Heb. 13:14 For this world is not our home; we are looking forward to our city in heaven, which is yet to come.
I am so grateful today that this world is not my home. I look around me and it is not the kind of place I want to spend eternity in. It is getting more blatantly evil all the time. There is no regard for life throughout the world. People do not respect one another and they treat one other with cruelty. It is a very self-driven world. It is essentially the survival of the fitest and those who aren't fit are squashed by those who are stronger.
God promises us an eternal home that is free from all traces of sin. Sin will not even be a concept in heaven. It will be a place where the glory of God will fill every space. It will be a place where pure love for one another will be the only way we will act. Everyone will be on equal footing; there will be no favoritism there. It will be a place of such beauty that there are not words to even describe it. The Lord is there right now preparing a place for us in it.
Jesus told us to not let our hearts be troubled by the things of this life. Live in fellowship with the Lord, striving to be holy in all you do, and you will be home someday. We will not be spared troubles in this life, but it will be worth it all when we get to heaven to be with our Lord. Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus and you will make it. Don't let the world draw you away from Him. Don't let yourself be attached to what is here. This world is not our home! No matter how bad things may be for you, heaven is something to look forward to. Keep you eyes focused on Christ at all times and you will get there.
Sunday, August 14, 2016
Saturday, August 13, 2016
TRUTH COMES FROM GOD
Heb. 13:8,9 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. So do not be distracted by strange, new ideas. Your spiritual strength comes from God's special favor, not from ceremonial rules about food, which don't help those who follow them.
We know verse 8 well, but often don't think about verse 9. We need to think about it for a few moments. Are you easily distracted by the things you hear? Do you listen to people just because they come across as knowing what they are talking about, they are flashy, or popular? How many voices are you listening to? And, how do you handle it when you hear conflicting things? Are you able to discern the truth from false teachings?
One thing is for sure, the truth found in Christ never changes. When you are seeking truth from God and His Word, you will not be confused or led astray. The truth of the Gospel is the same as it always has been and ever will be. We must base our understanding on what God says, and not what man says. Always check out the Word before you buy into someone's teachings. And, in order for you to really know what God is saying, you must invest time to study the Word and pray over it. The Word of God never contradicts itself. All truth is backed up by truth. When you ask the Lord for understanding from a pure heart, you will get it. God wants you to know what you need to know and He will reveal it to you.
When you come across things that you simply can't figure out in God's Word, don't get bogged down by them. Accept them as truth because God said it and move on by faith. No one has perfect understanding of all things except God. His thoughts are beyond understanding except in those things He chooses to give us understanding on. We don't have to know all things in order for us to know they are true.
Don't get bogged down on a bunch of rules that seemingly make you acceptable to God. We cannot make ourselves holy. Our godliness and spiritual strength comes from our relationship with God alone. When we are properly connected to Christ, we will do what God wants us to do. It will be a natural way of life for us. It will be a life built on love, not rules.
We know verse 8 well, but often don't think about verse 9. We need to think about it for a few moments. Are you easily distracted by the things you hear? Do you listen to people just because they come across as knowing what they are talking about, they are flashy, or popular? How many voices are you listening to? And, how do you handle it when you hear conflicting things? Are you able to discern the truth from false teachings?
One thing is for sure, the truth found in Christ never changes. When you are seeking truth from God and His Word, you will not be confused or led astray. The truth of the Gospel is the same as it always has been and ever will be. We must base our understanding on what God says, and not what man says. Always check out the Word before you buy into someone's teachings. And, in order for you to really know what God is saying, you must invest time to study the Word and pray over it. The Word of God never contradicts itself. All truth is backed up by truth. When you ask the Lord for understanding from a pure heart, you will get it. God wants you to know what you need to know and He will reveal it to you.
When you come across things that you simply can't figure out in God's Word, don't get bogged down by them. Accept them as truth because God said it and move on by faith. No one has perfect understanding of all things except God. His thoughts are beyond understanding except in those things He chooses to give us understanding on. We don't have to know all things in order for us to know they are true.
Don't get bogged down on a bunch of rules that seemingly make you acceptable to God. We cannot make ourselves holy. Our godliness and spiritual strength comes from our relationship with God alone. When we are properly connected to Christ, we will do what God wants us to do. It will be a natural way of life for us. It will be a life built on love, not rules.
Friday, August 12, 2016
REMEMBER YOUR LEADERS
Heb. 13:7 Remember your leaders who first taught you the word of God. Think of all the good that has come from their lives, and trust the Lord as they do.
Take a couple of minutes and think about those who played a significant role in your spiritual development. It may be a Sunday School teacher, pastor, friend, or family member. Think about the things in their lives that stand out to you as being good. What is there about what they taught you about God that stuck with you? What is there about them that makes you want to be like them?
