.....understanding

Paul wrote his letter to the Colossians to show that Jesus is sufficient to supply every need of the believer. In the opening verses, Paul wrote that the Colossians had a reputation for great faith in Jesus Christ - their love, hope, and hunger for the Gospel was bearing fruit and had been growing "since the day you heard it and understood God's grace" Colossians 1:6.

Paul was thankful for their strong faith, but he wanted them to have even more and was committed to praying for their continued growth; "We have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of His will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding" Colossians 1:9. Paul then explained the purpose of his prayer.

We pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father. Colossians 1:10-12

Though God's gracious gift of Salvation is free, the cost is high. We can do nothing to earn or maintain this gift besides believe in His Son; but the faith through which His grace flows is a faith committed to Him without reservation, prepared to follow anywhere He leads, and willing to honor Him in all we do. A saving faith transforms our life and propels us to action.

Paul did not pray for the details of an honoring life; rather, he prayed for what truly produces change: "the knowledge of His will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding." We never please God by focusing on specific activities, we please Him by drawing near and allowing His blessings to flow in and through our life. This is a life which results in deeds that bear fruit and is filled with endurance, patience, and thankfulness.

The God honoring life is available for us today...regardless of our circumstances. But we must draw nearer to our Heavenly Father and hunger for a better understanding of His will. We must long for His presence and continue to grow in love and faith. God has infinitely more to give and will pour His blessings upon those who continue to seek Him with all their heart.

Dear Lord, we pray that You will give us a continued passion for You and an increased hunger for Your Word. We pray that You will strengthen our faith and use our life for Your glory. Heavenly Father, we pray that we will abandon ourselves to You and that You will fill us with the knowledge of Your will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. 

- steve troxel

.....search

John and Bob were two of the bitterest golf rivals at the club. Neither man trusted the other's arithmetic. One day they were playing a heated match and watching each other like hawks.

After finishing on the fourth green and marking his six on the scorecard, John asked Bob, "What'd you have?" Bob went through the motions of mentally counting up. "Six!" he said and then hastily corrected himself. "No -- a five."

Calmly, John marked the scorecard, saying out loud "Eight!"   "Eight?" Bob said, "I couldn't have had eight."  John said, "Nope, you claimed six, then changed it to five.  But actually, you had seven."

"Then why did you mark down eight?" asked Bob.

John told him, "One stroke penalty, for improving your LIE."

Golfers are notorious for stretching the truth, but they're certainly not the only ones who do so. In fact, you probably find that lying comes all too easy. 

When we're caught doing something we shouldn't be doing, it's easy to lie to try to cover up our involvement. When we're asked to do something we don't want to do, it's easy to lie about plans we haven't made.

Unfortunately, every lie we tell makes it that much easier the next time.  And some people have spent so much time "improving their lies" that they have trouble distinguishing between the real truth and the "truth" they have manufactured.

God is concerned that we be a people of truth.  "Therefore, putting away lying, 'Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,' for we are members of one another." Eph. 4:25 Diogenes was a philosopher in ancient Greece.  He was said to have walked through the streets of Athens, carrying a lighted lantern in broad daylight in a futile search for one honest man.

There are people all around you who are searching for the same thing.  May they find in you someone who will tell the truth, no matter what. 

- alan smith

.....others

In considering the grace of God in our Salvation as well as in our daily Christian walk, anytime we add requirements to genuine faith, we have strayed from the true gospel message. We certainly need to be challenged as to what faith really means and how a saving faith will manifest itself in our life, but we must never walk away from Salvation by grace through faith alone.

I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel - which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! Galatians 1:6-8

This is a serious call...one we cannot ignore. We are challenged in the strongest of terms to continue walking according to the true gospel. We usually begin this walk by focusing on our own life. We slowly take our eyes off what we can do and look more upon what Christ has already done; "He must become greater, I must become less" John 3:30. But there remains another step we must begin to take. This important step is to recognize that the grace which pulled us out of the slimy pit and set our feet on solid ground Psalm 40:2 is the same grace which works in the life of others. We know we can do nothing to earn or add to our Salvation, but how often do we place "requirements" on those around us? How often do we inadvertently create lists of what a true Christian must do? 

True Christians must dress and talk a certain way, listen to an approved list of music, watch an approved list of movies, and drink only an approved list of beverages. Our churches tend to have lists which can include quality of clothing, length of hair, style of worship music, or involvement in certain "sins" about which the Bible is absolutely silent. Sure there are extremes in every category which are clearly outside the will of God, but there is a wide range which, though it may make us uncomfortable, belongs to the grace of God. Our walk with God begins with His grace and must continue by His grace.

We must all strive to follow Christ in a completely surrendered obedience, but in walking down this path, we must never pull anyone from the true gospel by requiring obedience to our list. We are saved by grace through faith and faith alone - and "we" includes ALL our Brothers and Sisters who have trusted in Jesus for the forgiveness of sin. Let's follow hard in His grace and diligently seek to recognize God's transforming power at work as He continues to pour out His grace in others.

- steve troxel

.....failed

Harry Houdini's name is one that is recognized by almost everyone.  His claim to fame was that he was a magician and an excellent escape artist.  He would free himself from handcuffs, chains, ropes and straitjackets, often while hanging from a rope or suspended in water.  He escaped from coffins, riveted boilers and canvas bags.  Houdini was even locked inside a high security prison once, but, of course, Houdini always got out.

But then on October 24, 1926, death laid its hands on Harry Houdini and he would never escape.  Houdini told his wife, Bess, prior to his death, "If there is any way out. I will find it. If there is any way out, I will find you and I will make contact with you on the anniversary of my death."

For ten years after Houdini's death, his wife tried to make contact with him.  Then, she finally acknowledged, "Houdini did not come through.  My last hope is gone. I do not believe that Houdini can come back to me, or to anyone... The Houdini Shrine has burned for ten years. I now, reverently... turn out the light. It is finished. Good night, Harry!"

Bess Houdini was so right, and yet she was so wrong.  She was right to admit what people have been forced to admit for centuries - we do not have the power to conquer death.  Not even the famous Harry Houdini.  Eventually, death will win the battle over each and every one of us, and there is no escape.

