.......returned

After Joshua led the Israelites into the promised land, the nation was governed by a series of judges. The period of the judges lasted several hundred years and ended with the prophet Samuel. Samuel lived his entire life dedicated to God. In fact, Samuel's mother dedicated him to God before he was even born.

For many years Hannah and her husband had tried to have a child, but God did not allow her to conceive. The desire for a child continued for several years and became such a consuming portion of Hannah's life that she could think of little else; "In bitterness of soul Hannah wept much and prayed to the Lord" 1 Samuel 1:10.

Finally, Hannah's heart softened and she made a vow that if God would give her a son, "then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life" 1 Samuel 1:11. God honored Hannah's vow and she soon became pregnant. A few years after Samuel was born Hannah brought him to Eli, the priest.

"I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of Him. So now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord."1 Samuel 1:27-28

When Hannah made her vow, she no longer desired a child to satisfy her own needs but truly desired to honor God by returning her son to Him. In turn, God blessed Hannah with five additional children after Samuel 1 Samuel 2:21. God did not bless Hannah because of her vow (we can never "bargain" with God); rather, God blessed Hannah because her heart desired to glorify Him with her blessing.

We must learn to consider everything in our life from the same perspective as Hannah. We have created nothing of lasting value with our own hands. Everything we have - everything which defines who we are - is a precious gift from God. This includes our possessions, family, business, school, special skills, and talents. ALL we have is by the grace of God.

And just as it is prideful sin to take self-credit for God's many blessings, it is equally shameful to shun His gifts - to pretend they do not exist - and fail to use them for His glory. God always blesses with a purpose, and we live a shallow life if we ignore His gifts or use them solely for our own benefit and pleasure.

Let's bless our Heavenly Father by fully receiving His gifts, and then by giving back what we have so graciously been given. Let's praise Him and determine to use even the gift of our own life to bring Him glory and honor. God has showered us with many wonderful gifts, but they are ALL gifts to be returned.

- steve troxel 

....fireflies

But if you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another. Galatians 5:15

Fireflies, or "lightning bugs", are incredibly interesting little creations of God. These tiny bugs would go unnoticed were it not for the fact that they light up. And, because they do, this seemingly insignificant insect becomes something we marvel at once the summer sun sets. 

I've heard many interesting parallels between Christians and fireflies. Like this glowing insect, God has created us to shine for him – we were designed to be glorious, luminous beings. Lighting up our dark world so that others may see it and glorify our Father in heaven. But there is a side to the firefly that is not so shiny and is seldom spoken about. Just as the firefly uses its beauty to light up a night sky, it can also use it in a deadly and destructive manner.

Researchers found that certain females will lure in males with their enchanting light and once they've attained their mate, will then proceed to devour him. In the dark, and caught off guard, that male firefly, thinking he was in good company, is destroyed by another claiming to have "light"! It may seem that the parallel between fireflies and Christian can be fearfully accurate. 

Sadly, too many times, Christians are responsible for destroying and tearing other Christians down with their words and actions. One moment we boast a beautiful Godly glow, and in the next we have tainted our light with the ugliness of sin. God gave us free will to use our gifts and talents for His glory, but we must be careful that our freedom isn't being used to cause others to fall. If we bear the Christian name then the banner we carry should be that of humility and love — it is God's command! Galatians 5:13-15

When we grumble and complain about our situations God is not honored. When we fuss and quarrel with our brothers and sisters in the Lord, we are not only destroying our earthly relationships, but our Heavenly one as well. Let your light shine in the darkness of this world but be the right kind of firefly!

- veronica b

......different

So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Ephesians 5:15–16 

Why is it that the Christians of the first century were able to do so much damage to the kingdom of the devil, in such a relatively short period of time?

And how is it that these first-century believers, without the tools, technology, and media that we utilize today, were still able to radically impact their culture?

They followed and practiced a Christianity that isn’t known by many in this day and age. When we read about Christianity in New Testament books like Acts, we might classify it as something that was radical, over the top, and perhaps a bit on the extreme side.

