MAY 20, 2011. TODAYS WORD FOR FRIDAY MAY 20, 2011
FAILURE
DEFINITION:
Falling short of success or achievement; non performance; deficit; weak.
SCRIPTURE:
Simon Peter said to the disciples, “I am going fishing.” They responded by saying that they were going with him. They went and got into the boat and that night they caught nothing. John 21:3.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
This fishing experience by Peter and the disciples was a total failure. In John 21:3-17 we read about this failure. When the disciples returned from their fishing experience they saw Jesus standing on the shore. (They did not know it was Jesus.)
Jesus asked them if they had any fish and they responded that they had none. So Jesus told them --- in their time of failure --- to cast their nets on the right side of their boat and you will find some fish. They followed the instruction of Jesus and there were so many fish that they were not able to draw in their nets for the weight. It was at that time that John recognized Jesus and said to the others, “It is the Lord.”
As soon as they came to land they saw a fire of coals and fish laid over it and bread. Jesus said to the disciples, “Come and eat breakfast.”
One of the things we felt important to teach our children was that there would be times of failure in their life as there is in the lives of everyone. No one likes to fail but there can be value in failure. Failure points out to us our mistakes. We sometimes learn more from our failures than from our successes. It isn’t so much about the failure itself but about how we handle the failure.
Our children had to learn that they might not get 100% on every test at school, they might not win every game in sports and in essence they would not be successful in everything they tried. We admonished them not to let fear of failure keep them from trying and encouraged them when they failed to work harder and try again. We let them know that we supported them in all their endeavors and whether they were successful or they failed we would love them and be there for them.
The disciples fishing venture was a complete failure. This was a low point in the lives of the disciples because although they knew Jesus was risen from the dead and alive, He was no longer with them on a daily basis. The disciples were unsure as to what the future held for them.
It was in the moment of failure that Jesus appeared to Peter and the disciples. He commanded them to try again and throw out there net. When they obeyed and did as Jesus said they had success. Their net was filled with so many fish they could not haul it into the boat. Jesus fed them and told them to go and “FEED MY SHEEP.”
We can learn from this lesson today how we should respond to failures in our lives. We fail normally because we endeavor to do what we are doing without involving the Lord. When we involve the Lord, every day in everything we do, He will lead us and bless us so that we will accomplish what He wants accomplished.
Jesus is willing to forgive our failures and call us back into our service with Him. We are not perfect and Jesus knows that. If only perfect people qualified to serve Him, He wouldn’t have anyone to choose from. Although we are imperfect and fail so often, the Lord can still use us when and if we are willing to be used. Are you willing and wanting to be used of God?
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in Ecclesiastics 12:1:
Remember now thy creator in the days of your youth, before the difficult days come, and the years draw near when you say, “I have no pleasure in them.”
PRAYER:
Thank You dear Lord that being imperfect doesn’t disqualify us from serving You. Give me and my family today the wisdom that only You can give and the willingness to serve You with total dependence on Your mercy.
June 6, 2011
Serve: May 19, 2011
May 19, 2011 TODAYS WORD FOR THURSDAY MAY 19, 2011
SERVE
DEFINITION:
Attend or wait upon; work for; be a substitute for.
SCRIPTURE:
You have done all this wickedness; yet do not turn aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart. 1 Samuel 12:20
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
How many times have you said to yourself or to others and even prayed to God saying that you wanted to serve God? And at the same time you knew that you needed the Lord in the activities you were doing. And then a few hours later you were off on your own and doing things your way and not serving God.
When the people of Israel insisted on having a king, despite the warnings of Samuel, the prophet reminded them that the Lord God was their King (1 Samuel 12:12). God allowed them to have their own way. But when they realized the evil thing they had done by their choice, they asked for Samuel’s help and prayers. (1 Samuel 12:19) Samuel gave the following response to the Children of Israel, “Do not fear. You have done all this wickedness; yet do not turn aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart” (1 Samuel 12:20, above). Even when we do the wrong thing God does not give up on us. He wants us to return to following Him and to serve Him.
What a wonderful example for us today. When we fail to serve God as we know we should, remember we cannot undo what we did yesterday or the day before but we can act today. Samuel in verse 24 urged the Children of Israel to, “Only fear the Lord, and serve Him in truth with all your hearts; for consider what great things He has done for you.”
When we fail to serve the Lord we need to humbly ask for His forgiveness and acknowledge His faithfulness to us. God wants us to serve Him today and we cannot let yesterdays failures bankrupt tomorrow’s victories.
We can remember the great anticipation we experienced right after we were married arriving in Seoul Korea for our new responsibilities with World Vision. We arrived with some fear but totally dedicated to serving Jesus with all of our hearts, minds and souls. Arriving in a war torn country, new customs, a new place to live, not speaking the language and having no friends or even acquaintances quickly reminded us that we could not do this on our own but to serve God we needed to totally rely on Him. If we are willing to serve the Lord with our whole heart, He will not reject us. He will give us the victory.
The certainty of the return of Christ is probably the greatest reason we need to serve the Lord daily. The anticipation we have of this great event should really overwhelm our hearts with excitement and give us a new desire daily to serve our Lord.
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in Ecclesiastics 12:1.
Remember now thy creator in the days of your youth, before the difficult days come, and the years draw near when you say, “I have no pleasure in them.”
PRAYER:
Thank You for the great anticipation You have given to us in expecting Your soon return to take us as believers to spend eternity in heaven with You. Help us to serve You every moment of today so that we can anticipate with certainty your soon coming.
SERVE
DEFINITION:
Attend or wait upon; work for; be a substitute for.
SCRIPTURE:
You have done all this wickedness; yet do not turn aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart. 1 Samuel 12:20
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
How many times have you said to yourself or to others and even prayed to God saying that you wanted to serve God? And at the same time you knew that you needed the Lord in the activities you were doing. And then a few hours later you were off on your own and doing things your way and not serving God.
When the people of Israel insisted on having a king, despite the warnings of Samuel, the prophet reminded them that the Lord God was their King (1 Samuel 12:12). God allowed them to have their own way. But when they realized the evil thing they had done by their choice, they asked for Samuel’s help and prayers. (1 Samuel 12:19) Samuel gave the following response to the Children of Israel, “Do not fear. You have done all this wickedness; yet do not turn aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart” (1 Samuel 12:20, above). Even when we do the wrong thing God does not give up on us. He wants us to return to following Him and to serve Him.
What a wonderful example for us today. When we fail to serve God as we know we should, remember we cannot undo what we did yesterday or the day before but we can act today. Samuel in verse 24 urged the Children of Israel to, “Only fear the Lord, and serve Him in truth with all your hearts; for consider what great things He has done for you.”
When we fail to serve the Lord we need to humbly ask for His forgiveness and acknowledge His faithfulness to us. God wants us to serve Him today and we cannot let yesterdays failures bankrupt tomorrow’s victories.
