Saturday, October 31, 2015

A FAITHFUL SERVANT

I Cor. 4:2 Now, a person who is put in charge as a manager must be faithful.

Are you a faithful servant? No matter what or who the Lord has put you in charge of, are you faithfully serving Him? In all you do, are you representing Christ well?

We cannot take a vacation from our responsibilities as ambassadors for Christ. There is no part of our lives in which we can't faithfully serve the Lord. In fact, if we are not faithful servants of Christ all the time, we are not living right with God. His presence influences every part of our lives every day.

The command is clear, faithfulness is required of all. We are to manage our homes and businesses in a God-honoring and glorifying way. Being a manager is often a very difficult and stressful role to play. People don't always cooperate and some are downright defiant. Some people will go out of their way to challenge a manager's authority. Some think they know better than the boss does and will do all they can do to prove it.

A good manager doesn't abandon the ship when the going gets rough. He knows the bigger picture and how to get there. He stays the course on that which is right. He doesn't cave in to the pressure of those who would resist him. He remains faithful to the task given him to do.

The Lord has placed certain people in your life to manage well. He wants you to stand strong on that which is true and not bend to the pressure of abandoning ship. The Lord has placed His confidence and trust in you to do your job and serve Him well.

Are you a faithful servant?

Friday, October 30, 2015

THE TEMPLE OF GOD

I Cor. 3:16-17 Don't you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you? God will bring ruin upon anyone who ruins this temple. For God's temple is holy, and you Christians are that temple.

A temple is a place of worship. It is a place where God meets with man and man meets with God. It is a place where souls are purified from sin, where thanks is given, where praise is offered unto God for His wondrous blessings and goodness. A temple is where man learns more about God and from God.

Every child of God is a temple, God's chosen place to dwell. He lives in every believer's soul through the Holy Spirit. God considers the soul of His children a sacred place. He says that He will bring ruin upon anyone who ruins His temple. Let us think about that for a moment.

Anyone who would cause one of God's children to fail spiritually will be judged by God. Anyone who would jeopardize his own soul by rejecting God and sinning against Him will be judged by God. Anyone who would do something to desecrate his soul will be judged by God. The soul is a sacred trust that we dare not take lightly. God considers the soul of His children to be holy.

We, God's children, are His temple. Whether it be individually or collectively as a church, we are God's temple and are made holy where the Holy Spirit dwells. We dare not take this lightly. God commands us to be a holy people, a people after His own heart. Take good care of your soul and God will dwell there forever; desecrate or neglect your soul and you will answer to God for it.

Thursday, October 29, 2015

JESUS IS OUR FOUNDATION

I Cor. 3:10-11 Because of God's special favor to me, I have laid the foundation like an expert builder. Now others are building on it. But whoever is building on this foundation must be very careful. For no one can lay any other foundation than the one we already have---Jesus Christ.

The church is big and diversified. There is a church for just about any preference. And, if none is found, new churches are started. We are created with a need for worship. We all worship someone or something. The thing that plagues us is that we can't agree on how we ought to worship God. We are convinced that our own experience with God is the only really valid one and that all should conform to our understanding of Him. The more the population grows, the more diversified the church becomes. It makes me wonder if it is selfishness that is at the root of our diversity, or God? Does God really want the church to be so fragmented? I wonder.

I also wonder, "What other kind of foundations are being laid in Jesus' name that are not Jesus? Is it reasonable to assume that every church that bears Jesus' name has Jesus as her foundation? Or, can we agree that many things being done in Jesus' name are missing Jesus as their foundation? To what extent are we confident that Jesus is the foundation upon which we are building our lives? Do you know for certain that you are living for Jesus alone? Is He the reason why you do what you do in life? Any foundation in life that is not Christ, will crumble and fall.

If you are building your life on Christ, then you will do so carefully. You will take great pain in being sure that you are doing it right and not shoddily. You will be sure that others can easily build on what has already been built in your life. You will be a good example of godly living so that those who look up to you or look at you will know that Jesus alone is the way to live and die. You will pave the way for others to continue your legacy of faith. You will count it a privilege to be an example to others and rejoice when others build on the foundation of faith you laid.

You only have one opportunity to get the foundation right. Once the building goes up, it is too late. Don't mess around. Be sure your foundation is right so that those who come behind you will build their lives on a sure foundation. Your life does matter. Don't waste it.

Wednesday, October 28, 2015

TEAMWORK IN THE KINGDOM

I Cor. 3:8-9 The one who plants and the one who waters work as a team with the same purpose. Yet they will be rewarded individually, according to their own hard work. We work together as partners who belong to God. You are God's field. God's building, not ours.

The key to success is teamwork. Seldom, if ever, can anyone rise to the top without the help of others. There are always those behind the scene who play a pivotal role in one's success. We do our part and work hard to achieve success, but we depend on many others as well in our lives. When a person works hard as part of a team, they are rewarded for their efforts, sometimes as a team and sometimes individually.

The same principle applies in the Kingdom of God. Every believer is on the same team. We all exist for one purpose, to honor and glorify Christ on earth. Albeit, many lose sight of our common purpose and strike out on their own, only to fall flat on their faces. When we maintain our common purpose as a part of the body of Christ, good things happen for the cause of Christ.

