Walk the Line

Colossians 2:6 Therefore, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, walk in Him.

Walk in Him, what an amazing phrase yet one that I so often take for granted as I walk through this life. I take it for granted because so often I find myself trying to live life on my own. Trying to do righteous things without Christ strength or guidance and I often find myself floundering and not really accomplishing much. It is when I know that I am being directed and that walking is in His strength that I find rest and success. I think Hebrews 12:1-1 really sums it up for me that I must throw off the sin that so easily gets me tangled up and slows down my walk and fix my eyes on Jesus the author and perfector of my faith. I must as 1 Corinthians 9 says run in such a way as to get the prize. Today as get up and walk this road called life may I find myself doing so in Christ strength and with Him as my guide.

Father take my hand today and lead me along life's road so that I might go where you want me to go and do what you want me to do.

Leaping Like A Calf

Malachi 4:2 But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings. And you will go out and leap like calves released from the stall.

If you have ever watched a calf leap around like a crazy animal than you can appreciate this verse. Really any animal that gets let out of it's cage or stall begins to do a little jigg upon release. There is something about freedom that gives way to joy and expression of that joy. Spiritual freedom should give us even more reason to celebrate, even more reason to be filled with joy. I know that the day I surrendered my life to Christ and sought forgiveness for my sin by accepting Christ sacrifice I was set free from my cage of sin. The freedom that has followed has been amazing. The joy that has followed is unmatched. Has it been easy? No there have been some very serious difficult times that have followed but the son of righteousness has always brought me through and given me even more reason to have joy. Today as I face whatever comes my way may I continue to fear the Lord and watch as He works out the details.

Father may I trust you in every situation. Thank you for setting me free through the sacrifice of Christ and allows me to experience a joy that cannot be matched apart from you.

Temporary or Eternal?

2 Corinthians 4:17-18 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Wow what a great verse as we are facing uncertain times today. Is it possible that God may have allowed this troubling time in order to bring us as believers back to a right relationship with Him and that through that others might see Christ at work in our lives again and desire to know Him more? Troubles will come and go, trials that may seem like an eternity are really only temporary, but the key is not what trouble may come but what result comes from being through one. During these difficult days we must as the verse says fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. Those unseen things are what is eternal and obviously just as Hebrews 12 encourages us to do we must fix our eyes on Jesus the author and perfector of our faith. Do we really believe that God is in control? Do we really believe that God sees the bigger picture? Do we really believe that God has our best in mind? Our answers will be pivotal in determining our focus. Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us to trust in God with all our heart and not to lean on our own understanding but in all our ways acknowledge God and He will direct our paths. Have we been leaning on our own understanding or trusting God? We cannot have it both ways. One is temporary the other eternal. Today may we choose to follow what is eternal.

Father give me eyes that see the eternal, give me a heart that desires to know you and willingness to trust you no matter the circumstances I find myself in today.

I Woke Up This Morning With My Mind Stayed On....

Psalm 5:3 O Lord, in the morning you hear my voice, in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch.

I have never been one that would dogmatically say that devotions should be done in the morning. However looking throughout scripture especially in Psalm and in Jesus life there is a definite pattern of seeking God in the morning. I personally dislike mornings, I guess you would say I am not a morning person. I used to use the excuse that I don't spend time with God in the morning because I can't think straight. But the real reason is cuz I want to sleep longer and be lazy. For me spending time with God in the morning is about sacrifice. It is hard for me to get up but I have never regreted getting up and spending time with God first thing in the morning. It is amazing to me how God throughout the day brings back to mind the things to which I read or heard in the morning. Honestly I feel better throughout the day at least mentally and spiritually when I do seek God in the morning. Whether I spend time with Him in the morning or not, I must spend time with Him, our relationship depends on it and that relationship must be first and foremost in my life.

Father as we meet together this morning thank you for the reminder of how important it is that we meet. As we meet help me to grow in my love for you and desire to serve you. Throughout today may I meditate on you and what you have shown me this morning.

Out of This World

Proverbs 4:23-27 Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. Put away perversity from your mouth; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you. Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm. Do not swerve to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.

