God’s Care, Concern, and Control over My Life (I John 4:18-19)
I John 4:18-19, There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. 19We love him, because he first loved us. Total dedication involves total faith in God's control and care of your life. Your life is in God's hands to do as He pleases with it. This person has absolute trust in God's will for their life. The control of God over our lives is amply illustrated in the life of Pastor Im of Korea. During the Korean War, missionaries were being evicted from Korea. Harold Voelkel was able to stay because he re-enlisted as an army chaplain. This is what he did during WW2. Because he was fluent in the Korean language, they assigned him to the Island of Kojedo, which was a prisoner of war island. Each morning at 5:30, he kept up the custom of early morning prayer meetings in the prison. Before sun up, hundreds of prisoners would stand outside in rank by the barbed wire in the bitter winter cold. Their favorite hymn was "Jesus Loves Me." Harold was asked how this worship time got started in the prison. It was started by a humble Christian man, Pastor Im, who was imprisoned because of a misunderstanding. It was his second imprisonment. He had been pastoring one of the 3000 small churches throughout North Korea, when the Communists came into the country. In order to intimidate the population, they took him away from his child and wife and imprisoned him because he preached the Gospel. For 18 months, he did not have a clue what had happened to his family. When General MacArthur crossed the 38th parallel into North Korea and took the capital city of Pyongyang, they released the prisoners. Pastor Im had one thought: to go home and find his family. He was ragged and unwashed as he headed northward to his home. On his way home, the American forces mistook him for a Communist and captured him. He did not know any English and the Americans did not know any Korean. The pastor was not given any opportunity to explain his situation to an interpreter. So they imprisoned this pastor, with thousands of other North Korean prisoners, in the prison on the Island of Kojedo. Pastor Im's heart was broken. Satan whispered to him, "Where is your God? If there is a God who answers a Christian's prayer, why are you here? Why does He allow you to be mistreated?" Pastor Im had no room for bitterness in his heart. After spending time in prayer and being strengthened by the Lord, he told Jesus, "Lord, if you have let all this heartache come to me and my family, it must be because you have something for me to do. What can I do for you here on this prison island?" He looked at the other miserable men around him, most of them did not know Christ at all. He began to have compassion for their souls. One evening, as the sun was going down, he did a bold thing. He went to six other men in the prison who were also Christians and told them, "Look, maybe the Lord brought us to this place for such an hour as this. Let's get together and sing about the love of Jesus Christ. Let's sing some Christmas carols." Even though it was forbidden to gather together, Pastor Im went out into the compound and began to sing Christmas songs like Silent Night Holy Night in the Korean language. Other men began to sing as the American guards listened with amazement. Eventually, 500 men gathered around the pastor. Pastor Im then read the Christmas story from his tattered Bible and then the guards had the men disperse. The guards left with tears in their eyes. They knew something was different in this prison camp. Chaplain Voelkel was called by the guards to find out what was going on. He spoke with Pastor Im and heard his remarkable story. Pastor Im was then given an armband that gave him permission to wander about the prison camp and preach and hold prayer meetings every morning. Chaplain Voelkel joined him in ministry and after a year, something powerful happened on this island. Groups with as many as 1200 men were meeting in each of the prison compounds. The prisoners got up early to pray and sing gospel songs. Bible classes were held in the camp and over 6000 men finished the six-month course of daily Bible study and graduated. When the camps closed and the men were freed, 600 men finished Bible school and Seminary outside Korea and returned to preach the Gospel to their people. All of this happened because of one, dedicated, fearless Christian who would not quit and become discouraged in spite of tragedy and terrible circumstances during a bitter war. Instead of complaining, he resolved to get back up on his spiritual feet and do what the Lord wanted him to do. He never did find out what happened to his wife and child in North Korea. He remained faithful in serving Christ. What an example he is to all of us of being totally dedicated to the Lord Jesus Christ just like the widow at the Temple. PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I confess that sometimes my fears reveal I’m not trusting You as I know I should, but trusting in something or someone else instead. Thank you for reminding me just how fragile everything else is compared with You. Thank You for never leaving or forsaking me. Thank You for never letting me down and always proving Yourself trustworthy. Help me learn to trust You increasingly and remove fears from my life. In Jesus name, Amen. If this post has blessed you in any way, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com
