Remember…

1 Cor 6 Do you not know?

Child rearing is not a once time but it is an over and over recalling past conversations. As a parent we instruct our children with what is right so when they sin, we ask them did you not know what the consequences would be? As a former teacher, that was the same conversation I had with the children under my care. Both our own children and the children under our care often are brought to shame. Yes, they did recall the conversation but in the heat of the moment, they forgot. How true it is for even adult believers as Paul points out and so he asks this question six times: Do you not know? You can almost listen in on that conversation and see the shame of the listener. As the wise teacher of this Corinthian flock, Paul uses that question to bring back the memory of their first conversation and his teaching. So he reminds them of the consequences that lay before them because they “forgot” what he had taught them. 

This is a wise chapter for us to read and reread as we need that reminder and that question. In the heat of the moment, where are our thoughts, on self or Christ? Did you not know what you have been taught? Have you forgotten so quickly what we talked about? Review this verse over and over so you remember this counsel: “For you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God with your body.” [1 Cor 6:20] 

Free at Last!

Rom 8:1 no more condemnation

Romans 8 NO Condemnation

Satan is our adversary and as it says, his one motivation is to find or seeks to kill and destroy. He uses many means to keep us from being at peace and his tool is to remind us and to rehearse in our minds our past sins. Yet, as Paul writes, we have powerful advocates in the Holy Spirit and Jesus who are our intercessors in these times. Their prayers and words to the Father assure us of this: we are forgiven, sealed and prepared for the kingdom’s work both here and in the future. The older I get, the more I appreciate vs 1: there is therefore no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus. Secondly, when I can’t pray for one reason or another, the Holy Spirit knows the problem and He intercedes for me to the Father. His words are far more eloquent than mine. They reach the deepest hurt and the deepest thoughts of my heart. 

Amen and amen! Not condemned but free! 

Psalm 86: A Prayer of David

Psalm 86 Who I am & Who God is

King David is the author of this psalm; it is his prayer to God. David reflects on who he is: a servant of the Most High God. Then he reflects on who God is by extolling His character: ‘For You are great and do wondrous deeds; You alone are God.” Thus, David understands and speaks of the relationship between he and God. David is the servant ready to do God’s bidding and God in turn reveals that as Romans 1:20 says: His invisible attributes. How beautiful are the feet that bring the good news of the gospel message to those who do not know Him. 

How do you see yourself? Do you see that you are a servant? Or do you see yourself as one who seeks to be served? Jesus said He was a servant who is dressed and ready to meet the needs of His Father, the Holy God of Israel. 

How to face spiritual warfare

Praise the Lord

Ps 75 Words and Songs of Praise

The news today is the assassination of a prominent Hamas leader in Iran and now the call has gone out to slay Israel. This is not new for in the past the enemies of Israel have sought to destroy her. The warning is clear; the enemies of Israel hate her and Satan is angry and seeks her destruction but listen to the words of the psalmist as he prays: “Do not be proud,” and to the wicked, “Do not be so confident of victory,  Do not be so certain you have won. Do not speak with your head held so high. For victory does not come from the east or west, or from the wilderness. For God is the judge. He brings one down and exalts another.” [Ps 75:4-8]

Today we face the onslaught of  Satan who hates all who call upon the God of the universe. We, who are the beloved, are hated and the wicked seek our destruction and it comes with words and actions. So how do we prepare for these war mongering words and actions? We do as the psalmist did: “As for me, I will continually tell what you have done; I will sing praises to the God of Jacob.” [Ps 75:9]

What words are you telling others about the God we serve? What song of praise are you singing today? 

Be Impartial

Open the eyes of my heart Lord

James 2 See with Jesus Eyes 

When I grew up, I was faced with prejudice and all its faults. I was forbidden to have interactions with those of another race and another ethnic background. I found it hard to understand but found that little by little those factors crept into my thinking. So, when God saw that He sent me three people to change that perspective, and I praise God for that. No longer do I see with my human eyes the differences but now pray for God to show me His love for each one regardless of their background or ethnicity. James seems to have faced this head on in the church in Jerusalem where there were both the poor who had come to Christ and the wealthy who had come to Christ. Yet, both carried the baggage of their former life into the church and so it is with us; sadly. 

James reminds the reader to look at this situation through the eyes of God. He accepted Rahab who had no lineage to the Israelites, yet it was to her that He revealed Himself and she called him “El Roi,” the God who sees me. He also accepted Abraham, the father of the Israelite nation. To both He is saying; “But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.” [James 2:9] Beloved, this should not be! Christ died for all and all should be accepted equally.  

The question before us is this: are we looking with our heart or with our mind? Are we evaluating each through the heart of God? Do we select to whom we will offer the cup of cold water? Jesus ministered to all no matter their social background or lineage. How about us?  

