Monday, March 31, 2014

Grace for your spirit April 1, 2014

Grace for your spirit
The fool has said in his heart, "There is no God."  Psalm 14:1

Today is April 1st, "Worldwide Atheist's Day."  It coincides with the observation of "April Fool's day."  Imagine climbing a long extension ladder, and when we arrive at the top realizing the ladder is leaning against the wrong building.  That's the destiny of the atheist.  At the end of life, we will realize that God is real.  Matthew 5:22 tells us that we should never call anyone a fool, but when God calls us a fool, we really are one.  Let's not participate nor celebrate fool's day.

Grace for your spirit April 2, 2014

Grace for your spirit
The king's heart is like channels of water in the hand of the Lord; He turns it wherever He wishes.   Proverbs 21:1

We can put our hand in a stream of running water and change the flow of the water by the way we move our hand.  Often kings, or others in authority can seem to block our way to success.  God has the ability to change those obstacles into steppingstones, when we ask for His help. One example is Nehemiah.  King Artaxerxes stood between him and his desire to help Jerusalem.  Nehemiah prayed and God put His hand on the king's heart.  That giant obstacle became a giant steppingstone in building the walls of Jerusalem.  May we never give up.  Instead, let's give our obstacles to God.

Friday, March 28, 2014

Grace for your spirit March 31, 2014

Grace for your spirit
You have given a banner to those who fear You.  That it may be displayed because of the truth.    Ps 60:4

When armies would march into battle, they would often carry a flag or banner that identified who they were to both friend and foe.  God gives us His banner for us spiritually for the same purpose.  Our banner may be the fruits of the Spirit.  Banners of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfully, gentleness, and self-control.  As the old hymn says, "There's a royal banner given for display to the soldiers of the king."  Lift it high, keep on marching, and keep on singing.  Let's show our banner proudly.

Thursday, March 27, 2014

Grace for your spirit March 28, 2014

Grace for your spirit
Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii, and given to the poor people?  Now he said this, not because he concerned about the poor, but because he was a thief, and as he had the money, he used to pilfer what was put in it.  John 12:5-6

"SHOW ME THE MONEY", are sometimes the most spoken words in our churches.  So many are obsessed about how much money we have and where it is spent.  These words were about Judas Iscariot, the apostles' treasurer.  Judas Iscariot was apparently a good businessman, but a terrible apostle.  When we ask about the church finances, is it because we want to know how much good we can do for those in need,  or is to know how much there is for us?  The ministry of Jesus Christ needs to be a people ministry, not a business venture.

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Grace for your spirit March 27, 2014

Grace for your spirit
Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains by itself alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.    John 12:24

The devil didn't know much about farming, or the mission of Jesus.  In farming, the death, decay, and germination of the seed, is the key to bring forth a hundred fold out of each grain.  The devil was pushing to kill Jesus, and that was exactly the reason Jesus came to earth.  When Jesus would die, His seed would be available to everyone in the world. His death made that happen.  Jesus calls us to come and die that we might live for Him.  Let's not stay cold and alone. Let's die in Jesus and rise to walk in a new life. 

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Grace for your spirit March 26, 2014

Grace for your spirit
Then it goes and takes along seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they go in and live there; and the last state of that man becomes worse than the first.    Luke 11:26

When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, it will return if the man's house if it is left empty.  When it comes back, it may be seven times worse than is was before.  When we become Christian and the Spirit of God fills our lives, evil is pushed out of our lives.  It is important that we remain full of His Spirit, so there is no room for those evil spirits to move back in later.  In the world, a vacant house is a hazard and un-insurable.  The same is true in the spiritual world.  Let's remove the hazard, and insure God will keep the evil away with a full house.

Monday, March 24, 2014

Grace for your spirit March 25, 2014

Grace for your spirit
For I testify about them they they have a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge.  For not know about God's righteousness and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God.  Romans 10:2-3

Proverbs tells us what we already know.  It is not good for a person to be without knowledge.  Unfortunately, too many chasing God in religion do not have the knowledge needed to be victorious.  Many are sincere, committed, even zealous for their religion, trying to achieve righteousness by their own effort.  That is zeal without knowledge. The way to righteousness is not in our own works, but in receiving it from God through Jesus Christ.  When we don't subject ourselves to His righteousness, there will never be any righteousness at all.

Friday, March 21, 2014

Grace for your spirit March 24. 2014

Grace for your spirit
Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.  Matthew 20:28

Do we have a presumption of serving or being served ?  John F. Kennedy's famous quote rings true:  "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country."  The religious world Jesus met assumed the King of Kings would come to be served, and they assumed they should be served as well.  Jesus turned the tables on them, coming as a servant.  He is our example.  If we come to Jesus and to worship only to be served, we will soon become disinterested.  As a servant, we will always find a new challenge and a new interest.

