Thought of the Day !!

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Colossians 3:17 (NIV)

When we do something in God's/Jesus' name, it means that others know what we're doing is because we belong to Him. Many good deeds are done everyday by people of all faiths and backgrounds. How will people know that your words and deeds are done in the name of the the Lord Jesus?

One way is to make it known that you are a Christian. We are not to boast. But when we're not afraid to bring Jesus into conversations with others, they will begin to get a clue. When we're given praise, we may give a humble reminder that we would be able to do nothing without our Lord and Savior.

What I get from this scripture is that we should be speaking and doing deeds that are Christlike, but that we should also be letting others know why we do them.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

The earth is the LORD's and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.
Psalms 24:1 (NIV)

Give thanks today for all you have, for all you have is on loan from the Lord. He is the one who created everything. So all you have - your possessions, your talents, your relationships, your body, your soul - is His to share with whom He pleases. They have all been handed over to you for a period that we call a lifetime (except the soul, which is eternal). So the question is this. What will you do with what you've been loaned?

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

After breakfast Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?" "Yes, Lord," Peter replied, "you know I love you." "Then feed my lambs," Jesus told him.
John 21:15 (NLT)

According to the Gospel of John this is Peter's third encounter with the Post-Resurrection Jesus. He's sitting on the shore of the Sea of Galilee after a night of fishing where the disciples have caught nothing until Jesus arrives and tells them to cast their nets on the other side. Jesus asks Peter a very important question about his love here. "Do you love me more than these?" But what is the "these" that he's talking about?

Is he pointing to the disciples asking if Peter loves him more than the other disciples do? Is he pointing in their direction asking if Peter loves him more than he loves the other disciples? Or could it be something more?

I believe that Jesus is pointing in the general direction of the boats and the nets and catch of the day. Peter knows fishing. Peter is comfortable as a fisherman. It's familiar to him. It's what he's done all his life. And Jesus is asking if Peter loves him more than the things that he knows, understands or is comfortable doing.

Peter has left this life (the life of a fisherman) once to follow Jesus. Now he's being asked if it's all worth it. If he loves Jesus more than his old life, then he will again be offered the chance to follow him.

What about us? Is there anything in our lives that might be getting higher up on our priority list than our Lord? Are there things that may be inching Jesus out of the role of what's most important in our lives? Jesus asks us the same question that he asked Peter so long ago. Do we love him more than "these"?

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.
Hebrews 4:12 (NLT)

John Wesley used to say that the Word of God is twice inspired, once when it was written and once when it is read. This Word is just as much alive today as it ever has been. But it can only live in us and through us if we delve into it.

Is a sampling enough? Is this one verse that you've just read enough to truly come alive in you? I believe the answer to be "No". If we want to grow in Christ...if we want to mature as Christians...if we want to be guided by the Holy Spirit and not our own sinful nature...then we must dedicate time to spending with our Lord and Savior, Jesus. We do this through two ways. One is prayer, and the other is prayerfully reading His Word.

Set aside some time today to get to know Jesus again through reading your Bible. If you haven't picked it up in a while, may I suggest taking a Gospel (Matthew, Mark, Luke or John). Don't think you have to read from beginning to end starting with Genesis and ending with Revelation. That is quite alright for many. But for those who are not accustomed to reading daily, begin with something easy and build your way up to all those laws and genealogies in the first few books. The key is to spend time with God.

May you be deeply enriched and grow in Christian maturity as you delve into God's Word.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

[God says,] "Have you comprehended the vast expanses of the earth? Tell me, if you know all this. What is the way to the abode of light? And where does darkness reside? Can you take them to their places?"
Job 38:18-20 (NIV)

Job has asked God, "Why am I suffering?" How many of us have done the exact same thing? Or maybe you felt that you were not supposed to ask because that might mean your faith wasn't as strong as you thought?

It's OK to ask God. Job did. And Job, though he suffered for a season, was a blessed man whom God loved. But what it all boils down to is this. There are things that we just don't understand. Just as we don't know the "way to the abode of light" or "where darkness resides", we don't always have a clear cut answer for our sufferings. The one thing that we can know is that God does know and God does care. He will see us through the times of suffering. He saw Job through his, and He'll see us through ours.

I don't know it all and will be the first to admit that. Something my pastor, John Sudduth, taught me when I went into the ministry was that sometimes the most important three words I can utter will be "I don't know".

But I do know that Christ loves you and so do I.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
Romans 12:18 (NIV)

What do you think this might mean for you? Are there angry people in your life that you'd like to respond in kind? Does revenge ever enter your mind...even in a slight way? Do you ever want to treat others as they treat you instead of as you would like for them to treat you (Golden Rule)?

When Jesus told his disciples that he was going to leave them with his peace, it was a peace that passes all understanding (Paul's words). It was a peace that went beyond the absence of conflict. It was the ability to live joyfully even in the presence of conflict.

Can we live at peace in a world where people will try to take advantage of us and it seems that everyone wants something? Can we live at peace with those who hate us or even might want to do us harm? Can we live at peace with people who don't care about us?

We can if we ask and allow Jesus to give us His Peace. This truly is the peace that passes all understanding. It can get us through anything because it never promises us a rose garden. It promises to strengthen, sustain and never leave our side. That peace is Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit.

May the peace of Jesus be with you today.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

Again I say, don't get involved in foolish, ignorant arguments that only start fights. A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult people.
2 Timothy 2:23-24 (NLT)

How many of us argue over something that doesn't really matter in the whole scheme of things?

In the love of Christ,
greg