But Bess Houdini was oh so wrong when she said, "My last hope is gone."  For while none of us can escape death, we can find our hope in the one who overcame death.  Only one man has come back from the grave alive.  Only one man offers us hope of life beyond the grave.  His name is Jesus!

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!  In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade - kept in heaven for you." I Peter 1:3-4

Turn the light back on.  It isn't finished at all....... It's only just beginning!

- dave langerfed

.....discernment

Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. Acts 17:11

Napoleon was a genius in sparking patriotism in the common man. He often told this story...  

Once, while visiting a province, he came upon an old soldier in full uniform, but with one sleeve hanging empty. He proudly wore the coveted Legion of Honor.

Napoleon asked, "Where did you lose your arm?" The soldier answered,  "At Austerlitz, sire."  Napoleon asked, "And for that you received the Legion of Honor?"   The man said, "Yes, sire."

"It is but a small token to pay for the decoration." Napoleon continued, "You must be the kind of man who regrets he did not lose both arms for his country."   The one-armed man asked, "What then would have been my reward?"   Napoleon answered, "I would have awarded you a double Legion of Honor." And with that, the proud old fighter drew his sword and immediately cut off his other arm. Napoleon told the story for years until someone asked, "How?" (If he only had one arm...)

A similar story is told of the man who collected thousands of dollars for the grieving mother of the "unknown soldier". A lot of people post stories and quotes on social media every day without ever verifying the source or confirming the veracity of the story.  AI is making it harder and harder to distinguish whether a photo is real or AI generated. 

It's not wrong to question what you think you know. Sometimes it's wrong not to. As human beings, we are often satisfied with our opinions and content with our knowledge, which is a recipe for perpetual ignorance.

Solomon, in his wisdom, has the foresight to recognize this truth when he wrote, "Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him." Proverbs 26:12

Today, remember that discerning fact from fiction is important, and that the genuine truth is found only in our Savior Jesus Christ and in HIs Word.

.....amazing

  "Strong In His Grace" we considered God's grace in the process of Salvation and saw we can do nothing to earn a right standing in His eyes. Our Heavenly Father freely gave and poured out His love when He sent Jesus; "But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" Romans 5:8.

God graciously gave us His Son and said, "Whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life" John 3:16. We are allowed into an eternal relationship with God because of His grace and are strongly exhorted to live each day knowing our relationship is maintained by the same grace in which it began, not by anything we do or accomplish.

There are many things we are called to do as a Child of God, many ways to serve and honor our Heavenly Father, many ways to be obedient, seek after holiness, and demonstrate our faith. But we can NEVER fall into the trap of thinking, even for a moment, that what we do adds to our Salvation by grace. As much as faith in Jesus Christ is absolutely necessary for our Salvation, faith in Jesus Christ is also absolutely sufficient.

Paul delivered this message of grace in many of his letters, but nowhere as strong as in his letter to the Galatian churches. He had preached the message of Salvation by grace, but they were led into a false teaching which said they must earn their Salvation by first submitting to the Old Testament Law. Paul warned that if we fall into this same trap, "Christ will be of no value to you at all" Galatians 5:2. There is value in the things we do, but the value is not in the religious activity or product we produce; rather, the value is in the true faith in our heart which ought to motivate ALL we seek to accomplish.

The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love Galatians 5:6

We show our love for God through worship, thanksgiving, prayer, study, obedience, and faithful service; and we acknowledge His saving grace with a humble spirit which does not allow us to become puffed up or feel deserving of our Salvation. We demonstrate our love for others as we refuse to cause harm, in word or deed, refuse to harbor unforgiveness, and actively look for opportunities to serve. And we show an understanding of God's grace as we express our love to others without requiring them to earn our love or even love us in return.

Let's receive His grace with a thankful heart, knowing we bring nothing to the cross besides our sin which He then takes away. Let's trust only in His grace, given to us through faith, and express our faith with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength as we love Him and love one another. Let's begin to live this life like we truly understand His amazing grace.

- steve troxel

.....duty

We are unprofitable servants. We have only done what was our duty to do Luke 17:10

Early one morning, a mother went in to wake up her son. "Wake up, son. It's time to go to school!"  "But why, Mom?  I don't want to go."

"Give me two reasons why you don't want to go."  "Well", said the son, "the kids hate me for one, and the teachers hate me, too!"  "Oh, that's no reason not to go to school.  Come on now and get ready."

"Give me two reasons why I should go to school."   "Well, for one," said the mother, "you're 52 years old.  And for another, you're the principal!"

Sometimes we have to do things even when we don't feel like doing them.  It's called having a sense of duty.  I think perhaps the concept of duty has taken some abuse in the church.  We sometimes talk about the importance  of doing things for God because we want to, not because we have to.  And I would wholeheartedly agree with that.  But if we only serve God when we really "feel" like it, our service would be minimal indeed.  Sometimes the feelings aren't there and we need to continue to serve knowing that it is the "right" thing to do.

It shouldn't bother us to think that way because we do many other things in life for the same reason.  For example, I am a father of three children.  When each of those babies entered my home, I loved them.  And I provided for their needs because I loved them.  But, I can honestly say that there were many times I got up in the middle of night to meet their needs when I didn't "feel" like it.  There were times when I got out of bed exhausted and irritable, and the only reason I got up was because I had a responsibility as a father to meet their needs.  The love is always there, but sometimes it is a sense of duty that drives you to do what needs to be done.

The same thing is true in our Christian walk.  When you get "exhausted and irritable" in your service to Christ, when you don't "feel" like doing what you know needs to be done, may a sense of responsibility, a sense of duty, drive you to continue to remain faithful.

"And which of you, having a servant plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, 'Come at once and sit down to eat'? But will he not rather say to him, 'Prepare something for my supper, and gird yourself and serve me till I have eaten and drunk, and afterward you will eat and drink'?  Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him?  I think not.  So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, 'We are unprofitable servants. We have only done what was our duty to do.'" Luke 17:7-10

- dave langerfeld

.....strong

When we are brought to the point of belief - the point where we see our sin, desire to change, and acknowledge God's Son as our only way to eternal life - we ask, in faith, for Jesus to forgive our sins and be our Savior. At that very moment, the grace of God abounds, His Spirit transforms our heart and He picks us up as His child: For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast Ephesians 2:8-9.

