Scripture:
The real believers are the ones the Spirit of God leads to work away at this ministry, filling the air with Christ's praise as we do it. Phil. 3:3 (Msg.)
Observation:
Paul is talking to the Philippians about the religious leaders of the day, about their focus on credentials and circumcision. Ironically, Paul meets all of their requirements yet he rejects righteousness on their terms and explains that true believers can be recognized not by their pedigree or diplomas but by the way they work for the kingdom and the praise with which their work is characterized.
Application:
The question is obvious: would I rank among believers according to Paul's standards? I certainly bring no merit through pedigree or education and I sincerely "work away at this ministry." The sticking point then is whether or not my life is characterized by worship. I love the way the Message phrases it, "filling the air with Christ's praise as we do it."
Prayer:
Father, I serve an awesome God. I know that full-well. Forgive me for allowing my life to be characterized by things other than praise, for being wrapped up in fairness or hurt, in pride or selfishness, in self-pity or anger. They are all antithetical to what you desire to see in my life. Today I choose to worship you. Help me to choose it again tomorrow and the day after that, and the day after that. Thank you for being willing to meet me where I am at--to take my humble desire to please you and then to come along side and make it possible for me to let go of my pettiness in order to grasp the greatness you have in mind. I choose today to worship you. Amen.
Thursday June 12, 2008 by Keith
Title: You're too old!
Scripture: 1 Kings 12:8 and 2 Chronicles 11:8
8 But Rehoboam rejected the advice the elders gave him and consulted the young men who had grown up with him and were serving him.
Observation:
It seems like the older I get the more I understand how much I don’t know… and how much those who are older than me know. It is amazing what life experiences and time can do.
Rehoboam found himself in a predicament. He needed advice and he needed it fast! He sought both the advise of elders and also of his peers. Unfortunately he chose the latter.
Reheoboam lacked wisdom to discern that the elders had probably been through a lot more than he had, and his peers probably had no experience in such a prominent position of authority.
Why did Reheoboam reject the elders advice? Maybe it didn’t match up with his ego? Maybe it didn’t allow him to look very strong in his friends eyes?
That mistake proved to be a tragic one. For himself and many others.
Application:
I can’t help but think of my own life when I read these stories. Although I’m not King, nor do I have 18 wives and 60 concubines. I have been placed in a position of authority and influence.
So, who do I seek for advice. Who are my elders?
How can I avoid the arrogance and pitfalls of kings like Reheoboam?
Paul, as an elder poured into young men like Timothy. May I head his words to the Philippians in chapter 2:3 “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.
Prayer:
Lord, grant me wisdom to do what you desire. Thank you for elders who have experienced far more than I have. Would you remind me, convict me, and challenge me to pursue their advice? Forgive me for my youthful arrogance. May I learn from my mistakes and become an elder to those younger than I. Than you for your Word. May you be glorified in my life today. Amen and so be it!
Scripture: 1 Kings 12:8 and 2 Chronicles 11:8
8 But Rehoboam rejected the advice the elders gave him and consulted the young men who had grown up with him and were serving him.
Observation:
It seems like the older I get the more I understand how much I don’t know… and how much those who are older than me know. It is amazing what life experiences and time can do.
Rehoboam found himself in a predicament. He needed advice and he needed it fast! He sought both the advise of elders and also of his peers. Unfortunately he chose the latter.
Reheoboam lacked wisdom to discern that the elders had probably been through a lot more than he had, and his peers probably had no experience in such a prominent position of authority.
Why did Reheoboam reject the elders advice? Maybe it didn’t match up with his ego? Maybe it didn’t allow him to look very strong in his friends eyes?
That mistake proved to be a tragic one. For himself and many others.
Application:
I can’t help but think of my own life when I read these stories. Although I’m not King, nor do I have 18 wives and 60 concubines. I have been placed in a position of authority and influence.
So, who do I seek for advice. Who are my elders?
How can I avoid the arrogance and pitfalls of kings like Reheoboam?
Paul, as an elder poured into young men like Timothy. May I head his words to the Philippians in chapter 2:3 “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.
Prayer:
Lord, grant me wisdom to do what you desire. Thank you for elders who have experienced far more than I have. Would you remind me, convict me, and challenge me to pursue their advice? Forgive me for my youthful arrogance. May I learn from my mistakes and become an elder to those younger than I. Than you for your Word. May you be glorified in my life today. Amen and so be it!
Tuesday, June 10, 2008 by Bob
TITLE: His Strength, Not Mine.
SCRIPTURE: Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Eph 6:10
OBSERVATION: The apostle Paul’s parting message through his letter to the Ephesians is an admonishment; to be strong in the Lord, through his mighty power. Paul goes on to reveal that our strength in God is needed to fight off the powers of the spiritual realm, an enemy that we cannot see, but is nevertheless cunning and crafty in its ability to corrupt and destroy us. In fact Paul is implying that we cannot resist this evil power on our own, but need God’s strength to do battle against these evil forces.
