God is Awesome!
Psalm 8:1-9
There are a lot of songs which we sing that I really enjoy--great songs that encourage us to do good things and trust God even more than we did before. Sometimes I find myself humming some song during the day. There’s a person here in town who is constantly humming every time I’m around him.
One of my favorite church songs tells how great God is, how awesome He is. The words of the song say, “My God is an awesome God, He reigns in heaven above with wisdom, power, and love. My God is an awesome God.” When you say the next verse, you change the word “my” to “our” and sing the same things “Our God is an awesome God.” God truly is an awesome God, but sometimes it is hard for us to understand about God.
The book of Psalms, one of the Old Testament books tells us many things about God himself. Oh, it shows us the heart of the Psalmist certainly, but the book also tells a lot about God’s heart and about how God feels and reacts to people. Today our Bible reading is from Psalms 8:1-9. Let me encourage you to read all of Psalm 8. Verse 1 of that text says “Our Lord is Master, your name is the most wonderful name in all the earth.” Our Bible reading continues to tell us why God is so wonderful. The Psalmist writes “because God made the world, verse 3. Then it is because God made people and honors them, verse 5, and finally it is because God made people to rule over the earth, and gives us dominion over all the things He has made.
God made all the world, but in a very special way. He made each of us unique. I would encourage you today to remember that God made you and He knows all about you. Take time today to thank Him for making you, thank Him for giving you all you have. Just say “Thank you; You truly are an awesome God.” God not only is awesome in that He created us. He also gave us a way to be saved.
One Psalm over, Psalm 9, reads this way, ”Lord I will tell about all the wonderful things you did. You made me so very happy, God most high, I praise your name.” This is kind of an interesting verse to me, that it leads right in after the Psalm about how awesome God is, that David just continues with that theme in the very next Psalm. I don’t know that he wrote them in the order they are in the Bible. I know that’s the way God wants them and that’s the way we have them to look at. It’s neat how they work together isn’t it. God is truly awesome and He made us in a special to serve Him. I want to encourage you today to faithfully obey God. Put Him first in your life. Hear His word, believe it, repent, confess, and be baptized-- then live faithfully with your prayer life, and Bible study, giving your time, talents, and treasures.
~Philip
O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory above the heavens.
From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise
because of your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger.
3 When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,
what is man that you are mindful of him,
the son of man that you care for him?
You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings
and crowned him with glory and honor.
You made him ruler over the works of your hands;
you put everything under his feet: all flocks and herds,
and the beasts of the field, the birds of the air,
and the fish of the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas.
O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the e
25 February 2010
24 February 2010
Remember
Numbers 13:25-33 Mat 19:26
Our scripture reading today comes from Numbers 13:25-33. God had said He would give the Israelites a new land. Moses sent twelve men to look at the land. These men came from the different tribes, and went in as spies. They were to check out the land, and report back to Moses.
When the twelve men returned they reported that the land was very good. They had some fruit from the land to show Moses. Ten of the men said though, that the men who lived there were very big and very powerful. Those ten men say in Numbers 13:31, “We cannot fight those people. They are much stronger than we are.” Those ten men had forgotten how God had brought the Israelites out of the land of Egypt. They did not believe that God could help them conquer this new land.
Two of those men, Joshua and Caleb, did remember how God had helped them in the past. In verse 30 of the text, the verse before the negative report of the ten men, comes words from Caleb. “We should go up and take the land ourselves. We can easily take the land.” Caleb remembered, you see, what God had done for the Israelites. He knew that God would help them conquer this new land and they would finally be in the promised land.
When we face difficulties in life we sometimes forget how God has helped us in the past. We need to remember all that God has done. We also need to remember that we can do awesome things with God’s help. There are some things that people cannot do themselves, but God can do all things. What a beautiful verse to remember this day as we think how powerful God is. You may think some days that things are overwhelming to you. You may have a lot going on at work, or maybe a test at school. There may be something going on at home, or whatever it may be in life. Let me encourage you to remember how truly great God is, and trust that He will guide you through the day.
~Philip
Numbers 13:25-33 Mat 19:26
Our scripture reading today comes from Numbers 13:25-33. God had said He would give the Israelites a new land. Moses sent twelve men to look at the land. These men came from the different tribes, and went in as spies. They were to check out the land, and report back to Moses.
When the twelve men returned they reported that the land was very good. They had some fruit from the land to show Moses. Ten of the men said though, that the men who lived there were very big and very powerful. Those ten men say in Numbers 13:31, “We cannot fight those people. They are much stronger than we are.” Those ten men had forgotten how God had brought the Israelites out of the land of Egypt. They did not believe that God could help them conquer this new land.
