Romans 6:16 "Don't you realize that whatever you choose to obey becomes your master? You can choose sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God and receive his approval."
Paul writes this letter to the Roman church and tells them that they are slaves. He says they are slaves to one of two forces-sin or God. Paul explains they can choose to live sinful lives or godly lives and each choice has certain results and consequences. Paul pushes things out a bit further and claims that their choices, in turn, become their master. Slaves and masters were well known in the first century Roman world. The Romans knew well what slavery meant.
I am going to be a slave to something. That is Paul's claim and it actually makes sense. Today I am a slave to the turkey I ate yesterday-it's controlling my waistline! The choices I make actually do turn around and make me. The decisions I made yesterday have a big impact on how my day goes today. So, do I want to be controlled, directed, and steered by the bad and sinful choices in my life? Or do I want to be controlled, directed, and steered by the godly choices I make? The truth is, if I'm going to be a slave anyway, I'd rather be a slave to Christ! How can I make the right decisions today so that I am controlled by Jesus?
Dear Jesus, thank you that I am yours. Help me honor you with my choices. I'm grateful to be your slave. Amen.
Friday, November 23, 2012
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Repent and Live
Ezekiel 18:32 "For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent and live!"
Ezekiel has been warning Israel to turn from their sin and worship of idols. God speaks through Ezekiel and tells the nation that very bad things will happen to them due to their disobedience. But despite all of the violent predictions and talk of judgement and punishment, God says he does not delight in anyone's death. His preference is repentance and life.
God first and foremost wants my heart and a right relationship with him. His last resort is to discipline me. He is not an angry God who finds pleasure in disciplining and hurting his people. My God is a good God who loves me. That is comforting to me today.
Dear Jesus, thank you for loving me in spite of my sin and disobedience. Amen.
Ezekiel has been warning Israel to turn from their sin and worship of idols. God speaks through Ezekiel and tells the nation that very bad things will happen to them due to their disobedience. But despite all of the violent predictions and talk of judgement and punishment, God says he does not delight in anyone's death. His preference is repentance and life.
God first and foremost wants my heart and a right relationship with him. His last resort is to discipline me. He is not an angry God who finds pleasure in disciplining and hurting his people. My God is a good God who loves me. That is comforting to me today.
Dear Jesus, thank you for loving me in spite of my sin and disobedience. Amen.
Friday, November 16, 2012
Kindness
Ephesians 1:7, 8 "He is so rich in kindness that he purchased our freedom through the blood of his Son, and our sins are forgiven. He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding."
Paul tells the Ephesians that God loved them so much, he sent his son to purchase their freedom. God did this because of his intense love for them. He chose to "shower" his "rich" kindness on them by sending Jesus. Paul paints a beautiful picture of a loving, kind, and generous God!
I have to remember daily that God is for me. He loves me. He even likes me...even when I screw up! What an awesome God we have! God wants good things for me and he wants to "shower" me with his kindness. What is my response to this? First of all, I can simply accept it. That's easier said than done sometimes. Secondly, I can praise him over and over again for his goodness and kindness. Crank up the David Crowder! And third, I can spread this kindness and love to others. Who can I encourage today? Who can I pray with today? How can God's kindness be seen through me today?
Dear Jesus, thank you for your goodness and kindness today. Amen.
Paul tells the Ephesians that God loved them so much, he sent his son to purchase their freedom. God did this because of his intense love for them. He chose to "shower" his "rich" kindness on them by sending Jesus. Paul paints a beautiful picture of a loving, kind, and generous God!
I have to remember daily that God is for me. He loves me. He even likes me...even when I screw up! What an awesome God we have! God wants good things for me and he wants to "shower" me with his kindness. What is my response to this? First of all, I can simply accept it. That's easier said than done sometimes. Secondly, I can praise him over and over again for his goodness and kindness. Crank up the David Crowder! And third, I can spread this kindness and love to others. Who can I encourage today? Who can I pray with today? How can God's kindness be seen through me today?
Dear Jesus, thank you for your goodness and kindness today. Amen.
Friday, November 09, 2012
Holy Time Out
Hebrews 12:6 "For the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes those he accepts as his children."
The author of Hebrews tells us that God disciplines those he loves, much like a father or mother disciplines their own children. And that is exactly who we are if we are followers of Jesus-we are God's children. He loves us, cares for us, and like a good parent, he disciplines and corrects us when needed.
I have two children. Ellie is eight and Jack is seven and I love them more than anything! As their dad, I want great things for them. And I know the best thing I can do for them is to discipline them. It's not easy and it's never fun, but as their dad I must do it. Parents understand this. I need to understand my relationship with God is similar but with God, I'm not in charge! In what ways do I need some "disciplining" today? What areas of my life could use some correction? In what ways does God need to put me in a "time out?" What do I need to be "grounded" from? Maybe like a smart kid, I can recognize my faults BEFORE dad finds out and has to take the car keys away!
Dear Jesus, help me be obedient to your discipline and correction today. Amen.
The author of Hebrews tells us that God disciplines those he loves, much like a father or mother disciplines their own children. And that is exactly who we are if we are followers of Jesus-we are God's children. He loves us, cares for us, and like a good parent, he disciplines and corrects us when needed.
I have two children. Ellie is eight and Jack is seven and I love them more than anything! As their dad, I want great things for them. And I know the best thing I can do for them is to discipline them. It's not easy and it's never fun, but as their dad I must do it. Parents understand this. I need to understand my relationship with God is similar but with God, I'm not in charge! In what ways do I need some "disciplining" today? What areas of my life could use some correction? In what ways does God need to put me in a "time out?" What do I need to be "grounded" from? Maybe like a smart kid, I can recognize my faults BEFORE dad finds out and has to take the car keys away!
