5 But I have trusted in Your mercy; My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation. 6 I will sing to the Lord, Because He has dealt bountifully with me. (NKJV)
The NLT say, 5 But I trust in your unfailing love. I will rejoice because you have rescued me. 6 I will sing to the Lord because he is good to me. I like the way this version puts it just because they use the words unfailing. The ESV uses steadfast. This tells me that no matter what God's love for me is always going to be. Even when I sin, and I will, against Him, He will still love and care for me no matter what.
This hits home with me right now in my life. Especially when it says I will trust in Your unfailing love. Meaning I will trust in You God with all that am. I have to live this out in my life right now with decisions that need to be made and things that need to be done. God isn't finished with me yet and by staying in His word and listening to Him and praying on a daily basis I am able to trust in Him. God only want the best for His children but He sometimes needs to test them and try them to see where they are in their walk with Him. Even though He already knows, I think that He wants us as believers to realize where we are at in our walk and be conscious of it.
We see throughout this book that David was faithful to God and trusted wholeheartedly in him, but he felt the pressure of his problems as much as anyone. Instead of giving up or giving in, however, David held on to his faith. In times of despair, it is much harder to hold on than to give up. But if you give up on God, you give in to a life of despair.
I think we can learn from David and turn everything that we have in our lives over to God. No matter if it is good, bad, great, or so-so; God wants to take it and take care of it. I want God to lead in my life right now. It is to the point that I am crying out to God telling Him to come and use me but first and foremost humble me so that I can be the man that He wants me to be and the man that I know that He has called me to be.
This is my prayer: Lord, I ask that you would humble me to the point to where all that I can do is rely on you. I ask that everything in my life be turned over to you and that you would take control of my life, my job, my family, my desires and place all of these and more in the center of your will. Speak to me Lord and allow me to put away anything and everything that is going to hinder me from hearing your words. I love you Lord and I thank you very much for your words that I have read tonight in your holy word. Praise be to God.
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Monday, March 11, 2013
Honesty, not flattery!
"6 The words of the Lord are pure words, Like silver tried in a furnace of earth, Purified seven times." NKJV
This was todays reading. I liked what it said as soon as I started reading it. When the scripture says the word pure it means pure, clean a) clean (ceremonially - of animals), b) pure (physically), c) pure, clean (morally, ethically). This tells us that Gods words are perfect. No blemish or spot. I like that because that is something that you can hold on to and trust in. Another word that stuck out to me as I read was tried. This word means to smelt, refine, or test. This meant to acually place in a fire and refine whatever material needed to be used or molded or tested. This passage gives us a symbol of how His word is more pure than the most presious of silvers or golds.
Sincerity and truth are extremely valuable because they are so rare. Many people are deceivers, liars, flatterers; they think they will get what they want by deception. As a king, David certainly faced his share of such people, who hoped to win his favor and gain advancement through flattery. When we feel as though sincerity and truth have nearly gone out of existence, we have one hope-the Word of God. God's words are as flawless as refined silver. So listen carefully when he speaks.
My prayer is that as God speaks to me in my life, that I would be still and know that He is God. That my life would not be so full of things of this world that I can't hear Him speaking. I want to hear and listen to each word that God says and treasure tham and hide them in my heart and allow them to lead me in HIs will.
Lord, lead me and direct me. Show me the direction that you would have me go. Show me what is best for me and my family and allow your words to penitrate my heart. Help me Lord to step out of your way and allow you to move. I pray that I would die to self every day and that I would allow you to live in and through me no matter what is going on in my life. I want to praise you in the good as well as in the bad. Why? Because you are worthy of my praise. Praise be to God.
This was todays reading. I liked what it said as soon as I started reading it. When the scripture says the word pure it means pure, clean a) clean (ceremonially - of animals), b) pure (physically), c) pure, clean (morally, ethically). This tells us that Gods words are perfect. No blemish or spot. I like that because that is something that you can hold on to and trust in. Another word that stuck out to me as I read was tried. This word means to smelt, refine, or test. This meant to acually place in a fire and refine whatever material needed to be used or molded or tested. This passage gives us a symbol of how His word is more pure than the most presious of silvers or golds.
Sincerity and truth are extremely valuable because they are so rare. Many people are deceivers, liars, flatterers; they think they will get what they want by deception. As a king, David certainly faced his share of such people, who hoped to win his favor and gain advancement through flattery. When we feel as though sincerity and truth have nearly gone out of existence, we have one hope-the Word of God. God's words are as flawless as refined silver. So listen carefully when he speaks.