When we see ourselves as part of a team, partners with one another for the cause of Christ, the body functions well and Christ is lifted up before man. Many souls come into the Kingdom as well. It is when we cease to be a team that the church stalls. Because we have lost our sense of being partners in the Gospel with one another, we have lost much of our effectiveness in the world and our witness to the world has been tainted.

We must always remember that the church is Christ's and Christ's alone. No one can claim to be head of the church. No church can claim to the Kingdom of God. There are no labels or super heroes in the Kingdom. We are all a part of the same team, serving with the same purpose, to be a people after God's own heart seeking to bring honor and glory to Christ. Anything less than that is contrary to God's will and our purpose for existence.

Tuesday, October 27, 2015

GOD MAKES IT GROW

I Cor. 3:7 The ones who do the planting or watering aren't important, but God is important because he is the one who makes the seed grow.

We don't seem to understand this simple truth very well. We tend to strive to feel important amongst men. We long for the respect and admiration of others. We want others to follow us and depend on us. We want others to acknowledge our achievements and honor us for them. In order to ensure our legacy, we put our name on our achievements. We build our own little kingdoms with our names plastered all over them. We like being in the limelight and we often take advantage of the attention lavished on us and profit from it.

Paul makes it very clear that such living is not pleasing to the Lord. Over and over again Paul speaks on humility. He reminds us that no one is of any greater importance in the Kingdom of God than anyone else. We all have a role to play in the Kingdom and we are all of equal importance. It is not important to God how important we may be perceived to be on earth. He does not care if we are known by thousands or by two or three people. He doesn't care how talented we are. He doesn't care how much power or influence we have over others.

It is God who makes things happen in the Kingdom. He is the one who moves the heart of man in response to the Gospel. Our role is to proclaim and live the Gospel; it is God's role to make the difference in the lives of people. It is God alone who causes a soul to come to repentance. It is God who nurtures the Gospel message in the heart of man and makes it grow to bear fruit. It is God alone who gets the honor and glory for the things we are able to do.

Anyone who lets himself be exalted and honored amongst men, robs God of His glory. We must be very careful about this. God holds us accountable for our self-exaltation. God judges the heart and all who think more highly of themselves than they ought will be humbled by Him.

Monday, October 26, 2015

UNDERSTANDING THE TRUTH

I Cor. 2:14 But people who aren't Christians can't understand these truths from God's Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them because only those who have the Spirit can understand what the Spirit means.

We need to understand this fundamental truth; the people of the world do not understand the things of God. They think faith is foolish; they think living by godly standards is foolishness. They don't understand the things people of faith take for granted. They don't understand the words we use. Those who have very little, if any, experience in church life are quick to dismiss any talk of faith and even become hostile towards it.

We must learn this lesson of truth because we must be careful about how we present Christ to the world. We will generally be far more effective in our witness with how we live than with what we say. The world can easily tune out what we say, but it is much harder to tune out the good we do through Christ.

When we show others that the Gospel really works in practical ways in life, we have a much better chance of being heard. People want practical solutions to life's issues that work, not pat answers. They will pay attention to the difference Christ makes in our living. They can deny the validity of what we say, but they can't deny the validity of seeing it work in us.

We understand the things of God because the Holy Spirit guides us into all truth and helps us to understand. He is constantly giving us more understanding as we are able to absorb it. He teaches us the things we need to know for life. And, when the lost come to know Christ, they too will be led and fed by the Spirit. Until then, don't expect the world to get it, because they won't.

Sunday, October 25, 2015

IT TAKES TIME TO UNDERSTAND

I Cor. 2:11 No one can know what anyone else is really thinking except that person alone, and no one can know God's thoughts except God's own Spirit.

There is no such thing as a mind reader. There are those who claim to be mind readers, but they are not. No one can know the thoughts of another person. One of the real contributors to conflicts is that we assume we know what the other person is thinking and means when they speak. We get defensive and argumentative when we hear something we think another person is saying that we disagree with or take offense at. Instead of sitting down and talking things through to get a real understanding of things, we become divided and break fellowship with another.

We often do the same thing spiritually. We often assume we know what God is saying or wants without really seeking to discern what we assume to be true. Many false doctrines spring up because we fail to put the effort into really discerning what God is saying. Anyone who is willing to wait on the Spirit of God to reveal the truth of the Scriptures will know the truth. It takes study and meditation to really know what God is teaching us through the Word. A casual reading of the Word of God will never ground us in truth or keep us there.

So many divisions in the church happen because we take such a light view of searching out the Scriptures to discern what it really says. We rely on what others tell us instead of doing our own search. We depend on church doctrine to guide us instead of actually reading the Word ourselves and meditating on it. We are not well-grounded in the Word so we are easily upset when others may disagree with us.

The Lord desperately needs us to be into the Word, study it, meditate on it, and let the Holy Spirit show us how to apply it and empower us to do it. It is the only way we will live in peace with one another and serve the Lord together for His glory.

Saturday, October 24, 2015

IT'S ALL ABOUT JESUS

I Cor. 2:1-2 Dear brothers and sisters, when I first came to you I didn't use lofty words and brilliant ideas to tell you God's message. For I decided to concentrate only on Jesus Christ and his death on the cross.

You don't have to be a scholar to be a witness for Christ. In his epistle, John begins with just stating that what he was writing about was Jesus, whom he had known personally. He had walked with Him, talked to Him, shared life with Him. John just shared his own personal encounter with Jesus. The most effective witness is just that, our personal story of how Jesus has touched our lives.

