TODAYS WORD FOR FRIDAY OCTOBER 10, 2014.
POVERTY
DEFINITION:
Lack of money; great need; impoverished.
SCRIPTURE:
He who oppresses the poor reproaches his maker, but he who honors Him has mercy on the needy. Proverbs 14:31.
One who is gracious to a poor man lends to the Lord, and He will repay him for his good deed. Proverbs 19:17.
He, who shuts his ear to the cry of the poor, will also cry himself and not be heard. Proverbs 21:13.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
Do you understand that it offends God, our creator when we neglect the poor? This is because they are part of His creation and He cares for them. All of our married lives we have had the privilege of working to help the poor. It began for us in South Korea after the Korean War where we set up over 140 orphanages for World Vision.
These orphanages were needed to house and care for the poorest of the poor children in Korea. They were the victims of the war and we knew that God loved them and needed us to make sure they had places to live so He could care for them.
Since then we have reached out to help the poorest of children in over 1000 countries of the world.
Statistics help us to share with you the problem we face in our world today. We are told that last year over 16 million people, mostly children died in our world from hunger. Also last year over 10 million children died before they could celebrate their fifth birthday.
These are all numbers, but they are much more than numbers. Each number represents one person, mostly children that God loves. This is why there are so many verses in His Word that make it very clear to us that we need to reach out and help the poor.
Take a moment now and carefully read the three verses from Proverbs that we have written above. Does the question now come to your mind, “What can I do about this? Most people will react by saying to themselves something like, “I am too busy.” “I do not have any time.” “I do not have the money to help now.” Some say the need is so great how can anyone meet the needs of so many but God says we must help.
We can show mercy by volunteering at a church feeding center or a soup kitchen. Maybe you can find a job for a father who has lost his job. How about taking a meal to a family that you know is hurting. Ask a few friends and someone will lead you to a family who needs a helping hand.
Accepting this responsibility honors God because he is concerned for each and every person in this world.
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in Philippians 4:13.
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
PRAYER:
Lead me today to at least one person that we consider to be poor. Give me the one gift that I need to help this poor person. Help me to also share my love for You to these who are poor both physically and spiritually.
October 12, 2014
Adversity: October 9, 2014
TODAYS WORD FOR THURSDAY OCTOBER 9, 2014.
ADVERSITY
DEFINITION:
Misfortune; trouble; calamity; a difficult circumstance.
SCRIPTURE:
O Lord, how many are my foes! Many are saying to me, God will not deliver him. But You are a shield around me, O Lord; You bestow glory on me and lift up my head. Psalm 3:1-3.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
Adversity is a fact of life. All of us at some time or another either have or will face difficulties or misfortune in our lives. In fact we will no doubt face it often. We often cause our own troubles but it is also true that many suffer adversity through no fault of their own. We have all read the story of Joseph in the Old Testament. He certainly knew what it was like to suffer adversity at the hands of others.
Joseph’s family moved to the land of Canaan when he was 6 years old. Joseph had 10 older brothers and he and his brothers tended their father’s flocks. Joseph’s father, Jacob, had made it obvious that Joseph was his favorite son. The brothers were jealous because of this and they hated Joseph.
It was 11 years later when he was 17 that he came home from being with his brothers and shared with his father a bad report on his brothers. This just added fuel to the smoldering fire of animosity toward Joseph within his brothers.
Joseph, in his immaturity, was not sensitive to his brother’s feelings. Joseph was boastful and his brothers could not interact with him without conflict and hostility. The brothers totally rejected Joseph and conspired against him and they sold him into slavery. He was not only cut off from his family and his financial security, but he was taken to a strange land with a different language and strange customs. This was truly adversity for Joseph because he had lost control of his own destiny and was at the mercy of others.
Joseph had lost everything but he did not lose his faith in God. This was the one thing that he could still control. We read in Genesis 37:2-4 that Joseph kept his faith and his relationship with God. As a result the Lord was with Joseph and he prospered in spite of his adversity. As the story of Joseph’s life unfolds there is no doubt that God was in control and working to fulfill His plan and purpose for Joseph’s life. It is evident that it was God who determined that Joseph would be sold as a slave to a rich officer in Pharaoh’s service and taken to live in his home.
