remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins. - James 5:20
Yesterday as we focused on our Connection to the World we learned from 1 Corinthians 5:17-21 that we have been given the ministry of reconciliation, and that God makes his appeal through us.
This verse from James illustrates that truth even further. There are people all around us who are in sin and facing death. These people need to be reconciled to God, and God has called us to be his ambassadors to these people.
Father, I know that it is an honor to represent you, The Most High King, and yet I confess, that often times I am fearful and timid when it comes to sharing the gospel with others. I ask that you would burden my heart for the lost and give me a love that would compel me to share Christ with them.
Humbled by grace,
Matt
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Effective Prayer
"You do not have, because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures." James 4:2-3
These verses set two principles of effective prayer before us. First, in order to pray effectively you must pray. That seems pretty basic yet prayerlessness is prevalent among Christians. When we do not have something that we need to do God's will the problem may be that we have failed to ask God for it. Bring your needs to Him in prayer. He is waiting for you to ask.
Second, in order to pray effectively you must pray with right motives. The wrong motive is a selfish desire for our own pleasure. The right motive is a desire for God's glory in your life (see John 14:13). God is glorified when in answer to prayer He accomplishes His will in our life. His will is good, pleasing, and perfect (Romans 12:2) and it includes our daily bread, forgiveness, guidance, and deliverance from evil (Matthew 6:11-12) among other things. Set your heart right before Him and ask Him boldly to meet your need according to His will.
Father, as the disciples once asked Jesus, "Teach us to pray," so I now ask you to teach me to pray as you would have me to pray.
I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark
These verses set two principles of effective prayer before us. First, in order to pray effectively you must pray. That seems pretty basic yet prayerlessness is prevalent among Christians. When we do not have something that we need to do God's will the problem may be that we have failed to ask God for it. Bring your needs to Him in prayer. He is waiting for you to ask.
Second, in order to pray effectively you must pray with right motives. The wrong motive is a selfish desire for our own pleasure. The right motive is a desire for God's glory in your life (see John 14:13). God is glorified when in answer to prayer He accomplishes His will in our life. His will is good, pleasing, and perfect (Romans 12:2) and it includes our daily bread, forgiveness, guidance, and deliverance from evil (Matthew 6:11-12) among other things. Set your heart right before Him and ask Him boldly to meet your need according to His will.
Father, as the disciples once asked Jesus, "Teach us to pray," so I now ask you to teach me to pray as you would have me to pray.
I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Controlling our Tongue
"We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check." James 3:2
The ability to control our tongue is a mark of spiritual maturity (being "perfect"). Yet the tongue is difficult to control and it has the power to do great damage when it is out of control. It can also do great good when it is under control by building others up in Christ.
How does one control the tongue? James doesn't offer an answer. But Galatians 5:22-23 teaches us that "the fruit of the Spirit is...self control." What we cannot do by our own power God can do by the power of His Spirit in us.
Father, help me learn to surrender control of my tongue to the Holy Spirit that I might be in control and spiritually mature.
I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark
The ability to control our tongue is a mark of spiritual maturity (being "perfect"). Yet the tongue is difficult to control and it has the power to do great damage when it is out of control. It can also do great good when it is under control by building others up in Christ.
How does one control the tongue? James doesn't offer an answer. But Galatians 5:22-23 teaches us that "the fruit of the Spirit is...self control." What we cannot do by our own power God can do by the power of His Spirit in us.
Father, help me learn to surrender control of my tongue to the Holy Spirit that I might be in control and spiritually mature.
I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
A Friend of God
"...and he was called God's friend." James 2:23
Abraham was God's friend because He believed God's promises (2:23) and because He obeyed God's commands (2:22). Faith in God and obedience to God are inseparable twins. Hebrews 11:8 says, "By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going."
James says that faith not expressed through obedience is no faith at all (2:17, 26). It is also true that obedience not growing out of faith is equally of no value. A friend of God walks in deep faith and diligent obedience at the same time.
Father, as Abraham was Your friend, I desire to be Your friend. Thank you for condescending to friendship with a mere mortal like myself. Teach me to walk more and more in the faith and obedience that enables me to live in close friendship with You.
I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark
Abraham was God's friend because He believed God's promises (2:23) and because He obeyed God's commands (2:22). Faith in God and obedience to God are inseparable twins. Hebrews 11:8 says, "By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going."
James says that faith not expressed through obedience is no faith at all (2:17, 26). It is also true that obedience not growing out of faith is equally of no value. A friend of God walks in deep faith and diligent obedience at the same time.