We can remember the great anticipation we experienced right after we were married arriving in Seoul Korea for our new responsibilities with World Vision. We arrived with some fear but totally dedicated to serving Jesus with all of our hearts, minds and souls. Arriving in a war torn country, new customs, a new place to live, not speaking the language and having no friends or even acquaintances quickly reminded us that we could not do this on our own but to serve God we needed to totally rely on Him. If we are willing to serve the Lord with our whole heart, He will not reject us. He will give us the victory.
The certainty of the return of Christ is probably the greatest reason we need to serve the Lord daily. The anticipation we have of this great event should really overwhelm our hearts with excitement and give us a new desire daily to serve our Lord.
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in Ecclesiastics 12:1.
Remember now thy creator in the days of your youth, before the difficult days come, and the years draw near when you say, “I have no pleasure in them.”
PRAYER:
Thank You for the great anticipation You have given to us in expecting Your soon return to take us as believers to spend eternity in heaven with You. Help us to serve You every moment of today so that we can anticipate with certainty your soon coming.
Possessions: May 17, 2011
MAY 17. TODAYS WORD FOR TUESDAY MAY 17, 2011
POSSESSIONS
DEFINITION:
Property or wealth; ownership; a thing owned.
SCRIPTURE:
“For they did not gain possession of the land by their own sword, nor did their own arm save them; but it was Your right hand, Your arm, and the light of Your countenance, because You favored them.” Psalm 44:3
“The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it, the world and all who live in it.” Psalm 24:1
“But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, and he had great possessions.” Mark 10:22
KNOWELEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
We must first realize in life that everything we have on this earth is because of God. He is the “owner” and all that we have is on loan to us. Possessions are “things” that God loans to us and He expects us to use these “things’ to honor Him.
In Psalm 44:3 (listed above), the Psalmist recognizes that the Children of Israel did not gain possession of the “Promised Land” by their own swords and arms or their own strength and might. They gained what God promised them because God favored them and intervened to give them the victory in their conquest of the “Promised Land.”
Most people we talk to do not understand this concept because they feel that their possessions are a result of their own abilities and hard work. Their possessions become a stumbling block in their relationship with the Lord. Possessions were in the way of the rich man that talked to Jesus, as recorded, in Mark 10:17-23. Jesus asked him to give his possessions to the poor so he could receive his treasure in heaven. He could not part with his possessions to gain the greatest possession of all.
This is a reminder to us today that all that we have, in the way of this world’s possessions, we have because God has enabled us. We are to acknowledge that what we have comes from God and then be thankful to Him and give Him the glory.
In our travels we have visited many places where Kings and Queens, from thousands of years ago, had “THEIR MOST VALUABLE POSSESSIONS” buried with them in their tombs. They did this so that they would be comfortable in their future lives. But today these possessions are still in their tombs, or museums nearby, for all to see. It is not in God’s plan for one to take their possessions to their eternity.
Many people work long hours today and spend money foolishly to acquire their goals so that they can realize the “possessions” that they have dreamed for. The result, in most cases, is that they do this at the expense of losing their spouses and family. How many people do you know that are captivated by their desire to have more and better possessions? Do you think they are really happy with what they have and will be happier with more?
Our greatest possession in life today should be our personal relationship with God through His Son Jesus. Our second greatest possession should be our spouses and family. God will bless those that grasp this concept and honor Him in this way.
We remember talking often to a mother who lived in one of the poorest areas in the heart of the inner city of Los Angeles. She had two children. One was mentally disabled and the other was in good health. She loved children and took six other children off the street and raised them in her very small home. Cathy had very few earthly possessions and had to make contact with our mission to receive food and other supplies weekly to feed these children. We were able to provide her needs and because of her dedication and love for these children they grew up loving their “mother” and most important loving their Lord. Cathy had her priorities right. She invested her time and energy to raising her “children” to love the Lord. She had very few earthly possessions because they were not important for her. She will receive her reward in heaven.
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in Ecclesiastics 12:1:
Remember now thy creator in the days of your youth, before the difficult days come, and the years draw near when you say, “I have no pleasure in them.”
PRAYER:
Thank You dear Lord for the many blessings and the possessions that You have entrusted me with. Help me to understand that each possession we have as a family has come to us because of Your love for us. Help me to reach out today with a loving heart and caring hands to those I meet.
POSSESSIONS
DEFINITION:
Property or wealth; ownership; a thing owned.
SCRIPTURE:
“For they did not gain possession of the land by their own sword, nor did their own arm save them; but it was Your right hand, Your arm, and the light of Your countenance, because You favored them.” Psalm 44:3
“The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it, the world and all who live in it.” Psalm 24:1
“But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, and he had great possessions.” Mark 10:22
KNOWELEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
We must first realize in life that everything we have on this earth is because of God. He is the “owner” and all that we have is on loan to us. Possessions are “things” that God loans to us and He expects us to use these “things’ to honor Him.
In Psalm 44:3 (listed above), the Psalmist recognizes that the Children of Israel did not gain possession of the “Promised Land” by their own swords and arms or their own strength and might. They gained what God promised them because God favored them and intervened to give them the victory in their conquest of the “Promised Land.”
Most people we talk to do not understand this concept because they feel that their possessions are a result of their own abilities and hard work. Their possessions become a stumbling block in their relationship with the Lord. Possessions were in the way of the rich man that talked to Jesus, as recorded, in Mark 10:17-23. Jesus asked him to give his possessions to the poor so he could receive his treasure in heaven. He could not part with his possessions to gain the greatest possession of all.
This is a reminder to us today that all that we have, in the way of this world’s possessions, we have because God has enabled us. We are to acknowledge that what we have comes from God and then be thankful to Him and give Him the glory.
In our travels we have visited many places where Kings and Queens, from thousands of years ago, had “THEIR MOST VALUABLE POSSESSIONS” buried with them in their tombs. They did this so that they would be comfortable in their future lives. But today these possessions are still in their tombs, or museums nearby, for all to see. It is not in God’s plan for one to take their possessions to their eternity.
Many people work long hours today and spend money foolishly to acquire their goals so that they can realize the “possessions” that they have dreamed for. The result, in most cases, is that they do this at the expense of losing their spouses and family. How many people do you know that are captivated by their desire to have more and better possessions? Do you think they are really happy with what they have and will be happier with more?
Our greatest possession in life today should be our personal relationship with God through His Son Jesus. Our second greatest possession should be our spouses and family. God will bless those that grasp this concept and honor Him in this way.
We remember talking often to a mother who lived in one of the poorest areas in the heart of the inner city of Los Angeles. She had two children. One was mentally disabled and the other was in good health. She loved children and took six other children off the street and raised them in her very small home. Cathy had very few earthly possessions and had to make contact with our mission to receive food and other supplies weekly to feed these children. We were able to provide her needs and because of her dedication and love for these children they grew up loving their “mother” and most important loving their Lord. Cathy had her priorities right. She invested her time and energy to raising her “children” to love the Lord. She had very few earthly possessions because they were not important for her. She will receive her reward in heaven.
