Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit – Matthew 28:19
Today I am beginning a study of the book of 1 Samuel, as I have just finished studying Matthew. With the intention of reading all four gospels, I could have been well educated on the ministry of Jesus. Yet the past few weeks, I have felt called to study Samuel after teaching a couple lessons in youth group from the book of 1 Samuel. I have been learning so much from the word of God these past four months, and God has brought me through the sorrow of my past and, until recently, I was unable to see the magnitude of His love for me.
My scripture reference from today is known as the Great Commission, given by the resurrected Christ to the remaining eleven disciples, in Galilee. It took me some time to finally get to this point, yet God has worked so much in my life following the sorrow brought on by my past. I could explain things, but as I mentioned in an earlier post, I want this to be less about my personal life than about ministry.
The sorrow I had was mainly from broken relationships, and unfulfilled promises. However while reading the gospel of Matthew, I simultaneously began to see the Lord working in my life and was able to be more willing to carry out God's will for my life. When we rely too much on other people for fulfillment of life, we will always be disappointed. Yet, when we begin to trust in God alone, we can begin to understand (and experience) the love that he has for us.
The passage I read today was 1 Samuel 1:1-7; setting the scene for the development of Hannah's faith through trials. Here is the main point: when God allows trials in our life, it is not because he wants us to suffer, rather he wants us to lean on him and be joyful for the work he is doing (James 1:2). When we begin to look to him, instead of our sorrow for comfort, we can finally start to see the work that the Holy Spirit is doing in our lives. Our sorrow can finally be turned to joy, and the living water (John 4:10) will begin to pour out of us... God has recently blessed me with new situations in my life, and I can only credit His love and the trials he allows me to experience for the blessings.
If you happen to be struggling in a situation today, or this week, ask God what he wants you to see in that, and to open your heart to the things you need to change. After all, when we experience discomfort in life, it is not because of the imperfections of Christ's love for us.
Wednesday, August 14, 2019
Friday, August 9, 2019
Old and New
Today, I read from the book of Matthew, where the Pharisees paid the Roman guard to lie about what happened to Jesus' body the night of his resurrection. If you're interested, it's chapter 28.
I have been posting a verse with the past few entries, but today I want to focus on one main point: redemption.
That's mainly what the Gospel is about, turning from our old ways and being brought to a new life in Christ. I think a lot of people never really get there. Sure, there are people out there who have been Christian all their life, yet still seem to give in to whatever the world may be tempting them with. I have been there myself. I have believed in God about two-thirds of my life, yet I cannot say that I have always followed Christ. Sure, I accepted His son for salvation, but I only in this past month or so, have I began to truly understand its meaning.
In my case, girls and popularity have always been a focus for me. I never had a lot of money growing up, so having whatever was cool at the time was never really an option unless I hung out with one of my friends who had what I wanted. Also, I felt that if I had the right girl around, everything would be great, yet I could never seem to make it work with them. Even my most recent, dead-end relationship, was supposed to last a long time, and she thought the same thing. Turns out God had different plans.
Today, I have a car that I bought for $800, I live with my mom because I owe money from college, and I just entered into a relationship with a girl I barely knew, yet she went to the same high school. However that stuff is not that important. The girl is great, and we get along really well. I have a good job, but because of my loans, I do not need an expensive car. Not to mention, I am capable of living on my own, though my mom offered me cheap rent, so I just plan on saving for a house eventually.
At the end of the day, I made some poor choices in regard to my faith, and would take them back if I knew what was coming, yet the results have brought me to where I am today. God has shown me so much in my life that needs work. I do not have it figured out yet, though I know there is no reason for me to have any of the old habits I did growing up. I have recently began to understand what it means to have a new life in Christ, and mainly because of my previous relationship, I was able to see the definition of that change in someone's life. She is doing well, and ultimately, I'm proud of her for being where she is. I cannot take back the choices her or I made, though I know God has used them to prepare me for a life of serving Christ.
