Colossians 3:2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
Setting our affections on things above should help believers avoid getting caught up in the things of this world----things that swamp our minds and hinder our walk with God.
This being an election year, it’s easy to focus on politics. That’s OK, but knowing that the Bible says that God appoints kings and leaders and presidents on earth may help me keep my sanity or at least endure the year with a little more ease. Pray that the Lord give us the right leader.
As we focus on Heaven, it’s good to know that Jesus is at the Father’s right hand, making intercession for us and giving us all we need to live for Him in this world.
Every decision, every activity, every plan and purpose is to be laid out before the Lord and considered not from an earthly perspective but from the viewpoint of Heaven.
Saturday, January 9, 2016
Friday, January 8, 2016
Contentment
Real contentment is spiritual in nature. If you will be truly satisfied and content, it must begin within your heart--- a heart that’s clean, forgiven and honest before God.
Only Jesus can satisfy your soul. Until you have a relationship with Him---until you accept Him as your personal Savior, you won't know perfect peace and contentment.
Isaiah 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
A believer with sin in his/her life won’t have contentment until the sin is confessed and forsaken---until they allow God to take first place in their heart and lives.
Those who walk with the Lord in purity have a reason for praise. They enjoy the best this world can offer, and they have hope in the next world as well.
Only Jesus can satisfy your soul. Until you have a relationship with Him---until you accept Him as your personal Savior, you won't know perfect peace and contentment.
Isaiah 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
A believer with sin in his/her life won’t have contentment until the sin is confessed and forsaken---until they allow God to take first place in their heart and lives.
Those who walk with the Lord in purity have a reason for praise. They enjoy the best this world can offer, and they have hope in the next world as well.
Thursday, January 7, 2016
A Spiritual Pop Quiz
Look within and see where you stand with the Lord Jesus. Are you saved? Have you believed the Gospel of grace? Is your faith in Jesus and His grace alone for salvation?
Is Jesus your Lord? Are you bearing fruit for His glory? Do you love the brethren? Do you have a hunger for the things of the Lord? Do you love His Word, His people, His church? Do you possess a desire for holiness and a hatred for sin?
Do you love the Lord and allow Him to live through you for His glory or is your life a contradiction? Do you claim to be one thing while you live another way? That is called hypocrisy. We are all hypocritical from time to time, but true believers will repent of their sins and allow God to use them for His glory.
Psalm 139:23-24 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Is Jesus your Lord? Are you bearing fruit for His glory? Do you love the brethren? Do you have a hunger for the things of the Lord? Do you love His Word, His people, His church? Do you possess a desire for holiness and a hatred for sin?
Do you love the Lord and allow Him to live through you for His glory or is your life a contradiction? Do you claim to be one thing while you live another way? That is called hypocrisy. We are all hypocritical from time to time, but true believers will repent of their sins and allow God to use them for His glory.
Psalm 139:23-24 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Wednesday, January 6, 2016
Jesus Prayes For His People
Knowing the cross of Calvary was near, Jesus takes the time to pray for His people. In addition to the eleven men with Him in the garden of Gethsemane that night, He also prays for every one who would believe on Him.
John 17:20-21 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
Jesus prays for His people to experience His joy and to be kept from the influence of the world. He prays that His people be purified (sanctified/set apart) and used for His glory. He prays for unity within the body of believers. He wants to share with us the "oneness" He and His Father share.
As He brings His prayer to a close, He prays that we will be filled with His love. He says that our mutual love will be a sign to the world that the Father sent Him.
John 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
John 17:20-21 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
Jesus prays for His people to experience His joy and to be kept from the influence of the world. He prays that His people be purified (sanctified/set apart) and used for His glory. He prays for unity within the body of believers. He wants to share with us the "oneness" He and His Father share.
As He brings His prayer to a close, He prays that we will be filled with His love. He says that our mutual love will be a sign to the world that the Father sent Him.
John 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
Tuesday, January 5, 2016
The Power Of The Cross
The cross of Jesus was much more than death, suffering and blood. It was here that God made His greatest declaration of love for lost humanity. It was here that Christ’s greatest work was accomplished.
When Jesus healed lepers, diseased-twisted bodies, and opened blind eyes He was helping one person at a time. But when He died on the cruel cross, His sacrifice made a difference for whosoever would call upon His name by faith.
Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
What is the cross of Jesus to you? Is it merely a piece of jewelry or a religious symbol? The cross represents the gospel of Christ --- His death, burial and resurrection.
I thank God that I heard and believed the gospel because it’s the “power of God unto salvation”?
Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
Because of the cross God still saves souls, changes eternal destinies, and transforms sinners into saints of God.
When Jesus healed lepers, diseased-twisted bodies, and opened blind eyes He was helping one person at a time. But when He died on the cruel cross, His sacrifice made a difference for whosoever would call upon His name by faith.
Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
What is the cross of Jesus to you? Is it merely a piece of jewelry or a religious symbol? The cross represents the gospel of Christ --- His death, burial and resurrection.
I thank God that I heard and believed the gospel because it’s the “power of God unto salvation”?
Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
Because of the cross God still saves souls, changes eternal destinies, and transforms sinners into saints of God.
Monday, January 4, 2016
You Can Always Come Home
The Prodigal Son talks his father out of his future inheritance, leaves home and lives to gratify every whim and desire of the flesh. When his money runs out his friends run out. The far country, a land of wine, women and song, becomes a land of weeping, worry and sorrow. He finds out too late that sin carries with it a high price tag.
Luke 15:18-20 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
The bewildered son didn’t expect this. His father had longed, looked and lived for his return.
The Parable of the Prodigal Son demonstrates the love and grace of our Heavenly Father when a sinner comes home and confesses his sin. There’s rejoicing in Heaven, there’s rejoicing in the House of God, and there’s rejoicing in the heart of the redeemed sinner.
No matter what you’ve done, you can always come home. Every soul is precious to God.
Luke 15:18-20 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
The bewildered son didn’t expect this. His father had longed, looked and lived for his return.
The Parable of the Prodigal Son demonstrates the love and grace of our Heavenly Father when a sinner comes home and confesses his sin. There’s rejoicing in Heaven, there’s rejoicing in the House of God, and there’s rejoicing in the heart of the redeemed sinner.
No matter what you’ve done, you can always come home. Every soul is precious to God.
Sunday, January 3, 2016
The King In All His Glory
Our Lord Jesus entered the valley of death, faced down sin, Satan and the grave, and carried off the victory! And, when we see the veil pulled back and are allowed a glimpse inside that heavenly city, we will see Him---the Lamb of God, surrounded by angels.
Revelation 5:11-12 And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.
When we see Jesus we won’t see a lowly Nazarene or an ordinary man. When we see Him we will see the King in all His glory. We will be lost in His wonder, power and majesty.
We’re not worthy of His love. We deserved death, Hell and judgment. But, He loved us! He died for us and shed His blood on the cross so that we might be saved by grace when we believe. What a Savior!
Do you know Him as your Savior? Ask Him to come into your heart and save you.
Revelation 5:11-12 And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.
When we see Jesus we won’t see a lowly Nazarene or an ordinary man. When we see Him we will see the King in all His glory. We will be lost in His wonder, power and majesty.
We’re not worthy of His love. We deserved death, Hell and judgment. But, He loved us! He died for us and shed His blood on the cross so that we might be saved by grace when we believe. What a Savior!
Do you know Him as your Savior? Ask Him to come into your heart and save you.
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