The moment of true Salvation is without question the most significant event in our Christian life. In that moment, we are "born again" John 3:7 and become a "new creation" in Christ 2 Corinthians 5:17 through the power of the Holy Spirit; "Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit" John 3:6. If we seem to stumble through every step, we still have reason to rejoice with every breath - we are children of the King and will spend all eternity in His glorious Kingdom.

Our journey with God can indeed be rocky. As we continue down His path, we are to strive for holiness and purposeful worship in our life. We are to diligently seek Him and "learn the secret of being content in any and every situation" Philippians 4:12. We must learn to "trust in the Lord with all our heart" Proverbs 3:5, while remembering that "apart from Me, you can do NOTHING" John 15:5. The reality of this journey is that if we strive for anything in our own strength, we are certainly destined to stumble and fall.

You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus 2 Timothy 2:1, meaning we must continue to trust in His grace and in His grace alone. We did nothing to earn our Salvation, and we can do nothing to maintain our right standing before God - nothing besides belief in His Son; "Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?" Galatians 3:3. Our goal of a life which is honoring to God cannot be accomplished through our own effort!

We are saved by the grace of God and we must continue to live by this same grace: "So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught" Colossians 2:6. Our Heavenly Father will determine our path to holiness, purpose, contentment, and trust - and His grace will equip us with all we need for the journey.

Let's completely trust in the saving grace of Jesus! Let's apply the strength of His grace today in every trial and temptation. Let's live a life of pure and holy devotion by always remaining strong in His grace.

- adapted from steve troxel

.....in

Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Matthew 7:15-16

As I reflect back on my childhood, I recall a day my mother and I came home from church to find a stray cat waiting at the door. The cat was nice and cuddly and the meow seemed to make me weak. I begged my mother to let me keep the cat, but she refused. Noticing that I was disappointed, she wrapped her arms around me and said, "Son, never let any ol' thing or anyone come into your house. Just because the cat is cute does not mean that this is a good cat, so we have to be careful of who/what we let in." 

Many of us can relate to the above story in a variety of ways. There were people that we came across and let them in on the first date, only to have our hearts broken later. We came across people that we shared our most intimate thoughts with the first night we met them, only to have them betray us after a short period of time.

Oftentimes, in our attempt to obey God's command to love people, we often let the wrong people get too close to us. Many of us have let people in because of their physical appearance, financial status, corporate position, fame or other "sheep's clothing" that captured our attention. 

Like Jesus was prayerful about His small circle of 12 disciples, He calls us to be careful who we let in. 

- timothy jackson, jr.

.....digging

When I was a boy, I had a golden retriever named Champ. Whenever we gave him a bone, he'd chew it till it was bare, then take off to bury it. But once it was buried, he would never let it lie. Every day, sometimes several times a day, he would make his rounds, going to every buried bone - dozens of them - and digging them up to chew on some more. Then he'd bury them again, only to repeat the process till the day he died.

Unlike my dog, God buries our sins and lets them lie: He never digs them up.  Like my dog, however, sometimes we dig up old sins, chew on them, confess them again, and bury them - but in a shallow grave whose location we memorize for convenient access. We do this not only to ourselves but others. 

We piously say, "I forgive you," but dig up old sins to chew on at our pity parties, wave them in front of others as gossip, or use them as weapons of revenge or tools to barter and manipulate. In doing so, we become obsessed with sin instead of the Savior. We give more credit to its power than to His. "Once confessed, sins should be forgotten. We should choose to dwell on them no longer."  Randy Alcorn

“Their sins and iniquities I will remember no more.” Hebrews 10:17

“I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more." Isaiah 43:25

.....follow

We are often reminded of our need to pray and study God's Word. These essential disciplines allow us to abide in the presence of God and "hear" when He calls; they are also necessary for strengthening our faith in order to obediently follow where He leads.

God's Word encourages us that when He calls, He also provides the tools to accomplish our assigned task; "His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness" 2 Peter 1:3. And we are comforted that as we respond, we will never be alone; "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you" Hebrews 13:5. But God's call also carries responsibility. His call says He has made His choice - He has chosen us to take part in His wonderful plan, and, in faith, we must respond.

After delivering many of God's messages to the people of Israel, calling them to repent and return to the worship of the One True God, the prophet Jeremiah became impatient with God's timing: "I would speak with You about Your justice: Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all the faithless live at ease?" Jeremiah 12:1. 

Jeremiah complained about how long he had to wait for the wicked to be punished. He was following God and calling others to do the same, but the ungodly seemed to continue living the "good" life. Sounds much like our complaints today. But God's response was not what Jeremiah was hoping to receive.

"If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses? If you stumble in safe country, how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan?"Jeremiah 12:5

God told Jeremiah that the situation in Israel was going to get worse in the coming days, and He asked Jeremiah if he was truly ready for the challenge. Jeremiah had been called to be God's messenger and now was not the time to complain. This was the time to be a soldier and trust with ALL his heart; it was a time to renew his strength and push toward the assigned goal.

Our Heavenly Father dearly loves us and desires an eternity of intimate fellowship. He is a God of great comfort, but He is also challenging us to prepare for the spiritual battles ahead. This world often appears corrupt and unjust, but the conditions of today may be preparing us to fight in the trenches of tomorrow. 

We must trust now more than ever that God chose the right person when He called and gave us our assignments. Let's spend more time worshipping at His feet and loving Him with all our heart. Let's rely on His strength, trust His understanding, and always be prepared to follow.

- steve troxel

.....free

King Nebuchadnezzar made a large statue of gold and commanded that everyone must worship the statue whenever they heard the royal music; they must worship the statue or face terrible consequences! "Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace" Daniel 3:6.

Daniel's friends, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, were determined to live with an uncompromising faith. They believed God's Word and obeyed His commands: "You shall have no other gods before Me...you shall not bow down to them or worship them" Exodus 20:3,5. These three young Jewish men took a stand and refused to worship the golden statue. Their devotion to God was greater than their fear of the fire; "If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it...But even if He does not, we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up" Daniel 3:17-18

Nebuchadnezzar was furious and followed through on his threat: "He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace" Daniel 3:19-20. But when Nebuchadnezzar looked inside the furnace, he was amazed by what he saw.

"Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods."Daniel 3:25

As they were facing the fire, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego saw no chance of escape, but they placed their complete trust in God - a trust which would not falter even if they were burned. But rather than being burned by the fire, these three men were freed from their binding ropes and walked with "a son of the gods," who many believe is an Old Testament reference to Jesus Christ! (The KJV renders this verse "...like the Son of God.") In their time of greatest need, God comforted these young men and set them free.

The fires in our life WILL come. The heat will seem intense! But we must not fear or abandon what we know to be true. Our faith is ALWAYS refined and made stronger by fire; "the testing of your faith develops perseverance" James 1:3

Fire will always teach us to trust more deeply and worship more sincerely. When we really believe this truth, it will become possible to actually rejoice in the face of fire. We can rejoice because we KNOW He will walk beside us, no matter how hot the flames - this is true freedom! Let's walk with a bold faith, knowing our Father is there to comfort and protect us, knowing He will strengthen us and set us free in the fire.

- steve troxel

.....going

Thomas said to Him, 'Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?'  Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.' John 14:5-6

When Billy Graham was the keynote speaker honoring the delegates to the United Nations. he shared the following story as apart of his speech...:

There was a time when Albert Einstein was going on a train to an out-of-town engagement. The conductor stopped by to punch his ticket. The great scientist, preoccupied with his work, with great embarrassment rummaged through his coat pockets and briefcase to no avail. He could not find his ticket. The conductor said, "We all know who you are, Dr. Einstein. I'm sure you bought a ticket. Don't worry about it. Everything is okay." 

The conductor walked on down the aisle punching other tickets. Before he moved to the next car, he looked back and saw Dr. Einstein down on his hands and knees looking under his seat trying to find his ticket. He came back and gently said, "Dr. Einstein, please don't worry about it. I know who you are." 

Einstein looked up and said, "I too know who I am. What I don't know is where I'm going!"

Like Einstein, we often don't know where we are going.  That's why we are often compared in the Scriptures to sheep -- animals which have a very poor sense of direction.  They have no idea where they came from or where they're going.  That's one of the reasons they are in such dire need of a shepherd.

Like sheep, we have all "gone astray." Isaiah 3:6.  We need someone to show us the way.  And Jesus not only shows us the way -- He IS the way!

- dave langerfed

.....guard

The importance of protecting what God places on our heart. He often gives us moments of Divine intimacy as a taste of the life He desires for us - a life of continual passion for God; a life where all our thoughts, words, and deeds become an act of worship.

As these moments fade, we either take definite steps to follow God's call, or we allow our heart to slowly drift away. The nature of this world is to pull us from what God desires and cause us to forget He has even called. So how do we really "guard" what God has given and truly accept His invitation to draw near?

Fix these words of Mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gate Deuteronomy 11:17-20

When God called the children of Israel, He knew they would face the same difficulties we face today: "Be careful, or you will be enticed to turn away and worship other gods and bow down to them" Deuteronomy 11:16. He said the values of the world must never distract from our primary duty to "love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength" Deuteronomy 6:5.

God told His chosen people that the best way to remain near to Him was to remain near to His Word through disciplined reading, teaching, discussing, and applying. When our lives are completely immersed in His Word, the "enticements" of the world lose their power and no longer pull us from God's path.

But His desire was never for us to stop with outward disciplines. While disciplines are somewhat useful in themselves, the desired end is always for His Word to be written on our heart and for our thoughts to remain with Him all through our day! Only as He is allowed to truly live through us will our lives become a complete sacrifice of worship.

If this is the life we desire, then we must begin with a disciplined approach to God's Word. We must become immersed in His Word such that His truth becomes a part of every portion of our day. God will soon reward us with a more intimate relationship as His Word becomes written on our heart and our thoughts turn more toward Christ. The world will still try to pull us away, but it will no longer succeed; we will be walking in His Presence and will have learned how to guard His deposit.

- steve troxel

.....deposit

In the messages "Covenant of Worship" and "A Broken Covenant" we were encouraged to make a covenant to worship God with all our heart for the rest of our days. I pray we accept this challenge and make a decision to commit our lives to Him without any reservation.

When God brings us to this point of greater commitment and surrender, we have a wonderful reason to rejoice; but we also have an obligation to protect and nurture what He has planted in our heart. He has called us to draw closer and spend more time in His presence, to join Him in a more intimate and loving relationship. But the enemy is hard at work trying to destroy the change which has begun.

What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you - guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us  2 Timothy 1:13-14

Every so often on our Christian walk, there comes a time of special closeness with God. This closeness may come as the result of a new understanding of His Word where we see His character like never before. It may come during a solitary time of prayer or while worshiping with many other believers, through a powerful speaker or inspirational writing. Each time this occurs, God is depositing a little truth into our life which says: I am the way; draw nearer and follow Me more.

We know when God calls us in this manner. We know His truth! We know He is lighting the only true way, and we honestly desire to follow. But then we are back at work with deadlines to meet, people to see, or kids to feed. Soon, the busyness of our everyday "normal" life has consumed our thoughts, and God's deposit has begun to fade. This should not be!

We must establish disciplines which enable us to hear God's message and then help us keep His message at the forefront of our thoughts all through the day. These disciplines will vary for different people. Some may need to wake up earlier to have a time which is quiet, others may need to change their work habits or the condition of their work environment, most need to simply turn off the television or put down our phone! But regardless of our hectic pace, we ALL need to talk with God more and worship more at His feet. This must become our highest priority.

His call to draw near is a precious deposit, a gift which we must not allow to be destroyed or forgotten. We should never allow the frustrations of the past, the pulls of the present or the desires of the future, to steal the gift entrusted to us today. Let's make the necessary changes and boldly draw near without hesitation. Let's praise Him for His gift, and "with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us," guard the good deposit.

- steve troxel

.....honest

For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of man 2 Corinthans 8:21

Dishonesty, even in the smallest matter may severely damage a believer's credibility. You never know how closely you are being watched. 