Wow as I read this passage I am blown away at how difficult it is to live up to this exhortation. The world's influence is so unbelievable you can't go anywhere without being seemingly hit from every side. That is why practicing the actions of this verse are so important. However apart from God it is impossible to even be able to live up to this. But the Bible makes it clear that with Christ all things are possible and through His strength we can do all things. This is why pursuing God through a relationship is so vital to my life. Erwin Lutzer said, "Only when we are intoxicated with God will be inoculated against the world."

Father give me the desire to know you more and the determination to pursue you and the discipline to daily develop my relationship with you so that the world becomes less and less appealing and the influence of it becomes less and less.

Love and Marriage

I Corinthians 7:1-7 Now for the matters you wrote about: It is good for a man not to marry. But since there is so much immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband. The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. The wife's body does not belong to her alone but also to her husband. In the same way, the husband's body does not belong to him alone but also to his wife. Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. I say this as a concession, not as a command. I wish that all men were as I am. But each man has his own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.

Wow I think I just found one of my new favorite passages of scripture, just kidding. In our sex crazed society and world I am glad that Paul reminds us just as he did the sex crazed society of Corinth that sex is for marriage and marriage only. Sex is a gift from God that should be cherised and protected. Unfortunately in our culture like in Corinth sex was more of a commodity than a gift. Verse 3 challenges me to fulfill my marital duty to my wife. But what is that duty? First I believe that it means I need to be very aware of her needs and what I can do to meet those by asking her regularly how I am doing and then put action to my inquiry. Second for me it's not just having sex but learning to make love without ever getting to the bedroom, by dating my wife and helping her see that she is beautiful and noticed. Third by being what I need to be spiritually so that I can love her as Christ loved the church. Fulfilling my marital duty to my wife is a privelege and great responsibility, one that brings honor to her and honor to God.

Father help me to fulfill my marital duty to my wife not because its just something I should do but because I long to obey you and grow in my love for you. As I fall more in love with you help me to fall more in love with my wife.

Get Your Cloths On

Galatians 3:26-29 You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Each morning I get up and get ready to go about my day, one of the key essentials to that process is getting my cloths and then putting them on, because the alternative is not an option for so many reasons. As a believer it is absolutely important that I cloth myself with Christ each day. That I put on Christ through spending time in the Word, prayer and other practices that the Bible makes clear should be put on as well. However where the rubber meets the road is whether or not I allow these practices to impact the way I live my life. The Bible exhorts us to not only be listeners to the Word but we must put it into action. Here in lies the problem. So often I allow "time constraints" or some other excuse to keep me from getting clothed spiritually each morning. As a result I face my day naked, exposed. As I face the challenges of that day my mind is not thinking about what the Word says and how to live it, but rather what I think and how I am going to live and without fail, I fail.

Father give me the determination and discipline each day to cloth myself with you. Help me each day to cloth myself with you so that I might face the challenges of each day depending on you and your strength and not my own.

Love is In the Air

Ephesians 5:25-33

I love and dislike this passage simply because as I find it to be absolutely true I struggle in living up to it's instruction. I love this passage because very simply Paul instructs us to love our wives unconditionally. No where in the passage does it give room for feelings or circumstances another words it does not say love if you are loved, love if you feel like it or if your wife does something in return. However I find it interesting that most men focus on the last part of the last verse, "Wives respect your husbands." It's as if we put this as the qualifier for love, well if she would respect me then I will love her. What a terrible way to look at this passage. My wife should respect me because that is what the Bible instructs her to do but it does not say that I should love her because she respects me. I guarantee that if I love my wife as is described in this passage then respect will come so much easier for my wife as well as many other benefits. The problem is I am selfish and want it my way and my theme song becomes Frank Sinatra's hit "I Did It My Way." I want something in return for my hard work and instead of looking to God for that return I look to things around me, like sex for example. We should love whether we get anything in return from this life or not because that is how Jesus loved the church. My motivation for loving my wife should not be her, or the return but rather just simple obedience to Christ.

Father teach me to love my wife as you loved the church. May I learn each day to love her without expecting something in return. May my love for you grow and may that love cause me to love my wife more each day.

