"...for I do always those things that please him." John 8:29b
One of my email friends wrote me a note in response to yesterday's devotional about keeping your mouth shut and not repeating something that will cause discord, hurt feelings, disunity or trouble because God hates it. She said that she was going through a similar situation that very day and wanted to say something to a certain person but after reading the Coffee Break she didn't. She said it was easier to keep her mouth shut although she had the opportunity to say something once she realized how God felt about it.
Her last statement really spoke to me. The key to doing the right thing is to know how God feels about it. "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge". (Hosea 4:6a) If you aren't sure what pleases or displeases God, what He calls sin, what He says is an abomination, then when the temptation comes you may give into it and be destroyed by it. Of course, we still have to make the choice to do the right thing even if we know how He feels. If your goal is to please God and do His will then when you come to a situation you will already know what to do if you know how God feels about it. Daniel could have eaten the king's meat but he didn't because he knew how God felt about it. Joseph could have given into Potaphar's wife's advancements but because he knew how God felt about it he fled instead. They did not have to ask what was the right thing to do-- there was no doubt, no confusion, no hesitation, because they desired to please God and knew that to do other than they did would not.
Knowing what God says about something, knowing what displeases Him, knowing how He feels about certain issues will settle the decision for you... there will be no question about what you should do... you'll do the thing that pleases God.... therefore, the decision as to what to do will be an easy one.
Have a great day. When you know how God feels about it, it will settle the question, "What to do?" for you... that is if you desire to do His will.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
"Don't Repeat It"
".... and he that soweth discord among brethren." Proverbs 6:19b
Have you ever had a conversation with someone- perhaps a family member, a friend or a fellow employee- and the conversation contained some "negative" ideas or opinions about someone else? For example, this happened just recently to someone I know. They received a call from a family member and during the course of the conversation this family member made some not so "edifying" remarks about their sister's son. They stated how they felt about him and it was not very "positive". The tendency is to want to tell someone else about the conversation-- especially the sister.
I saw this situation as a perfect example of what the Lord meant in our verse above. If this person had not had wisdom in knowing to keep their mouth shut, instead of telling the sister, it would have caused seeds of discord to be sown in the family. The sister would have gotten angry at the family member who had made the remarks, and would have probably told her son, who then in turn would have had bad feelings toward this person also.
Am I saying what the family member did was right in talking about this son? No, if they had a problem with him they should have gone to him and told him themself and seen if they could have gotten their differences, or misunderstandings, resolved. But they didn't choose to go that route, they chose to talk about them to someone else instead. Talking about them only opened up the door to the enemy to cause discord and hard feelings. But if it had been repeated by the one it was said to, it would have only added "fuel to the fire".
We have to learn when to speak and when to keep our mouths shut. We don't want to be guilty of causing discord, trouble, hurt feeling or division between anyone. If you'll go back and read the couple of verses prior to this morning's verse, you'll see that this is listed among the things that God hates. Therefore, if He hates it, we should too and we should do everything in our power not to be guilty of it.
Have a great day. Are you sowing seeds of discord by repeating things that are better left unsaid?
Have you ever had a conversation with someone- perhaps a family member, a friend or a fellow employee- and the conversation contained some "negative" ideas or opinions about someone else? For example, this happened just recently to someone I know. They received a call from a family member and during the course of the conversation this family member made some not so "edifying" remarks about their sister's son. They stated how they felt about him and it was not very "positive". The tendency is to want to tell someone else about the conversation-- especially the sister.
I saw this situation as a perfect example of what the Lord meant in our verse above. If this person had not had wisdom in knowing to keep their mouth shut, instead of telling the sister, it would have caused seeds of discord to be sown in the family. The sister would have gotten angry at the family member who had made the remarks, and would have probably told her son, who then in turn would have had bad feelings toward this person also.
Am I saying what the family member did was right in talking about this son? No, if they had a problem with him they should have gone to him and told him themself and seen if they could have gotten their differences, or misunderstandings, resolved. But they didn't choose to go that route, they chose to talk about them to someone else instead. Talking about them only opened up the door to the enemy to cause discord and hard feelings. But if it had been repeated by the one it was said to, it would have only added "fuel to the fire".
We have to learn when to speak and when to keep our mouths shut. We don't want to be guilty of causing discord, trouble, hurt feeling or division between anyone. If you'll go back and read the couple of verses prior to this morning's verse, you'll see that this is listed among the things that God hates. Therefore, if He hates it, we should too and we should do everything in our power not to be guilty of it.
