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  • A Different Kind of Blessing

    1 Peter 3:14 “But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.”
    A speaker at an evangelism conference said, “Only good things come to someone who shares Christ.” He then explained that the person hearing the gospel might get saved and that most definitely is a good thing – as a matter of fact, it is a great thing. Or they may not get saved but now they have the information on how to be saved and maybe they will get saved later because you sowed the seed of the gospel into their lives. That is a good thing. Then he said they may reject what you have to say and become angry with you and even attack you and even, God forbid, maybe kill you and if any of those happens it is a good thing for the one witnessing.

    Knowing we needed some context to the last point, he then explained that if one is persecuted for sharing their faith, they are BLESSED. He highlighted Matthew 5:10-11 which says, “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.”

    As Peter writes to persecuted believers in 1 Peter 3:14 he tells them what Jesus had told in the sermon on the Mount. He wanted believers to know that when they do good, and they are treated badly by the lost, it brings God’s blessings into their lives.
    Now, to be sure this is a different way to be blessed. I guess if we told the truth we like to get God’s blessings another way. However, we need to have this mindset that being persecuted, hated, maligned, mistreated, etc. brings God’s blessing so we are not afraid to step into the darkness to share with those who may love darkness more than the light (John 3:19-20 “And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 “For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.)

    If we fear what could happen to us, we are more prone to not share Christ. So we need to take heed to Peter’s words and not be afraid of their threats. We do not need to be intimidated or frightened by any person. Even if from a human standpoint the worst thing happens and we are killed we are then a martyr for Christ and get the martyr’s crown.

    Let us be faithful in sharing Christ even with those who hate us. Let us not be ashamed or afraid of sharing the gospel. Remember Saul – renamed Paul. He went from persecuting Christians to preaching Christ!

    Continue Strong being faithful,
    And remember to DATE the Word

  • Never Satisfied

    Philippians 3:13 “Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,”
    The pursuit of holiness is continual and something we must be fully committed to pursuing continually. We should never be satisfied with where we are in becoming more like Christ. The Apostle Paul in Philippians 3:13 is evaluating himself as to where he is in the process of sanctification. He is DEFINING REALITY as he states he has NOT apprehended all he is to be for Christ and to do for Christ. The reality of not achieving what he knows Christ wants for him leads to a resolution to keep at it. He writes BUT ONE THING I DO. This speaks of focusing on the important. The is a determination in his voice to focus on doing only what is important. To do only what is important means to eliminate the unimportant. What may seem surprising is what is unimportant what we did yesterday. Paul says, “forgetting those things which are behind.” While we should learn from our past and even celebrate yesterday’s victories we are not to linger in the past.

    Think of a sports team. Whether they win or lose they cannot dwell on the failure or rest on the success. They must get ready for the next game.

    Speaking of sports Paul now uses an athletic term for stretching for the finish line. He says he is “reaching forward.” He is stretching with all of his energy to reach the finish line. He has a deep desire that drives him to be and accomplish what Christ has for him.

    There should be a DRIVE to know Christ more, become more like Him, and make Him known this day. In other words, there should be some DISSATISFACTION in our soul that DRIVES us forward with new DETERMINATION for DOING the WILL OF GOD! Never, ever, be satisfied.

    The spiritual giants are never satisfied with current levels of success.

    Continue Strong reaching FORWARD,
    And remember to DATE the Word

  • Dressing for Spiritual Success!

    Colossians 3:12 “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,”
    Colossians 3, for me, is at the top of the list for how to live the Christian life. Along with Romans 12, Colossians 3 gets straight to the point of what is not to be a part of our lives and what actions are part of our lives. As the Apostle Paul calls for us to have our minds set on things above and to think like heaven thinks (Col. 3:1-4 ) he instructs the believer in Colossians 3:5-14 to take three actions. The believer is to 1. PUT TO DEATH 2. PUT OFF and 3. PUT ON. Notice Colossians 3:5-14.

    Colossian 3:5 Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, 7 in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.
    8 But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, 10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, 11 where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.
    12 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. 14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.

    To teach this I have asked a person to picture having on a filthy shirt that it is so filthy it has to be taken off and thrown away. Based on Col. 3:5-7 there are things that we put to death. They are no longer something we do. Then there is the undershirt that is also stained. It must be put off as well. Then one puts on a clean new shirt.

    What does Paul want the believers to PUT ON? We are to put on compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. 14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.

    Where are you in the process? Have you put to death those things that DO NOT BELONG in your new life? Have you PUT OFF actions that are unbecoming to a believer? Are you putting on the virtues of the Christian life?

    Continue Strong putting on (living out) the Christian virtues,
    And remember to DATE the Word

  • How Are You Known Around Town?

    Ruth 3:11 “And now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you all that you request, for all the people of my town know that you are a virtuous woman.”
    While Ruth 3:11 is Boaz’s positive response to Ruth’s request, the last part of the verse captures our attention as Boaz says that his reason for fulfilling the request comes from what HE KNOWS and OTHERS KNOW about Ruth’s reputation (character). Please ponder his characterization of her character. “For all the people of my town know that you are a virtuous woman.” Ruth was known around town as a VIRTUOUS WOMAN.

