Matthew 28:12-13
12 When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, 13 telling them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.’
Have you ever witnessed or been caught in plans devised to hide a much needed truth? For the soldiers seemed to be caught in a catch 22. If they didn't go along with the chief priests and elders plan they would've had to deal with Pilate who gave them strict instructions on guarding the tomb. So what's a soldier to do? Further along in scripture, the soldiers went along with the plan and an entire nation of people missed out really understanding who Jesus is. Every choice has benefits and consequences. For the soldiers risked their good name and possibly their earthly life but what did they lose? They still lost their good name because it's still recorded in scripture but more importantly others were affected. We too often fear man but Jesus said that we must fear the one who determines where I soul will go. "It's a pickle," as the Oracle said in Matrix Reloaded.
What does this mean to you? There will come a crossroad in your life where you can be caught in a catch 22. On the one hand your own benefits and on the other, the benefits of so many others may lie in the balance. Which will you choose? If you are ever caught in a catch 22 to hide the truth, know that it's never really hidden. And if you fear losing your good name, you will lose it anyway with God unless you repent because he is the one you have to contend with. He can move man out of the way.
May your soul find peace this day. In Jesus Name!! AMEN!!
Friday, March 11, 2011
Thursday, March 10, 2011
BREAK THE FEAR
Psalm 53:5a
5 But there they are, overwhelmed with dread,
where there was nothing to dread.
Did you know that fear is a spirit? David, the eloquent psalmist talked of the spirit that can overwhelm a person. God can allow the spirit to take over one just as it did King Saul. Why did it happen? In Saul's case it was because he was disobedient to what God told him to do. So he then became tormented by a spirit which caused him to believe that David wanted to steal his position from him. He feared losing his reign. Now David was assigned to help Saul and calm that spirit but God had already deemed that David would be the next king. The NIV Study Bible says that fear is the precursor to one's downfall. For King Saul it was. If we are aware of the Lord's ways then we know that we can overcome the spirit of fear but it requires us to reverence God and do the one thing he desires, which is to love him, reverence him, call on him and most importantly, worship him.
BREAK THE FEAR!!
5 But there they are, overwhelmed with dread,
where there was nothing to dread.
Did you know that fear is a spirit? David, the eloquent psalmist talked of the spirit that can overwhelm a person. God can allow the spirit to take over one just as it did King Saul. Why did it happen? In Saul's case it was because he was disobedient to what God told him to do. So he then became tormented by a spirit which caused him to believe that David wanted to steal his position from him. He feared losing his reign. Now David was assigned to help Saul and calm that spirit but God had already deemed that David would be the next king. The NIV Study Bible says that fear is the precursor to one's downfall. For King Saul it was. If we are aware of the Lord's ways then we know that we can overcome the spirit of fear but it requires us to reverence God and do the one thing he desires, which is to love him, reverence him, call on him and most importantly, worship him.
BREAK THE FEAR!!
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
For the Young and Old
Titus 2:2
2 Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance.
Did you know that the young can indeed teach the older? Young people are often looked down upon because they are seen as not having lived long enough. But age is not a guarantee of wisdom. Wisdom is of God. So there are times that God provides wisdom to the young. He gives it to whomever is willing to listen. The apostle Paul gave Titus instructions on how to minister to those that are older. Titus was a young man and not necessarily seen as being wise because of his age though he was called by God to minister. For the elders were to be not only moral and respectful but to have a sound faith. Most importantly, they were to have love. For faith without love means nothing. Sometimes faith can be strong but the bitterness of life can cause the heart to grow cold. Love covers all. Depending on how we have looked at life our faith can become faded and jaded or even stronger. And the willingness to truly love becomes extremely difficult. It's all in how we view the glass.
Who are the young people in your life? What have they taught you? Has God sent them to impart to you just as you have imparted to them? Relationship is give and take, not just give, and not just take. Is God trying to give you something through another young person? Is there mutual love and respect? If not, you may be missing something God wants to teach you through them. And to the young, are you feeling unheard? God will be your voice if you let him.
2 Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance.
Did you know that the young can indeed teach the older? Young people are often looked down upon because they are seen as not having lived long enough. But age is not a guarantee of wisdom. Wisdom is of God. So there are times that God provides wisdom to the young. He gives it to whomever is willing to listen. The apostle Paul gave Titus instructions on how to minister to those that are older. Titus was a young man and not necessarily seen as being wise because of his age though he was called by God to minister. For the elders were to be not only moral and respectful but to have a sound faith. Most importantly, they were to have love. For faith without love means nothing. Sometimes faith can be strong but the bitterness of life can cause the heart to grow cold. Love covers all. Depending on how we have looked at life our faith can become faded and jaded or even stronger. And the willingness to truly love becomes extremely difficult. It's all in how we view the glass.
