Thought of the Day !!

For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
                                    Romans 10:13 (ESV)
 
I just began teaching a study from Francis Chan's book Crazy Love.  The first chapter speaks about how infinite God is and how minute we are compared to Him.  But even though God has always been and always will be, and even though He set the billions of stars and planets in place, He still cares about little ole me (and you). 

In His vastness you would think it would be difficult to come to Him.  Think about how busy the better doctors or surgeons can be and how hard it is to get in to see them.  Think about how difficult it would be if you wanted an audience with the President.  God, who is so much greater than the best surgeon in the world or any world leader, can be reached in an instant.  We can all call out to Him at the same time, and none will get a busy signal. 

For those who call on the name of the Lord, they will be saved.  It's not some 12 step program or elaborate procedure for us to join with God in eternal life.  It's simply calling on His name, or desiring Him and loving Him, which leads to the desire to obey Him.

Don't make it harder than it really is.  And don't allow the devil to make your feel guilty when you fail to live up to what you think you need to be doing.  Just call on the name of the Lord and ask the Holy Spirit for His help.  He will not only save you, but He will love you and guide you.

In the love of Christ,
greg 

Thought of the Day !!

You must crave pure spiritual milk so that you can grow into the fullness of your salvation. Cry out for this nourishment as a baby cries for milk, now that you have had a taste of the Lord's kindness.

                                                        1 Peter 2:2-3 (NLT)

What does it mean to grow into the fullness of our salvation?  I see this as maturing as Christians.  When we are born again, we are changed in a miraculous way.  But at the same time, our behavior and thinking may not be totally changed. 

The new birth is just the beginning, not the end of our salvation story.  It is then that God justifies us...that He forgives us and makes us worthy of His redemption.  Then we are to begin a new life where we look at things differently.  We'll continue to have pitfalls, failures and successes.  We can learn from each one and grow in our relationship with God from each one.  These are the things that will build us.  And we should be able to look back daily and say to ourselves, "I'm not where I should be yet, but I'm much better off than I was." 

After we're born again, the goal is for us to continue to mature, or as Wesley put it, to go on towards perfection.  So what we must realize is that the new birth and/or baptism is not the end of our salvation story.  These are just the beginning.  Let us all crave the pure spiritual milk that God has to offer us and grow into the fullness of our salvation.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

Encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
                                                     1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NIV)

It's easy to tell people how they'll fail.  Be different, and encourage others to succeed.  Then help them do just that.  Both their lives and yours will be better for it.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord's Supper), and to prayer.
                                                             Acts 2:42 (NLT)  

These members who made up the beginnings of the Church were devoted people. Devotion means to have a profound dedication for something.  It means making sacrifices or giving up things for whatever you're devoted to.  For instance, I was devoted to band for a few years in Jr. High and High School.  I gave up much of my time and social life for practice and performances.  A man and a woman who are devoted to each other and marry give up their single life and much of what goes with it because they see that what they're gaining is much better.  A person who is devoted to losing weight will give up certain foods that they love to achieve their goal.  

God wants us to become devoted to Him.  What are you willing to sacrifice, or give up, to become a devoted believer?

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

"You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home, I blew away. Why?" declares the LORD Almighty. "Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with his own house."
                                                                             Haggai 1:9 (NIV)

I came across this verse in another devotion and the question was asked "Do you spend as much time on God's interests as you do on your own?"  The author was trying to say that if God isn't a part of what we're doing, then it will all be blown away.

This reminded me of another passage from the Gospel of Matthew where Jesus speaks of building houses on rock instead of sand.  The same question could be asked after reading this verse.  Do we spend as much time on God's interests as we do on our own?

The verse from Haggai refers to God's people spending their time doing for themselves while the Temple (God's house) remained in ruin.  If we update this to today, it might speak to us saying that we spend so much time thinking about ourselves that we forget that the Church (not referring to a building, but the people of God) is in decline in many ways.  

So the question must be asked yet again.  Do we spend as much time on God's interests as we do on our own?

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

Our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.
                                                             Philippians 3:20 (NIV)

Christians (Christ-followers) have a different set of standards than those of the world.  They also have a different home.  For their permanent home is Heaven, not this earth.  And so they are called on to live by these standards set forth by Jesus and for this home called Heaven.  Yet so often we live like our citizenship is here and not in eternity.  We worry about tomorrow.  We hold on to anger and revenge.  We think more about what we want than what Christ wants from us.

I wonder how Christ, whom we're supposed to be placing first in our lives, feels about all this?  I wonder how disappointed our Father in Heaven must be when we forget whose we are and whom we're supposed to be representing?

