Thursday, October 27

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2016

“For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.” (Titus 2:11–14)

Titus represents the third of Paul’s three pastoral letters, written to encourage Timothy and Titus in their service of the Lord’s people. In the verses above, Paul discusses how God’s great salvation changes the lives of people individually so that they reflect His character. It involves a turning from the world and towards godliness and self-control. While not directly stated here, we understand from other passages that the believer doesn’t generate these signs of Christian growth from within; rather, God empowers us through His Holy Spirit so that we may exhibit His fruit (“love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” in Galatians 5:22,23).

Yet, experiencing God’s great salvation doesn’t occur solely on a personal basis. The Church participates in and magnifies this salvation through demonstrating the love of Christ to one another and to a watching world. Jesus Himself explained that we would show ourselves to be His disciples by our love.

This idea reminded me of 1 John 3:18: “Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.” This week, I have seen many Grace Church family members loving in this manner. It points directly to the great salvation that Jesus has bought for us – and the amazing and lavish love of God. I thank you so much for serving and loving so faithfully. You are a great encouragement to me and many others!

How would you like to see change in your own heart? How could you trust God more to form you more into the image of Christ?

Lord Jesus, thank You for all that You won for us at the Cross and with Your Resurrection. We would like to honor You in the way that Paul describes in this passage. Help us to demonstrate Your love in a hurting, broken world. Clarify our vision of Your purpose for our lives and for the Church in these difficult days. Strengthen us with a full knowledge of Your blessed hope. In Your Name, amen.

October 25

Titus 1

I really like reading Paul's letters.  Even though Paul's writings are found in the New Testament, he speaks from an Old Testament foundation.  Let's not forget who he was and his status within the Jewish community before his transformation.  Here we find Paul writing to his spiritual son Titus.  He is reminding Titus of the "unfinished business" that needs to be done.  Paul directed Titus to put Elders in every town.  Without doubt, Paul gave a very specific job description for the Elders to fill.  "An overseer manages God's household"(v.7) is the job description and then Paul goes on to list the qualifications of the right man to fill the job. So if Paul is telling Titus to put these "overseers" (Elders) in every town, it seems as if Paul was telling Titus to continue his work by planting a church in each town. Church planting as a means to spread the Gospel of Jesus has been part of God's design all along. Being an Elder then, as it is now, is a serious position in God's Kingdom.  It carries a lot of responsibilities. I lift up all of our Elders today and ask God to give them spiritual strength, wisdom and discernment as they lead our church. I also pray today for all the church planters.  I pray God blesses their ministries for the advance of His Kingdom.

Randi  

October 21

1 Timothy 6 

Sometimes life doesn't work out like you thought it would. And sometimes people become bitter against God for not allowing them to reach their dreams. But for the believer, learning to be content gives us the opportunity to trust God for things greater than our dreams. This is the lesson to be learned from the life of Chan Romero. He learned the secret of contentment.

His story starts on February 3, 1959, "the day the music died." On that day a small airplane carrying Buddy Holly, J.P. Richardson, better known as the "Big Bopper," and Richie Valens of "La Bamba" fame crashed, killing all three of the men as well as the pilot. Among the people who took the news hard was a teenager in Billings, Montana, named Chan Romero. Romero and Valens had some important things in common: They were both seventeen years old, they loved music and they shared a Latino heritage.

Because of Romero's musical talent many people considered him to be Valens' successor. It didn't turn out that way, but Romero would tell you it turned out even better than he could have dreamed.

Shortly after Valens' death, Romero recorded his one and only hit, "The Hippy, Hippy Shake." It did better overseas than in the U.S. In Britain, the song was picked up by an upstart group called the Beatles. It reached the top of the charts.  

At this point it was very tempting for Romero to dream of being a big star. But it didn't turn out that way. Within a year he was out of the music business. You might think that this would have crushed him but it didn't. That year he started a relationship with Jesus and it transformed his life.

