You are currently browsing the monthly archive for October 2012.
Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:9 (NLT)
When you find something that works, you stay with it. After all, if ‘it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.’
At first glance one might think the Apostle Paul is just an arrogant Bible thumping preacher. “Just do what I do and everything will work out just fine…” But a study of the life of Paul reveals quite the opposite.
This great orator and defender of the faith says in other writings, things like:
“Not that I have already attained it, but I press on towards the mark.” (Philippians 3:12)
“All those things I want to badly to do, I don’t do. Rather I find myself involved in doing the very things I hate.” (Romans 7”15)
“For I am the least worthy of any of the apostles” (1 Corinthians 15:9)
There are other places as well where Paul bears his soul to say, in essence, I’ve not attained the standard of living I desire in my life. I’m weak, I fail. I’m unworthy. Yet here, in Philippians 4:9 he offers a testimonial of hope to those of us who struggle on a daily basis. He encourages each of us to take a good look at reality.
Remember what you’ve learned [about your faith], he says. Too often life situations, doubts, and our own failures will lure us away from the fundamentals. A championship team in any sport is one that continually practices the fundamentals, the little things so that the victory can be won. Rarely does a team sound in the fundamentals, lose.
In the same way, Paul is telling us from his personal experience that as he has learned to follow the basics, he has seen God work in mighty ways.
Does that mean hardship won’t come? Unlikely, since Paul wrote this letter from prison.
Does that mean we won’t fail through our own weakness or outright rebellion and sin against the God we chose to love? Paul reminds us that we battle continually with the old sin nature. Only reliance on the Holy Spirit will change that.
We are instructed to be a holy people, separated unto God, to live a life above reproach. But holiness in the human realm doesn’t mean perfection, it means we deal correctly with sin as soon as it enters our life. We go to the throne of grace, confess our sin, as forgiveness, and repent (change our attitude).
Stay the course. Remember the simple truths you learned as a child, or seek them out from God’s word. Trouble will come. You will fail. Others will fail you. But as you remain true to the basic tenants of our faith (love, grace, forgiveness and mercy) the God of peace and comfort will encourage you today.
PRAYER: Father God, help me to live in such a way that I can say, as Paul says, that my walk with you has taught me the way to peace. Empower me with your Holy Spirit to live in the basic truths of my faith so that others may find the peace I have found. Amen.
In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. Psalm 33:21 (NIV)
Father, I rejoice in you today because I can trust you. In an era when trust is hard to find I know I can always come to you and find you.
I know that you will be the same every time I seek you. Your love for me doesn’t change when I rebel against you. Your forgiveness is free for the asking even when my attitude isn’t right.
There are many around me who make claims about the great things they will accomplish, but their words are hollow. When you say something will happen, I know it will be just as you say.
Times change. People change. Yet the principles you set at the foundation of the world remain solid and secure because you have spoken it.
I rejoice in the many blessings you have given us.
I rejoice in the gift of family, of the love between a man and a woman, of the miracle of new birth, of the proud smile of a grandparent as they hold the assurance of their posterity.
I rejoice in the gift of friendships that encourage us to move on, allow us to cry on their shoulders, support us even when they don’t agree with us, and comfort us when we mourn.
I rejoice in your Holy Word, the Bible, for in it we have simple truths that lead us to eternal life along with principles for living that will guide us through the most difficult of times.
I rejoice in your gift of diversity. Just as no snowflake is alike, my world is full of different colors, different people, different cultures and different traditions. All these join together to testify to your greatness.
Most of all, Holy Father, I rejoice in your name. A name tells us about character and integrity. Your name, Jehovah, never changes and has withstood the attacks of time.
And I rejoice in that name that is above all names. The name that brings hope, forgiveness, understanding and patience. The name of your son, Christ Jesus my Lord.
Amen.
Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, The people whom He has chosen for His own inheritance. Psalm 33:12 (NASB)
It’s been said, “Those who don’t learn from history are doomed to repeat it.”
During Old Testament times God repeatedly warned his people that judgment would come if they refused to heed him as the one and only true God.
As they entered the Promised Land they were warned not to engage themselves in the rituals and customs of the people who lived there. They were to remain true to the teachings of Moses, remain true to the covenant of Abraham.
They didn’t learn, of course. Throughout the ages history has proven that when a nation followed the principles laid out in the Holy Bible, God blessed them. When that nation strayed from those principles, decay began. People began to question the harsh expectations of God, or even doubt his existence. People looked to government for provision instead of relying on and trusting in God. They trusted their own consciences over the teachings of God’s Word.