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Keeping the Past in the Past (Philippians 3:13-14)
Philippians 3:13-14, Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. Paul pictures himself as an athlete in a race putting forth all his strength and pressing on with determination and concentration in order to finish the course and win the prize. His aim is to reach and fulfill the goal that Christ has set for his life. Paul was faithful to the Lord’s purpose as he pressed toward the goal of the prize. We cannot move on if we give up, give in, or give out. President Abraham Lincoln is considered one of the greatest presidents in our nations history. Abraham Lincoln is a great example of being faithful to a purpose. He didn’t lose heart or give up. He had a tough road ahead to get to where he wanted to go. If anyone could have quit, it would have been him. Notice: The timeline of events leading up to his office of presidency: In 1832 he lost his job and was defeated in the Illinois legislature. In 1833 his business went bankrupt. In 1834 he was elected to state legislature, but the next year his sweetheart died. In 1835 he had a nervous breakdown. In 1838 he was defeated for state speaker for the house. In 1843 he was defeated for his race for congress. In 1846 he was elected to congress. In 1848 he lost re-election. In 1849 he was rejected for a federal land officer appointment. In 1854 he was defeated for the senate. In 1856 he was defeated for the nomination for Vice-President. In 1858 he was defeated again for the senate. Abraham Lincoln could be considered a loser if he had need been faithful to his purpose. In 1861 Abraham Lincoln was elected as the 16th President of the United States of America. Today he’s not known for his past failures but for what he did and who he became. Abraham Lincoln, like the apostle Paul, learned how to move on, get over it, and stay faithful to a purpose. Throughout our lives, all kinds of distractions and temptations, such as life’s worries, riches and evil desires, threaten to choke off our commitment to Christ. We must not take our eyes off the prize. That means “forgetting what is behind,” We must not dwell on past fears, difficulties and failures, allowing Satan to frustrate or overwhelm us with guilt; that Christ has freed us from. What matters most is what is ahead in regard to Christ’s purposes for us and our final and priceless reward with him in heaven. James Merritt said, “Paul had to forget past guilt, past grief, past glory, and past grudges.” One of the Christians biggest problems is dwelling on the past. You cannot run a race while looking backward. Too many Christians are still stuck in the past. We can never be who we ought to be if we are focused on the failures, disappointments, and heartaches. Paul wasted no time on the past. He was running the race for Christ. Paul would not focus on the past. He was looking ahead and determined to stay focused on Christ. Paul was serious about not allowing the past to hinder his present. Warren Wiersbe said, “There were things in Paul’s past that could have been weights to hold him back, but they became inspirations to speed him ahead. The events did not change, but his understanding of them changed.” Whether filled with the good, the bad, or the outrageous, the past is set in stone and there is nothing we do can to change it. Therefore, we can do one of two things. We can dwell on the past and focus upon our failures and shortcomings; or, lest we repeat it, we can look to the past, learn from it, and move forward. When we focus on the past, we cannot make any contributions for the future. This is what Satan wants us to do. He wants us to wallow in guilt and self-pity. He wants to put us out of commission for Christ. Life is full of ups and downs, good times and bad times, times of encouragement and times of discouragement. Everyone can look back on their lives and wish that they could do some things over, things that they wish they could change, and things that they regret that ever happened. Everyone has had skeletons in their closets. In life we can learn from and grow through past experiences, or we can dwell on and be defeated by past experiences. Failure is not final when God is in control. Let go of your past today. It will set you free to do wonders for Christ beyond your wildest dreams. Point to Ponder: It takes determination to be used of the Lord Jesus Christ. Right now. Reach forth as if the finish line is at your grasps, and pursue the purpose the Lord has laid on your heart. Questions to Consider: Are you faithful to the Lord’s purpose for your life? What is the Lord speaking to you right now about letting go of? PRAYER: Lord, You see my pain and You know my grief. There are memories I don’t want to relive, but I can’t erase them. They come when I least expect it, and the weight of the emotions threatens to consume me. In You I am safe, not only from the past, but from lingering memories as well. In Jesus name, AMEN. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com When God Sends A Text (Mark 1:35)
Mark 1:35, And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed. There are at least three times when God wrote. Tables of stone - 10 Commandments (Exodus 31:18) Writing on the wall (Daniel 5:5) Jesus wrote on the ground (John 8:2-8) We are living in times when we do a lot of communicating by text messaging:
Today it is undeniable that most people must always have their cell phones with them at all times. We all have become so dependent on modern technology. In short, we have become so devoted to our technology. Technology has its place in our society. In fact, if it were not for technology, you would not be reading this devotion. When I was a teenager (mid 80’s - early 90’s) we could go places and actually enjoy ourselves and others company having a great time while never having to know what was going on someplace else. We have come so far in such a short time. How did we ever make it back in those days? LOL. Often in the Bible we come across the phrase, “And the word of the LORD came unto…” We read this concerning Ezekiel, Jonah, Jehu, Jeremiah and others. These verses speak of the LORD wanting to speak to His people to communicate to them. Imagine that! Think about the times when you read the Bible. What does God speak to you about? Today rather than pursuing your cell phone or email, etc. Make sure to devote some time and seek the Lord and find out what message He has for you. Jesus was very popular. The crowds sought Him out! Everyone wanted to be with Him! Masses of people followed Him for various reasons…meals, miracles, or monarchy. They either wanted to hear Him, ask Him a question, or get Him to heal a loved one. From daylight to dusk Jesus was sought. When the crowd knew He was in town, they found Him. Jesus never had a moment alone unless He made it happen. It is very important that you have time alone with GOD. Jesus loved God and He loved people. He spent time with both. He knew how much time to be with people and how much time to be with God. Question to Consider: What about your "appointment" with God? Do you have a specific time and place you meet God each day? Points to Ponder: When we make appointments in life, we always designate a time and a place to meet. Have a special time daily in God's Word. Prayer, Father in Heaven, I know You desire to spend time with me, and I desire spending time with You. May our time spent together be quality time, free from distractions that I may hear you speak to me. In Jesus name, Amen. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Total Devotion (Luke 21:1-4)
Luke 21:1-4, And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury. 2 And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites. 3 And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all: 4 For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had. Christ gives a good lesson on giving here. This example has many good principles in it for our giving to the Lord. Jesus gives a lesson on how God evaluates giving. A person’s gift is determined not by the amount they give, but by the amount of sacrifice involved in the giving. The rich, at times, give only out of their wealth—making no real sacrifice. The widow’s gift cost her everything. She gave as much as she possibly could. This powerful story describes a woman whose attitude and behavior reflect someone who is very devoted to the Lord and willing to make great sacrifices. The treasury was located in the Court of the Women, one of two outer courts. This was as far as the women could go in the Temple area. Located in the treasury area were thirteen trumpet-shaped receptacles for the offerings from the people. The coins would rattle as they jingled down the wide tube of the trumpet into the chest. Due to Passover week, a large crowd of people were assembled, Jesus quietly observed the rich men putting their gifts into these trumpets. What grabbed Jesus' attention was a poor widow. She may have gone unnoticed by the people in the area because she was very poor. Her poverty was visible. Her clothes were probably ragged, nothing compared to those who were wealthy. Jesus watched her put in two mites. This would be like putting in two pennies in our currency. Haddon Robinson said, “The gold-medal giver in the New Testament turns out to be a woman who contributed less than a nickel”. When this widow gave those two mites, she gave all she had. She emptied her pockets and her hands of all the money she owned. She gave it all. The Lord was not focused on the amount she gave, however, for she gave little in monetary value. He was focused on what she had left, which was nothing. She gave according to the best of her ability. She did the best that she could with what she had. That is what a person does who is totally devoted to the Lord. Even though she was emptied handed, she had treasure in Heaven. Her trust was not in money. Her trust was in God. She literally gave all she had to God. Her spirit was right; it was reaching out to God, saying that all she had belonged to God. Both she and her possessions were the Lord's. God measured what was kept back, not how much was given. The widow had less remaining; the others still had much. The widow had given more of what she had; the others had given less of what they had. The widow had sacrificed more; the others had sacrificed less. A good question to ask at this point is, "How do we get to a point where we are totally devoted to the Lord one-hundred percent?" It was in 1873, in Dublin that D.L. Moody heard British evangelist Henry Varley utter those life changing words: "The world has yet to see what God can do with and for and through and in a man who is fully and wholly consecrated to Him." It was after an all-night prayer meeting in Dublin, at the home of Henry Bewley. Varley did not even remember making the statement when Moody reminded him of it a year later. Moody said, "As I crossed the wide Atlantic, the boards of the