Lost: January 16, 2015

TODAY’S WORD FOR FRIDAY JANUARY 16, 2015.

LOST

DEFINITION:

No longer possessed; wasted; unable to find; gone astray; lacking eternal salvation.

SCRIPTURE:

Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin which I lost. Luke 15:9.

The Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost. Luke 19:10.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

In the parable of the lost coin found in Luke 15:8-10, Jesus tells about the woman who had ten silver coins and loses one. One coin was equivalent to one day’s wages so it was important for this woman to find the lost coin. The typical house in those days was one room with no windows. That is why Jesus said that she lit a lamp. This illustrated to those that listened to Jesus that the search for the coin was very thorough. The lamp would allow her to look in each and every corner of her house.

When the lost coin was found, the woman showed great joy.

The woman, in this parable, represents Jesus our Savior. The lost coin represents those who are lost because they are not saved. Jesus is expressing to those listening to Him that each one of us is of great value to Him. He grieves over everyone who is lost. So precious are we to Jesus that He diligently searches for all who are lost. The scriptures tell us that Jesus came into the world to seek and to save all the lost.

Have you ever had the experience of losing something of value and you search and search and cannot find the item? What a relief it is when you finally do find it. Your normal response is joy. This is like the joy that this woman had when she found her lost coin.

When the woman in this parable found her coin she went out and called out to her friends, “Rejoice with me for I have found the coin which I lost.”

People are of great value to God. Those that do not know Him are lost in their sins. God loved us so much that He did not want anyone to be lost so He gave His only Son Jesus to pay the ultimate price by dying on the cross for our redemption. When just one person, a sinner in God’s sight, finds Jesus, the angels shout for joy in heaven. (Luke 15:10)

Do you know people who are lost and have never accepted Jesus as their Savior? If so, do you show any concern for them? As believers we should want to make sure that every person we know gets an opportunity to know about Jesus and that He paid the penalty for their sins. When that person finds Jesus we will rejoice with them along with the angels in heaven.

When someone is spiritually lost in order for them to be found they must first admit that they are lost. Our mission as believers is to shout out to all the good news of the gospel and then pray that God would touch the heart of all who listen.

LEARNING:

Our memory verse for this week is found in Proverbs 16:3.

Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.

PRAYER:

Help me to reach out to my family, neighbors and friends that do not know You to tell them that You have come to seek and to save those that are lost. Burden my heart for a world that is lost in sin and give me courage to communicate Your love to others.

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Boundaries: January 15, 2015

TODAY’S WORD FOR THURSDAY JANUARY 15, 2015.

BOUNDARIES

DEFINITION:

Rules to enforce standards; something that indicates limits.

SCRIPTURE:

Jesus said, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. Matthew 22: 37-39.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

Jesus put it right on the line for all believers when He gave us His standard to love the Lord thy God and love our neighbors. This sets up the boundary we need if we are going to honor Him and serve Him. When we love Jesus and our neighbors it puts us in a position of honoring God in all that we do. Boundaries are limits that are set to protect us. The boundaries we have are what God has given us, the Ten Commandments, His Word and our personal experience with Him.

The prophet Nehemiah was governor of Jerusalem after he returned from exile. God had spoken to him and directed him to rebuild the wall around Jerusalem. Nehemiah responded because he understood that the Jewish people living in Jerusalem needed a boundary around them to protect them from their enemies. (Nehemiah chapters 3-4)

Just like those that lived in Jerusalem during Nehemiah’s time needed a boundary in the form of a wall to protect them from invaders, we as believers need a boundary of protection to protect us from the invasion of sin and evil that we face daily.

Take a moment right now and think about the enemies we face as Christians. We live in a culture that basically ignores God and thus we face evil influences everywhere we turn. When we live out our faith we face times when our faith is questioned. We are asked such things as “How can you believe that there is a God when all these bad things are happening?”

We face temptations daily. How many times a day are you tempted to do something that is not honest or at least borders on being dishonest. This is Satan at work in this world and the temptations we face begin with little things and then they get bigger and bigger and soon God is forgotten.

Everyday our children are confronted with the evils of drugs, alcohol, sex, corruption and a philosophy of living for self glorification. Just sit down with a young person and get them to talk to you about the things they face in life and you will be appalled.

A boundary determines limits. In the Christian life it is like a line dividing right from wrong, what is pleasing to God and what is not. When we cross the line and do what is not pleasing to God, it is wrong and a sin and we have breached the boundary that the Lord has set for us. So often we make excuses like: what is wrong if it is only a little white lie, or it will never be missed if I steal it, or if nobody knows about it, how can extramarital sex be bad?

How many drug addicts became addicted because they thought it would never hurt to try an illegal drug just once? How many drunkards started with just one drink? Once the boundary between right and wrong is breached, no matter how small the breach, it is like a tiny crack in a dam. The breach continues to expand until the floodgates are let loose and causes a disaster. We have only to look at the shattered lives all around us and the broken homes with families in total disarray to see the tragic results of crossing God’s boundaries.