As you think about those special people in your life, thank the Lord for their role in your life. It isn't an accident that they were a part of who you are today in Christ. The Lord brought them into your life when you needed what they could offer you to help you better understand the things of God.
As you think about them, consider your own life and the impact you are having on others. Ask the Lord to help you to do your part in the good in others' lives. Ask Him to help you be a good example that others can see and appreciate, a life worthy to be followed.
Each of us plays a significant role in the life of others. Let us always strive to be good role models, a people that please the Lord in all things. Let it be said of us that we have been faithful servants of the Lord, both in public and in private. We may not ever know the good we have done, but God does. Live faithfully and obediently and let the Lord use you in His own way for His glory. Great will be your reward in heaven if you do.
Take a couple of minutes and think about those who played a significant role in your spiritual development. It may be a Sunday School teacher, pastor, friend, or family member. Think about the things in their lives that stand out to you as being good. What is there about what they taught you about God that stuck with you? What is there about them that makes you want to be like them?
As you think about those special people in your life, thank the Lord for their role in your life. It isn't an accident that they were a part of who you are today in Christ. The Lord brought them into your life when you needed what they could offer you to help you better understand the things of God.
As you think about them, consider your own life and the impact you are having on others. Ask the Lord to help you to do your part in the good in others' lives. Ask Him to help you be a good example that others can see and appreciate, a life worthy to be followed.
Each of us plays a significant role in the life of others. Let us always strive to be good role models, a people that please the Lord in all things. Let it be said of us that we have been faithful servants of the Lord, both in public and in private. We may not ever know the good we have done, but God does. Live faithfully and obediently and let the Lord use you in His own way for His glory. Great will be your reward in heaven if you do.
Thursday, August 11, 2016
AVOID LOVING MONEY
Heb. 13:5 Stay away from the love of money, be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, "I will never fail you. I will never forsake you."
We are not instructed to stay away from money. Money is neutral. It is neither good or bad. It is the heart attitude of the person that makes it good or bad. Money can either be our servant or our master. Whenever we make money of greater importance to us than people or God, it has become our god and master. God alone has the right to be our god. He alone deserves and commands our worship and allegiance. He alone has the right to rule our lives. Rather than go after money and what it may provide, we must trust in the Lord's provision and be satisfied with it.
Whatever the Lord provides, it is enough to meet our needs. If He gives more than what we need, we are to be good stewards of it and use it for His glory, not hoard it. When we hoard it, it is in essence saying to God, "I am not sure that you will be there for me tomorrow so I am going to save it and be sure I have enough." While I have no problem with saving, and I do recommend it when we can, I believe we need to be willing to put what the Lord provides to good use today as well. We have no promise of life on earth beyond today. Our future may only be as long as today.
We must be generous with what the Lord provides and trust him for tomorrow's needs. He has promised to be with us in our tomorrows to take care of our needs. He is not going anywhere. He is not going to abandon us when we get there. He will make sure that we have enough tomorrow to take care of tomorrow's needs.
So, don't fall in love with money or what it can provide. Rather love the Lord with all your heart, mind and soul, and trust Him to supply all of your needs both today and tomorrow.
We are not instructed to stay away from money. Money is neutral. It is neither good or bad. It is the heart attitude of the person that makes it good or bad. Money can either be our servant or our master. Whenever we make money of greater importance to us than people or God, it has become our god and master. God alone has the right to be our god. He alone deserves and commands our worship and allegiance. He alone has the right to rule our lives. Rather than go after money and what it may provide, we must trust in the Lord's provision and be satisfied with it.
Whatever the Lord provides, it is enough to meet our needs. If He gives more than what we need, we are to be good stewards of it and use it for His glory, not hoard it. When we hoard it, it is in essence saying to God, "I am not sure that you will be there for me tomorrow so I am going to save it and be sure I have enough." While I have no problem with saving, and I do recommend it when we can, I believe we need to be willing to put what the Lord provides to good use today as well. We have no promise of life on earth beyond today. Our future may only be as long as today.
We must be generous with what the Lord provides and trust him for tomorrow's needs. He has promised to be with us in our tomorrows to take care of our needs. He is not going anywhere. He is not going to abandon us when we get there. He will make sure that we have enough tomorrow to take care of tomorrow's needs.
So, don't fall in love with money or what it can provide. Rather love the Lord with all your heart, mind and soul, and trust Him to supply all of your needs both today and tomorrow.
Wednesday, August 10, 2016
GIVE HONOR TO MARRIAGE
Heb. 13:4 Give honor to marriage, and remain faithful to one another in marriage. God will surely judge people who are immoral and those who commit adultery.
This instruction is timeless and never more needed than today. We live in a time in history in which the sacredness and importance we place on marriage is quickly fading. We are driven by selfish interests and desires to the point where we are quickly losing our sense of integrity. Moral right and wrong are no longer absolute truths that guide us. We are driven more by our passions than our souls. The ways of the world are in the church and gaining a greater influence over us.