Joseph found favor with his master because his master saw that Joseph’s God was blessing him and he wanted the same success that Joseph had. Joseph did not let the adversities of his dire circumstances keep him from being the Godly man that God wanted him to be. Joseph did not give up in despair but he worked hard and was diligent even in the lowliest jobs that he was assigned to do. As a result of his integrity and faithfulness the Lord was with him and gave him the success that only God could have given him.
Like Joseph. David also knew what it was to face adversity which he wrote about in Psalms 3 (above). David also kept his faith in God through his adversities that he faced in life and God protected him from all of his enemies and continually lifted him above his adversities.
When we face adversities in our lives we can learn from Joseph and David. We must never forget that God never forgets us nor does He leave us. In the times of our deepest adversities we need God and we must never lose faith in Him. He is there for us when we need Him most.
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in Philippians 4:13.
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
PRAYER:
I am so grateful that I can know that You are with me in all of the circumstances that I face today, even the adversities that may come my way. Keep my faith strong and help my life to be a testimony to others as what it means to know You as my Savior especially in times of trouble and despair. Help me to teach my children to turn to You in their darkest hours.
ADVERSITY
DEFINITION:
Misfortune; trouble; calamity; a difficult circumstance.
SCRIPTURE:
O Lord, how many are my foes! Many are saying to me, God will not deliver him. But You are a shield around me, O Lord; You bestow glory on me and lift up my head. Psalm 3:1-3.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
Adversity is a fact of life. All of us at some time or another either have or will face difficulties or misfortune in our lives. In fact we will no doubt face it often. We often cause our own troubles but it is also true that many suffer adversity through no fault of their own. We have all read the story of Joseph in the Old Testament. He certainly knew what it was like to suffer adversity at the hands of others.
Joseph’s family moved to the land of Canaan when he was 6 years old. Joseph had 10 older brothers and he and his brothers tended their father’s flocks. Joseph’s father, Jacob, had made it obvious that Joseph was his favorite son. The brothers were jealous because of this and they hated Joseph.
It was 11 years later when he was 17 that he came home from being with his brothers and shared with his father a bad report on his brothers. This just added fuel to the smoldering fire of animosity toward Joseph within his brothers.
Joseph, in his immaturity, was not sensitive to his brother’s feelings. Joseph was boastful and his brothers could not interact with him without conflict and hostility. The brothers totally rejected Joseph and conspired against him and they sold him into slavery. He was not only cut off from his family and his financial security, but he was taken to a strange land with a different language and strange customs. This was truly adversity for Joseph because he had lost control of his own destiny and was at the mercy of others.
Joseph had lost everything but he did not lose his faith in God. This was the one thing that he could still control. We read in Genesis 37:2-4 that Joseph kept his faith and his relationship with God. As a result the Lord was with Joseph and he prospered in spite of his adversity. As the story of Joseph’s life unfolds there is no doubt that God was in control and working to fulfill His plan and purpose for Joseph’s life. It is evident that it was God who determined that Joseph would be sold as a slave to a rich officer in Pharaoh’s service and taken to live in his home.
Joseph found favor with his master because his master saw that Joseph’s God was blessing him and he wanted the same success that Joseph had. Joseph did not let the adversities of his dire circumstances keep him from being the Godly man that God wanted him to be. Joseph did not give up in despair but he worked hard and was diligent even in the lowliest jobs that he was assigned to do. As a result of his integrity and faithfulness the Lord was with him and gave him the success that only God could have given him.
Like Joseph. David also knew what it was to face adversity which he wrote about in Psalms 3 (above). David also kept his faith in God through his adversities that he faced in life and God protected him from all of his enemies and continually lifted him above his adversities.
When we face adversities in our lives we can learn from Joseph and David. We must never forget that God never forgets us nor does He leave us. In the times of our deepest adversities we need God and we must never lose faith in Him. He is there for us when we need Him most.
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in Philippians 4:13.
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
PRAYER:
I am so grateful that I can know that You are with me in all of the circumstances that I face today, even the adversities that may come my way. Keep my faith strong and help my life to be a testimony to others as what it means to know You as my Savior especially in times of trouble and despair. Help me to teach my children to turn to You in their darkest hours.