A businessman was invited to speak to a men's church group. His topic was honesty in the workplace and he spoke very strongly and unwaveringly on the topic. The next morning, he boarded a city bus for the ride to work. He handed a dollar bill to the driver and received some change, which he counted as he proceeded down the aisle. 

Before he reached his seat, he realized he had been given a quarter too much. His first thought was that the transit company would never miss it. However, deep inside he knew he should return the money. 

So he went back to the driver, "You gave me too much change, sir." 

To his amazement, the driver replied, "I know, a quarter too much. I gave it to you on purpose. Then I watched you in my mirror as you counted your change. You see, I heard you speak yesterday, and if you had kept the quarter, I would have written you off and everything that you said."

Remember, we may be the only Bible some people ever read!

.....covenant

We are encouraged to make a covenant to love the Lord and worship Him with all our heart. This covenant must be viewed as a pledge or binding agreement which directs all our actions. God gives many examples of covenants in His Word, and nowhere does He allow for a covenant with half-hearted commitment.

When God brought the Israelites out of Egypt, He made a covenant with them at Mount Sinai. He promised special blessings if they would set themselves apart and worship Him with all their heart. But the people failed to honor their commitment - they worshiped other gods and disregarded His commands.

After several hundred years of willful disobedience, God sent the prophet Hosea to remind the Israelites of the pledge they once made and to reveal their unfaithfulness.

"I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings. Like Adam, they have broken the covenant - they were unfaithful to Me." Hosea 6:6-7

Hosea was able to deliver this message with great passion because he understood the pain of unfaithfulness. God had called Hosea to marry a woman who, though she made a covenant of marriage, left him to live as an adulteress with another man. Hosea could literally cry to his Israelite Brothers of the hurt they were causing God with their spiritual adultery; he fully knew how it felt when the one you love turns away to love another.

The covenant we make with our Heavenly Father must not be taken lightly. He loves us dearly and gave His Son as a sacrifice for our sin. And, to those who believe, He has given His Spirit; "with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption" Ephesians 4:30. God is committed to this covenant and, though He forgives us when we fall short, He expects and deserves commitment in return.

When we turn from sin and believe Jesus to be our Lord and Savior, He promises forgiveness; we promise to trust and follow where He leads. He promises a clean heart; we promise our heart will always be His. He promises eternity in His presence; we promise to worship Him with every breath!

Have we truly entered into a covenant relationship with the Living God? And if so, are we being faithful to this covenant? Are we seeking His direction, or are we following our own path and our own desires? 

We must commit to love, honor, cherish...and follow, until the end of this life brings us fully into His presence. Let's remain faithful and true to our promises. Let's renew our commitment to obedience and worship. And let's steadfastly refuse to come to the end of this journey with a broken covenant.

- adapted from steve troxel

.....green

The story is told of an elderly woman who decided to have her portrait painted.  She told the artist, "Paint me with diamond earrings, a diamond necklace, emerald bracelets, a ruby broach, and Rolex watch."

"But you are not wearing any of those things," replied the artist. "I know," she said.  "It's in case I should die before my husband.  I'm sure he'll remarry right away, and I want his new wife to go crazy looking for the jewelry."

It has been said that there are two kinds of people in the world -- those who are millionaires and those who would like to be.  And that's one example of jealousy, but it's only a piece of it.  

When someone else does an outstanding thing or receives an honor and I say, "That's great!", but inside I wish that I were in that position, that's jealousy.  When someone else receives all the attention because of their reputation or wit or ability to speak, and I think I ought to be the center of attention, that's jealousy too.

Solomon said long ago, "Wrath is cruel and anger a torrent, but who is able to stand before jealousy?" Proverbs 27:4.  Paul lists jealousy as one of the works of the flesh in Galatians 5:20.

We don't like to think of jealousy and envy as being all that bad.  We like to think of works of the flesh being things like murder (that's terrible!), fornication (what a horrible sin!), and drunkenness (disgraceful for any Christian to consider!).  But we sometimes forget that envy is in that same list in Galatians 5.

If we want to overcome jealousy, we need only remember that love and jealousy are mutually exclusive. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 13:4 that "Love does not envy."  Rather, love will "rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep." Romans 12:15.

The greater our love for others, the less jealous we will be. 

- adapted from alan smith 

.....worry

"So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.  Matthew 6:31-34

Worry is not believing God will get it right.

Bitterness is believing God got it wrong.

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7

- timothy keller

.....seek

As Jesus was speaking to a Pharisee named Nicodemus, He said, "no one can see the Kingdom of God unless he is born again" John 3:3. He then explained being "born again" as a spiritual birth which occurs when we believe; "whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life" John 3:16. EVERYONE who will spend eternity in the Presence of God must be born of the Spirit - it is impossible to be a Child of God without being "born again."

This spiritual birth is part of the New Covenant through faith in Jesus and was revealed over 500 years before Christ through the prophet Ezekiel; "I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees" Ezekiel 36:26-27. 

Paul referred to the spiritual birth as becoming "a new creation" 2 Corinthians 5:17, but it is most often referred to simply as being saved; "He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit" Titus 3:5.

The process of spiritual birth is relatively easy to explain: God reaches down and transforms our heart by the power of His Spirit. However, the exact events which lead to the spiritual birth remain somewhat a mystery. On one hand, God's Word is very simple and clear; "Whoever believes will be saved." But understanding what it means to really believe can be difficult. We can talk about submission, obedience, sacrifice, love, or the basic faith of a child, but these will always fall short of an adequate definition of belief.

Only God can save - only He is fit to judge, and He alone can look into the innermost part of our heart and determine true belief. All we can do is seek Him with all our heart...and trust He will be found.

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened." Matthew 7:7-8

Our Salvation was initiated by God when Jesus came to earth and died as a perfect sacrifice for our sin. He chose us for an intimate and eternal relationship when His Holy Spirit began to call us near. And, if we will but answer the call and begin to seek His face, He will be found. In an instant, which He alone determines according to His perfect timing, He will transform our heart and adopt us as His Child.