My prayer is that as God speaks to me in my life, that I would be still and know that He is God. That my life would not be so full of things of this world that I can't hear Him speaking. I want to hear and listen to each word that God says and treasure tham and hide them in my heart and allow them to lead me in HIs will.
Lord, lead me and direct me. Show me the direction that you would have me go. Show me what is best for me and my family and allow your words to penitrate my heart. Help me Lord to step out of your way and allow you to move. I pray that I would die to self every day and that I would allow you to live in and through me no matter what is going on in my life. I want to praise you in the good as well as in the bad. Why? Because you are worthy of my praise. Praise be to God.
Monday, February 25, 2013
What's deserved
II Chronicles 6:30, 36, "Then hear thou from heaven thy dwelling place, and forgive, and render unto every man according unto all his ways, whose heart thou knowest; (for thou only knowest the hearts of the children of men:)" "If they sin against thee, (for there is no man which sinneth not,) and thou be angry with them, and deliver them over before their enemies, and they carry them away captives unto a land far off or near;"
This morning, people are quick to find fault with others without realizing that they are guilty of the same. Others hear things that they believe apply to other people without understanding that they are in the same boat. This is the point of the Saviour in Matthew 7 about judgment. It is not that judgment, in and of itself, is wrong, but the Saviour cautions and exhorts us to make sure that we are not guilty of the same edict we condemn others with. This is why judges must have clean criminal records as they would be unfit to judge criminals when they are guilty of the same crimes. This is why churches need to maintain the honour and glory of God's house, else
they would be unable to judge the members within the walls when necessary.
The verses above are found in Solomon's prayer to the Lord at the dedication of the temple. In the midst of the prayer, Solomon "pauses" to insert two statements that show forth two all-encompassing thoughts for the object under consideration. These pauses are shown in the form of parenthetical statements, and parenthetical statements lend added clarity to the statement that brings further light as to what is being discussed. For example, certain words and concepts can mean different things in different contexts, and we, many times, insert a parentheses to show forth exactly what we mean. These parentheses can also aid us in pointing out that there may or may not be exceptions to the thought. Both of Solomon's thoughts show forth the case that no exceptions exist to what he is discussing. Therefore, let us examine those this morning to see where we are and what outlook we should pursue. As a point of reference, we will speak of the second one and back our way into the first one.
In verses 36-37, Solomon is beseeching the Lord to remember His people when they sin and repent to follow after Him once more. Should the people get any idea that they perchance are not included in what Solomon is saying, the parenthetical thought clearly states that there is no man which sinneth not. Not one is exempt from this thought, as we all fall prey to the cares of life, devices of Satan, and temptations of the flesh. I remember a circumstance in which a minister of the gospel fell victim to his own lusts and was turned out of the church for his behaviour and conduct. He is no longer recognized as a minister of the gospel, although I can attest from first-hand experience that he had a gift that is now profitless and destroyed. What I drew from that experience is that no one is exempt from falling to these sorts of destructions. One of the worst things we could say is, "Well that will never happen to me." We should say, "Lord willing, I
hope that I will never fall victim to such things, but still understand my own fallibility."
Solomon exempts no one in his statement. We understand the entire Adamic family is condemned in Adam. We understand that all of us are sinners by nature and reveal that nature with our practice after coming into this world. Yet, how many of us (myself included) get caught up in thinking we are above sin or some type of sin? Some have said, "Well, I have done things I shouldn't have, but I'll never steal or murder." We are susceptible to every sin in the world, and it behooves us to remember the words of Solomon that there is none that sinneth not. We cannot think that a certain sin will no longer plague us here, for its ugly head can rear up at any time.
Moving above into the other expression in verse 30, we read a humbling and yet comforting thought. The Lord is the only one that knows the hearts of the children of men. Certainly, we see indicators at times that summon our own ideas of the person's heart, but yet we still must bow in submission that He is the only One that truly knows and understands. Therefore, we should look at that statement in (I believe) three outlooks for us here. The first outlook is to not dwell upon who is and who is not a child of God. My own outlook on Lot and others in the Bible is not favourable at times when reading their circumstance, but I also understand that Lot was beloved of the Lord identically in relationship as all His other children. God knows, God sees, and God only understands the hearts.