I'm reminded of those great words from the book of Joshua, "Choose this day whom you will serve." and "As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord."  Let us take these words seriously today as we remember where our citizenship is.  Let us live as though we are foreigners in this land so that we don't get too accustomed to its ways.  Let us reach toward Heaven in all we do and eagerly await the time when we will see our Savior in that place we call Home.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, O Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all.
                                                                       1 Chronicles 29:11 (NIV)

Some days we need to just begin our day praising God and thanking Him.  Actually, we should do this every day.  But maybe some days more than others because we got up on the wrong side of the bed.  Or we know of a confrontation that will be coming our way.  Or we know it's gonna be a long tedious day.  Sometimes we just (especially) need to begin our day praising God and thanking Him.

No matter what you think your day is going to wind up being like, it will be better if you go through it with an attitude of praise and thanksgiving.  So give God thanks for something He has done in your life.  Praise Him for something He's doing now.  And rejoice in what He can accomplish through you in this day as you have a Godly attitude of praise.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

As for me, my life has already been poured out as an offering to God. The time of my death is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing.
                                                   2 Timothy 4:6-8 (NLT)

The race that Paul speaks of finishing was not a sprint.  It was a marathon, which is very important.  In a marathon, it's not how well you start (many of us may start slow).  It's how you finish.  Just about anyone can finish a hundred yard dash.  It may take a while for a lot of us.  But we can finish the race at least.  But a marathon is different.  You have to train hard for a marathon or you'll never even make it to the end.  

Our lives are like marathons with three legs to the great race.  Consider which leg you may be in, and ask yourself how well you are staying trained spiritually for the marathon life of a Christian.

1st Leg – to come into a deeply personal relationship with God through Christ – to learn of His love and to share in that love with Him by giving it back to Him

2nd leg – to listen to Him and His calling on our lives and then train for these callings through prayer and worship and Bible Study

3rd leg – to live out this loving relationship and this calling with all His other children (our brothers and sisters)

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights.
                                                                  Habakkuk 3:19 (NIV)

How often do you need strength to get through days or situations that come up unexpectedly and bring you down? 

There are times when I wonder how I would've made it without the strength of the Lord.  It might not be evident to others.  It might not be an escape of whatever trouble is building up.  But an unexplainable and yet undeniable strength comes upon me that helps me hang on.
Jesus tells us that our God will not allow us to go through things that we cannot handle.  I believe this is because with His strength we can handle anything.

So seek God's strength for your life today.  Rely upon that strength when times are tough.  And rejoice in it when everything is well and your life is heading to great heights.
In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

    About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's bonds were unfastened. When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul cried with a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.” And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas. Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family.
                                                Acts 16:25-33 (ESV)

I was reminded of the story of Paul and Silas being imprisoned in Philippi this morning as I was listening to K-Love.  There was a wonderful testimony being given by a woman whose husband has been in prison for nine years.  It seems that she had grown up in a Christian home but really hadn't committed her life to Christ.  She was not a bad person, and like many of us, would have told anyone who asked that she was a Christian. 

Somewhere along the line her husband got saved while in prison (I guess, seeing as how I didn't hear the beginning).  And the wonderful testimony was that he led her to Christ.  He goes up for parole in a couple of years, but they both see these next two years as him being used by God as a missionary there in prison. 

Paul and Silas used their time in prison to pray and sing, and even convert people.  While we might simply feel sorry for ourselves, they saw their time in jail as an opportunity to reach out to those who don't know Christ.  So will this man in the testimony I heard this morning.  But do we have to be in jail to witness for Christ?  It would seem that we have even greater opportunities, seeing more people, to witness.  But do we?

I have to be the first to admit that I find it easy to get caught up with my ministry to the people of my church and sometimes forget that, as John Wesley stated, "The world is my parish".  Let us share the love of Christ with others today.  Let us show people Christ with our actions.  Let us speak to people and give them the opportunity to hear testimonies that could change their lives forever.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

"Yes, [God] humbled you by letting you go hungry and then feeding you with manna, a food previously unknown to you and your ancestors. He did it to teach you that people need more than bread for their life; real life comes by feeding on every word of the LORD."

                                                               Deuteronomy 8:3 (NLT)

Each of us needs physical food to survive.  God made us this way.  But He also made us so that we could be filled completely with His Word.  When we think about His Word, we typically think of Scripture.  But let me suggest that His Word comes to us also by way of prayer.  These are two ways that we come to know God and His will for us.  And when we put them together, or when we prayerfully read our bibles, then we are being nourished by that which far outweighs any portion of food and water we can receive.  For physical food provides strength for a short period, while spiritual nourishment lasts forever.