We may not be able to explain or even fully understand true belief, but if there is any call of God on our heart, we CAN ask, seek, and knock. God never hides or runs away; "He is not far from each one of us" Acts 17:27. He is waiting for us to reach out and call on His Name. Today, let's trust He will be found as we give Him all our heart and continue to seek. 

- adapted from steve troxel

.....covenant

We are encouraged to live a life of sincere love and faithful service while we worship a God we truly know and adore. But this type of consistent life, where our daily activities match what we profess to believe, does not come easily or initially feel natural. Living such a life requires a firm commitment and a determined perseverance.

King Asa was the great-grandson of Solomon and led the southern kingdom of Judah about 900 years before Christ. He began his reign with ten years of peace because he "did what was right in the eyes of the Lord his God" 2 Chronicles 14:2. Asa took definite action to remove the idols and places of false worship from the country, and commanded his people to "seek the Lord and to obey His commands" 2 Chronicles 14:4.

When Judah was invaded by a foreign army, Asa realized he was greatly outnumbered with little hope of victory. As he went into battle, his faith was strengthened while calling on God: "Help us, O Lord our God, for we rely on You, and in Your name we have come against this vast army. O Lord, You are our God; do not let man prevail against You" 2 Chronicles 14:11. After God granted them victory on the battlefield, the people gathered in Jerusalem to solidify their commitment by making a covenant to follow God.

2 Chronicles 15:12,15

"They entered into a covenant to seek the Lord with all their heart and soul. All Judah rejoiced about the oath because they had sworn it wholeheartedly. They sought God eagerly, and He was found by them."

Every child of God has a deep hunger for a more committed life. Once we have answered God's call and begun our journey with Him, we will not truly be at peace until His praise fills every area of our life. But this requires we establish priorities which allow us to actually spend time getting to know Him, His ways and His love.

Our Heavenly Father longs for us to abide in His presence; He rejoices when He is found by those who seek Him in a committed life of worship. He even promises to help those who begin down a committed path; "For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him" (2 Chronicles 16:9).

Our time on this earth is very, very short. Let's not waste another day by aimlessly wandering through life, allowing the concerns of this world to choke off our relationship with God. Let's live with purpose and eagerly commit to seek Him with all our heart and soul - to seek Him "wholeheartedly." Let's make the decision today to enter into an eternal covenant of worship.

.....owns

The heavens are yours, and the earth is yours; everything in the world is yours… Psalm 89:11

I went outside in the early morning to get the newspaper that had been thrown across the driveway. It was a perfect spring day. The dew was sparkling on the lawn that my husband had freshly mowed the afternoon before. The crepe myrtle bushes were showing off their deep purple blooms.

Around the hummingbird feeder was a couple of those tiny birds with the long beaks that are so much fun to watch. A streak of brilliant blue flew past my face. I turned around to see Papa bluebird flying into the bluebird house. They had already raised one family this spring, and now were busy building another nest. 

When I looked up to the heavens there was not a cloud in the sky. "Thank you, Jesus," I found myself praying as I picked up the paper and headed back in the house.

Driving back from the grocery store later in the day, I noticed the sky was dotted with clouds. I was disappointed because it had been so gloriously bright early in the morning. Getting out of my car I continued to gaze at those clouds "messing" up my beautiful view.

I thought this is the way our day begins. So clear. So clean. And then before long it gets "messed" up with the frustrations of a job, raising a family and maybe just living. 

I know that sometimes clouds turn into thunder and lightning and become violent storms. Also, I realize the problems of the day often become turbulent and we feel like our lives have been turned upside down in a few hours time.

But, God reminded me that just as He says in Psalm 89, He owns it all. He still controls the storms of the air. In the same way, He, also, controls the storms of our lives.  And if we turn to Him for answers He moves those clouds of darkness right out of our lives. We can begin afresh again!

- melva cooper

.....disabled

 "Be devoted to one another in brotherly love.  Honor one another above yourselves. " Romans 12:10

"Love is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered... "1 Corinthians 13:5

Pulling into the parking lot, I noticed an elderly woman walking with a cane getting out of her car.  She had chosen not to park in the handicap spot, but instead left that for someone in greater need.  I slowed down as I approached because her feeble legs just couldn't sprint across the pavement, as I'm sure they once did.  Slowly and methodically, she placed the cane one step ahead of her as she shuffled in front of me.  Her fluffy white hair reminded me of my own mom and I smiled patiently waiting for her to pass by. 

Suddenly a car sped up behind her, slammed on their brakes, and wildly began blasting the horn.  A red-faced woman was about to explode in the sleek silver Honda.  Luckily, it was a hot day, so her windows were up, the air conditioning was blowing her stiff locks and we were all spared from hearing the obvious obscenities she was spouting at this poor grandmother who was now close to a cardiac arrest.  

Try as she might, her body just wouldn't move any faster.  Without mercy, the red-faced maniac continued to lay on her horn and jut forward as if she was considering running her down.  I was horrified!  As she lifted her frail foot to the sidewalk, this hot-tempered Honda squealed right into the space marked "Handicapped."  She slipped her handicap sign onto her rear-view mirror, jumped out of the car and leaped into the nail salon five steps away. 

We all have disabilities; some are just more visible than others.  This red-faced woman had a disabled heart.  She couldn't see past her own wants, needs and desires.  She is an extreme example of each one of us - looking past the needs of others and focusing on our own little world.  There are hurting people all around us that God is expecting us to see and, yet, we pass them by.  Maybe we don't run them over, but we try hard not to notice them.  

It is so inconvenient to care.  Oh, we care about our family or our friends or our church, but what about that neighbor who just keeps to themselves, or that irritating child who is left alone after school?  Look around - people around you are hurting.  Zig Ziglar says, "Pretend everyone you meet is wearing a sign around their neck that says, 'I'm hurting,' and nine times out of ten, you'll be right."  We live in a fallen world full of "the least of these."  

Even the red-faced maniac was hurting.  You can't act that nasty without having a deep hurt somewhere inside.  When you know the Savior, you have a healing balm that binds the wounds of this world.  Will you reach out to someone in need today?  Or are you just too busy to see the "least of these?" 