    How are you known around town? What do people THINK about you? Do you think about what others think – KNOW? Some people quickly say, “I don’t care about what others think.” Hmmm. You need to rethink how you think! Please recall that, for instance, those in positions of spiritual leadership are to “have a good testimony among those who are outside,” (1 Tim. 3:7)

    So, I ask again, how are you known around town? How are you known in your neighborhood? How are you known at your place of employment? How are you known at the Gym? At the Golf course? At church? At school? On the ball field? How are you known in your home? When your name is spoken does it stir up thoughts of you being a person of integrity, honesty, and virtue? Do others see you as being good and doing good?

    Or does the mention of your name bring up thoughts of, well, shall we say, negative thoughts? Would others say you are not to be trusted? That it would be better for others to steer clear of you?

    I appeal to you today to think about your reputation around town. Be known around town like Ruth was known – that of being a virtuous – upright – honest person!

    1 Timothy 4:12 says, “Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

    Continue Strong being known for Christian character around town,
    And remember to DATE the Word

  • You Are The Answer

    Exodus 3:10 “Come now, therefore, and I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring My people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.”
    On the backside of the desert standing shoeless, Moses is listening to God as God tells him that He knows about the horrible conditions the Israelites are in as slaves to the Egyptians. It was worth reading the verses that will lead to God’s calling – assigning – Moses to be the deliverer.

    Exodus 3:7 And the LORD said: “I have surely seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows. 8 “So I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land to a good and large land, to a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites and the Hittites and the Amorites and the Perizzites and the Hivites and the Jebusites.”

    This had to thrill the heart of Moses to hear that God was concerned about the Israelites. It had to thrill his heart that God was going to deliver them out of slavery. It had to thrill his heart to hear that God was going to bring them to a good and large land.

    I trust you can picture the scene being played out. Do your best to visualize the face of Moses as he is hearing what GOD is going to do for the Israelites. Got it?

    Now imagine what his face looks like as he hears, “Come now, therefore, and I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring My people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.” What do you think Moses is thinking as he hears that he is God’s answer to deliver God’s people?

    Because we do know what verse 11 says, (But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?”) the look on the face of Moses has gone from smiling to a look of shock. While he was thrilled that God was going to work to help the Israelites, he is filled with fear that he can do the assignment that God has assigned him. He can’t believe he is the answer.

    I wonder if you have had a “Moses Moment?” You are thrilled to hear that God wants to save people but you are scared to death when challenged to witness to the one He wants to save. You are thrilled to hear that God wants to help the helpless and give hope to the hopeless but when you are called to give help to the helpless and hope to the hopeless you are seized with fear, and you know without a doubt you can’t DO IT. You know you are not the answer.

    Friends, you are God’s answer. You are His vessel for letting others know that God wants them to be delivered from darkness and an eternity in hell. It is not just that He wants this to happen He wants you to deliver the message. You are the ANSWER!

    So are you going to make excuses why you can’t or are you going to execute the plan that God has for you to be His witness?

    Continue Strong fulfilling HIS assignment,
    And remember to DATE the Word

  • He Was Wise Enough To Know He Was Not Wise Enough

    1 Kings 3:9 “Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?”
    Solomon was wise enough to know he was not wise enough. When presented with the prize of prizes, the offer of offers, in which God told him to ask for whatever he wanted, he realized his number one need was wisdom. I don’t know about you, but I have always been impressed with Solomon’s realization that he did not have enough wisdom to do what God wanted him to do.

    Are you wise enough to know you are not wise enough? Do you know that you don’t know all that you need to know?

    God’s offer to Solomon is offered to you from James 1:5. If any man lacks wisdom let him ASK! Humble yourself and ASK GOD for HIS HELP! Humble yourself and ask God for WISDOM!

    WISDOM says ASK for wisdom, ACQUIRE wisdom, and APPLY wisdom!

    Continue Strong getting WISDOM from God!
    And remember to DATE The Word

  • Some Essential Ingredients For Getting Along

    1 Peter 3:8 “Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous.”

    We are to work on two relationships daily: our relationship with God and others. 1 Peter 3:8 gives us some of the essential ingredients for getting along with others. Peter lays out instructions for actions to take to have Christ-like relationships with one another! 

    Let’s unpack these ingredients.  First, getting along with others starts with a unity of cause – being of one mind – and the cause that we rally around is always the cause of Christ. What brings us together is Christ. Our points of view are filtered by WHAT IS THE MIND OF CHRIST.

    We then have compassion for each other.  Compassion is a concern that leads to action. This is a virtue that Christ displayed many times. He saw the people and had compassion and then you read of an action that met various needs. Getting along with others calls for caring about one another.

    Then we have each other’s back as we love like brothers. Brothers have each other’s back! Does someone have your back?  Do you have someone’s back?  

