Today's Word for Monday November 29, 2010
WORRY
DEFINITION
Cause to feel anxious; harass; bother; fret; anxiety; trouble.
SCRIPTURE
"Therefore I say unto you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more important than food and the body more than clothing?" Matthew 6:25.
"Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' for your Heavenly Father knows that you need all these things." Matthew 6:31.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE
When Jesus was on this earth the scripture tells us that He went up onto the mountain and the crowds followed Him and that is where He gave what we call today the "Sermon on the Mount." He began with the beatitudes. You can read these in Matthew chapter five. In Chapter six, Jesus instructs us on why we should not worry.
Just as today, many people listening to Jesus had reasons that they believed were valid reasons to worry. But Jesus started out His comments on worry by saying not to worry about one's life. He said not to worry about the necessities of life like food, drink, and clothing.
Jesus is not suggesting that one does not prepare for life. Rather He tells us that one is not to be lazy and thoughtless with a no care attitude. God will not pamper slothfulness and a lack of initiative, effort or planning. He expects us to look after our responsibilities, work to eat and in fact to work extra to have enough to give to others.
In this verse, Jesus is talking to us about being so wrapped up in securing the "things" in life that we become anxious, disturbed and sleepless. We need to be consumed by thinking about and working for the Lord and not "things." Worry is not necessary when we are trusting God.
These words are very relative for today. Doctors tell us that worry is an underlying cause of many illnesses, in fact more than 60% of illnesses relate to worry. It is also a known fact that worry leads to emotional turmoil in family relationships. People also worry about major problems that more than often will never happen. WORRY IS THE INTEREST YOU PAY ON BORROWED TROUBLE. In Matthew 6:27, Jesus says to us, "Who of you by worrying can add a simple hour to his life?"
Why do people today worry so much? Possibly one reason is that they do not feel good about what they are doing in their life. Whether someone is a Christian or not a Christian they know the difference between right and wrong. People are also concerned about being questioned about a past issue or action that was not truthful. They are living with a weight of guilt and in fear that at any moment their world could come crashing in on them. In other words, our own actions give us cause to worry.
Real life happenings are often the cause of worry. A loss of a job, a home foreclosure, expenses running higher than the income being received or even a breaking family relationship, all cause people to worry. But the scripture tells us that when these things come to pass, a Christian needs to respond just as Jesus said in His "Sermon on the Mount." He reminds us that He knows all of our needs and He is willing to meet those needs if we have our priorities straight. He said: "Seek you first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added onto you." He wants us not to worry about our physical needs but to worry about our spiritual needs.
The Apostle said in Philippians 4:6 that "Do not be anxious (worry) about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."
When bad things happen to us, we must do all we can to relieve the issue of worry. We are limited in what we can do, but God is unlimited. He is all powerful, all knowing and always there for us. This is where our trust and faith comes in. We must be willing to let go of our worry and put our trust in Jesus and "SEEK HIM FIRST!"
LEARNING
Our memory verse for this week is found in Romans 10:13.
Whoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
PRAYER
Thank You that I can give my worries to You with the assurance that if I seek You first that You will provide what I need. I can always be assured that You know better than I as to what I need. Help my family to understand this as well. May each of us do all we can to learn more about You. Help us to read Your Word and to communicate with You through prayer daily. Help me to remember to turn my worries into prayers.
December 5, 2010
Ask: November 30, 2010
Today's Word for Tuesday November 30, 2010
ASK
DEFINITION
Put a question to; interrogate; seek to obtain; request; invite; inquire about.
SCRIPTURE
"And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive." Matthew 21:22
"So I say to you, ask, and it will be given you; seek and you will find; knock and it will be opened to you." Luke 11:9
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE
In the verse above (Luke 11:9) we are taught how to ask and seek. In the next verse (10) we are told that everyone who asks receives. Why does God want us to ask, when He knows what we want and what we need? He wants us to ask and seek Him so that we will recognize that He is the one who provides for us and that He alone hears and answers our prayers.
