Good Morning,
Matthew 5:14-16 (NIV)
"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."
Ephesians 5:8 (NIV)
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light.
None of us live lives that aren't seen by other people. That is a fact. We don't often notice that we are seen in what we're doing, but, believe me, people see us and notice what we do...and how we do things.
This is especially true of Christians. Why is that? Well, first off, we have these Bible verses that we read today which tell us that we are "light of the world" and "light in the world." We aren't the same as non believers as we go about our daily business out there in the world. We have something in us that lights up what we are doing and how we go about living our normal, routine lives. When we accept Jesus Christ as Savior, then the Holy Spirit comes into us and we glow in the knowledge of the Lord in our lives. Yes, we can dim that light sometimes, but the fact is that it's still there. And that brings some attention to all of us. There's really nothing we can do about it, the attention that is.
Secondly, there are those in and of the world who would like nothing better that to bring believers in the Lord down. They do that by closely observing how we live and what we do. We are sort of under the proverbial microscope when it comes to our behavior and actions. There are simply those who watch us constantly, hoping to see us doing something...even some very small thing...which would not be considered the "Christian" thing to do. That's when these folks can say, "See! These Christians aren't different from anyone else. They are just like us. They (fill in the blank for any sinful behavior) just as much as we do."
Paul wrote, "Live as children of light." That, of course, means to us that we are to live as children of the Living God of the universe. We are to show our light to the world, in the world, just as Jesus told us so that, "...they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."
We have a responsibility every day we live on this planet. Our responsibility as Christian believers is to show the world that we are, truly, different from those who choose to live sinfully and not come to the Lord. This is an awesome responsibility. We have to literally watch our every step and think about our every word. We need to be honest to a fault. We need to help those we see in need of help. We need to give to those who are needy. We need to speak words of kindness and love and mercy when we open our mouths. Well, you know what I'm saying here. Everything we do and everything we say and maybe even everything we think is just like an open book to those who see us. And, EVERYONE sees us!
For some of us this can be what seems to be an impossible task. For all of us this is a difficult task. But it's one that we can undertake with the knowledge that God is with us every step we live. With His help and calling on His strength, we can truly show the world the light of Jesus Christ in us. What we have to do is to remember to call on God and ask Him for His help...every single day.
Love, peace, and blessings,
David
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Friday, January 30, 2009
Have No Fear
Good Morning,
Exodus 4:11-12 (NIV)
The LORD said to him, "Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the LORD ? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say."
Mark 13:10-11 (NIV)
And the gospel must first be preached to all nations. Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.
When asked why they don't speak up more often about the Gospel message, most people will reply something like, "Well, it's not that I don't want to tell people about Jesus, it's just that I really don't know what to say or how to say it." Now, I full understand not wanting to seem uninformed about a subject that I'm bringing up to someone, whether it be a family member, friend, coworker, or even a stranger that I might meet at the grocery store. I will agree that it is good to know what you're talking about when you broach any point or issue with someone. However, here's a subject...God's plan of salvation; the Gospel message...where we don't have to be experts in order to speak out.
Scripture tells us, I believe, that when we DO open our mouths about Godly things, then God will give us the thoughts and words we need to fulfill our desire to speak of Him. I mean, it's pretty clear that He's done it before, isn't it? He told Moses that He would help him to speak and teach him what to say. He also told the disciples that they shouldn't worry when confronted or arrested because of Jesus and His message. He told them that not only would they be given what to say, but that it would be the Holy spirit speaking through them. Now here's another thing about what Jesus said. It's so very, very important that three of the four Gospels quote Jesus about this. Mark 13:10-11 that we read today; Matthew 10:10; Luke 21:13-15. Now, when I read something in the Bible that is stated not once, not twice, but three times, well, I've got to tell you that whatever is being taught through those sections of Scripture is of utmost importance. Speaking out the Gospel message IS of utmost importance.
So, we are told that we will, truly, be given the words to speak from God and that the Holy Spirit will even speak through us to spread God's message to the unsaved and unchurched. Does that mean that we don't, then, have to read and study the Bible so we're better prepared? Of course not!!! We still ought to read and study God's very Word on a regular basis. It just makes everything we go about doing better...in every way...including speaking out about God's plan of salvation. One thing that Bible reading and study will do is to help give us confidences when those opportunities to speak out arise. Because, you see, the enemy will ALWAYS tell us that we don't know enough to speak out. Therefore, if we're more well read, then the devil's taunts mean so much less.
We ARE to speak up about the Good News of Jesus Christ to the world. We ARE to do it regularly. We ARE to do it with peace in our hearts and minds.
Love, peace, and blessings,
David
Exodus 4:11-12 (NIV)
The LORD said to him, "Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the LORD ? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say."
Mark 13:10-11 (NIV)
And the gospel must first be preached to all nations. Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.
