 Consider and answer me, O Lord my God; Enlighten my eyes, or I will sleep the sleep of death, 4 And my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,” And my adversaries will rejoice when I am shaken.
5 But I have trusted in Your lovingkindness; My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation. 6 I will sing to the Lord, Because He has dealt bountifully with me.
As you go through your day, you cannot help but wonder, God, where exactly are You in those moments when I need you the very most?
As you lie in bed at night, you can’t help but wonder, God where are You in this?
For me, it was depression. I didn’t want to cry, but I couldn’t stop. I wanted to get better, but I didn’t know how. I wanted to have more faith and pull myself out of it, but I felt helpless.
I was screaming inwardly because I didn’t want to be the burden that I felt I was to God and others. I wanted to be carefree and full of hope, but instead I was broken and unsure of how to move forward in faith.
As I turned to Scripture for encouragement, I came to Lamentations 3.
The author poured out his own sorrow as he shared how he had seen affliction, bitterness and hardship.
I found comfort in the fact that he was so honest about his pain.
This whole book in the Bible is about lament, which means “a passionate expression of grief or sorrow.”
Yet right smack in the middle of his cries, he made this bold statement: “Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail” (Lamentations 3:21-22).
These verses opened a crack of light into my darkness that day, and I felt my faith slowly stir up once again.
I didn’t have to deny my suffering — in fact, it was good to acknowledge it.
But even in the midst of post surgery depression, I could call truth to my mind.
I pray this encouragement from Lamentations stirs up your faith as well.
Even when our souls scream for relief, we’re tempted to wonder if God has left us alone, we can know His great compassion never has failed and never will fail.
Yes, our circumstances may be painful, but because of God’s great love, the pain will not consume us.
We can both acknowledge our pain and remember God’s goodness.
When we choose to remember who God is, we find hope to hold on to.
Audacious Hope
Lamentations 3:19-24 Easy-to-Read Version
19 Remember, I am very sad, and I have no home. Remember the bitter poison that you gave me. 20 I remember well all my troubles, and I am very sad. 21 But then I think about this, and I have hope: 22 We are still alive because the Lord’s faithful love never ends. 23 Every morning he shows it in new ways! You are so very true and loyal! 24 I say to myself, “The Lord is my God, and I trust him.”[a]
Hope is a Christian virtue. It’s a good and positive thing.
We need hope because the world is not yet the way God intends it to be.
We need hope because we are waiting for things to get better.
Hope means believing in the light even when we are in the darkness.
Psalm 9:18 Easy-to-Read Version
18 It may seem that those who are poor and needy have been forgotten, but God will not forget them. He will not leave them without hope.
Psalm 39:6-8 Easy-to-Read Version
6 Our life is like an image in a mirror.[a] We rush through life collecting things, but we don’t know who will get them after we die.
7 So, Lord, what hope do I have? You are my hope! 8 Save me from the bad things I did. Don’t let me be treated like a fool.
Psalm 62:5-6 Easy-to-Read Version
5 I must calm down and turn to God; he is my only hope. 6 He is my Rock, the only one who can save me. He is my high place of safety, where no army can defeat me.
Romans 12:9-13 Easy-to-Read Version
9 Your love must be real. Hate what is evil. Do only what is good. 10 Love each other in a way that makes you feel close like brothers and sisters. And give each other more honor than you give yourself. 11 As you serve the Lord, work hard and don’t be lazy. Be excited about serving him! 12 Be happy because of the hope you have. Be patient when you have troubles. Pray all the time. 13 Share with God’s people who need help. Look for people who need help and welcome them into your homes.
Hope opens us to have joy whatever the facts may be.
The facts around us show that the world can be a scary place.
But Christian hope is bold to say that even in the darkest times, God’s light still shines -even when we are afraid, God remains in absolute control of the entire universe, and he absolutely loves and cares for us more than we can imagine.
To those who do not know the Lord, having hope might seem like a crazy virtue.
If we consider the facts, we could be frightened about our lives and our world.
But because of the great love God has for us, we have sufficient reason for hope.
We have sufficient reason to believe that we are safe in the care of a faithful and powerful God. We can boldly hope in God and in the promises God makes to us.
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
Psalm 23 Authorized (King James) Version
Psalm 23
A Psalm of David.
1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. 5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
15 When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “What if Joseph bears a grudge against us and pays us back in full for all the wrong which we did to him!” 16 So they [a]sent a message to Joseph, saying, “Your father charged before he died, saying, 17 ‘Thus you shall say to Joseph, “Please forgive, I beg you, the transgression of your brothers and their sin, for they did you wrong.”’ And now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.” And Joseph wept when they spoke to him. 18 Then his brothers also came and fell down before him and said, “Behold, we are your servants.” 19 But Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in God’s place? 20 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about [b]this present result, to preserve many people alive. 21 So therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones.” So he comforted them and spoke [c]kindly to them.
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
I am no stranger to conflict.
But a conflict with a friend was fiercer than any other I had experienced before.
Backbiting words and accusations sought to ruin my reputation.
It was as if someone had stabbed me in the back and was twisting the knife deeper and deeper.
Saddened and greatly angered, I cried out to God, “Why is this happening to me? Why am I being treated this way?” But all I got in return, was His silence.
One day, a couple of years later at a former colleagues funeral I ran into the friend who had so badly mistreated me.
All the anger and sadness flooded my mind and heart once again.
I knew I couldn’t carry the anger around anymore.
Everything in me wanted to retaliate a thousand fold to seek any necessary recompense for what I had suffered at that persons hands.
But I knew that it was against what Jesus would call me to do.
I knew I had to do something in response, but what?
I quietly walked up beside him in the church and I blessed him with a hand of encouragement, in other words, I reached out and I shook his hand.
I looked him square in the eye, and spoke kind words the next time I saw him.
An immensely hurtful situation that seemed as though Satan would emerge victorious turned out to give God glory instead.
Out of jealousy, Joseph’s brothers had sought to grievously harm him.
His brothers’ jealousy compelled them to retaliate against Joseph.
When Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery, Joseph had every right to be angry.
Once he became Prime Minister many years later, he could have held on to that grudge.
He could have made his family pay for all the horrible things they had done to him.
But instead, he used his power for good instead of for evil.
He chose forgiveness rather than retaliation and kindness rather than evil.
Have you ever been hurt by people you love?
Have you ever had a friend betray your trust?
Have you ever had a family member betray your confidence?
In these transformational moments when our human emotions want us to act in the worst kind of retaliation, we, with the help of the Holy Spirit, can act in ways that show unusual kindness to the same people who do not deserve it.
God is a just God.
Only he can truly pay back the evil that someone has done.
As much as it feels as though it should be our responsibility to achieve justice, the reality is only a righteous God can get vengeance and pay back evil for evil.
Ephesians 4:30-32 New American Standard Bible 1995
30 Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, [a]by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven [b] you.
As Christians, we are called to act with the grace and forgiveness toward others that Christ has given to us.
Luke 23:34 New American Standard Bible 1995
34 [a]But Jesus was saying, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” And they cast lots, dividing up His garments among themselves.
When we understand the harsh reality of our sinfulness, we realize we truly don’t deserve God’s grace and mercy.
Yet, Jesus gives his grace and mercy to everyone, regardless of how horrible their deeds were.
His grace is widespread and covers a multitude of sins.
1 Peter 4:7-10 New American Standard Bible 1995
7 The end of all things [a]is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of [b]prayer. 8 Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins. 9 Be hospitable to one another without complaint. 10 As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
God wants us to act with the same grace and mercy that Jesus gave even to the people who betrayed him the most.
It is by these loving acts of kindness in the face of persecution that the world will know who Jesus truly is.
