Posts from 2021 (Page 5)
EXPOUNDING GOD’S WORD
This is precisely the duty of a teacher of God’s Holy Word. Notice how they read “distinctly” or faithfully, word by word, gave the “sense” or insight and caused them to “understand” or to know in the mind. Once a teacher is able to properly expound the Word to those under his tutelage, one result will be joy! It’s only through a proper study of God’s Word that we can have a proper understanding of its Author and as we grow in our knowledge of God we can’t help but to rejoice and that is our strength!
REFLECTING HIS GLORY
I seem to remember, albeit vaguely, an old commercial that had dogs and their owners on it and how much they resembled each other. I sure can’t recall what they were actually advertising but it was intriguing for sure. I’ve owned many dogs through the years and I’m pretty sure there’s one that I didn’t resemble at all, my Pug! As blood bought children of God, I wonder how much we resemble our Master? Not in the physical sense but in all other ways. After spending time with others, would they be able to identify us as children of the Master? Do we reflect His glory? Or have we become so contaminated with the elements of this world that we no longer shine?
WHO DOES GOD SAY I AM?
Our culture has placed a great emphasis of late on identity. So people have gone about labeling themselves in a way they desire to be identified. I first remember hearing the concept of self-branding when I was in college. The philosophy teaches that you are a brand and you need to market yourself to the world. Little did I know that some 20 years later with the advent of social media how that philosophy would grip a generation.
MORAL RELATIVISM
There certainly isn’t anything new under the sun! Moral Relativism was just as prevalent in those days as it is in ours! According to moral relativism, there is not a single true morality. There are a variety of possible moralities or moral frames of reference, and whether something is morally right or wrong, good or bad, just or unjust, etc. is a relative matter-relative to one or another morality or moral frame of reference.
KEEP ON KEEPING ON
Life is TOUGH! Serving the Lord can be difficult at times. We’re living in perilous times and witnessing things we never imagined we would see in our lifetime. Families are disintegrating and every day we read of another well known, deep rooted Christian forsaking their faith. Friends, family and others may fail and forsake us but be of good courage! We have a promise from God Almighty that He’ll never fail us. He’ll never forsake us so there is no reason to fear or be dismayed! Keep on keeping on! Don’t quit! Be strong in the Lord, you’re not alone!
WHO ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?
Man does not have much if anything to boast about in himself. I certainly do not. However, those that know Jesus have a lot to boast about. Not about themselves, but about the one that loves them and saved them. There is a song we sing often in church who’s refrain goes:
SPIRITUAL MEDICINE
Scripture teaches us that we are a whole person. Our spiritual life effects our physical life. Each and everyday we come across people that are hurting spiritually. Harold Vaughan once preached a message entitled, “The Ministry of Encouragement.” What a great ministry! We should all be encouragers. When you encourage someone it is like given someone a dose of spiritual medicine for their soul. Each day we should ask ourselves, “Who can I encourage today?”
POWER OF CHRIST
Have you ever wandered how can you possibly continue? Have you ever found yourself running out of strength to run the race before you? Have you ever been faced with incredibly difficult circumstances of life that make you want to throw in the towel? Well join the club! However, when you are at that point you must realize that you are on the cusp of having the power of Christ upon you. So when you get to the point where you say, “I cannot go on anymore I am out of strength” you are almost there, but not quite. You must then go on to admit your weakness and accept God’s grace to give you strength. Then you can say, “I can do all thing through Christ that strengtheneth me.”
IS YOUR HEART IN IT?
When I read this verse I am reminded to make sure my heart is in my service to the Lord. God does not want us to serve Him begrudgingly, but with genuine desire and reverence. Half-hearted service to the Lord is not pleasing to God; neither is service done to please men. It is a good practice to check our hearts from time to time.
WHAT ARE YOU LIVING FOR?
How many of us could honestly say this about ourselves. Can we say that the only purpose in my life is to live for Christ? Can we say that we truly believe that to die is gain? Do we have a greater desire for the things of the world or the things of Christ? What evidence is their in our lives to support our claim to love Jesus? In the case of the Apostle Paul there was plenty of evidence to support this verse to be true in his life.