When asked why they don't speak up more often about the Gospel message, most people will reply something like, "Well, it's not that I don't want to tell people about Jesus, it's just that I really don't know what to say or how to say it." Now, I full understand not wanting to seem uninformed about a subject that I'm bringing up to someone, whether it be a family member, friend, coworker, or even a stranger that I might meet at the grocery store. I will agree that it is good to know what you're talking about when you broach any point or issue with someone. However, here's a subject...God's plan of salvation; the Gospel message...where we don't have to be experts in order to speak out.
Scripture tells us, I believe, that when we DO open our mouths about Godly things, then God will give us the thoughts and words we need to fulfill our desire to speak of Him. I mean, it's pretty clear that He's done it before, isn't it? He told Moses that He would help him to speak and teach him what to say. He also told the disciples that they shouldn't worry when confronted or arrested because of Jesus and His message. He told them that not only would they be given what to say, but that it would be the Holy spirit speaking through them. Now here's another thing about what Jesus said. It's so very, very important that three of the four Gospels quote Jesus about this. Mark 13:10-11 that we read today; Matthew 10:10; Luke 21:13-15. Now, when I read something in the Bible that is stated not once, not twice, but three times, well, I've got to tell you that whatever is being taught through those sections of Scripture is of utmost importance. Speaking out the Gospel message IS of utmost importance.
So, we are told that we will, truly, be given the words to speak from God and that the Holy Spirit will even speak through us to spread God's message to the unsaved and unchurched. Does that mean that we don't, then, have to read and study the Bible so we're better prepared? Of course not!!! We still ought to read and study God's very Word on a regular basis. It just makes everything we go about doing better...in every way...including speaking out about God's plan of salvation. One thing that Bible reading and study will do is to help give us confidences when those opportunities to speak out arise. Because, you see, the enemy will ALWAYS tell us that we don't know enough to speak out. Therefore, if we're more well read, then the devil's taunts mean so much less.
We ARE to speak up about the Good News of Jesus Christ to the world. We ARE to do it regularly. We ARE to do it with peace in our hearts and minds.
Love, peace, and blessings,
David
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Start Each Day
Good Morning,
Psalm 5:1-3 (NIV)
Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my sighing.
Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray.
In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice;
in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.
How do you start each day that you have been blessed with by God? I'd love to tell you that I am exactly like the Psalmist and start my every day just as we read in these beautiful words. Well, I can't say that and be honest about it. There are too many days that I simply DON'T start my day in prayer...even though I know I should. David begins by asking God to hear him and hear his cry for help during "this" day. He then lays his requests before God and, here's sort of the key I think, he waits to hear from God EXPECTANTLY. I would think that means he has no doubt that God will, indeed, at least speak to him, if not immediately answer his prayerful requests.
My friends, THIS is exactly how each of us should begin every day we live...myself at the forefront of that statement. We need to awaken to each day and begin it in prayerful "sighing" and crying out to the Lord for His help, guidance, and direction for our day. Then, we need to put our requests to God and, again the key here, wait with true belief and expectation that He will speak to us and He will answer our prayers. Now that's not to say that He will answer our prayers exactly as we would like, but He will answer our prayers as He knows is best. (Remember...Sometimes the answer might be "No.")
What I've found when I DO remember to begin each day with God, speaking to Him, praying for Him to be with me, is that my day normally goes pretty well. Then, on the other hand, when I DON'T remember to begin my day in conversation with God, well, let's just say my day doesn't go as smoothly as I would like. And, duh, I often can't figure out what's wrong! There are times when I remember what I forgot to do as my day started when I say, "Hello, David!!! You sort of forgot to do something this morning, didn't you?" You see, there really are times I'm not the brightest bulb in the box about things, you know? Point being here that it is simply so much better to start our days, every day we live, in communication with the giver of those days.
Just a word more about the final line in these verses about expectation. Too often many of us don't have a true expectation that God will hear and answer our requests made prayerfully to Him. We sometimes, maybe too much, don't have the really faith and trust in Him that He's there with us and for us. I think that "expectation" is so very key to our cries to God; to our requests for Him to be sort of proactive in our lives. God wants us to have complete, 100% trust in Him. God wants us to have total faith in the fact that He will hear what we have said to Him and that He will do what's best for us in answer to our prayers. Faith and trust, you see, complete faith and trust, will lead to true expectation. True expectation leads to patient waiting for Him to answer our cries to Him.
Let us all do whatever it takes to remember to begin each day in prayer to our loving God. Let's put some reminder there by our bed which will help us to start our day as we know we should and as we know God would love us to do.
Love, peace, and blessings,
David
Psalm 5:1-3 (NIV)
Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my sighing.
Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray.
In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice;
in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.