Two of those men, Joshua and Caleb, did remember how God had helped them in the past. In verse 30 of the text, the verse before the negative report of the ten men, comes words from Caleb. “We should go up and take the land ourselves. We can easily take the land.” Caleb remembered, you see, what God had done for the Israelites. He knew that God would help them conquer this new land and they would finally be in the promised land.
When we face difficulties in life we sometimes forget how God has helped us in the past. We need to remember all that God has done. We also need to remember that we can do awesome things with God’s help. There are some things that people cannot do themselves, but God can do all things. What a beautiful verse to remember this day as we think how powerful God is. You may think some days that things are overwhelming to you. You may have a lot going on at work, or maybe a test at school. There may be something going on at home, or whatever it may be in life. Let me encourage you to remember how truly great God is, and trust that He will guide you through the day.
~Philip
23 February 2010
Problems
Psalm 55:1-23
Today’s Bible reading is from Psalm 55:1-24. This Psalm is written by David. David is writing one of the inspired kind of psalms. He does something interesting in this particular one. He spends a lot of the time at least at the beginning of the psalm talking about his enemies, and all the bad things that are going on about him and in his life. Sometimes in life it seems there are bad things happening, sometimes it seems that good times are happening too.
David is overwhelmed it seems by the time you get to verse 3. From there he talks about the fact that some people have lied to him and cheated him by, verse 11. Even David’s friends had caused him problems verse 13 says. David says that he wishes he could just run away from his troubles, and that he had somewhere else to go. Verses 6 and 7 of that text says, “Oh, I wish I had wings like a dove, and I could fly away from this place. I would go far, far away into the desert.” That’s an interesting text. It has been used in some movies and a lot of things, even some songs have been written about that particular verse.
By the end of the psalm, David has changed. He has decided to let God take control of his problems and trust God with whatever it is that’s going on in his life. In verse 23, David says, “I will give You my worries, oh Lord.” Then he adds these words, “I will call for You, and You will care for me.” The Lord will never let good people be defeated. David realizes that with God he is going to be able to overcome all these struggles he is going through currently, and beyond that, he will overcome all his struggles in the future.
We all have struggles in our life with some things. I know that I have, and I know people have even mentioned to me recently that they have struggled with different things. Maybe it is where you are living, or whatever the case may be, understand this: God cares for you. God has a plan for you. I guess that’s a hard lesson for some of us to learn. Many of us think that we can come up with our own solution. But what we should do, is turn to God, and say,” I want you to give me the solution.” Then depend on what He says as the true answer to the problem. Give your problems to God today. Trust Him, and you will be surprised how God will solve these problems. Psalms 55:24, of today’s text, says, “I will put my trust in You.”
I hope we, like David will say, “I will put my trust in You.” Faithfully obey God today. We need to have faith, which comes by hearing God’s word, believing what we’ve heard. It also comes with obedience to God’s word by repenting of our sins, confessing our faith, and being baptized. Then we need to live faithfully the rest of our lives. Trusting in God is the solution all the way.
~Philip
Psalm 55:1-23
Today’s Bible reading is from Psalm 55:1-24. This Psalm is written by David. David is writing one of the inspired kind of psalms. He does something interesting in this particular one. He spends a lot of the time at least at the beginning of the psalm talking about his enemies, and all the bad things that are going on about him and in his life. Sometimes in life it seems there are bad things happening, sometimes it seems that good times are happening too.
David is overwhelmed it seems by the time you get to verse 3. From there he talks about the fact that some people have lied to him and cheated him by, verse 11. Even David’s friends had caused him problems verse 13 says. David says that he wishes he could just run away from his troubles, and that he had somewhere else to go. Verses 6 and 7 of that text says, “Oh, I wish I had wings like a dove, and I could fly away from this place. I would go far, far away into the desert.” That’s an interesting text. It has been used in some movies and a lot of things, even some songs have been written about that particular verse.
By the end of the psalm, David has changed. He has decided to let God take control of his problems and trust God with whatever it is that’s going on in his life. In verse 23, David says, “I will give You my worries, oh Lord.” Then he adds these words, “I will call for You, and You will care for me.” The Lord will never let good people be defeated. David realizes that with God he is going to be able to overcome all these struggles he is going through currently, and beyond that, he will overcome all his struggles in the future.