When a reporter asked if he was disappointed in how things turned out Romero said he was very "content" with his life. He now writes gospel music and leads worship at his church. He does this with family; he is the father of eleven children. It is his "contentment" with the plan of God that has made all the difference. Rather than aiming to be the next Richie Valens, he aimed at becoming the best Christian, husband, father, and grandfather he could be.  The first day of heaven will reveal the true gains that his "contentment" produced in his life.  

1 Timothy 6:6  "But godliness with contentment is great gain." 

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"Multiplying leaders to change the world"

Thursday, October 20

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2016

 

“Like cold water to a weary soul

                is good news from a distant land.” (Proverbs 25:25)

 

 

Our world is aching for some “good news” and the welcome benefits that this proverb attests.  Each one of us individually could use a boost during this time of uncertainty, anxiety, and confrontation.

 

While news of physical developments might bring us this “cold water to a weary soul,” we all need refreshment for our weary spirits.  The “good news” that will minister to our weary spirits comes from the “distant land” of God’s Kingdom, a “city” whose Architect and Builder is God (Hebrews 11:13–16).  That passage from Hebrews reminds us that God has called His children to live as pilgrims, “foreigners and strangers on earth” who long for “a better country – a heavenly one.”  These God-seeking pilgrims find refreshment in news from their homeland.

 

Practically speaking, how may we receive this “good news” daily, given that there are so many ready sources for “bad news”?  Author Jerry Bridges argues that we must preach the Gospel to ourselves each day, which will keep fresh in our minds the hope that we have in Christ.  We may remind ourselves that Jesus has won the victory over sin and death and that, in Him, we have complete freedom.  We may remember that our adoption as sons and daughters of the living King gives us each dignity and purpose.  We may find renewal in knowing that the hope of this heavenly Kingdom remains secure owing to the faithfulness of its King and not in our weakness.

 

Having heard and reminded ourselves of these truths, we then have the great privilege of offering “cold water” to others.  Perhaps you might share a recent “God sighting” and point out how God’s faithfulness has sustained you.  Or you could share a meaningful verse, such as this one above.

 

May we be vigilant in remembering God’s “good news” and trusting Him for its fulfillment in our lives and those of others.

 

 

Lord Jesus, thank You that Your servantheartedness brought us lasting “good news.”  Refresh our weary spirits during this time of confusion.  Bring clarity to our hearts and minds so that we may live fully for You.  Give us opportunities to share Your “good news” with those who need it, even today.  In Your Name, we pray.  Amen.

 

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Oct. 19

Psalm 89:1-4   -- I will sing of the Lord's great love forever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generation.  I will declare that your love stands firm forever, that you established your faithfulness in heaven itself.  You said, "I have made a covenant with my chosen one, I have sworn to David my servant, I will establish your line forever and make your throne firm through all generations

As we read through this Psalm, we see God's promise to preserve David's descendants.  In 2 Samuel 7 we learned that God promised to make David the mightiest king on earth and that his descendants would be forever on the throne.  Since there are no kings in Jerusalem, these verses which were written thousands of years ago, can only be looking toward the future. As believers, we know this promise was fulfilled in Jesus, David's descendant.  Looking ahead to verse 27, we read "I will also appoint him my firstborn, the most exalted of the kings of the earth".  When we praise worship, and acknowledge the Lord's great love and his faithfulness we are only beginning to realize the foundation of His throne and Who He is.  I think even if we were to memorize every word of scripture we would just be scratching the surface to understand how infinite He is and there are no boundaries to the love He has for us.  His love for us and the promises we find in scripture that we hold on to as truth has nothing to do with who we are, it's all about Who God is.  I pray that as we make room to hear God in our quite time He draws us closer.  I pray that we all experience a sense of His love as we stand on prophetic promises that were written thousands of years ago but were written for us as we place our trust and hope in the One True King, Jesus Christ.

Randi


 

October 14

2 Thessalonians 2

It was just over 70 years ago when the impossible happened. The impossible situation I am talking about were some of the worst atrocities ever committed in human history. They said it was impossible because mankind was now "civilized." We had reached the apex of our knowledge about science, mathematics, literature, history.