How do you start each day that you have been blessed with by God? I'd love to tell you that I am exactly like the Psalmist and start my every day just as we read in these beautiful words. Well, I can't say that and be honest about it. There are too many days that I simply DON'T start my day in prayer...even though I know I should. David begins by asking God to hear him and hear his cry for help during "this" day. He then lays his requests before God and, here's sort of the key I think, he waits to hear from God EXPECTANTLY. I would think that means he has no doubt that God will, indeed, at least speak to him, if not immediately answer his prayerful requests.
My friends, THIS is exactly how each of us should begin every day we live...myself at the forefront of that statement. We need to awaken to each day and begin it in prayerful "sighing" and crying out to the Lord for His help, guidance, and direction for our day. Then, we need to put our requests to God and, again the key here, wait with true belief and expectation that He will speak to us and He will answer our prayers. Now that's not to say that He will answer our prayers exactly as we would like, but He will answer our prayers as He knows is best. (Remember...Sometimes the answer might be "No.")
What I've found when I DO remember to begin each day with God, speaking to Him, praying for Him to be with me, is that my day normally goes pretty well. Then, on the other hand, when I DON'T remember to begin my day in conversation with God, well, let's just say my day doesn't go as smoothly as I would like. And, duh, I often can't figure out what's wrong! There are times when I remember what I forgot to do as my day started when I say, "Hello, David!!! You sort of forgot to do something this morning, didn't you?" You see, there really are times I'm not the brightest bulb in the box about things, you know? Point being here that it is simply so much better to start our days, every day we live, in communication with the giver of those days.
Just a word more about the final line in these verses about expectation. Too often many of us don't have a true expectation that God will hear and answer our requests made prayerfully to Him. We sometimes, maybe too much, don't have the really faith and trust in Him that He's there with us and for us. I think that "expectation" is so very key to our cries to God; to our requests for Him to be sort of proactive in our lives. God wants us to have complete, 100% trust in Him. God wants us to have total faith in the fact that He will hear what we have said to Him and that He will do what's best for us in answer to our prayers. Faith and trust, you see, complete faith and trust, will lead to true expectation. True expectation leads to patient waiting for Him to answer our cries to Him.
Let us all do whatever it takes to remember to begin each day in prayer to our loving God. Let's put some reminder there by our bed which will help us to start our day as we know we should and as we know God would love us to do.
Love, peace, and blessings,
David
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Prayer Request...for us all
Good Morning,
Colossians 1:1-14 (New International Version)
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,
To the holy and faithful brothers in Christ at Colosse: Grace and peace to you from God our Father.
We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints—the faith and love that spring from the hope that is stored up for you in heaven and that you have already heard about in the word of truth, the gospel that has come to you. All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and understood God's grace in all its truth. You learned it from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf, and who also told us of your love in the Spirit.
For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Please allow me to paraphrase the first few verses that we read today.....
David, a disciple of Jesus Christ only because of God's grace...
To those who read these words each day, my brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus...
Please, pray for me and, in God's will, hear my prayers for you...
I looked at these verses this morning and my heart cried out with the words I read. It cried out pleading to the Lord in prayer for you, with these same thoughts, feelings, and sentiments that Paul had for the saints of his day. My heart also cried out that YOU would pray for me with these very same thoughts, feelings, and sentiments. You see, I need your prayers in order to be a better servant of Jesus Christ. We all do. Without the prayers of my brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ, I am like a dried leaf blowing in the breeze that doesn't know where it's going nor where it will land. But, with your prayers, God will guide that wind and have this dried up old leaf go where He would have me to be and allow me to land where I can do the most good in His service now.
I ask God for the same things that Paul asked for the people to whom he was writing. I ask it for you and I ask it for myself. Please, read these words this day and pray with me for all the saints...and especially for me. I truly need your prayers.
Paul asks that God fill people with "the knowledge of His will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding." Oh, yes! Please Lord, God of the universe and Creator of all things, hear our prayer for this.
Paul asks that we might "live a life worthy of the Lord and please Him in every way." Oh, yes! Please Lord, hear our prayers.
Paul asks that we live our lives "bearing fruit in every good work." Oh, yes! Please Lord, hear our prayers.
Paul asks that we go on "growing in knowledge of God." Oh, yes! Please Lord, hear our prayers.
Paul asks that we be "strengthened with all power according to His glorious might so that we may have great endurance and patience." Oh, yes! Please Lord, hear our prayers.
Paul asks that we will "joyfully give thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light." Oh, yes! Please Lord, hear our prayers.
Please join me in these prayers today...and in the days to come. As I've said, I need your prayers and, I truly believe, we all need the prayers of, well, of us all. We have work to do, each of us as individuals and all of us corporately, in service to God. We can only do it as God would have us to do if we will pray continually for His guidance, His strength, and His wisdom in our lives.
Love, peace, and blessings,
David
Colossians 1:1-14 (New International Version)
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,
To the holy and faithful brothers in Christ at Colosse: Grace and peace to you from God our Father.