Romans 5:8-10 New American Standard Bible 1995
8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified [a]by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, how much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved [b]by His life.
They will see who he is through our selfless example.
Vengeance and justice are strictly up to God, not us.
Joseph chose not to use his power for retaliation yet showed his brothers kindness because of the forgiveness and love that God had given him.
He, in turn, helped his family, as well as the whole nation, survive a famine. In what ways can you demonstrate grace, mercy, in the face of highest betrayal?
God’s Expressed Purpose: Saving Many Lives
Genesis 50:20-21 New American Standard Bible 1995
20 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about [a]this present result, to preserve many people alive. 21 So therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones.” So he comforted them and spoke [b]kindly to them.
The Body of Christ, the church, is the carrier of the story of God and how God is creating a new people to make up a community of grace.
There are many twists and turns, both gentle and severe, in our life’s story.
There are twists and turns in the story, as we can see in the life of Joseph, for example.
A highly favored son gets sold into slavery by his jealous brothers.
When it seems like things might get better for Joseph, something else happens and he lands in prison with no hope of release.
Then God gives Joseph the ability to interpret dreams to bring about not only his release but also the saving of his family and many others from famine. (See Genesis 37-49.)
Genesis 50 brings us to the moment when Joseph’s father, Jacob, has died, and the brothers of Joseph worry that he might punish them.
What will Joseph do now as payback for all the wrong they had done to him?
Joseph looks beyond their actions to the ultimate purpose of God.
God desires to save people.
God desires to use people like Joseph—and us—to bring about a new day and provide new life for his people.
In this story we see a picture of how God is at work in the twists and turns of life—and he is still at work in our lives today!
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
Psalm 103 New American Standard Bible 1995
Praise for the Lord’s Mercies.
A Psalm of David.
103 Bless the Lord, O my soul, And all that is within me, bless His holy name. 2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget none of His benefits; 3 Who pardons all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases; 4 Who redeems your life from the pit, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion; 5 Who satisfies your [a]years with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle.
6 The Lord performs [b]righteous deeds And judgments for all who are oppressed. 7 He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the sons of Israel. 8 The Lord is compassionate and gracious, Slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness. 9 He will not always strive with us, Nor will He keep His anger forever. 10 He has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. 11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, So great is His lovingkindness toward those who [c]fear Him. 12 As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us. 13 Just as a father has compassion on his children, So the Lord has compassion on those who [d]fear Him. 14 For He Himself knows [e]our frame; He is mindful that we are but dust.
15 As for man, his days are like grass; As a flower of the field, so he flourishes. 16 When the wind has passed over it, it is no more, And its place acknowledges it no longer. 17 But the lovingkindness of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who [f]fear Him, And His [g]righteousness to children’s children, 18 To those who keep His covenant And remember His precepts to do them.
19 The Lord has established His throne in the heavens, And His [h]sovereignty rules over [i]all. 20 Bless the Lord, you His angels, Mighty in strength, who perform His word, Obeying the voice of His word! 21 Bless the Lord, all you His hosts, You who serve Him, doing His will. 22 Bless the Lord, all you works of His, In all places of His dominion; Bless the Lord, O my soul!
God of grace and forgiveness, help us to look beyond our hurts and troubles to see that you are at work in our lives too—day in and day out. In Jesus’ name we pray.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
91 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High Will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust!” 3 For it is He who delivers you from the snare of the trapper And from the deadly pestilence. 4 He will cover you with His pinions, And under His wings you may seek refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark.
5 You will not be afraid of the terror by night, Or of the arrow that flies by day; 6 Of the pestilence that [a]stalks in darkness, Or of the destruction that lays waste at noon. 7 A thousand may fall at your side And ten thousand at your right hand, But it shall not approach you. 8 You will only look on with your eyes And see the recompense of the wicked. 9 [b]For you have made the Lord, my refuge, Even the Most High, your dwelling place. 10 No evil will befall you, Nor will any plague come near your [c]tent.
11 For He will give His angels charge concerning you, To guard you in all your ways. 12 They will bear you up in their hands, That you do not strike your foot against a stone. 13 You will tread upon the lion and cobra, The young lion and the [d]serpent you will trample down.
14 “Because he has loved Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him securely on high, because he has known My name. 15 “He will call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in [e]trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. 16 “With [f]a long life I will satisfy him And [g]let him see My salvation.”
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
Safe and Sound
If you know how big and scary and difficult the world is, this psalm is for you.
These are powerful words of comfort: God is our shelter; God will cover us with his feathers spread wide, and under God’s wings we will find refuge.
Birds do that by instinct; they see a threat and spread their wings, forming a canopy of protection.
Their offspring run for cover and huddle there until the danger passes.
Reflecting on the relationship between God and ourselves, the psalmist says God will protect us in a way like that.
We can find refuge under his wings. Surely God will shield and protect us.
But it also happens that sometimes a threat doesn’t pass us by, and we don’t feel protected at all.
The promise is not that pain and tragedy will magically flow around us, but that ultimately nothing can, will, ever separate us from the reach of our God’s arms.
We live “in the shelter of the Most High”; we rest and find comfort “in the shadow of the Almighty.”
We do not fear because the all-powerful God of heaven and earth is here with us, walking alongside and standing beside us, in front of us and behind us, as a mother hen who will never abandon her young.
We’re safe in God’s care, and he is always with us.
When the Terror Comes and the Arrows Start Flying
June 2023 that terror came and the arrows started flying right at my own heart.
Up and until my 3 bypass open heart surgery in July 2023 I was a doer by nature.
I loved setting goals, scheduling, and keeping life tied up in a tidy little bow.
Now, all these seven months later my goal-setting took on a new life of its own.
At this phase of my rehabilitation, with all the good things I wanted to do, I give myself one pep talk after another and I have tried to convince myself I could do it all, with a lot of rest, little help from my trusty goal-planner (wife), of course.
Soon, my morning prayer and Bible reading were pushed to the forefront to make room for more God-given steps forward toward reaching those goals.
Yet, still, too easily, I would become winded, exhausted, utterly unmotivated.
All my wife’s careful planning would go by the wayside devolving into my naps.
I had become so accustomed to consulting the pages of my agenda at the start of each day that I didn’t realize how it affected my relationship with the Lord.
Now, instead of waking up looking forward to spending a few minutes in God’s presence, I was reaching straight for my planner to see what needed to be done.
My choice to start each day with my own strength began affecting every part of my life. I needed to be willing to set aside my agenda and learn to abide in Jesus.
In the Gospel narrative of John, in the Upper Room discourse, Jesus had over emphasized the essence of abiding when he described himself as the vine and his followers as the branches.
In John chapter 15, we see the word “abide” used several times.
John 15:1-11 New American Standard Bible 1995
Jesus Is the Vine—Followers Are Branches
15 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He [a]prunes it so that it may bear more fruit. 3 You are already [b]clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 4 Abidein Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit [c]of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. 5 I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned. 7 If you abidein Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so [d]prove to be My disciples. 9 Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. 10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abidein His love. 11 These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.
Our taking a much deeper dive into Scripture to carefully look at the original meaning behind Jesus’ message reveals this God spoken life-changing truth.
There’s no better place to be than abiding in him.
Psalm 91:1 illustrates this truth well, “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.”
Jesus also knew our tendency toward striving, so in his message to his people, he added,
“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5
We can do nothing of value apart from Christ.
Only average, tasteless fruit comes from a branch separated from the richness of his love.
I believe Jesus knew how hard it would be for us go-getter types to “abide.”
We want to do good things and share the love of Jesus through serving others.
But goals, absent God, can become idols, stealing the focus of our hearts.