In Luke 11 (above) Jesus gives us a mini sermon to persevere and endure in prayer. We are to ask through prayer continually for what we need. But if God does not provide then we are to seek. And if seeking does not receive it then we are to knock and it shall be opened to us. The point Jesus is making is for us to pray continuously. The verbs ask, seek and knock are all continuous action words. The answer is assured. God will hear and answer the person who perseveres and endures in prayer. God answers the prayer of the believer, if his heart is in tune with God, in His way and in His perfect timing.
Many people just do not want to ask anybody for anything because of pride, let alone God. We should not let pride keep us from seeking God's help. Remember, Jesus says: "ask and it will be given you; seek and you will find."
In our consulting responsibilities with Christian ministries these past years we trained people how to "ASK" for help in supporting their ministries. Christian ministries are dependent on others to give of their time and money. Some people often complain that they receive too many requests for donations. Ministries are raised up by God to meet needs of people that are not being met by others. In order to exist, they must ask and asking for a legitimate need is honored by God. In fact, as the scripture says, we need to ask if we want a response. How is someone to know your need if you do not ask.
There are many situations in life where we need to ask for help. Families need to be willing to help others in need if God has blessed you. And families need to be willing to ask in their time of need. Remember there is a difference between asking and demanding. When asking for help the response you receive is affected by the way you ask. When you ask favors of people or when you just ask questions for informational purposes, learn to ask kindly, gently and with a loving tone.
Today the most important lesson we can learn from the scripture is that God expects us to ask so He can fulfill His plan through our life. We are to ask God for every thing we need. In John 11:22 it reads: "Whatever you ask of God, God will give you." Can it be said any clearer? In James 1:5 and 6, we are told that if we lack wisdom let us ask of God. Then it says we are to ask in faith with no doubting.
Our problem today is that we limit God in what He will do for us. We rely on our own wisdom and so often fail. When we ask in prayer, ask believing and ask in faith with NO DOUBTING, we will receive. But remember God will never give to us what is not good for us.
LEARNING
Our memory verse for this week is found in Romans 10:13.
Whoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
PRAYER
Open my eyes today to the reality that I need to see and practice by asking You for all that I need today. Help me to ask not only for the large issues I may face but for the small ones as well. Give me wisdom in all that I do and may I proceed today with the faith that only You can give me.
ASK
DEFINITION
Put a question to; interrogate; seek to obtain; request; invite; inquire about.
SCRIPTURE
"And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive." Matthew 21:22
"So I say to you, ask, and it will be given you; seek and you will find; knock and it will be opened to you." Luke 11:9
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE
In the verse above (Luke 11:9) we are taught how to ask and seek. In the next verse (10) we are told that everyone who asks receives. Why does God want us to ask, when He knows what we want and what we need? He wants us to ask and seek Him so that we will recognize that He is the one who provides for us and that He alone hears and answers our prayers.
In Luke 11 (above) Jesus gives us a mini sermon to persevere and endure in prayer. We are to ask through prayer continually for what we need. But if God does not provide then we are to seek. And if seeking does not receive it then we are to knock and it shall be opened to us. The point Jesus is making is for us to pray continuously. The verbs ask, seek and knock are all continuous action words. The answer is assured. God will hear and answer the person who perseveres and endures in prayer. God answers the prayer of the believer, if his heart is in tune with God, in His way and in His perfect timing.
Many people just do not want to ask anybody for anything because of pride, let alone God. We should not let pride keep us from seeking God's help. Remember, Jesus says: "ask and it will be given you; seek and you will find."
In our consulting responsibilities with Christian ministries these past years we trained people how to "ASK" for help in supporting their ministries. Christian ministries are dependent on others to give of their time and money. Some people often complain that they receive too many requests for donations. Ministries are raised up by God to meet needs of people that are not being met by others. In order to exist, they must ask and asking for a legitimate need is honored by God. In fact, as the scripture says, we need to ask if we want a response. How is someone to know your need if you do not ask.