We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints—the faith and love that spring from the hope that is stored up for you in heaven and that you have already heard about in the word of truth, the gospel that has come to you. All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and understood God's grace in all its truth. You learned it from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf, and who also told us of your love in the Spirit.
For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Please allow me to paraphrase the first few verses that we read today.....
David, a disciple of Jesus Christ only because of God's grace...
To those who read these words each day, my brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus...
Please, pray for me and, in God's will, hear my prayers for you...
I looked at these verses this morning and my heart cried out with the words I read. It cried out pleading to the Lord in prayer for you, with these same thoughts, feelings, and sentiments that Paul had for the saints of his day. My heart also cried out that YOU would pray for me with these very same thoughts, feelings, and sentiments. You see, I need your prayers in order to be a better servant of Jesus Christ. We all do. Without the prayers of my brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ, I am like a dried leaf blowing in the breeze that doesn't know where it's going nor where it will land. But, with your prayers, God will guide that wind and have this dried up old leaf go where He would have me to be and allow me to land where I can do the most good in His service now.
I ask God for the same things that Paul asked for the people to whom he was writing. I ask it for you and I ask it for myself. Please, read these words this day and pray with me for all the saints...and especially for me. I truly need your prayers.
Paul asks that God fill people with "the knowledge of His will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding." Oh, yes! Please Lord, God of the universe and Creator of all things, hear our prayer for this.
Paul asks that we might "live a life worthy of the Lord and please Him in every way." Oh, yes! Please Lord, hear our prayers.
Paul asks that we live our lives "bearing fruit in every good work." Oh, yes! Please Lord, hear our prayers.
Paul asks that we go on "growing in knowledge of God." Oh, yes! Please Lord, hear our prayers.
Paul asks that we be "strengthened with all power according to His glorious might so that we may have great endurance and patience." Oh, yes! Please Lord, hear our prayers.
Paul asks that we will "joyfully give thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light." Oh, yes! Please Lord, hear our prayers.
Please join me in these prayers today...and in the days to come. As I've said, I need your prayers and, I truly believe, we all need the prayers of, well, of us all. We have work to do, each of us as individuals and all of us corporately, in service to God. We can only do it as God would have us to do if we will pray continually for His guidance, His strength, and His wisdom in our lives.
Love, peace, and blessings,
David
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Five Loaves
Good Morning,
John 6:9 (NIV)
"Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?"
We all know this story where Jesus miraculously fed the 5,000 with "five small barley loaves and two small fish," maybe enough for three or four people. We have read and heard how He blessed this small amount of food, told the disciples to distribute what He had blessed so that everyone had plenty to eat, and then had 12 baskets of food left over. What's more, we all fully believe that He did what we read in this section of the Bible. I mean, we have no doubts at all that the Lord could and would do such a thing. I think we can all agree on that, don't you?
Now, if we can all agree on the fact that God can do so much with so little, why in the world do we doubt that He can and will do much with the little we might have available? Yes, we do doubt, of that I'm positive. We hear it all the time. "Well, my little donation can't do very much and maybe I should just try to put it to better use in my own life." People say, "I don't have that much ability to help in the congregation, so perhaps I'll just stay home and do some things around here." Others think, "There's just too much need and what I have can't make any difference."
You see, when we think and say things like that what we are REALLY saying is, "God, you know what? I don't think you can do a miracle with what I have to give. Maybe you did it a couple thousand years ago, but, well, I don't believe you're in the miracle business any more." Pretty sobering to think like that, isn't it? Yes, too many of us don't really believe...deep in our hearts and minds...that God can and will do miracles in this day and age.
But, look around sometime. Look and see what God HAS done and IS doing in so many places...and with so little. There are small congregations started up with almost nothing at all and they become hugely successful because people believed that God was there working right along side them...and God added to their increase. There are food banks begun by Christians all over that were begun with only the means of a very few people, but they gave it all up to the Lord for Him to do as He would and these food banks are now huge and feeding many, many more than just 5,000. There are outreach programs and schools and many, many other activities which were started with almost nothing...nothing but the belief that God would be there and perform a miracle for them. And with that belief and total trust in God, they have become extremely successful.
What do you have that really looks like "five small barley loaves and two small fish" that might be put to use with a miracle producing God? What can we, together, do in our small way that God can take and perform a miracle with? How can we put our little bit of talents or assets to use in such a way that God would see it and make it more than just a little bit fruitful?
The point is that we must take off all of the limitations we have put on God and let Him perform His miracles with our little bit...to make it His triumph.
We have to put our total trust and faith and belief in Him that He will do miracles even in this day and age. Remember what Paul wrote, "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." (Eph. 3:20-21) I believe that this speaks directly to what God can and will do.
Love, peace, and blessings,
David
John 6:9 (NIV)
"Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?"
