"He must become greater; I must become less." John 3:30
These are the words of John the Baptist. His assignment from God was to prepare people to welcome Jesus. Once Jesus was on the scene, John's role was to fade away and give center stage to Jesus.
Don't we all share John the Baptist's assignment? Every Christian has the opportunity and calling to prepare the way for Jesus into the lives of people. There are people around us to whom we can serve as John the Baptist. We may not have the same fire and peculiarities as John but we can be a voice that points people to Jesus. Our aim is to always be that Jesus will take center stage and at that point that we we'll gladly move to the side.
Father, help me to see the people around me today whose lives you desire to enter. Use me as a "John the Baptist" to them.
I'm praying for you.
Mark
Monday, October 26, 2009
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Waves of Grace
Note: Did you remember that we were beginning John today?
"From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another." John 1:16
I love this verse! The ESV says, "From his fullness we have all received grace upon grace." Picture a large rock landing in a pond. As it hits the surface it starts a ripple effect sending out wave after wave. Jesus is the Rock of God. He hit the world 2000 years ago and the waves of grace are still rolling out. We did not merely experience His grace once upon a time when we were saved but we are still experiencing it today. The waves of His grace lap over us one after the other. The same truth is stated in Lamentations 3:22-23, "...his compassions never fail. They are new ever morning; great is your faithfulness." Turn toward the Rock and enjoy the waves!
Father, I thank you for the abundant, continuous waves of Your grace that come to me through Christ. I welcome and anticipate the fresh waves of Your grace that will roll over my life today.
I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark
"From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another." John 1:16
I love this verse! The ESV says, "From his fullness we have all received grace upon grace." Picture a large rock landing in a pond. As it hits the surface it starts a ripple effect sending out wave after wave. Jesus is the Rock of God. He hit the world 2000 years ago and the waves of grace are still rolling out. We did not merely experience His grace once upon a time when we were saved but we are still experiencing it today. The waves of His grace lap over us one after the other. The same truth is stated in Lamentations 3:22-23, "...his compassions never fail. They are new ever morning; great is your faithfulness." Turn toward the Rock and enjoy the waves!
Father, I thank you for the abundant, continuous waves of Your grace that come to me through Christ. I welcome and anticipate the fresh waves of Your grace that will roll over my life today.
I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Keep Growing
"...be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." 2 Peter 3:17-18
Being carried away from truth into error is a scary thought. How often have we seen it happen in the lives of others? Even in our own life? We must ever be on our guard.
The best antidote for error is consistent spiritual growth. Caring for our bodies through good eating, exercise, and rest makes us less susceptible to disease. So in the spiritual realm care for our souls makes us less susceptible to error. If we are pressing forward with Christ growing stronger in the Spirit we will be better able to stand firm in the truth. So let us ever seek to "grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."
Father, grant me the grace and knowledge of Jesus today that will enable me to grow strong in You without falling.
I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark
Note: Don't forget tomorrow we go back to the Gospel of John and then we will return to the letters of John.
Being carried away from truth into error is a scary thought. How often have we seen it happen in the lives of others? Even in our own life? We must ever be on our guard.
The best antidote for error is consistent spiritual growth. Caring for our bodies through good eating, exercise, and rest makes us less susceptible to disease. So in the spiritual realm care for our souls makes us less susceptible to error. If we are pressing forward with Christ growing stronger in the Spirit we will be better able to stand firm in the truth. So let us ever seek to "grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."
Father, grant me the grace and knowledge of Jesus today that will enable me to grow strong in You without falling.
I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark
Note: Don't forget tomorrow we go back to the Gospel of John and then we will return to the letters of John.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Slave or Free?
"They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity--for a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him." 2 Peter 2:19
False teachers promise freedom in lustful pleasures but in fact they lead people into slavery. We may imagine that freedom is living without boundaries, doing what we want, but in the end we become slaves to our pleasures and we are never able to satisfy them.
As much as we may desire to be the master of our own destiny the truth is "a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him." I can either be a slave to sin or to Jesus Christ. Peter declared himself "a slave of Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 1:1; although the NIV translates 1:1 with the word "servant" it is the same Greek word for "slave" that is used here in 2:19). I too declare myself "a slave of Jesus Christ" for under the mastery of Jesus I am truly free to live. Within His boundaries is true freedom.
Father, I gladly call myself a slave of Jesus Christ. Help me to live today mastered by Jesus and so to walk in Your freedom.
I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark
False teachers promise freedom in lustful pleasures but in fact they lead people into slavery. We may imagine that freedom is living without boundaries, doing what we want, but in the end we become slaves to our pleasures and we are never able to satisfy them.
As much as we may desire to be the master of our own destiny the truth is "a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him." I can either be a slave to sin or to Jesus Christ. Peter declared himself "a slave of Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 1:1; although the NIV translates 1:1 with the word "servant" it is the same Greek word for "slave" that is used here in 2:19). I too declare myself "a slave of Jesus Christ" for under the mastery of Jesus I am truly free to live. Within His boundaries is true freedom.