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in Ecclesiastics 12:1:
Remember now thy creator in the days of your youth, before the difficult days come, and the years draw near when you say, “I have no pleasure in them.”
PRAYER:
Thank You dear Lord for the many blessings and the possessions that You have entrusted me with. Help me to understand that each possession we have as a family has come to us because of Your love for us. Help me to reach out today with a loving heart and caring hands to those I meet.
Testimony: May 18, 2011
MAY 18. TODAYS WORD FOR WEDNESDAY MAY 18, 2011
TESTIMONY
DEFINITION:
The statement or declaration of a witness under oath; evidence in support of a fact or statement; proof; open declaration or profession as of faith.
SCRIPTURE:
“This is the disciple who TESTIFIES of these things, and wrote these things, and we know his testimony is true.” John 21:24.
“And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the TESTIMONY of God. For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” I Corinthians 2:1-2.
“He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the TESTIMONY that God has given of His Son. And this is the TESTIMONY: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.” I John 5:10-11.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
The word TESTIMONY is probably best known in the secular world as statements made in a court session. In the Christian world a TESTIMONY usually refers to the words one gives in a group or to an individual concerning ones relationship with Jesus. This testimony usually contrasts ones life before accepting Jesus as ones Savior with the life one is living now.
We can remember as kids going to church and often hearing moving TESTIMONIES of life changing experiences. When we were working with Youth for Christ we had Saturday night youth rallies attended by thousands each week. The programs included music, skits, and contests and always ended with the TESTIMONY of some speaker, usually a known personality whose life had been completely changed because they had accepted Jesus as their Savior.
A testimony is of no value unless it is based on truth. That is why when a testimony is to be given in a court of law, the person testifying must swear to tell the truth and nothing but the truth. In John 21:24 the Apostle John is speaking of himself as the one who is testifying that Jesus was God. John’s TESTIMONY is true because his was an eye witness and his account was based on his personal relationship with Jesus. John walked with Him, talked with Him, and worked with Him daily while He was on this earth. John’s words verify that Jesus is the Christ and that He was the Son of God.
In the passage we noted above from I Corinthians chapter two, Paul is writing to the church at Corinth verifying the TESTIMONY that Jesus is Lord and Savior and available for them. Paul always looked for every opportunity to give his TESTIMONY that Jesus was his Lord and Savior. Paul was a learned scholar and could preach with eloquence. In this passage Paul says he preached a simple TESTIMONY of Jesus and wants us to understand it is not the eloquence of the words of a persons TESTIMONY that brings others to faith and a relationship with Jesus, but it is by God’s power. We should never fear to give our TESTIMONY because of its simplicity because God will use our TESTIMONY no matter how eloquent or simple.
And finally in I John 5:10-11, John tells us that whoever believes and receives the TESTIMONY that God has given us, will receive His promise of eternal life. These are just three examples from the scriptures that give us the assurance that the Bible is a true testimony that God is who He says He is and Jesus is His Son and the Savior of all who believe.
If you ever doubt personally or talk to one who doubts the certainty of your faith and your relationship with Jesus, just remember you have the TESTIMONY of Jesus Himself that He is God’s Son. You have the TESTIMONY of the disciples who walked, talked and lived with Jesus while He was on this earth. And you have the TESTIMONY of Gods Word, the Bible, and those that were led by the Holy Spirit to write down for us the TESTIMONIES of those that were affected by their relationships with Jesus.
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in Ecclesiastics 12:1.
Remember now thy creator in the days of your youth, before the difficult days come, and the years draw near when you say, “I have no pleasure in them.”
PRAYER:
I rejoice today in the certainty that I have of knowing You and the anticipation of spending eternity with You. Thank You for the TESTIMONIES that You have given us to confirm that You are my God and my Savior. May my life radiate daily my TESTIMONY of my love for You.
TESTIMONY
DEFINITION:
The statement or declaration of a witness under oath; evidence in support of a fact or statement; proof; open declaration or profession as of faith.
SCRIPTURE:
“This is the disciple who TESTIFIES of these things, and wrote these things, and we know his testimony is true.” John 21:24.
“And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the TESTIMONY of God. For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” I Corinthians 2:1-2.
“He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the TESTIMONY that God has given of His Son. And this is the TESTIMONY: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.” I John 5:10-11.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
The word TESTIMONY is probably best known in the secular world as statements made in a court session. In the Christian world a TESTIMONY usually refers to the words one gives in a group or to an individual concerning ones relationship with Jesus. This testimony usually contrasts ones life before accepting Jesus as ones Savior with the life one is living now.
We can remember as kids going to church and often hearing moving TESTIMONIES of life changing experiences. When we were working with Youth for Christ we had Saturday night youth rallies attended by thousands each week. The programs included music, skits, and contests and always ended with the TESTIMONY of some speaker, usually a known personality whose life had been completely changed because they had accepted Jesus as their Savior.
A testimony is of no value unless it is based on truth. That is why when a testimony is to be given in a court of law, the person testifying must swear to tell the truth and nothing but the truth. In John 21:24 the Apostle John is speaking of himself as the one who is testifying that Jesus was God. John’s TESTIMONY is true because his was an eye witness and his account was based on his personal relationship with Jesus. John walked with Him, talked with Him, and worked with Him daily while He was on this earth. John’s words verify that Jesus is the Christ and that He was the Son of God.
In the passage we noted above from I Corinthians chapter two, Paul is writing to the church at Corinth verifying the TESTIMONY that Jesus is Lord and Savior and available for them. Paul always looked for every opportunity to give his TESTIMONY that Jesus was his Lord and Savior. Paul was a learned scholar and could preach with eloquence. In this passage Paul says he preached a simple TESTIMONY of Jesus and wants us to understand it is not the eloquence of the words of a persons TESTIMONY that brings others to faith and a relationship with Jesus, but it is by God’s power. We should never fear to give our TESTIMONY because of its simplicity because God will use our TESTIMONY no matter how eloquent or simple.
And finally in I John 5:10-11, John tells us that whoever believes and receives the TESTIMONY that God has given us, will receive His promise of eternal life. These are just three examples from the scriptures that give us the assurance that the Bible is a true testimony that God is who He says He is and Jesus is His Son and the Savior of all who believe.
If you ever doubt personally or talk to one who doubts the certainty of your faith and your relationship with Jesus, just remember you have the TESTIMONY of Jesus Himself that He is God’s Son. You have the TESTIMONY of the disciples who walked, talked and lived with Jesus while He was on this earth. And you have the TESTIMONY of Gods Word, the Bible, and those that were led by the Holy Spirit to write down for us the TESTIMONIES of those that were affected by their relationships with Jesus.
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in Ecclesiastics 12:1.