But for these first-century believers, it would have been nothing less than ordinary Christian living. It is not that their faith was so radical. Rather, it’s that our faith is wimpy. Our faith, many times, is anemic, malnourished at most. It doesn’t measure up to the standards of the New Testament.

Christians should differ from non-Christians in every realm, not just the religious realm. We should differ from non-Christians not simply because we show up at church on Saturday[Sabbath] or attend a Wednesday [midweek] Bible study.

Rather, we should differ from non-Christians because we conduct our businesses differently, we treat our spouses differently, and we raise our children differently. 

Our values should be different from those of non-Christians. People need to see this in our lives, but all too often, it simply isn’t happening.

Paul wrote to the Christians in Ephesus, “So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days” Ephesians 5:15–16.

If we want to impact our world like the first-century believers did, then we have to get back to the principles they applied. It starts with the Christianity they practiced.

- adapted from greg laurie's

......will

 "We are all the work of Your hand" Isaiah 64:8

We are the clay being molded by the loving hands of the Potter.  Our Father is shaping us to the likeness of His Son; but what is our purpose during this shaping process?

Our transformation begins the moment we trust in Jesus, and we soon learn that our Salvation is never earned by "doing" anything; "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith" Ephesians 2:8.

But we also learn that eternal life is for those who do God's will; following Him is not an optional part of the Christian walk.  We cannot truly accept Jesus as Savior without also beginning a journey of trust while walking in His steps.  Faith means trusting Him enough to follow!

"The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever." 1 John 2:17

We generally like the idea of "new birth" when we think of being born into God's Kingdom as His child.  But we become uncomfortable when we hear, "You are not your own; you were bought at a price" 1 Corinthians 6:19-20.  We get uneasy when we read, "You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God." Romans 6:22.  There is no Salvation without a willful transfer of ownership; and we need to face the difficult truth that this means a transfer of control.

Giving up control is never easy.  It can be extra scary to face the unknown from the passenger seat; and it can be an offense to our pride to allow someone else (even God!) to take the lead.  The roots of "self" go very deep!  But as we learn to completely trust, God brings us to that wonderful place of peace where we can say, "Whom have I in Heaven but You? And earth has nothing I desire besides You" Psalm 73:25.  Though sometimes difficult, there is great joy in a complete surrender to the will of our Heavenly Father.

As we give Him control over every area of our life, He will show us how to use ALL for His glory; "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works" Ephesians 2:10.  He will give us the tools to accomplish His will, and in the process meet every need and fulfill our deepest desires.

He is the Potter and we are the clay.  He is the Creator and we are definitely "the created."  But we have been created with an awesome purpose. We have been given gifts, talents, and abilities, which when given back to God are used to bring Him glory and honor.  This IS our purpose!  We have been created to glorify His Name as we love Him and trust Him with all our heart.  Let's bring Him glory and honor as we walk in the understanding that we have been created to do His will.

......perspective

The path of a successful Christian walk is one of daily commitment to Christ and submission to the leading of His Spirit. Jesus said, "If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me" Luke 9:23. 

Paul understood this commitment when he said, "I die every day" 1 Corinthians 15:31. Our old nature died when our heart was transformed by the Spirit of God; yet, there remains an on-going death which occurs as we continue our walk and battle temptations from a world which seeks to pull us away from Christ.

Our daily commitment, denial, and "self-death" can become a painful burden if we focus on our present circumstances. Anytime our walk is characterized by self-pity, and our trials become viewed as the heavy cross we must bear for Jesus, we have missed the true joy and peace - the true success - that God desires for our life.

"If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men."1 Corinthians 15:19

If our hope in Christ is only for today's protection and blessings, then we have grossly underestimated the power of the gospel. This limited view of a Christian life will always fall short of our expectations. Through faith in Jesus, we have been given eternal life! This means the life we now live must be viewed on an eternal time scale.