Trials and Temptations

James 1 Instructional Manual

Just as the OT book of Proverbs offers us the way to wisdom; James in the NT follows that pattern, but James refers to his readers as brothers or beloved brethren. Thus this might be an instructional manual for the body of the church and even more so for individuals in the church. As the writer, James offers wise counsel for situations the reader might encounter as he/she moves from one city to another and no longer have contact with the Mother church due to persecution. Perhaps in their new environment,  they had come across situations where they needed counsel and wisdom to handle them.  James becomes their instructor for he has walked and talked and lived with our Master Jesus. As we read this letter, it would be good to picture yourself sitting at the feet of Jesus and listening to his sermons, taking notes and then carrying that wisdom to others who have also left Jerusalem’s Mother church. 

Firstly, James begins with a wake up call: count it all joy when you fall into various trials for these are given to test your faith and strengthen your patience. Is this how you face challenges in life? This is not to say James meant to shout hallelujah but rather, they are/we are to see these as times to model Jesus. 

Secondly, James then notes that we will face both believers who have little and those who have much, materially speaking. He wisely counsels them to see how God uses both for the benefit of others. 

Thirdly, then James goes back to his first point; trials and temptations. If you endure them God, the Father of lights, will bless you. One way to handle them is to be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to wrath or becoming angry. Take time to be quiet before God so you can hear Him speak. 

Perhaps we have not had to leave our mother church or our home, but no matter where we find ourselves, we are to see this as God’s step by step manual titled: how to be mature in any situation. Stop and ask how are you doing in the maturity department? 

Thinking and pondering

Psalm 94 Pondering God’s Plan 

As we watch the decay of our nation we need to remember this verse: “For justice will prevail.” [Ps 94:7] One day God will end this depravity and this hate and anger. One day His people will be vindicated and the Lord Jesus will reign from on high. We sit and wonder when all evil will be suppressed, but in the meantime we need this reminder: “When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, Your consolations delight my soul.” [Ps 94:19] 

That is one thing I need to remember when I am anxious, when I see evil and find no solution. It is in his presence that I find peace and although evil continues unabated and I often find myself wondering if there is any good in this life. Truly God is sovereign and in control. He sits in heaven and sees all that man has done and will do, but in the end they and we must stand before Him and then His glory will be before them and us. 

Today ponder this; God, You are holy and should be worshiped. Leave the evil behind and concentrate on what is good just as Paul reminded the early church: “Keep thinking about things above, not things on the earth,” [Col 2:3] 

Practical Advice

Hebrews 13 The author of Hebrews writes to his audience that all things they consider doing should be done practically. Each piece of advice is given to encourage and bolster their walk with Christ. The first piece of advice is to live with the brethren in love. That is one reason Christ came, to teach us how to love one another and here the Hebrews author closes his epistle reminding them to love one another. Secondly, to them he said: do not neglect hospitality for you may not realize it but you may inadvertently share out of your meagerness with an angelic figure without realizing it. 

Again the Hebrews author reminds us: Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls and will give an account for their work. Let them do this with joy and not with complaints, for this would be no advantage for you. 

The author reminds them to pray for them. Pray in the morning, pray at noon and pray again in the evening. Prayer will be the sustaining factor to succeed in their work.

This chapter would be a good one to read every day for the advice is wise to help us live scripturally to honor Christ. 

How to pray when evil reigns

Prayer

Psalm 58-59 Daily the news reveals to us how untrustworthy are our leaders. The sham trials and words reverberate across the airwaves and believers, like the ones of old, cry out how long Lord? How long will you be patient over the sin of men? King David had the authority to disarm and judge the evil doers yet he patiently waited on God to do the judging; how about us? 

As David waited he wrote Ps 59:5 “You, O Lord God of hosts, the God of Israel, 
Awake to punish all the nations; Do not be gracious to any who are treacherous in iniquity. Selah.”  Is this our prayer today as we read the news and live amongst those who know not the Lord? Are we leaving the punishment of evil to God or are we taking it upon ourselves to judge and punish? This does not just equate to our governmental officials, it also speaks to our families, our churches, and our neighbors. 

How patient are we to wait upon God? How busy are we to tell the good news so that those who know not God understand and believe so they would not have to face God’s wrath? Today, pray and then act. 

Spiritual warfare

Stay alert

Ps 56 and 57 I don’t know about you but I have experienced true spiritual warfare and it seems like the Psalmist has as well. He takes pen to paper and records what this is like. Listen to his words which graphically describes what this is like when you are in the throes of the battle. One author wondered if Daniel had remembered these words while he lay amongst the lions. 

I am surrounded by lions;

I lie down among those who want to devour me,

men whose teeth are spears and arrows,

whose tongues are sharp swords.

Sometimes that is how I feel when I am in the midst of the words and actions of Satan who seeks to kill and destroy. His words to me are like those spears and arrows but my God is greater. The psalmist asked what can men do to me? The Hebrews author noted this as well: “so that we confidently say, “The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What will man do to me?” [Heb 13:6] This is how we face those battles. 

O Exalted One, come alongside each of us who are your children today and be our sword to wield against our foes. 

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