Father, as Abraham was Your friend, I desire to be Your friend. Thank you for condescending to friendship with a mere mortal like myself. Teach me to walk more and more in the faith and obedience that enables me to live in close friendship with You.
I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark
Monday, October 5, 2009
Doing the Word
"Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says." James 1:22
Reading God's Word and to listening to the teaching of God's Word provides the opportunity for spiritual growth to take place in our life. But if we stop with reading and hearing the Word we have not finished the task.
Too often we are self-deceived thinking that we have done our duty toward God by reading, hearing, even studying Scripture while God is looking for obedience. It is obedience that seizes the opportunity for growth that reading and hearing the Word provides. It is obedience that expresses true love for God. "If you love me you will obey what I command" (John 14:15).
We who have committed ourselves to reading Scripture must make sure that we complete the task by doing Scripture in our daily life. As you read ask, "What is God saying to me through this Scripture?" and "What would God have me to do with this word from Scripture?" Once you can answer those two questions be a doer of the Word.
Father, may my delight to read Your Word be equaled by delight to do it. As I read show me what you would have me to do and create in me a willing heart to obey.
I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark
Reading God's Word and to listening to the teaching of God's Word provides the opportunity for spiritual growth to take place in our life. But if we stop with reading and hearing the Word we have not finished the task.
Too often we are self-deceived thinking that we have done our duty toward God by reading, hearing, even studying Scripture while God is looking for obedience. It is obedience that seizes the opportunity for growth that reading and hearing the Word provides. It is obedience that expresses true love for God. "If you love me you will obey what I command" (John 14:15).
We who have committed ourselves to reading Scripture must make sure that we complete the task by doing Scripture in our daily life. As you read ask, "What is God saying to me through this Scripture?" and "What would God have me to do with this word from Scripture?" Once you can answer those two questions be a doer of the Word.
Father, may my delight to read Your Word be equaled by delight to do it. As I read show me what you would have me to do and create in me a willing heart to obey.
I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Satisfied?
"Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, 'Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.'" Hebrews 13:5
"Be content with what you have" which is God Himself. A preoccupation with material things robs us of the enjoyment of the spiritual treasure that is already ours--the ever present, never failing God.
Money and the things it buys is a god that requires our constant service but rarely truly satisfies. But God has already given us Himself and "every spiritual blessing in Christ" (Ephesians 1:3). He will not fail to satisfy when we learn to find our contentment in Him.
Father, forgive the preoccupation with material things that sometimes marks my life and which keeps me from the contentment in You that could be mine. May my soul be satisfied in You who alone satisfies.
I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark
"Be content with what you have" which is God Himself. A preoccupation with material things robs us of the enjoyment of the spiritual treasure that is already ours--the ever present, never failing God.
Money and the things it buys is a god that requires our constant service but rarely truly satisfies. But God has already given us Himself and "every spiritual blessing in Christ" (Ephesians 1:3). He will not fail to satisfy when we learn to find our contentment in Him.
Father, forgive the preoccupation with material things that sometimes marks my life and which keeps me from the contentment in You that could be mine. May my soul be satisfied in You who alone satisfies.
I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Fix Your Eyes on Jesus
"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:2
"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus"!!! What a needed word this is in these days. We get distracted by so many things and lose sight of Jesus in our daily life.
Harried and stressed souls will find peace as they look upon Jesus. Weak and tried souls will find strength as they look upon Jesus. Confused and misdirected souls will find wisdom as they look on Jesus. Sinful and guilt-stricken souls will find cleansing when they look on Jesus. (You write the next line).
"Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full int His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace" (from "Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus" by Helen Lemmel).
Lord Jesus, help me now to fix my eyes on You today. You are my wonderful Savior and almighty Lord. Let my vision of You grow until nothing can distract me from You.
I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark
"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus"!!! What a needed word this is in these days. We get distracted by so many things and lose sight of Jesus in our daily life.
Harried and stressed souls will find peace as they look upon Jesus. Weak and tried souls will find strength as they look upon Jesus. Confused and misdirected souls will find wisdom as they look on Jesus. Sinful and guilt-stricken souls will find cleansing when they look on Jesus. (You write the next line).
"Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full int His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace" (from "Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus" by Helen Lemmel).
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus the Savior who endured the cross for our sake. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus the exalted Lord now enthroned above all in the heavens. Fix your eyes on Jesus in Scripture. Fix your eyes upon Jesus in prayer. Fix your eyes upon Jesus in silent meditation. Fix your eyes on Jesus!
Lord Jesus, help me now to fix my eyes on You today. You are my wonderful Savior and almighty Lord. Let my vision of You grow until nothing can distract me from You.
I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark
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