Thank you for reading, and may God bless you in your life, as he has blessed me.
I have been posting a verse with the past few entries, but today I want to focus on one main point: redemption.
That's mainly what the Gospel is about, turning from our old ways and being brought to a new life in Christ. I think a lot of people never really get there. Sure, there are people out there who have been Christian all their life, yet still seem to give in to whatever the world may be tempting them with. I have been there myself. I have believed in God about two-thirds of my life, yet I cannot say that I have always followed Christ. Sure, I accepted His son for salvation, but I only in this past month or so, have I began to truly understand its meaning.
In my case, girls and popularity have always been a focus for me. I never had a lot of money growing up, so having whatever was cool at the time was never really an option unless I hung out with one of my friends who had what I wanted. Also, I felt that if I had the right girl around, everything would be great, yet I could never seem to make it work with them. Even my most recent, dead-end relationship, was supposed to last a long time, and she thought the same thing. Turns out God had different plans.
Today, I have a car that I bought for $800, I live with my mom because I owe money from college, and I just entered into a relationship with a girl I barely knew, yet she went to the same high school. However that stuff is not that important. The girl is great, and we get along really well. I have a good job, but because of my loans, I do not need an expensive car. Not to mention, I am capable of living on my own, though my mom offered me cheap rent, so I just plan on saving for a house eventually.
At the end of the day, I made some poor choices in regard to my faith, and would take them back if I knew what was coming, yet the results have brought me to where I am today. God has shown me so much in my life that needs work. I do not have it figured out yet, though I know there is no reason for me to have any of the old habits I did growing up. I have recently began to understand what it means to have a new life in Christ, and mainly because of my previous relationship, I was able to see the definition of that change in someone's life. She is doing well, and ultimately, I'm proud of her for being where she is. I cannot take back the choices her or I made, though I know God has used them to prepare me for a life of serving Christ.
Thank you for reading, and may God bless you in your life, as he has blessed me.
Saturday, July 13, 2019
Faith and Reward
His master said to him, "Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master." – Matthew 25:21
When God gives us something, we have the choice to either use it for ourselves, or use it for His glory. It is not unusual to see ourselves, or someone we know, to waste the gift that God has given.
In Matthew 25, we read the parable of the talents (currency) and see how each servant uses the talents given to them. The first two who received talents invested them and doubled their return. The last, buried it in the ground so that it would not be lost. Each servant was given a reward based on their efforts while the master was away.
This past year or so, God has taught me a lot about faithfulness and how we truly can trust him through everything, though we still seem to neglect his love at times. If nothing else, I have gained wisdom from the Holy Spirit by spending an hour in the morning to focus on the Lord. There was a time when my faith was not in the Lord, but in my own desires. Looking back, I really lost my chance at ministry with some of the choices I made, and the people involved may never see the Lord in me. However, more recently, I pray that God will use me for His purpose and that he will help me to not focus on my own will, but on his through all things.
As the servants received a reward for their work with the talents, we will also receive a reward for our work with what God has given us. We are now in a time where the Master is away, but will return with the expectation of some result from his servants. We are called to serve Christ and it will take a commitment everyday to go out and invest our "talents", whether it be our money or our skills. When the Lord returns, he will look at our faith, and reward us based on our effort while he was away. Therefore, if nothing else, we must do the very least as to gain some interest on our "talent" (v27), so that the Lord will be given the glory. As Ecclesiastes shows us, nothing is worth our time unless it is being done in service to the Lord. Trust in God and seek the reward he has for you.
When God gives us something, we have the choice to either use it for ourselves, or use it for His glory. It is not unusual to see ourselves, or someone we know, to waste the gift that God has given.
In Matthew 25, we read the parable of the talents (currency) and see how each servant uses the talents given to them. The first two who received talents invested them and doubled their return. The last, buried it in the ground so that it would not be lost. Each servant was given a reward based on their efforts while the master was away.
