S. "When Jesus returned to Capernaum, a Roman officer came and pleaded with him, “Lord, my young servant lies in bed, paralyzed and in terrible pain.” Jesus said, “I will come and heal him.” But the officer said, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come into my home. Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed." Matthew 8:5-8 (NLT)
O. I love this story. I think that it speaks in huge volumes that our christian faith is to be. The officer has heard about Jesus and most likely has seen him heal some people with different illnesses. He speaks to Jesus about his servant who is very sick and Jesus offers to go to his home. But the officer has faith that is great...and he tells Jesus to just speak of word of healing and his servant will be healed. WOW! He believed in what Jesus could do...and he lived that our through his words and actions. Later in this passage Jesus said, "I tell you that truth, I haven't seen faith like this in all the land of Israel." (vs. 10).
I believe that many of times when I don't exhibit this kind of faith. I want to see that things are being done in a certain way and I want to have my hand in the outcome of things or I want to see for myself what is going to happen. Faith in believing in what we cannot see... (see Hebrews 11: 1). It is a confidence in what God can to and says that He will do. It is trusting in the one who is greater than me.
A. I really need to expand my view of what God can do. Too many times I get caught up in what I can do in my own strength.
P. Lord Jesus, please increase my faith in what you can do. Broaden my view of who you are and allow my life to be a reflection of your truth and grace to the world. Amen.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Illuminating My Life
S. “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:14-16 (NIV)
O. Well these verses are really in line with yesterdays verse about proving that you are a Christ follower and that your live has been rid of sins. These are about your life being a light to the world. This is such a simple concept, but one that must be understood in our lives. If we have the light of Jesus in us...there is no reason at all for us to hide that light. It should be our goal to spread His light in us to the world around us. We don't really have a choice. Light is very hard to contain...which illuminated...it will shine and pierce any and all darkness around it. So if there is light among us...what is the result. It is plainly stated in these verses. Our light is to "praise your Father in heaven" and to let others be drawn to Him. That is the ultimate goal...even the goal of our christian life... to help others know Jesus and to give God glory and praise through our lives.
A. My application is so simple as well. I will intentional make the light of Jesus shine into another person this week...and as I do I will lead them to the source of my light...Jesus Christ.
P. Lord Jesus, you are truly light to me. You have exposed my sin and have made me new from the inside out. You have been my light and now I want to be your light to the world. I open my live for your glory and honor every day. Amen.
O. Well these verses are really in line with yesterdays verse about proving that you are a Christ follower and that your live has been rid of sins. These are about your life being a light to the world. This is such a simple concept, but one that must be understood in our lives. If we have the light of Jesus in us...there is no reason at all for us to hide that light. It should be our goal to spread His light in us to the world around us. We don't really have a choice. Light is very hard to contain...which illuminated...it will shine and pierce any and all darkness around it. So if there is light among us...what is the result. It is plainly stated in these verses. Our light is to "praise your Father in heaven" and to let others be drawn to Him. That is the ultimate goal...even the goal of our christian life... to help others know Jesus and to give God glory and praise through our lives.
A. My application is so simple as well. I will intentional make the light of Jesus shine into another person this week...and as I do I will lead them to the source of my light...Jesus Christ.
P. Lord Jesus, you are truly light to me. You have exposed my sin and have made me new from the inside out. You have been my light and now I want to be your light to the world. I open my live for your glory and honor every day. Amen.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Prove Christ is in You
S. "Prove by the way you live that you have really turned from your sins and turned to God." Matthew 3: 8 (NLT)
O. This verse is found in a section of scripture talked about John the Baptist. He was confronting the Pharisees and Sadducees on life of faith and belief in God. They thought they were safe in their relationship with God because they were relatives of Abraham. They thought there lives were okay because of their family history. There is nothing wrong with family history. I have been blessed with a tremendous family. Godly parents who brought me up in the Lord, a loving wife who supports my ministry and stands with me in my serving the church...children who are finding the joy of serving and using their talents for the Lord. I have been blessed.
But as wonderful and Godly as my family may be, I can't depend on them to make my relationship with God right. They are there to "make my way" to God...I must make sure that I pour myself into a personal and meaningful relationship with God. That is what John the Baptist is talking about. I wanted to make sure that when we have a personal life changing relationship with God is will show. And if it is real...it will be visible by people everywhere.