When we place our faith in the sacrifice of Jesus for the forgiveness of sin, our life begins anew. But this means far more than a fresh start. In an instant, EVERYTHING has changed. The burdens that were once so heavy must now be weighed against the magnificent glory of Heaven. And our "never-ending" trials must now be timed on the clock of eternity.

The world screams at us to focus on the here and now, on immediate gratification from what we can see and feel. It tells us life is short so fill it with sensual pleasures and tangible possessions. God's Word agrees that our earthly life is short; "A mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes" James 4:14. But it also teaches that our spiritual life continues forever! "What is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal" 2 Corinthians 4:18.

We have been given new eyes! Let's begin to view our life in the context of eternity and gain the greater hope and power this view can provide today. Let's carry our cross with greater joy, live with more peace and contentment, and experience new victories in life's many battles. Let's find true success as we evaluate all areas of our life from an eternal perspective.

- steve troxel

......eternity

If our view of Heaven contains no real foundation, the thought of eternity will never make our troubles seem "light and momentary" 2 Corinthians 4:17. And while it's true that "faith is the substance of things hoped for" Hebrews 11:1, we still need some understanding or our faith will never generate the hope which can truly impact our life.

When Jacob was looking for a wife, he found Rachel. Jacob quickly fell in love and promised to work seven years in exchange for receiving Rachel as his wife.

"So Jacob served seven years to get Rachel, but they seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her."Genesis 29:20

Jacob worked hard for many years, but the hope of being with the one he loved eased any burden he might have felt. Jacob had a good understanding of the one he hoped for, and this brought him great comfort. He saw Rachel's beauty every day and was certainly permitted to talk with her often. He knew Rachel and probably spent many hours dreaming of her and holding her in his arms. There was undoubtedly a longing inside Jacob which he knew only Rachel could fill.

God gave His Son so we could be brought back to a full and right relationship with Him for all eternity. But God did not leave us with an empty view or ask us to cling to a blind hope. He allows us into His presence and gives us the ability to know Him NOW! We will never grasp all that Heaven has to offer until we see Him face to face. But God allows us to taste eternity if we will remove the competing distractions, draw near to His side, and ask for our hunger to be satisfied.

Let's dedicate our lives to knowing the One with whom we will spend eternity - the One on whom we base our hope. Let's commune with our Father in prayer and learn of His nature through His Word. Let's strive for an all-consuming love - a love complete with the empty ache which only His presence can fill. Let's rejoice, receive comfort and gain strength, as we draw near and are allowed a taste of eternity.

- steve troxel

.......excuses

 "I'm not perfect."

"I have all kinds of problems."

"I don't know the Bible well enough."

"I have no ability. I don't have any gifts."

"I'm limited."

"I'm just not worthy..."

Well, did you know that....

    Moses stuttered.

    David's armor didn't fit.

    John Mark deserted Paul.

    Timothy had ulcers.

    Hosea's wife was a prostitute.

    Amos' only training was in fig-tree pruning.

    Jacob was a liar.

    David had an affair.

    Abraham was too old.

    David was too young.

    Peter was afraid of death.

    Lazarus was dead.

    John was self-righteous.

    Naomi was a widow.

    Paul was a persecutor of the church.

    Moses was a murderer.

    Jonah ran from God's will.

    Miriam was a gossip.

    Gideon and Thomas both doubted.

    Jeremiah was depressed and suicidal.

    Elijah was burned out.

    John the Baptist was a loudmouth.

    Martha was a worry-wart.

    Did I mention that Moses had a short fuse?

    So did Peter, Paul - well, lots of folks did.

God doesn't require an interview for salvation. He's our Heavenly Father. He doesn't check our bank statement or credit rating or our IQ before He uses us.  He knows who we are, what we are, what we’ve done, what we think we can’t do and what we think we can do (in our own strength) and loves us in spite of ourselves.

