Thursday, February 9, 2012
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Grumbling against the Lord.
Do we really trust God? Think about it for a moment. In the verse below, Moses has just lead Israel out of Egyptian bondage. They have complained several times already. At the Red Sea, thinking they were going to be killed before they crossed. God provided. They were thirsty. God provided. Now this time they are hungry and complained to Moses and Aaron. This is Moses and Aaron's response:
Exodus 16:7
7 and in the morning you shall see the glory of the LORD, because he has heard your grumbling against the LORD. For what are we, that you grumble against us?”
It made me sit back and think this morning. Do I grumble against the Lord? At first thought I said "no" but as I think about it more I have to say "yes". It may not be a right out complaint but I do see things that I think I need or always think I need more money. God's Word is clear that we are to be content with where we are:
Philippians 4:11
Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content:
In all things, and no matter the situation be content and trust the Lord. He loves you and will take care of you. The question for us is do we believe it?
Tom
Exodus 16:7
7 and in the morning you shall see the glory of the LORD, because he has heard your grumbling against the LORD. For what are we, that you grumble against us?”
It made me sit back and think this morning. Do I grumble against the Lord? At first thought I said "no" but as I think about it more I have to say "yes". It may not be a right out complaint but I do see things that I think I need or always think I need more money. God's Word is clear that we are to be content with where we are:
Philippians 4:11
Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content:
In all things, and no matter the situation be content and trust the Lord. He loves you and will take care of you. The question for us is do we believe it?
Tom
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Are you there for others?
I read this proverb this morning and it made me do some thinking and ask myself...am I there for others?
Proverbs 17:17
17 A friend loves at all times,
And a brother is born for adversity.
It is easy to be there for family in times of need but are we there for others too? This proverb tells us if we are a true friend we will be there when needed. Even if our friend is in the wrong we still need to show love and guidance and this is not always easy!
What about our brothers and sisters in Christ? Are you there for them when they are in need? When we are in Christ we have a new family and it is the church. We are given the example of the disciples and the early church to be there for one another. So we must ask ourselves this very same question. This proverb says as a brother I am born for adversity, meaning to take it head on with my brothers and sisters in Christ.
We also need to be there for each other in times of celebration too! So many are envious of others but that is of the devil not God. Rejoice in the blessings of God with others!
Take a moment and evaluate yourself this day....are you there for others....show them the love of Christ in you!
Tom
Proverbs 17:17
17 A friend loves at all times,
And a brother is born for adversity.
It is easy to be there for family in times of need but are we there for others too? This proverb tells us if we are a true friend we will be there when needed. Even if our friend is in the wrong we still need to show love and guidance and this is not always easy!
What about our brothers and sisters in Christ? Are you there for them when they are in need? When we are in Christ we have a new family and it is the church. We are given the example of the disciples and the early church to be there for one another. So we must ask ourselves this very same question. This proverb says as a brother I am born for adversity, meaning to take it head on with my brothers and sisters in Christ.
We also need to be there for each other in times of celebration too! So many are envious of others but that is of the devil not God. Rejoice in the blessings of God with others!
Take a moment and evaluate yourself this day....are you there for others....show them the love of Christ in you!
Tom
Monday, February 6, 2012
God is love.
Lets start the week off with some good news.
1 John 4:7-8
7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
Look at these verses backwards. Starting with the the last words. "For God is love." Take a moment just to think about that. Love is defined by God...He is the definition of love and Christ has set the example for us. Jesus loved others in their sin and after they had repented of their sins. That is to be the way we love also! Then the next part of verse 8 says if we do not love we do not love God! Wow. Now it would be easy to say well I love but I just don't love everybody. No where in scripture is it taught we can pick....matter of fact Jesus says to love our enemies!
Now the last past of verse 7 says everyone who loves is born of God and knows God, so to truly love we must be born again or saved because Jesus makes it clear in scripture the only way to know God is to have trusted Jesus with our lives! So it is safe to say true love can not happen with out a relationship with Jesus. Then the first part of verse 7 tells us to love one another for love is of God. It is so hard to love others isn't it? We have our ways they have theirs and it is just hard to mesh. The problem lies in each of us. But we have the solution....God. God is love and if we put our strength and trust in Him we can love anyone even those who seem unlovable to us!
So this morning remember God is love and he loves you so much and He expects us to show love to others!