God takes marriage as He designed it, seriously. He makes it clear in His Word that marriage is defined as a committed relationship between a man and a woman that is for life. He does not approve of divorce and in a godly marriage there is no escape clause. He holds us accountable for our faithfulness to our vows of fidelity. He commands us to honor marriage, which means as well that we take an invested interested in our relationship with our spouse and strive to make it a good one.
To honor marriage means as well that we don't cave in to the world's thinking on marriage. God sets the rules and definitions, not man. Marriage is not what most people say it is. We must examine our understanding in light of God's Word. Like it or not, God's definition of marriage is today what He declared it to be from the beginning, that of the union between a man and a woman. He who disagrees has to convince God He is wrong.
God promises to judge all who are immoral and establish marital relationships outside of marriage. By that I mean getting emotionally or physically involved with someone other than one's spouse in a way that should only be reserved for one's spouse. It is morally wrong to forsake your vows of fidelity to your spouse. It is sin and God will judge it. Period.
We must protect our hearts and minds and refuse to entertain thoughts that would jeopardize our moral integrity in marriage. We alone can say no to the temptations that surround us. If you are struggling in this area of your life, you must confess it before the Lord, seek His forgiveness, and ask Him to help you. If you don't, you will face God's wrath for it someday.
This instruction is timeless and never more needed than today. We live in a time in history in which the sacredness and importance we place on marriage is quickly fading. We are driven by selfish interests and desires to the point where we are quickly losing our sense of integrity. Moral right and wrong are no longer absolute truths that guide us. We are driven more by our passions than our souls. The ways of the world are in the church and gaining a greater influence over us.
God takes marriage as He designed it, seriously. He makes it clear in His Word that marriage is defined as a committed relationship between a man and a woman that is for life. He does not approve of divorce and in a godly marriage there is no escape clause. He holds us accountable for our faithfulness to our vows of fidelity. He commands us to honor marriage, which means as well that we take an invested interested in our relationship with our spouse and strive to make it a good one.
To honor marriage means as well that we don't cave in to the world's thinking on marriage. God sets the rules and definitions, not man. Marriage is not what most people say it is. We must examine our understanding in light of God's Word. Like it or not, God's definition of marriage is today what He declared it to be from the beginning, that of the union between a man and a woman. He who disagrees has to convince God He is wrong.
God promises to judge all who are immoral and establish marital relationships outside of marriage. By that I mean getting emotionally or physically involved with someone other than one's spouse in a way that should only be reserved for one's spouse. It is morally wrong to forsake your vows of fidelity to your spouse. It is sin and God will judge it. Period.
We must protect our hearts and minds and refuse to entertain thoughts that would jeopardize our moral integrity in marriage. We alone can say no to the temptations that surround us. If you are struggling in this area of your life, you must confess it before the Lord, seek His forgiveness, and ask Him to help you. If you don't, you will face God's wrath for it someday.
Tuesday, August 9, 2016
CONTINUE TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER
Heb. 13:1 Continue to love each other with true Christian love.
Why is loving each other in Christ so hard for us to do? There are so many divisions in the church today that are the result of our inability to love each other that it is scary. What is our problem? I know that sin breaks the bond of fellowship, but shouldn’t we be able to overcome our sin if the love of Christ is in us?
True lovers of Christ find a way to love those they disagree with. There will always be things that we don’t agree on, but they should never hinder us from loving the redeemed. We often use our differences as an excuse to not love and fellowship with other believers. We take a holier-than-thou attitude towards those who are different than us in understanding instead of embracing them. Why? Doesn’t Jesus love all His children? How can we say we love Him and not love those for whom He died and redeemed?
Loving each other is a lifelong process. We are to continue to love. There is no time limit on when we can stop loving each other. There are no conditions given as to who we are to love, only a command. When we fail to love the brethren, regardless of the church family they may be a part of, we are sinning against God.
Loving others involves grace and forgiveness. You cannot love someone you are not willing to forgive, regardless of what they may have said or done to hurt you. Think about it. I know that it is hard to love someone who may have hurt you, but in Christ it is commanded and made possible through Him.
Consider how the love of Christ can be fleshed out in the church and then do it. Begin in the church you are a part of and then branch out to all of God’s children. If you do, you will please God.
Why is loving each other in Christ so hard for us to do? There are so many divisions in the church today that are the result of our inability to love each other that it is scary. What is our problem? I know that sin breaks the bond of fellowship, but shouldn’t we be able to overcome our sin if the love of Christ is in us?
True lovers of Christ find a way to love those they disagree with. There will always be things that we don’t agree on, but they should never hinder us from loving the redeemed. We often use our differences as an excuse to not love and fellowship with other believers. We take a holier-than-thou attitude towards those who are different than us in understanding instead of embracing them. Why? Doesn’t Jesus love all His children? How can we say we love Him and not love those for whom He died and redeemed?