We all have struggles in our life with some things. I know that I have, and I know people have even mentioned to me recently that they have struggled with different things. Maybe it is where you are living, or whatever the case may be, understand this: God cares for you. God has a plan for you. I guess that’s a hard lesson for some of us to learn. Many of us think that we can come up with our own solution. But what we should do, is turn to God, and say,” I want you to give me the solution.” Then depend on what He says as the true answer to the problem. Give your problems to God today. Trust Him, and you will be surprised how God will solve these problems. Psalms 55:24, of today’s text, says, “I will put my trust in You.”
I hope we, like David will say, “I will put my trust in You.” Faithfully obey God today. We need to have faith, which comes by hearing God’s word, believing what we’ve heard. It also comes with obedience to God’s word by repenting of our sins, confessing our faith, and being baptized. Then we need to live faithfully the rest of our lives. Trusting in God is the solution all the way.
~Philip
18 February 2010
Anger
James 1:19-23
We all have times in our life when we become angry. Someone says or does something we don’t like and we get upset about it. You probably won’t believe this but sometimes my wife even gets mad at me, a nice guy like me. I guess that’s common for all people. I was reading the newspaper, and in it there was a cartoon which showed two people with their backs to each other, and one of them said, “You did it!”; the other one said, “You did it!”, the first one said, “I did not!”. This went back and forth. Under the cartoon it read, “Congress”. Those guys get angry a lot too, and sometimes get mad with each other.
Sometimes we look at people getting made with each other, and think it’s funny. The truth is though, when our anger gets out of hand, then we have a serious problem. We may say or do things that make no sense at the time. We may say or do things that make people think we are out of control. We may do sinful kinds of things. God is not pleased with that. We need to be careful about what we say. It becomes necessary for us to take some action when we become angry. There are some things we can do to cool down.
Mark Twain once famously said you need to count to ten. If that doesn’t work, then swear. I don’t encourage you to swear. But the idea of counting to ten is a good one. You may even want to count to 100, or 200 if you need to. Maybe you need to go and be alone for a while, take a walk, and get away from the situation. Maybe when you become angry, the thing to do would be to pray. If we are praying for other people, it is hard to be mad at them. Another idea would be to read the Bible. Look at the scriptures, and maybe that would be a way to overcome. God has promised a way of escape from temptation, and He encouraged us to not let the sun go down on our anger.
It’s not good for husbands and wives to be angry with each other. I mentioned that my wife sometimes gets mad even with me. I was reading over in Ephesians 4:26, where it says, when you become angry, do not let that anger make you sin, and don’t continue to be angry all day. It’s interesting that in the same text a few verses later it says that husbands should love their wives, and wives should submit to their husbands, and children should obey their parents. In that text it is evident that God wants us to treat others the way He is treating us, and the way we want to be treated.
When problems happen, when we get angry we should do whatever it takes to solve that problem. Maybe we do need to spend some time praying for that person and for ourselves. Sometimes it works well, just to say “I’m sorry”. Sometimes we may think it is the other person’s fault. We think, “If they would say they are sorry, I would forgive them.” Even if they don’t ask, we need to take the first step.
Remember what Jesus did. When they had just put Him on the cross, He said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
When I was at Disney last week, a lady bumped into me spilling my drink. I said to her “I’m sorry, my fault.” She said, “No, it was my fault.” No one got mad, and I even got another drink.
In our scripture reading today, James 1:19-23, verse 21 says “Put out of your life every evil thing, and every wrong thing that you do. Be humble and accept God’s teaching. Do what it is that God would have us to do and let’s not be angry with each other. Instead be happy with each other and with God. God will be pleased with that. He said, “If you love me keep my commandments”.
~Philip
James 1:19-23
We all have times in our life when we become angry. Someone says or does something we don’t like and we get upset about it. You probably won’t believe this but sometimes my wife even gets mad at me, a nice guy like me. I guess that’s common for all people. I was reading the newspaper, and in it there was a cartoon which showed two people with their backs to each other, and one of them said, “You did it!”; the other one said, “You did it!”, the first one said, “I did not!”. This went back and forth. Under the cartoon it read, “Congress”. Those guys get angry a lot too, and sometimes get mad with each other.
Sometimes we look at people getting made with each other, and think it’s funny. The truth is though, when our anger gets out of hand, then we have a serious problem. We may say or do things that make no sense at the time. We may say or do things that make people think we are out of control. We may do sinful kinds of things. God is not pleased with that. We need to be careful about what we say. It becomes necessary for us to take some action when we become angry. There are some things we can do to cool down.