APPLICATION: We can all look back at our lives and see those times when we used our own strength and wisdom to make life’s choices, which resulted in failures, poor decisions, and painful consequences. We may not have realized it at the time, but the devil’s evil forces were behind many of our failures. But in all this we can now see as we read the truth in God’s Word. We have the opportunity and responsibility to clothe ourselves with the armor of God to defend against those evil forces. All we need to do is make the decision and take action to build up our spiritual armor to resist the temptations of Satan. All God’s armor is there on the table. All we need to do is put it on.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I think you for your unconditional love. Lord, you desire nothing less then to love and protect us in this life so we can enjoy your glory in our next life. Help me to commit and follow through to clothe myself with your spiritual armor to fight off the deceptions and temptations of Satan. Thank you Lord for your strength and protection.
SCRIPTURE: Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Eph 6:10
OBSERVATION: The apostle Paul’s parting message through his letter to the Ephesians is an admonishment; to be strong in the Lord, through his mighty power. Paul goes on to reveal that our strength in God is needed to fight off the powers of the spiritual realm, an enemy that we cannot see, but is nevertheless cunning and crafty in its ability to corrupt and destroy us. In fact Paul is implying that we cannot resist this evil power on our own, but need God’s strength to do battle against these evil forces.
APPLICATION: We can all look back at our lives and see those times when we used our own strength and wisdom to make life’s choices, which resulted in failures, poor decisions, and painful consequences. We may not have realized it at the time, but the devil’s evil forces were behind many of our failures. But in all this we can now see as we read the truth in God’s Word. We have the opportunity and responsibility to clothe ourselves with the armor of God to defend against those evil forces. All we need to do is make the decision and take action to build up our spiritual armor to resist the temptations of Satan. All God’s armor is there on the table. All we need to do is put it on.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I think you for your unconditional love. Lord, you desire nothing less then to love and protect us in this life so we can enjoy your glory in our next life. Help me to commit and follow through to clothe myself with your spiritual armor to fight off the deceptions and temptations of Satan. Thank you Lord for your strength and protection.
Monday, June 9th, 2008 by Randy
TITLE:
Careful, Wise Living!
SCRIPTURE:
“Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” Ephesians 5:15-16 (NIV)
OBSERVATION:
Paul urges believers to be “very careful how they live.” This literally means “to see, to look at” every choice that’s made. Paul is saying that, as Christians, our way of living needs to be scrutinized. How do we do that? Paul writes that careful living can only be lived with godly wisdom—“Not as unwise, but wise.” I always come back to this definition of wisdom. It is seeing things from God’s point of view. The psalmist said that we are to “number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom” Psalm 90:12. Paul knew that we only have so long here on earth. Let’s live each day wisely. Let’s make our life count! That why he expresses such a sense of urgency to make “the most of every opportunity.” He says that we need to do that “because the days are evil.” The word evil could be translated “worthless.” I love Paul’s perspective, in the the midst of things going wrong and what seems, at times, worthless, we should make the most of every chance we get!
APPLICATION:
Today’s verses contrasts my journaling the other day where Solomon’s warned, “The fool folds his hands and ruins himself.” Ecclesiastes 4:5. There is a huge difference between the fool and the wise. The fool gives up. The wise makes the most of every situation. Unfortunately there are times I’ve played the fool, by thinking about “folding my hands” and throwing in the towel. That’s when God comes along side me, just like this morning and tells me that I need to be careful and live wisely. The fact is, the very things that appear discouraging and even “evil” are opportunities I need to "be careful and wise" and not give up! As a Christ-follower, I’m not free to do whatever I want. He wants me to seek his wisdom and act in such a way that he receives all the glory and honor, even today!
PRAYER:
Father, thank you for reminding me not to give up, but to make the most of every opportunity. Thank you that you are such a faithful God. Thank you that you never give up on me. Help me to live a careful, wise life that pleases you! AMEN.
Careful, Wise Living!
SCRIPTURE:
“Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” Ephesians 5:15-16 (NIV)
OBSERVATION:
Paul urges believers to be “very careful how they live.” This literally means “to see, to look at” every choice that’s made. Paul is saying that, as Christians, our way of living needs to be scrutinized. How do we do that? Paul writes that careful living can only be lived with godly wisdom—“Not as unwise, but wise.” I always come back to this definition of wisdom. It is seeing things from God’s point of view. The psalmist said that we are to “number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom” Psalm 90:12. Paul knew that we only have so long here on earth. Let’s live each day wisely. Let’s make our life count! That why he expresses such a sense of urgency to make “the most of every opportunity.” He says that we need to do that “because the days are evil.” The word evil could be translated “worthless.” I love Paul’s perspective, in the the midst of things going wrong and what seems, at times, worthless, we should make the most of every chance we get!
APPLICATION:
Today’s verses contrasts my journaling the other day where Solomon’s warned, “The fool folds his hands and ruins himself.” Ecclesiastes 4:5. There is a huge difference between the fool and the wise. The fool gives up. The wise makes the most of every situation. Unfortunately there are times I’ve played the fool, by thinking about “folding my hands” and throwing in the towel. That’s when God comes along side me, just like this morning and tells me that I need to be careful and live wisely. The fact is, the very things that appear discouraging and even “evil” are opportunities I need to "be careful and wise" and not give up! As a Christ-follower, I’m not free to do whatever I want. He wants me to seek his wisdom and act in such a way that he receives all the glory and honor, even today!
PRAYER:
Father, thank you for reminding me not to give up, but to make the most of every opportunity. Thank you that you are such a faithful God. Thank you that you never give up on me. Help me to live a careful, wise life that pleases you! AMEN.
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