This past year or so, God has taught me a lot about faithfulness and how we truly can trust him through everything, though we still seem to neglect his love at times. If nothing else, I have gained wisdom from the Holy Spirit by spending an hour in the morning to focus on the Lord. There was a time when my faith was not in the Lord, but in my own desires. Looking back, I really lost my chance at ministry with some of the choices I made, and the people involved may never see the Lord in me. However, more recently, I pray that God will use me for His purpose and that he will help me to not focus on my own will, but on his through all things.
As the servants received a reward for their work with the talents, we will also receive a reward for our work with what God has given us. We are now in a time where the Master is away, but will return with the expectation of some result from his servants. We are called to serve Christ and it will take a commitment everyday to go out and invest our "talents", whether it be our money or our skills. When the Lord returns, he will look at our faith, and reward us based on our effort while he was away. Therefore, if nothing else, we must do the very least as to gain some interest on our "talent" (v27), so that the Lord will be given the glory. As Ecclesiastes shows us, nothing is worth our time unless it is being done in service to the Lord. Trust in God and seek the reward he has for you.
Monday, June 17, 2019
Faith and Works
For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.
– James 2:26
If you know your NT scriptures, you probably could have guessed the scripture reference just by the title. On the surface, James essentially contradicts Paul's teachings that works cannot earn you salvation. If you want a better understanding of this "contradiction", click here for an article that might help. Regardless of who thinks either teaching is right or wrong, they are both right. This is the word of God and he does not contradict himself. In short, Paul is saying that the Mosaic Law (10 Commandments and OT traditions) can no longer earn you a spot in heaven. Rather, we have been offered the grace of God through Jesus' death and resurrection. That being stated, James is not disagreeing with Paul that God's grace cannot save us, rather he is continuing Paul's instruction. James teaches the reader that with the grace we have received, we cannot be on the sidelines of our faith. In order to show our faith, we must get in the action and perform faithful works as Christ did on earth. Hopefully by now you get it, because I would rather not make this post into a sermon (I almost did anyway, keep reading). Instead, I will give you some of my own thoughts on this.
Mainly, I am at a point in my life, or my faith, where I know I can do more but I seem to be settling in to my circumstances. I have been investing more time into prayer, and though I am an easily distracted person, the Lord is teaching me a lot during my time with Him. I think that James is a fitting book for me right now because I am looking at the facts that I am not really doing a lot of "work" for Christ. I work a full-time job and mostly put my service to the church second. After praying and opening the Bible to this chapter, perhaps God is really telling me to trust him, and move closer to serving him before myself.
Though that is the point of this chapter, I am struggling with the conflict of serving myself in this comfortable job, or trusting him to lead me into the unknown... Typically I end with encouragement, I would like to stick with that, though before I end today's entry I would ask if you would pray for me to be led by the Holy Spirit and to commit fully to God's will for my life over my own will.
Being on the bench, or the bleachers, during a sporting event never allows us to be involved in changing the end result of the game. If we live our lives simply waiting for God to do his work in the world while we watch, then we cannot truly experience the blessings he has for us when the final point is scored. James 2:22 supports that saying "you see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works." So go on and trust that God has a better plan for you... Get out there and work for His glory!
– James 2:26
If you know your NT scriptures, you probably could have guessed the scripture reference just by the title. On the surface, James essentially contradicts Paul's teachings that works cannot earn you salvation. If you want a better understanding of this "contradiction", click here for an article that might help. Regardless of who thinks either teaching is right or wrong, they are both right. This is the word of God and he does not contradict himself. In short, Paul is saying that the Mosaic Law (10 Commandments and OT traditions) can no longer earn you a spot in heaven. Rather, we have been offered the grace of God through Jesus' death and resurrection. That being stated, James is not disagreeing with Paul that God's grace cannot save us, rather he is continuing Paul's instruction. James teaches the reader that with the grace we have received, we cannot be on the sidelines of our faith. In order to show our faith, we must get in the action and perform faithful works as Christ did on earth. Hopefully by now you get it, because I would rather not make this post into a sermon (I almost did anyway, keep reading). Instead, I will give you some of my own thoughts on this.