So immerse yourself in prayer and Scripture so that God can nourish you.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. For a thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night.
                                                                       Psalm 90:2;4 (NIV)

In the book of Revelation Jesus says that he is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.  Our God (Father, Son and Spirit) have always been and will always be.  That is why we can count on God.  In an everchanging world, He is the one constant. 

Take courage today in the fact that your God will outlast any enemy, any ailment, any distress.  Take comfort in the fact that your God is awesome and can create not just the mountains and the earth, but also a place of perfection called Heaven.  Take joy in the fact that His grace is sufficient to forgive you of anything as well as the fact that He wants you with Him for eternity.

Our God is an Awesome God!

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
                                                Proverbs 15:1 (NIV)

For some reason there are times when people just rub us the wrong way.  It might be the way that they say something.  It might be the particular mood we're in.  It might be that we're just defensive by nature.  But the advice of this proverb should be stored away in our memory so that every time we answer someone, we'll be reminded of how God would want us to do so.

No matter what someone has said or done to you, biting back with harsh words will just stir up more trouble.  The reason for this is that harsh words leave no room for forgiveness.  And forgiveness comes from love.  And love comes from God.  And so does everything good and holy.  

So when we snap with harsh words, stirring up anger, we're pushing ourselves farther from God and His love instead of bringing ourselves closer.

In the love of Christ,

greg

Thought of the Day !!

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.
                                                                 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (NLT)

I would like to share a quote by C.S. Lewis:

"Do not waste your time bothering whether you "love" your neighbor.  Act as if you did.  As soon as we do this, we find one of the great secrets.  When you are behaving as if you loved someone, you will presently come to love him.  If you injure someone you dislike, you will find yourself disliking him more.  If you do him a good turn, you will find yourself disliking him less."

Love is an action verb.  It's something that we have to put to work in our lives.  We can say that we love people all day long.  But that won't make it so.  

God created us as beings with free will.  We have the ability to choose.  Will we choose to claim that we love others.  Or will we choose to act out love towards others?  How about this?  Why don't we do both?  And as Lewis pointed out, even when we have a hard time loving someone, we will be able to make it happen through behaving in a manner that is loving toward them.  

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord. God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us.
                                                               1 Corinthians 12:4-6 (NLT)

There are a variety of gifts, and not all of us will have the same gifts.  For instance, I can't draw anything other than those three dimensional box cubes when I'm doodling.  I simply don't have the gift.  But I can type pretty well and fairly fast.  Some, however can't type a lick, and they hunt and peck at the keyboard in front of them.  But put a drawing pencil or paintbrush in their hands…and stand back.  The magic comes pouring out of them.

But whether it's typing or drawing, common sense or book sense…whether it's the gift of healing or the gift of teaching…speaking in tongues or interpreting them…no matter what the gifts are, they come from the same God.  And they're given to us through His same Holy Spirit.  

So seek out your gifts.  Know that they come from your Father in Heaven through the power of the Holy Spirit.  And then use them to glorify the One who gave them to you.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me -- put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
                                                                         Philippians 4:9 (NIV)
 
Paul has taught the Philippians what he knows about Christ.  He's been an example for them to follow.  We are also called upon to be an example for others.  I don't know about you, but there have been times when my example has not been the best.  These are the times that I've not followed Christ's example. 

If we would all strive daily to be an example for others, we might find that some of the things we do that are not so Christlike will begin to disappear.  Ask yourself if your lifestyle is the example that you would want others to follow.  Is it the lifestyle that Christ would have you lead?  What are the aspects of it that need to disappear so that others can follow your example of what a Christian should be?

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

After being asked which of the Commandments was the first, or most important, Jesus answered in this way:

The first is, "Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength".  The second is this, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself".  There is no other commandment greater than these.
                                                                     Mark 12:29-31 (NRSV)

These two Commandments go together.  When we love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength, then we cannot help but have a desire to please Him.  And when we have a desire to please Him, we will love each other.  Otherwise our love is more for ourselves than God. 

This kind of love is a first class kind of love.  If you've ever been on an airplane maybe you've been lucky enough to fly first class (not me).  In first class you get preferential treatment.  Your seat is bigger.  You're served first.  In other words, your doted on more than than the other passengers.  It's this kind of love that we're to give to God and to others.  Yet so often God gets the time left over after what's going on in our lives just as if He were in coach.  And our neighbor gets love only if it's convenient or doesn't get in our way.

Let us begin the New Year by giving a first class kind of love to God and neighbor.

In the love of Christ,
greg