Here is our verse today:
Galatians 1:10
10 For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.
Paul was talking about the gospel previous to this verse. At this time people were changing the gospel to something other than the truth. The reason these folks were changing the gospel was to please man. So in this verse Paul was saying who am I trying to please God or man? It was very obvious in Paul's life he was going to try and please God no matter what man thought. Paul lived his life teaching the gospel according to the truth not to please man. Paul even tells us in this verse he is a slave(bondservant) of Christ.
So let us ask ourselves this morning...who am I trying to please? God or man. If we have to bend what the sriptures say in our day to day walk then we are trying to please man. If we stand by the Word of God no matter what others think we are trying to please God. My friends there are many out there who call themselves Christians who are perverting God's word pleasing man, they are not Christians. This is why God's word says narrow is the way and not many will enter!
So who are you trying to please God or man???
Praise the risen Savior today!
Tom
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Monday, March 8, 2010
Praise!
I am late today so it will be short but powerful.
Hebrews 10:12
12 But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God,
Who is this man? Jesus...King of Kings and Lord of Lords. The one who gave His life for you and for me. One day soon, the Father will say...it is time Jesus, go get my children. Are you a child of the King? Don't delay any longer!
Thank you Jesus for making the sacrifice for a sinner such as I....I am so unworthy!
Praise Jesus today!
Tom
Hebrews 10:12
12 But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God,
Who is this man? Jesus...King of Kings and Lord of Lords. The one who gave His life for you and for me. One day soon, the Father will say...it is time Jesus, go get my children. Are you a child of the King? Don't delay any longer!
Thank you Jesus for making the sacrifice for a sinner such as I....I am so unworthy!
Praise Jesus today!
Tom
Friday, March 5, 2010
Descrpition!
Check this verse out:
2 Timothy 3:1-5
1 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!
Does this verse describe our world today or what? Paul gave young Timothy a very accurate description of what the last days would look like. It is very possible we are living in the last days right now. Let's look at some of the descriptions. Lovers of themselves...no doubt this is accurate. People are mostly concerned with themselves these days and will run over anyone who gets in their way. Jesus clearly taught just the opposite...put others first. Lovers of money...people kill, steal and destroy everyday because of money...no doubt this world is a lover of money. Boasters....watch sports...people are very arrogant. Proud...people put themselves on pedalstals and put others down...God warns against being proud. Blasphemers...people talk against God on a daily basis...not a wise move. Disobiedient to parents...I have never seen a time where kids are more disrespectful of parents than now. Unthankful...people think they are owed...how wrong they are. Unholy..no respect for God. Unloving...if you arn't family or close friend then people don't love you...not what Jesus taught! Unforgiving...God tells us to forgive others but we don't. Slanderers....people love to put others down. Without self-control...we are a reckles people and do what we want without thinking about others. Despisers of good...people laugh at doing God's word. Traitors...people will stab you in the back and not think twice about it. Headstrong...people think they are always right and will not take advice. Lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God....this is a description of out time. If it feels good do it and don't worry about what God says about it. Having a form of godliness but denying its power...many folks these days claim to be Christians but the pwer of God is no where in their life and the main reason is they are filled with the descriptions above and have never surrendered their llives to Jesus.
Paul closes this out by saying stay away from these folks. We had better head his warning and keep our distance!While these scriptures are sad there is also good news...Jesus is coming soon!!!!!
Have a great weekend!
Tom
2 Timothy 3:1-5
1 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!