A. My life is a reflection of all that is in me. In the days ahead, it is my prayer and my intention to make my life count for Jesus Christ. I will live as open and authentic as possible and as I live in relationship with Jesus Christ, I will let Him be seen to the world.
P. "Lord Jesus, I want to reflect you glory. May my life be a window of your mercy and grace. May my life be a true reflection of who Jesus Christ is in me. Amen"
O. This verse is found in a section of scripture talked about John the Baptist. He was confronting the Pharisees and Sadducees on life of faith and belief in God. They thought they were safe in their relationship with God because they were relatives of Abraham. They thought there lives were okay because of their family history. There is nothing wrong with family history. I have been blessed with a tremendous family. Godly parents who brought me up in the Lord, a loving wife who supports my ministry and stands with me in my serving the church...children who are finding the joy of serving and using their talents for the Lord. I have been blessed.
But as wonderful and Godly as my family may be, I can't depend on them to make my relationship with God right. They are there to "make my way" to God...I must make sure that I pour myself into a personal and meaningful relationship with God. That is what John the Baptist is talking about. I wanted to make sure that when we have a personal life changing relationship with God is will show. And if it is real...it will be visible by people everywhere.
A. My life is a reflection of all that is in me. In the days ahead, it is my prayer and my intention to make my life count for Jesus Christ. I will live as open and authentic as possible and as I live in relationship with Jesus Christ, I will let Him be seen to the world.
P. "Lord Jesus, I want to reflect you glory. May my life be a window of your mercy and grace. May my life be a true reflection of who Jesus Christ is in me. Amen"
Monday, October 5, 2009
Unity and Prayer
S. They all met together and were constantly united in prayer... Acts 1:14a (NLT)
O. I am amazed at what can happen when God's people pray together. The early church has such a reliance on each other for constant support and for stability in their community. They were also dependent on the strength that they knew only God could give them. Their prayer was not for the sick in their community, but for a bold witness as they told others about Jesus Christ. They called upon the Lord for strength and peace in their daily lives...so they could live the way that God intended for them to life. Along the way, we have grown more independent in our lives. We want to do things for us and for reaching our goals. We rely on our own strength and our own wisdom to accomplish things we are involved in. Forgive me Lord when I try on my own and don't rely on your presence and power in my life.
A. The most practical application from today's scripture is simply to become more focused in prayer and supporting the work of the kingdom in people around me. When in doubt...pray! When in need...pray! When faced with temptation...pray! When weak in spiritual fervor...pray!
P. Lord, I commit my life to you and to the application of your Word. Be my guide in the days ahead during the New Testament Challenge. Amen.
O. I am amazed at what can happen when God's people pray together. The early church has such a reliance on each other for constant support and for stability in their community. They were also dependent on the strength that they knew only God could give them. Their prayer was not for the sick in their community, but for a bold witness as they told others about Jesus Christ. They called upon the Lord for strength and peace in their daily lives...so they could live the way that God intended for them to life. Along the way, we have grown more independent in our lives. We want to do things for us and for reaching our goals. We rely on our own strength and our own wisdom to accomplish things we are involved in. Forgive me Lord when I try on my own and don't rely on your presence and power in my life.
A. The most practical application from today's scripture is simply to become more focused in prayer and supporting the work of the kingdom in people around me. When in doubt...pray! When in need...pray! When faced with temptation...pray! When weak in spiritual fervor...pray!
P. Lord, I commit my life to you and to the application of your Word. Be my guide in the days ahead during the New Testament Challenge. Amen.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Christ LIVING in Me
S. "My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."
(Galatians 2:20, NLT)
O. I have always loved this verse, but last night and this morning, I have been reflecting on the truth of these words. The truth is...As a person who has chosen to to follow Jesus Christ, a person who knows for certain that I have been forgiven of my sins...I am the one who is no longer in control. My life has now been "hidden" in Christ. I don't own or control my body, Christ does. To be honest, I haven't been acting that way. I have been trying to control areas of my life for many years, and for the first time, I feel that God is teaching me and reminding me that he wants and needs to be in control. I just have to live by faith...that means living and believing what I cannot see, but what I know is truth...that Christ is alive in me and wants to lead my life in every way. Just a simple lesson, but one that is so hard to live out. But one that I am committed to working through and making a reality in my life and relationship with Jesus Christ.
A. Today, I want to see all that I do in light of the reality that Christ is in control of my life. I will pray when I come to a point of wanting to control my life. I will seek the face of God today when I want to be in control.