Remember now thy creator in the days of your youth, before the difficult days come, and the years draw near when you say, “I have no pleasure in them.”
PRAYER:
I rejoice today in the certainty that I have of knowing You and the anticipation of spending eternity with You. Thank You for the TESTIMONIES that You have given us to confirm that You are my God and my Savior. May my life radiate daily my TESTIMONY of my love for You.
Definition: May 16, 2011
MAY 16, 2011. TODAYS WORD FOR MONDAY MAY 16, 2011.
WRATH
DEFINITION:
Strong, stern or fierce anger; rage; vengeance; deeply resentful; punishment; extreme displeasure.
SCRIPTURE:
Cease from anger, and forsake wrath. Psalm 37:8.
“He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” John 3:36.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
As we look at the word “wrath” today we read in Matthew 3:7 that John the Baptist used the word “wrath” when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to see him as he was preaching and baptizing. John the Baptist called them a “generation of vipers” and asked them “who warned them to flee from the wrath to come?”
What is the “wrath to come” that John the Baptist was talking about? It is the wrath of God against sin. The wrath of God is seldom talked about. People like their concept of God to be a God of love, kindness, and peace. The question is often asked by non-believers how a God that is holy can get angry and still be holy. It is God’s holiness that requires that He be a God of wrath. God cannot tolerate sin and be holy. God hates sin and therefore must condemn it and judge it. It is because God is a God of love that He provided a way of escape from the wrath of His judgment through His gift of salvation that He provided through the sacrifice of His Son on the cross for the sins of everyone. It is because He is a God of love and kindness that He is so patient with the ungodly and the wicked and gives them every opportunity to repent of their sins and accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior.
The words in John 3:36 gives us a little insight into what is the reality of God’s wrath. In this passage the writer, John tells us that all who do not believe on the Son of God will experience the wrath of God and not only not spend eternity with God but will spend eternity in hell.
The Bible also speaks to human wrath. Our wrath differs from God wrath. Our wrath tends to be vindictive. God’s wrath is untainted and tempered by mercy. We have heard many people say that life is not fair and indeed it is not. Any theory that insists that life is fair is really deceptive. We have mentioned several times in prior devotionals about David and the struggles that he had in his young life running from trouble before he became king. He would be the first to tell you that for him life was not fair. He had to live in caves and run from people who wanted to kill him. He had reason to be angry, yet he was able to advise us to cease from anger and forsake wrath (Psalm 37:8). He always survived despite his sins and trouble because of his faith in God.
David in Psalm 37 prays that he will not retaliate against those that have been unfair to him but that he will rest in the Lord and wait patiently for God to bring justice to the earth in due time. In Psalm 37: 9 it reads that those who wait upon the Lord will inherit the earth. David had to learn to patiently wait upon the Lord.
In Ephesians 6:4 we have another reminder of the word wrath as in the scriptures. The reminder is that as fathers and parents we are not to provoke our children to wrath. Very simply said, the lack of love, uncontrolled anger and constant harassment in the home will provoke children to wrath.
We must not then avenge ourselves because as the scripture says in Romans 12:19, 21, “For it is written, vengeance is mine, and I will repay --- do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
The key is what we feel in our heart. May we cease from anger in our lives, forsake wrath at all costs, and wait patiently on the Lord. Someone once said: Revenge restrained is a victory gained. This is easy to say but difficult to do but may we urge you today that when you get angry do not make retaliation an option for your response but turn the other cheek and smile. Then see what God will do for you.
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in Ecclesiastics 12:1.
Remember now thy creator in the days of your youth, before the difficult days come, and the years draw near when you say, “I have no pleasure in them.”
PRAYER:
Give me the courage and strength today, Lord to be an example to my family and friends by showing them a loving heart. Give me an opportunity to share with someone the importance of eliminating anger in our lives. May each person that I meet today realize that if they do not accept You as their Savior that they will receive the wrath of God and will spend an eternity in hell.
WRATH
DEFINITION:
Strong, stern or fierce anger; rage; vengeance; deeply resentful; punishment; extreme displeasure.
SCRIPTURE:
Cease from anger, and forsake wrath. Psalm 37:8.
“He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” John 3:36.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
As we look at the word “wrath” today we read in Matthew 3:7 that John the Baptist used the word “wrath” when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to see him as he was preaching and baptizing. John the Baptist called them a “generation of vipers” and asked them “who warned them to flee from the wrath to come?”
What is the “wrath to come” that John the Baptist was talking about? It is the wrath of God against sin. The wrath of God is seldom talked about. People like their concept of God to be a God of love, kindness, and peace. The question is often asked by non-believers how a God that is holy can get angry and still be holy. It is God’s holiness that requires that He be a God of wrath. God cannot tolerate sin and be holy. God hates sin and therefore must condemn it and judge it. It is because God is a God of love that He provided a way of escape from the wrath of His judgment through His gift of salvation that He provided through the sacrifice of His Son on the cross for the sins of everyone. It is because He is a God of love and kindness that He is so patient with the ungodly and the wicked and gives them every opportunity to repent of their sins and accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior.
The words in John 3:36 gives us a little insight into what is the reality of God’s wrath. In this passage the writer, John tells us that all who do not believe on the Son of God will experience the wrath of God and not only not spend eternity with God but will spend eternity in hell.
The Bible also speaks to human wrath. Our wrath differs from God wrath. Our wrath tends to be vindictive. God’s wrath is untainted and tempered by mercy. We have heard many people say that life is not fair and indeed it is not. Any theory that insists that life is fair is really deceptive. We have mentioned several times in prior devotionals about David and the struggles that he had in his young life running from trouble before he became king. He would be the first to tell you that for him life was not fair. He had to live in caves and run from people who wanted to kill him. He had reason to be angry, yet he was able to advise us to cease from anger and forsake wrath (Psalm 37:8). He always survived despite his sins and trouble because of his faith in God.
David in Psalm 37 prays that he will not retaliate against those that have been unfair to him but that he will rest in the Lord and wait patiently for God to bring justice to the earth in due time. In Psalm 37: 9 it reads that those who wait upon the Lord will inherit the earth. David had to learn to patiently wait upon the Lord.
In Ephesians 6:4 we have another reminder of the word wrath as in the scriptures. The reminder is that as fathers and parents we are not to provoke our children to wrath. Very simply said, the lack of love, uncontrolled anger and constant harassment in the home will provoke children to wrath.
We must not then avenge ourselves because as the scripture says in Romans 12:19, 21, “For it is written, vengeance is mine, and I will repay --- do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
The key is what we feel in our heart. May we cease from anger in our lives, forsake wrath at all costs, and wait patiently on the Lord. Someone once said: Revenge restrained is a victory gained. This is easy to say but difficult to do but may we urge you today that when you get angry do not make retaliation an option for your response but turn the other cheek and smile. Then see what God will do for you.
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in Ecclesiastics 12:1.