Finding Significance in Creation

"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." As you follow the account of the creation story we know that God created everything in six days. Each day the Bible records that He spoke and whatever He spoke came to be, animals, plants, solar system, etc.... But as I was studying the creation account I could not help but notice the difference between how God created humanity and how he created everything else. Everything came as a result of God speaking and it came to be with the exception of man (Genesis 2:7) and animals (Genesis 2:19) But the creation of man and woman was different. Genesis 2:7 says that God formed man from the dust of the earth and breathed into him life and man became a living soul. Also when He created woman we caused Adam to fall into a deep sleep and performed surgery on him by taking a rib and then formed woman (Genesis 2:22). The word formed or made means to squeeze into shape. It carries with it the idea of a potter carefully squeezing and molding a lump of clay to make a masterpiece. I think its safe to assume that God got His hands dirty and created humanity. But before you go off and say something like well He also formed the animals so how r we different? The answer lies in the last part of verse 7, "He breathed into man the breath of life and man became a living soul." God not only formed us but gives us the breath of life that only human beings have, sorry all dogs don't go to heaven. But as you think about this I find great value in knowing God created us with His own hands and to me that means God looks on us with great love and value. Before you go all skeptic on me and say well this applies great to Adam and Eve but not me maybe you should read Psalm 139. You are loved and loved so much that God created you to be with Him, to have a relationship with Him.

Long Time No Write

Hey hope you all have a had a great week. I have not been able to write because we just got back from spending a week in Georgia with our middle school students (you guys rock, ILOVEU). We served a ministry called "Hope for the Inner City" check out their myspace in "my friends". Hope is a ministry to inner city youth, children and adults. They are driven by their passion to reach the physical needs of people who are desperately in need of spiritual healing and through these avenues share Christ in many ways. One of things that stood out to be was right of the bat was how off my rural upbringing causes me to fear the inner city and completely misjudge them. What I found was that they are much like me, needy, longing for acceptance, desiring to know God. They were loving, compassionate, considerate. I was throughly impressed with the kids and youth as they would open doors for each other, say things like "Yes Mam or Sir", full of life and passion. I want to encourage you to pray for the inner city of Chattanooga and pray for Hope as they bring the good news of Christ to that area and abroad. Love in Christ, PJ

Our Lives Profess.....

Read Isaiah 12:1-6 Today we are going to look at how we profess through our lives that Jesus is Lord. The first profession of our lives is found in verse 1 in the word praise. Praise according to Webster means an expression of approval, commendation, or admiration. There are lots of ways in which we praise Jesus Christ. Probably the most used is through song. However we also praise Him through our lifestyle in the way we live, act and react. We can praise Jesus through our talk about Him and what He has done in our lives. We praise Him through excellence in our work or in the use of our talents. Does your life praise Jesus Christ? Does your life in a sense sing the praise of our great King? Do your actions and reactions praise Him? Does the reflection of your work (homework) praise Jesus Christ? Father may we praise you all day long in everyway with our very lives.

Worldly Thinking

Read James 4:7-10

 

We have been looking at humility in light of our view of God and man.  Also we have seen humility demonstrated in the person of Jesus Christ and how our attitude should reflect Christ’s.  Today we are going to see how humility overcomes worldly thinking.  Worldly thinking is all about self-centeredness; humility is all about others centered.  Specifically in this verse our humility should turn us toward God and away from the world.  The worlds pull is so strong, temptation is all around us and we must be willing to resist it or succumb to it.    The way that we resist temptation is humility, made real through drawing near to God.  How do we draw near to Him?  Through prayer, devotions and just spending time with God.  That takes humility because it is not natural for us to pursue after God.  We must be willing to say no to our desires and say yes to God.  Listen either your pride will keep you from God, or humility will draw you close to Him.  Which will you strive for in your life?  Understand it’s not just a one time decision, it’s an everyday decision, because everyday we are faced with temptation and the lure of the world. 

 

Father humble us so that we might pursue a relationship with you.  God may the lure of the world not attract us more than you. 

