Philippians 1:9-11 "And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness, that comes through Jesus Christ-to the glory and praise of God."
Pauls' hope and prayer for Christians is this. That our love will lead to knowledge which will lead to discernment and righteousness. I pray for this today! I need more love, more knowledge, more discernment and more righteousness in my life.
Thursday, February 20, 2014
Friday, February 14, 2014
By Grace
Ephesians 2:8 "For it is by grace you have been saved..."
Memorized as a boy, this verse still means so much and today brings tears to my eyes. I am saved and made right before God, not due to anything I said, did or thought. It is a completely free gift from God. It is grace. In no way can I earn it or achieve it. This is the good news. It is overwhelming and wonderful. Jesus is overwhelming and wonderful!
Memorized as a boy, this verse still means so much and today brings tears to my eyes. I am saved and made right before God, not due to anything I said, did or thought. It is a completely free gift from God. It is grace. In no way can I earn it or achieve it. This is the good news. It is overwhelming and wonderful. Jesus is overwhelming and wonderful!
Thursday, February 13, 2014
Faith and Love
Galatians 5:6 "...the only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love."
Religious calisthenics do not amount to much. Spiritual to do lists don't cut it. Paul says faith is what matters. Love is what counts. I get preoccupied too often with the "thou shalt's" and "thou shalt not's." Jesus is concerned with my heart. Today I need to express my obedience by my faith, not my religious accomplishments. I need to express my devotion by my love, not my spiritual gamesmanship. Faith and love. That's the good stuff.
Religious calisthenics do not amount to much. Spiritual to do lists don't cut it. Paul says faith is what matters. Love is what counts. I get preoccupied too often with the "thou shalt's" and "thou shalt not's." Jesus is concerned with my heart. Today I need to express my obedience by my faith, not my religious accomplishments. I need to express my devotion by my love, not my spiritual gamesmanship. Faith and love. That's the good stuff.
Wednesday, February 12, 2014
When I am Weak
2 Corinthians 12:10 "That is why , for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
In chapter 11, verse 6 Paul admits he is not a trained speaker. He may not have been an eloquent speaker, but he wrote some of the most beautiful words ever. These are some of my favorite! Paul says he delights in his weaknesses because it is in those moments of weakness, he is actually strong. And it is not his own strength that powers him, but God's power. When I am struggling and suffering, I must remember that it is then Christ is strong. He will give me the strength I need to overcome. When I am weak, he is strong! When I am weak, he is strong! When I am weak he is strong!
In chapter 11, verse 6 Paul admits he is not a trained speaker. He may not have been an eloquent speaker, but he wrote some of the most beautiful words ever. These are some of my favorite! Paul says he delights in his weaknesses because it is in those moments of weakness, he is actually strong. And it is not his own strength that powers him, but God's power. When I am struggling and suffering, I must remember that it is then Christ is strong. He will give me the strength I need to overcome. When I am weak, he is strong! When I am weak, he is strong! When I am weak he is strong!
Friday, February 07, 2014
The Unseen
2 Cor. 4: 18 "So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."
Earlier this week Bill Nye joined Ken Ham in a debate regarding evolution and creation. The debate was interesting and both men made good points. As I've been wrestling with some of the info and arguments made that night, I am settling on this verse today. I am going to fix my eyes on the unseen. That is what matters and that is what is eternal. This doesn't mean I turn a blind eye to the seen, but rather I focus on the unseen as I interpret the seen. My hope is in the unseen. My hope is in Jesus.
Earlier this week Bill Nye joined Ken Ham in a debate regarding evolution and creation. The debate was interesting and both men made good points. As I've been wrestling with some of the info and arguments made that night, I am settling on this verse today. I am going to fix my eyes on the unseen. That is what matters and that is what is eternal. This doesn't mean I turn a blind eye to the seen, but rather I focus on the unseen as I interpret the seen. My hope is in the unseen. My hope is in Jesus.
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