False Huymility...

Scripture:
Proverbs 27:21 (NASB)

The crucible is for silver and the furnace for gold,
And each is tested by the praise accorded him.

Devotional:

Most of the time, I have difficulty accepting compliments or praise from others.  I have had the honor of being able to give a sermon or devotion from time to time over the years.  When the services would be over sometimes someone would come up to tell me how much they liked it or that it really spoke to them.  After the first or second time I would try to give the credit to God.  After all I wouldn’t have been able to complete the task without his help.  These devotional thoughts that I write I need God’s words to share with others. 

After reading a devotional from Charles Stanley I realized that could also have a negative effect.  If it becomes a show of words meaning to impress upon people how humble I am.  After all it was God not me.  A false humility is just as bad as being prideful.  Are you humble to impress others, or are you humble because you sincerely give praise and credit to God?  Jesus warns us not to be like the Pharisees of the times.  Luke 12:1(NIV) states, “Meanwhile, when a crowd of many thousands had gathered, so that they were trampling on one another, Jesus began to speak first to his disciples, saying: “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.” Matthew 23:2-3 (NIV) states, “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat.  So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.” Finally Matthew 6:2-4 (NIV):

“So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.  But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”    

If we are not careful we can be just as bad in our humility as those who are prideful.  Let all our hearts focus on God.  He is worthy of all praise.  He deserves all the credit.  So the next time someone offers me praise as I give thanks I want to genially give credit back to God.  It is my prayer that the words I write are given to me by him.  Some devotionals are good, some not so good.  Through them all I want to be inspired by God.  After all it is through Christ that I can do all things.  The Holy Spirit is my enabler.  I pray that I always give genuine credit, praise to God for what I am able to do.  I never want to be boastful, prideful, or have a false humility.  What about you?

Life-Giving Reproof...

Scripture:
Proverbs 15:31-33 (NASB)

He whose ear listens to the life-giving reproof
Will dwell among the wise.
He who neglects discipline despises himself,
But he who listens to reproof acquires understanding.
The fear of the Lord is the instruction for wisdom,
And before honor comes humility.

Devotional:

All of us at one time or other make mistakes or just get it wrong.  The thing of it is that we don’t like to admit it.  We like to believe we always get it right and never make mistakes.  We tend to steer clear of any correction, reprimanding, or disciplining that would come our way.  If we never made any mistakes we would then be perfect.  There is only one man that is perfect, and that last time I checked it wasn’t me.

All through the Bible we are told that the wise accepts discipline and listens to correction.  I look back to when I was a child and see my parent’s disciplining was for my benefit.  Of course at the time I didn’t think so.  I just couldn’t understand why I couldn’t or why I got into trouble for it.  Looking back I can see how it helped shape me into who I am today.  When we listen to God and accept His correction it will help us grow spiritually.  By accepting “reproof” from God we will learn and grow in the right direction.  We will become better Christians living better lives.  We all make mistakes.  We will get it wrong from time to time.  It is when the correction comes that we are made aware of it.  Then we can make amends and benefit from it.  It isn’t fun going through it, in the end though we will be better for it.

The Best Teleprompter

Scripture:
Luke 12-11-12 (NASB)

When they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not worry about how or what you are to speak in your defense, or what you are to say; for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.”

Devotional:

Often times I feel in adequate to talk to someone about Christ, or to write these devotional thoughts.  I think who am I to speak or write, what do I know?  Onetime at a men’s breakfast, I was giving the devotional for the breakfast.  As I prepared to give the devotion I questioned who am I to be able to stand up and give it.  After all there are older men who are smarter and wiser than I am.  I thought that one of them should be up there not me.  That is when God spoke to me and said “you are the one I called to stand up there not them.”  

It was then that I realized God doesn’t necessarily call those that are qualified for a task.  But He qualifies those He calls.  Next time you are faced with a conversation and you are not sure what to say.  Simply pause for a moment to pray.  The Holy Spirit will give you the words to speak.  You just have to allow the Holy Spirit to speak to you.  There have been many times I don’t know what to say.  After a pause and a prayer God will give me the words to say.  Luke 12:12 (NASB) “for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.”  Allow the Holy Spirit a chance to give you the words needed.  He is the best teleprompter you could ever wish for…

My Truth, Your Truth, The Truth...

Scripture:
2 Peter 2:1-3 (NASB)

But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves. Many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned; and in their greed they will exploit you with false words; their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.

Devotional:

It can seem difficult to know what is true and what is false.  I have heard people tell me that the Bible is just a bunch of stories put together.  A friend once told me his pastor taught that the story of Jonah was just that, a story.  It wasn’t real it was just an illustration.  Society is pushing Churches to teach acceptance of sinful lifestyles.  People will twist and turn scripture to justify their own actions.  A long time ago someone also stated that most of the New Testament didn’t really matter when it came to the Bible.  After all they were just letters to people.

How do we know when it is false teachings or not?  Like all battles you have to be prepared.  You have to know the Word of God.  You have to be in tune with the Holy Spirit.  Keeping our focus on God and being in constant prayer will help us discern the truth from the lies.  One thing to remember is that any teachings should never contradict the scripture or God’s very nature.  When I was in college I took a class that talked about different philosophies.  One that is becoming more popular in today’s society is truth.  What is true for me may not be true for you.  In a nut shell my “truth” may not be your “truth.”  There is only one truth.  There is no what is right for me is OK, what is right for you is also OK.  We cannot take bits and pieces of the Bible to fit our wants and desires.  We cannot justify our lives by choosing our own truths.  There is only one truth.  To know it better read the Bible, pray, and keep your focus on God.  Jesus sent a helper to us.  The Holy Spirit will help you discern the truth.  You just need to listen.  Remember the truth will not counter or conflict God and His word.