Tom
1 John 4:7-8
7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
Look at these verses backwards. Starting with the the last words. "For God is love." Take a moment just to think about that. Love is defined by God...He is the definition of love and Christ has set the example for us. Jesus loved others in their sin and after they had repented of their sins. That is to be the way we love also! Then the next part of verse 8 says if we do not love we do not love God! Wow. Now it would be easy to say well I love but I just don't love everybody. No where in scripture is it taught we can pick....matter of fact Jesus says to love our enemies!
Now the last past of verse 7 says everyone who loves is born of God and knows God, so to truly love we must be born again or saved because Jesus makes it clear in scripture the only way to know God is to have trusted Jesus with our lives! So it is safe to say true love can not happen with out a relationship with Jesus. Then the first part of verse 7 tells us to love one another for love is of God. It is so hard to love others isn't it? We have our ways they have theirs and it is just hard to mesh. The problem lies in each of us. But we have the solution....God. God is love and if we put our strength and trust in Him we can love anyone even those who seem unlovable to us!
So this morning remember God is love and he loves you so much and He expects us to show love to others!
Tom
Friday, February 3, 2012
Why is the USA going downhill?
This verse sums it up:
Proverbs 14:34
34 Righteousness exalts a nation,
But sin is a reproach to any people.
Until we have a turning back to God we will continue to struggle. We have no God-fearing leadership in our government. The nation now accepts all kinds of sin as normal and acceptable. Our music and televisions mock and laugh at God's Word. It is very simple....until our nation wakes up and realizes we need God we will continue to face the consequences.
It all starts with me and you. Are we right with God? Then and only then can we talk with others about changing their ways. Pray my brothers and sisters pray! God please bring revival and a spiritual awakening to this great land you have blessed us with.
Tom
Proverbs 14:34
34 Righteousness exalts a nation,
But sin is a reproach to any people.
Until we have a turning back to God we will continue to struggle. We have no God-fearing leadership in our government. The nation now accepts all kinds of sin as normal and acceptable. Our music and televisions mock and laugh at God's Word. It is very simple....until our nation wakes up and realizes we need God we will continue to face the consequences.
It all starts with me and you. Are we right with God? Then and only then can we talk with others about changing their ways. Pray my brothers and sisters pray! God please bring revival and a spiritual awakening to this great land you have blessed us with.
Tom
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Do you have a love for God's Word?
This is a very important question for every believer. But before you just jump right in and say "oh yeah I love the Word of God" I want you to ask yourself a question. How much time do you spend reading and studying the Bible? For some, including myself, it is not nearly enough! Read this verse:
Proverbs 13:13
13 He who despises the word will be destroyed,
But he who fears the commandment will be rewarded.
God tells us in this verse that those who despise the Word will be destroyed. Makes sense don't it? If you hate God's Word then you must have Him so in the end you will be destroyed by spending eternity in hell. On the other hand if you fear the Word of God which the commandments are a part of then you will be rewarded. If you have an awe and a reverence for God's Word then it goes to say you would be obeying His Word. When you are obedient then your reward will an eternity spent with God in heaven. Wow we don't deserve that but am I thankful for it!
So back to the original question....do you love God's Word? Think about it very hard. If you are a hunter compare the amount of time spent hunting to the time you spend reading God's Word and serving Him. Not even close is it? If you are not a hunter you can do the same test with whatever your hobby is. Hmmmm something each of us had better give some thought!
Tom
Proverbs 13:13
13 He who despises the word will be destroyed,
But he who fears the commandment will be rewarded.
God tells us in this verse that those who despise the Word will be destroyed. Makes sense don't it? If you hate God's Word then you must have Him so in the end you will be destroyed by spending eternity in hell. On the other hand if you fear the Word of God which the commandments are a part of then you will be rewarded. If you have an awe and a reverence for God's Word then it goes to say you would be obeying His Word. When you are obedient then your reward will an eternity spent with God in heaven. Wow we don't deserve that but am I thankful for it!
So back to the original question....do you love God's Word? Think about it very hard. If you are a hunter compare the amount of time spent hunting to the time you spend reading God's Word and serving Him. Not even close is it? If you are not a hunter you can do the same test with whatever your hobby is. Hmmmm something each of us had better give some thought!
Tom
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Unrighteousness will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
Have you ever taken notice of how we rate some sin worse than others? God is a Holy, Righteous, God who hates all sin. As I was looking at this verse the Holy Spirit brought some insights I want to share this morning. Read these verses:
1 Corinthians 6:9-11
9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.