The amazing truth I have discovered in this long course of my cardiac rehab is that learning to re-discipline myself to abide in the Lord draws me into a deeper awareness of the Holy Spirit working in our (mine, my wife’s) maturing lives.
Through these difficult and challenging heart agenda weighted times, it helps us stay patient with each other, love each other more and aligned with his will.
God enjoys our fellowship with him, and in those precious times of awareness, our faith filled connection to him will grow in miraculous and unexpected ways.
One way we have found we can learn to abide is by setting the planner down for a while and just sitting with God for a while.
No prayer requests, no specific agenda, just spending time being present with the Creator of the universe.
Sitting in God’s presence isn’t easy at first.
It takes a continual return to total dependence.
It means opening our hearts to what God wants to do in us, again and again and again, it involves picturing ourselves setting aside our fears, resting amidst the vastly strong arms of a loving Father, as his shadow offers protection, respite.
The more we learn to abide, the more we will long to abide.
So before we return to our agenda’s and to-do lists for the day, let’s commit to spending time simply learning about, praying over and then practicing abiding.
Even five minutes a day will cultivate a deeper connection. As we lean into God’s transforming presence, may we trade our agenda for all the Father has for us.
In the name of God, the Father and God the Father and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
Psalm 91:11-16 New American Standard Bible 1995
11 For He will give His angels charge concerning you, To guard you in all your ways. 12 They will bear you up in their hands, That you do not strike your foot against a stone. 13 You will tread upon the lion and cobra, The young lion and the [a]serpent you will trample down.
14 “Because he has loved Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him securely on high, because he has known My name. 15 “He will call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in [b]trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. 16 “With [c]a long life I will satisfy him And [d]let him see My salvation.”
Lord God, protect and shelter us, we pray. Gather us under your wings and shield us. Be our refuge in every storm of life. Be our only daily agenda In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Father God, You weaved me together on my Mother’s womb,Your thoughts of me and my future so infinite. Forgive me for the times I’ve gotten so busy with my own goals that I’ve forgotten to spend time in your presence. You are a good and faithful God, but in my rush to get things done, I forget to abide in you. Help me to lay down my own agenda and simply enjoy being connected to you. Thank you for reminding me to spend time with you as I learn how to abide. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 [a]After a little while the world will no longer see Me, but you will see Me; because I live, you will live also. 20 In that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. 21 He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him.” 22 Judas (not Iscariot) *said to Him, “Lord, what then has happened that You are going to disclose Yourself to us and not to the world?” 23 Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him.
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
Do you know how God chooses a place to live?
He looks for someone who is obedient to him, and then the Father and the Son come to live in that person through the Holy Spirit.
Not only do they live there, but they also reveal their presence.
In other words, Jesus has gone to heaven to prepare a place for us,but he comes to live in us until we can come to live with him.
Our invitation for him to come and live in us is our love for him, shown in our obedience.
There is nothing more important for us than to understand the earthly life of Jesus Christ.
There is a very mistaken concept among Christians that Jesus came to show us what God was like and how he would behave among men.
This is far from the truth, for Jesus did not come to show us how God behaves.
It is true that he came to reveal the Father in his character, but in his activity he came to reveal humanity as God intended humanity to be.
In everything he did we see humanity acting as God intended us to act, from the very beginning.
At the very heart of that manifestation is the key and secret of human life.
The principle on which he lived is the principle on which God intended man to live and by which we are to live.
Throughout our Lord’s ministry he reminded us continually of that great principle, not only by his words, but by his deeds.
You put Christ back into the Christian and you put God back into the man.
This is the revolutionary claim of Christianity.
Unfortunately, it is often obscured in our day.
This is why there are so many false claims and so many attempts to substitute something dramatic, something which would appeal to the human heart to distinguish Christianity from other faiths.
The radical claim of Christianity is that Jesus Christ offers to live his human life all over again in you, in the midst of the situations that you daily face.
There are few who seem to step out into this kind of living, but wherever it is attempted, strange things begin to happen.
Not that the life becomes suddenly spectacular and people go around doing miracles and other wonders, but in the quiet daily experience of life, in the various decisions that come to us, there is a quiet trust in the wisdom of God to meet our need, and things begin to work out in unexpected ways.
Extraordinary things follow ordinary activity, as God begins to work in human life.
This is the secret of human life, as our Lord had demonstrated it, making it 100% available to us as we by faith receive Jesus Christ, that his life may be lived again in us.
Love is much more than a feeling or an attitude: love is an action.
When we love, we show it by our deeds.
As disciples of Jesus, our love is shown by our obedience to the things Jesus taught.
Of course, that obedience brings an incredible blessing — Jesus reveals himself to those that obey him!
Jesus loves His people, and He wants us to love Him back.
Jesus wants to make his home within us, that we should reveal him to others.
This has been the message in the Bible from the beginning.
He has already made the first move – He left everything and he came to us.
Philippians 2:5-13 New American Standard Bible 1995
5 Have this attitude [a]in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be [b]grasped, 7 but [c]emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. 8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death [d]on a cross. 9 For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
12 So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.
The very human response to such a divine revelation of humility is up to us.
The revelation of Jesus Christ living in my humanity, guiding my humanity.
Revealed to the Jesus Christ living and guiding the humanity of the next person.
However small and inconsequential or large and in charge that may be in them.
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
Psalm 8 New American Standard Bible 1995
The Lord’s Glory and Man’s Dignity.
For the choir director; on the Gittith. A Psalm of David.
8 O Lord, our Lord, How majestic is Your name in all the earth, Who have [a]displayed Your splendor above the heavens! 2 From the mouth of infants and nursing babes You have established [b]strength Because of Your adversaries, To make the enemy and the revengeful cease.
3 When I [c]consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have [d]ordained; 4 What is man that You [e]take thought of him, And the son of man that You care for him? 5 Yet You have made him a little lower than [f]God, And You crown him with glory and majesty! 6 You make him to rule over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet, 7 All sheep and oxen, And also the [g]beasts of the field, 8 The birds of the heavens and the fish of the sea, Whatever passes through the paths of the seas.
9 O Lord, our Lord, How majestic is Your name in all the earth!
God, Author of my life, final judge of my humanity, Convict me of my sin, not for my condemnation but so that I might repent and learn the new ways of righteousness. Let me walk each day in closer harmony and fellowship with you. Let your Holy Spirit live, work both in me and through me so I might experience the true joy of life.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. 25 For whoever wishes to save his [a]life will lose it; but whoever loses his [b]life for My sake will find it. 26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
Self-denial
Let us just come right out and say it – Believers in Christ face the daunting challenge of being desensitized to the utter filth in the world around them.
The line between what is holy and unholy too often becomes fogged, unclear.
In the midst of the corruption and sin in our world, how can we be re-sensitized to live holy lives for the Lord?
Jesus explains, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves…”
And what does it mean to deny ourselves?
It means putting to death our sinful nature and putting on the spiritual nature of new life in Christ (Ephesians 4:14-5:20).
We cannot ever hope to do this task on our own, but all of this is made possible because Jesus came to live among us, as fully human, and to die in our place so that we can be completely freed from the slavery of sin and the curse of death.
In Christ we are called to put sinful ways behind us—all immorality and all impurity such as hatred, discord, jealousy, envy, rage, selfish ambition, greed, drunkenness, brawling, gossip, slander, and any kind of malice.
Instead, Paul writes we are to walk “in step with the Spirit” of God, bearing good spiritual fruit: “love, joy, peace, forbearance [patience], kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-25).
Jesus is our example.
He gave up his whole life for our sake, so that we might live.
Will we give up our old, corrupt nature to live the full life God wants us to enjoy?
In Christ we can!