Does this verse describe our world today or what? Paul gave young Timothy a very accurate description of what the last days would look like. It is very possible we are living in the last days right now. Let's look at some of the descriptions. Lovers of themselves...no doubt this is accurate. People are mostly concerned with themselves these days and will run over anyone who gets in their way. Jesus clearly taught just the opposite...put others first. Lovers of money...people kill, steal and destroy everyday because of money...no doubt this world is a lover of money. Boasters....watch sports...people are very arrogant. Proud...people put themselves on pedalstals and put others down...God warns against being proud. Blasphemers...people talk against God on a daily basis...not a wise move. Disobiedient to parents...I have never seen a time where kids are more disrespectful of parents than now. Unthankful...people think they are owed...how wrong they are. Unholy..no respect for God. Unloving...if you arn't family or close friend then people don't love you...not what Jesus taught! Unforgiving...God tells us to forgive others but we don't. Slanderers....people love to put others down. Without self-control...we are a reckles people and do what we want without thinking about others. Despisers of good...people laugh at doing God's word. Traitors...people will stab you in the back and not think twice about it. Headstrong...people think they are always right and will not take advice. Lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God....this is a description of out time. If it feels good do it and don't worry about what God says about it. Having a form of godliness but denying its power...many folks these days claim to be Christians but the pwer of God is no where in their life and the main reason is they are filled with the descriptions above and have never surrendered their llives to Jesus.
Paul closes this out by saying stay away from these folks. We had better head his warning and keep our distance!While these scriptures are sad there is also good news...Jesus is coming soon!!!!!
Have a great weekend!
Tom
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Be on guard!
This verse is the next to last verse in First Timothy. Paul is stressing a point very strongly to the young Timothy. A point we should also grasp very stongly. Here is the verse:
1 Timothy 6:20
20 O Timothy! Guard what was committed to your trust, avoiding the profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge—
The first thing we must look at in this verse is what what committed to Timothy's trust? The faith! The gospel of Jesus Christ and the teachings of the Bible. We also must guard our faith. It is my belief as a whole, Christians are not doing a very good job of guarding our faith. We are afraid to stand for what we believe in and as we have seen Christianity is slowly but surely being eroded away here in America. Paul was begging or pleading with Timothy to be on guard here. It is very important to guard what God has entrusted us with to share with others!
Paul goes on to tell us what the problem will be. CONTRADICTIONS! The pagans in this word believe they are so smart and have aquired more knowledge than God. That is why the world is living as they please and are sinning at an alarming rate and then saying it is ok. Even though God's Word plainly tells them that what they are doing is sin! Unfortunetly it has even infiltrated the church in that many churches are teaching contradictions to God's Word and people are accepting it as truth! Oh my brothers and sisters we must stand on the truth of God's word and guard the faith in which our dear Lord and Savior Jesus died.
So are you on guard for our faith this morning? Are you willing to stand up and defend it may be a better question. It really isn't an option my friends....God expects us too!
Pray for the church this morning...that we will be bold and strong in our faith. That we will stand on the truth and not be moved!
Tom
1 Timothy 6:20
20 O Timothy! Guard what was committed to your trust, avoiding the profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge—
The first thing we must look at in this verse is what what committed to Timothy's trust? The faith! The gospel of Jesus Christ and the teachings of the Bible. We also must guard our faith. It is my belief as a whole, Christians are not doing a very good job of guarding our faith. We are afraid to stand for what we believe in and as we have seen Christianity is slowly but surely being eroded away here in America. Paul was begging or pleading with Timothy to be on guard here. It is very important to guard what God has entrusted us with to share with others!
Paul goes on to tell us what the problem will be. CONTRADICTIONS! The pagans in this word believe they are so smart and have aquired more knowledge than God. That is why the world is living as they please and are sinning at an alarming rate and then saying it is ok. Even though God's Word plainly tells them that what they are doing is sin! Unfortunetly it has even infiltrated the church in that many churches are teaching contradictions to God's Word and people are accepting it as truth! Oh my brothers and sisters we must stand on the truth of God's word and guard the faith in which our dear Lord and Savior Jesus died.
So are you on guard for our faith this morning? Are you willing to stand up and defend it may be a better question. It really isn't an option my friends....God expects us too!
Pray for the church this morning...that we will be bold and strong in our faith. That we will stand on the truth and not be moved!
Tom
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Foolish talk.
