"I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you." Genesis 12:2-3 (NIV)
Abraham, the father of the faithful, was obedient when God told him to leave his homeland without telling where he was going. God said that He would bless him. God also said that He would bless the people who blessed Abraham, and that all of the people on earth would be blessed through him.
The genealogy of Jesus on earth can be linked to Abraham. That is how all of the people on earth were blessed through Abraham. When God said, "I will bless those who bless you ...", He was clearly talking to Abraham. However, I think this also applies to us today. That would be consistent with Proverbs 11:25, "...and he that watereth shall be watered also himself." (KJV) or "...he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed." (NIV) He that blesses others shall himself be blessed. God will bless those who are a blessing to you and He will bless you for being a blessing to others.
Saturday, March 31, 2012
Friday, March 30, 2012
Run Your Race To Win The Prize
"I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings. Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. " 1 Corinthians 9:23-25 (NIV)
After a lengthy discourse on all the things that he would do to win souls for Christ, Paul here encourages the people to live their lives as if they are in a race that they want to win. Most races are run for short lived goal, but the Christian race is run for an imperishable eternal crown.
Like the single minded athlete or runner in training who is focused on winning, we should have that same type of focus when we work for The Lord. We need to prepare for our race. W e need to run our race with diligence. We need to keep our focus on the prize. Our prize is to hear Jesus say "Well done, good and faithful servant ..."
After a lengthy discourse on all the things that he would do to win souls for Christ, Paul here encourages the people to live their lives as if they are in a race that they want to win. Most races are run for short lived goal, but the Christian race is run for an imperishable eternal crown.
Like the single minded athlete or runner in training who is focused on winning, we should have that same type of focus when we work for The Lord. We need to prepare for our race. W e need to run our race with diligence. We need to keep our focus on the prize. Our prize is to hear Jesus say "Well done, good and faithful servant ..."
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Seek Good Not Evil That You May Live
"Seek good, not evil, that you may live. Then The Lord God Almighty will be with you, just as you say He is. Hate evil, love good; maintain justice in the courts. Perhaps The Lord God Almighty will have mercy on the remnant of Joseph. Therefore this is what The Lord, The Lord God Almighty, says: 'There will be wailing in all the streets and cries of anguish in every public square ... There will be wailing in all the vineyards, for I will pass through your midst,' says The Lord ... the day of The Lord ... That day will be darkness, not light." Amos 5:14-18 (NIV)
After lamenting to the people that they turned away from God, Amos calls them to repentance. Then he warns them that if they do not repent, they will suffer the wrath of God. There will be crying in the streets and suffering everywhere. The day of The Lord is coming.
There are people today who do not want to hear The Word of God. They are living in sin and want to continue to do so. Do not be one of those people, and do not associate with them. Confess your sins, believe in birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, The Christ, The Son of God, repent and turn from your sinful ways. Judgement day in coming.
After lamenting to the people that they turned away from God, Amos calls them to repentance. Then he warns them that if they do not repent, they will suffer the wrath of God. There will be crying in the streets and suffering everywhere. The day of The Lord is coming.
There are people today who do not want to hear The Word of God. They are living in sin and want to continue to do so. Do not be one of those people, and do not associate with them. Confess your sins, believe in birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, The Christ, The Son of God, repent and turn from your sinful ways. Judgement day in coming.
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Get Your Heart Right
" 'Even now,' declares The Lord, 'return to Me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.' Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to The Lord your God, for He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and He relents from sending calamity. Who knows? He may turn and have pity and leave behind a blessing ..." Joel 2:12-14 (NIV)
In the midst of a description of the destruction of the land and the suffering of the people, Joel tells them to return to The Lord. He says that if they would demonstrate genuine repentance, that God would forgive them and bless them. Tearing their outer garments, a Jewish way of showing grief, was meaningless the heart is broken in repentance and contrition.
When things are going all wrong for us, there is an opportunity for us to turn or return to God. There are those of us who believe that some times, God allows bad things to happen to us in order to get our attention. Only after making a mess of things, trying to handle it ourselves, do we realize that we need God's help. We must learn the error of our ways, confess and repent, and follow His way.
In the midst of a description of the destruction of the land and the suffering of the people, Joel tells them to return to The Lord. He says that if they would demonstrate genuine repentance, that God would forgive them and bless them. Tearing their outer garments, a Jewish way of showing grief, was meaningless the heart is broken in repentance and contrition.