Mainly, I am at a point in my life, or my faith, where I know I can do more but I seem to be settling in to my circumstances. I have been investing more time into prayer, and though I am an easily distracted person, the Lord is teaching me a lot during my time with Him. I think that James is a fitting book for me right now because I am looking at the facts that I am not really doing a lot of "work" for Christ. I work a full-time job and mostly put my service to the church second. After praying and opening the Bible to this chapter, perhaps God is really telling me to trust him, and move closer to serving him before myself.
Though that is the point of this chapter, I am struggling with the conflict of serving myself in this comfortable job, or trusting him to lead me into the unknown... Typically I end with encouragement, I would like to stick with that, though before I end today's entry I would ask if you would pray for me to be led by the Holy Spirit and to commit fully to God's will for my life over my own will.
Being on the bench, or the bleachers, during a sporting event never allows us to be involved in changing the end result of the game. If we live our lives simply waiting for God to do his work in the world while we watch, then we cannot truly experience the blessings he has for us when the final point is scored. James 2:22 supports that saying "you see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works." So go on and trust that God has a better plan for you... Get out there and work for His glory!
Wednesday, June 5, 2019
Deny and Follow
Then Jesus told his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. – Matthew 16:24
One thing I will note, my titles usually relate to different experiences or two different verses, but today, I will only focus on this verse. I have not been writing as much as I would like, yet I still find encouragement in these entries, as I hope you do.
The depth of this verse is not as deep as some may consider, though the value is great when it is lived out... ultimately leading to our earthly death. To better understand scripture, I use and recommend the David Guzik commentary because he has put a lot of time into developing that. Anyway, I have held this verse with me a while now, and find it to be something that I keep looking to in everyday life. Essentially when we deny ourselves, it is not self-denial where we are giving up things we want, like certain foods or activities, for a greater purpose (though that is valuable on its own). Denying yourself simply means to deny what you want in this life. Denying your will and following the Lord's will.
This is exactly what Jesus did when he went to the cross. At one point, Jesus even asks God to take away the responsibility of the crucifixion (Luke 22:42). Yet he knows that is what God needs from him to grant mercy on us, so he carries out his calling anyway. Personally, I doubt any of us would make it the whole way to the cross, whether we run away, or give up prior to the event. However, this is what Jesus is calling us to, and I have constantly had this verse on my mind whenever I am making a choice for myself. I actually bought a cross necklace to remind myself of the verse and though it is fashionable, I keep it as my own cross to carry. The necklace holds me closer to the Lord when I am reminded of what Christ has done for us.
More than anything, I hope to deny myself and follow Christ more, each day, until I am brought up to Heaven to be with Him. Christ denied himself and followed God's calling to death on the cross so that we had the freedom to choose our life. If one wants to serve Christ, they must expect the same result, giving up the glory of this world, for the glory of God.
May the Lord guide you and uphold you on this journey, so you choose to follow him.
One thing I will note, my titles usually relate to different experiences or two different verses, but today, I will only focus on this verse. I have not been writing as much as I would like, yet I still find encouragement in these entries, as I hope you do.
The depth of this verse is not as deep as some may consider, though the value is great when it is lived out... ultimately leading to our earthly death. To better understand scripture, I use and recommend the David Guzik commentary because he has put a lot of time into developing that. Anyway, I have held this verse with me a while now, and find it to be something that I keep looking to in everyday life. Essentially when we deny ourselves, it is not self-denial where we are giving up things we want, like certain foods or activities, for a greater purpose (though that is valuable on its own). Denying yourself simply means to deny what you want in this life. Denying your will and following the Lord's will.
