Good Morning,
Luke 12:48 (New International Version)
...From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.
Most of us who are able to read the words of this verse of Scripture HAVE been given much. To go a step further, we have also been entrusted with much. Therefore, I guess it probably goes without saying, WE...you, me, and everyone who might read these words...we will have much demanded of us and much will be asked of us.
I guess we can all live with those facts, right? So, well, why bring it up? I suppose that the reason this subject has crossed my desk this morning and the reason I feel I've been asked to send this short message along, is: Have we given what has been demanded of us? Have we done what we have been asked to do?
A deep, long, hard look inside myself will be necessary for me to answer those questions. My friends, the same is needed for you, as well.
Yes, a very short message today that is also extremely difficult. I say that because, if you are at all like me, that deep, long, hard look might not be a comfortable thing to do. Not that it's hard to take that look; but that it's hard when we see the answers within.
Let us all be obedient to what we read in this verse of Scripture and let us all take the time to right whatever wrongs we find within. God, through His Holy Spirit, will, I truly believe, help us to do what needs to be done.
Love, peace, and blessings,
David
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Meeting Together
Good Morning,
Hebrews 10:25 (New International Version)
Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Hebrews 10:25 (New Living Translation)
And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.
Most of the time...(almost all of the time?)...this short verse of Scripture us used by pastors and others to point out how important it is to attend a local congregation regularly. Now, I agree that this verse definitely DOES point us in that direction and I also agree with the importance of the use of "encourage" as we read it here. Here's the thing, though: This verse ALSO is vital to our "meeting together" not only as congregations of believers, but equally important to our meeting one on one, one with another, you and me, just two people getting together; being together; talking together; helping each other; and, of course, encouraging each other.
So, having said that, let's ask ourselves this question: Have I been meeting together with people I used to? Further, do I call or communicate with people I did not long ago? Some time ago? Even, in times long past?
You see, even though it is vital that we meet as congregations for what those meetings bring to ourselves and to others, I believe that it's even MORE important that we meet together with our brothers and sisters in Christ one on one. (And, we'll not even broach the subject of Small Groups in this short message!)
One on one get togethers for a cup of coffee with a brother or sister can be the MOST important thing that you and I might do in any particular day. THIS, just two people chatting and being together, can bring knowledge and understanding of Scripture, the world, and innumerable other things. This intimate, informal meeting together of two or three people, in my humble opinion, is where the "rubber meets the road" so to speak, as far as opening up and being able to be totally honest with someone about ourselves and our needs and our dreams and our desires and, yes, our problems.
If this message speaks to you, then I urge you to contact that someone with whom you know you can open up to and just be with for a special, maybe wonderful, time of sharing.
Love, peace, and blessings,
David
Hebrews 10:25 (New International Version)
Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Hebrews 10:25 (New Living Translation)
And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.
Most of the time...(almost all of the time?)...this short verse of Scripture us used by pastors and others to point out how important it is to attend a local congregation regularly. Now, I agree that this verse definitely DOES point us in that direction and I also agree with the importance of the use of "encourage" as we read it here. Here's the thing, though: This verse ALSO is vital to our "meeting together" not only as congregations of believers, but equally important to our meeting one on one, one with another, you and me, just two people getting together; being together; talking together; helping each other; and, of course, encouraging each other.
So, having said that, let's ask ourselves this question: Have I been meeting together with people I used to? Further, do I call or communicate with people I did not long ago? Some time ago? Even, in times long past?
You see, even though it is vital that we meet as congregations for what those meetings bring to ourselves and to others, I believe that it's even MORE important that we meet together with our brothers and sisters in Christ one on one. (And, we'll not even broach the subject of Small Groups in this short message!)
One on one get togethers for a cup of coffee with a brother or sister can be the MOST important thing that you and I might do in any particular day. THIS, just two people chatting and being together, can bring knowledge and understanding of Scripture, the world, and innumerable other things. This intimate, informal meeting together of two or three people, in my humble opinion, is where the "rubber meets the road" so to speak, as far as opening up and being able to be totally honest with someone about ourselves and our needs and our dreams and our desires and, yes, our problems.
If this message speaks to you, then I urge you to contact that someone with whom you know you can open up to and just be with for a special, maybe wonderful, time of sharing.
Love, peace, and blessings,
David
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Mattew's Redemption
Good Morning,
I am forwarding the following devotional that I received from Mike Hoskins at CF Devotionals. No, I don't often (maybe a couple times a year?) forward devotionals...or anything else for that matter...but one line toward the end of this message struck home with me. I strongly feel that there are others who need to hear this as well. So, what, exactly, struck me so strongly? I'll put it here and then you can read the rest of the message for yourself:
"Matthew had fallen to the point where no one would have believed God would ever use him again. If you think you have reached that point then reconsider. God is in the business of fixing broken lives and healing broken hearts and relationships so He can use them again."
That, I think, is the message that many of us need to hear, know, and fully understand.