Remember now thy creator in the days of your youth, before the difficult days come, and the years draw near when you say, “I have no pleasure in them.”
PRAYER:
Give me the courage and strength today, Lord to be an example to my family and friends by showing them a loving heart. Give me an opportunity to share with someone the importance of eliminating anger in our lives. May each person that I meet today realize that if they do not accept You as their Savior that they will receive the wrath of God and will spend an eternity in hell.
June 5, 2011
Fruitful: June 3, 2011
JUNE 3 2011. TODAYS WORD FOR FRIDAY JUNE 3, 2011
FRUITFUL
DEFINITION:
Producing good results; beneficial, profitable, abounding in fruit; producing abundant growth.
SCRIPTURE:
“And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them. But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundred fold, some sixty, some thirty.” Matthew 13: 7-8.
“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” John 15:5
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
We want to look at the word fruitful today as it refers to being spiritual fruitful. In the verse above (John 15:5), Jesus says He is the vine and we are the branches and if we abide in Him we will bear much fruit. When we read these words we think of bearing fruit producing spiritual results as relating to bringing others to know Christ. As believers that is what we are called to do.
The key words in this verse are “abide in Him.” Abiding in Him gives evidence to our salvation and results in us bearing fruit. This fruit is not just soul winning but abiding or remaining in Christ produces spiritual fruit that includes spiritual attitudes.
The apostle Paul tells us that “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, patience, kindness, goodness, fruitfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22). Abiding in Christ also produces the fruit of righteousness when not only our attitudes change but also our actions.
In Hebrews 12:11 we read, “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
When we think of being fruitful we think of a farmer. For a farmer to be successful he must have successful crops. To accomplish this he must have the right soil, rain, sunshine, seasons, cultivation, and then the blessing of God. Even a farmer today who is not a believer in Jesus will tell you that he needs the blessings of God on his crops if they are to be successful. He may refer to “Mother Nature” because he does not know God, but what he is really saying is that he needs God to bless his crop to have success.
When one becomes a believer in Jesus he or she must first have a deep desire to abide in Christ and to live a life that honors Him so that one’s life can be fruitful. Our desire should be “to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.” (Colossians 1:10)
As do the farmers, a believer must have the right soil; a personal relationship with Jesus. They must have the rain and sunshine; this is the daily communication with God through prayer and reading God’s Word. Then there must be the sowing and the cultivation; the going out among the world and walking in your faith and talking about your faith in Christ. Finally, you need the blessing of God. It is God’s blessing that brings a bountiful fruitful harvest.
This is a rough example but it works. Do you want to be fruitful? Are you committed to serve God with all your heart, soul and mind? Have you experienced fruit in your Christian life? Read John 15:5 and you will see what the Lord says you need to do to bear fruit. Bearing fruit is not an option given to the believer. Our Lord expects us to bear fruit and He is standing near to make us fruitful.
LEARNING: Our memory verse for this week is found in Matthew 5:9.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God.
PRAYER:
Help me and my family today to abide in You. It is our prayer that as we endeavor to abide in You that You will abide in us so that we can be fruitful in furthering Your kingdom. Bless us this day and guide us (our family) in every step we take and every word we speak.
FRUITFUL
DEFINITION:
Producing good results; beneficial, profitable, abounding in fruit; producing abundant growth.
SCRIPTURE:
“And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them. But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundred fold, some sixty, some thirty.” Matthew 13: 7-8.
“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” John 15:5
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
We want to look at the word fruitful today as it refers to being spiritual fruitful. In the verse above (John 15:5), Jesus says He is the vine and we are the branches and if we abide in Him we will bear much fruit. When we read these words we think of bearing fruit producing spiritual results as relating to bringing others to know Christ. As believers that is what we are called to do.
The key words in this verse are “abide in Him.” Abiding in Him gives evidence to our salvation and results in us bearing fruit. This fruit is not just soul winning but abiding or remaining in Christ produces spiritual fruit that includes spiritual attitudes.
The apostle Paul tells us that “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, patience, kindness, goodness, fruitfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22). Abiding in Christ also produces the fruit of righteousness when not only our attitudes change but also our actions.
In Hebrews 12:11 we read, “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
When we think of being fruitful we think of a farmer. For a farmer to be successful he must have successful crops. To accomplish this he must have the right soil, rain, sunshine, seasons, cultivation, and then the blessing of God. Even a farmer today who is not a believer in Jesus will tell you that he needs the blessings of God on his crops if they are to be successful. He may refer to “Mother Nature” because he does not know God, but what he is really saying is that he needs God to bless his crop to have success.
When one becomes a believer in Jesus he or she must first have a deep desire to abide in Christ and to live a life that honors Him so that one’s life can be fruitful. Our desire should be “to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.” (Colossians 1:10)
As do the farmers, a believer must have the right soil; a personal relationship with Jesus. They must have the rain and sunshine; this is the daily communication with God through prayer and reading God’s Word. Then there must be the sowing and the cultivation; the going out among the world and walking in your faith and talking about your faith in Christ. Finally, you need the blessing of God. It is God’s blessing that brings a bountiful fruitful harvest.
This is a rough example but it works. Do you want to be fruitful? Are you committed to serve God with all your heart, soul and mind? Have you experienced fruit in your Christian life? Read John 15:5 and you will see what the Lord says you need to do to bear fruit. Bearing fruit is not an option given to the believer. Our Lord expects us to bear fruit and He is standing near to make us fruitful.
LEARNING: Our memory verse for this week is found in Matthew 5:9.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God.
PRAYER:
Help me and my family today to abide in You. It is our prayer that as we endeavor to abide in You that You will abide in us so that we can be fruitful in furthering Your kingdom. Bless us this day and guide us (our family) in every step we take and every word we speak.
Foolishness: June 2, 2011
JUNE 2 2011. TODAYS WORD FOR THURSDAY JUNE 2, 2011.
FOOLISHNESS
DEFINITION:
Lacking in good sense, judgment or discretion; lacking in meaning or purpose; those who misuse wisdom.
SCRIPTURE:
But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. I Corinthians 2:14.
Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; the rod of correction will drive it far from him. Proverbs 22:15.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
Several times in our lifetime we have made decisions that we looked back on and said to one another, “That was a foolish decision.” We then tried to ask ourselves what were the reasons that made us make that decision. Did we see any so called “red flags” --- things that should have been an alert to us to reverse that decision? We also asked ourselves did we learn from it so that we would not repeat a similar decision. If we evaluate foolish decisions properly after they have been made, we learned that the evaluation process became a great learning experience for us.
Foolishness is a word that Paul used several times in the scripture. In the verse above from I Corinthians, Paul reminds us that the “natural man,” one that does not believe in Jesus as Lord, feels that the things of the spirit of God are foolishness to him. The natural man lacks understanding and cannot understand spiritual truths. Only the believer can understand the things of the spirit.