Attitude Check

Read Philippians 2:5-11

 

We have been studying what humility is all about.  We have looked at true humility before God and men.  Now let’s look at the greatest example of humility, Jesus Christ.  Verses 6-8 gives us the description of Christ’s humility.  Jesus is God and Jesus became a man, but not just any man he became as one who was the lowest of class and reputation.  Jesus became a man to do what verse 8 describes.  He became a man to die on a cross for our sin.  We celebrate His becoming human at this time of the year.  What an incredible truth that Jesus was born to die.  He gave his life so that we can have life and have life to the fullest.   Jesus true example of humility is one that all of us must follow according to verse 5.  We should have the same attitude of Christ which is described in the above verses.  What’s your attitude like?  Would you be willing to humble yourself like Christ? 

 

Father thank you for the example of your Son, give us the same attitude that He demonstrated for us.

"Tolerance"

Read Ephesians 4:2 Humility reveals itself through many avenues. So far we have seen it show up in our view of God and others. We also saw how humility reveals itself through child-like faith. Today we are going to look at humility revealed through our tolerance of others. Now today tolerance is a huge word basically today it refers to accepting anyone and everyone no matter what they do with the exception of Christians. In this passage it is called “bearing with”, which refers to continual love for others that is unconditional. Another words I should love others no matter who they or what they do. You may say how is this different then tolerance today. The difference is that in tolerance they want you to overlook the sin issues and just put up with it, in “bearing with” you cannot out of love look over the sin issues. If you really love someone you will warn them about something they are doing that could potentially hurt them. For example if my son is playing in the street and I see a car coming, I don’t just sit there and say oh look a car is coming and its going to hit my son, but I don’t want to interrupt the fun he is having. How ridiculous is that, of course I am going to warn him of the impending danger that is coming his way. Humility is shown in how we “bear with” because it must take a person who is not haughty or stuck up to approach a person in love. Is there someone in your life that out of humility you need to confront in love. Listen there life may depend on your wiliness to let go of your pride and do the right thing. Father give us strength to bear with others in love.

Child Like Faith

Read Matthew 18:1-4 First of all we must have a right view of who God is and our relationship to Him. That our relationship with God is not based on what we have done but what God has done for us through Christ. Second we must have a right view of our relationship to others. We must be willing to put others needs before our own even those who we might not consider valuable or important. In this passage Jesus disciples ask Him who is the greatest in the kingdom. What an interesting question, one must ask what was their motivation in asking this question. I believe they were hoping to hear that they were the greatest because they were following Christ. But Jesus pulls a child over in front of all of them and tells them they must humble themselves and become like a little child in order to even enter the kingdom of Heaven. Think about this children do not care about whose the greatest or the most powerful like adults would. Children have so much faith based on what they know and hear. A child’s faith is simple not based on a bunch of do’s and don’ts but just simply on faith. To be great in God’s kingdom simply means that you have child like faith and truly believe in Jesus Christ. Are you seeking to be great in the kingdom by what you do, stop, be great by being who you ought by trusting in Christ with child-like faith. Father give us child-like faith so that we may be great in your eyes.

Eternal Focus

Read 1 Timothy 6:3-19

 

Today as we finish our look at stewardship of the money entrusted to us, let’s look at verse 19.  Paul tells Timothy to tell those with money to store up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come.  What perspective is he sharing here?  Paul is talking about having an eternal focus.  The phrase store up actually could be said amassing a treasure, what treasure?  The treasure of knowing that you have done what you could on this earth for eternity.  As we look at stewardship of money we must understand that our money has been given us for the purpose of building the kingdom of God.  So often we use our money for worldly things and please do not misunderstand me, we must pay our bills and cloth ourselves, but how often do we invest our money into eternal things.  Organizations, missionaries, church or other similar things that being used for eternity and building the kingdom of God.  Statistics say that only about 6% of Christians give to the church or missions organizations, that is sick.  Could you imagine what could be done if 100% of Christians gave.  When you think about your wallet what do you give the majority of your money to, worldly things or eternal things?

 

Father help us to see the need to give as you would direct us to give.