This is exactly what Jesus did when he went to the cross. At one point, Jesus even asks God to take away the responsibility of the crucifixion (Luke 22:42). Yet he knows that is what God needs from him to grant mercy on us, so he carries out his calling anyway. Personally, I doubt any of us would make it the whole way to the cross, whether we run away, or give up prior to the event. However, this is what Jesus is calling us to, and I have constantly had this verse on my mind whenever I am making a choice for myself. I actually bought a cross necklace to remind myself of the verse and though it is fashionable, I keep it as my own cross to carry. The necklace holds me closer to the Lord when I am reminded of what Christ has done for us.
More than anything, I hope to deny myself and follow Christ more, each day, until I am brought up to Heaven to be with Him. Christ denied himself and followed God's calling to death on the cross so that we had the freedom to choose our life. If one wants to serve Christ, they must expect the same result, giving up the glory of this world, for the glory of God.
May the Lord guide you and uphold you on this journey, so you choose to follow him.
Friday, May 17, 2019
Beware and Be Led
Then they understood that he did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees. – Matthew 16:12
Tomorrow will be a month since I have started getting up early to pray and read the Bible. I finished the book of John and I have been reading from Matthew. I start with a passage, not a whole chapter, then I read the Enduring Word commentary on the verses so that I better understand the lesson of that passage. Today, I read Matthew 16:5-12 where Jesus warns his disciples to avoid dangerous teaching of the religious leaders.
I cannot say that I have been following other religious practices outside of the Christian faith, yet I have been hearing God tell me to beware of the influence of non-believers. The most recent advice a Christian friend of mine gave me was to not associate with non-believers. I have not heard from him in some time, as he went to Hawaii for a while after his career transferred him there. Yet, I hold those word with me as a reminder. For a while I thought it strictly meant that I could not be friends with anyone who did not believe in Christ as our savior. though I am now beginning to understand the true meaning. Instead, do not associate with the characteristics of non-believers, or do not let them influence your choices. You can be friends with anyone, but always keep Christ first.
I have to think this is the same lesson Jesus was teaching his disciples here because he knew that man's religious law made sense to most people in that time. The scriptures show that he wanted to warn his disciples that the habits they had were menial and took your focus away from the Father. He wanted them to be led, not by their own desire to look holy and close to God, but instead trust God to provide the sanctification they needed.
Today, I pray that God helps me avoid being influenced by the world, and renews my mind so that all my focus is on him. To not associate with non-believers may very well mean that you can no longer have non-Christian friends, but if you do, God calls us to beware of the things we allow ourselves to be influenced by. Jesus warned his disciples and the warning still stands.
May the Holy Spirit guide you to see the things that are influencing you in any direction beside toward Christ. Beware of these things and be led by the only one we know is right; Christ.
Tomorrow will be a month since I have started getting up early to pray and read the Bible. I finished the book of John and I have been reading from Matthew. I start with a passage, not a whole chapter, then I read the Enduring Word commentary on the verses so that I better understand the lesson of that passage. Today, I read Matthew 16:5-12 where Jesus warns his disciples to avoid dangerous teaching of the religious leaders.
I cannot say that I have been following other religious practices outside of the Christian faith, yet I have been hearing God tell me to beware of the influence of non-believers. The most recent advice a Christian friend of mine gave me was to not associate with non-believers. I have not heard from him in some time, as he went to Hawaii for a while after his career transferred him there. Yet, I hold those word with me as a reminder. For a while I thought it strictly meant that I could not be friends with anyone who did not believe in Christ as our savior. though I am now beginning to understand the true meaning. Instead, do not associate with the characteristics of non-believers, or do not let them influence your choices. You can be friends with anyone, but always keep Christ first.
I have to think this is the same lesson Jesus was teaching his disciples here because he knew that man's religious law made sense to most people in that time. The scriptures show that he wanted to warn his disciples that the habits they had were menial and took your focus away from the Father. He wanted them to be led, not by their own desire to look holy and close to God, but instead trust God to provide the sanctification they needed.