A Prayer to Surrender All
Matthew 16:24-26 Easy-to-Read Version
24 Then Jesus said to his followers, “If any of you want to be my follower, you must stop thinking about yourself and what you want. You must be willing to carry the cross that is given to you for following me. 25 Any of you who try to save the life you have will lose it. But you who give up your life for me will find true life. 26 It is worth nothing for you to have the whole world if you yourself are lost. You could never pay enough to buy back your life.
I often think about what it must have been like to live in the days of Jesus.
Even more, what it must have been like to encounter Jesus face to face, witness the miracles, to listen to him speak, try and anticipate his next journey, touch His cloak, or better yet, to walk and be one of His followers or beloved disciples.
The personal relationships that Jesus built with each of His disciples is truly touching.
The beautiful thing is that today we get to experience it all and can almost hear their conversations and interactions as we read, study and pray through each account in the New Testament.
Jesus’ teachings were not only intimate as He gathered the disciples and the people around and shared wisdom and truth with such love and grace, they were also a direct message to us as well!
Yet, some of the lessons must have been difficult to hear and understand, just as we struggle to read and decipher His Word today.
I specifically think of the verses noted above for instance.
We see parallel verses in Mark and Luke, where Jesus is informing the disciples that if they wish to follow Him, they must deny themselves and they must take up their own cross on a daily basis. (Mark 8:34-35, Luke 9:23-24)
Jesus has reminded the disciples of the price they will pay for following Him.
The cost is denial of self and to bear their own cross.
This is the high price we all must pay when we seek to follow Jesus and fully surrender our lives to the one and only God.
So, what exactly does that look like?
First, we are called to deny ourselves.
That means to disown our own interests, desires, and natural tendencies and replace them with what God loves and honors.
It’s essentially a mindset shift that chooses and craves to be more like Jesus – His attitude, His mannerisms, His faithfulness.
Second, we are called to take up our own cross.
The cross was a bold instrument of execution in Jesus’ day.
It was meant for pain and torture along with public humiliation.
As followers, we must be ready (and willing) to undergo suffering and shame.
That is because this world will mock, ridicule, reject, and torment those who claim Christ as Lord.
Lastly, we are to follow Him by surrendering all.
Jesus is the direct access and path to a good, righteous, and abundant life beyond this one (John 14:6).
When we follow His way, truth, and life examples, we fully surrender our lives to Him and seek His will and way.
So, we must discipline our spirits to daily ask ourselves, are we surrendering all to Christ in order to follow Him?
Well, are we?
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
Psalm 42 New American Standard Bible 1995
BOOK 2
Thirsting for God in Trouble and Exile.
For the choir director. A [a]Maskil of the sons of Korah.
42 As the deer [b]pants for the water brooks, So my soul [c]pants for You, O God. 2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God; When shall I come and [d]appear before God? 3 My tears have been my food day and night, While they say to me all day long, “Where is your God?” 4 These things I remember and I pour out my soul within me. For I used to go along with the throng and [e]lead them in procession to the house of God, With the voice of joy and thanksgiving, a multitude keeping festival.
5 Why are you [f]in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? [g]Hope in God, for I shall [h]again praise [i]Him For the [j]help of His presence. 6 O my God, my soul is [k]in despair within me; Therefore I remember You from the land of the Jordan And the [l]peaks of Hermon, from Mount Mizar. 7 Deep calls to deep at the sound of Your waterfalls; All Your breakers and Your waves have rolled over me. 8 The Lord will command His lovingkindness in the daytime; And His song will be with me in the night, A prayer to the God of my life.
9 I will say to God my rock, “Why have You forgotten me? Why do I go mourning [m]because of the oppression of the enemy?” 10 As a shattering of my bones, my adversaries revile me, While they say to me all day long, “Where is your God?” 11 Why are you [n]in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? [o]Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him, The [p]help of my countenance and my God.
O Lord, our souls thirst for you, the living God. Guide us to live for you. Our only hope is in you, our God, the Creator and Author of our whole entire lives and Savior. Amen.
We humbly submit ourselves to You, Lord and seek Your face. We surrender our heart, mind, soul, and physical body all to You. We ask that You give us a means to seek only after Your heart and the plan and purpose You have for our lives. Align all our desires and passions to Your passions and allow us to be shaped and molded to be more and more like Jesus.Grant us such a measure and degree of wisdom and strength to bear the cross and sufficient power to resist the evil ways of this world. Please forgive us where we fail and cave under pressure, while offering us the courage to still fight the everyday battles. Be in our midst through each and every situation, showing us areas in our lives where we can improve and bring glory to Your holy name.Alleluia, Amen
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
6 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 Honor your father and mother (which is the first commandment with a promise), 3 so that it may be well with you, and that you may live long on the earth.
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
Some time ago, while sitting in a restaurant, I overheard a conversation between a teenager and her mother.
The mother was trying to convince her daughter that as long as she was in high school and living at home, she had to follow her parents’ rules.
At one point the daughter said, “I don’t have to listen to you just because you are my mother. I’m old enough to make my own decisions.”
Of course, the daughter had it wrong. Lewis Smedes, in his book Mere Morality, explains that God appoints parents to guide their children on his behalf.
The fifth commandment tells children of every age that they must honor and respect their parents, simply because they are their parents.
Children who are still living at home are expected to follow their parents’ rules.
The only exception would be a case in which the parents were busy asking their children to do something against God’s will.
Obeying our parents and listening to them can save us from a lot of hurt in life.
On more than one occasion I’ve heard adult children say, “I should have listened to my parents.”
Because of their life experience, parents often can better see the consequences of the decisions their children could make.
And making Christlike decisions in their own lives helps parents earn their children’s respect.
On two occasions when Paul gives to his readers a long list of the ugly fruits of godlessness, right in the middle we find one little phrase:
“disobedient to parents” (Romans 1:30; 2 Timothy 3:2).
Conversely, when you read church history, you discover that at times of spiritual awakening, practical godliness followed—including children’s submission to godly parental authority.
Paul writes children’s obedience to their parents is not merely a suggestion; it is an obligation.
Scripture teaches that such obedience is right according to the natural order of God’s creation, in accordance with His law, and as a response to the gospel.
Parents should not be afraid to call for, and praise, obedience.
But Paul doesn’t only say that obedience is right; he also says that it is rewarded.
In the Lord Jesus, there is a blessing that accompanies paying attention to God’s commands and promises.
And when parent-child relationships are marked by love, trust and obedience, we don’t just create healthy people; we also create a healthy, cohesive society.
Parents who wish to bring about such obedience would do well to remember five important truths that the Bible teaches about our children:
1. “Children are a heritage from the LORD” (Psalm 127:3).
They are a gift and a blessing.
Thinking of our children should prompt gratitude to the Giver of those children.
2. We don’t own our children; they belong to God. (Psalm 139:13-18)
They’re on loan to us, for a limited time.
3. Children are flawed from conception, guilty of sin and not deserving of eternal life—just like all of us (Psalm 58:3; Romans 3:23).
4. Because they are sinful, children are in need of the commandments of God. (Deuteronomy 6:4-12)
As parents, we are responsible for instructing them in God’s law from the earliest days.
5. Our children can be saved only by grace. Therefore, we must teach them to look to Jesus alone for salvation.(Luke 18:15-17)
Many of us live in a culture where these truths are opposed.
On the one hand, children are seen as innately good, and their education or health or happiness is held up as the highest good.
On the other, they are often bullies, the butt of jokes or subject of complaints.
Sometimes even within the church itself, there is an absence of clear, biblical statements about God, Godly family and Godly parenting.
But here is what God says: children growing up in the home are to obey their parents; parents are to raise their children to know God’s law and God’s grace.