There are lots of reasons why God shouldn't call us. But if we are in love with Him, if we hunger for Him, He'll use us in spite of who we are, where we've been, what we have done, or the fact that we are not perfect!

Jesus says, "Ask, and it shall be given you: seek, and you will find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you; For every one that asks will receive; and he that seeks will find; and to him that knocks it shall be opened"  Matthew 7:7-8

 

.....leprosy

The term leprosy, as used in the Bible, actually refers to a whole variety of skin conditions ranging from rashes, to open sores, to various infectious diseases, and includes true leprosy as we know it today.

According to God's Law given through Moses, a person with leprosy was ceremonially unclean and not allowed to take part in any form of worship. They were to live in isolation or cry out "Unclean! Unclean!" as they walked about the community Leviticus 13. Lepers were strictly avoided since even accidental contact would cause a person to become unclean. Therefore, imagine the turmoil in the crowd as a leper boldly approached Jesus.

"A man with leprosy came and knelt before Him and said, 'Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.' Jesus reached out His hand and touched the man. 'I am willing,' He said. 'Be clean!' Immediately he was cured of his leprosy."Matthew 8:2-3

Yes, imagine the turmoil as many in the crowd scattered to get out of the leper's way. Some must have been calling out warnings, others delivering harsh rebukes. But even more important, consider the faith of the leper as he stepped forward. He knew he would face ridicule and scorn, but he had heard about Jesus and his faith propelled him to action.

Jesus looked past the ugliness of the man's condition and saw directly into his heart. In the heart, Jesus saw a beautiful man of faith reaching out to be made clean. He saw a heart which reflected the heart of king David; "Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin" Psalm 51:2.

Our sin creates an ugliness far greater than any skin disease. Sin caused man to be repulsive to God and totally separated from His presence. But while we were in this terminal state, God poured out His love; "While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" Romans 5:8.

No matter how bad we think we look - no matter how much sin is covering us and making us unclean - Jesus sees directly into our heart. No amount of sin can keep Him from rescuing those with a repentant heart and a desire to be cleansed.

If there is anything causing us to be separated from the presence of our Lord today - any past sin, any current temptations, or any lack of obedience - we must kneel before Him and seek forgiveness. Others may turn away and not understand, but Jesus stands ready to lovingly touch us with His outstretched hand and say, "Be Clean!"

- steve troxel

.....hospitable

And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption. Ephesians 4:30 

Have you ever noticed that different homes have their own smells? Some have odd odors, and you don’t want to stay very long. Others have inviting scents, like the smell of delicious food cooking, and you enjoy being there.

There is a difference between being in a home and being at home.

The Bible tells us that the Holy Spirit lives in the heart of every Christian. Romans 8:9 says, “But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you”.

When you become a Christian, the Holy Spirit seals and indwells you. 

But is the Holy Spirit at home in your heart? 

Is He comfortable in your life?

The Holy Spirit has a personality. Yes, He is God. And yes, we might even sin against Him specifically. The Bible tells us that it’s possible to insult the Holy Spirit, resist the Holy Spirit, and blaspheme the Holy Spirit.

We also can make the Holy Spirit sad. The apostle Paul wrote, “And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption” Ephesians 4:30.

Have you ever done or said something that reduced another person to tears? 

It’s hard to look at someone who is crying because of what you said or did. In the same way, we can do things that grieve the Holy Spirit.

Paul went on to say, “Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior” verse 31. These things make the Holy Spirit sorrowful.

So, how can you tell if you’re living a Spirit-controlled life? The Holy Spirit will be at home in your heart.

- greg laurie 

....toilets

 …those he wanted to promote, he promoted; and those he wanted to humble, he humbled Dan 5:19.

Paul desired a career in the building industry. Early in his career, he was working with a large ministry to help direct several of their construction projects. 

As the projects were completed, Paul was asked to stay on for future projects. To keep him busy he was given a number of jobs - one of which was cleaning toilets. He recalls getting down on his knees each day and complaining to the Lord, "I’m a college graduate!" 