You don't have to use lofty words. Most of the time, people will not listen to you if you do because most people don't talk that way. We must be careful that we don't use "church language" to the point where people who don't go to church have no clue what we are talking about. We need to keep it simple so that understanding can be had.

We don't have to overpower people with what we know. It's not what we know that matters, it's who we know--Jesus. People only need Jesus. They need to know that He loves them, died for them, and can save them. People need to know that there is a solution to their sin problem. People need to know that there is hope, not only for this life, but for all of eternity.

Tell whoever will listen to you, Jesus saves. Tell them what Jesus has done for you and what He can do for them. Tell them often. There is nothing more important to talk about in all the world. People must know about Jesus. If you love the Lord, you will share Him with whomever you can until He comes.

Friday, October 23, 2015

GOD MADE IT POSSIBLE

I Cor. 1:30 God alone made it possible for you to be in Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made Christ to be wisdom itself. He is the one who made us acceptable to God. He made us pure and holy, and he gave himself to purchase our freedom.

Only God could unite our hearts with Christ, and He did it. It is possible for the soul of man to be made like the soul of Christ, holy and acceptable to God. When we accept what Jesus did for us at Calvary, confess our sins to Him, ask Him to forgive us, and strive to live a life free from sin, we are made one in Christ before God.

Christ becomes for us our wisdom from God. It is living in Christ that enables us to understand and apply the Word of God to life. It is living in Christ that enables us to distinguish between that which is righteous before God and that which is sin. It is living in Jesus that enables us to stay out of the clutches of Satan by resisting him in Jesus' name.

Christ makes us acceptable to God. Mysteriously, Jesus imparts His righteousness onto our souls. We are made pure and holy before God. We are set free from our sinful nature that compels us to sin. We are given a desire to live lives that please God instead of ourselves. We are given a whole new perspective on a life that is worth the living.

Christ gave up His life on earth so that we can have eternal life with God. Jesus did not have to go to Calvary in our place, but He did. He had the right and authority to skip the cross, but He wouldn't. He loves us and willingly gave up His life on the cross so that we could live in freedom from our sins. He gave up His life so that we could be free to enjoy life in God and all of His blessings from heaven. He gave up His life so that we could be free to enjoy the peace and contentment that is only found in Christ. Hallelujah, what a Savior!!

Thursday, October 22, 2015

THE POWER OF THE GOSPEL

I Cor. 1:18 I know very well how foolish the message of the cross sounds to those who are on the road to destruction. But we who are being saved recognize this message as the very power of God.

For those who are living in the darkness, there is a veil over the cross that prevents them from seeing that Jesus died for them. There are many different reasons why the world rejects and often hates the Gospel message. The bottom line is as Jesus put it, they don't want to come out of the darkness into the light because they know how they live is wrong and they don't want to admit it or have anyone know it's wrong. Think about it, if Satan can squelch the truth or distort it so that sin is not recognized as sin any longer, people will not sense their need for a Savior. The world is in denial. They foolishly say there is no absolute truth. They say that truth is arguable and situational, that there is room for many different truths. They say that the Gospel has lost its relevance, that we have outgrown our need for it. They consider the Gospel message to be only for the weak and those who believe it to be fools.

Yet, for those of us who do believe, the Gospel makes perfect sense. We know its power to save, change us, and give life meaning for us. We know the peace and joy that the world desperately needs and wants. We know the things that matter in life are not made by human hands or conceived in human minds. We know the wondrous mystery that it is true, because we live it and it works. We know the Truth and He sets us free from the darkness of the world that binds and blinds those who consider us to be fools.

The message of the cross is this, God enters into and stays in the heart of all those who by faith believe it. Only a fool will not believe or accept Jesus as Savior and then Lord of life.

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

CHURCH ARGUING

I Cor. 1:10 Now, dear brothers and sisters, I appeal to you by the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ to stop arguing among yourselves. Let there be real harmony so there won't be divisions in the church. I plead with you to be of one mind, united in thought and purpose.

Some things seem to never change. Apparently there was arguing going on in the church right from the start. It was bad enough that it was brought to Paul's attention. As long as people make up the church there will be lively "discussions." Sometimes issues will be resolved for the common good and sometimes for the sake of the common good people will part ways to either connect with another church body or to start one themselves.

However, it is not God's desire for His body to be divided. God does not want, or need, a church on every street corner. He does not want His body to compete with each other for places of prominence in town. He does not want any part of His body to lord it over others. He doesn't want any part of His body to get an attitude about who they are or what they do in the Kingdom of Christ.

We are not going to do away with the wide variety of churches that make up the body of Christ. We are not all going to see things the same way, worship the same way, or serve the same way. But, we don't have to let our differences separate us. We can learn to live in harmony with each other. In fact, for the good of the body, I would suggest that we MUST learn to live in harmony.

A fragmented church is not an effective church. We will never impact our communities and world as long as we have different agendas. We will never make much of a dent in Satan's territory as long as we have different mindsets and purposes. United we stand strong and true; divided we crumble and fall.

Tuesday, October 20, 2015

YOU ARE SO BLESSED

I Cor. 1:4 I can never stop thanking God for all the generous gifts he has given you, now that you belong to Christ Jesus.

