Ecclesiastes 6:10-12 (ESV)
10 Whatever has come to be has already been named, and it is known what man is, and that he is not able to dispute with one stronger than he. 11 The more words, the more vanity, and what is the advantage to man? 12 For who knows what is good for man while he lives the few days of his vain life, which he passes like a shadow? For who can tell man what will be after him under the sun?
Quoting Matthew Henry, “Solomon lays down his conclusion which he had undertaken to prove, as that which was fully confirmed by the foregoing discourse: There be many things that increase vanity; the life of man is vain, at the best, and there are abundance of accidents that concur to make it more so; even that which pretends to increase the vanity and make it more vexatious……. Thoughtful people are in care to do everything for the best, if they knew it; but as it is an instance of the corruption of our hearts that we are apt to desire that as good for us which is really hurtful, as children that cry for knives to cut their fingers with, so is it an instance of the vanity of this world that what, according to all probable conjectures, seems to be for the best, often proves otherwise; such is our shortsightedness concerning the issues and events of things, and such broken reeds are all our creature-confidences. We know not how to advise others for the best, nor how to act ourselves, because that which we apprehend likely to be for our welfare may become a trap. ”
Ever since Adam and Eve took from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, man has been searching in vain to understand what is good and what is evil. In fact most of what we call religion is based on man’s search to understand the difference and to establish good in the lives of people. What we forget is God was right there with Adam and Eve to explain the difference. In their walks with God they had the opportunity to listen to God and hear directly what we might tell a child, “Don’t touch that or you will get burned.” Sin burns when we can’t see it for what it is. We need to stop trying to find out for ourselves what is good and what is evil and instead turn to God for the answers. We need to fellowship with God, listen to what He says and put His words into action. The Bible like a diary does not replace teaching us who a person is, but tells us about their thoughts. If we want to know them intimately then we need to spend time with them and grow in our relationship with them. We need to do that with God so we understand His will for our lives.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Monday, November 29, 2010
Be Salt
2 Timothy 2:20-21 (NLT)
20 In a wealthy home some utensils are made of gold and silver, and some are made of wood and clay. The expensive utensils are used for special occasions, and the cheap ones are for everyday use. 21 If you keep yourself pure, you will be a special utensil for honorable use. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work.
The apostle speaks in a metaphor about those who maintain and persevere in their faith and those who have allowed their faith to fall. Either can be used by God, but those who maintain and persevere in their faith can be used for special occasions and are called to perform honorable tasks for God.
While salt is used as a preservative, it is used mainly in present times to add flavor to food. Some foods just do not taste right without the presence of salt. Salt is meant to enhance the taste of food, but it is not used to take away or call attention to the salt. When something is salted properly we don’t say, ‘Yum that salt tastes good’, but instead we comment on the flavor of the food we salted. Jesus said in Matthew 5:13, “You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.” As Christians we are to be salt to others. We are to enhance other Christian lives. We are to bring out the best in them by being the best we can. Be salt to others by maintaining your faith in Christ.
20 In a wealthy home some utensils are made of gold and silver, and some are made of wood and clay. The expensive utensils are used for special occasions, and the cheap ones are for everyday use. 21 If you keep yourself pure, you will be a special utensil for honorable use. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work.
The apostle speaks in a metaphor about those who maintain and persevere in their faith and those who have allowed their faith to fall. Either can be used by God, but those who maintain and persevere in their faith can be used for special occasions and are called to perform honorable tasks for God.
While salt is used as a preservative, it is used mainly in present times to add flavor to food. Some foods just do not taste right without the presence of salt. Salt is meant to enhance the taste of food, but it is not used to take away or call attention to the salt. When something is salted properly we don’t say, ‘Yum that salt tastes good’, but instead we comment on the flavor of the food we salted. Jesus said in Matthew 5:13, “You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.” As Christians we are to be salt to others. We are to enhance other Christian lives. We are to bring out the best in them by being the best we can. Be salt to others by maintaining your faith in Christ.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Restore our thanksgiving
Revelation 7:9-12 (NLT)
9 After this I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white robes and held palm branches in their hands. 10 And they were shouting with a mighty shout, “Salvation comes from our God who sits on the throne and from the Lamb!” 11 And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living beings. And they fell before the throne with their faces to the ground and worshiped God. 12 They sang, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and strength belong to our God forever and ever! Amen.”
