"For this reason, when I could stand it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith. I was afraid that in some way the tempter might have tempted you and our efforts might have been useless. But Timothy has just now come to us from you and has brought good news about your faith and love." 1 Thessalonians 3:5-6b
Paul had been forced out of Thessalonica by persecution from the Jews and the new converts he left behind were enduring the same persecution. Like a mother concerned for the welfare of her baby, Paul had deep concern for the viability and vitality of the Thessalonians' faith in Christ. Would it be demolished by the persecution or would it endure and grow strong through the persecution? The verdict delivered by Timothy was that they were doing quite well and growing in their new found faith!
Faith is not a static, lifeless transaction in response to facts about Christ but rather a living, dynamic relationship with Christ. Faith can grow or fail. Faith can be healthy or it can be on life support. How is your faith today? Is it growing through the trials and temptations of life or is it faltering? Faith fed on the Scripture, prayer, and fellowship with God's people will grow while faith starved of this essential Christian nourishment will fail. Feed your faith so that you may grow and live a vibrant Christian life in any and every circumstance life may bring.
Father, I thank you for the faith you have given me in Jesus Christ and I pray that You will help me to nourish and grow in my faith today.
I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Monday, August 16, 2010
Giving Thanks
"We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers." 1 Thessalonians 1:2
We have much to be thankful for every time we pray. God has blessed us beyond measure. After our salvation through Christ, God's choicest blessings are the people through whom God enriches our spiritual life and those whom God allows us to enrich. Paul was thankful for the Thessalonians both because God had allowed him to play a key role in leading them to Christ and because their faithfulness to Christ had been a blessing to Him. Who can you thank God for today? Who has enriched your spiritual life? Who have you had the privilege of influencing spiritually?
Father, I thank you for the people you have placed around me with whom I share life in Christ.
I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark
We have much to be thankful for every time we pray. God has blessed us beyond measure. After our salvation through Christ, God's choicest blessings are the people through whom God enriches our spiritual life and those whom God allows us to enrich. Paul was thankful for the Thessalonians both because God had allowed him to play a key role in leading them to Christ and because their faithfulness to Christ had been a blessing to Him. Who can you thank God for today? Who has enriched your spiritual life? Who have you had the privilege of influencing spiritually?
Father, I thank you for the people you have placed around me with whom I share life in Christ.
I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark
Monday, August 9, 2010
A True Peace
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:7
In this short verse, Paul reminds us that true peace can only come when we are trusting and walking with Christ. In Philippians 4:6 we are reminded that "we are not to be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."
As you read this you could be in the middle of a difficult morning. Everything around you is in complete chaos and you may have realized that your schedule for the rest of the day is overwhelming. Just as we are reminded in this verse, there are times in our life that we need to slow down and spend time in prayer. When we do it seems like our day can go from chaotic to calm. Have you given God this day? Have you lifted up your requests and anxious thoughts to God? If not, stop what you are doing and present your requests to God and allow the peace of God to guard your heart.
Father, help me today to surrender everything to you. Help me to not be overwhelmed with the task at hand and to always beware of opportunities to tell others about your crazy love for my life.
Chris
Thursday, August 5, 2010
The Jesus Standard
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: - Philippians 2:5
As Christians who are empowered by the Holy Spirit the standard for our life is Christlikeness. It's plain and simple, "Whoever claims to walk in him must live as Jesus did." (1 John 1:6). There's no negotiating room. We are expected to live as Christ did.
But how is that possible? I am not Christ. I am full of sin. Once we've trusted in Christ the Holy Spirit comes to indwell our hearts. We are filled the the power of God, the same power Christ had. And so we now have the means to accomplish the very task we've been called to.
So if we've been called to live like Jesus what does that look like? What "attitude" does he have that we are to emulate? Well, look at the verses that follow. How is Jesus characterized? He is a servant, he is humble and obedient. Jesus is described as many other things, but this is a good place to start.
Lord, I want to be like Christ, but sometimes that feels like too high of a standard. I constantly fall short. Forgive my shortcomings and purify my heart of wickedness. Empower my with your Spirit and help me set my mind and desires on the things that honor you. I give you permission to develop me into the kind of humble, obedient servant that Christ was.
For His glory,
Matt
As Christians who are empowered by the Holy Spirit the standard for our life is Christlikeness. It's plain and simple, "Whoever claims to walk in him must live as Jesus did." (1 John 1:6). There's no negotiating room. We are expected to live as Christ did.
But how is that possible? I am not Christ. I am full of sin. Once we've trusted in Christ the Holy Spirit comes to indwell our hearts. We are filled the the power of God, the same power Christ had. And so we now have the means to accomplish the very task we've been called to.
So if we've been called to live like Jesus what does that look like? What "attitude" does he have that we are to emulate? Well, look at the verses that follow. How is Jesus characterized? He is a servant, he is humble and obedient. Jesus is described as many other things, but this is a good place to start.
Lord, I want to be like Christ, but sometimes that feels like too high of a standard. I constantly fall short. Forgive my shortcomings and purify my heart of wickedness. Empower my with your Spirit and help me set my mind and desires on the things that honor you. I give you permission to develop me into the kind of humble, obedient servant that Christ was.
For His glory,
Matt
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
PROGRESS AND JOY
. . . I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, . . . Philippians 1:25b
I like the way Paul has tied together two descriptive words—progress and joy—in this passage.
In any church, either of these outcomes—progress or joy—would be enough to encourage the pastor and his flock, but a wonderful thing about progress and joy is that we rarely experience one without the other. When a follower of Christ makes strides forward in obedience to God, the church family (and the believer) rejoices. When the church finds their joy in Jesus, believers advance in one or many aspects of their faith. For God’s people, growth brings gladness and gladness encourages growth.
