Out With The Old

Scripture:
Colossians 3:1-10 (NIV)

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. 

Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. 

Devotional:

How many times I catch myself slipping back into old habits.  How often are the old ways still creeping in?  I pray for change, to be a better person, a kinder, gentler, more loving person.  Instead I find that my temper runs short and I get really frustrated hearing the little ones fuss, cry, and snit at each other.  Too many times I had found myself ready to yell out in anger or frustration.  As Paul shares with us in the opening of Colossians we are made new in Christ.  Through grace and God’s loving hand I have been able to change over the years.  

There are still times when something of the old sneaks out.  The important thing is not to dwell on them.  When we slip up we need to acknowledge our mistake, confess our sin, and move on.  We are able to overcome what we once were not by our own efforts but because we are made new.  We are made righteous in Christ.  We must not allow ourselves to continue to purposely live our lives as we once did.  Grace is not an open checkbook allowing us to sin as much as we like.  Our goals should be to become perfect as Christ is perfect.  For we are made perfect in Christ, we will see ultimate perfection after this life and are in heaven.  We need to set the goal aiming for perfection.  However, we must also realize that we will still sin.  We cannot dwell on our failures but focus on the goal.  A marathon runner keeps their goal in mind and takes it one step at a time.  It isn’t a sprint but a continual process.  Eventually the runner will make it to the finish.  Eventually we will make it to our home in heaven…

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…