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Grace for your spirit March 21, 2014

Grace for your spirit
Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that your progress will be evident to all.  I Timothy 4:15

Paul's prescription to Timothy for spiritual growth and success is found in these scriptures.  Read, exhort, teach the scriptures, and don't neglect your spiritual gifts. Take pains with these things and be absorbed in them, and let your progress be evident to all.  Do any of these things describe our effort in Bible study and teaching?  If our spiritual progress will be evident to anyone, won't we have to increase the effort we put forward to learn and teach?  Let's resolve to take pains, be absorbed, and use the spiritual gifts within us to grow.  It will be the key to our salvation and hopefully the salvation for someone else too.

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Grace for your spirit March 20, 2014

Grace for  your spirit
I considered my ways, and turn my feet to Your testimonies. Psalm 119:59

I spent my winter looking at my feet.  I had to be very careful where I stepped next on the ice and snow.  How about you?  Sometimes I considered my way and decided it would be better to go another way. I even carried some snow melt in the car. It kept me from falling.  The same could be said of our Christian walk.  If we all would think before we stepped and made preparation, our walk would be much safer.  For both, careless steps can lead to disastrous falls.  Let's think it over and turn our feet to the path of God's directions.

Tuesday, March 18, 2014

Grace for your spirit March 19, 2014

Grace for your spirit
It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man.   Psalm 118:8

There are 31,173 verses in the Bible revealing God's will for us.  It is interesting that Psalm 118:8 is not only the middle verse of the Bible, but it contains the central theme of God's Word.  It always has been, and always will be the guide for our lives.  Our best choice is to take refuge in the Lord, not in man.  Our refuge rests in our Savior, Jesus Christ, and we need to lean on Him and His understanding.  He will make our paths smooth and safe all the way.

Monday, March 17, 2014

Grace for your spirit March 18, 2014

Grace for your spirit
"The Lord is my portion," says my soul, "Therefore I have hope in Him."  Lamentations 3:24

Jeremiah was called to be the prophet to God's people.  He sacrificed everything to warn his people and encouraged them to repent.  At the end of his life it looked like he had failed completely.  Jerusalem was destroyed, the people were carried away, and Jeremiah was in distress.  In his Lamentation, he wrote of his sorrow and consolation from God.  He stated that the steadfast love of the Lord and His mercy never ceases.  All he needed was the Lord, and that portion was enough. In times of loss and discouragement, may we remember that the Lord is our portion and that is plenty for us.

Friday, March 14, 2014

Grace for your spirit March 17, 2014

Grace for your spirit
But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men.  Luke 6:35

Forest Gump once said, "I'm not a smart man, but I know what love is."  A person doesn't have to be a genius to know what love is.  Love is about giving, and sacrificing for others.  If everything do is about pleasing ourselves, people will know who we really love.  God is love, and Jesus Himself was the embodiment of that love.  He loves us just as much on our worst days, as he does on our best days.  When we follow that example, people will know what love is, and know that the love of God dwells in us.

Thursday, March 13, 2014

Grace for your spirit March 14, 2014

Grace for your spirit 
Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also, and greater works than these he will do, because I go to the Father.  John 14:12

The night before Jesus went to the cross He made this proclamation.  What do you suppose He meant?  Jesus walked as a man on this earth, full of the Holy Spirit.  He never traveled more than about 200 miles from where he was born.  In a few short days, He would ascend back to heaven and send His Holy Spirit out to all His believers.  Those Spirit filled believers would go into all the world with the good news of Jesus.  The church today can still do greater works than He when we catch on fire with His Spirit.  Let's not slack back, He has greater works for us to do

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Grace for your spirit March 13, 2014

Grace for your spirit
Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons.  Freely you received, freely give.  Matthew 10:8

God has sacrificed so much for us.  He has given us life and godliness as a free gift.  As have freely received, we should gladly give.  God never owes us anything.  A kid gave his mom a bill or his week of service.  Cleaned room, took out trash, washed dishes, mowed grass, $10.00 due.  His mom left a bill for her son.  Carried you for nine months, gave you life, fed you, cleaned you, washed your clothes, kept you safe. No charge!  What kind of bill shall we leave for God?  Freely we have received, freely give. The boy tore up the bill and so should we.

