Today's Word for Friday October 22, 2010
DISTRACTION
DEFINITION
Act of distracting or being distracted; having the attention or the mind drawn away or diverted.
SCRIPTURE
"Each one is tempted when he is drawn away (distracted) by his own desires and enticed." James 1:14
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE
Do you know that Satan's greatest goal for your life is not destruction but distraction? Satan wants to daily distract you from doing what the Lord expects of you. When Satan cannot get you to succumb to out and out temptation he works in more subtle ways to draw you away from the Lord. Corrie Ten Boom said that, "When the devil cannot make us bad he makes us busy." That is so true.
Consider how busy your life is now. Typically in our homes today both spouses work and many have children to care for along with all that goes into running a household. Then, of course, we have all the electronic diversions to keep us busy when we have a few extra minutes on our hands. We have TV's, computers, DVD's, texting, the internet and I-pod's. Satan can get us so involved in using these devices that we have no time to read God's Word or to communicate to Him through prayer or to go to church.
Satan will use whatever he can to distract us from having a relationship with the Lord. It is not that everything that consumes our time and keeps us busy is bad in and of itself. What is bad, is letting distractions, like the things we have listed, keep us so busy that we are not spending time with our Lord and Savior.
As you know we raised six children and we were a very active family. We didn't have all the modern technology so the distractions were different when we were raising our children, nevertheless there were many temptations to keep us busy. We had to set guidelines on the use of our time and we honored them. We must emphasize, we had to work at it constantly or our time would have been consumed by other things that Satan could have used to distract us from spending time with the Lord. You will have to work at it also.
When Jesus was visiting Martha in her home He had to explain to her the importance of spending time with Him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what He was saying. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made with the arrival of Jesus in their home. She came to Him and asked, "Lord, don't You care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me." "Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better."
James tells us that God is not to blame for our distractions. In James 1:13 it reads; "Let no man say when he is tempted, 'I am tempted by God'; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone."
So when we are distracted and do not do what God would ordain for our life, who is to blame? The verse above under scripture makes it clear that we are distracted when we are drawn away from the Lord by our own desires. Just as a fisherman uses bait to lure the fish to his hook, the devil uses bait to distract us from doing what God wants us to do. As Jesus told Martha, we make the choice.
When we disobey God and make the wrong choice, do not try to shift the blame or justify your actions by saying that the devil made you do it. Instead take the full responsibility, confess your sin and pursue living a Christ exalting life. God will hear you, forgive you and honor you for honoring Him.
LEARNING
Our memory verse for this week is found in Colossians 3:16.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
PRAYER
Give me the strength that only You can give today that I might not be distracted by the things of this world that keep me from spending time with You. Give me wisdom and decisiveness to live a life that totally honors You.
October 24, 2010
Morals: October 2,1 2010
Today's Word for Thursday October 21, 2010
MORALS
DEFINITION
Distinction between right and wrong; the rules of right conduct; conforming to rules based on ethical rather than legal rights.
SCRIPTURE
"Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the heart." Proverbs 21:2
"All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirits." Proverbs 16:2
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE
God is the source of morality. In His Word he has given us His standard for morals. As a result of our sinful nature man likes to do what he wants to do. We can rationalize that almost anything is "OK" and then proceed in doing it and feeling that it is all right and justified.
The writer of Proverbs in the verses above tells us that the way man sees it is, "every way of a man is right in his own eyes." and "all the ways of man are pure in his own eyes." The writer tells us that God sees it differently. God sets the standards of what is right and He will judge if what we do is right. We can be certain that if our way does not measure up to God's moral standard, as given in His Word, that our way is not right.
We are living in a world where people live for their own self interests and could care less about their morals if they stand in the way of what they want to do. They prefer to be popular with the world than to be right with God. Integrity seems to be more and more lacking in the lives of people. There is a quote attributed to Abraham Lincoln that we read recently, that we would like to share with you. As you read this compare it to what we seem to read and hear about our friends, neighbors and leaders.