This is why we need as believers, for ourselves and our families, to adhere to the boundaries that God has set to protect us from the evils of this world. We need support systems. Let us share with you three simple support systems that all believers need to adhere too.

We need family communication daily to encourage and to hold each other accountable for what we do.

We need time praying, alone and as a family, asking God to give us the protection we need from the enemies we face.

We need time alone and as a family to read God’s Word. This is the only way God can communicate with us. His Word is vital to keeping us spiritually strong and living within God’s boundaries.

LEARNING:

Our memory verse for this week is found in Proverbs 16:3.

Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.

PRAYER:

It is my prayer today that You will help me to set boundaries that will protect me from the evils of this world that I live in. I ask the same for my family and my friends. Give each one of us the strength and courage to resist temptations to cross God’s boundary lines. Protect us from the evils of Satan in this world and give us a new dedication to live for You and to honor You.

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Lifestyle: January 14, 2015

TODAY’S WORD FOR WEDNESDAY JANUARY 14, 2015.

LIFESTYLE

DEFINITION:

A typical way of living reflecting attitudes and preferences of an individual.

SCRIPTURE:

My son hear the instruction of your father, and do not forsake the law of your mother. Proverbs 1:8.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

Jesus indicated in the scriptures that there would be a permissive society just before He returns to this earth. He said, “As in the days of Noah, so shall it also be in the days of the coming of the Lord. The world today has a lifestyle that basically is immoral and denies the existence of God.

Many have fallen into a lifestyle in which they believe intellectually and then live their lives like the devil. When you ask them about God many respond that God is a just God and he will forgive them at some point and take them to heaven.

But the real truth is that being a Christian is serious business. One needs to believe that he or she is a sinner, repent of those sins, asks Jesus to come into their heart and then follow Jesus and His teachings.

When choosing our lifestyle in life we are dramatically affected by what we were taught and what we learned beginning in our childhood days. As a young child we begin to learn all of the positive and the negative values in our parent’s lifestyle. A child learns by watching and listening. What they witness in their parents lifestyle has the most influence on them. A parent’s influence has a major role in determining the kind of person a child becomes.

Lifestyles are learned by what a person sees and hears and decisions are then made by what interest’s one the most.  Children need to develop positive work ethics at a young age. When they do they will usually continue to have good work ethics throughout their life. Good work ethics are needed in order to succeed. The choosing of friends plays a vital role in shaping one’s life style. Again one is affected by what they see and hear.

In Ezekiel 18:5-9, Ezekiel says that the word of the Lord came to him and gave him some thoughts on what God wants in a lifestyle. The MESSAGE translation puts it in words that we can all understand today. “Imagine a man with the lifestyle of living well, treating others fairly and keeping good relationships.” He goes on to explain what God does not want in a person’s lifestyle.

“Who doesn’t eat at pagan shrines, doesn’t worship idols, doesn’t seduce a neighbors spouse, doesn’t bully anyone, doesn’t pile up bad debts, doesn’t steal, doesn’t refuse giving food to the hungry, doesn’t refuse giving clothing to the ill-clad, doesn’t exploit the poor, doesn’t live by impulse and greed, and doesn’t treat one person better than another.”

Then Ezekiel tells us what makes a good lifestyle. “But lives by God’s statutes and faithfully honors and obeys God’s laws. This person who lives upright and well shall live a full and true life.” That is the lifestyle God wants from us. As believers we are to have a lifestyle that is characterized by love, imitates Christ, demonstrates true faith, and is governed by truth which is God’s Word.

From early on as young parents we wanted to guide our children to lead a lifestyle that was pleasing to God. When they did something wrong we corrected them and endeavored to explain why it was wrong. We taught them to know right from wrong. Before they could read we read to them from children’s Bible story books. We took them to Sunday school and church. We taught them to live by God’s standards. But what we realized to be the most important influence on them was our own lifestyle. They witnessed daily how we talked and what we did.

LEARNING:

Our memory verse for this week is found in Proverbs 16:3.

Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.

PRAYER:

Give me a lifestyle that honors and glorifies Your name daily. May my lifestyle set an example to all that I see and talk to this day. Give me guidance in teaching my children how they can develop a lifestyle that honors You.

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Legacy: January 13, 2015

TODAY’S WORD FOR TUESDAY JANUARY 13, 2015.

LEGACY

DEFINITION:

Something handed down or received from a predecessor; heritage; a gift of personal property or money.

SCRIPTURE:

Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the river, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house we will serve the Lord. Joshua 24:15

I am mindful of the sincere faith within you, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am sure that it is in you as well. II Timothy 1:3

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

In just a few months we will have been married for 58 years. And now 58 years later we have been blessed with 6 children, their spouses, 20 grand-children and our first great grand-child in a few weeks. We look back and thank God for all of His blessings on our lives.

Family is very important to us and God has given us a legacy to build on. A legacy is usually thought of as personal property that is willed to a descendent. However, we feel there is a much more valuable legacy that one should leave to their children. The legacy we want to leave is a legacy of godly standards and values. We were left a great legacy to follow by our parents and we continually work on leaving a God-honoring legacy for our children, grandchildren and generations to come.