Do you have a thankful heart? Are you aware of how blessed you really are? Think about your life today and consider all that is good about it. If you know that your sins are forgiven, you are so richly blessed. You have eternal life! If you have a Bible to open up and read, you are so richly blessed. Most people in the world do not have a Bible and many do not know how to read even if they had one.

Do you know what it is to have your prayers heard and answered by God? You are so blessed! The world is full of people who pray a lot, but they pray to a god who cannot hear or answer prayers.

If you have friends who love and support you, you are so richly blessed. Everywhere you turn you will find people who are so lonely and have no one to come alongside of them to help them cope with life.

If you have daily food to eat, safe water to drink, clothes to wear, and shelter from life's storms, you are so richly blessed. People die daily from a lack of the most basic necessities of life to sustain them.

If you can live your faith out in the world without fear of persecution or death, you are so richly blessed. If you have a church where the Bible is preached, taught, and lived out, you are so richly blessed. There are so many churches that do not uphold God's Word as the authoritative voice from God for our living and there is fear throughout the world because of the consequences of being a child of God.

The list is endless of things to be thankful for. We need to learn to appreciate all that the Lord does for us. We need to learn to appreciate the people in our lives who support and encourage us in the faith. God is so good to us all the time. Praise and thank Him today for your countless blessings.

Monday, October 19, 2015

AVOID CHURCH TROUBLEMAKERS

Rom. 16:17 And now I make one more appeal, my dear brothers and sisters. Watch out for people who cause divisions and upset people's faith by teaching things that are contrary to what you have been taught. Stay away from them.

We should be on the lookout for those who divide the church and lead people astray, but it seems like we aren't. We are not too careful about warding off problems amongst us. We don't like to ruffle feathers so we don't confront those who stir up trouble. We then sit back and bemoan the fact that there is trouble within the church.

It is our obligation to stand guard over the integrity of the Gospel and how it is lived out amongst us. The Word of God and holy living are sacred trusts that we dare not mess up. We can avoid much of the internal strife in the church by being more responsible when it comes to squelching those who cause divisions in the church and lead people astray.

The Lord gave us instructions on how to discipline one another for a reason. When we properly follow His guidance, harmony is restored and maintained in the church. Disciplining one another is not an ego or power trip. It should always be done humbly, compassionately, and with the intent of restoration of the offending party's soul to the fellowship of the church. When discipline fails to restore, we are to stay away from them.

We must take very serious the condition of our souls. We must not be negligent when it comes to having fellowship with people who can lead us away from God. We must always strive to keep our souls lined up with godliness. We must stand guard over our souls so that we will not wander away from God. Peace with God and the eternal state of our souls is at stake.

Sunday, October 18, 2015

PRAYING FOR SERVANT-LEADERS

Rom. 15:30 Dear friends, I urge you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me. Do this because of your love for me given you by the Holy Spirit.

I wonder how often we join with others in their ministries by faithfully praying for them. For most of us it's probably not very often. Many people hand out prayer cards, make appeals through letters or the Internet, and make personal appeals for prayer support. Much of the time those appeals are soon forgotten. I wonder how much different things would be for those who serve if they were to be supported faithfully by prayer. I can't help but think that a lot of things would be different.

We must never forget that those who are serving the Lord are human, too. They struggle just like we do. They are tempted by Satan just as we are. They have bad days just like we do. They have personal issues at home just like we do. They have fears and doubts just like we do. They are faced with the same issues that you and I face in our walk with the Lord. Also, because they are more in the limelight than we usually are, they are more vulnerable to Satan's attacks than what we usually are. In other words, those who are serving the Lord in various ways in leadership roles need our prayer support.

Let us strive, with the Lord's help, to be better prayer warriors on their behalf. Let us ask the Lord to hold up accountable for our commitments to pray for others. Let us not be found guilty of saying one thing and doing another. The servants of the Lord need our prayer support on a regular basis. They need to know someone is praying for them. Will you be a prayer warrior for someone starting today?

Saturday, October 17, 2015

LIVE WHAT YOU PROFESS

Rom. 15:18 I dare not boast of anything else. I have brought the Gentiles to God by my message and by the way I lived before them.

The Apostle Paul was saved to be a witness to the Gentiles of God's saving grace through Christ Jesus. It was what God commanded him to do. It was what he did with a passion. He was not very well-liked by his fellow Jews because of it. He was often beaten, thrown into prison, run out of town, and falsely accused before the Roman council because of it. Life was very difficult for Paul, but he could not be stopped.

Paul was a humble man and did not boast of his accomplishments. He could have taken pride in his birth pedigree, but he didn't. He could have boasted of his Roman citizenship, but he didn't. He could have boasted of all of his successes in the churches he helped establish and preached in, but he didn't.

The only thing that Paul pointed to was the fact that that he did what God told him to do. He brought many Gentiles to God through his preaching, teaching and living. His message was very clear and consistent wherever he went and he backed up his message with the way he lived.

The only real witness that we have that matters to the world is whether or not our living supports what we proclaim. It's not too hard to notice a hypocrite and the world jumps on them like fleas on a dog. The world may not agree with us when we live what we preach, but they do have to respect the fact that we live it. Let us always strive to show by our example of living that the Gospel message is for real and that it indeed does change lives.

Friday, October 16, 2015

PATIENCE


Rom. 15:5  May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other--each with the attitude of Christ Jesus toward the other.