Mark Twain once famously said you need to count to ten. If that doesn’t work, then swear. I don’t encourage you to swear. But the idea of counting to ten is a good one. You may even want to count to 100, or 200 if you need to. Maybe you need to go and be alone for a while, take a walk, and get away from the situation. Maybe when you become angry, the thing to do would be to pray. If we are praying for other people, it is hard to be mad at them. Another idea would be to read the Bible. Look at the scriptures, and maybe that would be a way to overcome. God has promised a way of escape from temptation, and He encouraged us to not let the sun go down on our anger.
It’s not good for husbands and wives to be angry with each other. I mentioned that my wife sometimes gets mad even with me. I was reading over in Ephesians 4:26, where it says, when you become angry, do not let that anger make you sin, and don’t continue to be angry all day. It’s interesting that in the same text a few verses later it says that husbands should love their wives, and wives should submit to their husbands, and children should obey their parents. In that text it is evident that God wants us to treat others the way He is treating us, and the way we want to be treated.
When problems happen, when we get angry we should do whatever it takes to solve that problem. Maybe we do need to spend some time praying for that person and for ourselves. Sometimes it works well, just to say “I’m sorry”. Sometimes we may think it is the other person’s fault. We think, “If they would say they are sorry, I would forgive them.” Even if they don’t ask, we need to take the first step.
Remember what Jesus did. When they had just put Him on the cross, He said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
When I was at Disney last week, a lady bumped into me spilling my drink. I said to her “I’m sorry, my fault.” She said, “No, it was my fault.” No one got mad, and I even got another drink.
In our scripture reading today, James 1:19-23, verse 21 says “Put out of your life every evil thing, and every wrong thing that you do. Be humble and accept God’s teaching. Do what it is that God would have us to do and let’s not be angry with each other. Instead be happy with each other and with God. God will be pleased with that. He said, “If you love me keep my commandments”.
~Philip
16 February 2010
...to Serve
Matthew 25:31-46
It's very important that we spend some time serving other people. Jesus wants us to serve others. Our Bible reading today comes from Matthew 25:31-46. Sometime today, get your Bibles out, look up this text, and remember to read with 20/20 vision—the 20 verses before and the 20 verses after. Some of our people say that will mean reading a lot of the Bible. Well, that's okay.
There in that reading today, it gives us a different idea about how we are to serve others. If people are hungry we should give them food. If they are thirsty, we are to give them something to drink. We may invite them into our homes, and share our clothes and other things we have with them. We may even take care of those who are sick who may need a visit, or those who are going through some other thing in their life.
I remember a while back a neighbor had some major surgery. He came home and couldn't mow his lawn. So I decided to go over a mow his grass. It was just one area of service, one example of how to serve. Many of you have done similar things—carried food to the sick, and other things. We know that these things make a difference in people's lives. My neighbor came back to me later on and said thanks. As a matter of fact, once when I was out of town for a church function, and he even mowed my grass, not because he had to, but because he wanted to.
I know a man who is a friend of a lot of people who are in prison. He goes and spends time there, teaching and doing a great work. It may be that you can't do those things like go to a prison. You may not be able to mow your own grass, much less someone elses, but everyone can find some way to serve others.
In serving God and caring for his people we are doing exactly what God wants us to be doing. When we serve, we do it with all of our hearts, and God rewards us for that service. In Ephesians 6:7-8, the Bible tells us, “Do your work and be happy to do it.” Work like you are serving the Lord, not like you are serving men. God called us to be free, but He also called us to serve people. We do things that freedom enables us to do, like serving others.
Are you busy working for God today? Are you serving as you should? You know, we spend a lot time looking at areas where people should be serving. We say things like, “Somebody ought to do that.” Well, today may be the day you finally decide to do it. Do it yourself. Get busy working. Find some area to do service for God. If you need help finding some place to serve, come see me. Give me a call, or send me an e-mail at minister@elbachurchofchrist.com . We will be happy to find an area of service for you to work in right here in our city. There are many areas right here that really need us.
~Philip
Matthew 25:31-46
It's very important that we spend some time serving other people. Jesus wants us to serve others. Our Bible reading today comes from Matthew 25:31-46. Sometime today, get your Bibles out, look up this text, and remember to read with 20/20 vision—the 20 verses before and the 20 verses after. Some of our people say that will mean reading a lot of the Bible. Well, that's okay.
There in that reading today, it gives us a different idea about how we are to serve others. If people are hungry we should give them food. If they are thirsty, we are to give them something to drink. We may invite them into our homes, and share our clothes and other things we have with them. We may even take care of those who are sick who may need a visit, or those who are going through some other thing in their life.
I remember a while back a neighbor had some major surgery. He came home and couldn't mow his lawn. So I decided to go over a mow his grass. It was just one area of service, one example of how to serve. Many of you have done similar things—carried food to the sick, and other things. We know that these things make a difference in people's lives. My neighbor came back to me later on and said thanks. As a matter of fact, once when I was out of town for a church function, and he even mowed my grass, not because he had to, but because he wanted to.