The second outlook to take from this thought is that since God is the only one that knows and understands the hearts of the children of men, we should not think that we can hide and cover anything up. David surely thought that he had succeeded in hiding his sin with Bathsheba. The evidence that would incriminate him had been done away with, and the woman now lived with him as his wife. Yet, the Lord, understanding the matter perfectly, sent his prophet with the most disheartening words David could hear, "Thou art the man." David's shifting house of deception came crashing down with one fell blow from the mouth of the Lord's prophet. The Lord understood David's heart, saw his intentions, and was displeased with his conduct. None of us today are any different, as the Lord sees and understands us down to our very thoughts and intents of the heart. For, there is no creature that is not manifest unto Him, and all things are naked and opened unto His eyes. (Hebrews 4:12-13)
Therefore, it is rather amusing to hear people say when you walk up, "Well we better straighten up, the preacher's here." The preacher's presence matters not, for the Lord is always here, and His eye sees perfectly every time. David understood while penning the 139th Psalm that darkness or light matters not to the Lord's eye. He can pierce through all veils just as easily as He can pierce through nothing. So, if we try to say that we have no sin, have risen above any type of sin, or are not guilty of the same things we condemn, He knows better. The preacher may not know better, but the One that sees the hearts does.
Finally, the third outlook to draw from this is one that, I trust, will be of more comfort than the others. While there is comfort in knowing that nothing will ever take the Lord by surprise that He has not already known would happen, there is a measure of anxiety when we understand we have done things that displease Him. Yet, one of the most humbling and comforting thoughts to me is that He continues to love me, even knowing things about me others do not. Should the Lord's people know everything about me that I know, they would not want me preaching to them. Should they know everything about me that the Lord knows, they probably would not want my company. Yet, the Lord knows all about us, even things others do not see, and His love is as constant to us as it has ever been.
Even though none of us are without sin, either by omission or commission, He keeps us safe in the arms of His love. While our transgressions are met with the rod of chastening, His tenderness and compassion to His sheep will never be forsaken. Should our behaviour take us to the worst pitfalls the world has ever seen, our security in His Son will never be absented from us. Truly, that thought is one that deserves our most fervent admiration and adulation to and for Him. When our accuser stands before Him to say, "You cannot love that one for all the ways he has come short of the glory of God." Our Intercessor is there to say, "Father, that sin has been put away." And, when looking at us through Him, the Father declares us not guilty, righteous, holy, and without blame. May our thoughts dwell upon Him and His goodness.
This morning, people are quick to find fault with others without realizing that they are guilty of the same. Others hear things that they believe apply to other people without understanding that they are in the same boat. This is the point of the Saviour in Matthew 7 about judgment. It is not that judgment, in and of itself, is wrong, but the Saviour cautions and exhorts us to make sure that we are not guilty of the same edict we condemn others with. This is why judges must have clean criminal records as they would be unfit to judge criminals when they are guilty of the same crimes. This is why churches need to maintain the honour and glory of God's house, else
they would be unable to judge the members within the walls when necessary.
The verses above are found in Solomon's prayer to the Lord at the dedication of the temple. In the midst of the prayer, Solomon "pauses" to insert two statements that show forth two all-encompassing thoughts for the object under consideration. These pauses are shown in the form of parenthetical statements, and parenthetical statements lend added clarity to the statement that brings further light as to what is being discussed. For example, certain words and concepts can mean different things in different contexts, and we, many times, insert a parentheses to show forth exactly what we mean. These parentheses can also aid us in pointing out that there may or may not be exceptions to the thought. Both of Solomon's thoughts show forth the case that no exceptions exist to what he is discussing. Therefore, let us examine those this morning to see where we are and what outlook we should pursue. As a point of reference, we will speak of the second one and back our way into the first one.
In verses 36-37, Solomon is beseeching the Lord to remember His people when they sin and repent to follow after Him once more. Should the people get any idea that they perchance are not included in what Solomon is saying, the parenthetical thought clearly states that there is no man which sinneth not. Not one is exempt from this thought, as we all fall prey to the cares of life, devices of Satan, and temptations of the flesh. I remember a circumstance in which a minister of the gospel fell victim to his own lusts and was turned out of the church for his behaviour and conduct. He is no longer recognized as a minister of the gospel, although I can attest from first-hand experience that he had a gift that is now profitless and destroyed. What I drew from that experience is that no one is exempt from falling to these sorts of destructions. One of the worst things we could say is, "Well that will never happen to me." We should say, "Lord willing, I
hope that I will never fall victim to such things, but still understand my own fallibility."