deck… were engraved with them, and when I reached Chicago, the very paving stones seemed marked with them." D.L. Moody did great things for Christ because the Lord was the master of His life. Is He yours? Andrew Murray said, "God is ready to assume full responsibility for the life wholly yielded to Him." This principle can be applied to all our service for Jesus. He judges our work and ministry not by its size or influence or success, but by the amount of sincere dedication, sacrifice, faith and love involved. Those who are totally devoted to the Lord are concerned about their future appointment with Jesus at the Judgment Seat of Christ. It is their desire to have the Lord to say to them, "Well done!" They want to please the Lord and do their best for Christ. They desire the reward of the Lord (II Timothy 4:6-8). Points to Ponder: Total devotion means that Jesus Christ is Lord in every area of our lives. Total devotion does not mean perfection, but it does require dedication. Questions to Consider: How would I describe the level of my devotion to the local church where I am a member? If you are not a member of any church, what’s keeping you from making that decision? PRAYER: Father, You demonstrate devotion at a level that always amazes me. You love me when we don’t love You; You pursue me when I run from You. You display devotion with me and remind me that You’re in it with me for even eternity! Thank You for Your devotion with me that makes our commitment to one another possible. In Jesus name, AMEN! If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Serve Jesus? … Do It Now (John 9:4-5)
John 9:4-5, I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. It was Joshua who said in Joshua 24:15, "And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose, land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." Joshua's mind was made up to serve the Lord no matter what anyone else was going to do. Paul encouraged the church at Ephesus to be busy for the Lord, "Redeeming the time, because the days are evil" (Ephesians 5:16). The point is that we should make the most of every opportunity we have—even more because of the evil that infiltrates our culture. Do your best for God and work while there is still time. God used Adoniram Judson because of his commitment to serve the Lord and availability to Him. Adoniram Judson sweated out Burma's heat for 18 years without a furlough. He went six years without a convert. Enduring torture and imprisonment, he admitted that he never saw a ship sail without wanting to jump on board and go home. When his wife's health broke and he put her on a homebound vessel in the knowledge he would not see her for two full years, he confided to his diary: "If we could, I would find some quiet resting place on earth where we could spend the rest of our days in peace..." But then Judson steadied himself with this remarkable postscript: "Life is short. Millions of Burmese are perishing. I am almost the only person on earth who has attained their language to communicate salvation..." Judson was committed to serving the Lord. Perhaps, this is why we are still talking about him today over 170 years after his death. We are not only to serve the Lord, we are to be a spokesman for Him. It’s been said, "The best ability is availability." The best thing we can do is make ourselves available to God for His service, whether it is in our family, our neighborhood, our church, or on foreign soil. We should take advantage of every opportunity we have to minister, serve, and witness for the Lord. We are to make our life a mission for God, not an intermission. The time to serve the Lord is while we can, to live for Him today. Tomorrow may not come for you. Make yourself available to the Lord each day. May we all have Isaiah's attitude, "Here am I Lord, send me." I wonder how many of us trust God enough that when we hear Him simply call our name we can say, “Here am I…whatever You need, You have it…whatever You want, I will do it.” Questions to Consider:
Points to Ponder:
Prayer: Father in Heaven, I don't know who or what will cross my path today, but help me to bring you glory today. Help me to be productive, patient, persistent, and perceptive. Help me to always work with diligence and may I make a lasting impact for Your kingdom. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com In Everything Give Thanks (I Thessalonians 5:18)
Corrie ten Boom, in the Hiding Place, relates an incident that taught her to always be thankful. She and her sister, Betsy, had just been transferred to the worst German prison camp they had seen yet, Ravensbruck. Upon entering the barracks, they found them extremely overcrowded and flea- infested. That morning, their Scripture reading in I Thessalonians had reminded them to rejoice always, pray constantly, and give thanks in all circumstances. Betsy told Corrie to stop and thank the Lord for every detail of their new living quarters. Corrie at first flatly refused to give thanks for the fleas, but Betsy persisted, and Corrie finally succumbed to her pleadings. During the months spent at that camp, they were surprised to find how openly they could hold Bible study and prayer meetings without guard interference. It was not until several months later that they learned the reason the guards would not enter the barracks was because of the fleas. It is God’s will for us to give thanks in everything. Thanks is appreciation or gratitude voiced from our lips and hearts. It is not