Discouraged, Paul told the Lord, "I will not leave here until You promote me. Please give me contentment with my circumstance." 

Paul felt totally forgotten by God. A few months later, Paul received a phone call from a man in the Midwest who owned five successful businesses who wanted to interview Paul for a job. This came as a total surprise to Paul. 

As he drove to the interview, he told the Lord, "I only want your will in my life, nothing else. I am content to remain obscure for the rest of my life if I have You. You must override my lack of experience for me to get this job."

The owner of the company asked Paul a surprising question: "If I asked you to clean a toilet, what would you do?" Paul sat there, stunned. He wanted to burst out laughing. Paul assured him that he would simply pick up a sponge and start cleaning.

Amazingly, Paul was hired even though other candidates were more qualified. After several months of success Paul asked his boss why he hired him. His boss replied, "Paul, I still have a large stack of applications from people who wanted this job. Do you remember the first question I asked you in the interview? 

I asked each one the same question. You were the only one who said he would clean the toilet. Paul, I am a wealthy man, but I grew up dirt poor. I clean my own toilets at home. I can’t have people running my businesses who are too proud to clean a toilet."

Sometimes God places us in situations to see if we will be faithful in those before He is willing to promote us to greater things. 

- os hillman

.....service

God's plan is that we learn to live in His presence and become "conformed to the likeness of His Son" Romans 8:29. This means we must listen intently for God's direction and follow where He leads, not just blindly walk down what appears to be His path.

David was crowned king of Judah soon after Saul died. About seven years later, all of Israel acknowledged David as their new king. One of David's first actions as king was to move the Ark of God from the home of Abinadab to Jerusalem. David and all the officials believed that by making the Ark a more central focus for the nation, God would bless all of Israel.

This was a very exciting time. The Ark was being transported on a new cart pulled by oxen, and over thirty thousand people were "celebrating with all their might before the Lord, with songs and with harps, lyres, tambourines, sistrums and cymbals" 2 Samuel 6:5. But even during this time of great excitement, God clearly demonstrated the need for obedience.

"When they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah reached out and took hold of the Ark of God, because the oxen stumbled. The Lord's anger burned against Uzzah because of his irreverent act; therefore God struck him down and he died there beside the Ark of God."2 Samuel 6:6-7

Uzzah's intentions were good, but God considered his actions irreverent. Uzzah desired to serve God by keeping the Ark from falling to the ground, but his enthusiastic and well intentioned actions were not directed by God. In fact, Uzzah's actions were in direct conflict with God's Word.

During the time of Moses, God had given instructions that the Ark should be moved with poles Exodus 25:14-15 and that anyone who touched the Ark must be put to death Numbers 4:15. Uzzah served where he thought there was a need, but he served at the expense of true obedience.

We must learn great sensitivity to God's leading. Seemingly godly action, if done outside the will of God, is sin. We must never assume that what "looks" good and godly is truly of God. Our Heavenly Father will always be faithful to lead us in His perfect will. But we must be willing to spend time (often, lots of time!) worshiping at His feet, communing with Him in prayer, and waiting patiently for His direction. 

As we serve our Lord, let's do so with great enthusiasm, but let's always allow Him to lead and serve Him in obedience.

- steve troxel

.....mountain

 "...Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”  Matthew 17:20

Many years ago, a small congregation in the foothills of the Great Smokies built a new sanctuary on a piece of land willed to them by a church member.  Ten days before the new church was to open, the local building inspector informed the pastor that the parking lot was inadequate for the size of the building. Until the church doubled the size of the parking lot, they would not be able to use the new sanctuary. 

Unfortunately, the church with its undersized lot had used every inch of their land except for the mountain against which it had been built. In order to build more parking spaces, they would have to move the mountain out of the back yard. 

Undaunted, the pastor announced the next Sunday morning that he would meet that evening with all members who had "mountain moving faith." They would hold a prayer session asking God to remove the mountain from the back yard and to somehow provide enough money to have it paved and painted before the scheduled opening dedication service the following week. 