Dear Jesus, help me be obedient to your discipline and correction today. Amen.
Tuesday, November 06, 2012
Detestable
Ezekiel 8:6 "Son of man, do you see what they are doing-the utterly detestable things the house of Israel is doing here, things that will drive me far from my sanctuary?"
Ezekiel is shown a vision from previous days when the Israelites had set up an altar to Asherah in the temple. God shows Ezekiel this picture and claims it is detestable. God is sickened at what the Israelites had done with his temple. Not only had they set up a false idol, they also used the temple to worship false gods. God is disgusted.
What in my life is God disgusted with? What sin is he angered by? What idol in my life is God repulsed with? God is not just saddened and heartbroken by my sins, he is sickened and offended by them. Thank goodness Jesus covers them and forgave them! Yet, how can I see those idols and sins today and eliminate them from my life?
Dear Jesus, help me see in my life what offends you. And thank you for your mercy. Amen.
Ezekiel is shown a vision from previous days when the Israelites had set up an altar to Asherah in the temple. God shows Ezekiel this picture and claims it is detestable. God is sickened at what the Israelites had done with his temple. Not only had they set up a false idol, they also used the temple to worship false gods. God is disgusted.
What in my life is God disgusted with? What sin is he angered by? What idol in my life is God repulsed with? God is not just saddened and heartbroken by my sins, he is sickened and offended by them. Thank goodness Jesus covers them and forgave them! Yet, how can I see those idols and sins today and eliminate them from my life?
Dear Jesus, help me see in my life what offends you. And thank you for your mercy. Amen.
Monday, November 05, 2012
Fall Down
Ezekiel 1:28 "...This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. When I saw it, I fell facedown..."
The Jews are in captivity in Babylon and Ezekiel sees a vision of God. Ezekiel describes the vision and his response upon seeing this vision, is to fall "facedown."
I have been reading a lot of scripture lately-through the Bible as well as some of my "Route 66" readings. I rarely fall down though. In fact, I haven't fallen down once. Daily I am in the presence of God and his word, yet I never fall down. Ezekiel fell down. He fell down due to God's glory and power. But I never fall down. What am I missing? What do I lack? Am I not getting it? I need God's word to become less of a textbook to me. I need God's word to transform me and change me. Today I need to read it and truly hear what He has to say to me.
Dear Jesus, thank you for your word. Help me fall down today. Amen.
The Jews are in captivity in Babylon and Ezekiel sees a vision of God. Ezekiel describes the vision and his response upon seeing this vision, is to fall "facedown."
I have been reading a lot of scripture lately-through the Bible as well as some of my "Route 66" readings. I rarely fall down though. In fact, I haven't fallen down once. Daily I am in the presence of God and his word, yet I never fall down. Ezekiel fell down. He fell down due to God's glory and power. But I never fall down. What am I missing? What do I lack? Am I not getting it? I need God's word to become less of a textbook to me. I need God's word to transform me and change me. Today I need to read it and truly hear what He has to say to me.
Dear Jesus, thank you for your word. Help me fall down today. Amen.
Friday, November 02, 2012
Philippi
Phil. 2:3, 4 "Don't be selfish; don't live to make a good impression on others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourself. Don't think only about your own affairs, but be interested in others, too, and what they are doing."
The ancient city of Philippi was a prosperous Roman colony. Most residents spoke Latin and prided themselves on being Roman citizens. Many of the Philippians were retired military men who had been granted land in this area. So in the second chapter of his letter to the Christians in Philippi, Paul warns them to not be proud, selfish, and vain-easy pitfalls for the prosperous citizens in the wealthy town. Paul instructs them to think less of themselves and their stuff, and more about others and their needs. He points them to Jesus who do did not live his life as a proud or privileged man. Jesus was humble and served others, even though he was the son of God! If anyone had a right to be proud, it was him, but he wasn't. Jesus was to be their example.
I think about myself way too much! Most days my mind is consumed with me, myself and I. Paul says I should be more like Jesus. My thoughts and my mind should be geared towards those around me. I should ask first, how can I help others, and ask second, how can I help myself. This is vital to the Christian life. Jesus modeled it for me, so how can I live it today? I think it begins with having open eyes and open ears. What do I see and hear around me? When I am actually looking and listening, I am more likely to do something. Today I will look and listen.
Dear Jesus, help me look at others before I look at myself! Help me listen to others before I listen to myself today! Amen.
The ancient city of Philippi was a prosperous Roman colony. Most residents spoke Latin and prided themselves on being Roman citizens. Many of the Philippians were retired military men who had been granted land in this area. So in the second chapter of his letter to the Christians in Philippi, Paul warns them to not be proud, selfish, and vain-easy pitfalls for the prosperous citizens in the wealthy town. Paul instructs them to think less of themselves and their stuff, and more about others and their needs. He points them to Jesus who do did not live his life as a proud or privileged man. Jesus was humble and served others, even though he was the son of God! If anyone had a right to be proud, it was him, but he wasn't. Jesus was to be their example.
I think about myself way too much! Most days my mind is consumed with me, myself and I. Paul says I should be more like Jesus. My thoughts and my mind should be geared towards those around me. I should ask first, how can I help others, and ask second, how can I help myself. This is vital to the Christian life. Jesus modeled it for me, so how can I live it today? I think it begins with having open eyes and open ears. What do I see and hear around me? When I am actually looking and listening, I am more likely to do something. Today I will look and listen.
Dear Jesus, help me look at others before I look at myself! Help me listen to others before I listen to myself today! Amen.
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