Adoption: October 8, 2014
TODAYS WORD FOR WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 8, 2014.
ADOPTION
DEFINITION:
Take or receive as one’s own; to take and rear another’s child as one’s own.
SCRIPTURE:
We are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ. Romans 8: 16b-17a.
Having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will. Ephesians 1:5.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
In ancient Rome, adoption was occasionally used by the emperors to pass on succession to competent heirs. Augustus Caesar was adopted by his great uncle Julius Caesar so he could be his successor. Emperors Tiberius and Hadrian did the same thing, adopting a capable person to succeed them.
Such Roman emperors had no entitlement to the emporship by right of birth. It was only because of the Roman law of adoption. Under Roman law, adopted children became an heir to their father’s estate. Adopted children under the Roman laws had all the rights and privileges of the biological children. This was different than the Jewish practice that the inheritances were to go to the first born.
Every Christian, a believer in Jesus, is an adopted child of the King of kings. Our adoption comes at a great cost. God brought us into His family through the sacrifice of His Son Jesus on the cross. We became a child of God when we asked Him for forgiveness for our sins and accepted Him as our Savior. Although we are adopted children, God has made us joint heirs with Christ as written in Romans 8.
In Hebrews 1:2 the writer tells us that God has appointed Jesus heir of all things. As children of God we have inherited eternal salvation along with everything in the universe. Think about what this means for us who believe in Him. Every believer is going to receive, by God’s grace, the same inheritance that Christ receives by divine right. Earthly inheritances will perish, but we are heirs to God’s eternal kingdom and its riches which will never perish.
Paul tells us that “Our Lord Jesus Christ though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor so that you through His poverty might become rich” (II Corinthians 8:9). Do you realize that you are rich?
Jesus became poor so that you could be rich. He left His home in heaven and set aside His glory and became poor by coming into this world as a man to do the will of His Father. By the sacrifice of Jesus, He made us rich giving us salvation and eternal life. God is rich and owns everything. As God’s Son, Jesus is rich and heir to all that is God’s. Through Jesus’s sacrifice we are joint heirs with Christ. You became rich when you accepted Jesus as your Savior.
We should feel great indebtedness to Him for all that he has done for us. There is no way to repay Him. In return for our being adopted into God’s family, God wants us to live in a way that a child of God is expected to live.
In Colossians 3:5 the apostle Paul writes that we are to get rid of sin in our lives when we have been adopted by God. He writes, “put to death the sinful ways of are old life; sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, greed and idolatry.”
These are to be replaced by activities and desires that show that we belong to the family of God. In Colossians 3:12, Paul writes for us to “put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness and longsuffering.”
Can those that meet you daily see that you are an adopted child of God? We should be able to be seen as such by our walk and our talk. Make sure today, first of all, that you are an adopted son or daughter of God and then make sure your walk and talk will exemplify your inheritance with Christ.
Now is the time to make that decision because God is waiting to adopt you. You need to recognize you are a sinner, ask Him for forgiveness and then ask Jesus to come into your heart. He then will adopt you as one of His children and you will become part of the family of God.
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in Philippians 4:13.
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
PRAYER:
Thank You for adopting me into Your family. Thank You, that by Your grace I am a joint heir with Christ. Thank You for the priceless inheritance I have in Your kingdom because I am a joint heir with Christ. May all those that I meet today see by my words and deeds that I am an adopted child of God.
ADOPTION
DEFINITION:
Take or receive as one’s own; to take and rear another’s child as one’s own.
SCRIPTURE:
We are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ. Romans 8: 16b-17a.
Having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will. Ephesians 1:5.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
In ancient Rome, adoption was occasionally used by the emperors to pass on succession to competent heirs. Augustus Caesar was adopted by his great uncle Julius Caesar so he could be his successor. Emperors Tiberius and Hadrian did the same thing, adopting a capable person to succeed them.
Such Roman emperors had no entitlement to the emporship by right of birth. It was only because of the Roman law of adoption. Under Roman law, adopted children became an heir to their father’s estate. Adopted children under the Roman laws had all the rights and privileges of the biological children. This was different than the Jewish practice that the inheritances were to go to the first born.