Loving each other is a lifelong process. We are to continue to love. There is no time limit on when we can stop loving each other. There are no conditions given as to who we are to love, only a command. When we fail to love the brethren, regardless of the church family they may be a part of, we are sinning against God.
Loving others involves grace and forgiveness. You cannot love someone you are not willing to forgive, regardless of what they may have said or done to hurt you. Think about it. I know that it is hard to love someone who may have hurt you, but in Christ it is commanded and made possible through Him.
Consider how the love of Christ can be fleshed out in the church and then do it. Begin in the church you are a part of and then branch out to all of God’s children. If you do, you will please God.
Monday, August 8, 2016
WORSHIP WITH HOLY FEAR AND AWE
Heb. 12:28-29 Since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be destroyed, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe. For our God is a consuming fire.
The Kingdom of God cannot be destroyed. Therefore, let us approach God with thanksgiving always. Consider this great life Christ has given us in Him. Meditate upon it until you are overwhelmed by it. Let this mysterious life of God’s love fleshed out in you capture your heart. Think much about what it means to have your sins forgiven and forgotten by God. Consider the horrible life Christ has saved you from both here on earth and in all of eternity. Take in the wonder of the workings of God’s grace in you until your soul rises up in great thanksgiving.
We are receiving the Kingdom of God. We don’t have it yet. We are moving towards that day in which it will be ours to claim. The life of faith is a process requiring us to daily walk with the Lord. As long as our hearts are open vessels that can receive the things of God, we will lay hold of the Kingdom some day.
With gratitude in our hearts, let us always strive to please God by living with a worshipful spirit of holy fear and awe. It is good for the soul to live with a deep sense of God’s holiness. We should respect the holiness of God, knowing that no sin will ever enter into His presence. Let the awareness of God’s holiness move you to diligently guard your soul from sin. It is good to have a holy fear of God. If we don’t fear God in His holiness, we will not stand guard over our souls and we will let sin creep in.
We should never lose our sense of awe over who God is. It is good for the soul to dwell on the glory and majesty of God. It is good to consider the greatness of God in power and love. It is good to feast on the absolute perfection of God in all that is good and holy. It is good to feast on the unfathomable mind of God and His eternal life. God is beyond all of our imaginings. We have no real sense of who God really is in all His glory. He gives us only a little glimpse of himself because the human mind cannot comprehend Him. It is good for us to never lose our sense of awe of Him.
God is a consuming fire and all will pass under His fiery gaze. No sin will be kept hidden from Him. He will not be deceived by our righteousness. Only those whose righteousness is Christ will survive His searching gaze. He will not misjudge any soul. All who are in Christ will be with Him forever and ever and all who aren’t in Christ will be in the cesspool of His wrath forever and ever.
The Kingdom of God cannot be destroyed. Therefore, let us approach God with thanksgiving always. Consider this great life Christ has given us in Him. Meditate upon it until you are overwhelmed by it. Let this mysterious life of God’s love fleshed out in you capture your heart. Think much about what it means to have your sins forgiven and forgotten by God. Consider the horrible life Christ has saved you from both here on earth and in all of eternity. Take in the wonder of the workings of God’s grace in you until your soul rises up in great thanksgiving.
We are receiving the Kingdom of God. We don’t have it yet. We are moving towards that day in which it will be ours to claim. The life of faith is a process requiring us to daily walk with the Lord. As long as our hearts are open vessels that can receive the things of God, we will lay hold of the Kingdom some day.
With gratitude in our hearts, let us always strive to please God by living with a worshipful spirit of holy fear and awe. It is good for the soul to live with a deep sense of God’s holiness. We should respect the holiness of God, knowing that no sin will ever enter into His presence. Let the awareness of God’s holiness move you to diligently guard your soul from sin. It is good to have a holy fear of God. If we don’t fear God in His holiness, we will not stand guard over our souls and we will let sin creep in.
We should never lose our sense of awe over who God is. It is good for the soul to dwell on the glory and majesty of God. It is good to consider the greatness of God in power and love. It is good to feast on the absolute perfection of God in all that is good and holy. It is good to feast on the unfathomable mind of God and His eternal life. God is beyond all of our imaginings. We have no real sense of who God really is in all His glory. He gives us only a little glimpse of himself because the human mind cannot comprehend Him. It is good for us to never lose our sense of awe of Him.
God is a consuming fire and all will pass under His fiery gaze. No sin will be kept hidden from Him. He will not be deceived by our righteousness. Only those whose righteousness is Christ will survive His searching gaze. He will not misjudge any soul. All who are in Christ will be with Him forever and ever and all who aren’t in Christ will be in the cesspool of His wrath forever and ever.
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