Father, I gladly call myself a slave of Jesus Christ. Help me to live today mastered by Jesus and so to walk in Your freedom.
I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark
Monday, October 19, 2009
"For if you possesses these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." 2 Peter 1:8
"Ineffective and unproductive." What an epitaph to have written over one's spiritual life! May it not be mine or yours.
To keep from being ineffective and unproductive we need to possess and grow in the qualities listed in verses 5 through 7: "Add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love."
Are you adding? Are you building on the foundation of faith that God has given you (see v.2)? Those who do not rest content with faith alone but build on their faith a vibrant, Christ-like life will never be found to be ineffective and unproductive. Let's build!
Father, may the words ineffective and unproductive never be Your assessment of my life. Help me to build on the faith You have given me a life that is effective and productive to Your glory.
I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark
NOTE: After we finish reading 2 Peter on Thursday, we will begin the Gospel of John on Friday. Remember that we skipped over John earlier in the year to save one of the Gospels for the end of the year.
"Ineffective and unproductive." What an epitaph to have written over one's spiritual life! May it not be mine or yours.
To keep from being ineffective and unproductive we need to possess and grow in the qualities listed in verses 5 through 7: "Add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love."
Are you adding? Are you building on the foundation of faith that God has given you (see v.2)? Those who do not rest content with faith alone but build on their faith a vibrant, Christ-like life will never be found to be ineffective and unproductive. Let's build!
Father, may the words ineffective and unproductive never be Your assessment of my life. Help me to build on the faith You have given me a life that is effective and productive to Your glory.
I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark
NOTE: After we finish reading 2 Peter on Thursday, we will begin the Gospel of John on Friday. Remember that we skipped over John earlier in the year to save one of the Gospels for the end of the year.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
ANXIETY
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7
These words speak to me in so many ways (and I often need them to).
CAST all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Throw it as far as you can.
Cast ALL your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Don't hold on to any of it.
Cast all YOUR anxiety on him because he cares for you. Most of our fears are of our own making.
Cast all your ANXIETY on him because he cares for you. Receive peace instead of stress.
Cast all your anxiety ON him because he cares for you. Big problems look small in his hands.
Cast all your anxiety on HIM because he cares for you. Almighty, everlasting, holy GOD.
Cast all your anxiety on him BECAUSE he cares for you. One reason is enough with God.
Cast all your anxiety on him because HE cares for you. Your personal, loving Savior.
Cast all your anxiety on him because he CARES for you. God is active on your behalf.
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares FOR you. Indicates the object of God's attenion.
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for YOU. Even with all your flaws.
Father, thank you, thank you, thank you for your abiding care.
Praying that you will find everything in Christ,
JIM
These words speak to me in so many ways (and I often need them to).
CAST all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Throw it as far as you can.
Cast ALL your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Don't hold on to any of it.
Cast all YOUR anxiety on him because he cares for you. Most of our fears are of our own making.
Cast all your ANXIETY on him because he cares for you. Receive peace instead of stress.
Cast all your anxiety ON him because he cares for you. Big problems look small in his hands.
Cast all your anxiety on HIM because he cares for you. Almighty, everlasting, holy GOD.
Cast all your anxiety on him BECAUSE he cares for you. One reason is enough with God.
Cast all your anxiety on him because HE cares for you. Your personal, loving Savior.
Cast all your anxiety on him because he CARES for you. God is active on your behalf.
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares FOR you. Indicates the object of God's attenion.
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for YOU. Even with all your flaws.
Father, thank you, thank you, thank you for your abiding care.
Praying that you will find everything in Christ,
JIM
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Dispensing Grace
"Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms." 1 Peter 4:10
As we use our God-given gifts to serve others, God is dispensing His grace through our lives to those whom we serve. What an awesome thought! God working through us to manifest His grace to another person.
God has deposited His grace into us in the form of a spiritual gift. He means for His grace to pass through us in service. Service is not just an obligation we must fulfill. It is high privilege to handle God's grace and dispense it to others in His name! Who would God have you to grace today?
Father, thank you for your gifting and the high calling to serve up your grace to those around me. Help me to be a faithful dispenser of Your grace in the name of Jesus.
I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark
As we use our God-given gifts to serve others, God is dispensing His grace through our lives to those whom we serve. What an awesome thought! God working through us to manifest His grace to another person.
God has deposited His grace into us in the form of a spiritual gift. He means for His grace to pass through us in service. Service is not just an obligation we must fulfill. It is high privilege to handle God's grace and dispense it to others in His name! Who would God have you to grace today?
Father, thank you for your gifting and the high calling to serve up your grace to those around me. Help me to be a faithful dispenser of Your grace in the name of Jesus.
I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
