I heard a great sermon preached yesterday. It brought to mind the question, Are we doing all that The Lord wants us to do?
"In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also The Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and His train filled the temple ... Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the mist of a people of unclean lips; for mine eyes have seen the King, The Lord of hosts ... thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged. Also I heard the voice of The Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will for for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me." Isaiah 6:1-8
There were things in Isaiah's life that got in the way of his seeing The Lord. When he saw The Lord in a vision he recognized that he was unworthy. An angle of The Lord touched his lips and took away his sin. Then he could hear the voice of The Lord and was willing to serve Him.
Likewise, there are things in our life which prevent us from being of service to The Lord or prevent us from doing the best that we can for The Lord. We know who He is, but our desire for sinful pleasures prevent us from hearing or obeying His word. We need to be "purged" of our sin and iniquity so that we can hear His voice and be better used in His service.
Are we doing all that we can to serve The Lord?
Monday, February 21, 2011
Sunday, February 20, 2011
The Golden Rule
"Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them; for this is the law and the prophets." Matthew 7:12
This is "the golden rule", do unto others as you would have them to do unto you. Treat people as you would like to be treated.
It is repeated in the Bible, "And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise." Luke 6:31
Many people can recite "the golden rule", even if they do not always practice it. However, rarely, if ever, do the people that say it, tell you that it is a paraphrased Bible verse quotation.
According to MacAthur the negatively stated version of this rule existed before Christ in the rabbinic writings, in Hinduism, and in Buddhism. The negative command was "what is hateful to yourself, do not to someone else."
Jesus stated this as a positive command, enriched its meaning, and underscored this one imperative aptly summarizes the whole gist of ethical principles contained in the Law and the Prophets. (MacArthur) The Law refers to the Torah, the first five books of the Old Testament, and the Prophets refers to the remaining books of the Old Testament which were written by the prophets.
This is "the golden rule", do unto others as you would have them to do unto you. Treat people as you would like to be treated.
It is repeated in the Bible, "And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise." Luke 6:31
Many people can recite "the golden rule", even if they do not always practice it. However, rarely, if ever, do the people that say it, tell you that it is a paraphrased Bible verse quotation.
According to MacAthur the negatively stated version of this rule existed before Christ in the rabbinic writings, in Hinduism, and in Buddhism. The negative command was "what is hateful to yourself, do not to someone else."
Jesus stated this as a positive command, enriched its meaning, and underscored this one imperative aptly summarizes the whole gist of ethical principles contained in the Law and the Prophets. (MacArthur) The Law refers to the Torah, the first five books of the Old Testament, and the Prophets refers to the remaining books of the Old Testament which were written by the prophets.
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Iron Sharpens Iron
Talk about the Bible with your friends, it will be good for both of you as you will both benefit from the discussion. We talk with them about everything else.
"Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of a friend." Proverbs 27:17
The benefits of an intellectual and theological discussion between friends will encourage joy through the development of keener minds and the improvement of good character development. The goal of the discussion is personal enhancement and not personal put-downs or self aggrandizement.
Friendships should be mutually beneficial, you should help each other morally and intellectually. You should each be an encouragement to the other to do better and to grow spiritually as well.
A good friend makes his friends better. He lifts them up and does not put them down.
"Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of a friend." Proverbs 27:17
The benefits of an intellectual and theological discussion between friends will encourage joy through the development of keener minds and the improvement of good character development. The goal of the discussion is personal enhancement and not personal put-downs or self aggrandizement.
Friendships should be mutually beneficial, you should help each other morally and intellectually. You should each be an encouragement to the other to do better and to grow spiritually as well.
A good friend makes his friends better. He lifts them up and does not put them down.
Friday, February 18, 2011
You Shall Know Them By Their Fruits
"Ye shall know them by their fruits ... every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit." Matthew 7:16-18
The "fruit" that we produce depends upon our nature. We will be judged by our actions and the results which we produce. The results of our actions, the fruits of our efforts, should benefit others.
Our fruit should give God glory and cause others to see Christ in us.
The "fruit" that we produce depends upon our nature. We will be judged by our actions and the results which we produce. The results of our actions, the fruits of our efforts, should benefit others.