In the revelation given to John, John sees a crowd to vast to number or count. There are people from every country and different races all standing before The Living Christ. They give praise and thanksgiving to God and Christ for the salvation they have received. Their shouts of praise turned to song as they worship God and Christ, praising them for who they are.
Today is the day before our national holiday of Thanksgiving. However let’s be real for a moment and say there are some people who feel they cannot enjoy giving thanks. They have been wounded and hurt. They have been devastated or grieved by the loss of loved ones. They are overwhelmed by the situations of life and feel no hope. The apostle said in Romans 15:13 NLT translation, “I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.” I offer that pray today. May God restore your joy, may God restore your hope, and may God heal and restore whatever has been broken. May we once again lift our voices in giving thanks to you?
Heavenly Father, You have blessed us with your son Jesus who is our hope of salvation. Let us start there to give thanks. Let our hope continue in Jesus that He would bring joy, peace and trust into our lives. God encourage us to give thanks because you have poured your love, mercy, grace and salvation upon us. Provide hope, a light to show the way, and a smiling, caring face who understands. Lord I thank you for hearing our prayers. Bless us Lord and restore the joy of our salvation. In Jesus name, Amen
9 After this I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white robes and held palm branches in their hands. 10 And they were shouting with a mighty shout, “Salvation comes from our God who sits on the throne and from the Lamb!” 11 And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living beings. And they fell before the throne with their faces to the ground and worshiped God. 12 They sang, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and strength belong to our God forever and ever! Amen.”
In the revelation given to John, John sees a crowd to vast to number or count. There are people from every country and different races all standing before The Living Christ. They give praise and thanksgiving to God and Christ for the salvation they have received. Their shouts of praise turned to song as they worship God and Christ, praising them for who they are.
Today is the day before our national holiday of Thanksgiving. However let’s be real for a moment and say there are some people who feel they cannot enjoy giving thanks. They have been wounded and hurt. They have been devastated or grieved by the loss of loved ones. They are overwhelmed by the situations of life and feel no hope. The apostle said in Romans 15:13 NLT translation, “I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.” I offer that pray today. May God restore your joy, may God restore your hope, and may God heal and restore whatever has been broken. May we once again lift our voices in giving thanks to you?
Heavenly Father, You have blessed us with your son Jesus who is our hope of salvation. Let us start there to give thanks. Let our hope continue in Jesus that He would bring joy, peace and trust into our lives. God encourage us to give thanks because you have poured your love, mercy, grace and salvation upon us. Provide hope, a light to show the way, and a smiling, caring face who understands. Lord I thank you for hearing our prayers. Bless us Lord and restore the joy of our salvation. In Jesus name, Amen
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Made acceptable
Romans 14:17-18 (The Message)
17 -18 God's kingdom isn't a matter of what you put in your stomach, for goodness' sake. It's what God does with your life as he sets it right, puts it together, and completes it with joy. Your task is to single-mindedly serve Christ. Do that and you'll kill two birds with one stone: pleasing the God above you and proving your worth to the people around you.
The apostle speaks to the heart of Christianity; the Christian Life is not about trivial rules or laws; it is about allowing God to work in their life through Christ. The Christian should have one purpose in mind and that is to serve Christ. In serving Christ one not only pleases God, but also proves themself to those who see and hear their actions.
The Bible says in 1 John 4:10, “In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” Propitiation is not a word commonly use in everyday language so I refer to the Webster’s dictionary. Webster’s says propitiation is the act of propitiating, which does not help much. So look a little further to see propitiate is - to gain or regain the favor of goodwill. When man sinned we lost favor with God. Our sin made us unacceptable. However God loved us so much He gave His son Jesus Christ to die as a perfect and holy sacrifice so we could regain the favor of God’s goodwill and be made acceptable once again.
17 -18 God's kingdom isn't a matter of what you put in your stomach, for goodness' sake. It's what God does with your life as he sets it right, puts it together, and completes it with joy. Your task is to single-mindedly serve Christ. Do that and you'll kill two birds with one stone: pleasing the God above you and proving your worth to the people around you.
The apostle speaks to the heart of Christianity; the Christian Life is not about trivial rules or laws; it is about allowing God to work in their life through Christ. The Christian should have one purpose in mind and that is to serve Christ. In serving Christ one not only pleases God, but also proves themself to those who see and hear their actions.