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Grace for your spirit March 12, 2014

Grace for your spirit
From now on let no one cause trouble for me, for I bear on my body the brand-marks of Jesus.  Galatians 6:17

Paul's body was living proof of his true Christianity.  As he walked in the path of Jesus, first of all he had been crucified and died to this world.  Then as he continued his ministry, he was persecuted to the point of despair.  He chronicles much of the persecution in II Corinthians 11.  Indeed his body and his spirit bore the brand marks of Jesus.  It must have been frustrating trying to discourage Paul.  How about us?  What have we sacrificed and suffered for Christ?    We need to bear the brand marks of Jesus too as proof of our ministry

Monday, March 10, 2014

Grace for your spirit March 11, 2014

Grace for your spirit
I will set no worthless thing before my eyes; I hate the work of those who fall away;  It shall not fasten its grip on me.  Psalm 101:3

The power of pornography, and provocative things are strong and always do more harm than we realize. It can fasten its grip on us before we even realize it.  After it has destroyed our lives, when we have fallen away, then we look back and see where we went wrong. The wisdom of God teaches us what is destruction before it destroys us.  After looking intently at the Word of God, when we see things that are worthless, let's get away from them as quickly as we can.

Sunday, March 9, 2014

Grace for your spirit Marcg 10, 2014

Grace for your spirit
I searched for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand in the gap before Me for the land, so that I would not destroy it; but I found no one.  Ezekiel  22:30

Ezekiel was a prophet of God when the powerful Bablylonians were about to attack God's people.  Ezekiel's job was to watch and warn and try to turn the people from their wicked ways.  For lack of watchfulness and dedication Judea was not saved from their bondage.  Every generation has evil all around us.  We always need to be watchful and diligent to warn people.  When God needs someone to build and wall and stand in the gap, may we be the ones that respond and make a difference.

Thursday, March 6, 2014

Grace for your spirit March 7, 2014

Grace for your spirit
But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger.  James 1:19

When children are babies, their parents encourage their children to walk and talk.  Then later, they try to get them to sit down and shut up.  Benjamin Franklin said, "Teach your child to hold his tongue, he'll learn fast enough to speak." We have two ears and one mouth.  Let's learn to use them proportionately.  Let's be good listeners.  It will keep us from anger and many other mistakes that will sink our ship.  God will help us control our tongue and the fires they start.

Wednesday, March 5, 2014

Grace for your spirit March 6, 2014

Grace for your spirit
So that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Romans 15:6

The Bible has a big emphasis on oneness.  The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are one, and Jesus prayed that we would be one with them. When we are one with Him, we will have the same perseverance, the same encouragement, the same hope, the same purpose, and the same mind.  The proof of that oneness is that we will all have the same voice.  The path to having the same voice is accepting Christ as Lord, and accepting one another.  When everything lines up, our voices will be in perfect harmony.

Tuesday, March 4, 2014

Grace for your spirit March 5, 2014

Grace for your spirit
Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desires, and greed, which amounts to idolatry.  Colossians 3:5

Most of us think of an idol as a figure people build to worship,  much like a totem pole.  In fact, anything or anybody we place between us and God becomes our idol.  When we desire immorality, impurity, and the like, they become our god.  Even Abraham would not withhold his only son.  Had he chose Isaac over God, his son would have been an idol instead of a blessing.  The devil will always tell us that our pleasures are better than God.  Believing that will cause the wrath of God to come upon us.  May we never trade God for the passing pleasure of this world.

Monday, March 3, 2014

Grace for your spirit March 4, 2014

Grace for your spirit
And the Lord said to Paul in the night by a vision, "Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent; for I am with you, and no man will attack you in order to harm you, for I have many people in this city." Acts 18:9-10

The Apostle Paul was about to start a ministry in Corinth.  It was a city filled with evil, and was well known for its worldliness.  With the Lord's encouragement, Paul overcame his fears and stayed there for a 1 1/2 years and had a very successful ministry.  Many who were involved in the worst possible sins were washed, sanctified, and justified.  Those souls were happy Paul overcame his fears and helped them overcome theirs.  We may be afraid to speak out for God in our world.  We need to remember that with God, we are stronger than all the evil in the world.  We will never lead people out of their sins, until we let God lead us own of our fears.

Sunday, March 2, 2014

Grace for your spirit March 3, 2014

Grace for your spirit
For if we died with Him, we will also live with Him.  If we endure, we will also reign with Him.  If we deny Him, He also will deny us.  II Timothy 2:11-12

As followers of Christ, we can claim many titles; Disciple, saint, priest, son, Christian, and soldier.  Whatever our walk, it is always a continuing process.  We begin dying to self and sin, and rising to live with Him. As we continue faithful and are seated in heavenly places, we reign with Him.  Die, Live, Endure, and Reign.  So many start the walk,but falter along the way, denying Him.  It is fatal when He denies us.  Let's not let that happen.  Let us abide, believe, ask, and receive each day.