We all know this story where Jesus miraculously fed the 5,000 with "five small barley loaves and two small fish," maybe enough for three or four people. We have read and heard how He blessed this small amount of food, told the disciples to distribute what He had blessed so that everyone had plenty to eat, and then had 12 baskets of food left over. What's more, we all fully believe that He did what we read in this section of the Bible. I mean, we have no doubts at all that the Lord could and would do such a thing. I think we can all agree on that, don't you?
Now, if we can all agree on the fact that God can do so much with so little, why in the world do we doubt that He can and will do much with the little we might have available? Yes, we do doubt, of that I'm positive. We hear it all the time. "Well, my little donation can't do very much and maybe I should just try to put it to better use in my own life." People say, "I don't have that much ability to help in the congregation, so perhaps I'll just stay home and do some things around here." Others think, "There's just too much need and what I have can't make any difference."
You see, when we think and say things like that what we are REALLY saying is, "God, you know what? I don't think you can do a miracle with what I have to give. Maybe you did it a couple thousand years ago, but, well, I don't believe you're in the miracle business any more." Pretty sobering to think like that, isn't it? Yes, too many of us don't really believe...deep in our hearts and minds...that God can and will do miracles in this day and age.
But, look around sometime. Look and see what God HAS done and IS doing in so many places...and with so little. There are small congregations started up with almost nothing at all and they become hugely successful because people believed that God was there working right along side them...and God added to their increase. There are food banks begun by Christians all over that were begun with only the means of a very few people, but they gave it all up to the Lord for Him to do as He would and these food banks are now huge and feeding many, many more than just 5,000. There are outreach programs and schools and many, many other activities which were started with almost nothing...nothing but the belief that God would be there and perform a miracle for them. And with that belief and total trust in God, they have become extremely successful.
What do you have that really looks like "five small barley loaves and two small fish" that might be put to use with a miracle producing God? What can we, together, do in our small way that God can take and perform a miracle with? How can we put our little bit of talents or assets to use in such a way that God would see it and make it more than just a little bit fruitful?
The point is that we must take off all of the limitations we have put on God and let Him perform His miracles with our little bit...to make it His triumph.
We have to put our total trust and faith and belief in Him that He will do miracles even in this day and age. Remember what Paul wrote, "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." (Eph. 3:20-21) I believe that this speaks directly to what God can and will do.
Love, peace, and blessings,
David
Monday, January 26, 2009
A Drink of Water
Good Morning,
Mark 9:41 (NKJV)
For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in My name, because you belong to Christ, assuredly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.
My wife is in the habit of fixing a couple of two liter bottles of clean water and setting it out each week for the men who come to collect our trash. She goes to great lengths to be sure that this water is from the reverse osmosis thing we've got so that they will have the cleanest and best tasting water that she can give them. She expects nothing in return. Now, before you lump me in with her in doing this good deed I must tell you that I am not involved in this activity at all and I've wondered about whether or not the trouble she goes through is worth it. Yes, I'm the skeptic of the house! But then, some months ago, I was sitting at the kitchen table drinking my morning coffee and I heard the big old trash truck in our neighborhood. From our kitchen we can look out the windows and see the area where we set out our trash cans. As the sounds of the truck got nearer I glanced up from my newspaper and saw the truck stop by our driveway. Then, as I watched, I noticed that the first thing the young man who got down from the truck did was to look down where my wife had set their water bottles. Before he did anything else, he reached down, picked up those bottles and with a smile he set them into the cab of the truck.
Now, I hadn't ever given a whole lot of thought as to whether or not these guys really cared much about their simple bottles of water, but that day I saw the true fruits of her labors. Yes, indeed, they were, I believe, more than just a little bit pleased with the small gift of clean water that they had come to expect. God, you see, wanted me to see that little play which transpired before my eyes so He could give me a lesson...well, maybe several lessons! He kind of works that way, don't you think? God wanted to show me that even the in the tiniest of ways we serve Him that there can be great reward. He also wanted to soften my heart a bit so I would more fully understand a caring and loving heart who just wanted to make life a bit easier on her fellow human beings.
So, the point of this, I believe, is for us to more fully understand this simple verse of Scripture. The "cup of water" is a metaphor to helping others...even if only in the smallest of ways. There is also the added lesson that even the little things we do for others are seen and then rewarded by God. Another lesson that I learned that day was that I am, indeed, to be more giving, loving, and caring about ALL people.
Please pray for me that I would be all of that...more giving...more loving...more caring of everyone. And I shall pray the same for you.
Love, peace, and blessings,
David
Mark 9:41 (NKJV)
For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in My name, because you belong to Christ, assuredly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.