Are You A Rust Bucket?

Scripture:
Psalm 32:1-5 (NIV)

Blessed is the one
    whose transgressions are forgiven,
    whose sins are covered.
Blessed is the one
    whose sin the Lord does not count against them
    and in whose spirit is no deceit.

When I kept silent,
    my bones wasted away
    through my groaning all day long.
For day and night
    your hand was heavy on me;
my strength was sapped
    as in the heat of summer.

Then I acknowledged my sin to you
    and did not cover up my iniquity.
I said, “I will confess
    my transgressions to the Lord.”
And you forgave
    the guilt of my sin.

Devotional

Growing up in Chicago I saw many cars that were rusting out due to the salt.  In winter the salt is used to melt the snow and ice on the streets.  The salt promoted rusting.  Sometimes you didn’t see the rust just by looking at the outside.  It wasn’t until a close inspection that you could see the rust eating through the metal under the paint.

Failing to confess our sins will lead to similar results in us.  In Psalm 32 David shares how attempting to hide the sins wore him down.  When we try to hide or cover up our sin it will eat at us just as the rust eats away the metal of a car.  There have been many cars that have had the rusted areas sanded off.  Bondo can be used to fill in the low spots, or sometimes a new sheet of metal is used.  Finally sanding, priming, painting, followed up with a clear coat to finish the job.  When finished the car is once again solid.  When we confess our sins we are forgiven, shown grace, and mercy.  The sin is removed from our lives, remembered no more.  We are made clean and pure; we are made righteous through Christ.  Sin left unchecked will wear us down separating us from God.  Psalm 32:5 (NIV) “Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity.  I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.”  And you forgave the guilt of my sin.”

What You Think...

Scripture:
1 Corinthians 2:14-16 (NASB)

But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.  But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one.  For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he will instruct Him?  But we have the mind of Christ.

Devotional:

How we think and what we think about shapes who we are.  Proverbs 23:7 (NASB) “For as he thinks within himself, so he is…”  I have noticed that my thoughts are a reflection of my mood and attitude.  If I harbor sinful thoughts then my desires and actions will bend in that direction.  Positive and Holy thoughts will bring out Godly conduct.  

Paul tells us that we have the mind of Christ within us.  We have the ability to think spiritually in terms of what is Godly and Holy.  Joyce Meyers states in her Bible Study, found in www.youversion.com in the reading plans Battle Field of Mind. 

When we have the Holy Spirit living and active within us, the mind of Christ is action. The mind of Christ is given to us to direct us in the right way. If we have His mind, we will think positive thoughts. We will think about how blessed we are--how good God has been to us.

Jesus was positive, in spite of being lied about, lonely, misunderstood, and a multitude of other negative things.

Our spiritual battles are fought in our minds.  We will win or lose in what we think.  God has given us the ability to win.  Even when faced with hardship and everything looks bleak we have the ability to think positively.  We have the means to keep our focus on God and persevere through it.  We have the means to emulate Christ.  When He faced the cross and was betrayed He was still merciful, loving, caring.  With Him in us we can do the same.

Reference

Meyers, Joyce. Battle Field of the Mind. YouVersion. Retreived May 23, 2012 from           http://www.youversion.com/reading-plans/235-battle-field-of-the-mind-      devotional?day=1

To Truly Love Someone...

Scripture:
1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (NIV)

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 

Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.

Devotional:

What is love?  Often times we think of love as being just an emotion.  Couples become infatuated with one another.  They “feel” love toward each other, soon a friendship and possibly a romance blossoms.  The problem is that this so called love doesn’t last.  After going through the “honeymoon” stage people think that they “fall” out of love.  They no longer love one another.  Soon after the relationship fades and ends.

How does a relationship last?  What does it mean to “really” love someone?  We read 1 Corinthians and we are given several virtues of love.  A true and pure example of love is God’s love for us.  He came to earth as human; Jesus Christ was born and lived a sinless life.  Jesus showed us and taught us about God and the kingdom of heaven.  He ultimately suffered and died for our sins.  Through Him we have a means to enter the kingdom of heaven.  Jesus’ love is selfless.  He gave everything just so that we can be with Him.  

Love does not look to itself.  Love does nothing to harm or hurt someone else.  A relationship that is built upon the foundations of love will survive and even thrive past the “honeymoon” stage.  When you really love someone you will put them before yourself, look how Jesus treated people around Him.  When you really love someone you will uplift them and not strike out against them.  When you love someone you will care and nurture them.  Loving someone means you think of them first, what are their needs and wants.  By spending more energy and effort in these things your relationship will only grow stronger.  It is not easy.  There are times when we will fail.  But if all members of the relationship truly strive for these things then forgiveness, compassion, and mercy are there when needed.  The relationship will grow and become strong.  Is your relationship with Jesus in the “honeymoon” stage?  Have you moved beyond it into a meaningful relationship with Christ?  What about your friends and family?  Are you self seeking or looking to others first?  Your priorities will help show what you think love is.  Are your priorities inward or outward?  Ask God to show you His love and help you to love others as He loves you…