I know a man who is a friend of a lot of people who are in prison. He goes and spends time there, teaching and doing a great work. It may be that you can't do those things like go to a prison. You may not be able to mow your own grass, much less someone elses, but everyone can find some way to serve others.
In serving God and caring for his people we are doing exactly what God wants us to be doing. When we serve, we do it with all of our hearts, and God rewards us for that service. In Ephesians 6:7-8, the Bible tells us, “Do your work and be happy to do it.” Work like you are serving the Lord, not like you are serving men. God called us to be free, but He also called us to serve people. We do things that freedom enables us to do, like serving others.
Are you busy working for God today? Are you serving as you should? You know, we spend a lot time looking at areas where people should be serving. We say things like, “Somebody ought to do that.” Well, today may be the day you finally decide to do it. Do it yourself. Get busy working. Find some area to do service for God. If you need help finding some place to serve, come see me. Give me a call, or send me an e-mail at minister@elbachurchofchrist.com . We will be happy to find an area of service for you to work in right here in our city. There are many areas right here that really need us.
~Philip
...to Pray
Matthew 6:5-13
One great way for us to spend time with God is for us to pray to Him. Throughout the Bible there is much encouragement for Christians to spend time praying. Different people in the Bible spent much time praying. As a matter of fact, Jesus Christ was one of the ones who would spend hours or extended periods of time praying and communicating with the Father. Christians have many examples to follow and learn some great lessons from those who spent much time in prayer.
Our scripture reading today comes from a text in the New Testament, Matthew 6:5-13, where Jesus himself talked of the importance of prayer. Daniel is one of the Old Testament characters, whom I like a lot, who spent a lot of time praying. In fact, he prayed three times a day. In Daniel 6:10, it says, three times every day Daniel got down on his knees and praised God. In our Bible reading today Jesus encouraged prayer. Jesus taught the disciples that they should pray a very simple kind of prayer. Jesus himself prayed at many different times to communicate with God. He prayed early in the morning, Mark 1:35, He also prayed in the evening, Mark 6:46-47.
The apostle Paul encouraged prayer. In 1 Thessalonians 5:17, he wrote these simple words, “Never stop praying.” or the King James version of the Bible says, “Pray without ceasing”. Prayer is a good way to spend time with God. I want to encourage you today to take some time to spend with God. Spend time talking to God. Share with Him your thanks and your wants and your needs. A familiar text in Philippians says, “Pray and ask God for everything you need, and when you pray, always give thanks.” Philippians 4:6. I'm encouraging you to do just that today. Pray and take time to communicate with God. God wants to hear from you.
We've talked the last few days about the importance of doing some things. We have been talking about loving one another, and our title was ...to Love. Yesterday we talked about the idea of obeying God, and our title was...to Obey. Now today, we have the duty to pray. So the last few days we have studied the things we have ….to do. Are you spending time communicating with God. Are you praying today? I hope your answer comes back as yes. I hope you can say, “I've been spending time with God, and as a result of that, I know that God is pleased.” I hope you will not only spend some time praying, but some time studying-- reading the scriptures I have given you with 20/20 vision, to see that what we are saying is true.
~Philip
Matthew 6:5-13
One great way for us to spend time with God is for us to pray to Him. Throughout the Bible there is much encouragement for Christians to spend time praying. Different people in the Bible spent much time praying. As a matter of fact, Jesus Christ was one of the ones who would spend hours or extended periods of time praying and communicating with the Father. Christians have many examples to follow and learn some great lessons from those who spent much time in prayer.
Our scripture reading today comes from a text in the New Testament, Matthew 6:5-13, where Jesus himself talked of the importance of prayer. Daniel is one of the Old Testament characters, whom I like a lot, who spent a lot of time praying. In fact, he prayed three times a day. In Daniel 6:10, it says, three times every day Daniel got down on his knees and praised God. In our Bible reading today Jesus encouraged prayer. Jesus taught the disciples that they should pray a very simple kind of prayer. Jesus himself prayed at many different times to communicate with God. He prayed early in the morning, Mark 1:35, He also prayed in the evening, Mark 6:46-47.
The apostle Paul encouraged prayer. In 1 Thessalonians 5:17, he wrote these simple words, “Never stop praying.” or the King James version of the Bible says, “Pray without ceasing”. Prayer is a good way to spend time with God. I want to encourage you today to take some time to spend with God. Spend time talking to God. Share with Him your thanks and your wants and your needs. A familiar text in Philippians says, “Pray and ask God for everything you need, and when you pray, always give thanks.” Philippians 4:6. I'm encouraging you to do just that today. Pray and take time to communicate with God. God wants to hear from you.