easy to be thankful in circumstances we do not like, but this is the will of God. Thanks in this context means to be grateful and to express gratitude. This is a difficult command but a divine command. Scripture says to give thanks “in” everything; not “for” everything. It includes good things and bad things, joys and sorrows, gains and losses, hurts and health, good news and bad news. In everything give thanks! At all times, in all circumstances, give thanks to God. We don’t have to be thankful for our trials. But we can’t be thankful in them since we know the Lord is going to use it for our good in the future. Saying “thank you“ should be an everyday occurrence. A grateful heart is shown through grateful lips. A person who is truly thankful cannot help but to express it. Expressing gratitude for all that God has done for us through Christ should be one of the consistent character traits of all Christians (Ephesians 5:20). This kind of gracious attitude will cause the believer to stand out in his or her setting and be a good example for Christ. In our praise to God we are to rejoice always and we are to give thanks in everything. God commands His people to give thanks to Him! We should give God praise, honor, and glory because of what He has given to us. An evergreen is always green despite the changes in weather around it. It is green in the heat of summer as well as the cold of winter. So also our lives are to be characterized by an enduring thankfulness that is unaffected by the changes around us. When the heat of a pressured week or the deadly cold of pain strikes us, we should stand ‘ever green,' always thankful, regardless of that which surrounds us. For Christians there is no situation in which we cannot give thanks. Even in affliction we are more than conquerors as the Spirit of glory and of God rests on us. A life of prayer and devotion leads to a thankful heart. One preacher well said, “We can worship the Lord without words, but we cannot praise Him without words. ” He demands our praise and He deserves our praise. Thirteen years before his conversion, John Wesley had a conversation one night with a porter of his college that impressed Wesley that there was more to Christianity than he had found. The porter had only one coat. He had eaten no food that day and yet his heart was full of gratitude to God. Wesley said to him, “You thank God when you have nothing to wear, nothing to eat, and no bed to lie upon? What else do you thank him for?” “I thank Him,” answered the porter, “that He has given me my life and being, and a heart to love Him, and a desire to serve Him.” Questions to Consider:
Points to Ponder:
PRAYER: Father, Your Word says to always give thanks and to give thanks in everything. Without Your help, that is impossible. Forgive me for all the times that I worry about my situation. In Jesus’ name, Amen. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Learning Contentment (Philippians 4:11)
Philippians 4:11, Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content Paul said, “I have learned”. Lessons on contentment come from going through the best times and the bad times, the prosperous times and the poor times. Content means self-complacent; that is contented. Paul’s contentment was not just in the good times, but in whatever state he was in. No matter if he was in prosperity or famine, mountains or valleys, he was content. Do you want contentment but find it hard to achieve? Be encouraged. Even Paul, an admirable Christ follower, realized being content was something he had to learn. If Paul had to pursue contentment, let’s recognize our need to work on it, too by allowing the Lord to teach us. Contentment encourages true joy in eternal things. As your contentment grows, so does your joy in the eternal. For example, looking forward to digging deep into your Bible and being excited to hear God speak to you. Be Content Where You Are. The story is told about a pilot who always looked down intently on a certain valley in the Appalachians when the plane passed overhead. One day his co-pilot asked, “What’s so interesting about that spot?” The pilot replied, “See that stream? Well, when I was a kid I used to sit down there on a log and fish. Every time an airplane flew over, I would look up and wish I were flying... Now I look down and wish I were fishing.” Learn from those, both the covetous and the content, that the Lord has placed near you. Allow Him to teach you the joy and those who are content and the misery of the covetous. Jesus is calling out to you to a settled place of satisfaction in Him. Be Content with Who You Are. “Don’t be guilty of comparing your accomplishments or performances with those of any other preacher [or person]. To do so is to lessen your own effectiveness and frustrate the grace of God. You are you, and to attempt to become more is to become less.”