Submit Yoirselves

Good Morning!! The primary point of today's scripture, that Paul would have us grasp and take to heart has an inevitable implications for marital relations,...and it's that marriage is a picture of Christ’s communion with His church. A husband’s selfless, sacrificial love for his wife is only a shadow of Christ’s love for His church,...no husband will ever love, or sanctify, or edify his wife as perfectly,...as Christ loves and sanctifies and edifies His church. Yet it remains our job to try.

Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word,...—Ephesians 5:24 - 26 (NIV)

 

But that's not all, the other implication that flows out of Paul’s instruction concerns our attitude, toward our beloved Savior. HE requires more than reciprocal love, not just warm appreciation,...but true submission. As members in the body of Christ, we are to recognize that Christ is our head, that He has authority over us. This means that whatever He requires of us, whatever He speaks to us from His Word,...we must be willing to do,...trusting, knowing that He has our best interest at heart.

Be good to one another,...be good for one another.

Lord, help us to be submissive, when, where, and in anyway that bring honor to You. Amen.

"If I speak in the tongues of men or angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal." 

 

Don't Give In To Sin

Good Morning!! There are so many different ways, by which we are enticed, to sin. We might want to fit in, or belong,...we might be intimidated by a stronger personality,...we might see some chance for personal advancement. Enticements can even come in the form of a well-meaning, but foolish, peers who offer counsel,...that is contrary to God’s Word.

My son, if sinful men entice you, do not give in to them.—Proverbs 1:10 (NIV)

‘...if sinful men entice you…’ Notice that we are not to be concerned with the pitfalls and shortcomings of others. What entices someone else to sin, might not even be a temptation for you. But here is the vital principle: whatever sins do entice you, do not give in to them. Be careful not to console yourself with the fact that you have not committed the same sin as someone else,...there are plenty more left, for you to fall prey to. Regardless of the many enticements to sin which we might encounter, here is the simple, straight-forward admonition;...do not consent. Though others may entice you to sin, they cannot force you to sin. We can never say someone else "made me do it." When you feel the tug of sin,...do not consent to its invitation.

It's not enough to pursue wisdom,...we must learn to avoid foolishness, as well.

Holy Spirit, help us to set our minds, by God’s grace and power, to say "No" to every one of Satan’s advances,...and to consciously consent to the claims of Christ upon our lives. Amen.

"It's not what's in our pockets that makes us thankful,...but what we have in our hearts."    

To, And For Jesus

Good Morning!! There are so many of Jesus’ instructions that by our very action, we show that we haven't fully understood, or considered for that much,...certainly not believed, or practiced. He exhorts us " take no thought for tomorrow " and yet we worry ourselves to death. He promises " my yoke is easy " and yet we prefer to labor under our own. He says, " If you love me, keep my commandments " and yet we work so hard to separate the two. He warns " you cannot serve God and money " and yet we always try to join the two,...promising that "if we had more, we'd give more ".

 "The King will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.'—Matthew 25:40 (NIV)

 

But perhaps the #1 revelation, which is most widely ignored is this: if you do anything for the least of Jesus’ brethren, it is as if you have done it to Jesus. Are you really living like this is true? Have you gone to a nursing home, and spent time with a stranger; given to foreign evangelism; reached out to a broken addict; taught your children, and grand-children the Bible,...all as if you were doing it to, or for Jesus? So often we hurry by the invisible, hurting faces of Jesus’ brothers and sisters,...because we consider them beneath us. And yet our king, Jesus says; " what you do for or to them, you do for and to me."

Help the hurting, dust the furniture, teach the Bible, give to the needy, encourage the downcast just the way you would if Jesus was the One you were encountering today,...because you are.

 

 Holy Spirit, help us to do all we do, for and to the glory of God. Amen.

"It's not what's in our pockets that makes us thankful,...but what we have in our hearts."

Honor Your Parents

Good Morning!! The instruction for children that Paul gives here is two-fold. Children, first, are to obey their parents. It does not matter whether they agree with them, understand their rules, or see their individual flaws. Children are to obey their parents promptly, cheerfully, and completely—as long as they are not being asked to disobey God’s clear commands ("obey…in the Lord").

Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honor thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise;—Ephesians 6:1, 2 (NIV)

 

Parents, you have an obligation to teach this part of the Bible to your children, as much as any other portion of Scripture. Your children should know that God requires obedience and honor from them, toward you, for His glory. Being just your child’s "friend", rather than their parent, is not an option God gives us. And of course, if children are to obey their earth-bound parents, and honor them with their actions and words,...how much more should we, children of God,...honor and obey our Heavenly Father?

 

Honoring one’s parents means respecting the position of authority that they have over you, as their child,
...and showing that respect in our words and deeds. 

 

Holy Spirit, help us to revere, honor and obey our Heavenly Father,...in public and in private,...for it is only right and appropriate, that He be glorified, in all we do. Amen.

"It's not what's in our pockets that makes us thankful,...but what we have in our hearts."

 

Guidence

Good Morning!! Only about 35 percent of all adults have 20/20 vision without correction, and maybe you are among the fortunate. Even so, you can't see into the future,...or into the hearts of your friends,...or which of the unlimited number of outcomes, of the many choices we have to make daily, will be right. When we consider the limitations of our vision, no matter who we are,...we all should appreciate the incredible privilege offered to us, by God Himself. He promises to instruct and inform us, of the correct paths to take in life, not using our finite and limited vision,...but His perfect, all-seeing, all-knowing eye as our guide.

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.—Psalm 32:8 (NIV)

 

Knowing that each of us faces a myriad of hair-pulling, gut-wrenching decisions at different times in our lives,...and recognizing that even the smallest decisions can have big ramifications for our lives,...what an amazing gift this is! And, yet, so many of us prefer to stumble blindly through the deadly obstacle course of this world, setting our own course and choosing our own turns,...just so that we can say, " I did it my way."

 

The One Who knows all ends offers to lead us to the perfect destination for each of us!

 

Father God, we thank You, that Your perfect wisdom and vision are always available to us,...being no more than just a prayer away. Amen.

 

"It's not what's in our pockets that makes us thankful,...but what we have in our hearts."   

Doing It, For GOD

Good Morning!! Everyone sees and appreciates good works,...and there are so many people doing good works. Philanthropists, volunteers, every day people to Hollywood stars, are seen doing good works around the globe every day. But "good works" is not what God is interested in. God is supremely concerned, for the glory of God. It is for this reason that Jesus was not satisfied to simply command charitable deeds, random acts of kindness, or the many other good works that all the world hails. Rather He wants us to know their ultimate purpose,...to glorify God.

In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.—Matthew 5:16 (NIV)

 

Jesus tells us this,...because it is so easy for our pride, our selfishness, and our people-pleasing nature to take even our best Christian efforts. and turn them into an occasion for our own self-glorifying. Jesus always; pointed to His Father, gave His Father full credit, directed the attention to His Father. If the Son of God Himself rejected the acclaim of men for His good works, how much more should our lives be mirrors that reflect the glorious goodness, and grace of our God and Father?

 

Don't let your good works get twisted.  

 

Father in Heaven, we ask for Your help, that we decrease,...that You may be increased, in the name of Jesus. Amen.

 

"It's not what's in our pockets that makes us thankful,...but what we have in our hearts." 

Thankful, Always

Good Morning!! The Apostle Paul frequently expressed his thanks to God for the faith, love and work seen in the churches where he had labored. He acknowledged that these godly fruits were because of God’s blessings on them,...and therefore gave thanks to God. He constantly expressed thankfulness for his godly fellow laborers,...but consistently expressed thankfulness to God for even their faithfulness. (Romans 1:8; 1 Corinthians 1:4; Philippians 1:3; 1Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Thessalonians 1:3)

always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.—Ephesians 5:20 (NIV)

 

Paul was able to expressed appreciation for tribulations (Romans 5:3),...and even acknowledged that he took pleasure in “infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake” because God’s strength is made perfect in weakness. (2 Corinthians 12:10) If God’s sufficiency is displayed in my insufficiency, Paul said, then I am thankful for each opportunity for His strength to be shown in my weakness.

 

"Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift." (2 Corinthians 9:15) 

 

Father, we thank You,...for all things! Amen.

 

"To lead others out of the darkness of sin, let them see your light."