If we would raise a generation in our homes and in our churches that is more godly and more zealous than ours, we would do well to nurture our children in the context of God’s truth.
Many, if not all of us, had parents with children in their homes.
All of us will be members of churches with children in our midst.
So what should it look like for us to contribute to the spiritual health of the next generation?
Honor Your Parents
Deuteronomy 5:16 New American Standard Bible 1995
16 ‘Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you, that your days may be prolonged and that it may go well with you on the land which the Lord your God gives you.
This command was not written for the little children.
They have no choice but to honor their parents.
It was written to younger and older adults who lived with older generations.
Living together in a household with three or more generations was common in ancient Israel, as it is in some of our own very households and societies today.
How do you treat your elders, especially your parents?
I have seen some young people act worse toward their parents than they do toward anyone else.
They complain that they deserve more and nicer things.
They berate their parents because they aren’t up on the latest technology or trends.
They throw a fit when asked to do a simple household task.
When another adult says, “You sure have a wonderful child,” the parent is stunned.
Our best and our worst behavior comes out in our families.
That is why this scriptural reminder is absolutely critical and necessary.
Show honor to your parents.
It doesn’t matter if they aren’t as smart or capable as they once were.
It doesn’t matter that they, like everyone else, have flaws.
The criterion for honor and respect is the fact that they are your parents.
Scripture repeatedly teaches that honoring your parents will bring blessing.
This command closes with a promise, saying that God gives us life and blessing for honoring the parents he has given us.
How are we with caring for our own parents or grandparents?
Micah 6:6-8 New American Standard Bible 1995
What God Requires of Man
6 With what shall I come to the Lord And bow myself before the God on high? Shall I come to Him with burnt offerings, With yearling calves? 7 Does the Lord take delight in thousands of rams, In ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I present my firstborn for my rebellious acts, The fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? 8 He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justice, to love [a]kindness, And to walk [b]humbly with your God?
Leviticus 19:32 New American Standard Bible 1995
32 ‘You shall rise up before the grayheaded and honor the [a]aged, and you shall revere your God; I am the Lord.
James 1:26-27 New American Standard Bible 1995
26 If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not [a]bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless. 27 Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained [b]by the world.
How well is it with us as parents, as disciples, the church, doing what the Lord requires of us?
How well is it with us as parents, as disciples, as the church in advocating for justice for our children, our parents, our grandparents or great grandparents?
How much do we love kindness?
How about our allegedly ‘humble’ walk with our God, His Son and Holy Spirit?
How well is it with the church caring for its own widows and its own orphans?
This Lent, think muchly and pray even more about your children and family!
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
Father God in heaven, help us to honor and respect our parents. Forgive us if we have ignored them, and help us as children to be patient with their shortcomings.
Thank you, Father God, for our children, for parents, especially godly parents. Thank you for the gift they are in our lives and in others’ lives. Help us to show them proper honor and to respect all people as created and loved by you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He was asking His disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist; and others, [a]Elijah; but still others, [b]Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.” 15 He *said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are [c]the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon [d]Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18 I also say to you that you are [e]Peter, and upon this [f]rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
Who Do You Say I Am?
After a 25-mile (40 km) trip on foot from the Sea of Galilee to Caesarea Philippi, Jesus asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” (Daniel 7:13).
The disciples said they had heard some say he was John the Baptist or Elijah or another prophet returned from the dead.
But Jesus wanted to dig deeper: “Who do you say I am?”
They were silent until Simon Peter blurted out the most remarkable statement:
“You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus blessed Simon, saying, “You are Peter” (which means “rock”), explaining that God had given him this new understanding.
Years ago, A spiritual director asked me, “If you were Peter, having answered Jesus’ question, wouldn’t you want to also ask Jesus what he thought of you?”
He sent me off to consider the question.
My reflections on this question surprised me:
if Jesus blessed Peter for professing what the Father had shown him, then surely he blesses us as his disciples today too.
Who Are You?
Busyness seems to be driven by a determination not to “miss out on life.”
Behind much of the rat race of life today is the unexamined assumption that what I do determines who I am.
Jesus did not have that problem.
His identity as the Son of God and calling as the Messiah were clear.
He never asked a question to which he didn’t already have the answer.
When he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” he did that for their benefit.
The disciples looked back and forth at each other, and responded with the names of prophets from the past because people believed that the Messiah, their promised deliverer, would be like those prophets.
But Peter had seen enough to know Jesus was the true Anointed One (Messiah).
Peter had an inspired confession of faith.
He declared, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
Peter was a prophet as he spoke these words.
He affirmed the truth of God, professing that Jesus is the Messiah and Savior.
That is what we do as prophets.
We share in Christ’s calling as prophets when we point to him as the one true Savior and Lord of all.
We are anointed as prophets to tell people who Jesus is.
We are called to make Jesus famous – not ourselves.
As a Christian, this is your identity.
This is who you are.
Whom can you introduce to Jesus today?
Which nowadays – where people are quick to get in your face and shout you down and curse the ground you’re standing on, is a heavily charged question.
Jesus asked them, “Who Do You Say That I Am?”
Matthew 16:15-18New American Standard Bible 1995
15 He *said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are [a]the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon [b]Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18 I also say to you that you are [c]Peter, and upon this [d]rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.
When we read the Gospels, it becomes apparent that when people came into contact with Jesus of Nazareth, they seldom reacted with polite neutrality.
His words and deeds inspired deep love and devotion but also deep seated fear and deeper hatred. What could possibly account for such a range of responses?
In this conversation on the road to Caesarea Philippi,
Peter spoke out—as was often the case—and for more than just himself when he replied, “You are the Christ.”
The word he used to identify Jesus was Christos, which in Greek meant “Messiah” or “Anointed One.”
Throughout the Old Testament writings, God had anointed kings, judges, and prophets, and high priests, but they were all representatives and spokesmen pointing forward to the future Messiah, the Savior, very Anointed One of God.
Therefore, what Peter declared was especially noteworthy. He was saying to Jesus, You are that one. You are the one of whom the prophets have spoken.
What is even more astounding is Jesus’ explanation for Peter’s statement.
Peter didn’t come to his conclusion because he was smart or had an advanced capacity for logical and rational thinking or because an inspiring preacher had spelled it out for him.
His declaration was possible because God the Father actually revealed it to him.
Peter’s confession of faith, like our own, could never have come about by his own strength.
Faith is a gift that we are given.
This exchange between Peter and Jesus is a concrete example of the Spirit of God taking the word of God and bringing it to someone’s mind and heart in a way that causes him or her to resoundingly declare the messiahship of Jesus.
Like Peter, our ability to declare Jesus as Lord and Messiah is not our own doing; it is “the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).
If our faith were the result of our own intellectual capacity or our emotional wisdom and intelligence or our own alleged moral goodness, we could place confidence—we could boast—in ourselves.
But on good days this will leave us proud, and on bad days it will make us brittle.
No: our faith rests entirely on God’s gift, so we place our maximum confidence in Him—and then we are humble on our best days and confident on our worst.
Rejoice with gratitude today, then, because God delights to transform hearts and minds by the indelible truth of His word alone so that we can join Peter in resoundingly, publicly, declaring, before God and man; “You are the Christ.”
There is no other name under heaven that can save us (Acts 4:12).
We are to confess Jesus before men, knowing that when we do, we can be sure he will confess us before the Father in heaven.
Jesus Christ is the Son of God, our Savior and Lord.
We may not know the theological gravity behind those words — after all, Peter didn’t when he confessed Jesus as Christ — but we can make a commitment to know him and follow him until we are inspired enough to go and do know more.
Every single moment of the day, Jesus asks us to open our hearts to his lordship and thereby begin the journey toward fuller knowledge and experience of him.
