Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life. (Phil 2:14-16a)
Everybody likes to gripe. At my office we complain about upper management – like probably a million other offices in the country. I gripe, too. And when I do I miss out on a wonderful opportunity to shine like a star in the universe. If I am just like everybody else, what good is it to the Kingdom? Those who daily walk in love, joy and peace stand out from the crowd. They earn a platform from which to be heard as they “hold out the word of life.” What does it do to my testimony when I gripe and complain like everyone else? My opportunity to be a testimony to Jesus Christ simply disappears. Lord, help me to shine like a star in the universe in my daily life, so I can hold out the word of life in a way that people will listen. Amen.
Friday, September 10, 2010
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Show Yourself a Man
I am about to go the way of all the earth. So be strong, show yourself a man, and observe what the Lord your God requires. (I Kings 2:2-3a)
This is David's charge to Solomon. What a tremendous example for us fathers! We must not neglect to do the same. Lord, help me to hold out a true, Biblical picture of manhood for my sons, in both my words and my deeds. I know I have not always modeled it the way I should. God forgive me and help them to see by my example what true manhood is like. Help me to model it better than I have before. Amen.
This is David's charge to Solomon. What a tremendous example for us fathers! We must not neglect to do the same. Lord, help me to hold out a true, Biblical picture of manhood for my sons, in both my words and my deeds. I know I have not always modeled it the way I should. God forgive me and help them to see by my example what true manhood is like. Help me to model it better than I have before. Amen.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Objects of Wrath
What if God, choosing to show his wrath and make his power known, bore with great patience the objects of his wrath – prepared for destruction? (Rom 9:22)
This verse is often taken to mean that God predestines some to destruction – that he created them with the intent to destroy them. But I do not believe that. First of all, Paul says “what if”. He only means to say God has the power and right to do so if he chooses. Second, he speaks of bearing them with great patience. What is the purpose of the patience? To demonstrate his compassion, sure, but also to allow those who would be saved plenty of opportunity to do so. “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (2 Pet 3:9) And third, we find in Eph 2:3 that all of us, even the elect, were at one time objects of wrath: “All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.” Praise God for his patience and his mercy! Without them no one would be saved, least of all me!
This verse is often taken to mean that God predestines some to destruction – that he created them with the intent to destroy them. But I do not believe that. First of all, Paul says “what if”. He only means to say God has the power and right to do so if he chooses. Second, he speaks of bearing them with great patience. What is the purpose of the patience? To demonstrate his compassion, sure, but also to allow those who would be saved plenty of opportunity to do so. “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (2 Pet 3:9) And third, we find in Eph 2:3 that all of us, even the elect, were at one time objects of wrath: “All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.” Praise God for his patience and his mercy! Without them no one would be saved, least of all me!
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Live by the Spirit
So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. (Gal 5:16)
The Holy Spirit is the key. This verse echoes Romans 8. “The mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace.” (Rom 8:6 NASB) The message in both places is that the flesh is corrupt and draws us away from God, but the Holy Spirit who dwells in us will empower us to live a righteous life if we turn our hearts and minds to Him.
The Holy Spirit is the key. This verse echoes Romans 8. “The mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace.” (Rom 8:6 NASB) The message in both places is that the flesh is corrupt and draws us away from God, but the Holy Spirit who dwells in us will empower us to live a righteous life if we turn our hearts and minds to Him.
Monday, September 6, 2010
Walking into the Light
The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day. (Pro 4:18)
The wicked stumble on a dark path, bereft of true wisdom, but the righteous pursue God on a path that grows better lit the longer they travel on it. When you start on either path it is dark and hard to see. But as we begin to pursue God we see the way things really are more and more clearly. We learn wisdom. Thank you, Lord, for the light of your truth.
The wicked stumble on a dark path, bereft of true wisdom, but the righteous pursue God on a path that grows better lit the longer they travel on it. When you start on either path it is dark and hard to see. But as we begin to pursue God we see the way things really are more and more clearly. We learn wisdom. Thank you, Lord, for the light of your truth.
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Egypt and Assyria
You will be disappointed by Egypt as you were by Assyria. (Jer 2:36b)
So often in our spiritual immaturity we move from one worldly thing to another seeking to have our deepest needs and desires met. But one by one they disappoint us. What we want may be money, popularity or entertainment, but what we need is God and God alone. The Israelites wanted safety. They allied themselves with Assyria and were double-crossed. They allied themselves with Egypt and were let down. In a few short years they were carried off to Babylon. Lord, let me not forget that you alone are my salvation, my strong tower and my provider. Help me to see when I am trusting in Assyria or Egypt rather than you alone. Amen.