Who are the young people in your life? What have they taught you? Has God sent them to impart to you just as you have imparted to them? Relationship is give and take, not just give, and not just take. Is God trying to give you something through another young person? Is there mutual love and respect? If not, you may be missing something God wants to teach you through them. And to the young, are you feeling unheard? God will be your voice if you let him.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
The Invisible Man
James 1:23-24
23 Those who listen to the word but do not do what it says are like people who look at their faces in a mirror 24 and, after looking at themselves, go away and immediately forget what they look like.
Have you ever heard medical stories of people who have amnesia and forget what they look like? Have you ever heard tales of someone who looks in the mirror but can't see their own image? Does the story, "The Invisible Man" ring a bell? James, the brother of Jesus addressed Jewish Christians regarding their ability to act on the Word of God. If one receives the word week after week, yet in no way acts upon what is heard, then it falls to the ground. But James uses the depiction of someone who forgets what they look like. Why? Just as the Jewish Christians, we live in a time where it's so easy to to get caught up in what society thinks that we forget who we are. Forgetting what you look like is like forgetting who you are. Forgetting the Word of God that was to be planted within you is like trying to plant seed on top of a rock. So if one knows who they are when receiving the word wherever it may be heard whether it's in the company of other believers at a worship service, T.V., radio or even online but as soon as the message is over, if one does not reflect, then they will appear as invisible to the rest of the world.
We are called to stand out from the crowd and to be a light that others can follow. How can we do that when we are invisible? If we are not able to reflect, absorb and act on the word, then we blend in so much that we can't even see who we really are in God's eyes.
23 Those who listen to the word but do not do what it says are like people who look at their faces in a mirror 24 and, after looking at themselves, go away and immediately forget what they look like.
Have you ever heard medical stories of people who have amnesia and forget what they look like? Have you ever heard tales of someone who looks in the mirror but can't see their own image? Does the story, "The Invisible Man" ring a bell? James, the brother of Jesus addressed Jewish Christians regarding their ability to act on the Word of God. If one receives the word week after week, yet in no way acts upon what is heard, then it falls to the ground. But James uses the depiction of someone who forgets what they look like. Why? Just as the Jewish Christians, we live in a time where it's so easy to to get caught up in what society thinks that we forget who we are. Forgetting what you look like is like forgetting who you are. Forgetting the Word of God that was to be planted within you is like trying to plant seed on top of a rock. So if one knows who they are when receiving the word wherever it may be heard whether it's in the company of other believers at a worship service, T.V., radio or even online but as soon as the message is over, if one does not reflect, then they will appear as invisible to the rest of the world.
We are called to stand out from the crowd and to be a light that others can follow. How can we do that when we are invisible? If we are not able to reflect, absorb and act on the word, then we blend in so much that we can't even see who we really are in God's eyes.
Monday, March 7, 2011
Forgetting Where You Belong
Haggai 1:5-6
5 Now this is what the LORD Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. 6 You have planted much, but have harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.”
Have you ever been so preoccupied that you forget something that was essential? The Lord spoke through the prophet Haggai during the time the Israelites were in exile in Babylon. The king of Babylon had given the Israelites the freedom to go back and rebuild their land. God had called his people back to rebuild his temple but they were more concerned with the way of life they had become accustomed to in Babylon. Babylon was full of idol worship. Like the Israelites, when God calls you to return to him, he means it. His anger does not last always but when he wants you to get the message, you will get it the easy way or the hard way. The choice is yours
We sometimes get so caught up in life that we forget the one who is the giver of life and everything in it. God wanted his people to return to him and lift him up. It is now as it was then, return to him and build up the body of Christ. Return to him and use the gifts you've been using for gain to build up his kingdom.
5 Now this is what the LORD Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. 6 You have planted much, but have harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.”
Have you ever been so preoccupied that you forget something that was essential? The Lord spoke through the prophet Haggai during the time the Israelites were in exile in Babylon. The king of Babylon had given the Israelites the freedom to go back and rebuild their land. God had called his people back to rebuild his temple but they were more concerned with the way of life they had become accustomed to in Babylon. Babylon was full of idol worship. Like the Israelites, when God calls you to return to him, he means it. His anger does not last always but when he wants you to get the message, you will get it the easy way or the hard way. The choice is yours
We sometimes get so caught up in life that we forget the one who is the giver of life and everything in it. God wanted his people to return to him and lift him up. It is now as it was then, return to him and build up the body of Christ. Return to him and use the gifts you've been using for gain to build up his kingdom.