Lord, we live in a fallen world with so many hurting hearts.  You have appointed one of those hearts to me today; help me to see them. Give me words that care, hands that share, and shoulders to help bear the burdens of those around me.  Teach me that this day is not about me, it is about You.  In Jesus' Name 

- luann prater

.....unknown

When Paul was on his second missionary journey he came to the city of Athens, which was inhabited by people who loved to worship, and talk about their worship. They worshipped every conceivable god of their day and made sure no god was left out.

"Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: 'Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you.'" Acts 17:22-23

The people in Athens worshipped gods like Zeus, Hermes, and Diana. And to ensure they did not overlook any god, they also gave their worship to a god they did not know.

Today, many of us go through our life worshipping such gods as Pleasure, Leisure, Entertainment, Security, Power, and Wealth. Then, usually with much less intensity and commitment, we "worship" the Creator of the Universe. 

It's not surprising that our worship often becomes something we schedule and not something we live. We take part in religious activity but have no idea how to make the Almighty God an integral part of our everyday life. We attend church services but never give a thought to actually loving God or asking Him for guidance and direction. We may go through the motions of worship, but our hearts are cold and far from the One True God.

We ALL must examine what we believe and then live a life consistent with that belief. Many people profess belief in God - even the God of the Bible - but have no idea what this belief means or Who they really believe. They believe and then attempt to worship a God they do not know. 

If Christ died for the forgiveness of our sins, was resurrected, and now sits at the right hand of the Father making intercession on our behalf, if He will one day return and take us to be with Him for all eternity, then He certainly deserves more than our casual worship and the leftovers of our time.

Our Heavenly Father has been calling us back to an intimate fellowship ever since Adam and Eve sinned in the garden, and His message has remained the same: "Enjoy My creation, but give Me ALL of your heart." He must be given sole possession, without any competition. The true Creator of the Universe will never accept just being one of our many "gods."

Let's proclaim the absolute and unchanging truth, and encourage one another to "wholeheartedly obey the form of teaching to which you were entrusted" Romans 6:17. Let's resolve to live a consistent life - a life of sincere love and faithful service - a life which no longer worships an unknown God.

- steve troxel

.....back

If you have children, or are around young children, then you'll recognize this: Two toddlers are sitting on the floor playing. Suzie is playing with her blocks, and Davey is trying to decide what to play with. Suzie tells Davey, "Davey, you can play with ANY of my toys. I'm playing with the blocks, but you can use ANYTHING that you want"

So Davey takes her up on it. He picks up her toy telephone, and begins calling his little sister. He's having a great time... such a great time that Suzie suddenly wants to play with the telephone, so she reaches out and grabs the phone. Davey, of course, is upset, and tells her that HE was playing with the phone because she told him that he could use anything that he wanted to. Her response is, "I know that I gave it to you, but I want it back to play with it myself".

Do we ever do the same thing with God? He tells us, in one of my favorite verses (1 Peter 5:7) to "cast your cares upon the Lord, for He cares for you." But how often do we really cast them to Him, and allow Him to keep them? Don't we take them back to "play with them ourselves for a while?"

I don't know about you, but I'm really good at giving God the burdens of my heart, but taking them back from Him and worrying with them for a bit, and then giving them back to Him. I'm good at SAYING that I'm giving God my cares and worries, but I don't seem to truly let them go.  Sound familiar?

Worried about your family? 

Concerned with your finances? 

Got a health problem keeping you up late? 

Problems with your relationship with your spouse or a friend? 

Your Boss getting on your nerves?

"Don't be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7 

By prayer, and in faith, give your concerns to God. Then, again by prayer and in faith, allow Him to KEEP them, and watch as His will is done with your requests. Sometimes He says wait, and sometimes He also says no. The peace that is promised will come as you allow Him to move in your life, and as you align your life with His will.

Want God to help you carry the load? Then give Him your concerns, and DON'T TAKE THEM BACK!

- adapted from steve blair

.....walk

God's race takes place within our heart as we learn to trust and love Him more and more. His race is not in what we do but in who we are, and who we are becoming, as we do ALL to bring Him glory and honor. One of the biggest stumbling blocks which keeps us from running a successful race is the complacency caused by forgetting what God has already done in our life.

Not everyone's circumstances are what they might prefer, but each of us are on a wonderful journey which began when God sent His Spirit to open our eyes to the truth and called us to be with Him for all eternity through faith in His Son. 

The beginning of our journey ought to be a clear indication of God's miraculous grace and Guiding Hand. And as we look back on the path we have traveled, we ought to recognize the many miracles which brought us to where we are today; but unfortunately, there are many miracles we fail to acknowledge or understand...and most we simply forget.

God's children have always had a hard time with recognizing and remembering. The northern kingdom of Israel was in rebellion for almost two hundred years when God called Hosea to be a prophet. The people had created their own form of worship and had long forgotten how much God loved them and how much He had already done to guide and protect.

It was I who taught Ephraim to walk, taking them by the arms; but they did not realize it was I who healed them. I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love; I lifted the yoke from their neck and bent down to feed them Hosea 11:3-4

In this passage, Ephraim refers to the nation of Israel. God was reminding the people how He provided for all their needs as He led them out of Egyptian slavery, into the promised land of Canaan. But this passage is very applicable to each of us today. Whether we see His Hand or not, God has been at work guiding us in many different ways.

None of us are at our final destination, but each of us are on a journey with a God who loves us dearly and wants to draw us ever closer to Himself. Let's not create our own form of worship where we give Him the leftovers of our heart. He created us, saved us, and brought us to where we are today - He deserves our ALL.

We must turn our eyes back to God and praise Him for His continuous provision and His loving promise to finish the work He began in our life. Let's praise Him for His Guiding Hand, and, as we run, let's always remember it was God who taught us to walk.

.....one

Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, ‘We have found the Messiah’ (that is, the Christ) John 1:40-41

Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, "We have found the Messiah" (that is, the Christ). And he brought him to Jesus.

Did you ever stop to think how very important you are in God's economy and his plans?  Pretty much throughout the entire Bible, when God had a work to be done, he chose and called an individual to lead. True, He chose the nation of Israel to be his special people, but He chose individuals to lead this nation to do His work. God also has a place for you and me in his plan. It may not be a gigantic role, but it is an important one.

