True joy!

 The third week of Advent is joy. As I was studying for the sermon for Sunday I found this interesting. The definitions for joy according to the dictionary and according to the biblical definition.

Dictionary-a feeling of great pleasure and happiness.

Biblical-a deep, lasting inner gladness and spiritual delight, distinct from fleeting happiness, stemming from one's relationship with God, salvation in Jesus, and the indwelling Holy Spirit, enabling believers to rejoice even amidst trials as a gift and fruit of faith, not just circumstances.

So the worldly definition can come and go by circumstances. But by the biblical definition the follower of Jesus has joy because of their relationship with Jesus in which nothing can take that joy away!!!

Think on that today!

Tom

Do you value others?

 “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭2‬:‭3‬ ‭

Really chew on this one today. We are told to value others. I believe it means all others. And not only that but above ourselves!!! Most of us can admit we are not doing this on a regular basis. We better get to it…we are told to do so by God’s Word!!!

Tom

Complete the task

 “However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭20‬:‭24‬ ‭

If you are a follower of Jesus you are called to share the good news of Jesus. Just like Paul said in the verse above we are to finish the race of life by completing the daily task of sharing Jesus to a lost world.

Are you completing that task? May we all be obedient servants and do so!

Tom

God wants worship!

 Something to chew on today I read yesterday in a chapter called Discipline of Worship by R. Kent Hughes.

“But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.”

‭‭John‬ ‭4‬:‭23‬ ‭

“Nowhere in the Holy Scriptures do we read of God’s seeking anything else from a child of God.”

“God desires worship above all else”.

So let me ask…did you give God what he wants yesterday, today, or will you tomorrow?

Tom

Remain teachable!

 “Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; 

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭9‬:‭9a

As a follower of Jesus you will never know it all. Be humble and know there are still things to learn and apply!

Tom

Our home with him.

 “Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.”

‭‭John‬ ‭14‬:‭23‬ ‭

Jesus tells us here that God will make His home with the one who loves him and obeys His Word. So the question is…are we fulfilling both of these requirements? Better chew on that one!

Tom

Within you

 “Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.””

‭‭Luke‬ ‭17‬:‭20‬-‭21‬ ‭

Interesting what Jesus reveals to us here. The Kingdom of God will first be in you! What does that mean? It means when you put your faith in Christ you are now a part of the Kingdom of God as the Holy Spirit now dwells in you. You don’t wait til a later date it is immediately after faith in Christ as your Lord and Savior! 

Are you a part of the Kingdom of God? What are you waiting for?

Tom