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
Living God and Holy Father, I believe you sent Jesus as your Son to save me. I confess to you that I want Jesus to be Lord of my life because I believe him to be your Son and my Savior. It is through your Son, the Christ promised in Scripture. Lord Jesus, make me more like you. Make my calling sure. May my heart and my mouth be open to confessing you as Christ, my Lord and Savior, in whose name I pray. Amen. Amen.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
18-23 But God’s angry displeasure erupts as acts of human mistrust and wrongdoing and lying accumulate, as people try to put a shroud over truth. But the basic reality of God is plain enough. Open your eyes and there it is! By taking a long and thoughtful look at what God has created, people have always been able to see what their eyes as such can’t see: eternal power, for instance, and the mystery of his divine being. So nobody has a good excuse. What happened was this: People knew God perfectly well, but when they didn’t treat him like God, refusing to worship him, they trivialized themselves into silliness and confusion so that there was neither sense nor direction left in their lives. They pretended to know it all, but were illiterate regarding life. They traded the glory of God who holds the whole world in his hands for cheap figurines you can buy at any roadside stand.
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
Although They Knew God …
Since God has revealed Himself to us from the beginning, it forces us to make a choice being we can either glorify Him as God or we can choose to walk away.
Paul describes this dilemma from the very beginning of time.
Our track record is we chose not to acknowledge God so our thinking became frivolous and impractical.
The result was a foolish, dark, and hard heart concerning God.
This condition of a hardened heart is a process. If we claim to be wise without recognizing God as the sovereign creator of all things, we are fools. This leads to looking to other things to satisfy our deep needs. It’s a sad day when we exchange the glory of God for made-made idols.
It is easy to look at this and think that we would never make and worship idols such as primitive civilizations did.
But as our society progresses, so do our idols.
According to Timothy Keller, in his book Counterfeit Gods, an idol “is anything more important to you than God, anything that absorbs your heart and imagination more than God, anything you seek to give you what only God can give.” 11 Keller, Timothy. Counterfeit Gods. New York: Riverhead Books, 2009
Modern-day idols are just as prevalent but more disguised.
Work, money, family, and material possessions have the potential to be idols.
Everything and anything we exalt above God is the modern day idol.
Idolatry starts with ingratitude.
When we aren’t thankful to God, then it is a slippery slope into not glorifying Him as God and when we do that our focus shifts from Him to something else.
Paul said, this is the mark of a fool.
Since the truth of God is written on our hearts (Romans 1:19), we crave a true connection with God.
If we ignore this desire, we shut off our hearts and minds to knowing Him relationally.
Without the spirit connection, then the best we can do to fill that yearning is with perishable representations of it.
In Our Own Image …
Romans 1:18-23 New American Standard Bible 1995
Unbelief and Its Consequences
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth [a]in unrighteousness, 19 because that which is known about God is evident [b]within them; for God made it evident to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. 21 For even though they knew God, they did not [c]honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and [d]crawling creatures.
There is something wrong in our lives when we need an image or an icon to worship God.
We must understand that God forbids this (see Exodus 20:3-5). He does not want us to relate to Him that way.
We must also understand that sometimes people can become idols in our lives.
Maybe someone was instrumental in bringing us to Christ or we have great admiration for a certain pastor or leader.
But is that person becoming an idol?
Are they taking the place of God in our lives?
Of course, God will use people to impact us spiritually.
But every person will, at some point, fail to measure up to all the expectations we have.
And because we sometimes make idols out of others, our faith is shattered when we discover they are human like we are.
In the parable of the sower, Jesus talked about seed that grew up quickly.
But because it had no root, it quickly withered (see Mark 4:16-17).
16 In a similar way these are the ones on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy; 17 and they have no firm root in themselves, but are only temporary; then, when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately they [a]fall away.
This represents people who don’t get a good foundation spiritually.
They don’t build their faith on Jesus Christ and His Word.
Something or someone became an idol in their lives, and that idol failed to measure up to their ideal.
So they give up, because the foundation they built on was faulty.
We need to build our foundation on Jesus Christ.
Idols also can be ourselves.
Romans 1:21 tells us, “Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused” (NLT).
The first creature that people substitute for God is themselves.
Ultimately, all idolatry comes down to people worshipping themselves.
They want to be in control.
Humanity is incurably religious.
There is something deep within us that wants to worship, but if we can make a god in our image, by our standard, thus call our own shots, then we are happy.
That’s because, for all practical purposes, we have formed a god in our own image – we have successfully put ourselves in the place of the one true God.
Idolatry can be living for our senses and appetites as well.
The apostle Paul wrote, “There are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ. They are headed for destruction. Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth” (Philippians 3:18-19 NLT).
Jesus also warned about pursuing empty lifestyles.
He asked, “Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing?”(Matthew 6:25 NLT).
For many people, the answer is almost indelibly, invariably – no.
Is there one thing that you would absolutely refuse to give up if God were to ask it of you?
Is there one thing that would cause you to say, “Take anything but this, Lord”?
If so, then that thing, that pursuit, that passion just may be an idol in your life.
Here’s the good news though, knowing Jesus fills that hunger inside of us for a connection with God.
When we know Jesus, we stop looking for something else.
Today, I pray that you may experience Jesus in a way that deeply satisfies you.
To the glory of God, the Father, may you fill your God-shaped hole with the person of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and find true joy in this process.
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
Heavenly Father, the world is becoming increasingly evil, and the rejection of Your gracious offer of salvation, by faith in Jesus Christ, seems to have saturated this fallen world. But You are a God of infinite mercy and grace, Who is not willing that ANY should perish, but that all should come to repentance and faith in Christ. Thank You that every man has the free-will to accept Your offer of salvation, by trusting in Jesus, Who willingly died so that they might live. I pray that many, who are in the valley of decisions, would turn to Christ and trust in You today, for the forgiveness of sins and life everlasting, and use me I pray, to touch the lives of some with the good news of the gospel of God. In Jesus’ name I pray, Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Amen.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
14 “For it is just like a man about to go on a journey, who called his own slaves and entrusted his possessions to them. 15 To one he gave five [a]talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he went on his journey. 16 Immediately the one who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and gained five more talents. 17 In the same manner the one who had received the two talents gained two more. 18 But he who received the one talent went away, and dug a hole in the ground and hid his [b]master’s money.
19 “Now after a long time the master of those slaves *came and *settled accounts with them. 20 The one who had received the five talents came up and brought five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you entrusted five talents to me. See, I have gained five more talents.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your [c]master.’
22 “Also the one who had received the two talents came up and said, ‘Master, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have gained two more talents.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’
24 “And the one also who had received the one talent came up and said, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you scattered no seed. 25 And I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.’
26 “But his master answered and said to him, ‘You wicked, lazy slave, you knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I scattered no seed. 27 Then you ought to have put my money [d]in the bank, and on my arrival I would have received my money back with interest. 28 Therefore take away the talent from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents.’
29 “For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away. 30 Throw out the worthless slave into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
Faith is like a muscle group in our bodies.
We are given all we will ever need at the point of our salvation, but if we don’t often use or exercise that muscle group, it will become weak and ineffective.
Jesus said faith the size of a mustard seed could move mountains (Matthew 17:20).
Matthew 17:20 The Message
20 “Because you’re not yet taking God seriously,” said Jesus. “The simple truth is that if you had a mere kernel of faith, a poppy seed, say, you would tell this mountain, ‘Move!’ and it would move. There is nothing you wouldn’t be able to tackle.”
Yet, if we want that minuscule-sized faith to move mountain-sized objects or circumstances, we need to exercise it, to strengthen it by using it in the small things so it grows and matures to conquer the big, bigger, and biggest things.