--Dr. Raymond Barber. Contentment is the skill to remain persistently and purposefully in the presence of the Lord so that He can transform any plan into something significant. When we are content, we find it is the simple things make us happy. Like going for a walk with our spouse or a family member and talking about what’s important and what really matters. That’s a blessing of contentment. Be Content with What You Have. The story is told of a farmer who had lived on the same farm all his life. It was a good farm, but with the passing years, the farmer began to tire of it. He longed for a change—for something "better." Every day he found a new reason for criticizing some feature of the old place. Finally, he decided to sell, and listed the farm with a real estate broker who promptly prepared a sales advertisement. As one might expect, it emphasized all the farm's advantages: ideal location, modern equipment, healthy stock, acres of fertile ground, etc. Before placing the ad in the newspaper, the realtor called the farmer and read the copy to him for his approval. When he had finished, the farmer cried out, "Hold everything! I've changed my mind. I am not going to sell. I've been looking for a place like that all my life." It is always tempting to think that others have it better than we do, and that if we just had “a little more” everything would be fine. But contentment cannot be achieved by increasing possessions. Nothing will ever be enough. In our covetous culture, genuine contentment is rare. The words, “I have enough” runs counter to our culture. Contentment and covetousness cannot coexist, you will live with one or the other. There’s nothing wrong with having money, but there’s something very wrong with money having you. George Elliot said, “The contented man is never poor, the discontented never rich.” We should not allow what we have or do not have to decide if we are content. Paul told Timothy, “And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.” (I Timothy 6:8). Anything above this is an added blessing, not a necessity of life. Often, we are discontent because we have taken for granted all the things God have given to us. “Contentment is realizing that God has already given me everything I need for my present happiness. Contentment is understanding that if I am not satisfied with what I have, I will never be satisfied with what I want.” Bill Gothard. “If you are not satisfied with a little, you will not be satisfied with much.” Sir James Mackintosh Points to Ponder: Covetousness runs rampant in our culture, and contentment is rare. God wants us to improve at this over the course of our lives, day by day. Think of a situation you have faced when you had to make a choice between contentment and covetousness. Questions to Consider: Do you see the blessings of contentment in your life? Do you spend more time thinking about people to influence or things to accumulate? Do you know someone who needs this? Are you willing to share this devotion? PRAYER: Lord, I do have enough because I have You. I have Your promises, Your faithfulness, Your strength, Your presence, and Your wisdom to face whatever happens in my life. I know I can trust You with my burdens. Forgive me for associating my happiness with anything external. Please help me to grow in the grace of contentment, so that I too can learn to be content in any situation. In Jesus name, Amen. If this post has blessed you in any way please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Giving is Greater (Acts 20:35)
Acts 20:33-35, I have coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel. 34 Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me. 35 I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive. In many places in Scripture blessed means happy. However, here the word blessed means supremely blest; fortunate, or well off. In other words, you are better off as the giver than as the receiver. When it comes to the decision of giving or taking, we should choose to give. Takers have a tendency to be selfish or are more prone to fall into temptations. Proverbs 15:27, He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house; but he that hateth gifts shall live. Those in Scripture who were takers, like Achan, Ananias, and Gehazi were all punished. Jesus is our example of giving and we should follow in his steps. The elders knew full well that Paul was not a lazy glutton and a freeloader. He did not come in with a handout! He did not expect the Ephesians to take care of him because he was trusting God to take care of him. He did not covet what others had, but he worked to provide for his needs. Paul reminds them that he has not been paid with gold and silver, or even with clothing, but has provided for his own needs, as well as those who co-labored with him (Acts 18:1-3; Philippians 4:14-16). Paul wasn’t advocating the government welfare system where any and every one expects a government handout! He was not advocating helping those who can and should work to meet their own needs. He didn’t say it is wrong to receive from others, but it is more blessed to give to others. We are to be givers because Jesus Christ is the greatest giver. He gave the ultimate gift, and He is the example of abundant giving. He coveted nothing of this world. He gave all He had to others. He willingly sacrificed His own life for others. God’s Word clearly teaches that He put us on this earth, not to see how much we can get, but to see how much we can give. Receiving is good, but giving is better. Jesus was teaching that a greater happiness is found through giving rather than getting. That principle should guide every disciple. Giving to help the weak is an essential part of worship. Such giving brings a Christian joy. Untold millions of people have this backwards. When we become born again, new creatures in Christ Jesus, our new nature wants to give, but our old nature wants to hang on to what we have. Jesus tells us that it is more blessed to give than it is to receive. He wouldn't have said this if it wasn't true. Four reasons why is it more blessed to give than it is to receive: 1. When we give generously, we put God first ahead of our own selfish interests. By doing this, we are obeying His Word and this obedience will cause Him to bless us. 2. When we give generously, this shows that we trust God. The degree of our giving is a clear sign of our freedom from fear. Freedom from fear is always a blessing. 