Every Christian, a believer in Jesus, is an adopted child of the King of kings. Our adoption comes at a great cost. God brought us into His family through the sacrifice of His Son Jesus on the cross. We became a child of God when we asked Him for forgiveness for our sins and accepted Him as our Savior. Although we are adopted children, God has made us joint heirs with Christ as written in Romans 8.
In Hebrews 1:2 the writer tells us that God has appointed Jesus heir of all things. As children of God we have inherited eternal salvation along with everything in the universe. Think about what this means for us who believe in Him. Every believer is going to receive, by God’s grace, the same inheritance that Christ receives by divine right. Earthly inheritances will perish, but we are heirs to God’s eternal kingdom and its riches which will never perish.
Paul tells us that “Our Lord Jesus Christ though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor so that you through His poverty might become rich” (II Corinthians 8:9). Do you realize that you are rich?
Jesus became poor so that you could be rich. He left His home in heaven and set aside His glory and became poor by coming into this world as a man to do the will of His Father. By the sacrifice of Jesus, He made us rich giving us salvation and eternal life. God is rich and owns everything. As God’s Son, Jesus is rich and heir to all that is God’s. Through Jesus’s sacrifice we are joint heirs with Christ. You became rich when you accepted Jesus as your Savior.
We should feel great indebtedness to Him for all that he has done for us. There is no way to repay Him. In return for our being adopted into God’s family, God wants us to live in a way that a child of God is expected to live.
In Colossians 3:5 the apostle Paul writes that we are to get rid of sin in our lives when we have been adopted by God. He writes, “put to death the sinful ways of are old life; sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, greed and idolatry.”
These are to be replaced by activities and desires that show that we belong to the family of God. In Colossians 3:12, Paul writes for us to “put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness and longsuffering.”
Can those that meet you daily see that you are an adopted child of God? We should be able to be seen as such by our walk and our talk. Make sure today, first of all, that you are an adopted son or daughter of God and then make sure your walk and talk will exemplify your inheritance with Christ.
Now is the time to make that decision because God is waiting to adopt you. You need to recognize you are a sinner, ask Him for forgiveness and then ask Jesus to come into your heart. He then will adopt you as one of His children and you will become part of the family of God.
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in Philippians 4:13.
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
PRAYER:
Thank You for adopting me into Your family. Thank You, that by Your grace I am a joint heir with Christ. Thank You for the priceless inheritance I have in Your kingdom because I am a joint heir with Christ. May all those that I meet today see by my words and deeds that I am an adopted child of God.
Depression: October 7, 2014
TODAYS WORD FOR TUESDAY OCTOBER 7, 2014.
DEPRESSION
DEFINITION:
Sadness; gloom; an unwarranted and prolonged condition of emotional dejection.
SCRIPTURE:
Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, but a good word makes it glad. Proverbs 12:25.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
Just hearing the word depression probably brings to mind some time or times of depression that you have gone through. It may perhaps surprise you to know that great men of God have struggled with depression. One of them that we read about in the scriptures was so depressed that he prayed that he would die. Can you guess who that was?
This man was totally committed to God. He lived during the reign of Israel’s most wicked King and Queen, Ahab and Jezebel. Under their rule, they led many of the Israelites to forsake God and to worship Baal. God chose this man to confront the King and Queen concerning their terrible sin and tell them that the judgment of God on them would be a terrible drought. Perhaps you have guessed that the man was Elijah, God’s great prophet.
There was great famine in the land and Ahab blamed God’s prophet Elijah for the lack of rain. It was in this setting that Jezebel, who was very wicked and anti-God was committed to kill Elijah. She sent a messenger to Elijah telling him that by the same time the next day his life would be over.
Elijah ran away because he had great fear and was in deep depression. Elijah tried to run away from his emotions but running away left him outside of the will of God. He reacted to his feelings and concern and seemingly lost his focus on God who had been with him in the victories in the past.