How much foolish talks place in our lives each day? If I evaluate my own life I must say....way to much. Check this verse out:
2 Timothy 2:23-25
23 But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. 24 And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, 25 in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth,
God's word is to the point on our foolish talk isn't it. I have a good example of this. Take sports for our example. Now I will tell you I am a BIG sports fan. Now think on this....how much time each day is spent on arguing about how great your team is and in return the fellow you are talking to arguing about why his team is best. Now how many times have you or your buddy went away very aggrivated because of the discussion? Over foolishness!!! What difference does it make in eternity of who's team is the best? Absolutely none!
Now look at what verse 24 says....we must not quarrel or argue but be gentle. It tells us we also must be able to teach. Teach what? What the Word of God says. God's word is very important...are you able to explain it to others? You should be able to. If you can't the main reason is you are not reading and studying it enough. It also tells us to be patient. If we try to shove the Word down peoples throats they will not listen...so be patient. Verse 25 tells us to correct our opposition in humility. Not harshly but in love. Many times folks will want to accuse you of judging them when you correct them but it is clear we are to show them the truth in God's Word! Just remember humility and love are key! Why do we correct them? verse 25 shows us the reason...that they may know the truth and repent before God!
So how is your talk....foolish or godly?
Be sure to read God's word today!
Tom
2 Timothy 2:23-25
23 But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. 24 And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, 25 in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth,
God's word is to the point on our foolish talk isn't it. I have a good example of this. Take sports for our example. Now I will tell you I am a BIG sports fan. Now think on this....how much time each day is spent on arguing about how great your team is and in return the fellow you are talking to arguing about why his team is best. Now how many times have you or your buddy went away very aggrivated because of the discussion? Over foolishness!!! What difference does it make in eternity of who's team is the best? Absolutely none!
Now look at what verse 24 says....we must not quarrel or argue but be gentle. It tells us we also must be able to teach. Teach what? What the Word of God says. God's word is very important...are you able to explain it to others? You should be able to. If you can't the main reason is you are not reading and studying it enough. It also tells us to be patient. If we try to shove the Word down peoples throats they will not listen...so be patient. Verse 25 tells us to correct our opposition in humility. Not harshly but in love. Many times folks will want to accuse you of judging them when you correct them but it is clear we are to show them the truth in God's Word! Just remember humility and love are key! Why do we correct them? verse 25 shows us the reason...that they may know the truth and repent before God!
So how is your talk....foolish or godly?
Be sure to read God's word today!
Tom
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Dad teach!
This devotion is for us dads. I want you to think very seriously about what this verse is telling us:
Ephesians 6:4
4 And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.
First this verse tells us not to provoke our children to wrath. What I pull from that is don't constantly nag them. They are children and will make mistakes. We do have to discipline them when they do wrong but we also must encourage them and love them. I have seen so mant dads push their kids away by putting them down and just being on their back all the time. God is very clear in warning us of this in this passage. Second God tells us to train them in the Lord. Seriously take time and ask, are you spiritually training your kids, dad? We spend countless hours training our kids how to hunt, fish, play sports, and on and on. BUT how much time are we spending training our kids in the Word of God? Sad really when you compare hours spent on worldly things and hours spent on Godly things. The Bible says what good is it to gain the whole world but lose our souls. Dads we need to think on that verse very hard as we are suppose to be the Spiritual leaders of out houses!
Thirdly the verse says admonition which means
ad·mo·ni·tion
–noun
1.an act of admonishing.
2.counsel, advice, or caution.
3.a gentle reproof.
4.a warning or reproof given by an eccleslastical authority.
I am going to go with the third definition today. When are children make a mistake, gently reproof them. Show then where their mistake is and if you can show them by God's word please do. It helps them see God's word as the ultimate authority.
So dads how are you doing? It is our job to raise our children in a Godly way, let us make sure we are pleasing the Lord!
I am praying for you dad!
Tom
Ephesians 6:4
4 And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.
First this verse tells us not to provoke our children to wrath. What I pull from that is don't constantly nag them. They are children and will make mistakes. We do have to discipline them when they do wrong but we also must encourage them and love them. I have seen so mant dads push their kids away by putting them down and just being on their back all the time. God is very clear in warning us of this in this passage. Second God tells us to train them in the Lord. Seriously take time and ask, are you spiritually training your kids, dad? We spend countless hours training our kids how to hunt, fish, play sports, and on and on. BUT how much time are we spending training our kids in the Word of God? Sad really when you compare hours spent on worldly things and hours spent on Godly things. The Bible says what good is it to gain the whole world but lose our souls. Dads we need to think on that verse very hard as we are suppose to be the Spiritual leaders of out houses!