3. When we give generously, this protects us from the snares of greed and covetousness. Generous giving comes from a humble loving heart. Greed and selfishness originate from a prideful "me first" heart and this obstructs us from the blessings of God. "... for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble” (I Peter 5:5). 4. We are blessed because the more we give to God, the more this opens the channel for Him to see that we receive abundantly in return. If we withhold our giving, we are actually withholding the blessing that our Father wants to give us. The receiving that most people want deep down in their hearts actually comes as a result of our giving. This is one reason why Jesus said that it is more blessed to give than it is to receive because, by our giving, we do receive. When we accept and apply these principles, giving really does become a blessing. Questions to Consider: Who in the Bible are examples of people who gave? How can I be a giver and not a taker? Points to Ponder: We are never more like Jesus than when we are giving. We give of our self and our substance to glorify God, to grow His kingdom, and to give support to the weak. Giving is a heart decision, not an economic decision! Prayer: Lord, I know Your promise of greater rewards in Heaven than those rewards we could ever receive here on earth. Enlarge my heart to give more than I would receive. May I not lose focus of the purpose You have called me to fulfill. Use me to further Your Gospel message for Your glory and to serve those who You place in my path. In Jesus name, Amen. If this post has blessed you in any way please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com God’s Word: Inspirational and Instructional
II Timothy 3:16-17, All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. There are many books in the world today that are based on man's opinion of something. Whether the topic is politics, sports, the weather, self-help, or society, sometimes not everything published in a book is true. But there is one book we can trust. That is the Bible. The Bible was written over a period of 1,500 years with 40 different writers. The Bible is not man’s words but God’s words. Holy men of God wrote as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. Men did not write what they willed, but what the Holy Spirit moved them to write. God directed these men to write the exact words. Illustration: Teacher instructing a student to write word for word what is quoted. (II Peter 1:20-21; II Timothy 3:16). God preserved His Word for us to read, to study, and to live by. “All Scripture” means the whole document. Every word of the Bible was given by God. The phrase “Inspiration of God” means divinely breathed in. The Bible is God’s words to man. We know God's Word is true because it comes from God. In a day when so many things are based on opinion, God's Word is based on truth. All 66 books; 39 in the Old Testament, 27 in the New Testament. Every one of 1,189 chapters. All 41,173 verses and 3,566,480 letters--all Scripture is God-breathed. The greatest verse about Biblical inspiration is also a great verse about Biblical application. II Timothy 3:16-17 not only tells us who gave us the Bible but also why it was given. God breathed out His Word for our benefit. Every part of it is profitable. Waiting in its pages is a wealth of blessings ready to teach, reprove, correct, and train us in righteousness. We call the Bible “God’s Word” because it contains what He wants to say. He speaks into our lives through it. Each verse and every word accomplish at least one of the purposes listed in today’s passage. No matter what our need, God has provided a response in His Word. The four ways it profits us are: 1. The Bible teaches us. The word doctrine means that which is correct and right (core teaching). Whatever we find in Scripture is truth that's worth being taught. Every time we read it, we should be asking, what is God teaching me in this passage? 2. God’s Word reproves us. The word reprove means what is wrong. It is the precision instrument of the Holy Spirit, often stopping us in our tracks through the conviction of sin. When the Lord says “Don’t” in Scripture, He always means, “Don’t hurt yourself.” He graciously reprimands us. 3. God’s Word also corrects us. The word correction means how to get (it) right. A sincere Child of God wants to stay right with the Scriptures. Notice: It is we, NOT the Bible, that needs correcting. The Scriptures never need adding to, correcting nor updating. It not only points out the wrong, it also provides the right response. The Bible straightens out our lives like nothing else. On our own we steer in wrong directions, but God consistently directs us in the way we should go. 4. Scripture trains us in righteousness. The phrase instruction in righteousness speaks of how to keep it right. It is an absolute guide for the lifelong process of discipleship God wants to bring about. We will never outgrow our need for His guidance. Truth, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness are all ways God brings light to our lives by His Word. When we need to see