Look At What I've Done...

Scripture:
1 Corinthians 3:6-9 (NASB)

I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth. Now he who plants and he who waters are one; but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor. For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.

Devotional:

How often do we strike out to do “God’s will and work?”  How many times do we think look at what I did or accomplished?  Maybe the thoughts are I must do it all.  As Paul noted in 1^st Corinthians it wasn’t himself or Apollos caused spiritual growth in people.  They were not the ones who made someone a believer.  Look at the farmer.  He can plant the seeds.  His helpers can water them and weed the fields.  However not one of them can make the plant spring up from the seed.  Only God can.

We must be careful not to take the credit for someone receiving salvation.  It is important to also realize we are not supposed to do it all.  That is why we are the body of Christ, or the church.  The human body is made up of many different parts each part doing something different.  1 Corinthians 12:12-14 (NIV):

Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ.  For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.  Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.

By each of us doing our own jobs according to our gifts and God’s prompting we can do the most good.  We then are able to get much more of God’s work.  He will be glorified in our work.  Not all of us are good with numbers.  Not everyone can paint or put up a wall.  Not everyone can work on plumbing, electrical, or roofing.  But put everyone together we can build and move mountains.

Do not worry about what others are doing.  Concentrate on your task.  Do not boast of your accomplishments, for they are not yours but God’s.  Instead give credit where it is due, focusing on Him.  Glorify and honor God in all you do.  Then not only will you shine and be blessed but those lives you touch will be as well.

To Teach An Old Dog New Tricks

Scripture:
Acts 18:24-28 (NIV)

Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John. He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately.

When Apollos wanted to go to Achaia, the brothers and sisters encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. When he arrived, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed. For he vigorously refuted his Jewish opponents in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Messiah.

Devotional:

No matter how old we are or how smart we think we are there is always room to learn something new.  Apollos who was an educated man went to Ephesus to teach about Christ.  He was very accurate in his teachings with one exception.  He didn’t teach past the Baptism of John.  His education wasn’t complete.  Priscilla and Aquila took him aside to share the death and resurrection of Christ.  Afterward he was better equipped to preach the Gospel.  He was of tremendous help to other disciples.

Apollos humbly took the instruction that was needed.  He could have refutted their teachings.  After all he was well educated and clearly knew the scriptures very well.  Because of his willingness to listen and learn new things he was able to be used by God.  He became a great help to those he served with.  Do you have a humble heart?  Are you willing to learn new things?  Do you listen to what someone else has to say?  You never know they might hold a new perspective to the Scriptures that you hadn’t thought of.  Someone may be able to clear up something written in the scripture that you hadn’t realized you didn’t know or miss understood.  Each of us can learn something new.  We can all use a little clearing up of a subject here or there.  Are you willing to allow someone to show you and teach you?  One thing is for sure, I don’t want to teach about God and be wrong.  I never want to miss lead anyone.  My goal is to always have an open mind, to listen to what others have to say.  Who knows maybe what they would teach is better, maybe no.  If I keep a closed mind I will never know…

God's Love

Scripture:
Lamentations 3:13-26 (NIV)

He pierced my heart
    with arrows from his quiver.
I became the laughingstock of all my people;
    they mock me in song all day long.
He has filled me with bitter herbs
    and given me gall to drink.

He has broken my teeth with gravel;
    he has trampled me in the dust.
I have been deprived of peace;
    I have forgotten what prosperity is.
So I say, “My splendor is gone
    and all that I had hoped from the Lord.”

I remember my affliction and my wandering,
    the bitterness and the gall.
I well remember them,
    and my soul is downcast within me.
Yet this I call to mind
    and therefore I have hope:

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
    for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
    great is your faithfulness.
I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion;
    therefore I will wait for him.”

The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him,
    to the one who seeks him;
it is good to wait quietly
    for the salvation of the Lord.

Devotional:

Pain of rejection, the fear of being pushed away enters each of our hearts at some point.  None of us wants to hear the words “I hate you” spoken to them.  No one wants to be rejected from a group or individual.  Sometimes the fear can be overwhelming and hinder lives.  Sometimes it can prevent us from having a relationship with God.

The good news is that God never leaves us.  His love for us will never fail or end.  Jesus will never reject anyone who comes to Him.  Deuteronomy 6:31:6 (NIV):

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

John 3:16:

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

There is nothing to fear.  You will never be rejected.  God loves each of us, you, so much that His one and only Son came to show us eternal life.  He came to bring us salvation.  His love for you is so great he willingly suffered and died so that you can be with Him forever.  No one who comes to Christ will be rejected.  God’s love prevails, His love overcomes, His love never fails…

What Does The World See?

Scripture:
Titus 3:1-8 (NIV)

Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone.

At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.

Devotional:

An image of Gollum from JRR Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings appeared in my mind after reading the scripture verse.  He was a bent pitiful creature whose only thought was getting what he perceived as his.  How much are we like him?  Titus 3:3:

At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.

Before Christ came into our lives we were very much like Gollum in various ways.  It isn’t until we are filled with the Holy Spirit that we overcome our sinful nature.  Through the love of Christ we truly are given a new birth.

It is about time we, as Christians, start acting accordingly.  I know I am guilty of having bad attitudes, or not being happy with what God has given me.  I can be short with family members when I am agitated or too focused on something.  The world is watching us.  What is it that they really see?  What do you want them to see instead?  Let us show the world who we really are.  Let us follow what we are told in Titus 3:8:

This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.

Salvation For Everyone

Scripture:
Matthew 20:9-16 (NIV)

“The workers who were hired about five in the afternoon came and each received a denarius. So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. ‘These who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.’

“But he answered one of them, ‘I am not being unfair to you, friend. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? Take your pay and go. I want to give the one who was hired last the same as I gave you. Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’

“So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”

Devotional:

This morning I had a conversation with a friend at the coffee shop.  The subject was about salvation.  The example was of a person who committed crimes, murder and theft.  Upon their deathbed they say they are sorry.  Do they still get to go to heaven?  My answer was…  Of course not, are you kidding those scum don’t deserve salvation…  OK, I didn’t really say that.  What I did say was that if they truly repented and sought Christ in their hearts they would receive salvation.  For some reason this concept doesn’t sit well with a lot of people.  One thought is that someone like that, serial killers and other similar people, do not deserve to go into heaven.  I have an eye opener for people who believe that.  They do not deserve salvation; I don’t either for that matter.  The other reason I think people have a hard time with this is someone waiting till literally the last minute to seek repentance and salvation.  They believe it just inst fair or right.  Well it may not be fair, but that is OK.  However, it is right.  Salvation is for everyone.

One time someone shared with me that they were glad life wasn’t fair.  As we all know life isn’t fair and I agree that it is a good thing too.  What would you get, or have, if life was fair.  For starters none of us would have God’s blessings.  None of us would have salvation.  If life was fair and we got only what we deserve, then all we would get is death.  The wages of sin is death, Romans 6:23.  In Romans 3:23 (NIV) it states, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”  Because life is not fair we have salvation.  Romans 6:23 (NIV), “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  We do not deserve it, none of us do.  God gives it anyway.  God loves us so much that Christ came, suffered, and died for all of us and all our sins.  It doesn’t matter when you accept Christ as your savior.  It does matter that you do accept Him.  After you die it is too late.  You cannot go back.  There is no do over.  

We have only one chance in this life.  It doesn’t matter what the sins are.  All sin is forgivable, if you are young, old, dying, or a have a full life ahead, you need Christ.  John 16:6 (NIV), “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.’”