Our fruit should give God glory and cause others to see Christ in us.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
It Is Better To Give Than To Receive
"... How that labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of The Lord Jesus, how He said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive." Acts 20:35
It is a good thing to be blessed, but it is even better to be a blessing to others. Giving someone money is not the only way that we can bless them. As the saying goes, giving a hungry man some food is a blessing to him, but teaching him how to fish can bless him for the rest of his life.
Most of us place too much importance upon our words. We think that what we have to say is a blessing to those that hear it. While it is possible to bless someone by what we say, what we do for them is usually much more of a blessing than what we say to them. Our actions speak much louder than our words.
The Bible also says "Give, and it shall be given unto you..." Luke 6:38 If you want to receive more blessings, try giving more blessings to others. Be a blessing to someone and you will receive a blessing. All that you have received was not meant for you to keep for yourself, some of it was for you to share it with others.
It is a good thing to be blessed, but it is even better to be a blessing to others. Giving someone money is not the only way that we can bless them. As the saying goes, giving a hungry man some food is a blessing to him, but teaching him how to fish can bless him for the rest of his life.
Most of us place too much importance upon our words. We think that what we have to say is a blessing to those that hear it. While it is possible to bless someone by what we say, what we do for them is usually much more of a blessing than what we say to them. Our actions speak much louder than our words.
The Bible also says "Give, and it shall be given unto you..." Luke 6:38 If you want to receive more blessings, try giving more blessings to others. Be a blessing to someone and you will receive a blessing. All that you have received was not meant for you to keep for yourself, some of it was for you to share it with others.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Be Like Salt
Being called "sugar" by someone you know can be considered a term of endearment or affection.
Most people would consider it a compliment to called "sweet."
The same is not true for being called "salt" or "salty", but maybe it should be. The word "sugar" is not found in the Bible but the word "salt" is included several times. The Bible says that "salt" is good, Mark 9:50 and Luke 14:34.
The Bible states that "Ye are the salt of the earth ..." Matthew 5:13 The Bible also states that our speech should be "... seasoned with salt ..." Colossians 4:6.
We know that salt add flavor the food. You may not know that in the past, salt was used to prevent the infection of wounds, and also to prevent the decaying of meat prior to the advent of refrigeration.
If we are to be like salt, then we should add a "Christ-like" 'flavor' to the world, and we should be a purifying influence in a decaying world.
Maybe we should consider it a good thing and a compliment if someone call us "salty".
Most people would consider it a compliment to called "sweet."
The same is not true for being called "salt" or "salty", but maybe it should be. The word "sugar" is not found in the Bible but the word "salt" is included several times. The Bible says that "salt" is good, Mark 9:50 and Luke 14:34.
The Bible states that "Ye are the salt of the earth ..." Matthew 5:13 The Bible also states that our speech should be "... seasoned with salt ..." Colossians 4:6.
We know that salt add flavor the food. You may not know that in the past, salt was used to prevent the infection of wounds, and also to prevent the decaying of meat prior to the advent of refrigeration.
If we are to be like salt, then we should add a "Christ-like" 'flavor' to the world, and we should be a purifying influence in a decaying world.
Maybe we should consider it a good thing and a compliment if someone call us "salty".
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Hear And Keep The Word Of God
"... Blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it." Luke 11:28
We are all blessed in more ways than we can count and we all want to be blessed 'some more.' However, this conditional blessing requires a two fold response on our part, that we both "hear" and "keep" the word of God.
Many people hear the word of God, but as the old people used to say, 'it goes in one ear and out of the other.' It does not stop, interact with, or change anything as it passes through their head.
When we hear the word of God, it ought to change us in some way. We ought to see things in a different light and we ought to think, speak, and act differently.
When we know better, then we ought to do better.
We are all blessed in more ways than we can count and we all want to be blessed 'some more.' However, this conditional blessing requires a two fold response on our part, that we both "hear" and "keep" the word of God.
Many people hear the word of God, but as the old people used to say, 'it goes in one ear and out of the other.' It does not stop, interact with, or change anything as it passes through their head.
When we hear the word of God, it ought to change us in some way. We ought to see things in a different light and we ought to think, speak, and act differently.
When we know better, then we ought to do better.
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