Here's the message I received in its entirety:
Rev 21:14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundation stones, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. (NASB)
When we meet Matthew in the gospels he is a tax collector for the Roman government that occupies Israel. He is a Jew working for the enemy. He and those like him were despised by their countrymen as traitors. The tax collectors padded the taxes they collected for themselves. While Matthew would have lived a life of many comforts, he would have not been permitted in the temple.
Then Jesus called him right out of this collection booth, "Follow Me". The disciples that Jesus had already called must have wondered to themselves what was going on. How could Jesus be asking someone of this man's character to follow Him? Matthew turned his back on everything else and followed Jesus.
The first thing Matthew does is throws a party and invites all his friends to meet Jesus. What did Andrew say to his brother Peter? "We have found the Messiah", and he brings Peter to meet Jesus. (John 1:41-42) And here Matthew is doing as Andrew has done. The word must have moved through the town quickly that Matthew had left his job to follow this itinerant Rabbi Jesus. His life had been changed in two words and he wanted his friends and associates to know how and why. What a fascinating evening it must have been.
This man Matthew, also called Levi, who had no place in the temple wrote one of the four gospels. Matthew will be one of the twelve that will judge the tribes of Israel. (Luke 22:30) The first book of the New Testament bears his name written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit through the hand of Matthew. It is possible that Matthew will be one of the 24 elders seated around the throne of Christ - twelve from each of the Old and the New Testament. (Rev 4:4) And finally one of the twelve foundation stones of the New Jerusalem will bear his name. (Rev 21:14)
Matthew had fallen to the point where no one would have believed God would ever use him again. If you think you have reached that point then reconsider. God is in the business of fixing broken lives and healing broken hearts and relationships so that He can use them again. He offers salvation through His Son Jesus that turns death into eternal life.
He can use you again.
Grace & Peace, Mike
mhoskins@cfdevotionals.org
One last thought about God using people for His purposes and reasons. Remember that He used David. Remember also that David was a murderer and an adulterer. God CAN and WILL use any one of us as HE sees fit! Let's not forget that.
Love, peace, and blessings,
David
I am forwarding the following devotional that I received from Mike Hoskins at CF Devotionals. No, I don't often (maybe a couple times a year?) forward devotionals...or anything else for that matter...but one line toward the end of this message struck home with me. I strongly feel that there are others who need to hear this as well. So, what, exactly, struck me so strongly? I'll put it here and then you can read the rest of the message for yourself:
"Matthew had fallen to the point where no one would have believed God would ever use him again. If you think you have reached that point then reconsider. God is in the business of fixing broken lives and healing broken hearts and relationships so He can use them again."
That, I think, is the message that many of us need to hear, know, and fully understand.
Here's the message I received in its entirety:
Rev 21:14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundation stones, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. (NASB)
When we meet Matthew in the gospels he is a tax collector for the Roman government that occupies Israel. He is a Jew working for the enemy. He and those like him were despised by their countrymen as traitors. The tax collectors padded the taxes they collected for themselves. While Matthew would have lived a life of many comforts, he would have not been permitted in the temple.
Then Jesus called him right out of this collection booth, "Follow Me". The disciples that Jesus had already called must have wondered to themselves what was going on. How could Jesus be asking someone of this man's character to follow Him? Matthew turned his back on everything else and followed Jesus.
The first thing Matthew does is throws a party and invites all his friends to meet Jesus. What did Andrew say to his brother Peter? "We have found the Messiah", and he brings Peter to meet Jesus. (John 1:41-42) And here Matthew is doing as Andrew has done. The word must have moved through the town quickly that Matthew had left his job to follow this itinerant Rabbi Jesus. His life had been changed in two words and he wanted his friends and associates to know how and why. What a fascinating evening it must have been.
This man Matthew, also called Levi, who had no place in the temple wrote one of the four gospels. Matthew will be one of the twelve that will judge the tribes of Israel. (Luke 22:30) The first book of the New Testament bears his name written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit through the hand of Matthew. It is possible that Matthew will be one of the 24 elders seated around the throne of Christ - twelve from each of the Old and the New Testament. (Rev 4:4) And finally one of the twelve foundation stones of the New Jerusalem will bear his name. (Rev 21:14)
Matthew had fallen to the point where no one would have believed God would ever use him again. If you think you have reached that point then reconsider. God is in the business of fixing broken lives and healing broken hearts and relationships so that He can use them again. He offers salvation through His Son Jesus that turns death into eternal life.
He can use you again.
Grace & Peace, Mike
mhoskins@cfdevotionals.org
One last thought about God using people for His purposes and reasons. Remember that He used David. Remember also that David was a murderer and an adulterer. God CAN and WILL use any one of us as HE sees fit! Let's not forget that.
Love, peace, and blessings,
David
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
No Needy Persons
Good Morning,
Acts 4:32-35 (NIV)
All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.
What a difference of thought and belief from the early church to the church that we have in this, the 21st century.
These words that we read today are words that we should all take to heart and believe in completely and totally. At least that's MY take on it and how I feel about it.
How do YOU feel? What do YOU think?
Even at this moment, and even among our brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ, there are hungry people. Worse yet, there are children, Christian children, who do not have enough to eat...not to mention not having decent clothing, shoes, or other necessities. Right this second there is someone who is weeping because he or she does not have adequate housing for thier family. In the time it takes to read these words today someone will lose a home or have their power shut off for lack of money to pay a bill or mortgage or rent.