Think of the twelve disciples, for example, who were all a vital part of God's mission. Half of them never said anything that is recorded in the New Testament. And if I remember correctly, three of them said only a word or two that was recorded. And Andrew, who didn't have much to say, brought Peter, who became the early church leader and great evangelist, to Jesus. 

Andrew was also the one who brought the boy with the two loaves and fishes to Jesus that Jesus used to feed the multitude. It was only Peter, James, Matthew and John that we heard much from, but every one of Jesus' disciples had an equally important role to play in God's program.

Whether your task is great or small, God wants to use you to be a part of his plan in what he is doing in your world today.  In the words of Edward Everett Hale: 

"I am only one. But still I am one. I cannot do everything, But still I can do something. 

And because I cannot do everything I will not refuse to do the Something that I can do." 

Don't ever forget how very important you are, not only to your loved ones, your work, and your church, but most importantly, to God.  

.....race

Paul was returning to Jerusalem at the end of his third and final missionary journey. By this time in his ministry, Paul had been a Christian for nearly twenty years. Twenty years since Jesus called Paul, "My chosen instrument to carry My name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel" Acts 9:15. 

Twenty years of faithful service, and now... "In every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me" Acts 20:23. Paul was returning home, but his life was not going to be easy. He knew there were many trials ahead, but his life had a purpose far beyond his immediate surroundings.

"I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me - the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace." Acts 20:24 It was several more years before Paul wrote, "I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation" Philippians 4:12; yet here, when facing certain hardship, Paul showed he had already learned the secret. The particular circumstances in Paul's life had become of minor importance. He knew his contentment was not based on current events, but on bringing glory and honor to God. His life had a wonderful purpose even in the face of great adversity and harsh conditions.

We were all created for the same purpose as Paul - we were created to bring glory and honor to God! Our specific tasks may differ and change from time to time, but we each have the same unchanging purpose. Everything we do, say, and think should bring glory and honor to our Heavenly Father!

God's race is run in the deepest part of our heart, not in the flurry of activity. Running well is not defined by doing more; rather, we run a "successful" race as we do every little task we are given with the complete and absolute devotion of our heart.

His race is often long and difficult. There are many distractions which seek to slow us down and even pull us from the track, and at times we may even wonder why we are running. But being a participant in God's eternal race is infinitely more rewarding than standing on the sidelines and simply watching! He has called us to run - and to run well!!

We must run the path God places before us with all the strength He provides, and within the sure and calming protection of His grace. Let's run with the motivation of bringing Him glory and honor by loving Him with ALL our heart, soul, mind, and strength. Let's continue to run well, and with a burning desire to finish the race.

- adapted from steve troxel

.....failure

And everyone who was in distress, everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented gathered around him and he became captain over them... 1 Samuel 22:2

God uses broken things to accomplish His greatest work. When David was anointed to be the next king, he was just a boy, the youngest among all his brothers. Little did he know that the next several years would be years of fleeing from Saul whose successes turned into obsessions as a leader who had fallen from God's anointing. Perhaps David thought, "Why am I living a life as a fugitive? I am the next king of Israel." Yet, his life was filled with adversity after adversity before he ever fulfilled the ultimate calling God had for him.

Others began to hear of David's successes and identify with his plight. But, it wasn't the successful and polished who came to join him. It was "those who were in distress or in debt or discontented" who would be part of his army - and what an army it was! His army would become known throughout the world as the greatest ever assembled, not because of their skill, but because of the God behind the army. God turned David's men into "mighty men of valor" 1 Chron. 11:10

God often uses failure to make us useful. When Jesus called the disciples, He did not go out and find the most qualified and successful people. He found the most willing, and He found them in the workplace. He found a fisherman, a tax collector, and a farmer.

The Hebrews knew that failure was a part of maturing in God. The Greeks used failure as a reason for disqualification. Sadly, in the Church, we often treat one another in this way. This is not God's way. We need to understand that failing does not make us failures. It makes us experienced. It makes us more prepared to be useful in God's Kingdom - if we have learned from it. And that is the most important ingredient for what God wants in His children.

- david langerfed

 

.....darkened

When God called Jeremiah to be a prophet, the people of Jerusalem had been living in sin for a very long time. It had been 300 years since the kingdom of Israel divided, and despite God's patient warnings, the people continued to rebel and worship other gods.

God finally told Jeremiah He would no longer endure this continued rejection; "I have withdrawn My blessing, My love and My pity from this people" Jeremiah 16:5. God also said that because of the many years of rebellion, destruction was now certain; "I will bring an end to the sounds of joy and gladness" Jeremiah 16:9. He then told Jeremiah how to respond to the inevitable cries and complaints.

"When you tell these people all this and they ask you, 'Why has the Lord decreed such a great disaster against us? What wrong have we done? What sin have we committed against the Lord our God?' then say to them, 'It is because your fathers forsook Me,' declares the Lord, 'and followed other gods and served and worshiped them. They forsook Me and did not keep My law. But you have behaved more wickedly than your fathers.'" Jeremiah 16:10-12

This is a difficult message. God is characterized by extreme grace and patient love...but He has His limits. He will not tolerate continual disobedience. If we claim to be a child of God, we must deal with the very real issue of sin. God hates sin because it causes separation from those He loves.

Continual and unrepented sin causes us to lose the ability to recognize our sin. It becomes a cancer which causes our heart to turn cold and dark, unable to even hear the conviction of the Holy Spirit; "For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened" Romans 1:21. Sin clouds our vision and causes us to drift further and further from God's path.

The people of Jerusalem could no longer recognize their sin - they stood before God in their wickedness and boldly asked: "What wrong have we done?" Today, we are at risk of becoming equally darkened anytime we fail to address the sin which continues to push into our lives. What activities have we begun to tolerate? What behaviors have we begun to accept? What "teachings" from the modern media have we begun to receive? What sin has begun to fill our heart?

If our eyes were truly opened, would we be surprised to see how far we have compromised and strayed? Let's recommit our lives to holiness, purity, worship, and absolute love for God. Let's allow His light to indwell EVERY area of our life. Let's repent of our sin and refuse to live with a darkened heart.

- steve troxel