Friday, March 4, 2011
Victorious Without A Word
1 Peter 2:23
23 When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.
Have you ever wanted so bad to retaliate at someone for some unkind word or deed done to you? Let's be honest, it's usually the first response when we are hurt. But as Jesus displayed, it's not the best response. The best response is to let go and let the Lord deal with it. Though it's difficult to hold the tongue when one is hurt because what comes out of the mouth is what's in the heart. So if there is pain, then pain will flow. Where there is joy, joy will flow. Jesus gave the example of silent submission. Jesus opening his mouth would've provided exactly what the instigators would have wanted which was to get a reaction and see him sweat. Have you ever heard the saying, "if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all?" If it's not your fight, opening your mouth puts you in the middle. It wasn't Jesus' fight. Jesus only had to show up. God did the rest, in his time. Unfortunately, most of us do not like God's timing therefore we attempt to do something that provides the opposite results of what God intended.
If what you're doing is according to God's plan, God will show those who don't believe when he knows they will be ready to accept it. You will still be victorious without a word.
23 When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.
Have you ever wanted so bad to retaliate at someone for some unkind word or deed done to you? Let's be honest, it's usually the first response when we are hurt. But as Jesus displayed, it's not the best response. The best response is to let go and let the Lord deal with it. Though it's difficult to hold the tongue when one is hurt because what comes out of the mouth is what's in the heart. So if there is pain, then pain will flow. Where there is joy, joy will flow. Jesus gave the example of silent submission. Jesus opening his mouth would've provided exactly what the instigators would have wanted which was to get a reaction and see him sweat. Have you ever heard the saying, "if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all?" If it's not your fight, opening your mouth puts you in the middle. It wasn't Jesus' fight. Jesus only had to show up. God did the rest, in his time. Unfortunately, most of us do not like God's timing therefore we attempt to do something that provides the opposite results of what God intended.
If what you're doing is according to God's plan, God will show those who don't believe when he knows they will be ready to accept it. You will still be victorious without a word.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
A Law That Cannot Be Broken
Proverbs 26:27
27 If anyone digs a pit, they themselves will fall into it;
if anyone rolls a stone, it will roll back on them.
Did you know that whatever you put out you will get in return? King Solomon so aptly spoke of the law of sowing and reaping. It is a law that God ordained, therefore it cannot be altered by any man. Just as a farmer that sow seeds in the ground, so he reaps the product of it at a later time. Whatever you are doing or have done, it will come back. It may not come back at the time that one expects but it will come back. The wonderful thing about farmers is they not only study that which they sow but they study the environment in which they are sowing in. Farmers are aware of what seasons they should begin planting seeds and what time of year those seeds will yield a harvest. But what they can never anticipate is unexpected changes in weather patterns that can possibly throw off production. So what they sowed may not come back at the time they anticipated nor are they aware of how much will come back when weather is a factor.
Why is this important for you? Whatever you have sown in your life and the life of others will yield a return. You may not know how much of it shall yield. If you have sown positive seeds then they will yield a positive return. If you have sown negative seeds then they will yield a negative return. What you do not know is how much will be returned to you it's all based on a factor that you cannot predict, that factor is God. Be very careful of the environment that you sow into. Some climates are not as ripe as others. But know that whatever you put out, it will come back but never at the time you anticipate. Because the timing is not up to you.
27 If anyone digs a pit, they themselves will fall into it;
if anyone rolls a stone, it will roll back on them.
Did you know that whatever you put out you will get in return? King Solomon so aptly spoke of the law of sowing and reaping. It is a law that God ordained, therefore it cannot be altered by any man. Just as a farmer that sow seeds in the ground, so he reaps the product of it at a later time. Whatever you are doing or have done, it will come back. It may not come back at the time that one expects but it will come back. The wonderful thing about farmers is they not only study that which they sow but they study the environment in which they are sowing in. Farmers are aware of what seasons they should begin planting seeds and what time of year those seeds will yield a harvest. But what they can never anticipate is unexpected changes in weather patterns that can possibly throw off production. So what they sowed may not come back at the time they anticipated nor are they aware of how much will come back when weather is a factor.
Why is this important for you? Whatever you have sown in your life and the life of others will yield a return. You may not know how much of it shall yield. If you have sown positive seeds then they will yield a positive return. If you have sown negative seeds then they will yield a negative return. What you do not know is how much will be returned to you it's all based on a factor that you cannot predict, that factor is God. Be very careful of the environment that you sow into. Some climates are not as ripe as others. But know that whatever you put out, it will come back but never at the time you anticipate. Because the timing is not up to you.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)