Thirdly the verse says admonition which means
ad·mo·ni·tion
–noun
1.an act of admonishing.
2.counsel, advice, or caution.
3.a gentle reproof.
4.a warning or reproof given by an eccleslastical authority.
I am going to go with the third definition today. When are children make a mistake, gently reproof them. Show then where their mistake is and if you can show them by God's word please do. It helps them see God's word as the ultimate authority.
So dads how are you doing? It is our job to raise our children in a Godly way, let us make sure we are pleasing the Lord!
I am praying for you dad!
Tom
Monday, March 1, 2010
Are you qualified?
Good monday morning to you. I hope you had a great weekend. It was an awesome day to worship the King yesterday as the youth at our church lead the sevices. They did such a good job and it is so refreshing to see the Lord glorified through our young people!
Today I want us to think about our own personal walk with God. Ask yourself....How am I doing in my relationship with God and be honest. Your walk affects others...did you know that. People are watching you if you call yourself a Christian. This is why we must always be working on our relationship with Jesus and making sure it is in tip top condition. Look at this verse:
1 Corinthians 9:27
27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.
Paul is telling us here that we must discipline our bodies and bring it under control. Under the control of who? God! To be a follower of Jesus is hard work and don't let anybody tell you different!!! I can promise you that if anyone calims following Jesus is easy they aren't following Jesus for Jesus himself told us it would not be easy! There are two reasons Paul told us to be disciplined...the first is for our own walk with God. The second is for others. You might be thinking others???? What do they have to do with my walk with God? Paul answers that question in the latter part of the verse above. For when we preach to others we do not become disqulaified. To explain this, what Paul is saying is this....if we are not following God in which the Word of God tells us, when we tell others about Jesus they will not listen.We become disqualified. Also remember this, we preach in two ways. One being the telling of the gospel by mouth. The second is the way we live our lives. It is fairly easy to talk about the things of God but living the Word of God is much harder and that is where the outside world is watching us everyday!
If the Apostle Paul found it important to discipline himself, so that he would not become disqualified when preaching to others, we should find it important too! So how about it....are you qualified? In reality we all should be qualified if we call ourselves children of God, so keep up the training and show the world your Jesus both in word and conduct!
Have a great day and pray for each other....Tom
Today I want us to think about our own personal walk with God. Ask yourself....How am I doing in my relationship with God and be honest. Your walk affects others...did you know that. People are watching you if you call yourself a Christian. This is why we must always be working on our relationship with Jesus and making sure it is in tip top condition. Look at this verse:
1 Corinthians 9:27
27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.
Paul is telling us here that we must discipline our bodies and bring it under control. Under the control of who? God! To be a follower of Jesus is hard work and don't let anybody tell you different!!! I can promise you that if anyone calims following Jesus is easy they aren't following Jesus for Jesus himself told us it would not be easy! There are two reasons Paul told us to be disciplined...the first is for our own walk with God. The second is for others. You might be thinking others???? What do they have to do with my walk with God? Paul answers that question in the latter part of the verse above. For when we preach to others we do not become disqulaified. To explain this, what Paul is saying is this....if we are not following God in which the Word of God tells us, when we tell others about Jesus they will not listen.We become disqualified. Also remember this, we preach in two ways. One being the telling of the gospel by mouth. The second is the way we live our lives. It is fairly easy to talk about the things of God but living the Word of God is much harder and that is where the outside world is watching us everyday!
If the Apostle Paul found it important to discipline himself, so that he would not become disqualified when preaching to others, we should find it important too! So how about it....are you qualified? In reality we all should be qualified if we call ourselves children of God, so keep up the training and show the world your Jesus both in word and conduct!
Have a great day and pray for each other....Tom
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