Today, as we continue to Prepare 90 Days for Easter (P90E), we read Luke 19, Acts 2, and continue to ponder and memorize Romans 12.1-2.
One of the most challenging and visionary charges that you see in all of the writings of the Bible is found in Romans 12.1-2. I encourage you to ponder on Romans 12.1 today- I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
Before Christ it was required of all believers to sacrifice an animal without blemish to pay for their sins. Since Christ, our sacrifice is a living one, not one of death. We are to sacrificially live our lives to please and honor the Lord. Everyday we die a death to our own selfish ways, so that we can live for Christ and do our best to honor Him in the way we live.
We are to be holy. Holy simply means set apart for a special purpose. One who has surrendered his/her life to Christ is set apart for God's purposes. When I was in physical education in elementary school, we would chose up sides and play kickball, softball, or flag football. Once we were chosen to a team, we were to play with all we had for that team. Well, if you have surrendered your life to Christ, it is because you have been chosen and you are on TEAM JESUS. Every move you make ought to represent your team and be for the benefit of your team.
We are to be acceptable. What is acceptable to God? It is nothing more or less than wholehearted effort to live out His purposes for our lives. That is what true worship is about. True worship is not about an hour or two with a bunch of others once a week. Worship is about living a life that honors and focuses on Christ. Once we have lived like that all week long, when TEAM JESUS comes together on Sunday, it is going to be an awesome time of focusing on Him with others.
How do we do all this? We are enabled by the mercies of salvation, spiritual maturity, and endurance of The Lord. It is part of the TEAM JESUS package.
May this day be marked by the personal, private, as well as the public, well noticed worship of TEAM JESUS! Be blessed and be a blessing!
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
A Quiet, Still, Sure Work
Today, as we continue to Prepare 90 Days for Easter (P90E), we read Luke 18 and Joshua 14.6-15.
The opening statement in Luke 18 is telling enough. V.1- And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. He continues on by telling them about a couple of accounts that speak to the power of prayer and the attitude in prayer. However, the point of the stories is the 'drive home' matter--you ought to keep on praying and never give up, never give in, never forget the source of the power.
Does that mean that your prayers will always be answered in the way you want them to be? No, of course not. It does mean that every prayer moment, every prayer request, every burden that we take to God in prayer is yet another opportunity for us to grow in The Lord. It is in those times that we are quiet, apart, and still before the Lord that He works on us--no matter what or who we are praying for.
So keep on! If you don't lean on prayer, lean on it-- you don't know what you are missing. If you are dedicated to prayer but discouraged by an answer coming too slowly or getting the answer you did not want to hear, pray on. God hears it everytime and everytime you pray it, He is working on you.
Don't lose heart, trust His heart! Keep on praying.
The opening statement in Luke 18 is telling enough. V.1- And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. He continues on by telling them about a couple of accounts that speak to the power of prayer and the attitude in prayer. However, the point of the stories is the 'drive home' matter--you ought to keep on praying and never give up, never give in, never forget the source of the power.
Does that mean that your prayers will always be answered in the way you want them to be? No, of course not. It does mean that every prayer moment, every prayer request, every burden that we take to God in prayer is yet another opportunity for us to grow in The Lord. It is in those times that we are quiet, apart, and still before the Lord that He works on us--no matter what or who we are praying for.
So keep on! If you don't lean on prayer, lean on it-- you don't know what you are missing. If you are dedicated to prayer but discouraged by an answer coming too slowly or getting the answer you did not want to hear, pray on. God hears it everytime and everytime you pray it, He is working on you.
Don't lose heart, trust His heart! Keep on praying.
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Greatness
Today, as we continue to Prepare 90 Days for Easter (P90E), we read Matthew 20, I Kings 3.1-15, and James 1.5.
When the sons of Zebedee's mother came and asked for them to have a special place in the Kingdom, she represented a lot more people than just her two boys. At some time or another we all have wanted to be blessed with greatness of some sort: great wealth, great health, great blessing or great opportunity. Jesus gives us the way to true greatness though when He says in
Matthew 20.26b-28- But whoever would be great among you must be your servant,
27 and whoever would be first among you must be your slave,
28 even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
Think about it. The greatest people in your life are the ones that have blessed you, given to you, and that you have mutually served with. I think of my wife, my parents, my grandparents, my kids, my dear church family. Those are the great ones. We all have an opportunity to be great today.