Solomon exempts no one in his statement. We understand the entire Adamic family is condemned in Adam. We understand that all of us are sinners by nature and reveal that nature with our practice after coming into this world. Yet, how many of us (myself included) get caught up in thinking we are above sin or some type of sin? Some have said, "Well, I have done things I shouldn't have, but I'll never steal or murder." We are susceptible to every sin in the world, and it behooves us to remember the words of Solomon that there is none that sinneth not. We cannot think that a certain sin will no longer plague us here, for its ugly head can rear up at any time.
Moving above into the other expression in verse 30, we read a humbling and yet comforting thought. The Lord is the only one that knows the hearts of the children of men. Certainly, we see indicators at times that summon our own ideas of the person's heart, but yet we still must bow in submission that He is the only One that truly knows and understands. Therefore, we should look at that statement in (I believe) three outlooks for us here. The first outlook is to not dwell upon who is and who is not a child of God. My own outlook on Lot and others in the Bible is not favourable at times when reading their circumstance, but I also understand that Lot was beloved of the Lord identically in relationship as all His other children. God knows, God sees, and God only understands the hearts.
The second outlook to take from this thought is that since God is the only one that knows and understands the hearts of the children of men, we should not think that we can hide and cover anything up. David surely thought that he had succeeded in hiding his sin with Bathsheba. The evidence that would incriminate him had been done away with, and the woman now lived with him as his wife. Yet, the Lord, understanding the matter perfectly, sent his prophet with the most disheartening words David could hear, "Thou art the man." David's shifting house of deception came crashing down with one fell blow from the mouth of the Lord's prophet. The Lord understood David's heart, saw his intentions, and was displeased with his conduct. None of us today are any different, as the Lord sees and understands us down to our very thoughts and intents of the heart. For, there is no creature that is not manifest unto Him, and all things are naked and opened unto His eyes. (Hebrews 4:12-13)
Therefore, it is rather amusing to hear people say when you walk up, "Well we better straighten up, the preacher's here." The preacher's presence matters not, for the Lord is always here, and His eye sees perfectly every time. David understood while penning the 139th Psalm that darkness or light matters not to the Lord's eye. He can pierce through all veils just as easily as He can pierce through nothing. So, if we try to say that we have no sin, have risen above any type of sin, or are not guilty of the same things we condemn, He knows better. The preacher may not know better, but the One that sees the hearts does.
Finally, the third outlook to draw from this is one that, I trust, will be of more comfort than the others. While there is comfort in knowing that nothing will ever take the Lord by surprise that He has not already known would happen, there is a measure of anxiety when we understand we have done things that displease Him. Yet, one of the most humbling and comforting thoughts to me is that He continues to love me, even knowing things about me others do not. Should the Lord's people know everything about me that I know, they would not want me preaching to them. Should they know everything about me that the Lord knows, they probably would not want my company. Yet, the Lord knows all about us, even things others do not see, and His love is as constant to us as it has ever been.
Even though none of us are without sin, either by omission or commission, He keeps us safe in the arms of His love. While our transgressions are met with the rod of chastening, His tenderness and compassion to His sheep will never be forsaken. Should our behaviour take us to the worst pitfalls the world has ever seen, our security in His Son will never be absented from us. Truly, that thought is one that deserves our most fervent admiration and adulation to and for Him. When our accuser stands before Him to say, "You cannot love that one for all the ways he has come short of the glory of God." Our Intercessor is there to say, "Father, that sin has been put away." And, when looking at us through Him, the Father declares us not guilty, righteous, holy, and without blame. May our thoughts dwell upon Him and His goodness.
Friday, February 22, 2013
Remember
24But be sure to fear the Lord and faithfully serve him. Think of all the wonderful things he has done for you. 1 Samuel 12:24
This was my reading for yesturday. I didn't have time to post even though I did do my study. I really enjoy reading His word on a daily basis. I know that is what we are suppose to do but it come a good "habbit" so to speak once you are committed to doing it. I don't like using that word because I don't want it to sound as if reading the bible and learning about God is a chore because it's not. It's a pure joy and I have mad it a priority in my life to take time to spend with the Lord and His word and I encourage all who read this to do the same.