The Bible says in 1 John 4:10, “In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” Propitiation is not a word commonly use in everyday language so I refer to the Webster’s dictionary. Webster’s says propitiation is the act of propitiating, which does not help much. So look a little further to see propitiate is - to gain or regain the favor of goodwill. When man sinned we lost favor with God. Our sin made us unacceptable. However God loved us so much He gave His son Jesus Christ to die as a perfect and holy sacrifice so we could regain the favor of God’s goodwill and be made acceptable once again.
Monday, November 22, 2010
Careful of criticism
Romans 14:12-13 (NLT)
12 Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God. 13 So let’s stop condemning each other. Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble and fall.
The apostle wrote the church about the dangers of criticism. Christians were engaged in various arguments from what day was best to worship; what foods should be eaten and which should not; and how one was to honor the Lord. The apostle said we should quite condemning each other and instead consider ourselves and how we live out our Christian life. The apostle said we should do so in a way that keeps other believers from falling away.
A grocery store check-out clerk once wrote to advice-columnist Ann Landers to complain that she had seen people buy "luxury" food items—like birthday cakes and bags of shrimp—with their food stamps. The writer went on to say that she thought all those people on welfare who treated themselves to such non-necessities were "lazy and wasteful." A few weeks later Lander's column was devoted entirely to people who had responded to the grocery clerk. One woman wrote: I didn't buy a cake, but I did buy a big bag of shrimp with food stamps. So what? My husband had been working at a plant for fifteen years when it shut down. The shrimp casserole I made was for our wedding anniversary dinner and lasted three days. Perhaps the grocery clerk who criticized that woman would have a different view of life after walking a mile in my shoes. Another woman wrote: I'm the woman who bought the $17 cake and paid for it with food stamps. I thought the check-out woman in the store would burn a hole through me with her eyes. What she didn't know is the cake was for my little girl's birthday. It will be her last. She has bone cancer and will probably be gone within six to eight months. [Terrie Williams, The Personal Touch (Warner Books, 1994)]
Sometimes we are quick to criticize because we have created beliefs that are ours and not God’s. We see things only through the eyes of the world and miss out on what God has to say to us. Next time before being critical of someone ask God how your criticism might affect that person and what their criticism of you might be. Live in such a way that you will not cause other believers to stumble and fall.
12 Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God. 13 So let’s stop condemning each other. Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble and fall.
The apostle wrote the church about the dangers of criticism. Christians were engaged in various arguments from what day was best to worship; what foods should be eaten and which should not; and how one was to honor the Lord. The apostle said we should quite condemning each other and instead consider ourselves and how we live out our Christian life. The apostle said we should do so in a way that keeps other believers from falling away.
A grocery store check-out clerk once wrote to advice-columnist Ann Landers to complain that she had seen people buy "luxury" food items—like birthday cakes and bags of shrimp—with their food stamps. The writer went on to say that she thought all those people on welfare who treated themselves to such non-necessities were "lazy and wasteful." A few weeks later Lander's column was devoted entirely to people who had responded to the grocery clerk. One woman wrote: I didn't buy a cake, but I did buy a big bag of shrimp with food stamps. So what? My husband had been working at a plant for fifteen years when it shut down. The shrimp casserole I made was for our wedding anniversary dinner and lasted three days. Perhaps the grocery clerk who criticized that woman would have a different view of life after walking a mile in my shoes. Another woman wrote: I'm the woman who bought the $17 cake and paid for it with food stamps. I thought the check-out woman in the store would burn a hole through me with her eyes. What she didn't know is the cake was for my little girl's birthday. It will be her last. She has bone cancer and will probably be gone within six to eight months. [Terrie Williams, The Personal Touch (Warner Books, 1994)]
Sometimes we are quick to criticize because we have created beliefs that are ours and not God’s. We see things only through the eyes of the world and miss out on what God has to say to us. Next time before being critical of someone ask God how your criticism might affect that person and what their criticism of you might be. Live in such a way that you will not cause other believers to stumble and fall.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
The burden of craving the world
1 John 2:16 (NLT)
16 For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world.
The world is used by the apostle to describe the aggregate of earthly desires. The world is a place corrupted by sin and gives man the desire to crave that which is forbidden. In this verse the apostle lists some of man’s faults, a craving for pleasure, a craving for what we see, and pride that places us and our possessions before God.
I remember the first time I tried out a weight machine at a health club. The gym instructor was showing me how to set the machine. Without paying much attention to the weight or my capabilities he made some adjustments. He said, “Go ahead and give it a try”, and as much as I wanted to I could not push up the weights. The instructor said, “I think I set the weight just a little bit high, let’s start low and work up.” With a lighter setting I was easily able to accomplish the task of lifting the weights, but as the instructor continued to raise the settings I got back to the point where I could not lift them again.