There are many situations in life where we need to ask for help. Families need to be willing to help others in need if God has blessed you. And families need to be willing to ask in their time of need. Remember there is a difference between asking and demanding. When asking for help the response you receive is affected by the way you ask. When you ask favors of people or when you just ask questions for informational purposes, learn to ask kindly, gently and with a loving tone.
Today the most important lesson we can learn from the scripture is that God expects us to ask so He can fulfill His plan through our life. We are to ask God for every thing we need. In John 11:22 it reads: "Whatever you ask of God, God will give you." Can it be said any clearer? In James 1:5 and 6, we are told that if we lack wisdom let us ask of God. Then it says we are to ask in faith with no doubting.
Our problem today is that we limit God in what He will do for us. We rely on our own wisdom and so often fail. When we ask in prayer, ask believing and ask in faith with NO DOUBTING, we will receive. But remember God will never give to us what is not good for us.
LEARNING
Our memory verse for this week is found in Romans 10:13.
Whoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
PRAYER
Open my eyes today to the reality that I need to see and practice by asking You for all that I need today. Help me to ask not only for the large issues I may face but for the small ones as well. Give me wisdom in all that I do and may I proceed today with the faith that only You can give me.
Joy: December 1, 2010
Today's Word for Wednesday December 1, 2010
JOY
DEFINITION
A deep seeded pleasure; exultant satisfaction; keen delight; an inner gladness.
SCRIPTURE
"Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning." Psalm 30:5.
"These things that I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full." John 15:11.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE
Joy as spoken of in the Bible is not based on the happiness that the world considers happiness. Joy does not come to a person because he has wealth, possessions, fame or status. People work hard to obtain these things in order to find happiness, but as Solomon, who had everything, tells us in Ecclesiastes 1:2, that it is all meaningless.
Webster's closest definition of JOY as used in the Bible is "exultant satisfaction." Only those who know the Lord understand the true meaning of JOY. Those who have accepted Christ as their Savior have peace in their heart because they know their sins have been forgiven and that God loves them. Jesus explains what He means when He says "MY JOY" in John 15:11 (above). In the previous two verses He says: "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in My love, just as I have obeyed My Fathers commands and remain in His Love." This is the "JOY' we pray you have in your life.
Jesus has one great purpose for believers and that is the completion of their joy. He talks in these verses first about His joy --- doing the will of God. He then reminds us that our joy is like the joy of Christ Himself ringing in our hearts and finally that our joy is fulfilled as we study His Word.
Joy is divine and given only by God. Joy does not depend on happiness or circumstances. Joy springs from our faith and keeps us faithful to Him.
In the scripture, Matthew 25:21 where Jesus told the parable of the "Talents", He talked about the joy that the master had in his heart when one of his servants responded as he had hoped. He said: "Well done good and faithful servant, you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of the Lord." The servant's faithfulness and the success he obtained because of his faithfulness brought joy to his master and allowed the servant to share in the master's happiness.
The apostle Paul lists the fruits of the Spirit that are evidenced in the lives of Christians through the work of the Holy Spirit in us. These are love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. [Galatians 5:22-23]. Only those who have united themselves with Christ can understand the true meaning of joy. James reminds us in James 1:2 that when we face the trials in our day to day life we are to "count it all joy." He does not mean we are to be happy about our trials, but we are to face our trials with an attitude of joy because of what it can produce in our life for Christ's glory. Joy is a vital need for our everyday living.
What we learn from the scripture is that we as believers can have a spirit of joy that is not based on the positive or negative circumstances of our life. When we have the "JOY OF THE LORD' in our life we will find it easier to face the difficulties of life.