Now that's said let's get on with the lesson for yesturday. Samuel reminded the people to take time to consider what great things God had done for them. Taking time for reflection allows us to focus our attention upon God's goodness and strengthens our faith. Sometimes we are so progress- and future-oriented that we fail to take time to recall all that God has already done. Remember what God has done for you so that you may continue your life accompanied with gratitude.
By remembering what God has done for you, in a sence, you may be able to help someone else go through the same type of situation. The advise that you give someone is very critical especially if you can let that person know how God help you through that situatuation. Also, by remembering what He has done for you it allows your faith to be stregthened.
God has blessed me in so me ways it's unbelievable. There have been so many times that my family has been in a finacial bind or we have needed a situation to change and God has provided. Either we would get an announomous check in the mail and or heart of people would be changed and God deserves all the Glory. I can't thank Him enough for the blessing that He has given me. It's been more than materialistic. It's more than physical. Spiritually, God has pierced my heart and has touched my inner soul with the many things that He has done in my life. My Godly wife, my beautiful kids, and my loving family are just a few. I thanks God everyday for what He has willingly given me. Praise be to God.
This was my reading for yesturday. I didn't have time to post even though I did do my study. I really enjoy reading His word on a daily basis. I know that is what we are suppose to do but it come a good "habbit" so to speak once you are committed to doing it. I don't like using that word because I don't want it to sound as if reading the bible and learning about God is a chore because it's not. It's a pure joy and I have mad it a priority in my life to take time to spend with the Lord and His word and I encourage all who read this to do the same.
Now that's said let's get on with the lesson for yesturday. Samuel reminded the people to take time to consider what great things God had done for them. Taking time for reflection allows us to focus our attention upon God's goodness and strengthens our faith. Sometimes we are so progress- and future-oriented that we fail to take time to recall all that God has already done. Remember what God has done for you so that you may continue your life accompanied with gratitude.
By remembering what God has done for you, in a sence, you may be able to help someone else go through the same type of situation. The advise that you give someone is very critical especially if you can let that person know how God help you through that situatuation. Also, by remembering what He has done for you it allows your faith to be stregthened.
God has blessed me in so me ways it's unbelievable. There have been so many times that my family has been in a finacial bind or we have needed a situation to change and God has provided. Either we would get an announomous check in the mail and or heart of people would be changed and God deserves all the Glory. I can't thank Him enough for the blessing that He has given me. It's been more than materialistic. It's more than physical. Spiritually, God has pierced my heart and has touched my inner soul with the many things that He has done in my life. My Godly wife, my beautiful kids, and my loving family are just a few. I thanks God everyday for what He has willingly given me. Praise be to God.
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Follow through
11And she made this vow: “O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, if you will look upon my sorrow and answer my prayer and give me a son, then I will give him back to you. He will be yours for his entire lifetime, and as a sign that he has been dedicated to the Lord, his hair will never be cut.” (NKJV)
Be careful what you promise in prayer because God may take you up on it. Hannah so desperately wanted a child that she was willing to strike a bargain with God. God took her up on her promise, and to Hannah's credit, she did her part, even though it was painful. Although we are not in a position to barter with God, he may still choose to answer a prayer that has an attached promise. When you pray, ask yourself: "Will I follow through on any promises I make to God if he grants my request?" It is dishonest and dangerous to ignore a promise, especially to God. God keeps his promises, and he expects you to keep yours.
So many times we catch ourselves wanting things so badly that we will almost do anything to obtain them. Even if this is trying to make a bargan with God. Even if God does feel, in His infinite power, to grant us what we are asking for then we must follow through on what we said we were going to do. Now that being said, this is a dangerous way of praying in my opinion. And that's all this is is my opinion so take it for what it's worth. We shouldn't have to bargan with God. We should bring our prayers and concerns to Him in a manner of submission, love, and humility. If we contiue to ask God for something and that particular something is still weighing down upon our heart, then we must continue asking God for that very thing. God knows our wants and our desires before we even ask them. He just wants us to bring them before His throne and talk to Him and ask Him to take care of them. He wants that one on one relationship.