Can't Buy Happiness

Read 1 Timothy 6:3-19

 

We have been looking at stewardship and specifically stewardship of our money.  Today I want us to focus on verse ten.  So often when people read this verse they come away saying that money is the root of all evil.  But that is not what the verse is saying at all.  Money is not the root of all evil.  The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil which results in rejecting Christ and a life of sorrow.  Just think about it, the desire for money can cause all kinds of problems.  Many fathers spend countless hours at work for money.  Many teens today work and go to school and do this and that and are extremely stressed because they have to have money.  Listen money is not the problem; it is the love of money that is the problem.  You can say money will buy you happiness and that may be true but as we found out yesterday that those who pursue happiness through money will only find themselves wanting more and that wanting will lead to a life of sorrows.  We must be very careful in our handling of money because life a wild fire it can spread so quickly into our minds that money will solve all of my problems.  If I just have more than I can…..  

 

Father help us to see the futility in thinking that money can buy true happiness.

Money, Money, Moneeeeeey

Read 1 Timothy 6:3-19

 

We have begun to look at stewardship and specifically stewardship of our money.  Stewardship as you recall begins with the understanding that none of what we have is ours but is God’s and that our call is to take care of what God has given.  Now that really flies in the face of what our world teaches that you earn your buck and that this money is yours to do with however you see fit.  That is not the way it is in God’s economy.  The only reason you have a job or your parents have a job is because God has made it happen.  Just like that God can unmake it.  If we depend on our job to get us through then when it falls out from under us we are left desolate.  However, if we put our faith and trust in God then when those times of uncertainty come we have a solid rock to stand on.  Today let’s look at verse nine.   Paul address those who want to get rich warns them that with that pursuit comes many dangers.  He does not specifically say what dangers, but he does say that this pursuit will bring many temptations and lusts.  Lust is a very difficult thing to combat and here is refers to the desire to have more.  When you get a taste for something it is very hard to stop eating.  Money or wealth is not the problem the problem is ourselves.  Are you pursuing material things in your life, be careful that you do not fall into the desire to have more, a desire that can never be fulfilled.

 

Father thank you for giving to us your Word, help us to understand the danger of pursuing money or wealth.  Give us understanding to see when that pursuit is a problem in our lives.

Taking Care of What We Have

Read 1 Timothy 6:3-19

 

This month we are going to be looking at stewardship, specifically stewardship of our money, time and opportunities.  Today we begin looking at stewardship through the eyes of Paul as he is writing to Timothy.  Let’s focus today on verses 6-7.  Often when it comes to money we seem to never have enough.  For the poor they always are trying to get more and for the rich they are also always trying to get more.  Stewardship of money begins with the understanding that there is much more to life than money.  That godliness is the true pursuit of believers.  That is why Paul can write godliness with contentment is great gain.  Why because instead of someone pursuing wealth or money, they are pursuing godliness.  Verse seven gives the reason why godliness is more important because we will not take any money with us when we die.  A country artist puts it this way, “I have never seen a luggage rack on a hearse.”  Stewardship is about taking care of what you do have not about what you do not have.  Stewardship of money then becomes a pursuit of godliness.  Another way to say godliness is “God likeness”.  Another words in relationship to money what would Jesus do?   Stewardship begins with understanding that nothing you have is really yours but has been entrusted to you by God.  God wants you to take care of the things He has blessed you with in order to become more like Him.

 

Father help us to understand that everything we have is a gift from you and may that motivate us to take care of those things.

Who or What is Lord of Your Life?

Read Hebrews 1:1-12

 

Today let’s go back to where we began and take a similar yet different look at this passage.  As you read through this passage look for all the ways the author describes Jesus Christ, phrases like heir of all things, brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person and so on.  According to Webster the word Lord means:  master, ruler, supreme being.  I wonder can any of things said in this passage be said about any other person ever throughout history.  Think about how awesome that is that no one throughout all of the history of men is their one who all of this can be said of except Christ.  Wow what an awesome God we serve.  Jesus is Lord because no one in the history of men can compare to our great King and Savior Jesus Christ.  How is this passage different to you since we have been looking at Jesus as Lord? 

 

Father thank you for the picture of Christ today that you have given us, help us to honor Him as Lord today.