P. I am reminded of the old hymn and want to make this my prayer today..."All to Jesus I surrender, I to him I freely give. I will ever love and trust Him, in His presence daily live."
Amen
(Galatians 2:20, NLT)
O. I have always loved this verse, but last night and this morning, I have been reflecting on the truth of these words. The truth is...As a person who has chosen to to follow Jesus Christ, a person who knows for certain that I have been forgiven of my sins...I am the one who is no longer in control. My life has now been "hidden" in Christ. I don't own or control my body, Christ does. To be honest, I haven't been acting that way. I have been trying to control areas of my life for many years, and for the first time, I feel that God is teaching me and reminding me that he wants and needs to be in control. I just have to live by faith...that means living and believing what I cannot see, but what I know is truth...that Christ is alive in me and wants to lead my life in every way. Just a simple lesson, but one that is so hard to live out. But one that I am committed to working through and making a reality in my life and relationship with Jesus Christ.
A. Today, I want to see all that I do in light of the reality that Christ is in control of my life. I will pray when I come to a point of wanting to control my life. I will seek the face of God today when I want to be in control.
P. I am reminded of the old hymn and want to make this my prayer today..."All to Jesus I surrender, I to him I freely give. I will ever love and trust Him, in His presence daily live."
Amen
Monday, September 28, 2009
Continued Thoughts on Surrender
S. "Whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus" Philippians 3:7-14 (NIV)
O. The apostle Paul talks about one of the most important aspects of our growth as a disciple of Jesus Christ. It involves surrendering my life and my ambitions for the sake of knowing Jesus Christ. There should be nothing more important in my life than my relationship with Jesus Christ. I must make my relationship with God a priority in my life daily. With our relationship with God in line, then the other areas of my life will begin to be aligned with God's plan and will. This is all about growing in spiritual maturity. And in this life, I will never attain to the pinnacle of spiritual maturity, that will only happen when I will one day be face to face with Jesus. But in this life, I must never stop working toward becoming more like Jesus Christ daily.
A. Knowing that my personality is one that likes to be in control, surrendering areas of my life is one of the most difficult things that I do as a Christian. But at this time in my life, there are some areas that I really need to turn over to the Lord. It will take all of my concentration, mental and emotional energy, but I am determined!
P. "Lord, I give you my life and ask for the strength and determination to become a person of surrender" Amen
O. The apostle Paul talks about one of the most important aspects of our growth as a disciple of Jesus Christ. It involves surrendering my life and my ambitions for the sake of knowing Jesus Christ. There should be nothing more important in my life than my relationship with Jesus Christ. I must make my relationship with God a priority in my life daily. With our relationship with God in line, then the other areas of my life will begin to be aligned with God's plan and will. This is all about growing in spiritual maturity. And in this life, I will never attain to the pinnacle of spiritual maturity, that will only happen when I will one day be face to face with Jesus. But in this life, I must never stop working toward becoming more like Jesus Christ daily.
A. Knowing that my personality is one that likes to be in control, surrendering areas of my life is one of the most difficult things that I do as a Christian. But at this time in my life, there are some areas that I really need to turn over to the Lord. It will take all of my concentration, mental and emotional energy, but I am determined!
P. "Lord, I give you my life and ask for the strength and determination to become a person of surrender" Amen
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Seeking God
S. “And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days. I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and billows of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD. And everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved; for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be deliverance, as the LORD has said, among the survivors whom the LORD calls. Joel 2:28-32 (NIV)
O. On this day, when I intentionally seek the face of God, I am reminded that my God has promised to pour out his spirit upon me and all those in our church. I don't know if I have a real good concept of what it is like to experience an outpouring of the Holy Spirit in my life. I certainly know that the Spirit is part of me, but I am not so sure that I have any memory of a true "outpouring" of the Spirit. I am seeking that in the days ahead, as I turn my focus to the Lord in these days of preparation for the New Testament Challenge. I am excited to be part of a congregation that is seeking God's Spirit together and I pray that this will be a time in the life of our church that will be filled with awe and wonder as we experience all that God will do in and through us.
A. Today, I choose to keep my focus on the Lord Jesus. I pray for strength and follow through with the commitment to keep my eyes focused on Him.
P. "Lord Jesus, thanks for meeting me this morning. I give you this day and ask for your eyes to see the world, your strength to care for those who come into my path, you compassion to those who are hurting and your peace at the end of this day. I love you Lord. Amen"
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