datethewordtest

Tag: Jan 17th

  • The Greatest Gift Giver

    James 1:17 “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.”

    Who is the greatest gift giver you have ever known? It may be a spouse, a parent, a grandparent, or a friend. In my case, it was my mother-in-law, as she loved to give others meaningful gifts.  

    As you ponder the question of the greatest gift giver Pastor James in James 1:17 says we should pause to realize that every good gift – every perfect gift comes from our Father above.  

    Think about the gifts He has given you.  Believing that you are saved He gave to you the gift of salvation from your Heavenly Father.  Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Upon receiving such a gift there is a verse that should be daily repeated and that verse is 2 Corinthians 9:15 which says, “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!”

    We should also recognize that He gives us wisdom.  James 1:5 tells us, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”

    Now I have presented two gifts from above.  There are so many more.  Let us today recognize God’s goodness to us with grateful hearts.

    Continue Strong with a grateful heart for God’s amazing gifts, 
    And Remember to Date the Word 

  • Becoming Made More by Following Jesus

    Mark 1:17 “Then Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” 

    Growing up I attended a church where the children would go to the front and sing one or two children’s songs. One of my favorites was “I Will Make You Fishers of Men.” Maybe some of you recall the little tune 
    “I will make you fishers of men, Fishers of men, fishers of men. 
    I will make you fishers of men, if you follow Me. 
    If you follow Me, If you follow Me, I will make you fishers of men, if you follow Me.”

    At some point growing up in that church, I would hear the Bible story that the song was based on. I heard how Jesus would make a simple yet oh so profound, request of some men with a very specific reason in mind. I would hear how these men responded and would leave what they were doing to go with Jesus and become His disciples.  With just a few words of follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men Jesus invited a variety of men to join Him and to have a new cause for their lives. 

    How do you react to those two words of follow me?  What questions arise as you process the invitation?  Surely the question of where? How long? What for? When? What is in it for me? goes through one’s mind.  Let’s be clear that to follow implies surrender of one’s rights and desires. In surrendering you are yielding your rights to another.  

    I do like to point out that as Jesus said, “Follow me.” He also said to them, “I will make you.”  Know that saying yes to following Jesus means He will be about making something of you for His glory.   Jesus’ invitation to those fishermen was to allow Him to make them become something greater than what they presently were doing.

    Jesus’ invitation to you is to allow Him to make you beomce something far greater with your life.  

    Their response to leave and follow changed their lives as Jesus did what He said He would do.  Your response to Him to Follow Him will change your life.

    Are you a follower of the Master? 

    Where He leads me, I will follow, Where He leads me I will follow,
    Where He leads me I will follow, I’ll go with Him, with Him all the way.

    Continue Strong in total surrender to following Jesus
    And remember to DATE the Word