Have a great day. Are you sowing seeds of discord by repeating things that are better left unsaid?
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
"All The Armor"
"Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil." Ephesians 6:11
The Lord impressed on me the other day that we must be sure to put on the "whole" armor-- all of it. He has equipped us with every piece for every battle in every area of life. If we put on all of it we will be able to stand against any and all of the enemies plans, strategies and devices. This is reconfirmed in verse 16- "Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked." When we take up the shield of faith we are able to quench "all" the fiery darts of the wicked.
The word this morning is simply this: make sure you put on "all" the armor so that you will be protected from head to toe. Be sure to put on "all" the armor so that you can stand against "all" the enemy's attacks- no matter which direction they come from. Don't leave off any part of it- you leave yourself unprotected in that area if you do. The weapons the Lord has given us are mighty but they must be used and we must be fully clothed in them.
Have a great day. Be sure to put on "all" the armor.
The Lord impressed on me the other day that we must be sure to put on the "whole" armor-- all of it. He has equipped us with every piece for every battle in every area of life. If we put on all of it we will be able to stand against any and all of the enemies plans, strategies and devices. This is reconfirmed in verse 16- "Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked." When we take up the shield of faith we are able to quench "all" the fiery darts of the wicked.
The word this morning is simply this: make sure you put on "all" the armor so that you will be protected from head to toe. Be sure to put on "all" the armor so that you can stand against "all" the enemy's attacks- no matter which direction they come from. Don't leave off any part of it- you leave yourself unprotected in that area if you do. The weapons the Lord has given us are mighty but they must be used and we must be fully clothed in them.
Have a great day. Be sure to put on "all" the armor.
Monday, August 4, 2008
"My Mouth"
"Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer." Psalm 19:14
If you have a mouth and can speak, it's because God gave it to you. Therefore, what should you do with it? Should you use it to tear down or build up? Should you use it to bless or to curse? Should you use it to speak kind words or cruel hurtful words? Should you use it to criticize or encourage? Should you use it to speak truth or lies? Should you use it to accuse or to comfort? Should you use it to help or hurt? Should bitterness be in it, should anger come out of it? Should it be used for both good and evil? Blessings and cursing? Faith and fear? Pride or humility? Should you use it to glorify God or exalt self? Should it be used to praise the Lord and to witness for Him?
What should your mouth be used for? If He gave you your mouth and you belong to Him then all of you-- your mouth included-- belongs to Him. So that means that you need to speak only what glorifies Him, only what He puts in it, only what He would say, only what would please Him. Sadly, that is not always the case. We often use our mouths as a weapon against one another. We use them to glorify the enemy when we talk like he does. Our mouths are not always like a pleasant stream bringing words of refreshing. They don't always bring healing. They often do more damage-- especially in an already bad situation.
Pay attention today to how you use your mouth. Notice what words come out of it. Who do they sound like, who do they glorify, who do they help or who do they destroy? Are they pleasing to God? Would it be something that He would say? Would it be something that He would want to hear coming from them? If you aren't using it for His glory, then what does that say about your thankfulness that He has given you a mouth to speak?
Have a great day. He gave me my mouth, it belongs to Him... am I using it for Him?
If you have a mouth and can speak, it's because God gave it to you. Therefore, what should you do with it? Should you use it to tear down or build up? Should you use it to bless or to curse? Should you use it to speak kind words or cruel hurtful words? Should you use it to criticize or encourage? Should you use it to speak truth or lies? Should you use it to accuse or to comfort? Should you use it to help or hurt? Should bitterness be in it, should anger come out of it? Should it be used for both good and evil? Blessings and cursing? Faith and fear? Pride or humility? Should you use it to glorify God or exalt self? Should it be used to praise the Lord and to witness for Him?
What should your mouth be used for? If He gave you your mouth and you belong to Him then all of you-- your mouth included-- belongs to Him. So that means that you need to speak only what glorifies Him, only what He puts in it, only what He would say, only what would please Him. Sadly, that is not always the case. We often use our mouths as a weapon against one another. We use them to glorify the enemy when we talk like he does. Our mouths are not always like a pleasant stream bringing words of refreshing. They don't always bring healing. They often do more damage-- especially in an already bad situation.
Pay attention today to how you use your mouth. Notice what words come out of it. Who do they sound like, who do they glorify, who do they help or who do they destroy? Are they pleasing to God? Would it be something that He would say? Would it be something that He would want to hear coming from them? If you aren't using it for His glory, then what does that say about your thankfulness that He has given you a mouth to speak?