"My desire is to so conduct the affairs of this administration that if at the end, when I come to lay down the reins of power, I have lost every other friend on earth, I shall have at least one friend left, the friend deep down inside of me. I do the very best I know how; the very best I can; and I mean to keep doing that until the end. If the end brings me out all right, what is said against me will not amount to anything. If the end brings me out all wrong then a legion of angels swearing that I was right will make no difference."
Abraham Lincoln was willing to do the right thing no matter what the cost, even if it meant he lost every one of his friends. He left us a heritage to build upon and as a people we have not built on this heritage. He always trusted God for the wisdom that God alone could give to make the correct moral decisions in life. In the eyes of many, slavery was all right. Abraham Lincoln recognized that in the eyes of God it was wrong and must be abolished.
An army officer recently told of his first night in a tent on the battlefield. Most of the troops were swearing and telling filthy stories. Finally the officer spoke and said to all in the tent; "I have heard your rough talk but now I am going to talk to God. Out of respect to Him I ask you all to please be quiet." The place grew quiet; the officer prayed alone and never again had to contend with immoral talk.
We share these stories and quotes with you to encourage you to stand firm in honoring God in all you do. May your morals include the high standards that Jesus expects from us.
LEARNING
Our memory verse for this week is found in Colossians 3:16.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
PRAYER
Thank You for the clear standards that You have given me to live by each day. Help my ways to be Your ways and not what seems to be right in the eyes of others. Give me the courage of that Army officer to take a stand against immorality even if I must stand alone.
MORALS
DEFINITION
Distinction between right and wrong; the rules of right conduct; conforming to rules based on ethical rather than legal rights.
SCRIPTURE
"Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the heart." Proverbs 21:2
"All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirits." Proverbs 16:2
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE
God is the source of morality. In His Word he has given us His standard for morals. As a result of our sinful nature man likes to do what he wants to do. We can rationalize that almost anything is "OK" and then proceed in doing it and feeling that it is all right and justified.
The writer of Proverbs in the verses above tells us that the way man sees it is, "every way of a man is right in his own eyes." and "all the ways of man are pure in his own eyes." The writer tells us that God sees it differently. God sets the standards of what is right and He will judge if what we do is right. We can be certain that if our way does not measure up to God's moral standard, as given in His Word, that our way is not right.
We are living in a world where people live for their own self interests and could care less about their morals if they stand in the way of what they want to do. They prefer to be popular with the world than to be right with God. Integrity seems to be more and more lacking in the lives of people. There is a quote attributed to Abraham Lincoln that we read recently, that we would like to share with you. As you read this compare it to what we seem to read and hear about our friends, neighbors and leaders.
"My desire is to so conduct the affairs of this administration that if at the end, when I come to lay down the reins of power, I have lost every other friend on earth, I shall have at least one friend left, the friend deep down inside of me. I do the very best I know how; the very best I can; and I mean to keep doing that until the end. If the end brings me out all right, what is said against me will not amount to anything. If the end brings me out all wrong then a legion of angels swearing that I was right will make no difference."
Abraham Lincoln was willing to do the right thing no matter what the cost, even if it meant he lost every one of his friends. He left us a heritage to build upon and as a people we have not built on this heritage. He always trusted God for the wisdom that God alone could give to make the correct moral decisions in life. In the eyes of many, slavery was all right. Abraham Lincoln recognized that in the eyes of God it was wrong and must be abolished.
An army officer recently told of his first night in a tent on the battlefield. Most of the troops were swearing and telling filthy stories. Finally the officer spoke and said to all in the tent; "I have heard your rough talk but now I am going to talk to God. Out of respect to Him I ask you all to please be quiet." The place grew quiet; the officer prayed alone and never again had to contend with immoral talk.
We share these stories and quotes with you to encourage you to stand firm in honoring God in all you do. May your morals include the high standards that Jesus expects from us.