My wife is in the habit of fixing a couple of two liter bottles of clean water and setting it out each week for the men who come to collect our trash. She goes to great lengths to be sure that this water is from the reverse osmosis thing we've got so that they will have the cleanest and best tasting water that she can give them. She expects nothing in return. Now, before you lump me in with her in doing this good deed I must tell you that I am not involved in this activity at all and I've wondered about whether or not the trouble she goes through is worth it. Yes, I'm the skeptic of the house! But then, some months ago, I was sitting at the kitchen table drinking my morning coffee and I heard the big old trash truck in our neighborhood. From our kitchen we can look out the windows and see the area where we set out our trash cans. As the sounds of the truck got nearer I glanced up from my newspaper and saw the truck stop by our driveway. Then, as I watched, I noticed that the first thing the young man who got down from the truck did was to look down where my wife had set their water bottles. Before he did anything else, he reached down, picked up those bottles and with a smile he set them into the cab of the truck.
Now, I hadn't ever given a whole lot of thought as to whether or not these guys really cared much about their simple bottles of water, but that day I saw the true fruits of her labors. Yes, indeed, they were, I believe, more than just a little bit pleased with the small gift of clean water that they had come to expect. God, you see, wanted me to see that little play which transpired before my eyes so He could give me a lesson...well, maybe several lessons! He kind of works that way, don't you think? God wanted to show me that even the in the tiniest of ways we serve Him that there can be great reward. He also wanted to soften my heart a bit so I would more fully understand a caring and loving heart who just wanted to make life a bit easier on her fellow human beings.
So, the point of this, I believe, is for us to more fully understand this simple verse of Scripture. The "cup of water" is a metaphor to helping others...even if only in the smallest of ways. There is also the added lesson that even the little things we do for others are seen and then rewarded by God. Another lesson that I learned that day was that I am, indeed, to be more giving, loving, and caring about ALL people.
Please pray for me that I would be all of that...more giving...more loving...more caring of everyone. And I shall pray the same for you.
Love, peace, and blessings,
David
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Forgiveness...Forgive...Forgiving
Good Morning,
Matthew 18:21-22 (NKJV)
Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.
Colossians 3:12-13 (NIV)
Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
Forgiveness. Forgive. Forgiving.
I think that these may be among the most difficult words and concepts that we, as Christians, must deal with, comprehend, and put actively into use in our lives. However, the Bible is clear...very, very clear...about forgiving and what our responsibilities are concerning forgiveness.
Jesus was clear, I think, when He told Peter that he should forgive "up to seventy times seven" times when something happened that needed forgiving. You see, what Jesus said was that there really is NO limit on forgiving or on forgiveness. I believe that we all agree Jesus was being a bit metaphorical with the "seventy times seven" words He used. Then we read, for even fuller explanation about "forgive" in Paul's letter to the Colossians when he wrote, "...forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another." And the most important part of this whole forgiving concept is what followed..."Forgive as the Lord forgave you."
Now, I've got to be honest here. I don't know if I can forgive someone 490 times when that someone does stuff that needs forgiving. Do you? Four hundred ninety being seventy times seven, of course. How in the world does that happen? Who is it that can be that forgiving? Well, God can...thankfully! Think about how many "forgivings" that have been necessary in your life. I can only wish it were ONLY 490 time that God needed to forgive me for things I've done. If it were only that small a number I'd consider myself a much, much better man. But, we all know that God has had to forgive each of us many more than 490 times for the sins we've committed in our lives.
The challenge here is how to put this forgiving thing to work in our lives. I wish that there was some simple one, two, three kind of formula to give which would make it easy to do. Unfortunately, there isn't. I think that the best way to even start to understand and put to use "forgiving" and "forgiveness" is to forgive those small things that don't amount to much in the grand scheme of things. Like, for instance, why don't we start with drivers on the streets that tend to anger us? So, when someone cuts us off or squeezes in front of us where he or she had no business being, let's just say a short prayer of forgiveness. Easy enough, right? If we can begin with this sort of very tiny thing, then maybe we can graduate up to forgiving the more serious wrongs that are done against us. Is this a perfect plan? No, of course not! The PERFECT plan would be for us to simply forgive as God has forgiven us. But then, we aren't perfect, are we? We are human beings with human foibles and faults. We need to begin to SENSE what forgiveness feels like in our lives. We have to have that marvelously freeing awareness in our minds and hearts that comes along with truly forgiving. For some of us, well, we've never had that kind of emotion...being freed by forgiving.
Forgiveness. Forgive. Forgiving.
I would pray that all of us go the Lord in prayer for Him to send the Holy Spirit into us and help us to begin to understand and put to use this concept in our daily lives. Not just a good idea...the RIGHT idea!
Love, peace, and blessings,
David
Matthew 18:21-22 (NKJV)
Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.
Colossians 3:12-13 (NIV)
Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
Forgiveness. Forgive. Forgiving.
I think that these may be among the most difficult words and concepts that we, as Christians, must deal with, comprehend, and put actively into use in our lives. However, the Bible is clear...very, very clear...about forgiving and what our responsibilities are concerning forgiveness.