We've talked the last few days about the importance of doing some things. We have been talking about loving one another, and our title was ...to Love. Yesterday we talked about the idea of obeying God, and our title was...to Obey. Now today, we have the duty to pray. So the last few days we have studied the things we have ….to do. Are you spending time communicating with God. Are you praying today? I hope your answer comes back as yes. I hope you can say, “I've been spending time with God, and as a result of that, I know that God is pleased.” I hope you will not only spend some time praying, but some time studying-- reading the scriptures I have given you with 20/20 vision, to see that what we are saying is true.
~Philip
10 February 2010
….to Love
Mat 22:34-40 I John 4:21
In Deuteronomy of the Old Testament, the Israelites were commanded..” to love the Lord your God with all you heart, with all your mind, with all your strength.”
Many, many years later, the Jewish leaders challenged the Lord. They were asking Him, and testing Him to see what He would say when He was asked different questions. By the way, our scripture reading today is Matthew 22:34-40. There in verse 36 of our Bible reading, one of the leaders asked Jesus, “Teacher which commandment in the law is most important?” Jesus answered that very question by quoting Deuteronomy 6:5. I think maybe if you read the whole thing, it indicates that when the religious leader asked Jesus, Jesus said, “What do you think?” Then the religious leader quoted the verse. Jesus then added to it, and re quoted the verse. Jesus' answer sounded just like Deuteronomy 6:5. Jesus said in verse 38 and 39 of our scripture reading, “You must love the Lord your God with all heart, and with all of your soul, and with all of your mind. This is the first and most important commandment, and the second commandment is like the first. You must love other people the same way as you love yourself.”
God gives us this command. He gives us commands in the Old and in the New Testament. He is very clear in what He says. He tells us that we are to love Him first, and then to love others second. Take time to love God, and then take time to love other people. You see, that is the way God really set it up to work....that we put Him first and we love, then we share that same kind of feelings, that same kind of love with other folks. If we can love the way God loves, wow, what difference it will make in our community, and really in our entire world.
Later on in the New Testament the Bible says the person who loves God must also love his brother and his sister. What about you? Are we today loving others the way we should, or are there ones that you think of right now and say, “You know, I just can't love them, or I have had a hard time loving them, or maybe I need to feel differently about them.” People sometimes say, “I wish I could feel differently about that situation, or about that person.” Remember to love others the way God loved you.
You see, God loved us even when we were unlovable, when sin had separated us from God. God still cared for us. He still loved us anyway. It's very much like a parent would love a child. You know sometimes one of my kids will do something wrong and oh, I feel sick about it or disappointed sometimes. I may respond, then I wish I had responded differently later on. Even in all that, I still love them. God still love us. That's really good news for today isn't it.....that he loved us enough to send His only son to die on the cross of Calvary for us, giving us a hope of heaven when this life is over. If we will faithfully obey His will, we will hear well done good and faithful servant. Take time today to love God and to love other people.
~Philip
Mat 22:34-40 I John 4:21
In Deuteronomy of the Old Testament, the Israelites were commanded..” to love the Lord your God with all you heart, with all your mind, with all your strength.”
Many, many years later, the Jewish leaders challenged the Lord. They were asking Him, and testing Him to see what He would say when He was asked different questions. By the way, our scripture reading today is Matthew 22:34-40. There in verse 36 of our Bible reading, one of the leaders asked Jesus, “Teacher which commandment in the law is most important?” Jesus answered that very question by quoting Deuteronomy 6:5. I think maybe if you read the whole thing, it indicates that when the religious leader asked Jesus, Jesus said, “What do you think?” Then the religious leader quoted the verse. Jesus then added to it, and re quoted the verse. Jesus' answer sounded just like Deuteronomy 6:5. Jesus said in verse 38 and 39 of our scripture reading, “You must love the Lord your God with all heart, and with all of your soul, and with all of your mind. This is the first and most important commandment, and the second commandment is like the first. You must love other people the same way as you love yourself.”
God gives us this command. He gives us commands in the Old and in the New Testament. He is very clear in what He says. He tells us that we are to love Him first, and then to love others second. Take time to love God, and then take time to love other people. You see, that is the way God really set it up to work....that we put Him first and we love, then we share that same kind of feelings, that same kind of love with other folks. If we can love the way God loves, wow, what difference it will make in our community, and really in our entire world.