LEARNING
Our memory verse for this week is found in Colossians 3:16.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
PRAYER
Thank You for the clear standards that You have given me to live by each day. Help my ways to be Your ways and not what seems to be right in the eyes of others. Give me the courage of that Army officer to take a stand against immorality even if I must stand alone.
Labor: October 20, 2010
Today's Word for Wednesday October 20, 2010
LABOR
DEFINITION
Bodily toll for the earning of a livelihood; hard work; a task, strenuous effort.
SCRIPTURE
"Six days you shall labor and do all your work." Exodus 20:9
"Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life." John 6:27
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE
How many people will recognize that it is not the labor of good works that will qualify them for eternal forgiveness? One who believes that good works alone is all one needs to have eternal life with our Lord is really attempting to buy forgiveness on credit. This is the philosophy of many religions. We all want to go to heaven. We all want everlasting life. Sin is the barrier that keeps us from heaven. So many people today believe that the more good works they do will earn their way to heaven.
God has sent His Son to this world and He died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins. We are all sinners and we all need to pay the debt for our sins, but doing good works and hard labor will not get one into heaven. We need to realize we are sinners, ask God to forgive us of our sins and then ask Jesus into our hearts. Working or laboring hard will not achieve forgiveness of our sins.
God has pre-paid our sin-debt in full so He has no need for our feeble good works, no matter how hard and diligently we labor. So what did Christ mean when He said in John 6:27, "Do not labor for the food which perishes but for the food which endures to everlasting life?" The crowd Jesus was speaking to asked the same question. They wanted to know what they had to do to do the work God requires. Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe on the one He has sent."
In Deuteronomy 10:12-13 we read that the work of God that He requires of us is "to fear the Lord your God, to walk in His ways and love Him, and to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and to keep the Lord's commandments.
God expects us to labor and work hard, but as a ministry, representing Him in all we do. When you go to the work place every day, you go not only to earn the funds to live on daily but to represent Christ to those you labor with. Thus your work place is your place of ministry. Most people do not look at their job in that light but that is what God expects of us.
Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 15:58, "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord." If you are not getting up every day with your primary purpose of laboring for the Lord, then take a good look at your relationship with your Lord.
The author of Hebrews reminds us in Hebrews 6:10 that "God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do continue to minister." Remember Paul's words encouraging us to always give ourselves fully to the work of the Lord because we know that our labor in the Lord is not in vain. I Corinthians 15:58.
As the first verse that we have listed above commands us -- one of the Ten Commandments - we are to labor six days and then rest on the seventh. Our seventh day should be dedicated to worshipping and praising God for all His blessings to us.
LEARNING
Our memory verse for this week is found in Colossians 3:16.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
PRAYER
It is my prayer today that my labor will be a labor of love for You. Whether, I am in my work place, my neighborhood or at home may all that I do and say honor Your name. May others see Christ not only in me but working through me.
LABOR
DEFINITION
Bodily toll for the earning of a livelihood; hard work; a task, strenuous effort.
SCRIPTURE
"Six days you shall labor and do all your work." Exodus 20:9
"Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life." John 6:27
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE
How many people will recognize that it is not the labor of good works that will qualify them for eternal forgiveness? One who believes that good works alone is all one needs to have eternal life with our Lord is really attempting to buy forgiveness on credit. This is the philosophy of many religions. We all want to go to heaven. We all want everlasting life. Sin is the barrier that keeps us from heaven. So many people today believe that the more good works they do will earn their way to heaven.
God has sent His Son to this world and He died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins. We are all sinners and we all need to pay the debt for our sins, but doing good works and hard labor will not get one into heaven. We need to realize we are sinners, ask God to forgive us of our sins and then ask Jesus into our hearts. Working or laboring hard will not achieve forgiveness of our sins.
God has pre-paid our sin-debt in full so He has no need for our feeble good works, no matter how hard and diligently we labor. So what did Christ mean when He said in John 6:27, "Do not labor for the food which perishes but for the food which endures to everlasting life?" The crowd Jesus was speaking to asked the same question. They wanted to know what they had to do to do the work God requires. Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe on the one He has sent."