If you lack patience, don't let it bother you.  God gives us all the patience we need if we but ask Him to.  So often we struggle with patience because we don't go to the source of patience, God.  We try to no avail to handle things on our own and when we fail to do what we want or expect to do, we get upset and lose patience over it.  One of the biggest reasons why we struggle to get along with others is due to our lack of patience.  God can help us; He will help us, if we turn to Him and ask Him for it.

Now I know that as we get older, patience physically becomes harder.  Our nerves are more on edge and if we use caffeine in our drinks and don’t get adequate rest, it makes it even harder.  Therefore, we need to try to work harder on helping ourselves as much as we can.  When we sense ourselves getting impatient, we need to try to pause and ask the Lord to help us through the moment and deal with things as we should. 

If you get down and discouraged over things, turn to the Lord; He will lift you up as you focus on Him and all that He has done for you.  The Lord does not want you down and in a funky mood.  He wants to see you joyful, upbeat, feeling positive about things.  The Lord will help you when you are down if you will but turn to Him and ask Him to.

When we deal with life patiently and positively, we find ourselves better able to live in harmony with others.  Loving one another with godly love and seeing one another as Christ sees us, is very doable when we let Jesus be Lord of our hearts and living.  When we keep our eyes and hearts fixed on Jesus, life becomes so much easier and enjoyable for us and those whom we share life with.

Thursday, October 15, 2015

LIVE BY YOUR CONVICTIONS


Rom. 14:23  But if people have doubts about whether they should eat something, they shouldn't eat it.  They would be condemned for not acting in faith before God.  If you do anything you believe is not right, you are sinning.

God dwells in every believer's heart through the Holy Spirit.  The Spirit guides us into all truth, helps us to understand the truth, and empowers us to live the truth.  He works within each of us in unique ways and we learn to apply truth within the context of our personalities and situations in life.  There are many things we differ in because of our uniqueness.  As long as we don't deviate from the truth of the Scriptures, it's okay to have different convictions about things.

We sin when we go against what the Spirit has convicted us of.  If we sincerely believe something is wrong and we go ahead and do it, we sin.  We are responsible for our own convictions.  It doesn't matter whether or not someone else holds the same convictions that you do or not.  Unless the Lord clearly shows you that what you are convinced of is wrong, you sin when you go against what you believe to be true.

We need to have a clear grasp on what we believe about things so that we will live it.  We need to examine the Scriptures and ask the Lord to give us clear understanding of it.  We need to ask the Lord then for the strength and willpower to live by our convictions.  We must have a clear sense of right and wrong and live by it.  God holds us accountable for the choices we make.

Wednesday, October 14, 2015

HARMONY IN THE CHURCH


Rom. 14:19  So then, let us aim for harmony in the church and try to build each other up. 

Let's just do it.  Let us aim for harmony in the church and try to build each other up.  Being a part of church life would be so much more pleasant if we were to do it.  If harmony becomes our goal, the issue becomes how we can do it.  Let me offer a few thoughts.

Harmony can be achieved if we were to set aside our personal agendas and expectations of others.  We need to quit insisting on having things our way all the time.  When there is a general consensus on what to do or how to do it, we submit to what the majority believes to be right.  As long as there is not a doctrinal issue at stake, it doesn't matter if we get our way or not.  We need to have a humble spirit and work together for the common good of the body of Christ. 

Harmony can be achieved when we are united on our common goal, the exaltation of Christ and the evangelism of the world.  All believers in Christ should share in these two goals for the church.  When we do, getting along and working together becomes so much easier.

Harmony can be achieved when we are united together in prayer.  Prayer should overshadow everything we do in the church.  When we ask the Lord together to guide us and help us relate to each other in a Christ like way, we will be more apt to live and work peaceably with each other.

Harmony can be achieved when our mutual goal is to try and build each other up.  When we are looking out for the interests of others, self doesn't get in the way nearly as much.  When we are seeking the good of others, we won't be so hard to get along with. 

Harmony can be achieved when we work together to achieve it.  Let us always strive to get along with others and work together for the good and the glory of Christ.  It is what pleases God.

Tuesday, October 13, 2015

CONDEMNING OTHERS


Rom. 14:13  So don't condemn each other anymore.  Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not put an obstacle in another Christian's path.

When we condemn others, we are putting obstacles in their walk with the Lord.  We are hindering their progress by dragging them down with our words.  Instead of building them up and encouraging them to go farther with the Lord, we halt their progress. 

Living godly lives is difficult enough the way it is without someone pointing out to us all that we are doing wrong.  Granted, sometimes we do need correction so that we can stay on the right path to God, but we don't need to always be put down to the point where we are discouraged and defeated.  Negativity breeds negativity and we need to be careful that we are not an obstacle in another believer's path.

We need to be positive contributors to one another's walk.  We need to come alongside of others and gently prod them on to a deeper walk with the Lord.  We need to always offer guidance with love and tenderness.  We need to ask the Lord to guard our hearts so that we don't sit in judgment over others.  We need to ask Him for self-control over our tongues.  We need to ask Him to teach us how to be positive and not negative influencers in the lives of others.

Pride in our own righteousness is often the root cause of why we condemn others.  Ask the Lord to strip you of your pride, forgive you and keep you humble before Him.  Ask Him to keep you from being an obstacle in another Christian's path. 