In the parable of the Talents in Matthew 25, Jesus said if we are “faithful in a few things” we will be given more (verse 21 NIV).
He also said, “For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have [or, does not use what one has], even what they have will be taken from them” (verse 29).
I believe that applies to our faith as well as our gifts and talents.
As you and I exercise faith in the little things, then we will be in tip-top faith shape for the big, bigger and the biggest things.
If you find your faith is sagging a bit right now from not using or exercising it, it might be time for a full faith lift.
Here are seven small habits which might serve to help you to build your faith.
1. Be Thankful in All Things
If you want to grow your faith, don’t put conditions or parameters around what you are thankful for. Instead, obey 1 Thessalonians 5:18, which commands us to “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
We all know fair-weathered believers.
They are thankful to God when life is good, but they question their faith when circumstances go in all the directions which serve little or no useful purpose.
It is God’s will for you and me to be thankful in everything because it grows our faith, refines us, and makes us more like Jesus.
Being thankful in every circumstance – even the disappointing, uncomfortable, and painful ones– grows your faith in God’s ability to work all things “for the good of those who love him, whohave been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).
You can become light in this darkened and cynical world when you can be thankful in all things, not just the good, comfortable, and pleasant things.
32 How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered! 2 How blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity, And in whose spirit there is no deceit!
3 When I kept silent about my sin, my [b]body wasted away Through my [c]groaning all day long. 4 For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; My [d]vitality was drained away as with the fever heat of summer. [e]Selah. 5 I acknowledged my sin to You, And my iniquity I did not hide; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord”; And You forgave the [f]guilt of my sin. Selah. 6 Therefore, let everyone who is godly pray to You [g]in a time when You may be found; Surely in a flood of great waters they will not reach him. 7 You are my hiding place; You preserve me from trouble; You surround me with [h]songs of deliverance. Selah.
8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you. 9 Do not be as the horse or as the mule which have no understanding, Whose trappings include bit and bridle to hold them in check, Otherwise they will not come near to you. 10 Many are the sorrows of the wicked, But he who trusts in the Lord, lovingkindness shall surround him. 11 Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous ones; And shout for joy, all you who are upright in heart.
Throughout Scripture, God commanded His people to remember the things He did for them.
He told them to build altars of remembrance to tell their children and those after them the great things that God had done.
God knew we were people prone to forget and then falter in our faith.
So, if we remind ourselves what the Word of God says, remember all He had done, we’d have faith for the next time the challenging circumstances come.
Psalm 103:1-5 New American Standard Bible 1995
Praise for the Lord’s Mercies.
A Psalm of David.
103 Bless the Lord, O my soul, And all that is within me, bless His holy name. 2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget none of His benefits; 3 Who pardons all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases; 4 Who redeems your life from the pit, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion; 5 Who satisfies your [a]years with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle.
By picking up your Bible again, remembering what God did in the past, you are strengthening your faith in what God can do in your present and in your future.
3. Record Your Prayer Requests and Answers
Psalm 84:8-12 New American Standard Bible 1995
8 O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer; Give ear, O God of Jacob! Selah. 9 Behold our shield, O God, And look upon the face of Your anointed. 10 For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand outside. I would rather stand at the threshold of the house of my God Than dwell in the tents of wickedness. 11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield; The Lord gives grace and glory; No good thing does He withhold [a]from those who walk [b]uprightly. 12 O Lord of hosts, How blessed is the man who trusts in You!
The more we talk with God in prayer, the more our faith grows.
And the more we recount what He did with our prayers, the stronger our prayer life and faith muscles become.
Start recording your prayer requests in a journal or on a sheet of paper you keep in your Bible.
Write the date of your request.
Then, highlight those requests that were answered with a yellow pen and record the date they were answered.
Or you may want to leave space for how that request was answered.
Just because God didn’t say “yes” to a request of yours doesn’t mean He didn’t answer it.
Sometimes His “no” or “wait” are blessings in disguise.
Seeing – and recording – how God answered your prayers can build your faith in the only God who promises that “no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless” (Psalm 84:11).
100 Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth. 2 Serve the Lord with gladness; Come before Him with joyful singing. 3 Know that the Lord [b]Himself is God; It is He who has made us, and [c]not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
4 Enter His gates with [d]thanksgiving And His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him, bless His name. 5 For the Lord is good; His lovingkindness is everlasting And His faithfulness to all generations.
This is different than thanking God (as mentioned in #1).
Praise is adoring God for who He is, not just thanking Him for what He has done.
Our gratitude can sometimes be focused on us and what we want, and how God pleased us.
But praise moves us out of the picture and is centered on God’s character and attributes.
There are many ways we can praise God creatively.
For example, praise God through the alphabet by choosing an attribute of His for each of the ABCs:
“God, You are amazing. You are beautiful. You are capable. You are deity. You are everlasting…” Or take one letter a day and praise God with as many words that start with that letter that you can think of. For example: “God you are capable. You are compassionate. You are caring. You are the Comforter.””
As you praise Him alphabetically, and remind yourself of His attributes, you are busy recounting your reasons for having faith in Him.
5. Do Not Be Afraid to Ask Big Things of God
John 14:7-15 New American Standard Bible 1995
Oneness with the Father
7 If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him.”
8 Philip *said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” 9 Jesus *said to him, “Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works. 11 Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe because of the works themselves. 12 Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father. 13 Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.
15 “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.
Scripture tells us that we do not have because we do not ask (James 4:2).
I believe God is waiting for the challenge, for us to ask so big and exercise so much faith that we are convinced when He answers that it had to be Him.
Of course, He can provide your sustenance as you pray “Give us this day, our daily bread” (Matthew 6:11) and care for His own when you pray “Please bless my church and the missionaries.”
But ask Him for something specific and something echelons too big for you to accomplish on your own, it will strengthen your faith each time as you witness God come through, and you realize it wasn’t any mere coincidence or a result of your own efforts.
Unleash the wonders of God by asking for what only He can do (not referring to asking that you win the mega lotteries so you can give half of it to your church. Or praying that you are promoted to CEO from the mail room or Janitor at your job so you can buy that multi-million-dollar home you always promised self).
Ask according to God’s will.
Ask in Jesus’ name – which means asking God the Father for something that Jesus, His Son, would ask for.
Ask on behalf of Jesus, so that God will be glorified.
God loves to answer big prayers.
He is the God of the impossible. And without faith, it is impossible to please Him (Hebrews 11). So, please His heart – and build your faith – by asking big.
6. Ask for Divine Appointments.
1 John 5:13-15 New American Standard Bible 1995
This Is Written That You May Know
13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life. 14 This is the confidence which we have [a]before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him.
I believe every day there are God-appointments for us to live out our purpose, impact others eternally. and bring glory to God.
We just need eyes to see these divine appointments and boldness to act upon them.
Over the past two plus decades of walking with God, both seeing and missing divine appointments, I have learned that when I specifically ask for divine appointments to serve someone, make a difference, glorify God, or share the Gospel, God blesses and God provides and God gives them to me every time.
Perhaps by asking for them, I am more on the alert to recognize them when they appear before me.
I’m convinced every time you ask for a divine appointment (or for eyes to see the one already in front of you), He will provide it, too.
That conviction is based on 1 John 5:13-15, which tells us if we ask anything according to His will He hears us and if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we will receive what we’ve asked of Him.
It’s definitely God’s will that we partake in His divine appointments and the “good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10, NASB 1995).
Ephesians 2:8-10 New American Standard Bible 1995
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and [a]that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
So, ask for divine appointments – and then act upon them – and it will build your faith.
7. Do Not Hesitate to Whisper or Shout His Name
Psalm 13 New American Standard Bible 1995
Prayer for Help in Trouble.