We often think we can handle sin on our own; but the world is continuously making us crave what it offers. As we try to do good to obey God the weight of sin builds up against us. Suddenly we find ourselves trying to lift a burden we cannot handle. It becomes difficult to sustain the heavy lifting of obedience and we find ourselves suddenly unable to budge the burden. It is why Jesus said for us to count on Him. For He tells us “my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” When you find yourself craving the world turn to Jesus and ask Him to carry the load with you. Pray Christ would always give you the strength to do what is right and good in God’s sight.
16 For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world.
The world is used by the apostle to describe the aggregate of earthly desires. The world is a place corrupted by sin and gives man the desire to crave that which is forbidden. In this verse the apostle lists some of man’s faults, a craving for pleasure, a craving for what we see, and pride that places us and our possessions before God.
I remember the first time I tried out a weight machine at a health club. The gym instructor was showing me how to set the machine. Without paying much attention to the weight or my capabilities he made some adjustments. He said, “Go ahead and give it a try”, and as much as I wanted to I could not push up the weights. The instructor said, “I think I set the weight just a little bit high, let’s start low and work up.” With a lighter setting I was easily able to accomplish the task of lifting the weights, but as the instructor continued to raise the settings I got back to the point where I could not lift them again.
We often think we can handle sin on our own; but the world is continuously making us crave what it offers. As we try to do good to obey God the weight of sin builds up against us. Suddenly we find ourselves trying to lift a burden we cannot handle. It becomes difficult to sustain the heavy lifting of obedience and we find ourselves suddenly unable to budge the burden. It is why Jesus said for us to count on Him. For He tells us “my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” When you find yourself craving the world turn to Jesus and ask Him to carry the load with you. Pray Christ would always give you the strength to do what is right and good in God’s sight.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
False Emotions Appearing Real
Hebrews 13:6 (NLT)
6 So we can say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?”
The apostle summarizes the book of Hebrews with some advice. He has told the people of the church to love others, show hospitality, honor marriage, remain faithful, and to be satisfied with what they have. Then he goes on to remind them of God’s words, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.” So next we see the verse above that reminds us we should have confidence in the Lord; for God is our Helper and there is nothing to fear from others when we are with God.
I like the acronym for fear that says, “False Emotions Appearing Real.” So often our fears are based on our emotions and not facts. It may be we had one encounter in life with fear and it defined a part of us for the rest of our lives. Let’s say you share something very close and personal with another person and then you find out they spread that information as gossip. What will you fear the next time you have something you need to share? You know the answer; you will fear your intimate and personal information will be spread as gossip to other people. Even if you trust the person you are sharing with you may be hesitant to share a deep and intimate feeling. Fear of what will happen is what holds you back from connecting in your fellowship with another. But God tells us not to fear and that He can handle any situation that comes our way. Ok, so maybe someone will betray your trust, but God can handle that. Maybe you fear the emotions you want to express, but God can show you someone who will listen. Do not let fear be a hindrance to your life. Instead turn that fear over to God remembering that he will never fail you nor forsake you. In fact God just might show you how strong you are at handling fear if you allow Him to.
6 So we can say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?”
The apostle summarizes the book of Hebrews with some advice. He has told the people of the church to love others, show hospitality, honor marriage, remain faithful, and to be satisfied with what they have. Then he goes on to remind them of God’s words, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.” So next we see the verse above that reminds us we should have confidence in the Lord; for God is our Helper and there is nothing to fear from others when we are with God.
I like the acronym for fear that says, “False Emotions Appearing Real.” So often our fears are based on our emotions and not facts. It may be we had one encounter in life with fear and it defined a part of us for the rest of our lives. Let’s say you share something very close and personal with another person and then you find out they spread that information as gossip. What will you fear the next time you have something you need to share? You know the answer; you will fear your intimate and personal information will be spread as gossip to other people. Even if you trust the person you are sharing with you may be hesitant to share a deep and intimate feeling. Fear of what will happen is what holds you back from connecting in your fellowship with another. But God tells us not to fear and that He can handle any situation that comes our way. Ok, so maybe someone will betray your trust, but God can handle that. Maybe you fear the emotions you want to express, but God can show you someone who will listen. Do not let fear be a hindrance to your life. Instead turn that fear over to God remembering that he will never fail you nor forsake you. In fact God just might show you how strong you are at handling fear if you allow Him to.
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