At the appointed time, 24 of the congregation's 300 members assembled for prayer. They prayed for nearly three hours. At ten o'clock the pastor said the final "Amen." "We'll open next Sunday as scheduled," he assured everyone. "God has never let us down before, and I believe He will be faithful this time too." 

The next morning as he was working in his study there came a loud knock at his door. When he called "come in," a rough looking construction foreman appeared, removing his hard hat as he entered. "Excuse me, Reverend, I'm from a Construction Company over in the next county. We're building a huge new shopping mall over there and we need some fill dirt. Would you be willing to sell us a chunk of that mountain behind the church? We'll pay you for the dirt we remove and pave all the exposed area free of charge, if we can have it right away. We can't do anything else until we get the dirt in and allow it to settle properly." 

"Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”  Matthew 17:20

- david langerfeld 

.....you

And lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the world. Matthew 28:20

When you wake in the morning, I am with you. 

When you eat your breakfast, I am with you.

When you get ready for work, I am with you.

When you go to work or school, I am with you.

When you go through your daily activities, I am with you.

When you interact with your family and friends, I am with you.

When you take a walk, I am with you.

When you nap by the ocean, I am with you.

When you are on top of the mountain, I am with you.

When you are on top of the world, I am with you.

When the bottom falls out of your world, I am with you.

When your heart is full of joy, I am with you.

When your heart is breaking, I am with you.

When you are in a crowd, I am with you.

When you are alone, I am with you.

I am with you...

      wherever you go,

      whatever you do,

      whatever is happening.

I hope you always know that I am with you. 

- tom norvell

.....empowered

And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death  Romans 8:2

Who is the Holy Spirit? The Holy Spirit is God and a member of the Trinity. The Holy Spirit has a distinct personality, a will, and a purpose. And the Holy Spirit has a specific work that He wants to do in our lives.

Before we were Christians, the Holy Spirit convicted us of our sin and drew us to Christ. And once we believed in Christ, the Holy Spirit sealed us. The Holy Spirit also will lead us, empower us, and fill us each day as we seek to live the Christian life.

Paul wrote to the believers in Ephesus, “Be filled with the Holy Spirit, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts” Ephesians 5:18–19. Being filled with the Spirit has nothing to do with our emotions. Unfortunately, some people take the work of the Spirit and make it look bizarre. But that has nothing to do with the Holy Spirit.

Being filled with the Spirit simply means letting the Holy Spirit control us. When we ask God to fill us, we are asking Him to control our lives. In fact, the term “filled” that Ephesians 5:18 uses to describe the filling of the Holy Spirit also carries the meaning of permeation.

For example, think of how people used salt in the first century. They didn’t have refrigeration, so they rubbed salt into meat to permeate it and, as a result, preserve it. Our closest modern comparison would be jerky.

So, Paul was saying the Holy Spirit wants to permeate our lives. The Holy Spirit wants to be a part of every aspect of our daily living. It isn’t about trying harder. It’s about realizing the Holy Spirit will give us the power we need to live this Christian life. 

- greg laurie

......condemnation

So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. Romans 8:1

Chapter 8 of Romans begins with no condemnation and ends with no separation.Verse 1 tells us, “So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus”. And verse 39 promises, “No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord”.

These verses are not saying that our lives will be free of all failures and inconsistencies. Rather, they say there is no condemnation. We find a classic example of this in John 8, where we read about a woman who was caught in the act of adultery. Some religious leaders brought her before Jesus and said, “This woman was caught in the act of adultery. The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?” verses 4–5.

Without a word, Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust. Then He said, “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!” verse 7. We don’t know what Jesus wrote. But the woman’s accusers suddenly came under conviction, and they all left.

Jesus said to her, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?”

“No, Lord,” she told Him verses 10–11.

Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more” verse 11.

A Spirit-led believer lives a condemnation-free life. Paul wrote, “Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” 2 Corinthians 5:17.