There is a positive side, however, to dwelling in a land where the government refuses to acknowledge God. The church of Jesus Christ tends to thrive. Throughout history godless dictators and leaders have tried to squash the church. The early Jewish leaders tried it through persecution; Nero tried it with horrific slaughter of those who followed ‘The Way’.
God isn’t as concerned about the spiritual condition of government systems as he is the faithfulness of his people. The churches most famous persecutor, the Apostle Paul, tells us, “Again I say, don’t get involved in foolish, ignorant arguments that only start fights. A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult people. Gently instruct those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people’s hearts, and they will learn the truth. Then they will come to their senses and escape from the devil’s trap. For they have been held captive by him to do whatever he wants.” Timothy 2:23-26 (NLT)
Do followers of Christ have a responsibility to involve themselves in political and social activity in order to show Christ’s love and share his grace and forgiveness? Certainly. But our main focus should be to bring our hearts, minds and passions into conformity with Christ.
Recently I’ve been reading “Throw Me Another Brick” by Charles Swindoll. The most important nugget I’ve taken thus far from his study of Nehemiah is that God changes leaders through prayer more than protests and outspoken criticism. A nation that refuses to acknowledge the God of the Holy Bible will fall, but the churches responsibility is to pray for its leaders (regardless of their religious affiliation) and show the world the love of Jesus Christ.
PRAYER: Most gracious and powerful Heavenly Father. I remind myself today that you are the supreme commander-in-chief of my life. No earthly power will change my allegiance to you. I pray for our leaders that they may follow your precepts, but more importantly I pray for my brothers and sisters in Christ, that we may show your love and grace daily to those around us, especially those we disagree with. Amen.
We’re not going to change the world. Let’s just get that idea off our plates right now. As long as people have free will(as it should be), they will choose the fool-hardy pursuit of things, excess, indulgence and momentary pleasure. That’s our world, we have to accept it to a point. However, we can change our little corner of the world. We can change how we do Christmas. We can change how our friends and neighbours VIEW how we do Christmas~because they are watching. And it does matter how you act behind closed doors when no one is looking. How you think in your heart and mind will directly reflect how you act outwardly. How you treat people is directly related to what you think of them.
The people around you want the same things you want. They want to be loved. They want someone to care. They want to…
View original post 893 more words
The Lord said: “I am sending an angel to protect you and to lead you into the land I have ready for you.” Exodus 23:20 (CEV)
Life is full of surprises. Sometimes those surprises are humorous, like the other night when I heard a noise and went to investigate in the dark. It was on this adventure that I discovered that our cat was an efficient ‘mouser’. She left her catch for us, completely field dressed and lying on the living room carpet. Had I taken the time to turn on the lights, I wouldn’t have discovered this ‘surprise’ with my bare feet!
Sometimes, life’s surprises are frustrating, such as the night you save up for a date night, only to have a tire go flat on the way home from the date. A tire, mind you that you don’t have the money to fix, especially since you just spent your savings on a movie and dinner.
Life’s surprises can be devastating as well. Job loss, a call from the doctor regarding your tests, or finding out your spouse has been having an affair can send your world into a tailspin. Suddenly you are left to pick up the pieces of life and trying to put them together the best you can. It’s like putting together a jigsaw puzzle without any idea of what the picture is supposed to look like when you are done.
The $64,000.00 question isn’t IF life will throw surprises your way, but how you will handle them. Moses knew what it was like to have surprises thrown his way. As he began his journey across the wilderness as leader of a bunch of rebellious people, God gave him a nugget that each of us can turn to when life’s surprises hit us.
In the midst of God’s instructions to his people he gives us hope for the times when surprises attack us. His words, “I’m sending an angel ahead of you…” should be encouragement to all of us. If you read on through the end of the chapter he promises us that if we will obey his words, trust him with our lives and remain faithful to him, he will guide us through the challenges and surprises we encounter.
Farmers will tell you that ground that has already been plowed is much easier to work. God promises us that he has gone before us. He has prepared the ground so that when we journey through we will have an easier time finding his direction.
Two things are important to remember, however. God has never promised that the journey will be easy. There will be struggles along the way. Secondly, while we hope for God’s promises to be fulfilled quickly, his timing is always best. When the Israelites entered the Promised Land they weren’t given all the land right away. God brought victory in his time and in his way so that his people would be ready for the tasks ahead.
God has seen your tomorrows. While we endure surprises along the way, nothing that crosses our path surprises him. The trials you are encountering are his way to strengthen you and prepare you for the journey ahead.
PRAYER: Father God, thank you for going before me. The surprises I encounter sometimes seem too great and without purpose. Thank you that you know my future and know what I need to carry on. Amen.
Mike Fisk & Built with Grace 