When things are going all wrong for us, there is an opportunity for us to turn or return to God. There are those of us who believe that some times, God allows bad things to happen to us in order to get our attention. Only after making a mess of things, trying to handle it ourselves, do we realize that we need God's help. We must learn the error of our ways, confess and repent, and follow His way.
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Be Thankful And Grateful For Those Who Help You
"I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers ... I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ. Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints." Philemon 1:4-7 (NIV)
The Apostle Paul is writing to his friend Philemon with a special request on behalf of Onesimus. Paul tells him that he is thankful for him and that he prays for him. Paul also tells him that he has been a source of joy and and an encouragement to him.
We ought to be thankful for the people that God has placed in our lives who have been helpful to us. We should also let them know that we are grateful for what they have done for us. We should let people know that the things that they have said and done have brought joy into our lives and that they have been a source of encouragement to us. People do not have to be kind or nice to us, and we should be thankful and grateful when they are. We ought to tell them how we feel while we have the opportunity. Life is short, and tomorrow is not promised to us.
The Apostle Paul is writing to his friend Philemon with a special request on behalf of Onesimus. Paul tells him that he is thankful for him and that he prays for him. Paul also tells him that he has been a source of joy and and an encouragement to him.
We ought to be thankful for the people that God has placed in our lives who have been helpful to us. We should also let them know that we are grateful for what they have done for us. We should let people know that the things that they have said and done have brought joy into our lives and that they have been a source of encouragement to us. People do not have to be kind or nice to us, and we should be thankful and grateful when they are. We ought to tell them how we feel while we have the opportunity. Life is short, and tomorrow is not promised to us.
Monday, March 26, 2012
Be Careful How You Provide For Your Family
"Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need. But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God. The widow who is really in need and left all alone puts her hope in God and continues night and day to pray and to ask God for help. But the widow who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives. Give the people these instructions, too, so that no one may be open to blame. If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever." 1 Timothy 5:3-8 (NIV)
In providing instruction to Timothy regarding how to treat the less fortunate within his congregation, especially the widows, the Apostle Paul tells him that the Church should provide for those widows and orphans who do not have a family to support them. Those with family members should provide for them. Even pagan non-believers provide for their family.
As Christians we are to provide for our family members, especially our spouse, our children, our parents, and our siblings. This can also be extended to include grand children and grand parents, if the need exists. We are to exhibit compassionate Christian love, and this starts with our family. In the King James Version verse three states "Honor widows that are widows indeed." Exodus 20:15 "Honor thy father and thy mother..." Honor here implies "to show respect or care"; "to support"; "to treat graciously"; it includes meeting all needs including financial needs. Be careful how you treat your parents, your kids are learning how to care for you as they watch you care for your parents. And more importantly, God is watching.
In providing instruction to Timothy regarding how to treat the less fortunate within his congregation, especially the widows, the Apostle Paul tells him that the Church should provide for those widows and orphans who do not have a family to support them. Those with family members should provide for them. Even pagan non-believers provide for their family.
As Christians we are to provide for our family members, especially our spouse, our children, our parents, and our siblings. This can also be extended to include grand children and grand parents, if the need exists. We are to exhibit compassionate Christian love, and this starts with our family. In the King James Version verse three states "Honor widows that are widows indeed." Exodus 20:15 "Honor thy father and thy mother..." Honor here implies "to show respect or care"; "to support"; "to treat graciously"; it includes meeting all needs including financial needs. Be careful how you treat your parents, your kids are learning how to care for you as they watch you care for your parents. And more importantly, God is watching.
Sunday, March 25, 2012
At One Time We Too Were Foolish
"Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men. At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures ... He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy... so that, having been justified by His grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life." Titus 3:1-7 (NIV)
The Apostle Paul told Titus to remind the people to do good and slander no one. He said, at one time we all were just as bad as they are now. God saved them because of His mercy, not because of anything that they had done.
The same is true for us today. We really should no talk about the sins that anyone else is committing, for at one time we were just as sinful, if not worse. We should not act "holier that thou" because of where we are now in our Christian walk, we too have a sinful past. We are where we are now by the grace of God and by His mercy. We should remember that when we deal with those that are lost or recently converted.
The Apostle Paul told Titus to remind the people to do good and slander no one. He said, at one time we all were just as bad as they are now. God saved them because of His mercy, not because of anything that they had done.
The same is true for us today. We really should no talk about the sins that anyone else is committing, for at one time we were just as sinful, if not worse. We should not act "holier that thou" because of where we are now in our Christian walk, we too have a sinful past. We are where we are now by the grace of God and by His mercy. We should remember that when we deal with those that are lost or recently converted.
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