Being depressed in life always seems to bring isolation. This is what happened to Elijah. He took what the scripture tells us was a day’s journey into the wilderness. He felt alone, rejected and abandoned. He felt life wasn’t worth living. He was at such a low point in his life that he prayed, “I have had enough, Lord. Take my life.” (I Kings 19:4)
We need to remember that Elijah was a man of God and a prophet. Through these hours and days of depression God never left Elijah but Elijah seemed to think that He had. It was at Elijah’s lowest point that God appeared on the scene. He sent an angel to where Elijah was sleeping in the wilderness who told Elijah to get up and get going. This is how God works.
God still had work for Elijah to do. God saw that Elijah was down and out and didn’t have the strength to carry on. In times of need God provides just what we need. The angel brought Elijah food and water for two days to strengthen him for his journey.
In life today we as believers are going to have moments when we feel that everything is going wrong and we cannot carry on. We will have to make a choice. Elijah chose to run but that was not the will of God. We can’t run away from ourselves. Our choice must be to run to God and let Him strengthen us and put us back into action. The verse we have put above reminds us that anxiety drives us into depression but we need to remember that only the Word of God can make the heart glad.
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in Philippians 4:13.
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
PRAYER:
It is my prayer today that when I feel depressed and alone that I will remember You are always with me. When the events of my life seem to be faltering help me not to run away from You but instead run quickly to You, casting all my cares upon You.
DEPRESSION
DEFINITION:
Sadness; gloom; an unwarranted and prolonged condition of emotional dejection.
SCRIPTURE:
Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, but a good word makes it glad. Proverbs 12:25.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
Just hearing the word depression probably brings to mind some time or times of depression that you have gone through. It may perhaps surprise you to know that great men of God have struggled with depression. One of them that we read about in the scriptures was so depressed that he prayed that he would die. Can you guess who that was?
This man was totally committed to God. He lived during the reign of Israel’s most wicked King and Queen, Ahab and Jezebel. Under their rule, they led many of the Israelites to forsake God and to worship Baal. God chose this man to confront the King and Queen concerning their terrible sin and tell them that the judgment of God on them would be a terrible drought. Perhaps you have guessed that the man was Elijah, God’s great prophet.
There was great famine in the land and Ahab blamed God’s prophet Elijah for the lack of rain. It was in this setting that Jezebel, who was very wicked and anti-God was committed to kill Elijah. She sent a messenger to Elijah telling him that by the same time the next day his life would be over.
Elijah ran away because he had great fear and was in deep depression. Elijah tried to run away from his emotions but running away left him outside of the will of God. He reacted to his feelings and concern and seemingly lost his focus on God who had been with him in the victories in the past.
Being depressed in life always seems to bring isolation. This is what happened to Elijah. He took what the scripture tells us was a day’s journey into the wilderness. He felt alone, rejected and abandoned. He felt life wasn’t worth living. He was at such a low point in his life that he prayed, “I have had enough, Lord. Take my life.” (I Kings 19:4)
We need to remember that Elijah was a man of God and a prophet. Through these hours and days of depression God never left Elijah but Elijah seemed to think that He had. It was at Elijah’s lowest point that God appeared on the scene. He sent an angel to where Elijah was sleeping in the wilderness who told Elijah to get up and get going. This is how God works.
God still had work for Elijah to do. God saw that Elijah was down and out and didn’t have the strength to carry on. In times of need God provides just what we need. The angel brought Elijah food and water for two days to strengthen him for his journey.
In life today we as believers are going to have moments when we feel that everything is going wrong and we cannot carry on. We will have to make a choice. Elijah chose to run but that was not the will of God. We can’t run away from ourselves. Our choice must be to run to God and let Him strengthen us and put us back into action. The verse we have put above reminds us that anxiety drives us into depression but we need to remember that only the Word of God can make the heart glad.
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in Philippians 4:13.
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
PRAYER:
It is my prayer today that when I feel depressed and alone that I will remember You are always with me. When the events of my life seem to be faltering help me not to run away from You but instead run quickly to You, casting all my cares upon You.
Deeds: October 6, 2014
TODAYS WORD FOR MONDAY OCTOBER 6, 2014.
DEEDS
DEFINITION:
A thing done; an act.