Monday, October 12, 2015

TREATING OTHERS WITH GRACE


Rom. 14:10 So why do you condemn another Christian? Why do you look down on another Christian? Remember, each of us will stand personally before the judgment seat of God.

This is a very important lesson for us to learn and remember.  We do not have the right to sit in judgment on other believers.  We do not have the right to put ourselves in higher positions than others.  It is not good for us to think we are better than other believers.  We are all equal in the sight of God and each of us will stand before the judgment seat of God and give an account to Him for our lives.

There is a difference between condemning other believers and holding them responsible for what they do in the name of Jesus.  We dare not let other believers act irresponsibly in their faith walk within the church.  When they sin openly it affects the life of the church body and her witness in the community.  We cannot let anyone sin and get away with it.  We must deal with the matter Biblically and graciously. The goal of all confrontation must be the restoration of the soul to God. 

Aside from matters that must be addressed by the church body, we have no right to look down on other believers who we may have issues with.  It is not our business to try and change anyone.  We are to live graciously and peacefully with one another.  We are to love each other in Christ.  Forgiving each other should be the norm and not the exception.  We should be quick to put matters of disagreement behind us and leave them there.

Where we lack the ability to live graciously and lovingly with one another, we need to ask the Lord to forgive us and help us to act more like Christ towards one another.  Is there someone you need to ask the Lord to help you act more like Him towards?

Sunday, October 11, 2015

JUDGING SPIRITUAL LEADERS


Rom. 14:4  Who are you to condemn God's servants?  They are responsible to the Lord, so let him tell them whether they are right or wrong.  The Lord's power will help them do as they should.

Pointing fingers is one thing most of us do well.  It seems to be common wherever we go.  It's easy to blame others for what they do or don't do.  It's easy to jump on things they say and make a big deal out of it.  Chances are that you have done it and that it has been done to you.  We often try to make ourselves look good at the expense of others.  We like to think we are better than they are because we don't do or say what they do.

Now, I am not referring to those times in which it is obvious someone has done wrong and must be held accountable for it.  We simply cannot overlook blatant sin, especially in the church.  However, most of what we hold against one another should be let go and not made an issue of.  We are to live lovingly and graciously with one another, striving to live in peace.

It is especially easy to condemn those who are in leadership positions.  They are visible and easy targets.  We want to impose on them our own convictions of what is right and wrong.  We don't want them to think differently on things than we do.  However, it is not our role or responsibility to sit in judgment on them.  We are to let the Lord take care of their convictions.  If they are humbled and open to Him, they will do as they should.  Each of us will answer to God for what we preach, teach and how we live.

Saturday, October 10, 2015

DO NOT ARGUE FAITH


Rom. 14:1 Accept Christians who are weak in faith, and don't argue with them about what they think is right or wrong.

Some Christians are stronger in faith than others.  There are many reasons why it is so.  New believers tend to live on emotions more than Biblical understanding.  Most of them are not grounded in truth and have not had time to develop an understanding of it.  Many are in the process of developing disciplines that will help them to grow, but they are not firmly established yet and so their growth is sporadic.

There are also many of us who simply never grow up; they remain weak in faith.  They lack commitment to the disciplines of faith and so they just sort of wander through life knowing Christ on a very weak foundation.  They struggle greatly in their ability to resist temptations.  They are sporadic in their commitment to church life.  They believe, but have a difficult time with applying what they believe to their living.

Weak Christians tend to be more reactive than more established believers.  They are quicker to argue over things because they are more defensive.  They have little understanding of how some things can be understood by others in different ways and lived out differently.  They are not prone to be gracious with those who they don't agree with.

We accomplish nothing by being argumentative.  We aren't always going to agree with one another on everything we know to be true.  We aren't going to persuade very many people by arguing with them over details.  Instead, we should be gracious towards one another and agree to disagree agreeably and serve the Lord together in peace.  We are to love one another and not be at odds with one another over things we don't agree on.  Let the Spirit of Christ guide into all truth and do your best to serve the Lord with your best for His honor and glory. 

Friday, October 9, 2015

LET JESUS CHANGE YOU


Rom. 13:14  But let the Lord Jesus Christ take control of you, and don't think of ways to indulge your evil desires.

We are naturally born with a tendency to love and long for the things of the world.  Chasing after evil is what we want to do.  We like it when we are engaged in the pleasures of sin.  We sin naturally and easily.

But, for the child of God, we must move beyond our natural instincts.  Jesus changes our natural desires into longings for God.  We no longer are satisfied by evil desires.  They are empty and delusional.  We discover that only God can satisfy the soul.  Therefore, we must work hard at staying away from our evil desires and let Christ control us.

Jesus can only have control of us with our permission and cooperation.  He will not make us into a people after His own heart that pleases God unless we give Him full control over our lives.  What we must do is engage ourselves in those things which help us to stay surrendered to Him.  We must faithfully and consistently be students of the Scriptures.  We must stay in constant touch with Him through prayer.  We must put feet to our prayers and seize opportunities given to us daily to serve Him.  We must develop a grateful spirit and learn to praise Him often in our lives. 

In other words, we must discipline our souls so that we have a mindset for godly things.  We must shun those things which pull us away from God.  We must refuse to participate in sinful practices.  We must strive to keep our thoughts off of evil and onto those things which are wholesome and good for our souls.  It's not always easy to do, but try we must.  We will stumble and fall, but we must never give up. 