Later on in the New Testament the Bible says the person who loves God must also love his brother and his sister. What about you? Are we today loving others the way we should, or are there ones that you think of right now and say, “You know, I just can't love them, or I have had a hard time loving them, or maybe I need to feel differently about them.” People sometimes say, “I wish I could feel differently about that situation, or about that person.” Remember to love others the way God loved you.
You see, God loved us even when we were unlovable, when sin had separated us from God. God still cared for us. He still loved us anyway. It's very much like a parent would love a child. You know sometimes one of my kids will do something wrong and oh, I feel sick about it or disappointed sometimes. I may respond, then I wish I had responded differently later on. Even in all that, I still love them. God still love us. That's really good news for today isn't it.....that he loved us enough to send His only son to die on the cross of Calvary for us, giving us a hope of heaven when this life is over. If we will faithfully obey His will, we will hear well done good and faithful servant. Take time today to love God and to love other people.
~Philip
08 February 2010
JESUS HELPS US
John 21:15-19 Heb. 7:25
Jesus wants to help you, no matter what you have done in the past. Some don't understand this. There are people today who have done so many bad things in their life, they don't understand how Jesus can love them anyway.
In John 18:15-18 and 25-27 we learn about Peter. Three times Peter was asked, “Do you know this man?” Three times Peter said, “No, I don't know Him.” He even told lies and cursed and swore and said, “I never knew the man.” Peter, of course, felt very sorry he had lied and talked that way about Jesus. Peter probably felt that Jesus wouldn't love him anymore.
Several days later, in our Bible reading today, Jesus was eating with Peter. Jesus asked Peter three time, “Do you love Me?” and three times Peter answered, “Yes, Lord, I love You, You know I love you.” Our scripture reading today came from John 21:15-19. Jesus was telling Peter he had forgiven him and still loved him. Jesus did not give up on Peter. Remember that.
Jesus never gave up on you either., He always is ready to help us. Hebrews 7:25 says, “So Christ can save those people who come to God through Him.” Christ can do this forever because He always lives ready to help people when they come before God. What a beautiful idea, when we come before God he is there waiting for us. He is there waiting to help us. He wants to help us. He wants us to become everything we can become on His behalf. If we will do that God is well pleased with us, and when we go to the Judgment Day we will here,”Well, done my good and faithful servant.'
We don't want to hear, “Depart from Me, I never knew you.” You see, those are really our only options on Judgment Day. Either we did a good job, or we didn't do what He asked us to do, and as a result God, who is a just God, will punish us as a result. It is up to you today. In the Old Testament Joshua would challenge his people to “Choose this day whom they would serve.” I challenge you today—will you serve God and do His will, to believe his word, repent of your sins, confess, your faith, and be baptized for remission of sins, and live faithfully from that day forward.
~Philip
John 21:15-19 Heb. 7:25
Jesus wants to help you, no matter what you have done in the past. Some don't understand this. There are people today who have done so many bad things in their life, they don't understand how Jesus can love them anyway.
In John 18:15-18 and 25-27 we learn about Peter. Three times Peter was asked, “Do you know this man?” Three times Peter said, “No, I don't know Him.” He even told lies and cursed and swore and said, “I never knew the man.” Peter, of course, felt very sorry he had lied and talked that way about Jesus. Peter probably felt that Jesus wouldn't love him anymore.
Several days later, in our Bible reading today, Jesus was eating with Peter. Jesus asked Peter three time, “Do you love Me?” and three times Peter answered, “Yes, Lord, I love You, You know I love you.” Our scripture reading today came from John 21:15-19. Jesus was telling Peter he had forgiven him and still loved him. Jesus did not give up on Peter. Remember that.
Jesus never gave up on you either., He always is ready to help us. Hebrews 7:25 says, “So Christ can save those people who come to God through Him.” Christ can do this forever because He always lives ready to help people when they come before God. What a beautiful idea, when we come before God he is there waiting for us. He is there waiting to help us. He wants to help us. He wants us to become everything we can become on His behalf. If we will do that God is well pleased with us, and when we go to the Judgment Day we will here,”Well, done my good and faithful servant.'
We don't want to hear, “Depart from Me, I never knew you.” You see, those are really our only options on Judgment Day. Either we did a good job, or we didn't do what He asked us to do, and as a result God, who is a just God, will punish us as a result. It is up to you today. In the Old Testament Joshua would challenge his people to “Choose this day whom they would serve.” I challenge you today—will you serve God and do His will, to believe his word, repent of your sins, confess, your faith, and be baptized for remission of sins, and live faithfully from that day forward.