where we are, where we’ve been, and where we’re going, we have a trustworthy source of guidance in the book God wrote. This is the picture described in Psalm 119:105, Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. Note the last phrase in the verse: “. . . That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” All that God has for you in His Word may come to you if you dig into it. But if your Bible remains closed, though the benefits are all there, you have not accessed them. Amazing things can happen when you open your Bible. Read it, study it, meditate on it, apply it, and obey it. The spiritual maturity you long for will never be a reality until you practice regular, careful study of Scripture. Becoming a disciple of Jesus—one who is equipped to carry out the tasks He places before you—will always involve His Word. When you are reading His inspired thoughts, the Lord is breathing into you His truth, loving reproofs, gracious correction, and the guidance you need. Points to Ponder: Doctrine: Teaches us what is right to believe. Reproof: Points out error in our life. Correction: How to correct what is wrong in our life. Instruction in Righteousness: Teaches how to stay right. Questions to Consider: What parts of Scripture do you gravitate to most often? Which ones do you tend to avoid? Since it’s all profitable, how do you think you could benefit by taking time to familiarize yourself with books and chapters of in the Bible you have rarely visited? Prayer, Lord, thank You for breathing out Your Word and using faithful servants to record it for the rest of us. Thank You that I can hold it in my hands, open it at will, and anticipate that the words my eyes fall on are for my benefit, to teach, rebuke, correct, and train me. I desire that every time I read the book You wrote I would delight myself in it. I thank You today, for the precious gift of Your Word. In Jesus’ name, amen. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com King of the Hill (Matthew 27:35-44; Mark 15:25-32; Luke 32-43; John 19:18-27)
As a young boy one of the many games we liked to play at school was “king of the hill”. One thing I need to point out is that this game was very rough and not all boys were willing to play. This game was not for the weak. We would wrestle and scrap as we shoved each other off the top of the mound. By the time one boy stood at the top he was hurled off while others were grappling to take his place. All of this was done because we desired to reign as king. Several boys would play but not all were able to claim kingship. Over 2,000 years ago, on Golgatha's Hill, our Lord and Saviour hung on a cross for our sins. There was only One willing to bleed, suffer and to die for all people. On that day, at Calvary, the True King was crowned King of kings. Satan and his demonic army attempted to prevent His reign, but He arose in victory and forever secured His title. There are no challengers, no rematches and certainly no split decisions, or co-champions. He sits alone on the throne for He is the King of the Mountain! After arriving at Calvary, Jesus was nailed to the cross. Jesus' behavior during the crucifixion was in striking contrast to the way most victims of crucifixion reacted. They would usually beg, fight, curse and even spit at the soldiers and spectators. Luke 23:34 describes Jesus’ reaction to this brutal treatment. Jesus hung on the cross for six hours before He died. Words do not have the power to adequately describe how He suffered. Every nerve and every muscle caused excruciating pain. Besides all of this, even on the cross Jesus faced mockery, ridicule and the temptation to come down from the cross. We are all guilty of sin. That is why Jesus had to shed His Blood for us and die, so He could pay our sin debt. He suffered for us. It is very important that Jesus Christ really did resurrect from death because we live in a world filled with pain, tragedy, conflict, illness and death. With all the questions being asked over and over time and time again. We still have an unquenchable longing to find meaning in all the confusion and chaos that we experience. We all have a strong desire to know the answers to the deep questions in life. Spiritual leaders have come and gone, claiming to answer our deepest questions. When Jesus Christ came, He offered something totally different than all others before Him. He took our sin upon Him. The wages of sin is death. They nailed Him to the cross. And when they did this all sins were nailed to the cross. He took our sins upon Him. Not only did Jesus Christ takes our sins upon the Cross, it enabled Christ to give us His righteousness. It means that Jesus took our sins upon His record and then placed His righteousness upon our record. Prayer: Father, You sent Your only Son to pay for the debt that I owed. Why You did that is hard to comprehend. Jesus Christ did nothing wrong and I can’t seem to stay away from sin! What an amazing gift You have given me! Thank You for bringing me into a relationship with You through Your Son, Jesus Christ. Help me to never forget the debt Christ paid for me. In Jesus’ name, Amen. If this post has blessed you in any way please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com |
AuthorDr. Blackman is passionate about helping others grow in the grace of the Lord. His devotions are centered on how to grow closer to the Lord through a personal relationship with Christ. Archives
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