Humbly Serving

In review of Mark 9:35 it says, “He sat down, call the twelve, and said to them, If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.”

Bottom Line:

If you desire great things ahead, put aside your self and serve.

What this means to me:

If I desire His blessings and guidance in my life, I need to put my pride and needs aside and humbly serve.

Today's verse comes from the last part of Mark chapter 9. In it Jesus is telling his disciples about the greatest in the Kingdom. Jesus had asked his disciples what they were discussing out on the road. But none of them had answered, because they had been arguing about which of them was the greatest.  So Jesus sat down and called the disciples over to him, and said, “Whoever wants to be first must take last place and be the servant of everyone else.”

What I’m learning is that I exist to make a big deal out of God. This life is not about my own self-recognition, either in this world or in heaven. It is all about honoring the King of kings and Lord of lords with everything I have to give.

Given this, I should make each day count as I will only get one chance to share the love of Christ on earth. I should make my life count by using my God-given talents to honor the Lord. The blessing he will provide for me doing so will be far greater than what I give of myself.

In summary, I am called to be a servant. I need to wash a few feet here on earth and share the love of the Lord!. As I assume the role of a servant, I will become more like Jesus.

Prospering

In review of Psalm 1:3 it says, “He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.”

Bottom Line:

Follow and delight in His law, for when you do it’s much like a tree planted near a great source of water. You’ll produce fruit at the right time and not wither. You will prosper in what you do.

What this means to me:

As being one of God’s children, I delight in His law, much like a tree that is planted near a stream of water that brings forth fruit at the right time and does not wither. He allows me to prosper in what I do.

Today's verse comes from the first part of Psalm 1. In it the psalmist writes how joyful is it for those who do not follow the advice of the wicked or stand around with and join mockers. Rather they take delight in the law of the Lord; meditating on it day and night. They become like a tree planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither and they prosper in all they do. But this is not so for the wicked! They are like worthless chaff, scattered by the wind. They will be condemned at the time of judgment. sinners will have no place among the godly. For the Lord watches over the path of the godly, but the path of the wicked leads to destruction.

It seems that as time goes on, our world gets crazier and crazier, further away from what God intended. Even with this, I should be encouraged that He is always on my side. He sees and knows my every need, not just the major obstacles, but every need!

Given this I should not be afraid to stand and speak up. I can make my personal petitions know. I do not need to hide behind the woes of a failing nation or a generations who has forsaken God.

Today, in Jesus’ name, I can stand up and declare a year of greatness for myself and my oikos (those immediately around me.) I can lift up my head and rejoice in knowing it’s going to be wonderful year when I put Him at the front of it.

This year can be a time of supernatural harvest where souls are saved, captives are set free, and burdens are lifted. My enemies will be defeated and I will experience a year of great success.  I can be encouraged to know that as I seek the Lord first, everything I put my hand to will begin to prosper far beyond my wildest expectations.

Making a Difference

In review of Isaiah 52:7 it says, “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, Who proclaims peace, Who brings glad tidings of good things, Who proclaims salvation, Who says to Zion, “Your God reigns”

Bottom Line:

Good news of peace and salvation are here, God reigns.

What this means to me:

It’s a wonderful thing to be one who proclaims good news of peace and salvation. God reigns.

My life can make a difference for Jesus. He impact has greatly affected me. He sacrificed His life on the Cross so that I might be saved, so that I might have an eternal home with such unspeakable splendor. The difference I make, can shine the light and love of Jesus that God has put in the forefront of my life, the immediate 8-12 people around me (my oikos.)

It won’t be necessary for me to stand on a street corner and preach in order to share the gospel to a dying world around me. My actions will speak louder than words?

But how does this really apply to my life? What do my actions currently say about me? Am I standing up and speaking for righteousness sake, or do I remain silent.

There is no better time than today, to tell those God has placed in my life. Time is short. Soon, Jesus will come in clouds of glory to take his people home. Am I ready? Have I done what I can to introduce those around me to Him?

Don’t Rely On Wisdom, Strength Or Wealth

In review of Jeremiah 9:23 it says, “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, Let not the mighty man glory in his might, Nor let the rich man glory in his riches.”

Bottom Line:

The Lord says: Don’t brag about your wisdom or strength or wealth.

What this means to me:

I should never glory or brag about my wisdom, boast about my skills or strength or even be proudful for what I own and what I make.

Today’s verse comes from Jeremiah chapter 9.  In it Jeremiah lays out the people’s conditions because of their choice to not follow God.  What is happening to them is directly related this. In it Jeremiah prophesies and speaks what God tells him, and part of this is section not bragging about wisdom, strength and wealth.

I’m learning that the secret of really knowing God is discovered when I know what God’s purpose is for my life.  Do I know what his top priority is for me. More importantly does God’s priority for me, match mine.

I’m told my top priority is not to glory in wisdom, which becomes a type of intellectual idolatry. If I trust my own wisdom (or of those around me) over God’s, then I will not seek Him first or be able to know what His will is for my life.  How can I give God the glory for my life if I’m not trusting Him to lead me.