Understanding God’s message to us and to the world, as given in His Word, has nothing to do with one’s intelligence. The message that God sent His Son into the world to die on the cross as a condemned criminal in order to save a world of sinners who rejected and denied Him cannot be comprehended by the human mind, no matter how intelligent a person might be. The spiritual eyes of the unbeliever are blinded and they cannot see the truth.
In I Corinthians 1:18-19 Paul said, “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are saved (and have accepted Jesus as Savior) it is the power of God. For it is written: I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.”
In Proverbs 22:15 (above), the writer reminds us that foolishness is in the heart of a child but correction will drive that foolishness from the child. The word foolishness in Hebrew means silliness, perverseness and careless of body. We want to make it clear that this does not refer to ones sin nature but is the by-product of the fall of man. The rod of correction cannot change the sin nature, but it can subdue foolishness because it brings wisdom. Without correction children will continue to do foolish things because wisdom must be taught and that will drive foolishness from a person (a child.)
Foolishness is a form of sin according to Proverbs 24:9 and according to Mark 7: 21-23 it originates in the heart. Ecclesiastics 7:25 tells us that foolishness is a sign of wickedness. The consequence of foolishness according to the scripture brings sorrow to people and keeps us from knowing God and increases our spiritual blindness.
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in Matthew 5:9.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God.
PRAYER:
Thank You for opening my spiritual eyes so that I can see that the gospel message of salvation is not foolishness. Help my family today to live a life style that others will see Christ through our actions and words. May foolishness not be seen in our lives. Help us to honor Your name and may we be challenged each moment to serve You to our very best.
FOOLISHNESS
DEFINITION:
Lacking in good sense, judgment or discretion; lacking in meaning or purpose; those who misuse wisdom.
SCRIPTURE:
But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. I Corinthians 2:14.
Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; the rod of correction will drive it far from him. Proverbs 22:15.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
Several times in our lifetime we have made decisions that we looked back on and said to one another, “That was a foolish decision.” We then tried to ask ourselves what were the reasons that made us make that decision. Did we see any so called “red flags” --- things that should have been an alert to us to reverse that decision? We also asked ourselves did we learn from it so that we would not repeat a similar decision. If we evaluate foolish decisions properly after they have been made, we learned that the evaluation process became a great learning experience for us.
Foolishness is a word that Paul used several times in the scripture. In the verse above from I Corinthians, Paul reminds us that the “natural man,” one that does not believe in Jesus as Lord, feels that the things of the spirit of God are foolishness to him. The natural man lacks understanding and cannot understand spiritual truths. Only the believer can understand the things of the spirit.
Understanding God’s message to us and to the world, as given in His Word, has nothing to do with one’s intelligence. The message that God sent His Son into the world to die on the cross as a condemned criminal in order to save a world of sinners who rejected and denied Him cannot be comprehended by the human mind, no matter how intelligent a person might be. The spiritual eyes of the unbeliever are blinded and they cannot see the truth.
In I Corinthians 1:18-19 Paul said, “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are saved (and have accepted Jesus as Savior) it is the power of God. For it is written: I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.”
In Proverbs 22:15 (above), the writer reminds us that foolishness is in the heart of a child but correction will drive that foolishness from the child. The word foolishness in Hebrew means silliness, perverseness and careless of body. We want to make it clear that this does not refer to ones sin nature but is the by-product of the fall of man. The rod of correction cannot change the sin nature, but it can subdue foolishness because it brings wisdom. Without correction children will continue to do foolish things because wisdom must be taught and that will drive foolishness from a person (a child.)
Foolishness is a form of sin according to Proverbs 24:9 and according to Mark 7: 21-23 it originates in the heart. Ecclesiastics 7:25 tells us that foolishness is a sign of wickedness. The consequence of foolishness according to the scripture brings sorrow to people and keeps us from knowing God and increases our spiritual blindness.
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in Matthew 5:9.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God.
PRAYER:
Thank You for opening my spiritual eyes so that I can see that the gospel message of salvation is not foolishness. Help my family today to live a life style that others will see Christ through our actions and words. May foolishness not be seen in our lives. Help us to honor Your name and may we be challenged each moment to serve You to our very best.
Sympathy: June 1, 2011
JUNE 1, 2011. TODAYS WORD FOR WEDNESDAY JUNE 1, 2011.
SYMPATHY
DEFINITION:
The practice or capacity to share in the feelings of another person especially in times of sorrow or trouble.
SCRIPTURE:
All of you, live in harmony with one another, be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. I Peter 3:8
Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2
I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Acts 20:35
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
Many people have trouble showing any kind of sympathy to others in their time of need. One of the reasons for this, we believe, is because of the selfish “me only” thinking generation that we live in. When someone constantly thinks of self only they really do not care about the feelings or situations of others and they have no communication with God so there is no spiritual understanding of caring for others.
Do you have a sympathetic heart? How do you react when you see a hungry child, a lonely woman, a sick baby or a homeless family? Most people today, when they see these things, they walk right past them showing no concern or interest.
Being in the ministry we constantly run into situations where sympathy is needed for someone in a hurting situation. In today’s environment people are losing jobs, losing their homes, facing economic concerns, need food, live in a dysfunctional family situation and broken marriages. And then there are those who are injured, dealing with a dreadful disease or suffering physical pain.
It is also important to mention that there are many people today that are lonely. They have no one to talk to, no one to help them in a time of need, and no one to share their concerns with. These people are looking for sympathy and they have difficulty finding anyone that even cares.
In I Peter 3:8 (above), Peter gives us five qualities that should be evident in the life of every believer. These qualities are first, to live in harmony, second, to be sympathetic, thirdly, to love each other as brothers, fourthly, to be compassionate and fifth to be humble. As believers we are to be sympathetic and compassionate which means when we see someone in need we must reach out to them in loving concern and doing what we can to help and comfort them.
The scripture tells us that if we are sympathetic as believers we need to be willing to bear the burdens of others (Read the verse above from Galatians). Burdens are problems and issues that someone must bear. They can be physical or spiritual. The law of Christ is covered in the teachings of Christ and Jesus desires us to follow Him by showing love and sympathy to those who are burdened down by heartache and trouble.
We also need to be willing to help the weak (Acts 20:35 above). Paul says that he showed us these things so that we would not be selfish but to be an example, especially a spiritual example to those who are weak. As believers we are to express sympathy to those in sorrow and offering to help those around us who are in need.
Read again the last part of Acts 20:35 (above) that says that Jesus tells us that” IT IS MORE BLESSED TO GIVE THAN TO RECEIVE.” All of us today need to learn to be sympathetic to the needs of those people that we meet every day. Our Lord expects this from us. When we give, the blessing will be ours.
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in Matthew 5:9.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God.
PRAYER:
Help me to be sensitive to the needs of others so that I may know when someone needs sympathy. Give me a helping attitude and as the scripture says, may I learn that it is more blessed to give than to receive
SYMPATHY
DEFINITION:
The practice or capacity to share in the feelings of another person especially in times of sorrow or trouble.