God sees us for what we will become, not just what we are. We see the past; God sees the future. We see the end; God sees a new beginning.

- greg laurie

.....hidden

The decrees of the Lord are firm, and all of them are righteous. They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb. Psalm 19:10

I heard a pastor share the story of a young couple who bought a house on a large piece of land. They lived there day after day, but never thought of doing much with the land. They lived in poverty just trying to pay the mortgage on this property, so they decided to sell the property instead. The new owners saw much potential in the land and started digging, planting, and cultivating the land. One day as they were digging, they found petroleum. Due to this hidden treasure on the land, the new owners were able to earn great wealth, much more than they had ever dreamed of.

We, too, have been given something of great worth… the Bible. It is filled with so many gems of wisdom to help us live. It tells us how to have healthy relationships, raise our children, how to work, and then provides comfort when we experience feelings of loneliness, depression, grief, etc. 

The hidden treasures in this book are endless! However, if we just have our Bible on a shelf and never bother to read it, we will experience spiritual poverty and never know the riches within. We must study it and put it to practice in our lives to experience the benefits and live abundantly.

God loves us so much that he not only gave his only Son for us and his Holy Spirit to be our comforter, but he also gave us a manual. Ask God to speak to you and he will! When you read his Word and listen, he speaks. The more we cultivate our relationship with Christ, the more treasures we will discover.

- crystal b

....shortsighted

But Jesus answered by saying to them, ‘You don’t know what you are asking! Are you able to drink from the bitter cup of suffering I am about to drink?' Matthew 20:22 

It was Jesus who gave His disciples James and John the nickname “Sons of Thunder” Mark 3:17. Now, you don’t get a nickname like that without a reason.On one occasion during Jesus’ ministry, the people in a Samaritan village weren’t responsive to His message. So, James and John said, “Lord, should we call down fire from heaven to burn them up?” Luke 9:54.

The Bible also gives us a little hint, perhaps, as to why these two became the Sons of Thunder. One day their mother, Salome, approached Jesus with her sons—and a request: “In your Kingdom, please let my two sons sit in places of honour next to you, one on your right and the other on your left” Matthew 20:21.

But Jesus told them, “You don’t know what you are asking! Are you able to drink from the bitter cup of suffering I am about to drink?” verse 22.

What was this cup? It was the cup of God’s wrath as Jesus bore the sins of the world on the cross. Remember, in the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus prayed, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine” Matthew 26:39.

God said no to their mother’s request, and no doubt they were thankful for that later. After all, Salome was there at the crucifixion of Jesus. As she stood at the foot of the cross, she would have seen the two criminals who hung on crosses to the right and left of Jesus.

If God has said no to your prayer recently, don’t think that it’s necessarily a bad thing. It could be a very good thing, because God loves you and sees the big picture. There is a place for faith and prayer. But God may overrule our requests, especially when we ask for something that will harm us.

- greg laurie

....speak

Moses was chosen by God to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt. Through Moses, God demonstrated His awesome power and holiness. At the time, there was no one closer to God than Moses. However, even with this wonderfully close relationship, Moses still struggled at times with trusting God.

After being led out of Egypt, the people often brought their complaints to Moses. On one occasion, the people complained about their lack of drinking water; "Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to this terrible place?" Numbers 20:5. When Moses entered the presence of God with this concern, he was given clear direction for solving the problem: "Gather the assembly together. Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water" Numbers 20:8.

Moses gathered the people as he was told. But rather than simply speaking to the rock, Moses tried to accomplish God's work with a method of his own choosing.

"'Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?' Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff. Water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank." Numbers 20:10-11

Moses had seen God's power and knew how much He hated disobedience; yet, at this moment, Moses did not follow God's command. Moses may have become full of pride while leading the Israelites through the desert; "Must WE {Aaron and I} bring you water out of this rock?" Or, he may have thought God needed help from the same staff used to turn the Nile river into blood and part the Red Sea. Either way, his disobedience stemmed from a lack of trust in God - trust is always related to obedience!