Of course, it’s not really news that progress made results in positive attitudes which, in turn, encourage further progress. You don’t have to follow Christ to experience this phenomenon. But Paul specifies that the Christian’s progress and joy is “in the faith,” and that raises the experience far above even the best stuff of this life.
So, let’s continue to work together for each other’s progress and joy in the faith. Focus your efforts on remaining in the cycle of progress and joy. Encourage (and help) those who are struggling, submit to one another out of reverence for Christ, meet together one on one and in small and large groups, pray diligently for each other, read and study and memorize God’s Word; in short—stay close to God and to each other.
Lord, how great and marvelous are Your ways. Guide me by Your Holy Spirit to make steady progress in obeying, serving, and loving You. Thank you for the joy and peace I experience in following You. Bless our church with progress and joy in the faith as we continue together as one family in You.
God’s grace to you,
JIM
I like the way Paul has tied together two descriptive words—progress and joy—in this passage.
In any church, either of these outcomes—progress or joy—would be enough to encourage the pastor and his flock, but a wonderful thing about progress and joy is that we rarely experience one without the other. When a follower of Christ makes strides forward in obedience to God, the church family (and the believer) rejoices. When the church finds their joy in Jesus, believers advance in one or many aspects of their faith. For God’s people, growth brings gladness and gladness encourages growth.
Of course, it’s not really news that progress made results in positive attitudes which, in turn, encourage further progress. You don’t have to follow Christ to experience this phenomenon. But Paul specifies that the Christian’s progress and joy is “in the faith,” and that raises the experience far above even the best stuff of this life.
So, let’s continue to work together for each other’s progress and joy in the faith. Focus your efforts on remaining in the cycle of progress and joy. Encourage (and help) those who are struggling, submit to one another out of reverence for Christ, meet together one on one and in small and large groups, pray diligently for each other, read and study and memorize God’s Word; in short—stay close to God and to each other.
Lord, how great and marvelous are Your ways. Guide me by Your Holy Spirit to make steady progress in obeying, serving, and loving You. Thank you for the joy and peace I experience in following You. Bless our church with progress and joy in the faith as we continue together as one family in You.
God’s grace to you,
JIM
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Attitude Toward Authority
7Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, - Ephesians 6:7
Our attitude towards authority reflects our understanding of the Lordship of Christ.
If you tend to resist those in authority over you or if you begrudge your earthly duties it isn't just a reflection of your work ethic, it reveals that you aren't fully submitted to Christ.
When your life is fully surrendered to Christ people around you will notice. They will see it in the way you do your job, or in the way you parent, or in the way you talk about people in leadership, or in the way you lead. Your attitude toward authority is a witness for Christ.
We are all subject to the authority of Christ. So, work as though God were your boss, obey as though God were your parent, and serve as though God were the one watching, because he is.
Lord, examine me. Help me to see if there are any areas of my life that aren't honoring to you. Lead me to honor and respect those in authority over me. You are Lord over all - my life included. I submit myself to you. Use my life to show my co-workers, peers, friends and family that you are the one true God. My trust is in you.
For His Glory,
Matt
Our attitude towards authority reflects our understanding of the Lordship of Christ.
If you tend to resist those in authority over you or if you begrudge your earthly duties it isn't just a reflection of your work ethic, it reveals that you aren't fully submitted to Christ.
When your life is fully surrendered to Christ people around you will notice. They will see it in the way you do your job, or in the way you parent, or in the way you talk about people in leadership, or in the way you lead. Your attitude toward authority is a witness for Christ.
We are all subject to the authority of Christ. So, work as though God were your boss, obey as though God were your parent, and serve as though God were the one watching, because he is.
Lord, examine me. Help me to see if there are any areas of my life that aren't honoring to you. Lead me to honor and respect those in authority over me. You are Lord over all - my life included. I submit myself to you. Use my life to show my co-workers, peers, friends and family that you are the one true God. My trust is in you.
For His Glory,
Matt
Monday, August 2, 2010
ONE ANOTHER
Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Ephesians 5:21
I have particular difficulty living out this verse. Perhaps you do, too.
Embracing the counter-everything word submit is radical enough, and I do seek to submit to God. However, it's the dynamic one another that gets my goat.
I think I give the public "submit to one another" thing a sincere attempt. It's the private (friends and family) act of submitting that sneaks up on me. Is my reverence for Christ so limited? Do I reverence myself more than Jesus? These thoughts trouble me.
I hope you'll join me in a more comprehensive and conscious pursuit of our mutual concern and love for each other, because of our reverence for Christ. Let's pay attention to how well we submit to each other, and seek to glorify God in this, as well.
Father, I want to submit to You and to my brothers and sisters in Christ. Help me to think of others more than I think of me. Guide me to live in reverence to Your Son.
Have a blessed day,
JIM
I have particular difficulty living out this verse. Perhaps you do, too.
Embracing the counter-everything word submit is radical enough, and I do seek to submit to God. However, it's the dynamic one another that gets my goat.
I think I give the public "submit to one another" thing a sincere attempt. It's the private (friends and family) act of submitting that sneaks up on me. Is my reverence for Christ so limited? Do I reverence myself more than Jesus? These thoughts trouble me.
I hope you'll join me in a more comprehensive and conscious pursuit of our mutual concern and love for each other, because of our reverence for Christ. Let's pay attention to how well we submit to each other, and seek to glorify God in this, as well.
Father, I want to submit to You and to my brothers and sisters in Christ. Help me to think of others more than I think of me. Guide me to live in reverence to Your Son.
Have a blessed day,
JIM
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