Broken or Restored

Scripture:
Acts 6:4
Romans 3:10-18

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Something I always had trouble with is how man is described.  We say that we are worms or detestable or use other bad descriptions.  We are worthless or rotten to the core.  The trouble I have always had is that man is also created in the image of God.  If God is good and perfect then man should inherently be the same.

Man is not evil or bad.  Man is inherently the image of God.  In that light man is good, loving, compassionate and full of mercy.  The trouble is that Adam and Eve listened to the lies of Satan and was deceived. Genesis 3:1-4

Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”

The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, ³ but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’”

“You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. ⁵ “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

In that deception man fell into sin.  It is sin that separates us from God.  Once we are separated from God our true image gets distorted and misshapen.  Through Christ we are made clean again, our sins are washed away.  It is in that cleansing that we are made complete again in our true image of God.  We cannot cleanse ourselves and must be washed by the blood of Christ our Savior. 2 Corinthians 5:17 "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:The old has gone, the new is here!"

Without Christ we will remain in a broken state.  In Christ we are restored to what we were meant to be.  Let us help others become restored.  Let us hear God's call and follow His will.  Let each of us do our part and spread the good news of restoration of redemption.  Let us bring God's hope to the world.

Troubled Times...

Scripture:
Psalm 71:19-24
Romans 10:11-15

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Troubled times seem to have hit us all.  The opening line in For Future Generations by 4Hiim goes "The Signs Are Obvious, They Are Everywhere All That We Hear About Is the Gloom and Despair Too Many Would Be Prophets Saying
"It’s the End of It All" I have heard over and over how we are in the end times.  All we here are the troubles and woes of the world.

I am not going to presume to know the fate of the world only God knows what will happen.  I do know how in the end it will all turn  out, at least for me.  In Psalm 71:20 "Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again."  Even if we never see a trouble free life here on earth in the end we will have peace and life in abundance in heaven.  The greatest news is that Christ has died for our sins.  Christ lives and we serve a living God not a dead statue. 

Instead of being caught up in our woes we should be excited and full of life.  We should want to spread the good news of life to all.  Jesus tells us to go forth and make disciples of all nations.  We are not to spread the news to just those we like or think deserve it.  If we do not go forth and spread the love of Christ to the ends of the earth who will?  We can no longer be a generation that simply says someone else will do it.  If Christians keep waiting for someone else then the work will not get done.

Even though times may be tough God is faithful.  We should want to share the joy of salvation and the hope of Christ to those who are without hope...

Wisdom

Scripture:
Job 127-13
Ephesians 5:15-17

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Most of us have heard sayings about wisdom.  For example Wise as an owl. A quote from Ben Franklin that I like is "Write injuries in dust, benefits in marble."  Another quote is "Words have no wings but they can fly a thousand miles." Author unknown (Korean on gossip).  Sheri Glewen states "Words spoken are like eggs broken."  These sayings and others can be found on www.wiseoldsayings.com. 

Every generation seeks wisdom.  Nobody wants to be counted the fool.  God places value in Wisdom.  The NIV version of the Bible uses wisdom 215 times and the KJV version 222 times.  One reference to wisdom is Proverbs 4:6-7  "Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you. Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding." Another reference is Job 28:28 ""And to man He said, 'Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom;And to depart from evil is understanding.'"

Five books of wisdom considered in the Bible are Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon.  When we want to find words of wisdom those are the books we turn to.  People do not look for books on how to be foolish, it seems to me that comes all too easy.  I am sure we could all write a few books on how to be foolish.  However, let us focus on being wise.  Let us help one another become wiser.  Words of wisdom will build foolish council will destroy.

(Side note:  This particular devotional thought was difficult for me to write.  I feel I have gotten it all messed up.  I prayed and prayed over what to write.  However, I do not consider myself a wise person and I do not feel qualified to write on this subject.  I ask for forgiveness for my poor collection of thoughts in today's devotional thoughts.)

Are You Counted?

Scripture:

Proverbs 9-7-12

Isaiah 49:13-18

As my family and I pile in our van we do a head count before leaving.  We want to make sure everyone is on board and no one gets left behind.  After we have left and look back a head will be down low and we do not see them.  Panic hits for a brief second and when we think someone was left behind.  

It doesn't matter who we are or what we have done.  Once we accept Christ as our savior we are counted among His children.  God loves us unconditionally with no reservations and no catches.  His love for us is so great that He became man and lived a mortal life.  Jesus died to pay our wages to sin.  He rose again to give us new life.

God has done His head count and we are counted among His.  He will not leave us or forsake us.  Isaiah 49:16 "Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; Your walls are continually before Me."  As a loving parent God will continually watch out for us and at the end of the day call us home.