I guess we can say that 2,000 plus years ago things were "simpler" or "easier" or just not as complicated as things are today in the area of the sharing we read about in these verses from Acts. It's easier to say that and just not take the difficult steps that would be needed to be more like those early Christians and share all we have with "anyone as he had need."
Sort of thought provoking, isn't it? Well, I sure thought so.
One last thought on these verses. "All the believers were one in heart and mind." I think that anyone, and probably everyone, who has read the words sent out from my desk know and understand how I feel about unity in the Church. These words are, yet again, another reminder of the unity that we ought to have...even today in this much more complicated world in which we live.
Love, peace, and blessings,
David
Acts 4:32-35 (NIV)
All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.
What a difference of thought and belief from the early church to the church that we have in this, the 21st century.
These words that we read today are words that we should all take to heart and believe in completely and totally. At least that's MY take on it and how I feel about it.
How do YOU feel? What do YOU think?
Even at this moment, and even among our brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ, there are hungry people. Worse yet, there are children, Christian children, who do not have enough to eat...not to mention not having decent clothing, shoes, or other necessities. Right this second there is someone who is weeping because he or she does not have adequate housing for thier family. In the time it takes to read these words today someone will lose a home or have their power shut off for lack of money to pay a bill or mortgage or rent.
I guess we can say that 2,000 plus years ago things were "simpler" or "easier" or just not as complicated as things are today in the area of the sharing we read about in these verses from Acts. It's easier to say that and just not take the difficult steps that would be needed to be more like those early Christians and share all we have with "anyone as he had need."
Sort of thought provoking, isn't it? Well, I sure thought so.
One last thought on these verses. "All the believers were one in heart and mind." I think that anyone, and probably everyone, who has read the words sent out from my desk know and understand how I feel about unity in the Church. These words are, yet again, another reminder of the unity that we ought to have...even today in this much more complicated world in which we live.
Love, peace, and blessings,
David
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Help Hope
Good Morning,
Psalm 146:5 (NIV)
Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in the LORD his God
Psalm 146:5 (AMP)
Happy (blessed, fortunate, enviable) is he who has the God of [special revelation to] Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God
We often wonder why we don't feel the way, or ways, that we think we ought to be feeling. We don't feel blessed. We're not happy. We don't think our lives are what one might call fortunate. And, certainly, we don't think that anyone thinks the life we're living is to be considered enviable. Too often many of us feel exactly the opposite of what we read in today's verse of Scripture.
So, why?
The answer to the "why" of how we feel about ourselves and the life we live is ALSO in this short verse of Scripture. And...it is so simple an answer that we just overlook it.
We can, and WILL, feel happy, blessed, fortunate and enviable in our lives IF and WHEN we do as the Psalmist tells us. That is: When we truly turn to God for our help in this life we live; When our hope is in the Lord.
You see, this world teaches us that our "help" in living our lives is in, well, is in US. That means that we are taught that each individual should find help in himself/herself or in worldly principles. We are also taught, too often, that any hope we have is ALSO to be found in our own actions and what we feel inside ourselves. Our hope and help simply comes from human beings who are anything BUT hopeful or helpful much too often.
The question to us is simply: In what (Who) do we find our personal help and hope for life?
Answer needs to be: God
If it's anything other than the Lord God of the universe, well, we shall NEVER feel blessed, or happy, or fortunate, or enviable in any way.
Nothing complicated about what we should learn from this verse of Scripture.
Love, peace, and blessings,
David
Psalm 146:5 (NIV)
Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in the LORD his God
Psalm 146:5 (AMP)
Happy (blessed, fortunate, enviable) is he who has the God of [special revelation to] Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God
We often wonder why we don't feel the way, or ways, that we think we ought to be feeling. We don't feel blessed. We're not happy. We don't think our lives are what one might call fortunate. And, certainly, we don't think that anyone thinks the life we're living is to be considered enviable. Too often many of us feel exactly the opposite of what we read in today's verse of Scripture.
So, why?
The answer to the "why" of how we feel about ourselves and the life we live is ALSO in this short verse of Scripture. And...it is so simple an answer that we just overlook it.
We can, and WILL, feel happy, blessed, fortunate and enviable in our lives IF and WHEN we do as the Psalmist tells us. That is: When we truly turn to God for our help in this life we live; When our hope is in the Lord.
You see, this world teaches us that our "help" in living our lives is in, well, is in US. That means that we are taught that each individual should find help in himself/herself or in worldly principles. We are also taught, too often, that any hope we have is ALSO to be found in our own actions and what we feel inside ourselves. Our hope and help simply comes from human beings who are anything BUT hopeful or helpful much too often.
The question to us is simply: In what (Who) do we find our personal help and hope for life?
Answer needs to be: God
If it's anything other than the Lord God of the universe, well, we shall NEVER feel blessed, or happy, or fortunate, or enviable in any way.
Nothing complicated about what we should learn from this verse of Scripture.
Love, peace, and blessings,
David
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)