Have a great day. He gave me my mouth, it belongs to Him... am I using it for Him?
Friday, August 1, 2008
"Don't Forget"
"But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death." Revelation 21:8
There is a chorus- part of it- that has been going over and over in my thoughts for a couple of days. It goes: "If it had not been for Jesus, where would I be? I'm so glad that the Lord saved me." If Jesus had not saved me, I know exactly where I would be... and I don't like to think about it. The other day at prayer group I mentioned that I have been thinking about the Lake of Fire and the horror that the souls who wind up there are going to face. One lady said, "I'm not going to be there." I agree, thanks to the mercy of God, and the forgiveness of sins that came through the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ, I'm not going to be there either-- in this I greatly rejoice.
But at the same time, I can't forget about the eternal damnation that those who don't know Christ will face. While I don't like to think about where I would be without Christ's salvation I have to remember least I forget and don't warn the wicked man to turn from his wicked way. We need to remember what it is that we are saved "from" as much as what we are saved "to".
Jesus saved me from my sins. He saved me from the wages of sin- eternal death. He pardoned my transgressions and forgave my iniquities. He took the sentence of death for me so that I could receive a full pardon. When the day comes that all men will stand before God, I don't have to fear that I'll hear the words, "Depart, from Me, I never knew you". My hope and confidence on that day will be in the atoning blood of Jesus- the sacrificial Lamb who takes away the sins of the world. He saved me from the punishment-- eternal separation from God, eternal torment in a lake of fire that will never, never be quenched and has no way of escape. He has saved me from my appointment with the wrath of God.
Have you forgotten? Have you forgotten what He saved you from and where you were headed? Have you forgotten that those who don't know Him as Savior are still heading there? Have you forgotten that if they aren't warned to turn then they will not escape eternal death and damnation? Have you forgotten that it's your job to warn them to flee from the wrath to come, to get right with God, to confess their sins and turn to God in repentance? I can never forget what the Lord did for me when He saved my soul- I am eternally grateful. But I can't forget either that there are still souls heading to a place of eternal torment if they aren't warned to turn. If I am as truly grateful for my salvation, as I say I am, then I won't forget to warn them so that they can enjoy the peace that comes from knowing it is well with your soul.
Have a great day. Don't forget about what awaits those who don't turn to Christ for salvation.
There is a chorus- part of it- that has been going over and over in my thoughts for a couple of days. It goes: "If it had not been for Jesus, where would I be? I'm so glad that the Lord saved me." If Jesus had not saved me, I know exactly where I would be... and I don't like to think about it. The other day at prayer group I mentioned that I have been thinking about the Lake of Fire and the horror that the souls who wind up there are going to face. One lady said, "I'm not going to be there." I agree, thanks to the mercy of God, and the forgiveness of sins that came through the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ, I'm not going to be there either-- in this I greatly rejoice.
But at the same time, I can't forget about the eternal damnation that those who don't know Christ will face. While I don't like to think about where I would be without Christ's salvation I have to remember least I forget and don't warn the wicked man to turn from his wicked way. We need to remember what it is that we are saved "from" as much as what we are saved "to".
Jesus saved me from my sins. He saved me from the wages of sin- eternal death. He pardoned my transgressions and forgave my iniquities. He took the sentence of death for me so that I could receive a full pardon. When the day comes that all men will stand before God, I don't have to fear that I'll hear the words, "Depart, from Me, I never knew you". My hope and confidence on that day will be in the atoning blood of Jesus- the sacrificial Lamb who takes away the sins of the world. He saved me from the punishment-- eternal separation from God, eternal torment in a lake of fire that will never, never be quenched and has no way of escape. He has saved me from my appointment with the wrath of God.
Have you forgotten? Have you forgotten what He saved you from and where you were headed? Have you forgotten that those who don't know Him as Savior are still heading there? Have you forgotten that if they aren't warned to turn then they will not escape eternal death and damnation? Have you forgotten that it's your job to warn them to flee from the wrath to come, to get right with God, to confess their sins and turn to God in repentance? I can never forget what the Lord did for me when He saved my soul- I am eternally grateful. But I can't forget either that there are still souls heading to a place of eternal torment if they aren't warned to turn. If I am as truly grateful for my salvation, as I say I am, then I won't forget to warn them so that they can enjoy the peace that comes from knowing it is well with your soul.
Have a great day. Don't forget about what awaits those who don't turn to Christ for salvation.
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