It all started with the destruction of the property of Jews on "Crystal Night."   There was no protest, no outcry for the Jews. Hitler had his answer. No one would stand up for the Jews.  Over the next years property damage lead to ghettos, to deportations, to mass murders, to the concentrations camps, to gas chambers. The holocaust claimed the lives of two thirds of Europe's 9.6 million Jews. 6 million Jews were exterminated, all of this occurring in the modern era of mankind.  The Bible predicts that we have not seen the end of man's atrocities. The darkness will gather one more time on planet earth. Again the darkness will be the result of one man who is bent on opposing God. And by the way, the avenue by which this lie succeeds is the lack of knowledge of God's Word. There is nothing more important than daily reading and study of God's Word.

 

There is a sequence here and all of these are going to be convergent.

- A rebellion will occur.

- The Antichrist will appear on the scene.

- He will demand the worship of the world.

- He will set himself up in the Jewish Temple.

- Whatever is holding him back will be removed.

- He will have great power to do miracles.

- Jesus will return and defeat him.

 

The question we all must ask, is it possible for "modern" people to be so deceived that they follow a man and call him God? The answer is found in a story recorded in the Chicago Tribune a few years ago. The reporter recounted the story of a New Mexico woman who was frying tortillas when she noticed that the skillet burns on one of her tortillas resembled the face of Jesus. Excited, she showed it to her husband and neighbors, and they all agreed that there was a face etched on the tortilla and that it truly bore a resemblance to Jesus. So the woman went to her priest to have the tortilla blessed. She testified that the tortilla had changed her life, and her husband agreed that she had been more peaceful, happy, and submissive since the tortilla had arrived. The priest not accustomed to blessing tortillas was somewhat reluctant but agreed to do it.

The woman took the tortilla home, put it in a glass case with piles of cotton to make it look like it was floating on clouds, built a special altar for it, and opened the little shrine to visitors. Within months, more than 8000 people came to the shrine of Jesus of the Tortilla, and all of them agreed that the face burned into it was the face of Jesus. With the exception of the reporter who said it looked more like former heavyweight boxing champion Leon Spinks.  When we don't stand for the truth we will fall for anything. 

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"Multiplying leaders to change the world"

Thursday, October 13

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2016

“A word aptly spoken

     is like apples of gold in settings of silver.

“Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold

     is a wise man’s rebuke to a listening ear.

“Like the coolness of snow at harvest time

     is a trustworthy messenger to those who send him;

     he refreshes the spirit of his masters.” (Proverbs 25:11-13)

Proverbs contains a multitude of verses about the power of the tongue to bless and to curse. James picks up on this teaching and explains that it takes great wisdom to control the tongue. Jesus indicated that our words reveal our hearts.

Election seasons typically provide promises aplenty, but this one has devolved into verbal brawling. While I don't wish to delve into politics, I do wish to highlight the danger to us: that we may become numb to hyperbole and name-calling.

Name-calling ultimately seeks to degrade the humanity or depersonalize its target. Name-calling also shields the speaker from taking personal responsibility and often accompanies projecting blame onto others. It runs counter to God’s desire for us to take accountability for our words and thoughts and destroys the dignity of the other group, all of whom God created fearfully and wonderfully in His image. Once we have dehumanized someone else, we then feel justified in treating that person in a subhuman way. We no longer listen attentively, we no longer care, and we wish to silence or even hurt the individual.

The Proverbs urge to use our words graciously but truthfully after the pattern that Jesus would set for us (John 1:14). We should welcome constructive criticism from others in order to become more Christlike. We should choose our words so that others may grow through their interactions with us. I take the final Proverb listed above as guidance for presenting situations in a positive way that brings proper honor to our great God and King.

Do your words remind others of “apples of gold in settings of silver”? Do they value their conversations with you? We certainly all have our days in which we might struggle, but our calling as believers includes submitting to God and honoring Him through our words and thoughts. How may you best display His love and character through your words?

Lord Jesus, we seek to honor You with our lives. Give us wisdom and genuine hearts as we speak graciously and truthfully to others. Help us not to settle for less than these goals. Strengthen us so that we may build others up and bless them with Your presence displayed through us. We love You and thank You for all Your goodness to us. In Jesus’s Name, amen.

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