So often in our spiritual immaturity we move from one worldly thing to another seeking to have our deepest needs and desires met. But one by one they disappoint us. What we want may be money, popularity or entertainment, but what we need is God and God alone. The Israelites wanted safety. They allied themselves with Assyria and were double-crossed. They allied themselves with Egypt and were let down. In a few short years they were carried off to Babylon. Lord, let me not forget that you alone are my salvation, my strong tower and my provider. Help me to see when I am trusting in Assyria or Egypt rather than you alone. Amen.
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Heavenly Hope
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Rom 15:13)
No matter grim our prospects here on earth might seem, we have an eternal hope that far outweighs the suffering of this life. The reason the persecuted church thrives, in fact, may be that those who clearly see they have no hope in this life are set free from it to rejoice in the hope of the life to come. As we trust him for eternity we have joy and peace in the here and now. That hope which we enjoy is from the Holy Spirit, with whom we were sealed as a sign of the certain hope to come. If we also find in this life reasons for hope and rejoicing, we are doubly blessed. And God does pour out blessings here and now, even in the midst of trial. Thank you, Lord!
No matter grim our prospects here on earth might seem, we have an eternal hope that far outweighs the suffering of this life. The reason the persecuted church thrives, in fact, may be that those who clearly see they have no hope in this life are set free from it to rejoice in the hope of the life to come. As we trust him for eternity we have joy and peace in the here and now. That hope which we enjoy is from the Holy Spirit, with whom we were sealed as a sign of the certain hope to come. If we also find in this life reasons for hope and rejoicing, we are doubly blessed. And God does pour out blessings here and now, even in the midst of trial. Thank you, Lord!
Friday, September 3, 2010
Slowly But Surely
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. (Rom 12:2a)
Toward this end, one very practical thing I can do is to devote myself daily to prayer and reading God’s Word. Another is in verse 1, “offer your bodies as living sacrifices.” I daily pray a prayer of surrender. And as many times during the day as my mind snaps back to it, I confess my love and service to him again. These are the very practical disciplines which I was taught in the One on One discipleship study. It is sometimes disheartening to me that I am so far from being the man of God that I aspire to be. Yet I believe and trust that slowly, almost imperceptibly, as I faithfully execute these daily disciplines I am being molded into that man of God. I know his word will not come back void, nor his Spirit fail to move.
Toward this end, one very practical thing I can do is to devote myself daily to prayer and reading God’s Word. Another is in verse 1, “offer your bodies as living sacrifices.” I daily pray a prayer of surrender. And as many times during the day as my mind snaps back to it, I confess my love and service to him again. These are the very practical disciplines which I was taught in the One on One discipleship study. It is sometimes disheartening to me that I am so far from being the man of God that I aspire to be. Yet I believe and trust that slowly, almost imperceptibly, as I faithfully execute these daily disciplines I am being molded into that man of God. I know his word will not come back void, nor his Spirit fail to move.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
One Day at a Time
He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. (Micah 6:8)
It's not our part to set out with the idea of doing great deeds for God. The daily instructions for a believer are more immediate. I am to take care that my relationship with God and with others is right and be obedient one day at a time. This is just the same thought as the Great Commandment. Great deeds may come, but it will happen while we have set our hearts and minds to the task of being faithful every day to God’s commandments.
It's not our part to set out with the idea of doing great deeds for God. The daily instructions for a believer are more immediate. I am to take care that my relationship with God and with others is right and be obedient one day at a time. This is just the same thought as the Great Commandment. Great deeds may come, but it will happen while we have set our hearts and minds to the task of being faithful every day to God’s commandments.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Heaven Bound
Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose [to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, v4] and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. (2 Cor 5:5)
I have true knowledge, true confidence, of the resurrection to come by the presence of God’s Spirit in my heart. The more tangibly I experience his presence and his activity in my life, the more certain I am. This is why we can say that we know it is true and not just that we think it is true.
I have true knowledge, true confidence, of the resurrection to come by the presence of God’s Spirit in my heart. The more tangibly I experience his presence and his activity in my life, the more certain I am. This is why we can say that we know it is true and not just that we think it is true.
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