For the choir director. A Psalm of David.
13 How long, O Lord? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me? 2 How long shall I take counsel in my soul, Having sorrow in my heart all the day? How long will my enemy be exalted over me?
3 Consider and answer me, O Lord my God; Enlighten my eyes, or I will sleep the sleep of death, 4 And my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,” And my adversaries will rejoice when I am shaken.
5 But I have trusted in Your lovingkindness; My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation. 6 I will sing to the Lord, Because He has dealt bountifully with me.
There are times we need God, but we just don’t know what to say or where to begin.
Start by saying His name and then speak your heart’s cry.
Scripture says there is power in the name of Jesus, not only because “Salvation is found in no one else” (Acts 4:12), but because Jesus responds to His name when His loved ones call to Him.
Psalm 22:1-5 New American Standard Bible 1995
A Cry of Anguish and a Song of Praise.
For the choir director; upon [a]Aijeleth Hashshahar. A Psalm of David.
22 My God, my God, why have You forsaken me? [b]Far from my deliverance are the words of my [c]groaning. 2 O my God, I cry by day, but You do not answer; And by night, but [d]I have no rest. 3 Yet You are holy, O You who [e]are enthroned upon the praises of Israel. 4 In You our fathers trusted; They trusted and You delivered them. 5 To You they cried out and were delivered; In You they trusted and were not [f]disappointed.
The writers of the classics called this type of whispering cry “breath prayers.”
My breath prayers to sense His presence are “Jesus, I need You” or “Jesus, give me a heart for You.”
Calling His name just as often as we breathe is one of the simplest ways to sense His presence or remind ourselves that He is there.
I believe the simplest of cries are the ones that penetrate His heart – and ours – the quickest.
And when we call upon His name and sense His presence, it builds our faith.
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
Psalm 16 New American Standard Bible 1995
The Lord the Psalmist’s Portion in Life and Deliverer in Death.
16 Preserve me, O God, for I take refuge in You. 2 [b]I said to the Lord, “You are [c]my Lord; I have no good besides You.” 3 As for the [d]saints who are in the earth, [e]They are the majestic ones in whom is all my delight. 4 The [f]sorrows of those who have [g]bartered for another god will be multiplied; I shall not pour out their drink offerings of blood, Nor will I take their names upon my lips.
5 The Lord is the portion of my inheritance and my cup; You support my lot. 6 The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; Indeed, my heritage is beautiful to me.
7 I will bless the Lord who has counseled me; Indeed, my [h]mind instructs me in the night. 8 I have set the Lord continually before me; Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. 9 Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will dwell securely. 10 For You will not abandon my soul to [i]Sheol; Nor will You [j]allow Your [k]Holy One to [l]undergo decay. 11 You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
14-17 Dear friends, do you think you’ll get anywhere in this if you learn all the right words but never do anything? Does merely talking about faith indicate that a person really has it? For instance, you come upon an old friend dressed in rags and half-starved and say, “Good morning, friend! Be clothed in Christ! Be filled with the Holy Spirit!” and walk off without providing so much as a coat or a cup of soup—where does that get you? Isn’t it obvious that God-talk without God-acts is outrageous nonsense?
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
Believing and Acting
A wise person has said that we should imagine our faith and actions written up in a feature story splashed across the front page of every known newspaper.
What would that look like?
Myriads and myriads of scandals erupt because high profile Christians don’t behave like the believers they vigorously claim to be.
But the tension between our walk and our talk brings dishonor to our Lord.
There are many times when believers deserve to be called hypocrites.
In those moments, our faith and deeds show a rather severe disconnect.
James speaks bluntly to this contrast between believing and acting.
Our trust relationship with God must show itself in acts of obedience.
Just nodding in agreement to a biblical teaching doesn’t transform the way we treat our next-door neighbor.
What about your faith?
Is it authentic?
Does it show others that you have a living relationship with Christ?
Real faith turns the misunderstood contrast between faith and works into a dynamic combination of genuine faith and real action.
Receiving God’s Word through Action
Faith and action go together.
Understanding and works are tethered—joined together at salvation through the working of the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers.
James 2:14-17 asks us,
Faith without Good Deeds Is Dead
14 What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? 15 Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, 16 and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do?
17 So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.
The poor, orphaned, widowed, and lost don’t just need a word from God.
They need us to act on our beliefs and love and serve selflessly with the help of the Holy Spirit.
Gathering together as believers to worship is just a part of what God intends for us as his children.
If we are to receive all that God has for us, if we are to walk in the abundant life God intends, we must resolve to be doers of the word.
James 1:23-25 gives us a window into the life of a believer who never puts action to his faith.
Scripture says,
23 For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. 24 You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. 25 But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.
Your identity as a disciple of Christ undoubtedly comes from relationship with God, but it is meant to be lived out in your deeds.
God longs for you to live a life of good works in response to the unconditional love you’ve been given.
He longs for you to live in selfless humility sharing with others what he’s done in you.
We’ve separated Christianity from the world.
We’ve separated Sunday from Monday, the sacred and secular.
Jesus lived in line with God’s love every minute he was here.
He broke the rules in healing on the Sabbath.
He ministered almost completely outside of the walls of the synagogue.
He brought the good news of God’s grace to all who would believe everywhere he went.
His life was in no way segregated.
Jesus’s turning the water into wine at a party was just as holy and spiritual as his standing up, reading of Isaiah in the temple, proclaiming his fulfillment of the prophecy regarding the Messiah.
His love was put into perfect action through every word, miracle, step, glance, and prayer.
With Jesus as our perfect example, let’s live in accordance with God’s will.
Let’s blur the line between faith and works until the two become one.
Let’s regard meals, conversations, rest, family time, and parties as important and holy as worshipping inside the walls of our churches. Let’s live as Jesus did and reveal His love as an action instead of just an idea we talk about on Sunday.
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Guided Prayer:
1. Meditate on God’s desire for your faith to produce good works.
“What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace, be warmed and filled,’ without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”James 2:14-17
2. Ask God where he would have you put faith into action.
It could be the completely random act of buying flowers for your wife, or your finding a new way to honor your husband, taking your children on a special trip, or offering encouragement to someone around you at meal at work or at school.
Ask the Spirit to give you specific ways in which he desires you live out the love you have received.
3. Ask God for the strength and courage to live out his word.
Follow the leadership of the Holy Spirit into the good works he has prepared for you today.
The Spirit has an incredible ability and power to guide a willing heart into action for God.
Receiving the knowledge of God’s love for the people around you will open up doors in your own life to better know the fullness of God’s heart.
You will be more deeply blessed by serving others than you could ever be blessed in being served.
God pours his love and grace out on those who minister in line with the leading of the Holy Spirit.
It’s truly an honor to be used by God to further the advance of his kingdom in the earth.
You were made to live out the truth of the gospel.
So choose today to act upon the leading of the Spirit.
100 Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth. 2 Serve the Lord with gladness; Come before Him with joyful singing. 3 Know that the Lord [b]Himself is God; It is He who has made us, and [c]not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
4 Enter His gates with [d]thanksgiving And His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him, bless His name. 5 For the Lord is good; His lovingkindness is everlasting And His faithfulness to all generations.
Lord Jesus, by the power of the Holy Spirit, renew my heart, refresh my heart, change and transform my heart so my trust in you becomes a powerful, and active display of your grace and power. Help me to serve you by serving, caring about others. Amen.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
Loving God, Living God, Loving Hope, Living Hope, Loving Living Life His Way! "Many things are possible for the person who has hope. Even more is possible for the person who has faith. And still more is possible for the person who knows how to love. But everything is possible for the person who practices all three virtues." - Brother Lawrence (1605-1691), Practicing the Presence of God (1692). 