God's Word is clear here....those who practice sin will not inherit heaven(the Kingdom of God). In verse 9 the Word even gives us a warning...don't be deceived. I think it is safe to say that many are being deceived! Look at the list of sin closely. Now this is not a complete list of sins but it does cover many. Fornication is voluntary sex between two unmarried people. Common these days and accepted as ok in our society but not accepted by God. Idolatry is anything we worship besides God. This can be many things....sports teams, tv, our job, even our wife or kids if we put them before God! Again this is common practice today. Adultery is sex between someone who is married and somebody else who could also be married to someone else or not. Time and time again we see society practicing this and accepting it as ok....not to God! Homosexuality is sex between people of the same sex and God clearly states it here as sin and we tend to pick this one out as being worse than the others but remember to God sin is wrong no matter what we think. Sodomites are: those who practice anal or oral copulation with a member of the opposite sex. Also included in this is bestiality. Thieves...those who steal. This also includes stealing from a employer by not working hours claimed. I have seen this many times myself! Covetous means wanting what others have. Did you know that was a sin? God has blessed each one of us and wants us to be content where he has us! Drunkards is next on the list and this is the one God really spoke to me about for some reason. How do we define what a drunkard is? I know what we picture in our own minds but is that what God has in His mind? Anytime one drinks and starts to get a buzz it is sin. God does not want us altering our minds.( Medical drugs are a different story). So I think how many folks drink one beer or one glass of wine and thats it? Not many that I know. That is the reason they drink to get that buzz. So from what I see I believe even a social drinker can be this drunkard the Lord is talking about. Revilers is next on the list, this is some one who speaks abusively. Not acts but just speaks it. Think on that our words to others can be sin! The finally is extortioners, this is some one who uses blackmail to gain favors. So we see here many things God says is sin and will not inherit heaven if not repented of!
Verse 11 is important to us. Paul tells his listeners "as such were some of you". This implies a change had taken place. In other words they had repented of their sin and were no longer practicing these sins. They were washed and sanctified by Jesus! Praise the Lord. We can be too all we have to do is ask! Have you my friend? Think about these Words from God this morning....comments are welcome!
Tom
1 Corinthians 6:9-11
9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.
God's Word is clear here....those who practice sin will not inherit heaven(the Kingdom of God). In verse 9 the Word even gives us a warning...don't be deceived. I think it is safe to say that many are being deceived! Look at the list of sin closely. Now this is not a complete list of sins but it does cover many. Fornication is voluntary sex between two unmarried people. Common these days and accepted as ok in our society but not accepted by God. Idolatry is anything we worship besides God. This can be many things....sports teams, tv, our job, even our wife or kids if we put them before God! Again this is common practice today. Adultery is sex between someone who is married and somebody else who could also be married to someone else or not. Time and time again we see society practicing this and accepting it as ok....not to God! Homosexuality is sex between people of the same sex and God clearly states it here as sin and we tend to pick this one out as being worse than the others but remember to God sin is wrong no matter what we think. Sodomites are: those who practice anal or oral copulation with a member of the opposite sex. Also included in this is bestiality. Thieves...those who steal. This also includes stealing from a employer by not working hours claimed. I have seen this many times myself! Covetous means wanting what others have. Did you know that was a sin? God has blessed each one of us and wants us to be content where he has us! Drunkards is next on the list and this is the one God really spoke to me about for some reason. How do we define what a drunkard is? I know what we picture in our own minds but is that what God has in His mind? Anytime one drinks and starts to get a buzz it is sin. God does not want us altering our minds.( Medical drugs are a different story). So I think how many folks drink one beer or one glass of wine and thats it? Not many that I know. That is the reason they drink to get that buzz. So from what I see I believe even a social drinker can be this drunkard the Lord is talking about. Revilers is next on the list, this is some one who speaks abusively. Not acts but just speaks it. Think on that our words to others can be sin! The finally is extortioners, this is some one who uses blackmail to gain favors. So we see here many things God says is sin and will not inherit heaven if not repented of!
Verse 11 is important to us. Paul tells his listeners "as such were some of you". This implies a change had taken place. In other words they had repented of their sin and were no longer practicing these sins. They were washed and sanctified by Jesus! Praise the Lord. We can be too all we have to do is ask! Have you my friend? Think about these Words from God this morning....comments are welcome!
Tom
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)