God answers requests in three ways, yes, no, and wait. I have found that in my life the answer that I get more often than not is wait. I 'll tell you the reason I think this is ths case for me. I think that in my life God is wanting me to bring more and more things before His throne each and every day. I try to do things on my own and then I come to God and say, "okGod bless what I'm trying to do, I'm doing it for you so I'm asking you to bless it." It doesn't work that way. We must seek Gods face first and His will before we can seek the hand of God. I am thankful that I am able to call Him my father, my Savior, and my friend. I am able to do so because He has come into my life and changed me and has saved me. Even though He has done all of that I still have to bring things before Him and communicate with Him on a daily basis and allow Him to work in my life.
Making promises to God is dangerous and I think that God granted Hannah her request because He saw her heart. That's where it all starts is the heart. I pray for my own life that people don't look at me and see what I am doing or what I am not doing but that they look at me and my life and see that God is using me and that He is still molding me and making me into what He wants me to be. Praise be to God.
Be careful what you promise in prayer because God may take you up on it. Hannah so desperately wanted a child that she was willing to strike a bargain with God. God took her up on her promise, and to Hannah's credit, she did her part, even though it was painful. Although we are not in a position to barter with God, he may still choose to answer a prayer that has an attached promise. When you pray, ask yourself: "Will I follow through on any promises I make to God if he grants my request?" It is dishonest and dangerous to ignore a promise, especially to God. God keeps his promises, and he expects you to keep yours.
So many times we catch ourselves wanting things so badly that we will almost do anything to obtain them. Even if this is trying to make a bargan with God. Even if God does feel, in His infinite power, to grant us what we are asking for then we must follow through on what we said we were going to do. Now that being said, this is a dangerous way of praying in my opinion. And that's all this is is my opinion so take it for what it's worth. We shouldn't have to bargan with God. We should bring our prayers and concerns to Him in a manner of submission, love, and humility. If we contiue to ask God for something and that particular something is still weighing down upon our heart, then we must continue asking God for that very thing. God knows our wants and our desires before we even ask them. He just wants us to bring them before His throne and talk to Him and ask Him to take care of them. He wants that one on one relationship.
God answers requests in three ways, yes, no, and wait. I have found that in my life the answer that I get more often than not is wait. I 'll tell you the reason I think this is ths case for me. I think that in my life God is wanting me to bring more and more things before His throne each and every day. I try to do things on my own and then I come to God and say, "okGod bless what I'm trying to do, I'm doing it for you so I'm asking you to bless it." It doesn't work that way. We must seek Gods face first and His will before we can seek the hand of God. I am thankful that I am able to call Him my father, my Savior, and my friend. I am able to do so because He has come into my life and changed me and has saved me. Even though He has done all of that I still have to bring things before Him and communicate with Him on a daily basis and allow Him to work in my life.
Making promises to God is dangerous and I think that God granted Hannah her request because He saw her heart. That's where it all starts is the heart. I pray for my own life that people don't look at me and see what I am doing or what I am not doing but that they look at me and my life and see that God is using me and that He is still molding me and making me into what He wants me to be. Praise be to God.
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Idols in your life?
24So he said, “You have taken away my gods which I made, and the priest, and you have gone away. Now what more do I have? How can you say to me, ‘What ails you?’ ” Judges 18:24 (NKJV)
This is my reading for today. If you were just reading this you would probably wonder what either I or the scriptures were talking about. We have to look back at the full chapter to understand what it is this passage is saying.
Micah made idols and hired a priest to run his personal religion. When the men of Dan took his idols and priest, nothing remained. What an empty spiritual condition! An idol is anything that takes God's place in a person's life. Some people invest all their energy in pursuing money, success, possessions, or a career. If these idols are taken away, only an empty shell is left. The only way to protect yourself against such loss is to invest your life in the living God, whom you can never lose.
I can see that right now in my life. There are so many things trying to take my attention and mind set off of The Lord. I catch myself on a daily basis stopping and asking God to help me in this area. I want nothing more than to serve The Lord. I want people to be able to look back on my life and say that I served The Lord. Its very easy to allow things to become idols in your life if you are not carful. It starts with small things and then it turns to larger things. Next thing you know your life is consumed with other things besides God.
I find that the small things are the things that get me the most. Things like phones, gadgets, and even work. Either church work, as hard as that may seem, or my secular job becomes my idol. making sure everything is done and nothing is left to question I sometimes forget that God has given me both of my jobs and the ministry that I am in. He wants the glory and the honor and He wants to be first in my life. Everything else is a byproduct of serving Him and placing Him first in your life.