In Deuteronomy 10:12-13 we read that the work of God that He requires of us is "to fear the Lord your God, to walk in His ways and love Him, and to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and to keep the Lord's commandments.
God expects us to labor and work hard, but as a ministry, representing Him in all we do. When you go to the work place every day, you go not only to earn the funds to live on daily but to represent Christ to those you labor with. Thus your work place is your place of ministry. Most people do not look at their job in that light but that is what God expects of us.
Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 15:58, "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord." If you are not getting up every day with your primary purpose of laboring for the Lord, then take a good look at your relationship with your Lord.
The author of Hebrews reminds us in Hebrews 6:10 that "God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do continue to minister." Remember Paul's words encouraging us to always give ourselves fully to the work of the Lord because we know that our labor in the Lord is not in vain. I Corinthians 15:58.
As the first verse that we have listed above commands us -- one of the Ten Commandments - we are to labor six days and then rest on the seventh. Our seventh day should be dedicated to worshipping and praising God for all His blessings to us.
LEARNING
Our memory verse for this week is found in Colossians 3:16.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
PRAYER
It is my prayer today that my labor will be a labor of love for You. Whether, I am in my work place, my neighborhood or at home may all that I do and say honor Your name. May others see Christ not only in me but working through me.
Esteem Part Two: October 19, 2010
Today's Word for Tuesday October 19, 2010
ESTEEM: PART TWO
DEFINITION
Set a high value on; regard favorably; to have respect or admiration for.
SCRIPTURE
"Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than themselves." Philippians 2:3
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE
Paul wrote to the believers in the church at Philippi to have the same attitude of humility as that of Jesus Christ so that they would be unified. He encouraged them to be like-minded so that they would be one in spirit and purpose. In order to be unified they would have to be humble and put aside their selfish ambitions and conceit.
When any of us are truly humble as Christ was humble it will be evident in how we esteem others. True followers of Christ will esteem others better than themselves.
Many people today think they are better than anyone else. They have such an elevated opinion of themselves that they think they know more about issues than anyone else. They seek to promote their own selfish ambitions with no regard for others. It is more than likely that we all have known such people and we have experienced the discord that is caused by that kind of person.
Many people (Christians included) evaluate themselves by the standards of the world. They are only concerned about how the world esteems them. What should concern us is not how the world esteems us, but how God esteems us. Are we true followers of Christ? If so we will show Christ-like humility and esteem others better than ourselves.
Esteem is a problem in our homes. Even spouses fight this problem. A spouse often thinks that he or she is king or queen of the house which can only result in discord and unhappiness. The ego of one really affects the esteem of the other and destroys the family unit. The self-esteem of children suffers when they are constantly harassed and not praised in a humble way for their successes.
LEARNING
Our memory verse for this week is found in Colossians 3:16.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
PRAYER
Give me the guidance that I might esteem others better than myself. Help me to keep my attitude right before You and may I serve You with a humble heart but with a strong conviction.
ESTEEM: PART TWO
DEFINITION
Set a high value on; regard favorably; to have respect or admiration for.
SCRIPTURE
"Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than themselves." Philippians 2:3
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE
Paul wrote to the believers in the church at Philippi to have the same attitude of humility as that of Jesus Christ so that they would be unified. He encouraged them to be like-minded so that they would be one in spirit and purpose. In order to be unified they would have to be humble and put aside their selfish ambitions and conceit.
When any of us are truly humble as Christ was humble it will be evident in how we esteem others. True followers of Christ will esteem others better than themselves.
Many people today think they are better than anyone else. They have such an elevated opinion of themselves that they think they know more about issues than anyone else. They seek to promote their own selfish ambitions with no regard for others. It is more than likely that we all have known such people and we have experienced the discord that is caused by that kind of person.
Many people (Christians included) evaluate themselves by the standards of the world. They are only concerned about how the world esteems them. What should concern us is not how the world esteems us, but how God esteems us. Are we true followers of Christ? If so we will show Christ-like humility and esteem others better than ourselves.
