Humble and Gentle!

Ephesians 4: 2

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.

I wonder how many people in the church, have this verse down pat?

I sure wished that I did.

Every person that comes into the church, has their own set of flaws and weaknesses.

We even pick up a few more, as we spend time in the midst of God’s family.

My wife knows me more than anyone, and despite my frailty, she is patient and gentle.

Marriage seems to be the best place for two imperfect people to come together.

Church life is too.

It’s the best place to find acceptance and ongoing forgiveness.

It’s also a good place to find the courage to grow out of the things that keep us from love.

Maybe we need to pray that these precious fruits will create an environment for Godly change.

When I meet people who need counsel in their marriage, I often ask them to make a list of the things they like best about their mate.

It sure seems easier to make a list of the faults.

Maybe that would work in the church?

Maybe we should pick the people we like the least, and make a list of the things we like the best about them.

Maybe in the place of complete humility, we can form gentleness, and patience and love…

A Testimony!

Acts 14: 17

Yet he has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons…

I counseled a young couple on Wednesday night, that are contemplating marriage.

I was honest, and told them that the number one disagreement among married couples, is the almighty dollar.

Most spouses are not on the same page when it comes to money.

Only when we come to know the One who is the great provider, will we formulate a better understanding of finances.

How often do you at the end of the month, give God the glory for His never ending provision?

How about the clunky car, that lasted beyond what you expected?

Most people now days, live paycheck to paycheck.

What if we lived as though the only One providing that paycheck, was God?

I’d be willing to bet our money would stretch farther, if we allowed Him to control our purse strings.

What are some of the ways, that God met your needs even yesterday?

If we stopped and wrote them down, one day they might be a glowing testimony of God’s faithfulness.

I sure love the freedom I have today, since I acknowledge God as my provider.

Give Him thanks today, for the seasons of abundance, and for the lessons you learned when you lacked…

No excuse!

Romans 1: 20     (NLT)

From the time the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky and all that God made.

They can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse whatsoever for not knowing God.

Atheists say that there isn’t enough evidence, to suggest that there is a God.

I just looked outside at all the puffy clouds yesterday in the blue sky, and there’s evidence enough for me, to prove the God of the Bible.

Paul’s claim to the church at Rome, was… “There’s no excuse for not knowing God!”

How well would you say you know the God of the Bible?

Anytime we get a real taste of God, and don’t look to explore Him more deeply, we are rejecting His invitation.

I asked people in church last Sunday, how many needed prayer, and many responded.

I’m a little surprised though, that more folks didn’t take the opportunity on the invite to come and pray, when they responded that they needed prayer?

The glimpses we get of God at work, and the still smallness of His voice, are the opening opportunities for a conversation, with the God of the Bible.

Do your kids know how to talk to God? I mean, really talk to God?

We can choose to engage Him, or not.

When we don’t, we are mostly settling for our spiritual status quo.

When we seek to explore Him though, He shows us more of Himself, and His wonderful, desirable qualities.

Whenever you sense Him today, let it lead you in a direction, that leads to Him—and don’t make any excuses… 

Rich Grace!

Hebrews 12:19

See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up…

In the course of everyday ministry, I meet people so often, who have been beaten up by life.

Whether it’s alcohol, drug addiction, sexual assault, these and many other painful areas of life, often take their toll.

I find that these issues harden the people who’ve had to walk through them.

I mean, who wouldn’t be hardened?

Bitterness can keep people from learning about the grace of God.

I met a man even last week, that ordered me out of his hospital room.

My prayer is that one day soon, he gets connected with the grace of God.

God’s grace is rich and free and so wonderful to experience.

Have you ever experienced God’s rich grace?

I truly hope that you have.

God can set the vilest sinner free, and how do I know that—well He did that for me.

With all the bad things that can happen in life, it can all be washed away, by the powerful grace of God.

It can even dispose of the root of bitterness.

Talk about freedom…

Suffer!

1 Peter 3: 17

It is better, if it is God's will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.

The more I see the world around us changing, the more I know that people will one day suffer, for doing what is right.

I golfed the other day with 3 other godly men, and each of them hear the footsteps of the return of Christ.

It also appears that good Christian people, are being drawn away by evil enticement.

That’s certainly the case with the teen age generation of today.

Friends, are you teaching your kids to do what’s right, despite the end result?

Jesus is the consummate example, of doing right, and then suffering for it.

It is easy to be swayed by culture, and in the end, do what’s evil.

It is actually better to suffer for doing good.

I know a young person who recently stood up to a friend, and told them about the evil in their life.

I might just cost that person that friendship, but it also might sway they’re friend, to making a change one day.

I wonder how many people in the church today, look forward to suffering for doing what’s right?

Jesus said that when we decide to follow Him, we should be prepared to take up our cross—an instrument of torture.

Maybe if a large enough group of people, would actually suffering for doing right, we might enact a huge change of culture—just maybe… 

Who are you pleasing?

1 Thessalonians 2: 4

On the contrary, we speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts.

I wonder if most followers of Jesus, are really trying to please God, or men?

God pleasers will have a number of attacks from men taking place in their lives.

Our aim in life, should be that Christ is magnified in every area of lives.

We are to display His truth and His power.

When we do that, there will be opposition—make no mistake about that.

Is there anyone opposing you these days? You may want to prayerfully consider who you’re trying to please.

Is Jesus really honored, by the way people see us live?

If that was our constant motive, I’m convinced more people would come to us, to have us explain salvation.

This is a good reminder, from an old saint of the faith, C.S. Lewis…

“It is since Christians have largely ceased to think of the other world, that they have become so ineffective in this.”

What world are you focused in on?

Are you trying to please men, or God?

One day there will be a test

Resilient Faith!

Psalm 71: 20

You who have shown me many troubles, and distresses will revive me again, and will bring me up again from the depths of the earth.

I’m sure most of you are just like me.

You get constant reports of people going through various kinds of troubles.

Death of loved ones and pets—wayward children—troubled marriages—sickness and health issues.

There are times that when prayer requests come my way, I’m not even sure how to pray.

I know of a local family, who had five loved one’s die tragically.

Etched on each tomb stone are the words… "We cannot, Lord, Thy purpose see, but all is well that's done by Thee."

How did this family respond to the toughest times of life?

They had a resilient faith in God.

Is that where you are today?

Are you confident in a God who promises revival?

Maybe you need to do something about your weak faith.

From the depths of the earth—God brings us up again from troubled times.

Stop and pray to God this morning, for the grace to get you through your personal trouble.

Maybe then you’ll be able to pray those words etched on those tombstones