SCRIPTURE:
All of you, live in harmony with one another, be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. I Peter 3:8
Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2
I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Acts 20:35
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
Many people have trouble showing any kind of sympathy to others in their time of need. One of the reasons for this, we believe, is because of the selfish “me only” thinking generation that we live in. When someone constantly thinks of self only they really do not care about the feelings or situations of others and they have no communication with God so there is no spiritual understanding of caring for others.
Do you have a sympathetic heart? How do you react when you see a hungry child, a lonely woman, a sick baby or a homeless family? Most people today, when they see these things, they walk right past them showing no concern or interest.
Being in the ministry we constantly run into situations where sympathy is needed for someone in a hurting situation. In today’s environment people are losing jobs, losing their homes, facing economic concerns, need food, live in a dysfunctional family situation and broken marriages. And then there are those who are injured, dealing with a dreadful disease or suffering physical pain.
It is also important to mention that there are many people today that are lonely. They have no one to talk to, no one to help them in a time of need, and no one to share their concerns with. These people are looking for sympathy and they have difficulty finding anyone that even cares.
In I Peter 3:8 (above), Peter gives us five qualities that should be evident in the life of every believer. These qualities are first, to live in harmony, second, to be sympathetic, thirdly, to love each other as brothers, fourthly, to be compassionate and fifth to be humble. As believers we are to be sympathetic and compassionate which means when we see someone in need we must reach out to them in loving concern and doing what we can to help and comfort them.
The scripture tells us that if we are sympathetic as believers we need to be willing to bear the burdens of others (Read the verse above from Galatians). Burdens are problems and issues that someone must bear. They can be physical or spiritual. The law of Christ is covered in the teachings of Christ and Jesus desires us to follow Him by showing love and sympathy to those who are burdened down by heartache and trouble.
We also need to be willing to help the weak (Acts 20:35 above). Paul says that he showed us these things so that we would not be selfish but to be an example, especially a spiritual example to those who are weak. As believers we are to express sympathy to those in sorrow and offering to help those around us who are in need.
Read again the last part of Acts 20:35 (above) that says that Jesus tells us that” IT IS MORE BLESSED TO GIVE THAN TO RECEIVE.” All of us today need to learn to be sympathetic to the needs of those people that we meet every day. Our Lord expects this from us. When we give, the blessing will be ours.
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in Matthew 5:9.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God.
PRAYER:
Help me to be sensitive to the needs of others so that I may know when someone needs sympathy. Give me a helping attitude and as the scripture says, may I learn that it is more blessed to give than to receive
Providence: May 31, 2011
MAY 31 2011. TODAYS WORD FOR TUESDAY MAY 31, 2011
PROVIDENCE
DEFINITION:
God conceived as the power sustaining and guiding human destiny; the guidance or care of men or things.
SCRIPTURE:
The Lord is righteous in all His ways, gracious in all His works. Psalm 145:17.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
Just think how difficult it would be, if you are a believer in Jesus, to face the situations you face daily in your life without the assurance that God is not only looking out for you but that all things are under His control.
With all the uncertainties in our world today we as believers can be certain of one thing which is that we have divine guidance watching over us every moment of every day. Providence is God in control. When people can’t find a reason to explain why something happened they often say, “It was just one of those things.” Others say, “It was just meant to be.” Those of us, who believe in the Lord, our God, know that what happens in this world is by Providence. Providence is the sustaining power of God at work in our world and His ever present hand guiding our destiny.
The scripture clearly tells us that if we cast all of our cares upon Him --- our Lord --- He will take care of us. Divine guidance in a clear term means God taking care of those who are known as His believers.
In Psalm 103:19 we are told by the Psalmist that the providence of God is universal. “The Lord has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all.” The Lord’s rule is righteous (Psalm 9:4) and He rules forever (Psalm 9:7).
In Daniel 4:35 we read that it is impossible to fight against the providence of God. Nebuchadnezzar is quoted praising God by saying, “No one can restrain His (God’s) hand or say to Him, ‘What have you done?’”
God’s providence is manifested in how He preserves the world. In Nehemiah 9:6 it reads that You alone are the Lord; You have made heaven and earth and everything on it --- and You preserve them all.
We need the providence of God (His care) upon our lives in so many areas. We need His divine guidance and protection when we travel by car, train, bus, bicycle or airplane. We need the providence of God on our lives when we are at church, at school, at meetings, at events and even in a crowd in a store. There is no place that God’s providence cannot reach us.
We cannot forget so many people living in our world that are suffering daily with a sickness, a disease, civil unrest and personal attacks because of their faith in the Lord. God is aware of each one. In all these things God will guide and sustain us as believers when we put all of our trust in Him.
In Proverbs 3:6 we are reminded to, “In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths”. If we acknowledge God as Lord of our life God’s hand will be on us in all that we do and will always be there to guide us and to care for us.
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in Matthew 5:9.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God.
PRAYER:
Thank You Lord that You are always with me and leading and guiding me through every moment of my day. Help me to put my complete trust in You so that I may receive all that You have for me. Bless my family and may they put their trust in You as well.
PROVIDENCE
DEFINITION:
God conceived as the power sustaining and guiding human destiny; the guidance or care of men or things.
SCRIPTURE:
The Lord is righteous in all His ways, gracious in all His works. Psalm 145:17.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
Just think how difficult it would be, if you are a believer in Jesus, to face the situations you face daily in your life without the assurance that God is not only looking out for you but that all things are under His control.
With all the uncertainties in our world today we as believers can be certain of one thing which is that we have divine guidance watching over us every moment of every day. Providence is God in control. When people can’t find a reason to explain why something happened they often say, “It was just one of those things.” Others say, “It was just meant to be.” Those of us, who believe in the Lord, our God, know that what happens in this world is by Providence. Providence is the sustaining power of God at work in our world and His ever present hand guiding our destiny.
The scripture clearly tells us that if we cast all of our cares upon Him --- our Lord --- He will take care of us. Divine guidance in a clear term means God taking care of those who are known as His believers.
In Psalm 103:19 we are told by the Psalmist that the providence of God is universal. “The Lord has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all.” The Lord’s rule is righteous (Psalm 9:4) and He rules forever (Psalm 9:7).
In Daniel 4:35 we read that it is impossible to fight against the providence of God. Nebuchadnezzar is quoted praising God by saying, “No one can restrain His (God’s) hand or say to Him, ‘What have you done?’”
God’s providence is manifested in how He preserves the world. In Nehemiah 9:6 it reads that You alone are the Lord; You have made heaven and earth and everything on it --- and You preserve them all.
We need the providence of God (His care) upon our lives in so many areas. We need His divine guidance and protection when we travel by car, train, bus, bicycle or airplane. We need the providence of God on our lives when we are at church, at school, at meetings, at events and even in a crowd in a store. There is no place that God’s providence cannot reach us.
