-Tuesday, 1/22/19 Boss,
parent, teacher, leader: you’ll have to make some judgment calls today, right? John 5:30, ... and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will
of the Father which hath sent me. Just judgment occurs when it’s not about
your agenda or will, but God’s. Remember Him.
Live and let live.” No, we are not to just exist and “make it” in this world. Romans 15:2, Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification. We are to be a positive influence upon everyone around us. We’re to attempt to win them to Christ if they’re not in God’s family, and we are to urge and encourage and prompt them to take further steps for Christ if they are. So, what have you recently done for Christ’s cause at work? at home? at church? at the gym? Have you taught, rebuked, pointed out an error, encouraged, complimented, praised? What more could you do? Are you winning them to yourself and actively looking for an opening to speak to them for the Lord? Are you conscious of their soul's need?
- Wednesday, 1/23/19 Psalm 119:52, I remembered thy judgments of old, O Lord; and have comforted myself. The key to handling the present is to remember the past. God HAS been faithful and just and wise and on time so He WILL be faithful and just and wise and on time. Trust Him and do as you ought. Reading Genesis 20-50, Abraham’s family was a mess: He lied to Abimelech about Sarai being his sister. Sarai had her servant girl sleep with her husband and then hated her for it. Rebekah and Isaac each had a favorite son. Rebekah schemed against her husband. Esau wanted to kill his brother Jacob. Jacob ran to the old country where he got 13 kids and a devious father-in-law by 4 different women. Ten of those sons wanted to kill the 11th, and ended up selling him into slavery. One of the boys partook of a woman playing the harlot who was really his daughter-in-law and bore the man twins: his children were also his grandchildren. Lesson? Dysfunctional families are not a new occurrence. The problem has always been sin, and the solution has always been righteousness. This is true in my life; this is true in your life. Increase righteousness and restrain sinful tendencies. If we don’t/won’t our families will be a mess.
- Thursday, 1/24/19 Romans 15:5-6, Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: that ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God... When we act with patience and consolation toward people, we emulate God. Go be patient and console...TODAY. Genesis 40:23, Yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph, but forgat him. To the casual observer, this is a sad verse showing a lack of gratitude. However, it is very much implied that God was in all of it and delayed the butler’s remembering for 2 years until the circumstances and timing were right for Joseph to leave the prison. Whatever the circumstances and logical negative explanations for the events in our lives, we must discipline our minds and believe that God knows what He’s doing and has our times and circumstances securely in His hand. He is God...but we so often treat Him as a clueless dolt who bumbles everything that has to do with us.
- Friday, 1/25/19 Matthew 17:22-23, Jesus said unto them, The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men: and they shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised again. And they were exceeding sorry. They heard the first concept, but missed the second. We all need to practice listening better, starting at home, starting today. Time to get back to basics: Matthew 22:37-40, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang ALL the law and the prophets. ALL the Bible in a few verses...focus on it; purpose to do it; repent upon failing; try again and again and again. Go love TODAY.
- Saturday, 1/26/19 Matthew 23:3, All therefore whatsoever [the Pharisees] bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not. Inappropriate messengers DO NOT invalidate godly messages. Poor examples of leadership DO NOT excuse disobedience. Psalm 119:32, I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart. Are you and I willing to have our hearts enlarged? Enlarging (think of a house) might involve painful stretching or even maybe knocking down a wall (normal/familiar/comfortable will change) in order to rebuild. In other words, there may be pain or short-term loss inconvenience involved until the new, better normal is established. In short, will you let God disturb your little nest to better be conformed to His agenda? Easy question to answer...until the project actually starts, or when the contractor encounters unexpected set-backs. Psalm 119:124, Deal with thy servant according unto thy mercy, and teach me thy statutes. If you feel that you’ve not learned anything from the Bible or the pulpit recently, perhaps you need to partake of some mercy...which would first entail an honest self-assessment, humble confession, and sincere repentance. Maybe let a revival start in your heart tonight.
- Sunday, 1/27/19 Psalm 27:13, I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. If all you have is faith, you have enough to keep going. Quitting is a choice; it’s NEVER a necessity...so, take the next step, even if it hurts. Matthew 26:33, Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended. Peter’s bold assertion was followed by a spectacular fall. So often, we likewise fall spectacularly, but do we match it as often with it by getting up, repenting, and trying again like he did? Psalm 107:2, Let the redeemed of the Lord say [the Lord...he is good: ...his mercy endureth for ever.] A blunt question for each of us: when was the last time we came anywhere close to obeying this COMMAND?
- Monday, 1/28/19 Exodus
3:7, And the Lord said, I have surely
seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry
by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows. God is never shaken by our troubles, though
He is totally aware of them. Exodus
4:10-11, And Moses said unto the Lord, O
my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto
thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue. And the Lord said
unto him, Who hath made man's mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the
seeing, or the blind? have not I the Lord? I was greatly encouraged this
week listening to these verses: Moses
was a LOT like me (us). Oftentimes, I am capable of a task, but am doubt-full
and need tactful reminders and loving encouragement and gentle pushing.
Lessons? Learn your own tendencies, strengths, and weaknesses. Learn other’s tendencies and adapt yourself
so as to best help them be/do what they ought.
All of us have plenty to work on and the Lord is working. We’re to allow
it in ourselves, and help Him in others. Psalm
109:21, But do thou for me, O God the
Lord, for thy name's sake: because thy mercy is good, deliver thou me.
Never get to thinking that we EVER deserve to be bailed out by God. No amount
of good that we’ve done justifies His intervening on our behalf. It is SOLELY
because of His mercy and for His name’s sake that we can ask. We still deserve
Hell...even as believers. He is a gracious and loving Father God. Let’s quit
putting His -----------------------------------------------------------------
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