Trust God to Do Great Things

In Matthew 19:26 I read, “Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.’” (NIV)

Everything is possible with God. “Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible’” (Matthew 19:26 NIV). Jesus said, “According to your faith let it be done to you” (Matthew 9:29 NIV).

God wants to use me. He wants to bless me. He wants to do amazing things in my life. He wants me to be a world changer. But he’s waiting for me to trust him.

So stop saying, “I can’t.” “I can’t do what God wants me to do.” “I can’t love those who are different from me.” Those are lies! All things are possible with God.

Ephesians 3:20 says, “Now glory be to God, who by his mighty power at work within us is able to do far more than we would ever dare to ask or even dream of—infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, or hopes” (TLB).

I have enormous potential, far beyond what I ever imagined. God wants to use me, and according to my faith it will be done.

The greatest opposition to my faith is not others. Not the critics. Not even the enemy. It’s my own unbelief.

I have a choice. I can choose to believe in God, or not. I can choose to trust in God,  or not. There are many things I don’t have control over. But I can choose to have faith in God. If I want God to do big things in my life? Then start believing.

In summary, Jesus said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Everything is possible with God. Jesus also said, “According to your faith let it be done to you.” God wants to use and bless me. He wants to do amazing things in my life. He wants me to be a world changer. But he’s waiting for me to trust him. Stop saying and thinking, “I can’t.” For all things are possible with God. I have enormous potential, far beyond what I ever imagined. God wants to use me, and according to my faith it will be done. The greatest opposition to my faith is not others. Not the critics. Not even the enemy. It’s my own unbelief. I have a choice. I can choose to believe in God, or not. I can choose to trust in God, or not. There are many things I don’t have control over. But I can choose to have faith in God. 

Father, thank you for Your Word and Jesus as my savior and example. You want me and I need you in my life. Please give me Your strength for today and remind me in little ways that I can always believe in, have faith in and can trust you in everything. This includes being the authority for my life, the source of my self-worth and my hope for the future. You have my best interests in mind. So I ask you to help me to embrace the way you’ve made me; my gifting and passions. Help me to serve and fulfill the mission you have in mind for me. 

Father, with you everything is possible. Even the rich can enter the Kingdom if you bring them in. Faith in Christ, not in self or riches, is what counts. I need to be sure that I’m counting on your and not what I have for my salvation and my future. 

I ask for wisdom and guidance for my day, my work, my leadership, my interactions with others, doing well and making a difference in my new job.  I pray these things through you Son Jesus’ name, Amen.

Moving from Spiritual Milk to Maturity

In review of John 13:17 I read, “Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.” (NIV)

Jesus didn't wash his disciples' feet just to get them to be nice to each other. His far greater goal was to extend his mission on earth after he was gone. These men were to move into the world serving God, serving each other, and serving all to whom they took the message of salvation.

D. L. Moody was a great evangelist and Christian educator in the late 19th century. He used to say, “The Bible was not given to increase our knowledge, but to change our lives.”

I can receive God’s Word with an open heart. I can memorize it. I can meditate on it. And once I finish those things, I’ll have loads of Bible knowledge. But the ultimate goal is for God to use the Bible to change my life.

Jesus told his followers: “Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them” (John 13:17 NIV).

The book of Hebrews has strong words for people who don’t apply the Bible’s principles: “We have much to say about this, but it is hard to make it clear to you because you no longer try to understand. In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness” (Hebrews 5:11-13 NIV).

This morning I should consider if I am consistently applying the Bible truths I have learned? Or am I still learning the basics?

Hebrews goes on to say: “But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil. Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity” (Hebrews 5:14–6:1 NIV).

To move on to maturity, It’s not by constant Bible study or constant conference-going. I become mature by intentionally and constantly applying what I’m learning in Scripture. I have to put my knowledge into practice.

If I have been practicing what I’ve learned, then it’s time for me to start teaching others. Teaching is one of the fastest ways to grow in spiritual maturity. God doesn’t need me to be a perfect teacher; he just needs me to be available to him.

I’m challenged to make three commitments today:

. Continuing a regular program of Bible intake by reading it, studying it, memorizing it, and meditating on it.

. Accepting God’s Word as the final authority in my life and starting to do what it says.

. Join a small group Bible study where I can learn and teach.