We cannot forget so many people living in our world that are suffering daily with a sickness, a disease, civil unrest and personal attacks because of their faith in the Lord. God is aware of each one. In all these things God will guide and sustain us as believers when we put all of our trust in Him.
In Proverbs 3:6 we are reminded to, “In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths”. If we acknowledge God as Lord of our life God’s hand will be on us in all that we do and will always be there to guide us and to care for us.
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in Matthew 5:9.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God.
PRAYER:
Thank You Lord that You are always with me and leading and guiding me through every moment of my day. Help me to put my complete trust in You so that I may receive all that You have for me. Bless my family and may they put their trust in You as well.
Fellowship: May 30, 2011
May 30 2011. TODAYS WORD FOR MONDAY MAY 30, 2011
FELLOWSHIP
DEFINITION:
Sharing together; companionship; a community of interests.
SCRIPTURE:
God, who has called you into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ, is faithful. I Corinthians 1:9
Finally, all of you be in one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, and be courteous. I Peter 3:8.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
God’s purpose in creating Adam was so He could have fellowship with him. God saw that it was not good for Adam to be alone (Genesis 2:18) so He created Eve to be his helpmate so that they would have each other to fellowship with as well as have fellowship with God. When Adam and Eve disobeyed God their sin separated them from fellowship with God.
In our world today there are too many individuals whom we call “loners.” “Loners” live only for self and never develop many friends. We need fellowship with others today to keep our lives in balance. There are just too many “pressures” we face in today’s world to live without friends, communication and fellowship. Fellowship is the sharing together of our time, our talents and our treasures with others. It also includes the sharing together of our thoughts, our concerns and our victories.
We need fellowship with our family. This includes daily communication with our spouses, our children and our parents. For many today communication (fellowship) is difficult to schedule in our homes. We use the word schedule but fellowship should come naturally, whenever we are together, as part of a healthy and functional family.
As believers the scripture tells us that we should fellowship with other believers. This is why we need churches, Sunday schools, Bible classes and small group studies. These all provide places and programs to not only grow in our faith but to stimulate fellowship with other believers.
Christian fellowship combines social and spiritual interaction. Fellowship among Christians is unique because it is made possible only through a true relationship with Jesus Christ. Believers by their faith in Jesus have a common bond. We are all His children.
But most important we need to have daily fellowship with God. As Paul tells us in I Corinthians 1:9, God has called us into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Sin broke the fellowship Adam and Eve had with God. Our sins keep us from fellowship with God. To have fellowship with God takes a commitment that includes reading His Word daily and communicating to Him through prayer daily.
God’s Word makes us aware of our sins so we can repent and confess our sin to the Lord in prayer. The 133rd Psalm is only three verses long but David wrote clearly in this Psalm for us that fellowship should be our purpose in life. He says how good and pleasant it is for believers to dwell together in unity.
Peter writes in I Peter (above) that as believers we are to be all of one mind. This involves an agreement in doctrine --- what we believe --- but also in our practical aims in life. This is the opposite of the way the world thinks. We are not to render evil for evil but have compassion for one another, love one another and be courteous.
In Galatians 2:9 we read the account of when James and John, who were pillars in the church of Galatia, heard that Paul and Barnabas were leaving to minister to the Gentiles (known as the heathen) they gave them the right hand of fellowship. In other words they gave them their blessing and assurance of their prayers and support. As believers we need to extend our hand of fellowship to those who are ministering for the Lord by praying for them and giving them support.
Fellowship is important for families and believers today. Make sure you also are having fellowship daily with your Lord and Savior. That is the source for our strength to live a Christ honoring life.
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in Matthew 5:9.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God.
PRAYER:
Make my fellowship with You today special so that I may show to the world I live in the good news of my faith. Help each one in my family to have fellowship with each other, other believers and, most importantly, with You.
FELLOWSHIP
DEFINITION:
Sharing together; companionship; a community of interests.
SCRIPTURE:
God, who has called you into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ, is faithful. I Corinthians 1:9
Finally, all of you be in one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, and be courteous. I Peter 3:8.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
God’s purpose in creating Adam was so He could have fellowship with him. God saw that it was not good for Adam to be alone (Genesis 2:18) so He created Eve to be his helpmate so that they would have each other to fellowship with as well as have fellowship with God. When Adam and Eve disobeyed God their sin separated them from fellowship with God.
In our world today there are too many individuals whom we call “loners.” “Loners” live only for self and never develop many friends. We need fellowship with others today to keep our lives in balance. There are just too many “pressures” we face in today’s world to live without friends, communication and fellowship. Fellowship is the sharing together of our time, our talents and our treasures with others. It also includes the sharing together of our thoughts, our concerns and our victories.
We need fellowship with our family. This includes daily communication with our spouses, our children and our parents. For many today communication (fellowship) is difficult to schedule in our homes. We use the word schedule but fellowship should come naturally, whenever we are together, as part of a healthy and functional family.
As believers the scripture tells us that we should fellowship with other believers. This is why we need churches, Sunday schools, Bible classes and small group studies. These all provide places and programs to not only grow in our faith but to stimulate fellowship with other believers.
Christian fellowship combines social and spiritual interaction. Fellowship among Christians is unique because it is made possible only through a true relationship with Jesus Christ. Believers by their faith in Jesus have a common bond. We are all His children.
But most important we need to have daily fellowship with God. As Paul tells us in I Corinthians 1:9, God has called us into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Sin broke the fellowship Adam and Eve had with God. Our sins keep us from fellowship with God. To have fellowship with God takes a commitment that includes reading His Word daily and communicating to Him through prayer daily.
God’s Word makes us aware of our sins so we can repent and confess our sin to the Lord in prayer. The 133rd Psalm is only three verses long but David wrote clearly in this Psalm for us that fellowship should be our purpose in life. He says how good and pleasant it is for believers to dwell together in unity.
Peter writes in I Peter (above) that as believers we are to be all of one mind. This involves an agreement in doctrine --- what we believe --- but also in our practical aims in life. This is the opposite of the way the world thinks. We are not to render evil for evil but have compassion for one another, love one another and be courteous.
In Galatians 2:9 we read the account of when James and John, who were pillars in the church of Galatia, heard that Paul and Barnabas were leaving to minister to the Gentiles (known as the heathen) they gave them the right hand of fellowship. In other words they gave them their blessing and assurance of their prayers and support. As believers we need to extend our hand of fellowship to those who are ministering for the Lord by praying for them and giving them support.
Fellowship is important for families and believers today. Make sure you also are having fellowship daily with your Lord and Savior. That is the source for our strength to live a Christ honoring life.
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in Matthew 5:9.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God.
PRAYER:
Make my fellowship with You today special so that I may show to the world I live in the good news of my faith. Help each one in my family to have fellowship with each other, other believers and, most importantly, with You.
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