Jesus was clear, I think, when He told Peter that he should forgive "up to seventy times seven" times when something happened that needed forgiving. You see, what Jesus said was that there really is NO limit on forgiving or on forgiveness. I believe that we all agree Jesus was being a bit metaphorical with the "seventy times seven" words He used. Then we read, for even fuller explanation about "forgive" in Paul's letter to the Colossians when he wrote, "...forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another." And the most important part of this whole forgiving concept is what followed..."Forgive as the Lord forgave you."
Now, I've got to be honest here. I don't know if I can forgive someone 490 times when that someone does stuff that needs forgiving. Do you? Four hundred ninety being seventy times seven, of course. How in the world does that happen? Who is it that can be that forgiving? Well, God can...thankfully! Think about how many "forgivings" that have been necessary in your life. I can only wish it were ONLY 490 time that God needed to forgive me for things I've done. If it were only that small a number I'd consider myself a much, much better man. But, we all know that God has had to forgive each of us many more than 490 times for the sins we've committed in our lives.
The challenge here is how to put this forgiving thing to work in our lives. I wish that there was some simple one, two, three kind of formula to give which would make it easy to do. Unfortunately, there isn't. I think that the best way to even start to understand and put to use "forgiving" and "forgiveness" is to forgive those small things that don't amount to much in the grand scheme of things. Like, for instance, why don't we start with drivers on the streets that tend to anger us? So, when someone cuts us off or squeezes in front of us where he or she had no business being, let's just say a short prayer of forgiveness. Easy enough, right? If we can begin with this sort of very tiny thing, then maybe we can graduate up to forgiving the more serious wrongs that are done against us. Is this a perfect plan? No, of course not! The PERFECT plan would be for us to simply forgive as God has forgiven us. But then, we aren't perfect, are we? We are human beings with human foibles and faults. We need to begin to SENSE what forgiveness feels like in our lives. We have to have that marvelously freeing awareness in our minds and hearts that comes along with truly forgiving. For some of us, well, we've never had that kind of emotion...being freed by forgiving.
Forgiveness. Forgive. Forgiving.
I would pray that all of us go the Lord in prayer for Him to send the Holy Spirit into us and help us to begin to understand and put to use this concept in our daily lives. Not just a good idea...the RIGHT idea!
Love, peace, and blessings,
David
Saturday, January 24, 2009
LOVE...For real
Good Morning,
1 John 3:16-20 (NIV)
This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.
These can be both difficult and challenging words that we read today. It is sometimes very, very difficult to part with "material possessions" that we have come to have by the hard work of our labors. It becomes a true challenge in our lives to actually give up something that we've worked so hard for, in order for us to simply give it to someone else who is in need. But, that is certainly what we read today, isn't it?
Much too often we hear words of love being spoken at every turn we make around our church services and in our various meetings with other Christians, but then don't see those words actually being put into real action by those who speak them. We see a person with much, dressed in marvelous clothes, driving a Mercedes or Lexus, who has nothing but wonderful words, flowing with loving thoughts, and that person will walk right by a Christian brother who is known to be having financial difficulties, is dressed in worn out jeans and a T-shirt, having had to beg a ride to church, and not a word is spoken. Never mind a helping hand offered.
Now, you know this happens. It happens on a regular basis and probably in every congregation throughout America and probably the world. Well, probably NOT in those countries where there really is NO wealth at all, but that's a different message, isn't it?
What goes on in your mind when you see something like this? Does something tug at your heart? Do you hear a still, small voice inside speaking to you? Here's the telling question of all if you are someone who has plenty and has been blessed with financial wealth: Do you DO something for the person who has a need?
John is clear about this, don't you think? "Let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth." "If you see some brother or sister in need and have the means to do something about it but turn a cold shoulder and do nothing, what happens to God's love? It disappears. And you made it disappear." (The Message) You see what I mean here? In James we read, "Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, 'Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,' but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?" (James 2:15-16) To see someone who has need and do nothing, as James so eloquently puts it, "What good is it?" Indeed.
Here's our challenge, I think, as Christians who have accepted God's grace and gift of salvation in accepting Jesus Christ as Savior...That would be not to just help when we see an OBVIOUS need (after reading these words of Scripture, I would hope that we are all agreed that's a given!), but to actually SEEK OUT those who have needs and help them in a real way...with the love that we read about in John and to say, "This IS good," so to not hear those words in James echoing in our ears.
Will you? Will I? Will we all?
If we wish to actually show the love of Jesus Christ in our lives then the answer to these questions will be, "Yes. Yes, I will not just help when I see the need, I will seek out those who need help and DO something."
I surely hope and pray we do. You see, if we don't, well...... Think about it.
Love, peace, and blessings,
David
1 John 3:16-20 (NIV)
This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.
These can be both difficult and challenging words that we read today. It is sometimes very, very difficult to part with "material possessions" that we have come to have by the hard work of our labors. It becomes a true challenge in our lives to actually give up something that we've worked so hard for, in order for us to simply give it to someone else who is in need. But, that is certainly what we read today, isn't it?