I don't want my life to be anything but an example of the testimony of The Lord Jesus Christ. I can only accomplish that by allowing Him to be first in my life and allowing nothing to take the place of God.
This is my reading for today. If you were just reading this you would probably wonder what either I or the scriptures were talking about. We have to look back at the full chapter to understand what it is this passage is saying.
Micah made idols and hired a priest to run his personal religion. When the men of Dan took his idols and priest, nothing remained. What an empty spiritual condition! An idol is anything that takes God's place in a person's life. Some people invest all their energy in pursuing money, success, possessions, or a career. If these idols are taken away, only an empty shell is left. The only way to protect yourself against such loss is to invest your life in the living God, whom you can never lose.
I can see that right now in my life. There are so many things trying to take my attention and mind set off of The Lord. I catch myself on a daily basis stopping and asking God to help me in this area. I want nothing more than to serve The Lord. I want people to be able to look back on my life and say that I served The Lord. Its very easy to allow things to become idols in your life if you are not carful. It starts with small things and then it turns to larger things. Next thing you know your life is consumed with other things besides God.
I find that the small things are the things that get me the most. Things like phones, gadgets, and even work. Either church work, as hard as that may seem, or my secular job becomes my idol. making sure everything is done and nothing is left to question I sometimes forget that God has given me both of my jobs and the ministry that I am in. He wants the glory and the honor and He wants to be first in my life. Everything else is a byproduct of serving Him and placing Him first in your life.
I don't want my life to be anything but an example of the testimony of The Lord Jesus Christ. I can only accomplish that by allowing Him to be first in my life and allowing nothing to take the place of God.
Monday, February 18, 2013
Choose right!
And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord , choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord .” (Joshua 24:15 NKJV)
This s a great passage. If you back up a little and read front the beginning of the chapter you will notice that Joshua is talking to all the tribes. He is talking to a lot of people. He's not just conversing with one or two, he is making his point to a multitude.
I like this passage because Joshua is telling them everything that God has done for the people. He is telling them how great and wonderful God is. In essence he is saying this is what my God has done for you now you chose what you want to do and go you want to serve. The what he says next is my favorite, but as for me and my house we will serve The Lord. That's awesome.
Our pastor just talked here recently about placing things in our lives that take the place of God. We call these things idols. We may not have big thing that take the place of God or golden Capra or anything but we could have small things. Things like our television time, workout routine, cell phones, video games, or even our selves. These we just a few things that if we are not careful can get in the way of The Lord and hinder our walk with him.
Joshua was saying I'm telling you what God has done in the past and he was also telling them that if they were not careful then they could very easily start worshiping other gods. He wanted to make it very clear to them that no matter what they chose, he and his family were going to serve God. No matter what.
I pray this for my life and my family. That no matter what anyone else does or says and no matter what new fad comes along that me and my family sick to what we know and stick to what is right and that is to serve The Lord no matter what. Easier said than done I know, but no matter what I am going to serve The Lord and follow his teachings and allow Him to lead my life and through Him leading my life I can lead my family according to His will
This s a great passage. If you back up a little and read front the beginning of the chapter you will notice that Joshua is talking to all the tribes. He is talking to a lot of people. He's not just conversing with one or two, he is making his point to a multitude.
I like this passage because Joshua is telling them everything that God has done for the people. He is telling them how great and wonderful God is. In essence he is saying this is what my God has done for you now you chose what you want to do and go you want to serve. The what he says next is my favorite, but as for me and my house we will serve The Lord. That's awesome.
Our pastor just talked here recently about placing things in our lives that take the place of God. We call these things idols. We may not have big thing that take the place of God or golden Capra or anything but we could have small things. Things like our television time, workout routine, cell phones, video games, or even our selves. These we just a few things that if we are not careful can get in the way of The Lord and hinder our walk with him.
Joshua was saying I'm telling you what God has done in the past and he was also telling them that if they were not careful then they could very easily start worshiping other gods. He wanted to make it very clear to them that no matter what they chose, he and his family were going to serve God. No matter what.
I pray this for my life and my family. That no matter what anyone else does or says and no matter what new fad comes along that me and my family sick to what we know and stick to what is right and that is to serve The Lord no matter what. Easier said than done I know, but no matter what I am going to serve The Lord and follow his teachings and allow Him to lead my life and through Him leading my life I can lead my family according to His will
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