Esteem is a problem in our homes. Even spouses fight this problem. A spouse often thinks that he or she is king or queen of the house which can only result in discord and unhappiness. The ego of one really affects the esteem of the other and destroys the family unit. The self-esteem of children suffers when they are constantly harassed and not praised in a humble way for their successes.
LEARNING
Our memory verse for this week is found in Colossians 3:16.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
PRAYER
Give me the guidance that I might esteem others better than myself. Help me to keep my attitude right before You and may I serve You with a humble heart but with a strong conviction.
Esteem Part One: October 18, 2010
Today's Word for Monday October 18, 2010
ESTEEM: PART ONE
DEFINITION
Set a high value on; regard favorably; to have respect or admiration for.
SCRIPTURE
"He is despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised and we did not esteem Him." Isaiah 53:3
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE
Jesus is the Son of God and God could have sent Him to this earth in all His Majesty as our glorious King. Instead He came into this world as a humble and suffering servant. Isaiah describes Christ in Isaiah 53:2 as having no majesty and no beauty that would attract us to Him. He was an ordinary man. The Jewish people did not esteem Him as their Messiah because He did not meet their expectations.
We would think that God would send Jesus in His majesty and in His glory. God, however, does not do things in ways that we would expect them to be done. What He does, He does to accomplish His purpose. His purpose was to provide a way for us to escape the punishment that we deserve for all of our sins. God sent Jesus into this world to be our sacrificial lamb.
"He was oppressed and afflicted. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter."( Isaiah 53:7) When we think of all that Jesus suffered for us and His great gift of forgiveness and eternal life, how can we not esteem Him as our Lord and Savior. Nevertheless, many do not acknowledge and esteem Jesus. He is despised and rejected by many today, just as He was despised by those who knew Him while He was here on earth.
Jesus is worthy of our esteem. All those who do not reject Jesus and accept Him as their personal Savior will one day sing with the angels in heaven:
"Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom,
and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing." Revelation 5:12.
LEARNING
Our memory verse for this week is found in Colossians 3:16.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
PRAYER
I love You Lord and I esteem You as my Lord and my Savior. Thank You that You willingly left Your home in glory to be despised and rejected by man and to suffer and die for my sins. Guide me as I teach my family to esteem You as Lord of our lives.
ESTEEM: PART ONE
DEFINITION
Set a high value on; regard favorably; to have respect or admiration for.
SCRIPTURE
"He is despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised and we did not esteem Him." Isaiah 53:3
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE
Jesus is the Son of God and God could have sent Him to this earth in all His Majesty as our glorious King. Instead He came into this world as a humble and suffering servant. Isaiah describes Christ in Isaiah 53:2 as having no majesty and no beauty that would attract us to Him. He was an ordinary man. The Jewish people did not esteem Him as their Messiah because He did not meet their expectations.
We would think that God would send Jesus in His majesty and in His glory. God, however, does not do things in ways that we would expect them to be done. What He does, He does to accomplish His purpose. His purpose was to provide a way for us to escape the punishment that we deserve for all of our sins. God sent Jesus into this world to be our sacrificial lamb.
"He was oppressed and afflicted. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter."( Isaiah 53:7) When we think of all that Jesus suffered for us and His great gift of forgiveness and eternal life, how can we not esteem Him as our Lord and Savior. Nevertheless, many do not acknowledge and esteem Jesus. He is despised and rejected by many today, just as He was despised by those who knew Him while He was here on earth.
Jesus is worthy of our esteem. All those who do not reject Jesus and accept Him as their personal Savior will one day sing with the angels in heaven:
"Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom,
and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing." Revelation 5:12.
LEARNING
Our memory verse for this week is found in Colossians 3:16.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
PRAYER
I love You Lord and I esteem You as my Lord and my Savior. Thank You that You willingly left Your home in glory to be despised and rejected by man and to suffer and die for my sins. Guide me as I teach my family to esteem You as Lord of our lives.
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