Much too often we hear words of love being spoken at every turn we make around our church services and in our various meetings with other Christians, but then don't see those words actually being put into real action by those who speak them. We see a person with much, dressed in marvelous clothes, driving a Mercedes or Lexus, who has nothing but wonderful words, flowing with loving thoughts, and that person will walk right by a Christian brother who is known to be having financial difficulties, is dressed in worn out jeans and a T-shirt, having had to beg a ride to church, and not a word is spoken. Never mind a helping hand offered.
Now, you know this happens. It happens on a regular basis and probably in every congregation throughout America and probably the world. Well, probably NOT in those countries where there really is NO wealth at all, but that's a different message, isn't it?
What goes on in your mind when you see something like this? Does something tug at your heart? Do you hear a still, small voice inside speaking to you? Here's the telling question of all if you are someone who has plenty and has been blessed with financial wealth: Do you DO something for the person who has a need?
John is clear about this, don't you think? "Let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth." "If you see some brother or sister in need and have the means to do something about it but turn a cold shoulder and do nothing, what happens to God's love? It disappears. And you made it disappear." (The Message) You see what I mean here? In James we read, "Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, 'Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,' but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?" (James 2:15-16) To see someone who has need and do nothing, as James so eloquently puts it, "What good is it?" Indeed.
Here's our challenge, I think, as Christians who have accepted God's grace and gift of salvation in accepting Jesus Christ as Savior...That would be not to just help when we see an OBVIOUS need (after reading these words of Scripture, I would hope that we are all agreed that's a given!), but to actually SEEK OUT those who have needs and help them in a real way...with the love that we read about in John and to say, "This IS good," so to not hear those words in James echoing in our ears.
Will you? Will I? Will we all?
If we wish to actually show the love of Jesus Christ in our lives then the answer to these questions will be, "Yes. Yes, I will not just help when I see the need, I will seek out those who need help and DO something."
I surely hope and pray we do. You see, if we don't, well...... Think about it.
Love, peace, and blessings,
David
Friday, January 23, 2009
Gifts? What Gifts?
Good Morning,
1 Peter 4:10 (NIV)
Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms.
1 Peter 4:10 (AMP)
As each of you has received a gift (a particular spiritual talent, a gracious divine endowment), employ it for one another as [befits] good trustees of God's many-sided grace [faithful stewards of the extremely diverse powers and gifts granted to Christians by unmerited favor].
We all have a gift, or even gifts perhaps, that have been given to us by a gracious and loving God. That, my friends, is just a fact. Now, there are some of us who don't realize what that gift might be, or who don't think that their giftedness is "worthy" to be shared. There are some who simply squander their gifts by not using them for the right reasons. Then, there are also those who waste their gifts by no using them and allowing them to stagnate. But, the main point is that every one of us has some gift or even many gifts that we are supposed to be used to further God's kingdom and, perhaps, to make other lives easier, joyful, and to give hope. And, maybe the worst of all would be those of us who use our gifts selfishly and alone; not using them to serve God and others.
Here's the challenge to many of us. That would be to be totally, 100% honest with ourselves and do a self examination to see if we are, as we've been instructed by God, using our gifts..."faithfully administering God's grace." Most of us would have to admit that we either aren't using what God has give us at all, or at least we haven't done it to our full ability. Now, this isn't an easy thing, this self examination, if we are brutally honest with ourselves. It can be extremely humbling (but, um, is that a bad thing?).
So, what are YOUR gifts? What have YOU been given to share with other people? What marvelous gift has God chosen to bless you with that you are supposed to use to serve? Again, and I really do want to stress this fact, we ALL have something, some giftedness. It's up to each of us to search within and once we find it, then we are to put it to use.
I know that there will be some who simply cannot see where they might be gifted. Maybe it's because their gift is such a "normal" and ingrained feature of their lives, well, they simply don't think of it as a gift. It does sometimes happen that way. So for those who might find themselves in this situation, I would suggest that they go to a friend, spouse, pastor, or even...maybe especially...a child and ask if he or she sees something rather special that could be used to serve God and God's Church. Believe me, there will be people who can see what we as individuals cannot see. We are sometimes just to close and are blinded. You know, when you can't see the forest for the trees.
Bottom line here is that we all have something to share and something with which we are to use in our lives to serve God and His children. When we don't use that gift or gifts we are being disobedient to God. Remember, things like we read in today's Scripture weren't put there just for us to read as pretty prose or good ideas, although, of course, much of the Bible IS beautiful prose and it IS filled with too many good ideas to count. No, the Bible is also our instruction book from God. Think about it. I mean, we don't call them the "10 Suggestions", do we?
Please, let's all do what we must to recognize what we have in order to serve others as we are supposed to do. When we do that, not only will be obedient to God, we will also make lives much, much better.
Love, peace, and blessings,
David
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