Today, I pray that God helps me avoid being influenced by the world, and renews my mind so that all my focus is on him. To not associate with non-believers may very well mean that you can no longer have non-Christian friends, but if you do, God calls us to beware of the things we allow ourselves to be influenced by. Jesus warned his disciples and the warning still stands.
May the Holy Spirit guide you to see the things that are influencing you in any direction beside toward Christ. Beware of these things and be led by the only one we know is right; Christ.
Thursday, April 18, 2019
First and Early
Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb – John 20:1
Last Sunday, the pastor at my home church spoke on that verse as part of the sermon. He said "come to me early", and I knew God was speaking to me with that. I may not have mentioned that I have tried to wake up at 5 A.M. in the past, to spend time with the Lord, and it has not worked out too well. However, after hearing that sermon, I felt called to do it again. After all, Mary Magdalene (and probably other women who followed Jesus) woke up well before sunrise to go to the Lord.
Following the sermon, I made that commitment... again. Monday morning at 5:00 my alarm went off, and of course, I shut it off and fell back asleep. Tuesday morning came, I turned my alarm off, and told God I would stay in bed and pray right here. As I started to pray, (I think I prayed for about 10 minutes) I drifted back to sleep. Tuesday night, I decided I needed to do something to change that, so I prepared my coffee, so I only had to turn the coffee maker on (mine is not automatic) for it to start brewing in the morning. Wednesday morning came and before falling asleep again, I remembered that I had coffee at the push of a button. I got up and walked to the kitchen, turned the coffee maker on, and began to pray at the table. It worked. Today is Thursday and here I am, successfully having stayed awake to put God first for the second day in a row.
Lately, I have been feeling called to put God before everything I do. I suppose this is one way to do that. I am beginning to understand that he has plans for me, and in order to see what he wants for my life, I have to submit to him first thing. Yes, 5 A.M. is early, and I do like to sleep. However when the Lord calls us to serve him, it will not be from our warm bed. If you have been called to do something for the Lord, even simply to wake up early, what are you waiting for? Do what you need to to get yourself motivated and put Him first. It may not always be what we want, but it is certain that God has wonderful plans for us all, we just have to make the commitment to follow them.
May they Lord guide you and bring you the strength and motivation to honor Him in what you do.
Peace be with you.
Last Sunday, the pastor at my home church spoke on that verse as part of the sermon. He said "come to me early", and I knew God was speaking to me with that. I may not have mentioned that I have tried to wake up at 5 A.M. in the past, to spend time with the Lord, and it has not worked out too well. However, after hearing that sermon, I felt called to do it again. After all, Mary Magdalene (and probably other women who followed Jesus) woke up well before sunrise to go to the Lord.
Following the sermon, I made that commitment... again. Monday morning at 5:00 my alarm went off, and of course, I shut it off and fell back asleep. Tuesday morning came, I turned my alarm off, and told God I would stay in bed and pray right here. As I started to pray, (I think I prayed for about 10 minutes) I drifted back to sleep. Tuesday night, I decided I needed to do something to change that, so I prepared my coffee, so I only had to turn the coffee maker on (mine is not automatic) for it to start brewing in the morning. Wednesday morning came and before falling asleep again, I remembered that I had coffee at the push of a button. I got up and walked to the kitchen, turned the coffee maker on, and began to pray at the table. It worked. Today is Thursday and here I am, successfully having stayed awake to put God first for the second day in a row.
Lately, I have been feeling called to put God before everything I do. I suppose this is one way to do that. I am beginning to understand that he has plans for me, and in order to see what he wants for my life, I have to submit to him first thing. Yes, 5 A.M. is early, and I do like to sleep. However when the Lord calls us to serve him, it will not be from our warm bed. If you have been called to do something for the Lord, even simply to wake up early, what are you waiting for? Do what you need to to get yourself motivated and put Him first. It may not always be what we want, but it is certain that God has wonderful plans for us all, we just have to make the commitment to follow them.
May they Lord guide you and bring you the strength and motivation to honor Him in what you do.
Peace be with you.
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