    Then we are tenderhearted toward each other as we understand we all are flawed humans. We can identify with another person’s flaws and offer grace, and as needed, forgiveness.  Ephesians 4:32 says, “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you.”

    Then, finally, Peter says, “Be courteous.”  To be courteous is to be respectful. We are to treat one another with dignity and respect.  It is the last one that we might need to revive.  We need a revival of respect!  We should be able to agree to disagree while not devaluing a brother or sister. Be courteous! Be respectful!

    Teddy Roosevelt said, “The single most important ingredient in the formula of success is knowing how to get along with people.”  Practicing 1 Peter 3:8 will 

    Continue Strong with the essential ingredients for a relationship,
    And remember to DATE the Word   

  • He Knows Your Sorrows

    Exodus 3:7 “And the LORD said: “I have surely seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows.”

    Exodus 3 tells of the call of Moses by God to go back to Egypt to deliver His people from slavery. In the beginning verses, we find Moses before a burning bush. He has taken his sandals off his feet as instructed by God. Having the full attention of Moses, God explains the current situation, telling Moses that He has surely seen the oppression of His people who are in Egypt and has heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for He knows their sorrows.

    I have tried to imagine what it was like for Moses to hear these words.  He knew the awful suffering the Israelites were enduring as slaves.  He knew of the groaning they were making and that they were calling on God to help them.  Exodus 2:23 says, “Now it happened in the process of time that the king of Egypt died. Then the children of Israel groaned because of the bondage, and they cried out, and their cry came up to God because of the bondage.” 

    Moses is now hearing from God that God has seen the oppression and He has heard the cries of agony because of their taskmasters, and He knows their sorrows. Imagine what the words “seen,” “heard”, and “knows” did for the heart of Moses.  It had to be so encouraging to know directly from God that God knew, that He knew their sorrows.

    Do you know that God knows about you and cares about you?  At this very moment, He cares enough about you to know the very number of hairs you have.  As He has His eyes on the little sparrow He has His eye on you.  Psalms 34:18 says that He draws near the brokenhearted.  He comes up close to bring the comfort only He can provide!

    May Exodus 3:7 encourage your heart.  The same God who saw and heard and knew the pain and sorrow of the children of Israel knows your heartaches and sorrows.  He KNOWS your SORROWS!

    Continue Strong knowing God knows,
    And remember to DATE the Word   

  • Oh The Trouble The Tongue Can Trigger

    James 3:6 “And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell.”

    The TONGUE is one of the smallest of organs in the human body yet one of the most powerful. Not only does it allow us to taste, it also allows us to TALK. And it is from our talking, our WORDS, that make the tongue so powerful.  Proverbs 18:21 sums up the power of the tongue probably better than any verse when Solomon writes, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue,”  

    Don’t rush here.  Let that verse get in your mind and heart. “Death and life are in the power of the tongue.”  Proverbs 18:21

    There is an old adage that says THINK before you speak. It is an adage that needs to be practiced.  While there is no doubt that words can heal and help, they also can hurt and harm. Our words can leave scars on another heart and mind for decades. It is true that out of our mouths can come some of the nicest things yet out of the same mouth can come some of the nastiest things. One can offer constructive words, and one can pour forth curse words. One can use their tongue to advise another to develop their character and turn around and use their tongue to assassinate another’s character. Thus the mighty power of the tongue.

    To help us keep our tongue from triggering trouble we need to return to what we learned early on as we sang Oh be careful little tongue what you say.  It is a song that needs to be sung daily, hourly, and even minute by minute and second by second. 

    I have found two prayers that help in controlling my tongue:
    Psalm 19:14 “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.”
    Psalm 141;3 “Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips.”
    Proverbs 21:23 says, Whoever guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from troubles.

    Continue Strong guarding what you say,
    And remember to DATE the Word   

  • Total Dependence On God Brings Trustworthy Direction From God

    Proverbs 3:5 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding;”

    Two of the most important verses to LEARN and LIVE are Proverbs 3:5-6. From the verses we find the God of the universe instructs (invites) us to TRUST Him for the direction our lives should be going.  Rather than trying to figure out the direction of our life, we consult with and then receive wisdom and direction from the ONLY ONE who KNOWS what is best for us.  I like to say total dependence on God brings trustworthy direction from God. 

    Let me ask a few direct questions:
    Are you trusting God with your life decisions? 

    Do you trust God and believe He truly knows what is best for you?  

    What stories do you have of trusting God and then He directing your steps?

    What decisions are you facing that NEEDS HEAVENLY INSIGHT?

    Knowing that life brings much uncertainty even to the point of making us afraid I encourage you to resolve that as all sorts of decisions come you will TRUST IN THE LORD.  David wrote in Psalm 56:3 this powerful statement: “Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You.”  The word “WHENEVER” reminds us that they will be coming! Before the things you are most afraid of happening make the commitment that you will be TRUSTING GOD. 

    Total Dependence on God brings Trustworthy Direction from God.

    Continue Strong trusting the Lord,
    And remember to DATE the Word