You are not your own

1 Corinthians 6: 19 – 20 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price.   I’m reflective this morning about life and death. I am considering today, that in life and death I am not my own. If I am who I say I am, I belong only to my faithful Savior and Lord, and no one and nothing else.   His precious blood flowed, and has satisfied all of our sins. He delivered you and me, from the power of darkness and has preserved our soul.   The will of our Heavenly Father friends, is that not even a single hair will fall from our head, that He won’t know about. He assures us eternal life, and makes us willing and ready, to live for Him.   If I ever realized the fullness of the price paid for my soul, I can do nothing else, but live for Him. The Spirit of the living God resides in us. It’s maybe time, we started to live like it………….

Chasing

Ecclesiastes 4: 4

And I saw that all labor and all achievement spring from man's envy of his neighbor. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

 

Things haven’t changed much over the years.

This morning’s verse still has special meaning even today.

It will be played out over and over again, all this week.

 

Our neighbor will get something new, and we often have to have it.

We’ll even work as much overtime as possible, to get it.

 

We’ll forgo worshipping God—or spending time with our spouse and children.

Just to get what our neighbor already has?

We must look pretty foolish sometimes, chasing after the wind.

 

I am determined, that the only thing that my neighbor could ever have, that I would want over everything else…….is Jesus.

How about you?

What are you chasing?

What will you chase today

The Truth will set you free

John 4: 17 – 18

"I have no husband," she replied. Jesus said to her, "You are right when you say you have no husband.

The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true."

 

It doesn’t appear that Jesus was politically correct in any manner.

He asked pretty tough questions, and gave very candid responses.

 

What would happen in the church setting today, if someone were to pose a question like this?

The other person would probably become irritated, and even leave the church.

 

Isn’t the truth supposed to set us free?

Then maybe we should consider being more honest with one another, and stop with this foolish political correctness.

Jesus never beat around the bush.

 

My mother always told me, that honesty was the best policy.

It appears Jesus felt that way too.

 

Are you being honest with other people, or are you more fearful of the implications of honesty?

I don’t think life would be as complicated as it has become, if we were more honest………..

Submit Resist & Flee

James 4: 7

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Don’t we often get this backwards?

We sometimes submit to the devil, and resist the things of God.

Why would we put up such resistance to the One who truly loves us?

And why do we submit, to the one who hates us?

We’re funny people……………..

Strength & Courage

Joshua 1: 7

Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law……………

 

I’ve been studying the Word of God in Joshua as of late.

Moses has just died, and God put Joshua in charge, to lead the people into the Promised Land.

 

Not only did God charge Joshua to be strong and very courageous, but he also wanted him to be observant of the law—all the law!

I don’t know about you, but sometimes it’s easier to be strong, courageous and observant, when friends aren’t dying, ya know?

 

The people Joshua was leading, had been on a 40 year journey.

Maybe there was reason for him to be strong and very courageous?

 

How is your journey of faith going? Do You feel stuck in the middle of nowhere?

Do you need strength? How about courage?

 

Maybe we really do need to go to the One, who is able to do exceedingly and abundantly, all that we ask or think.

Maybe that’s where our strength and courage come from in the first place…………….

What are you neglecting?

Luke 11: 42

"Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God.”

Sometimes in our daily walk of faith, we do all the practical and spiritual things right, but neglect practicing the love of God.

Even the religious elite thought they had it all together—until Jesus exposed their true heart.

If Jesus had to expose your true heart, what would He say you were neglecting?

Before we get all into ourselves, it might be wise to filter our lives before God’s written Word.

In the end, it’s His opinion that matters most.

Summer is a good time for neglect. Some people don’t even need summer as an excuse.

We don’t seem to neglect entertaining ourselves in the summer—but often neglect the true things of God.

What needs to change in your life?

What’s on the back burn spiritually speaking, that needs attention today?

Ask God to show you, but be very careful what you ask for.

Don’t be taken back, by what He reveals, that’s in the neglect category…………….

and when you fast!

Matthew 4: 2

After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.

There has been a group of folks praying and fasting as of late in our church.

The cause is certainly worth the investment, and sacrifice.

It has been said that prayer is preparation for the battle.

I don’t agree—prayer is a battle!

All that we can do to enhance the power of prayer, fasting is certainly the most potent.

Fasting humbles the flesh, and when we do it for that purpose, it pleases the Spirit of the living God.

Jesus said in Matthew 6: 16………… “and when you fast….”

He didn’t say…. “and if you fast……….”

A true disciple will fast!

Jesus fasted for 40 days and 40 nights. To say He was hungry, was probably a huge understatement.

Who wouldn’t want to pray and fast, to someone as powerful and disciplined as Jesus?