Let the Lord have control of you; great will be your reward in heaven.

Thursday, October 8, 2015

WE NEED A WAKE-UP CALL.


Rom. 13:11  Another reason for right living is that you know how late it is; time is running out.  Wake up, for the coming of our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.

We need a wake-up call.  I don't believe that we believe that it is late, that time is running out.  Life goes on and we give very little serious thought to the fact that things are going to change.  Life as it is known today just cannot continue.  Mankind is out of control.  Weapons of mass destruction are available and in the hands of unstable people.  We have lost our sense of what is good for the common good.  Self-interests are the rule of the day.  We are lost and don't even know or care.  Time is indeed running out.

We have been lulled to sleep by our modern world.  We have the mindset that things will get better than they are simply because we are more knowledgeable and have the capabilities to do things that no previous generation has ever had. 

God has made it very clear in His Word that things are going to change big time.  He has the day set in heaven for Christ's return for the church.  Each day draws us closer to that day.  We have no guarantee for another breath, another tomorrow.  The Lord's coming is a lot closer now than we can even imagine.  World events and the mindset of mankind all point to His soon return. 

We need to be very serious about this, lest He comes and catches us unprepared.  We need to take good care of our souls and reach out to as many people as possible before He comes.  Today is our day of salvation.  If we wait until it's more convenient for us, that day may never come.  Wake up!  The day of salvation is soon upon us.  Are you ready?

Wednesday, October 7, 2015

LOVE DOES NO WRONG


Rom. 13:10  Love does no wrong to anyone, so love satisfies all of God's requirements.

Love does no wrong.  Think about this for a few moments today.  Love does not hurt others.  Love does not withhold forgiveness when it is asked for.  Love does not demean others.  Love does not let others suffer when we can do something about it.  Love does no wrong.

How often have you truly been loved by those who say they love you?  Probably not as often as you should be.  Loving one another should be the norm in the family of God.  We are told in I Cor. 13:4-8a just what this love is like in practical terms.  Godly love builds others us; it does not tear them down. 

To love one another God's way is demanding.  It demands of us thoughtful effort.  We must purposely strive to act in a godly way towards one another.  We must set aside our personal agendas and emotions and act like God acts towards us.  God loves us unconditionally and sacrificially.

God gave His all for our salvation.  He who knew no sin became sin for us so that we can be set free from sin's condemnation and have eternal life with Him.  He died for everyone who has ever lived and does not withhold His love from anyone who would receive it.

All of God's demands for holy living can be met by loving one another with godly love.  If we put forth the effort and truly try to love one another as we should, all will be well with our souls before God, for love satisfies all of God's requirements for eternal love.  If you truly love the Lord you will obey His commandments and all of His commandments are summarized in loving God with all that we are and loving one another as ourselves.

Tuesday, October 6, 2015

VICTORY OVER SIN

 

Rom. 12:21 Don't let evil get the best of you, but conquer evil by doing good.

This is such a simple, yet powerful verse for us today. It is one that we know is true, but find it so hard to do. We tend to underestimate the power of evil to lure us away from God. We get comfortable and smug in our walk with the Lord and forget just how weak and vulnerable we really are. We tend to go on in our strength, thinking we are okay, but realizing we aren't. We need to regroup and reconsider the lure and power of evil to lead us into sin.

All of us have our vulnerable points. There are areas of our lives that we simply cannot gain control over by the strength of our will. We find ourselves doing the same sin over and over again. We get frustrated and question whether or not it's even possible to not repeat the sin.

Our only hope of victory over sin is to face it with Christ head on. We must quit thinking we can do what we know we can't do and instead turn it over to the Lord and let Him help us. Victory may happen all at once, or it may take many steps, but if we face our areas of temptation one step at a time leaning on the Lord, victory is assured.

We conquer evil by doing good. It doesn't have to get the best of us. When we are busy doing that which is good before the Lord, we break the hold evil has on us. Obviously, we are not going to wipe out evil on earth, but we can live in victory over it in our lives. Don't settle for being a victim when you can be a victor in Christ Jesus, our Lord.

Monday, October 5, 2015

DON'T GET EVEN

Rom. 12:19 Dear friends, never avenge yourselves. Leave that to God. For it is written, "I will take vengeance; I will repay those who deserve it," says the Lord.

One of the normal things to do as a child is to get even with those who does him wrong. I know I did it. Regardless whether it was a sibling or not, I wanted to make things even. You do me wrong, then I will do you wrong. It was the law of nature. Sadly, many never grow out of their childhood years. They are bent on getting even when they are wronged, often causing much harm, even death. It is a theme that is interwoven throughout the things that entertain us. Avenging ourselves only seems like the right thing to do.

However, God does not see things as we see them. He says to let Him take care of those who wrong us. It is not our role to play God with others. Instead of getting even, we are to strive to just let things go and move forward with grace and love. We are to forgive those who wrong us and strive to live peaceably with them. We are to pray for those who have vengeful hearts instead of making them pay for what they do.

God is just and He will take care of whatever business needs to be taken care of. If vengeance is needed, He will take care of it at the proper time. He alone knows when it is time to execute justice. He does not act on the same timetable that we do. He sees what we don't and knows whether or not the vengeful soul will repent. He gives everyone ample amount of time to change their attitude and actions. He would much rather wait and not have to mete out vengeance than to do it quickly and lose a soul.