Our parents lived their lives based on Biblical principles and as far back as we can remember taught us that knowing Jesus as our Savior was the most important decision we would make in life. This legacy we have passed on to our children and our grandchildren.

In Joshua 24:15 Joshua states his choice of the legacy he wanted to hand down to the Children of Israel. Joshua said, “As for me and my house we will serve the Lord.” In II Timothy 1:3, Paul reminds Timothy of the legacy of faith that he had received from his grandmother and mother.

The most important thing we can pass down to our children and grand-children is our faith. This is the confident conviction that we have knowing that God is who He says He is and will do all that He has promised. Today we want to share with you several examples on how we can hand down a rich legacy to the generations that follow us.

First, we must consistently teach the fundamental Biblical principles that God has given us to our children and their children. Moses tells us explicitly what we must teach our children. We are to teach them that “the Lord is our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. You shall teach them diligently to your children.” (Deuteronomy 6:4-7)

We then must offer them a model character on how to live their life. Being obedient to the Lord and having a Christ centered lifestyle is vital to teaching children about the Lord. How we live communicates to our children what we really do believe about God. If we say one thing and do another, children are quick to see a double standard.

We need to show how we serve God by serving others. Actions show that our faith is real. The life of Jesus is a model of humility and servanthood. As those that love the Lord we should desire to be like Christ. If we do not want our children to develop a self-centered perspective of life then we must follow Christ’s example and have a servant attitude and show our children how to serve others.

We need to show our children that we pray for them and teach them to pray for others. Children do not forget if they hear someone pray for them.

And finally we need to always communicate love to our children showing them how God loves us. Our love needs to be unconditional and not based on what a child does or does not do. Show your children love by what you say to them and how you act around them.

LEARNING:

Our memory verse for this week is found in Proverbs 16:3.

Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.

PRAYER:

Help us as parents to be diligent about leading and teaching our children in the ways of the Lord. Help us to be committed to leave a Godly legacy through the way we live our lives to generations that follow.

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Prayer: January 12, 2015

TODAY’S WORD FOR MONDAY JANUARY 12, 2015.

PRAYER

DEFINITION:

A supplication to God; entreaty; petition; conversation with God, in praise, thanksgiving or intercession.

SCRIPTURE:

Now He was telling them a parable to show that all the times they ought to pray and not lose heart. Luke 18:1.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

We have written several devotionals on prayer but this time we want to share with you some thoughts on unanswered prayer. In this parable used by Jesus found in Luke 18:1-8, He talks about a thoroughly wicked and unjust judge and the frustrations of a widow who had repeatedly asked the judge for justice against an enemy who had wronged her. The judge refused her time after time.

Often we may pray and wait for a long time for an answer. Our basic personalities expect God to answer right away. But God may delay for a long time but when He delays He does so for a good reason and we need to develop patience and learn to wait.

But when He does act He will act according to His will and what is best for us. It is often a quick answer and given in an unexpected way.

One of the biggest struggles most believer’s have is unanswered prayer. Maybe you can relate because we do. You ask God to rescue a friend from some sort of addiction, to grant salvation to a family member, to heal a sick child or to mend a relationship. All of these things you feel are in the will of God. Possibly you have prayed for years and still no answer, you hear nothing from God and you see no results. Your friend still has the addiction problem, your family members still have not accepted Christ and the child you have been praying for still is very sick.

You remind the Lord daily of your requests because you know that He is all powerful and He can meet these needs. You plead and remind God that your request is real and you need an answer. When your prayer is unanswered you begin to doubt. Maybe you begin to think that He just does not hear you or you question how powerful He really is.

We may sometimes feel we are like the persistent widow in the parable that Jesus taught. She keeps coming to the judge, badgering him and trying to wear him down so that he will give in and give her the protection she is asking for. The judge neither feared God nor cared about people (Luke 18:2). He lacked the two most important attributes to be a just judge, fearing God and caring about people.

The women’s persistence caused the judge to relent. It was only because the woman did not give up that she received justice. God is a just God who always does what is right. What Jesus wants us to see in this parable is that if an unjust judge would respond to persistent pleas, how much more will God, who is not only just but loving and merciful, answer our persistent prayers. As He told His disciples we must pray at all times and never give up.

Our Lord expects us to keep on praying, trust Him and wait. Delay is not a denial, so keep on praying, and in God’s perfect timing He will answer your prayers and in His perfect way.

Patience is not a virtue of most of us so waiting is not easy. While we wait we are not to give up but we are to persist in faithful prayer presenting our needs and our requests continually before God’s throne of grace. Waiting for answered prayer tests our faith but the more we pray the stronger we grow in faith and hope and godly character. We must remember that God is in control and He is our Father and we are His children and He wants what is best for us.

LEARNING:

Our memory verse for this week is found in Proverbs 16:3.

Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.

PRAYER:

Give me the patience to keep praying day by day and not lose heart when my prayer is not answered quickly. Thank You that I am assured that You hear my prayers and that the answers will come in Your perfect time. Thank You that You have given me the privilege to bring my requests before Your throne of grace.

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