Live Like A Christian

Good Morning!! God's people, for thousands of years, have cast their lives into the mold of God's Word. They have married, invested, raised children, decided careers, and set their ambitions according to the Word of God. They have found in the Bible their comfort in times of loss, their direction in times of change, and their joy in times of prosperity. 

As for God, His way is perfect; The word of the Lord is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him.—Psalm 18:30 (NKJV)

God's people, in every generation, have discovered, and in every imaginable circumstance, that God's Word truly is perfect. His counsel is always wise, His history is always accurate, His lessons are always true, and His commands are always relevant,...God's way is perfect.  Each of us, should therefore build our lives on this and sure foundation. So who do you look to for direction, and for advice? Are you attempting to trust popular opinion, or well-meaning friends, to help you make decisions and find meaning of life? Or have you learned go to God's perfect Word over and over again, trusting His counsel in every area of life?

 

God's Word has been tried, tested, scrutinized, and relied upon by Christians throughout the ages.

 

Holy Spirit of God, remind us that we already know where to find the answers we seek,...they are in the Word. Amen.

 

"The less we trust, the more we fear." 

Daily Prayer And Forgiveness

Good Morning!! When the disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to pray, He responded with what is commonly known as the "Lord's prayer." It included a specific request for forgiveness. And I think it's evident from the content of the prayer, that our Lord meant for us to pray it daily,...because it includes a request for this day's daily bread. It's equally plain that Jesus is instructing us to confess our sins daily, and ask for God's forgiveness. Too often we allow a long time to pass, and too many un-confessed sins to build up,...before we go to the Lord in prayer. As a result, we begin to feel distant from God,...then our guilty conscience makes it harder, and more uncomfortable, to go to our Father in prayer.

This, then, is how you should pray:—Matthew 6:9 (NIV)

 

For this very reason, it is best to keep "short accounts" with God. Going to Him regularly with our sin debt,...and allowing Him to wipe it clean. We then delight to go to Him,...for a regular time of confession, communion, and refreshing. Notice, also, how this daily forgiveness is tied purposefully and inseparably to our own forgiveness of others. Jesus, in effect, couches this prayer in such a way that we must either forgive others completely and daily, or we are cursing ourselves each time we pray! "Forgive us as we forgive others," Jesus tells us to pray. Don't forget to take your sin-debt to God in prayer,...today.

 

Are you really forgiving others, as you yourself have been forgiven?

 

Holy Spirit of God, help us to forgive and bless all others, as we ourselves have been forgiven, and continue to be blessed. In Jesus name, Amen.

 

"The less we trust, the more we fear."   

Saved By The Cross

Good Morning!! Almost every major world religion teaches that, if you are good enough and follow their set of rules, then you will be alright. But the cross of Christ unmistakably shouts to the world, "You cannot save yourself! You cannot be good enough for God!" That is why Jesus had to die for us to be saved. 

Brothers and sisters, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished.—Galatians 5:11 (NIV)

 

Why are so many people so offended at the claims of Christianity? It is not because Christ requires good works, because almost any religion does that. The reason the cross of Christ is so offensive is that it shows that salvation cannot be earned. It means we must turn to God for help and healing and rescue.

 

 It's only by free, unearned and un-earnable grace, that we can be saved.

 

 

Dear Lord, give us the strength and the wisdom to be totally committed to You.

Guide us away from the temptations and distractions of this world,

so that we might fully honor You with our thoughts, our actions and our prayers.

Amen.

 

"Feed Your faith, and your doubts will starve to death."

Blessed Be The Lord

Good Morning!! About the only thing worse than finding out you're sick,...is being sick and not realizing it. Only when we see our sickness will we come to the physician for healing. This is what Jesus was referring to when He said, "They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick" (Mark 2:17). Because God is the great healer, He is therefore also the great wounder. He faithfully chastens each of His children, into a realization of their guiltiness and emptiness,...before a Holy God, and a bankrupt world.

Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name...who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases,—Psalm 103:1,3 (NIV)

 

"As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten" (Revelation 3:19). He wounds so that He then can heal. No one has ever come to God for soul repair and been turned away. David confesses, "I cried unto thee, and thou hast healed me" (Psalm 30:2).

 

 You can rest assured, that the great Physician will heal you,...it is for the sick that He is come.

 

Holy Spirit, help us come to know our need of healing. Bring us like David, to pray, "Lord, be merciful unto us: heal our soul", that we may be blessed, like David,...to see God as our soul-restoring Shepherd (Psalm 23). Amen.

 

 "Feed Your faith, and your doubts will starve to death."

Followers Of Christ

Good Morning!! Many today, and through the centuries since Jesus spoke these words, have claimed affiliation with Him. But Jesus' own words rebuke His would-be, fair-weather, so-called family members. Not those who gather large crowds in my name, or gain political clout by my name, or salve their guilty consciences with my name are mine, says Jesus, but those who hear and obey God's Word. Those who have a true and permanent relationship with me, are those who are receptive to God's Word.

 

He replied, "My mother and brothers are those who hear God’s word and put it into practice."—Luke 8:21 (NIV)

 

Even in the presence of His biological mother, and siblings, Jesus had a high view of Scripture. He reminds us that a true connection to Christ, is not made or maintained through family affiliation. For the definition of His disciples, Jesus purposefully chose the rock-solid, unchanging Word of God as the meter of true religion.

 

Philanthropy does not a Christian make. Good intentions or family pedigree do not define the child of God.
Rather God's Word is the simple, sole barometer that Jesus gives us with which to measure our relationship with Him.

 

Lord, we want to be a Christian, through and trough. Amen.

 

"Feed Your faith, and your doubts will starve to death."

Justice Is In His Hands

Good Morning, It's A Short Week, But Their Is A Lot To Be Done!! There is something terribly wrong with the world. Everywhere we look there is unbelievable evils. Is there any point to prayer? Yes! Never accept evil as inevitable or unchangeable. God calls us to rebel against the status-quo, to refuse to accept as "normal" what is abnormal and contrary to His Will and Word. There is no more certain death to effective prayer than resignation to what is, Jesus encourages us: At all times we should pray and not lose heart.

And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?"—Luke 18:7, 8 (NIV)

This war has brought the deaths of an estimated tens of thousands, people and the unraveling of the social and economic fabric of our nation. The church's response should be one of deep repentance, commitment to unity, and persistent prayer, knowing and assuring others that God has not abandoned us. We have a professing Christian as president, that is uncaring and insensitive to those in need.  Our government filled with widespread and unchecked corruption. We must pray,... because God responds to those who invite Him to move in this broken world.

"Thank you, Jesus for making me a partaker with You in defeating the devil. Help me fulfill my responsibility to resist him today."

 (Neil Anderson's Daily in Christ, June 21, 2005)

Lord, let Your kingdom break into the darkest places, overcoming evil, bringing Your with it justice, and mercy. Amen! 

"Feed Your faith, and your doubts will starve to death."

Salvation Is A Gift

Good Morning!! God made us His own forever,...by choice,...and out of love. Nothing could be sweeter than to hear that God has chosen us, and that He has permanently welcomed us into His family! What directed this love, this choice? Not our good works or right decisions, or family heritage. It was according to the good pleasure of His will, that He chose a people to be adopted into His family. Not because of anything in us, but because of the goodness within Himself,...directed by His perfect will.

He predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will,...to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the One He loves.—Ephesians 1:5-6 (NIV)

God's predestine and sovereign design for salvation was, like everything else that He does, ultimately for the good of His people,...and to the praise of His name. This adoption gives comfort to us, and it gives all the glory to God. Not to the glory of man, as being worthy or lovable, but to the praise of the glory of His grace,...in that He would choose unworthy, and powerless children, to be saved.

The salvation that is in Jesus Christ is predestined. It is not an accident or a backup plan, on God's part.

Lord we just thank You today, for life,...and everlasting life.

Feed Your faith, and your doubts will starve to death."