When someone wrongs you, don't take matters into your own hands. Instead take them to the Lord and let Him take care of it. He is able and will do the right thing every time.

Sunday, October 4, 2015

LIVE IN HARMONY

Rom. 12:16 Live in harmony with each other. Don't try to act important, but enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don't think you know it all!

Churches seem to be the worst offenders of this verse. Some church bodies are so into their own world that they will not fellowship with anyone else. They think that to do so would put their doctrinal position into jeopardy. They fear that they might think differently about things and no longer stand on solid Biblical ground. Thus, they choose not to fellowship with other church bodies or work with them for the advancement of the Gospel.

Living in harmony with one another is often difficult and not done. Rather than work through issues, there is the tendency to just break fellowship with one another. It happens a lot within the church. One may sit next to someone in church and even serve alongside of them, but be out of fellowship with them. Such living is sin.

Some try to act important in the church. They get the idea because of what they do or have accomplished in life that they are better than others. In God's family, no one is any more important than anyone else. Period. No one is worthy of being exalted to a higher status than anyone else. Instead, we are to enjoy each other's fellowship. Church life would be so much more enjoyable for everyone if we would do this.

Protect your soul. Don't think you know it all; you don't. No matter how much you may have learned about life, the Scriptures, how to apply them, and people, you don't know it all. We are all in the learning process. There is so much more to learn than what you think you know. Don't let your knowledge puff you up; it is sin. Humbly use what you do know for the honor and glory of Christ.

Saturday, October 3, 2015

GOD'S PLAN FOR YOU

Rom. 12:12 Be glad for all God is planning for you. Be patient in trouble, and always be prayerful.

We don't know what God has in store for us except His coming and heaven. He does not unravel for us our tomorrows. He may give us general direction as to where we are heading, but He does not give us the details. We should never concern ourselves about that which we have no control over. The Lord is already where we will be so we simply should rejoice that He is there and is leading us to it. We know that when we get there we will never be alone. The Lord has a plan and we must learn to rest in Him and let Him work it.

Sometimes trouble is a part of His plan for us. Why? Because that is where we grow the most in our ability to trust and love Him. We need tough times to teach us that the Lord is faithful and able to see us through them. We need to learn to be patient and not let our troubles throw us for a loop. They do pass and all things do work out for them who love the Lord.

We learn trust and patience through prayer. We must be disciplined prayer warriors. We learn best on our knees that God is real and able to help us through whatever life brings us. We learn the most about how precious our Lord is through prayer. We must have time alone with our Lord in our prayer closets if we are going to survive and thrive spiritually. Prayer is the key to successful godly living.

Friday, October 2, 2015

DON'T BE LAZY!

Rom. 12:11 Never be lazy in your work, but serve the Lord enthusiastically.

Never, lazy and enthusiastically, three words that we need to take seriously, especially as it pertains to our walk with the Lord.

If a person is always lazy, he will never make it in the world or the faith. It takes work to stay on top of things and work takes effort. It is far better to never let laziness be a part of who you are. A lazy person generally is not wanted. He is usually on the outside looking in. A person who does work enthusiastically is usually the one who will get noticed and rewarded for their efforts.

Spiritually, we must learn this lesson on laziness. A lazy child of God will never make it to heaven. It takes much work to keep our souls out of Satan's clutches. The opportunities to fail far outweigh our opportunities to succeed. We must stay on our guard and be alert to the opportunities for success. We must do the work necessary. We must dig deep into God's Word and learn how to live it. We must be determined to stay connected with the Lord in prayer. We must not pass on opportunities to do good for others around us. We must work hard at resisting the temptations to compromise Biblical standards for our convenience or pleasure.

We must stay on top of our spirit. We must learn to serve the Lord enthusiastically. We can do that when we have a deep appreciation for all that the Lord has done to save us, is doing to keep us, and will do to reward us in heaven someday. Keeping our souls fixated on Jesus all the time helps us to not get lazy and to not serve Him out of duty instead of love and gratitude.

Thursday, October 1, 2015

YOU ARE IMPORTANT!

Rom. 12:6 God has given each of us the ability to do certain things well.

It seems like a very unnecessary statement to comment on, but I believe it has tremendous importance for us as the church. We live in a day in which people with special looks, abilities, and athleticism are put in the limelight. They educate us, entertain us and, usually make us feel inferior because they have something we don't, can do what we can only dream about doing, or look better than we do.

People who stand out in a crowd are popularized. They get all the attention and seldom are the abilities of the majority even noted. With modern day technology, it is not hard at all to get one's face in front of millions of people if you have abilities or looks that stand out.

But, what about the rest of us? Don't we matter? Yes, we do. God has given each of us ability to do certain things well. What we do well may never be recognized or acknowledged, but that is not the point. What we do matters a great deal to God if we are doing it for His honor and glory. You may only do one thing well, but if it is done for the Lord it matters a great deal to God.

We are given different abilities so that there will be no lack in the body. Each one doing what they do best for the common good accomplishes much. The parking lot attendant, usher or coffee maker is just as important to the health of the church as is the pastor, song leader or musicians. Do what you well for the glory of Christ and great will be your reward in heaven.