The bottom line that we learn from these scriptures and from what we have learned in real life is that we are to face every moment of every day with a spirit of Joy! When we do this the negatives in life seem to go away fast and the positives of life seem to stay with us. We all need to remember to put Christ first place in all of our lives and call upon Him for every situation that arises every moment of every day. The only way to have real joy is to have the right relationship with our Lord. Joy is lasting! Happiness is temporary!
We have several close friends that are facing serious health problems. Each one has been through many tests, consultations, treatments and medicines and you often wonder how much they can humanly take. But the one thing that is true in all their lives is that they are living each day with a spirit of joy. They have done all that they can from a medical perspective and they continue to respond to their doctors care. They have put everything into God's hands. They pray for healing daily as do scores of their friends. They understand the meaning of Psalm 30:5 where it says that weeping and suffering lasts only for a while, but for the believer there is joy coming. They are living their lives full of joy and hope. They are all ready to meet their Lord but each one also realizes that they still have a mission here on this earth. That mission is to share their faith, their attitude and their joy with everyone they touch daily. Do you live a life of joy? If not, we encourage you to ask God today to give you a life of joy.
LEARNING
Our memory verse for this week is found in Romans 10:13.
Whoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
PRAYER
Give me joy in my life throughout today. Help me to realize that whatever happens to me today that according to the words of James, I am to count it all joy. Give me wisdom to make decisions that honor You and give me Your joy in my heart so that my joy may be full.
JOY
DEFINITION
A deep seeded pleasure; exultant satisfaction; keen delight; an inner gladness.
SCRIPTURE
"Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning." Psalm 30:5.
"These things that I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full." John 15:11.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE
Joy as spoken of in the Bible is not based on the happiness that the world considers happiness. Joy does not come to a person because he has wealth, possessions, fame or status. People work hard to obtain these things in order to find happiness, but as Solomon, who had everything, tells us in Ecclesiastes 1:2, that it is all meaningless.
Webster's closest definition of JOY as used in the Bible is "exultant satisfaction." Only those who know the Lord understand the true meaning of JOY. Those who have accepted Christ as their Savior have peace in their heart because they know their sins have been forgiven and that God loves them. Jesus explains what He means when He says "MY JOY" in John 15:11 (above). In the previous two verses He says: "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in My love, just as I have obeyed My Fathers commands and remain in His Love." This is the "JOY' we pray you have in your life.
Jesus has one great purpose for believers and that is the completion of their joy. He talks in these verses first about His joy --- doing the will of God. He then reminds us that our joy is like the joy of Christ Himself ringing in our hearts and finally that our joy is fulfilled as we study His Word.
Joy is divine and given only by God. Joy does not depend on happiness or circumstances. Joy springs from our faith and keeps us faithful to Him.
In the scripture, Matthew 25:21 where Jesus told the parable of the "Talents", He talked about the joy that the master had in his heart when one of his servants responded as he had hoped. He said: "Well done good and faithful servant, you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of the Lord." The servant's faithfulness and the success he obtained because of his faithfulness brought joy to his master and allowed the servant to share in the master's happiness.
The apostle Paul lists the fruits of the Spirit that are evidenced in the lives of Christians through the work of the Holy Spirit in us. These are love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. [Galatians 5:22-23]. Only those who have united themselves with Christ can understand the true meaning of joy. James reminds us in James 1:2 that when we face the trials in our day to day life we are to "count it all joy." He does not mean we are to be happy about our trials, but we are to face our trials with an attitude of joy because of what it can produce in our life for Christ's glory. Joy is a vital need for our everyday living.
What we learn from the scripture is that we as believers can have a spirit of joy that is not based on the positive or negative circumstances of our life. When we have the "JOY OF THE LORD' in our life we will find it easier to face the difficulties of life.
The bottom line that we learn from these scriptures and from what we have learned in real life is that we are to face every moment of every day with a spirit of Joy! When we do this the negatives in life seem to go away fast and the positives of life seem to stay with us. We all need to remember to put Christ first place in all of our lives and call upon Him for every situation that arises every moment of every day. The only way to have real joy is to have the right relationship with our Lord. Joy is lasting! Happiness is temporary!
