Luke 5:27-28 After this he went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax booth. And he said to him,"Follow me." And leaving everything, he rose and followed him. (ESV)
To follow Jesus sounds easy enough, but leaving everything doesn't sound so easy. It is too comfortable to hang on to our circumstances, our things, and our own agendas. I think this is what causes some people to not follow Jesus, but I found with salvation I was given a new heart. And with that new heart I received new priorities and wants.
I can't say I have left everything, but following Him is easier every step I take.
Tuesday, July 14, 2015
Monday, July 13, 2015
July 13, 2015
Isaiah 1:18 "Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool." (ESV)
The first thing that strikes me in this passage is that the Creator of the Universe invites me to reson with Him. That says to me that I have the freedom to put questions before Him, bring my concerns to Him, work through my thinking on something with Him. This is just one of many indicators that He is a very personal God, and He wants an intimate relationship with me.
The rest of the verse is mind-boggling.... especially when I consider my past and the sins of my youth. Only God can take them and wash them thoroughly so that there is no trade left. It is hard to understand, but He encourages us to reason with Him and trust Him. I am so thankful that God is not only reasonable, but supernatural, so that He can accomplish all He promises in this verse.
The first thing that strikes me in this passage is that the Creator of the Universe invites me to reson with Him. That says to me that I have the freedom to put questions before Him, bring my concerns to Him, work through my thinking on something with Him. This is just one of many indicators that He is a very personal God, and He wants an intimate relationship with me.
The rest of the verse is mind-boggling.... especially when I consider my past and the sins of my youth. Only God can take them and wash them thoroughly so that there is no trade left. It is hard to understand, but He encourages us to reason with Him and trust Him. I am so thankful that God is not only reasonable, but supernatural, so that He can accomplish all He promises in this verse.
Sunday, July 12, 2015
July 12, 2015
Psalm 18:1 I love you, O LORD, my strength. (ESV)
Do you love the Lord? Is He your strength? These may seem like silly questions to be asking, but we could be taking certain things in our Christian walk for granted. When is the last time that you could feel the love of the Lord and you whispered back to Him - "I love you too."
Have you recently felt worn out and lacking strength? Was your very first thought that you needed to run into the everlasting, always- open, arms of the LORD? Or did you look to man's remedy to strengthen you?
I don't know about you, but when I am honestly assessing some of these issues, I come up short.
Tell the Lord right now how much you love him, and relax in His arms and let Him love on you and give you strength.
Do you love the Lord? Is He your strength? These may seem like silly questions to be asking, but we could be taking certain things in our Christian walk for granted. When is the last time that you could feel the love of the Lord and you whispered back to Him - "I love you too."
Have you recently felt worn out and lacking strength? Was your very first thought that you needed to run into the everlasting, always- open, arms of the LORD? Or did you look to man's remedy to strengthen you?
I don't know about you, but when I am honestly assessing some of these issues, I come up short.
Tell the Lord right now how much you love him, and relax in His arms and let Him love on you and give you strength.
Saturday, July 11, 2015
July 11, 2015
Joshua 4:1 When all the nation had finished passing over the Jordan.....(ESV)
When I read this, I noticed God waited until all the nation was safe before He made His next move. That is always God's heart. He wishes none to perish. Oh, that we felt the same. Maybe we would be a little more aggressive when it comes to evangelizing. God, give us a heart for the lost that matches Yours.
When I read this, I noticed God waited until all the nation was safe before He made His next move. That is always God's heart. He wishes none to perish. Oh, that we felt the same. Maybe we would be a little more aggressive when it comes to evangelizing. God, give us a heart for the lost that matches Yours.
Friday, July 10, 2015
July 10,2015
Genesis 1:1 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. (ESV)
The thing I love to ponder in this verse is that at the beginning of time... God already was. It is so hard to understand how God could be forever, both in the past and in the future. He is timeless. However, this makes it easier to understand how He can be not only timeless, but also unchangeable. It gives Him an atribute of stability. In these days when things are so relative... God is NOT. He is an absolute. Why don't you study the various absolutes to be found in the Word of God and embrace them, and stand on them.
The thing I love to ponder in this verse is that at the beginning of time... God already was. It is so hard to understand how God could be forever, both in the past and in the future. He is timeless. However, this makes it easier to understand how He can be not only timeless, but also unchangeable. It gives Him an atribute of stability. In these days when things are so relative... God is NOT. He is an absolute. Why don't you study the various absolutes to be found in the Word of God and embrace them, and stand on them.
Thursday, July 9, 2015
July 9, 2015
Ezra 3:11 And they sang responsively, praising and giving thanks to the LORD, "For he is good, for his steadfst love endures forever toward Israel." (ESV)
Do you believe God is good? Do you believe all good and perfect gifts come from God? If you don't, you should. This week has been amazing...
Bad weather was forcast for an outside concert, but God changed the weather to perfect.
At the concert God allowed the group to play my very favorite song.
We wrote a grant for our church for $25,000, but God saw fit to give us $50,000.
When I took my car in to have the radio replaced last month, I inadvertently forgot my CD that was in it. I thought it was long gone, but God had the dealership call me today and say they received my CD in the mail today from the place they had sent the faulty radio.
Is God good or what? Yes!!!
Do you believe God is good? Do you believe all good and perfect gifts come from God? If you don't, you should. This week has been amazing...
Bad weather was forcast for an outside concert, but God changed the weather to perfect.
At the concert God allowed the group to play my very favorite song.
We wrote a grant for our church for $25,000, but God saw fit to give us $50,000.
When I took my car in to have the radio replaced last month, I inadvertently forgot my CD that was in it. I thought it was long gone, but God had the dealership call me today and say they received my CD in the mail today from the place they had sent the faulty radio.
Is God good or what? Yes!!!
Wednesday, July 8, 2015
July 8, 2015
Proverbs 26:18-19 Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, "I am only joking!" (ESV)
As I was reading this, it just reminded me of all the times I have heard students say hateful things to other students, or even teachers, and then thought is was sufficient to say, "just kidding."
We have to be careful as we speak to others. Many of us use sarcasm, but intend it to be humorous rather than hurtful. And the written word is even harder to understand the nuances. In this electronic world of communications we can easily be misconstrued. I probably pray more about the use of my tongue than anything else.
Isn't interesting that in Solomon's day the problem was prevalent enough to be written about in the Word of God? Consider your words carefully. Once they leave your lips, it is very hard, if not impossible, to make amends for them.
As I was reading this, it just reminded me of all the times I have heard students say hateful things to other students, or even teachers, and then thought is was sufficient to say, "just kidding."
We have to be careful as we speak to others. Many of us use sarcasm, but intend it to be humorous rather than hurtful. And the written word is even harder to understand the nuances. In this electronic world of communications we can easily be misconstrued. I probably pray more about the use of my tongue than anything else.
Isn't interesting that in Solomon's day the problem was prevalent enough to be written about in the Word of God? Consider your words carefully. Once they leave your lips, it is very hard, if not impossible, to make amends for them.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)