~Philip
03 February 2010
FEAR GOD
Luke 12:4-7 I Pet. 2:17
In our Bible reading today, Luke12:4-7, Jesus talked about not being afraid. In verse four of that text Jesus said “Don’t be afraid of people. People can kill the body, but after that they can do nothing more to hurt you.” Then Jesus continued to say that we should fear God. Why? Because God has the power to kill your body and also to throw you into Hell, one version of the Bible says. He has the power to control both the body and the spirit. He is the one you should fear, and we would encourage you to day to fear God.
Someone says, “Wow, God is truly powerful.” We should worship Him and respect Him, but He is also a loving God. The Bible tells us that God knows every hair on our heads. He knows that we have needs, when we are hurting, and all the things that are going on with us, and He must truly love us. We should always remember that we need to have the right relationship with God. We should fear Him and respect Him. That not the idea of being afraid of God, but instead, respecting God. When we start to learn how it is that God feels toward us we know that God has all the power, but He wants to use His power to help us.
We should also know that we then should love Him back for all that He does for us. When we think about God and His gift of Jesus Christ, we love Him more and more. It is because of that gift that we have a hope of heaven today, and only because of that gift. We show God our respect and our love by doing those things that He says. He says, “If you love Me you will keep My commandments.
The question is-- today are we keeping God’s commandments. Are we respecting God. We should show respect to all people. The Bible says, to love your brothers and your sisters in God’s family. Another text says “Respect God and honor the king.” (I Peter 2:17) So, there are two different passages--Luke 12:4-7, as well as I Peter 2:17. We find out again and again that we are to fear God, and love God, and respect other people.
The question is, are we doing that today? Are we loving other folks? Are we respecting God? The only way we show God our love, is to communicate with God and to do what He says. As we obey His commandments, we faithfully obey what He says. Faith+Obedience=Salvation is the equation. This day and every day we have the responsibility to do those things God says to do and put them into action in our lives and the results in salvation. Someone says, what do you mean by that equation. Well, the faith part of that is that we hear what God has to say and we believe it. Mark 16:16. We repent of our sins, Acts 2:38. We then confess our faith, Matthew 10:32, and are baptized I Peter 3:21, buried with Him to walk in newness of life. I hope we are doing that today. I hope we are fearing God enough to keep His commandments. Living faithfully is for life.
~Philip
Luke 12:4-7 I Pet. 2:17
In our Bible reading today, Luke12:4-7, Jesus talked about not being afraid. In verse four of that text Jesus said “Don’t be afraid of people. People can kill the body, but after that they can do nothing more to hurt you.” Then Jesus continued to say that we should fear God. Why? Because God has the power to kill your body and also to throw you into Hell, one version of the Bible says. He has the power to control both the body and the spirit. He is the one you should fear, and we would encourage you to day to fear God.
Someone says, “Wow, God is truly powerful.” We should worship Him and respect Him, but He is also a loving God. The Bible tells us that God knows every hair on our heads. He knows that we have needs, when we are hurting, and all the things that are going on with us, and He must truly love us. We should always remember that we need to have the right relationship with God. We should fear Him and respect Him. That not the idea of being afraid of God, but instead, respecting God. When we start to learn how it is that God feels toward us we know that God has all the power, but He wants to use His power to help us.
We should also know that we then should love Him back for all that He does for us. When we think about God and His gift of Jesus Christ, we love Him more and more. It is because of that gift that we have a hope of heaven today, and only because of that gift. We show God our respect and our love by doing those things that He says. He says, “If you love Me you will keep My commandments.
The question is-- today are we keeping God’s commandments. Are we respecting God. We should show respect to all people. The Bible says, to love your brothers and your sisters in God’s family. Another text says “Respect God and honor the king.” (I Peter 2:17) So, there are two different passages--Luke 12:4-7, as well as I Peter 2:17. We find out again and again that we are to fear God, and love God, and respect other people.
The question is, are we doing that today? Are we loving other folks? Are we respecting God? The only way we show God our love, is to communicate with God and to do what He says. As we obey His commandments, we faithfully obey what He says. Faith+Obedience=Salvation is the equation. This day and every day we have the responsibility to do those things God says to do and put them into action in our lives and the results in salvation. Someone says, what do you mean by that equation. Well, the faith part of that is that we hear what God has to say and we believe it. Mark 16:16. We repent of our sins, Acts 2:38. We then confess our faith, Matthew 10:32, and are baptized I Peter 3:21, buried with Him to walk in newness of life. I hope we are doing that today. I hope we are fearing God enough to keep His commandments. Living faithfully is for life.
~Philip
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