Also I am not to glory in riches. Wealth and fame will not bring me peace, and they are fleeting. Only the Prince of Peace can give me the health to sleep soundly through the night.

God is an awesome God! Living beneath His standard is not what He wants for me. I am one of the most important things on His agenda, and I should put Him in a place of honor: at the top of my list.

Learning To Trust In The Lord

In review of Proverbs 3:5-6 it says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge him, and He shall direct your paths.”

Bottom Line:

Trust God wholeheartedly, don’t rely on your own thoughts, rather seek God and he will provide the path to take.

What this means to me:

I am to trust the Lord with all of my heart and not rely on what I think I know, rather I should acknowledge him and seek his will in all I do. He will then show me which path to take.

Today's passage comes from the 3rd Proverb of Solomon. In it he talks about trusting in the Lord and it’s benefits. He starts by reminding us to not forget what he has taught. We are to store it up in our hearts. If we do, then we will live many years and our lives will be satisfying. Loyalty and kindness should drive our thoughts and behaviors. Also, we will find favor with both God and people and earn good reputations. So we are trust in the Lord with all of our hearts. We should never depend on our own understanding of things. Rather we should seek his will in all we do. When we do he will show us which path to take.

What I’m coming to realize is that when I trust in myself instead of God, I choose to become my own god. In doing so, I ultimately miss out on all of the incredible blessings God has in store for me; things that I could never accomplish on my own.

When I face difficult circumstances or encounter something that I have never seen before, I should turn to to God first. He should be my default “go to” when things seem so black that I can’t see my way out.

He can hear and help me. I just need to trust in Him. When I do so, he promises to turn my life around.

Escape and Freedom

In review of 2 Timothy 1:7 it says, “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”

Bottom Line:

God does not give a spirit of fear, rather one of power, love and self-discipline.

What this means to me:

The Spirit God gave me should not make me fearful or timid, in fact it is a Spirit that fills me with power, love and of self-control.

Today’s verse comes from the first chapters in 2 Timothy. It comes as Paul is giving Timothy encouragement to be faithful. He tells Timothy of his remembrance of his genuine faith, one shared by both his mother and grandmother. Given this he then reminds Timothy to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave him. For God has not given any of us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. With this we can escape fear and have freedom.

We can escape sickness and disease because the Bible tells us that by His sufferings we are healed. We can escape death because those who believe in Jesus should never die. Children of God can escape loneliness, for the Bible says that God will never leave you nor forsake you. I can also escape depression because the joy of the Lord is our strength.

What I’m learning is that as a follower of the Most High God, I can escape fear because He has not given me a spirit of fear, but of a sound mind. I can escape poverty because it is the Lord that gives us the power to get wealth. He supplies all of my needs according to His riches in glory, so I don’t have to want for anything.

I can escape addition, as the Word says whosoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be delivered. I can escape the pit of hell; by confessing my sins. For He is faithful and just to forgive my sins. Whom the Son sets free is free indeed!

Troubles Can Become Assets

In review of 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 it says, “We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair, persecuted, but not for; stuck down, but not destroyed.”

Bottom Line:

We often suffer, but we are never crushed. Even when we don’t know what to do, we never give up. In times of trouble, God is with us, and when we are knocked down, we get up again.

What this means to me:

I may be hard-pressed from every side by trouble, but I’m not crushed. I may end up perplexed, but never driven to despair. I may be hunted down, but never abandoned by God. I may get knocked down, but I’ll never be destroyed.

Today's passage comes from the fourth chapter of 2 Corinthians where Paul speaks of us being treasure in fragile clay jars.  Paul tells us that since God in his mercy has given us this new way, we never give up. We reject all shameful deeds and underhanded methods. We don't try to trick anyone or distort the word of God. We tell the truth before God, and all who are honest know this.

God who said, let there be light in the darkness, has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ. We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God and not from ourselves.

So we may be pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies.

We live under constant danger of death because we serve Jesus, so that the life of Jesus will be evident in our dying bodies. So we live in the face of death, but this has resulted in eternal life for you.

This is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won't last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!. So we don't look at the troubles we see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be see.  For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.

So what I’m learning is that trouble is an asset, every improvement I’ve ever made is because of it.  My antagonist is my helper, shaping me into a strong person today than I was yesterday. Trouble sharpens my wit, improves my skill, and transforms my spine into steel.  I shouldn’t run from it, but face it head-on, and rejoice at the opportunity to become an overcomer.

A diamond is a lump of coal, made great under pressure. This lump of worthless coal endured intense pressure in the bowels of the earth until its carbons were so tightly compacted that all it could do was reflect the glorious light of day when its opportunity came to shine.

Today, I should consider what I’m doing with my life. Am I going to remain a lump of coal, or am I working toward becoming a diamond?  Don’t whine, but shine! God made me more priceless than diamonds; I shouldn’t sell myself short.