We have several close friends that are facing serious health problems. Each one has been through many tests, consultations, treatments and medicines and you often wonder how much they can humanly take. But the one thing that is true in all their lives is that they are living each day with a spirit of joy. They have done all that they can from a medical perspective and they continue to respond to their doctors care. They have put everything into God's hands. They pray for healing daily as do scores of their friends. They understand the meaning of Psalm 30:5 where it says that weeping and suffering lasts only for a while, but for the believer there is joy coming. They are living their lives full of joy and hope. They are all ready to meet their Lord but each one also realizes that they still have a mission here on this earth. That mission is to share their faith, their attitude and their joy with everyone they touch daily. Do you live a life of joy? If not, we encourage you to ask God today to give you a life of joy.
LEARNING
Our memory verse for this week is found in Romans 10:13.
Whoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
PRAYER
Give me joy in my life throughout today. Help me to realize that whatever happens to me today that according to the words of James, I am to count it all joy. Give me wisdom to make decisions that honor You and give me Your joy in my heart so that my joy may be full.
Awesome: December 2, 2010
Today's Word for Thursday December 2, 2010
AWESOME
DEFINITION
Inspiring; admiration or reverence; feeling awe.
SCRIPTURE
"Let them praise your great and awesome name." Psalm 99:3.
"Come and see the works of God; He is awesome in His doings." Psalm 66:5.
"You shall not be terrified, for the Lord your God, the great and awesome God, is among you." Deuteronomy 7:21.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE
We have teenage grandchildren and a frequent word that we often hear in their conversation is "awesome." They talk about awesome times, awesome events, awesome friends, awesome ideas and the list goes on and on.
In church we sing songs that refer to an awesome God that we serve. The awesomeness of the God we serve and the awesomeness that our grandchildren refer to in their conversations are not even comparable.
Yes, we serve an awesome God! Each one of us should stop for a moment from our busy life and think about that statement. God is awesome. He is all powerful; He is all knowing; He owns the cattle on a thousand hills (as the old hymn says), He is our creator and He is our Father. The most awesome thing about God is His great love for us and that He loved us so much that He gave His only Son to die to pay the penalty for our sins. And when we accepted His Son and asked Him to forgive us for our sins, He did and then we began to experience how awesome He is. We are privileged to serve an awesome God.
We have traveled to many areas of our world and have viewed many sites that our grandkids would call awesome. Some of these sights are considered wonders of the world (like the Great Wall of China and the Pyramids in Egypt). Yes, they are awe inspiring and they leave a lasting impression on our minds.
We have experienced other sites in this world that have left even a greater and lasting impression on our hearts and minds. Two sites we visited were not awesome in a positive sense but they had an awesome affect on our lives. One was the dump in the Philippians where 100,000 people live on top of the garbage. The other was the shanty towns in Kenya East Africa where we witnessed the worst poverty and disease we had ever seen. To us this was overwhelming and heart breaking.
We have also seen sights in our travels that have had left a lasting emotional impression on our lives. To us at the time they were awesome. One example was the awesome emotional impression we experienced at a two day conference for the 75 churches in Kenya that was sponsored by the ministry we were part of at that time. These Kenyans came together for this conference to learn more about the Lord. Some walked for two to three days to be part of this opportunity. The singing by the choirs, the praying by the people and the preaching by the pastors all showed us the dedication each person attending had for their Lord. They showed a deep desire to know more about God and to us this was what we would call awesome.
But when we think of the word awesome none of these places or events even come close to what we know as the real definition of the word "awesome" --- that is our God! Let us never forget that we serve an awesome God and He is always there for us if we only ask for Him.
LEARNING
Our memory verse for this week is found in Romans 10:13.
Whoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
PRAYER
Truly You are an awesome God and I praise You for all that You have done for me. Thank you for Your love, Your direction, Your protection, Your leading and Your blessing to both me and my family. May I never forget how awesome You are and may I always be thankful for Your great love and awesome leading in my life.
AWESOME
DEFINITION
Inspiring; admiration or reverence; feeling awe.
SCRIPTURE
"Let them praise your great and awesome name." Psalm 99:3.
"Come and see the works of God; He is awesome in His doings." Psalm 66:5.
"You shall not be terrified, for the Lord your God, the great and awesome God, is among you." Deuteronomy 7:21.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE
We have teenage grandchildren and a frequent word that we often hear in their conversation is "awesome." They talk about awesome times, awesome events, awesome friends, awesome ideas and the list goes on and on.
In church we sing songs that refer to an awesome God that we serve. The awesomeness of the God we serve and the awesomeness that our grandchildren refer to in their conversations are not even comparable.
Yes, we serve an awesome God! Each one of us should stop for a moment from our busy life and think about that statement. God is awesome. He is all powerful; He is all knowing; He owns the cattle on a thousand hills (as the old hymn says), He is our creator and He is our Father. The most awesome thing about God is His great love for us and that He loved us so much that He gave His only Son to die to pay the penalty for our sins. And when we accepted His Son and asked Him to forgive us for our sins, He did and then we began to experience how awesome He is. We are privileged to serve an awesome God.
We have traveled to many areas of our world and have viewed many sites that our grandkids would call awesome. Some of these sights are considered wonders of the world (like the Great Wall of China and the Pyramids in Egypt). Yes, they are awe inspiring and they leave a lasting impression on our minds.
We have experienced other sites in this world that have left even a greater and lasting impression on our hearts and minds. Two sites we visited were not awesome in a positive sense but they had an awesome affect on our lives. One was the dump in the Philippians where 100,000 people live on top of the garbage. The other was the shanty towns in Kenya East Africa where we witnessed the worst poverty and disease we had ever seen. To us this was overwhelming and heart breaking.
We have also seen sights in our travels that have had left a lasting emotional impression on our lives. To us at the time they were awesome. One example was the awesome emotional impression we experienced at a two day conference for the 75 churches in Kenya that was sponsored by the ministry we were part of at that time. These Kenyans came together for this conference to learn more about the Lord. Some walked for two to three days to be part of this opportunity. The singing by the choirs, the praying by the people and the preaching by the pastors all showed us the dedication each person attending had for their Lord. They showed a deep desire to know more about God and to us this was what we would call awesome.
But when we think of the word awesome none of these places or events even come close to what we know as the real definition of the word "awesome" --- that is our God! Let us never forget that we serve an awesome God and He is always there for us if we only ask for Him.
LEARNING
Our memory verse for this week is found in Romans 10:13.
Whoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
PRAYER
Truly You are an awesome God and I praise You for all that You have done for me. Thank you for Your love, Your direction, Your protection, Your leading and Your blessing to both me and my family. May I never forget how awesome You are and may I always be thankful for Your great love and awesome leading in my life.
Gentle: December 3, 2010
Today's Word for Friday December 3, 2010
GENTLE
DEFINITION
Mild in manner or disposition; tender; peaceful; tame; kind.
SCRIPTURE
"Rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very special in the sight of the Lord." 1 Peter3:4.
"See, your king comes to you gentle and riding on a donkey." Matthew 21:5.
"Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." Matthew 11:29.
"To speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men." Titus 3:2
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE
One of the characteristics of Jesus is that He is gentle. Matthew describes Jesus triumphal entry into Jerusalem as the coming of a gentle king. Kings are usually tyrants and arrogant and war-like. Jesus is the opposite. He is gentle, humble and peaceful. Jesus is depicted as a shepherd and a shepherd gently leads his sheep and carries the lambs that need help. He never forcefully drives his sheep.