Be great today--serve someone. Be blessed and be a blessing!
When the sons of Zebedee's mother came and asked for them to have a special place in the Kingdom, she represented a lot more people than just her two boys. At some time or another we all have wanted to be blessed with greatness of some sort: great wealth, great health, great blessing or great opportunity. Jesus gives us the way to true greatness though when He says in
Matthew 20.26b-28- But whoever would be great among you must be your servant,
27 and whoever would be first among you must be your slave,
28 even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
Think about it. The greatest people in your life are the ones that have blessed you, given to you, and that you have mutually served with. I think of my wife, my parents, my grandparents, my kids, my dear church family. Those are the great ones. We all have an opportunity to be great today.
Be great today--serve someone. Be blessed and be a blessing!
Monday, February 25, 2013
Guiding the Blind
Today, as we continue to Prepare 90 Days for Easter, we read Mark 10, Proverbs 19.2, and begin to daily meditate and memorize Romans 12.1-2.
As Jesus left Jericho a blind beggar approached him asking for healing.
Mark 10.47- And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!
He was healed instantly.
How did he know Jesus was coming? Somebody told him.
How did he know who Jesus was? Somebody told him.
Jesus is coming and people need to know who He is and that He is coming back.
How are they going to know?
Let's do our part....today and every day.
As Jesus left Jericho a blind beggar approached him asking for healing.
Mark 10.47- And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!
He was healed instantly.
How did he know Jesus was coming? Somebody told him.
How did he know who Jesus was? Somebody told him.
Jesus is coming and people need to know who He is and that He is coming back.
How are they going to know?
Let's do our part....today and every day.
Sunday, February 24, 2013
The Possibility of the Impossible
Today, as we continue to Prepare 90 Days for Easter (P90E), we read Matthew 19 and Philippians 4.2-3.
Sunday is a great day to go to your church for worship, reflect on the blessing of salvation, and renew your walk with God by giving it over to Him again....whatever may be weighing on you.
Let's reflect on our salvation for a moment with Matthew 19.25-26- When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, "Who then can be saved?"
26 But Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."
Has God done the impossible in you? Let's thank Him today for making the impossible possible!
Sunday is a great day to go to your church for worship, reflect on the blessing of salvation, and renew your walk with God by giving it over to Him again....whatever may be weighing on you.
Let's reflect on our salvation for a moment with Matthew 19.25-26- When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, "Who then can be saved?"
26 But Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."
Has God done the impossible in you? Let's thank Him today for making the impossible possible!
Saturday, February 23, 2013
A Turning Back Moment
Today, as we continue to Prepare 90 Days for Easter (P90E), we read Luke 17 and Acts 17.11-15.
In Luke 17 Jesus heals ten lepers and only one comes back to give Him praise and thanks. He says in Luke 17.17 -Then Jesus answered, "Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine?"
Most of us are quick to ask God to intervene in the troubles or difficulties we face, but how good are you at coming back and giving Him praise and thanks.
Take a moment today to give Him praise for Who He is and thanks for what He has done.
As a matter of fact, take a moment every day... starting today.
In Luke 17 Jesus heals ten lepers and only one comes back to give Him praise and thanks. He says in Luke 17.17 -Then Jesus answered, "Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine?"
Most of us are quick to ask God to intervene in the troubles or difficulties we face, but how good are you at coming back and giving Him praise and thanks.
Take a moment today to give Him praise for Who He is and thanks for what He has done.
As a matter of fact, take a moment every day... starting today.
Friday, February 22, 2013
What in the World?
Today, as we continue to Prepare 90 Days for Easter (P90E), we read Luke 16, Matthew 6.25-34, and Philippians 4.10-19.
What is on your mind today? What worries you? Consider these passages.
Matthew 6.30- But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
And Philippians 4.19- And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
What in this world are you worried about? Don't worry, be blessed.
What is on your mind today? What worries you? Consider these passages.
Matthew 6.30- But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
And Philippians 4.19- And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
What in this world are you worried about? Don't worry, be blessed.
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