If I do these things, I’ll see Jesus’ promise in John 13:17 becoming true for me:

In summary, now that I know these things, I will be blessed if I do them. I am to move into the world serving; God, others and those who I take the message of salvation to. The ultimate goal is for God to use his Word to change my life. I become mature by intentionally and constantly applying what I'm learning. I put my knowledge into practice. It's also time to start teaching others. If I do these things, Jesus' promises will become true for me.

Father, I pray this morning that with your help, to continue to grow in maturity through knowing, applying and teaching your Word. I do accept your Word as the ultimate truth for my life. I also pray for wisdom and guidance for my day, my tasks, my leadership and my interaction with others. I pray these things through your Son Jesus name, Amen.

Letting God’s Word Change Me

In review of James 1:22 it says,“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” (NIV)

While it's important to listen to what God's Word says, it is much more important to obey it and do what it says. I can measure the effectiveness of my quiet times by looking at its effect on my behavior and attitudes.

With my Bible, I can mark it up, underline key passages and even memorize passages or verses. If I never practice what I’m taught, it won’t change me.  

The book of James says, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says” (James 1:22 NIV).

To receive the blessings of the Bible, I have to respond to it and let it change me.

Here are some questions I can ask myself as I read a passage of Scripture:

1). Does this show me a sin I need to confess or an attitude I need to change?

2). Does God give me a command to obey or an example to follow?

3). Is there a prayer in this passage of Scripture that I can pray for myself or for other people?

As I put these questions into practice, I’ll soon find that I’m not the same person.

There’s a translation of the Bible called The Living Bible. That’s what each of us should be, a living Bible. The best translation of Scripture is when I translate it into my life and let it change me.

In summary, do not merely listen to the Word, do what it says. It is much more important to obey what's in it, and do what it says. If I never practice what I'm taught, It won't change me. To receive the blessings contained in it, I have to respond to it and let it change me. As I get into the Word, consider if it shows me a sin I need to confess or an attitude to change? Is there a command to obey or an example to follow? Is there a prayer that I can pray for myself or for others? I need to let God's Word translate into my life and allow it to change me. 

Father I know there are times when I quickly go through your Word and even write about it in my journal. I pray that you help me to really be serious about what I read and study. Allow your Word to transform my thinking and my attitude. I ask for wisdom and guidance for my day, my work, my leadership and my interactions with others. I pray these things through your Son Jesus name, Amen.

What to Do with Biblical Truth

In review of Colossians 1:23 it says, “You must continue to believe this truth and stand firmly in it. Don’t drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the Good News.”

Bottom Line:

Continue to believe this truth and be faithful on a firm and sure foundation. Never allow yourselves to be shaken from the hope you have gained when you heard the gospel.

What this means to me:

I am to Continue to believe in and stand firmly on this truth. It provides a firm and sure foundation. I should not allow myself to ever be shaken from the hope that I know (Jesus died for me.)

In discovering the truth in God’s Word, there are four things I need to be sure that I do:

1. Believe it. Colossians 1:23 says, “You must continue to believe this truth and stand firmly in it. Don’t drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the Good News” (NLT). The Bible tells me to believe the truth and stand firmly in it.

2. Do what it says. Truth is not just an intellectual exercise. It’s something I do. I practice, apply, live and obey it. I am to start doing what I already know. The Bible says in Philippians 3:16, “We must hold on to the progress we have already made.”        

3. Stand for it. The Bible says that I “must always stand for the truth” (2 Corinthians 13:8). I should never be ashamed in a postmodern world that says it doesn’t really matter. I am to stand for truth. The Bible tells me my responsibility is to never oppose the truth but to stand for it at all times. I need to be a person of truth in this relativistic age.

4. Spread it. 3 John 1:8 says I “must support believers who go on trips like this so that we can work together with them in spreading the truth” (GW). This means I figure out where God is working, and join him there. It means I go when he tells me to go and serve where he tells me to serve. I am to obey God, so that I can help spread the truth.

Titus 2:7 says, “Let everything you do reflect your love of the truth and the fact that you were in dead earnest about it” (LB). Overall, there’s a lot in the Bible that I don’t understand. And there’s a lot there that is likely to be uncomfortable for me. But the fact is, it is the truth. I will commit to always letting it lead me where I need to go, and telling me what is right.

Today I pray, “God, I’m stepping across the line today. Jesus Christ, I want to believe you are the way, the truth, and the life. I want to know the truth so the truth will set me free. I want to believe it. I want to do it. I want to stand for it. I want to spread the truth. I’m in. I’m putting my trust in you. In your name I pray. Amen.”