The prophet Isaiah tells of the coming of the Lord and in Isaiah 40:11 says "He will feed His flock like a Shepherd; He will gather His lambs with His arm, And carry them in His bosom, and gently lead those who are young." And then Jesus says in Luke 18:16 to let the little children come to Him. The scriptures give us many illustrations on how Jesus was gentle to those He met and how we need to be gentle in all that we do. We need to be gentle to our spouses, to our children, to our family and to our friends. Gentleness requires showing consideration for others. Paul tells us in Philippians 4:5 to "Let your gentleness be evident to all."
Gentleness is a characteristic missing from the lifestyles of most people today. Very rarely do we see a person that we would call gentle. In our family, Dottie is very gentle and Ken is more aggressive. Dottie has always had a very caring attitude toward all kinds of people that always begins with gentleness. This is a trait that we all need to work on daily.
People today are not gentle by nature. In 11Timothy 2:24, the Apostle Paul exhorts us as Christians by saying: "And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach and be patient." The scripture also reminds us that we need wisdom as given to us from God that is pure, peaceable and gentle. James 3:17.
In Proverbs 15:1 it tells us that a gentle or kind answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. Our challenge to you today is to be gentle to all that you associate with, treat people with consideration and do all you do gently. We are sure that you will get a response from those who know you that will bless you.
LEARNING
Our memory verse for this week is found in Romans 10:13.
Whoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
PRAYER
Help me to be gentle in all that I say to people and in all that I do. May my life radiate to others the love of the Lord through my actions! Help me to be gentle and considerate to my family, to my friends and to my associates. Help me to remember that gentle words will turn away anger.
GENTLE
DEFINITION
Mild in manner or disposition; tender; peaceful; tame; kind.
SCRIPTURE
"Rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very special in the sight of the Lord." 1 Peter3:4.
"See, your king comes to you gentle and riding on a donkey." Matthew 21:5.
"Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." Matthew 11:29.
"To speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men." Titus 3:2
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE
One of the characteristics of Jesus is that He is gentle. Matthew describes Jesus triumphal entry into Jerusalem as the coming of a gentle king. Kings are usually tyrants and arrogant and war-like. Jesus is the opposite. He is gentle, humble and peaceful. Jesus is depicted as a shepherd and a shepherd gently leads his sheep and carries the lambs that need help. He never forcefully drives his sheep.
The prophet Isaiah tells of the coming of the Lord and in Isaiah 40:11 says "He will feed His flock like a Shepherd; He will gather His lambs with His arm, And carry them in His bosom, and gently lead those who are young." And then Jesus says in Luke 18:16 to let the little children come to Him. The scriptures give us many illustrations on how Jesus was gentle to those He met and how we need to be gentle in all that we do. We need to be gentle to our spouses, to our children, to our family and to our friends. Gentleness requires showing consideration for others. Paul tells us in Philippians 4:5 to "Let your gentleness be evident to all."
Gentleness is a characteristic missing from the lifestyles of most people today. Very rarely do we see a person that we would call gentle. In our family, Dottie is very gentle and Ken is more aggressive. Dottie has always had a very caring attitude toward all kinds of people that always begins with gentleness. This is a trait that we all need to work on daily.
People today are not gentle by nature. In 11Timothy 2:24, the Apostle Paul exhorts us as Christians by saying: "And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach and be patient." The scripture also reminds us that we need wisdom as given to us from God that is pure, peaceable and gentle. James 3:17.
In Proverbs 15:1 it tells us that a gentle or kind answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. Our challenge to you today is to be gentle to all that you associate with, treat people with consideration and do all you do gently. We are sure that you will get a response from those who know you that will bless you.
LEARNING
Our memory verse for this week is found in Romans 10:13.
Whoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
PRAYER
Help me to be gentle in all that I say to people and in all that I do. May my life radiate to others the love of the Lord through my actions! Help me to be gentle and considerate to my family, to my friends and to my associates. Help me to remember that gentle words will turn away anger.
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