Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Action Steps Required

Scripture. 1 Timothy 6:11 – 12 11 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

Observation.  Action steps are required.  Paul is telling Timothy he needs to flee, pursue, fight, take hold of the eternal life we are called.   Action is required.  Staying, sitting, doing nothing is not an option.

Application.  When God called me, when I professed faith in Him, I need to run from sin, I need to seek God and all the spiritual gifts, and I need to fight against little faith.  Satan will always be there to tell me I cannot.  I need to fight against doubt.  When we all stood up for Christ, when we said he is our Lord and we will follow him, we need to move forward, grab on to the promises of our Lord.  We need to take action.  We need to Just Do it.  Daily time with God. Spend time with other Christians in fellowship. Go outside my comfort zone and fight against the world for my Lord.

P. Lord, help me.  Help me to hear you, know what actions you want from me.  Give me confidence to go outside my comfort zone. Increase my faith.  I want your will in my life.

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Advancing God's work by faith

Scripture. 1 Timothy 1:3-4  3 As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain persons not to teach false doctrines any longer 4  or to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. Such things promote controversial speculations rather than advancing God’s work—which is by faith.
Observation.  In order to advance God’s work, we have to have faith.  We need to make sure that people do not teach false doctrine or devote themselves to traditions/myths/handed down by genealogies that are not honoring to God.

Application. I need to help people see the lies of the world.  Satan tries to manipulate and cloud us with the worldly view.  I need to stop conforming to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of my mind.  Then I will be able to test and approve what God’s will is, his good pleasing and perfect will.  (Romans 12:2)

Prayer.  Lord help me to be renewed in my mind by your word.  Help me to know the truth to be able to test and approve your will.  To be able to advance your work by faith.To be able to speak out in truth for you.  Lord help me to hear you, sense you, and give me the confidence to step out in faith obeying you.

Friday, June 3, 2011

I am the bread of life


I struggle with bread and other types of grains.  When I am out of control, I am likely eating bread, crackers, chips, pizza, pasta, cookies something to do with a grain.    

Today as I studied John 6, verse 47-51 resonated with me.  Very truly I tell you, whoever believes has eternal life.48 I am the bread of life.49 Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, yet they died.50 But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which people may eat and not die. 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.” (TNIV)

These verses show that Jesus is the bread. The Israelites ate manna (bread) and still died.  Jesus is the living bread, sent from our Heavenly Father.  Jesus gave his life so that he could be our eternal bread.  

Something is wrong when I am stuffing myself with worldly breads.  Jesus is what I hunger.  When I am filling myself with earthly food in an unhealthy way, I am avoiding Jesus.  I am not allowing God to fill me.  I am missing-out on the living bread that came down from heaven. 

Lord, help me not to hunger for the bread of the world. Lord, help me to hunger for only you.  Help me to focus on you.   Help me to seek you.  Lord you are my true satisfier.  Thank you for giving us Jesus, our bread of life.