SCRIPTURE:
And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. Colossians 3:17.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
Accepting Christ as our Savior will bring about a change in our behavior and in our attitude if we sincerely believe in Him. It is not enough to just say we believe. Our conduct should back up our words. As believers we become a new creation in Christ and it should be evident by our deeds.
Luke wrote in Acts 26:20 that Paul preached that we are to repent and turn to God and prove our repentance by our deeds. Genuine repentance will result in a changed lifestyle.
The apostle Paul speaks about what the heart of the believer must be like. He begins in verses 15-16 of Colossians 3 by saying that the believers are to allow their heart to be ruled by the peace of God and to be filled with the Words of Christ.
God’s peace is God’s gift to us but we must choose to let it rule our heart. What rules our heart will direct our actions and the deeds we do.
With this in mind Paul goes on in verse 17 to tell us that as believers we are Christ’s representatives and every aspect of our life reflects on the name of Christ. He is telling us that our words and deeds need to exemplify Christ at all times.
We as believers have a choice. We speak and act for ourselves and no one speaks or acts for us. Whether we speak and act for Christ therefore is our choice. The command is made clear in the verse we have written above, and that is that we are to, in our words and deeds, do all in the name of Christ. The choice is ours.
Paul tells us that we are to act and speak in the name of Jesus. What does he mean? The name of Christ is the only name that God accepts in His presence. Therefore we are to live with the sole purpose of bringing honor and glory to the name of Christ.
To be what Christ wants us to be we must put all of our trust in the name of Christ and our total dependence on Him. We need to claim the name of Christ in all that we say and do. This includes all of our deeds. We must remember that the non-believers are watching and that we must represent Christ in everything we say and do.
Simply said, we must do nothing as believers in Jesus to dishonor Christ. When we speak, Christ should fill our conversation. When we act Christ should be upheld and glorified by our behavior.
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in Philippians 4:13.
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
PRAYER:
Give me wisdom to honor and bless Your name through my words and actions. Help me to be saturated by Your Word that I may always have a clear understanding of what is right and what is wrong.
DEEDS
DEFINITION:
A thing done; an act.
SCRIPTURE:
And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. Colossians 3:17.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
Accepting Christ as our Savior will bring about a change in our behavior and in our attitude if we sincerely believe in Him. It is not enough to just say we believe. Our conduct should back up our words. As believers we become a new creation in Christ and it should be evident by our deeds.
Luke wrote in Acts 26:20 that Paul preached that we are to repent and turn to God and prove our repentance by our deeds. Genuine repentance will result in a changed lifestyle.
The apostle Paul speaks about what the heart of the believer must be like. He begins in verses 15-16 of Colossians 3 by saying that the believers are to allow their heart to be ruled by the peace of God and to be filled with the Words of Christ.
God’s peace is God’s gift to us but we must choose to let it rule our heart. What rules our heart will direct our actions and the deeds we do.
With this in mind Paul goes on in verse 17 to tell us that as believers we are Christ’s representatives and every aspect of our life reflects on the name of Christ. He is telling us that our words and deeds need to exemplify Christ at all times.
We as believers have a choice. We speak and act for ourselves and no one speaks or acts for us. Whether we speak and act for Christ therefore is our choice. The command is made clear in the verse we have written above, and that is that we are to, in our words and deeds, do all in the name of Christ. The choice is ours.
Paul tells us that we are to act and speak in the name of Jesus. What does he mean? The name of Christ is the only name that God accepts in His presence. Therefore we are to live with the sole purpose of bringing honor and glory to the name of Christ.
To be what Christ wants us to be we must put all of our trust in the name of Christ and our total dependence on Him. We need to claim the name of Christ in all that we say and do. This includes all of our deeds. We must remember that the non-believers are watching and that we must represent Christ in everything we say and do.
Simply said, we must do nothing as believers in Jesus to dishonor Christ. When we speak, Christ should fill our conversation. When we act Christ should be upheld and glorified by our behavior.
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in Philippians 4:13.
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
PRAYER:
Give me wisdom to honor and bless Your name through my words and actions. Help me to be saturated by Your Word that I may always have a clear understanding of what is right and what is wrong.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