God still loved Moses and will fellowship with him for all eternity, but his failure to obey was severely punished; "Because you did not trust in Me enough to honor Me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them" Numbers 20:12. God's perfect plan for Moses clearly included a trip into the Promised land; but, even after 40 years of faithful leadership, Moses' lack of trust caused him to miss out on God's very best.

God knows our needs, and His plan is for us to trust Him and walk with Him as we are conformed to the image of His Son. Let's listen intently for His direction and then fully obey. Let's take the steps to ensure all we do in our ministry - all we do in our family and in every area of our life - is done to bring Him glory and honor. Let's trust Him and His ways with ALL our heart, and always remember...don't strike the rock!

- steve troxel

.....bride

Though we have freedom in Christ, we are also called to live a life of holiness. As we continue to walk with Jesus, we are called to strive for purity in our worship while understanding that nothing we do can ever add to His gift of Salvation.

Perhaps this relationship is best understood by considering our "marriage" to Christ; "I promised you to one husband, to Christ" 2 Corinthians 11:2. Jesus demonstrated His love for us, His eternal bride, when He gave His life, and NOTHING "will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus" Romans 8:39. He promised to never leave us nor forsake us Hebrews 13:5, and even "if we are faithless, He will remain faithful" 2 Timothy 2:13. His love is perfect!

However, His perfect love must never produce complacency. We have no fear of losing our Bridegroom or driving Him away, and we need not earn His acceptance. But if we truly understand His love, we ought to be compelled to return His love in everything we do and live to bring Him glory and honor.

When the people of Israel turned their hearts away from God, it caused Him great pain. They were His chosen people - His chosen bride whom He dearly loved - and yet, they continued to seek a life apart from Him.

"How I have been grieved by their adulterous hearts, which have turned away from Me, and by their eyes, which have lusted after their idols."Ezekiel 6:9

This pain still occurs today whenever we withhold even a portion of our heart. We are married to a loving God who gave His life so we could live, but He is also "a consuming fire, a jealous God" Deuteronomy 4:24. When we allow our heart to become attracted to the things of this world or controlled by its set of values, we become an adulterous bride; "Don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God?" James 4:4.

Many of our discussions of what is "acceptable" behavior for the bride of Christ, miss the true essence of our relationship. We are to be passionately in love! Our greatest desire should be to do those things which please the Bridegroom, not to cause Him grief as we live on the cold edge of what is "allowable." Everything is allowable! But what are the things which properly express our love?

Let's keep our heart pure and devoted to Him. Let's abide in Him and love Him with ALL our heart. Let's commit to living the remainder of our days as a faithful and loving bride.

- steve troxel

.....last

I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it - and die 1 Kings 17:12

Imagine telling a widow who was about to eat her last meal with her only son to give you a portion of that meal. That would seem like a cruel and unusually selfish thing to do. Imagine you have a need for provision and God tells you to go to the most desperate person in the land to get your provision. 

God led Elijah to a poor widow who was on her last meal of flour. Why would God lead Elijah from one desperate situation into another? He wished to perform yet another miracle and show His faithfulness to those who needed it most.

Elijah proceeded to tell the widow: "But first make a small cake of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son. For this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the LORD gives rain on the land’" 1 Kings 17:13-14.

Would you have questioned such logic in the face of a life-threatening situation? The woman demonstrates her faith in God and Elijah by giving him her last meal. This act of faith insured that her provision would be there day after day. God multiplied her flour and her jug of oil. Provision followed obedience. 

"For the jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry, in keeping with the word of the LORD spoken by Elijah" 1 Kings 17:16. God often multiplies what we already have in our hand in a miraculous way when we yield it to Him. God took her only resource just like He took the loaves and fishes, and multiplied it for those who were in need. 

God has placed skills and resources in our hand already. We need to apply faith to that which He has placed in our hand in order to see His provision manifested.

- os hilman