"...Asa's heart was fully committed to the LORD all his life." 1 Kings 16:14
Asa was a breath of fresh air for Judah. Following two kings who were not committed to the Lord Asa came walking in the footsteps of his great, great grandfather David. He turned away from the idolatry of his father and and grandfather and worshiped the Lord and obeyed His commands as David had done.
Every generation must make it's own choice about worshiping and following the Lord. We can neither coast on the devotion of our parents nor use their unfaithfulness as an excuse. We must choose for ourselves to follow after the Lord with our whole heart.
Father, I have chosen to follow You and pray that it may be said of me that I was fully committed to the LORD all my life.
I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark
Monday, September 20, 2010
Friday, September 17, 2010
PAYING ATTENTION
We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. Hebrews 2:1
There is something about the start of school in the fall (much like the start of the calendar year) that prompts me to evaluate how I’m living life. Specifically, I review my spiritual progress—or lack thereof—and seek to strengthen my connection with Christ. I often find that I have become distracted (sort of a spiritual attention deficit disorder—is that SADD?) by some activities and attitudes that I could do without.
If I paid more careful attention to the things God has taught me, this periodic course correction would not be needed so often.
If this exercise will help you, I hope you will also seek a renewed focus on God’s will for your life. A little course correction keeps our tendency to drift in check.
Father, help me to keep my attention on You so that I will not drift away from what brings You glory. Renew my focus in any area of life where distraction is a problem. Help me to retain and put into practice the principles I’m learning from You.
Grace to you,
JIM
There is something about the start of school in the fall (much like the start of the calendar year) that prompts me to evaluate how I’m living life. Specifically, I review my spiritual progress—or lack thereof—and seek to strengthen my connection with Christ. I often find that I have become distracted (sort of a spiritual attention deficit disorder—is that SADD?) by some activities and attitudes that I could do without.
If I paid more careful attention to the things God has taught me, this periodic course correction would not be needed so often.
If this exercise will help you, I hope you will also seek a renewed focus on God’s will for your life. A little course correction keeps our tendency to drift in check.
Father, help me to keep my attention on You so that I will not drift away from what brings You glory. Renew my focus in any area of life where distraction is a problem. Help me to retain and put into practice the principles I’m learning from You.
Grace to you,
JIM
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Foolish Love
"Now King Solomon loved many foreign women....The LORD had clearly instructed his people not to intermarry with those nations, because the women they married would lead them to worship their gods. Yet Solomon insisted on loving them anyway." 1 Kings 11:1, 2 NLT
For all of Solomon's wisdom he was terribly foolish when it came to women. He let women rule his heart rather than God. In spite of the Lord's clear command "Solomon insisted on loving them (pagan women) anyway." They drug his heart away from God and brought division to his kingdom. What a fool!
Is there anything about which God's word is clear but you are insistently holding on to anyway? Our loves may be different but we can be just as foolish and stubborn in our sin as Solomon. Solomon gained little and lost much by holding on to his sin. What will you gain by holding on to yours? What will you lose?
Father, search my heart and make me aware of any "loves" that I am stubbornly holding on to in spite of the clear warning of your word. Give me a heart responsive and wholly devoted to you.
I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark
For all of Solomon's wisdom he was terribly foolish when it came to women. He let women rule his heart rather than God. In spite of the Lord's clear command "Solomon insisted on loving them (pagan women) anyway." They drug his heart away from God and brought division to his kingdom. What a fool!
Is there anything about which God's word is clear but you are insistently holding on to anyway? Our loves may be different but we can be just as foolish and stubborn in our sin as Solomon. Solomon gained little and lost much by holding on to his sin. What will you gain by holding on to yours? What will you lose?
Father, search my heart and make me aware of any "loves" that I am stubbornly holding on to in spite of the clear warning of your word. Give me a heart responsive and wholly devoted to you.
I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark
Thursday, September 9, 2010
PROMISES
The people of Judah and Israel were as numerous as the sand on the seashore; they ate, they drank and they were happy. 1 Kings 4:20
God’s people enjoyed great prosperity and peace during the reign of King Solomon. This was a high point in Jewish history and, as a result, the nation flourished—especially in population growth and in geo-political influence. However, even though King Solomon is known for his wisdom, it is God who deserves all the recognition and honor for the success of His people.
God is the one who promised Abraham that his descendants would be “as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore” (Genesis 22:17). And while this promise has more spiritual implications than physical ones, it is clear that God was fulfilling His promise during King Solomon’s reign.
God always keeps His word. It is impossible for Him to fail.
Father, thank You for keeping Your word and for showing us time after time in scripture how You keep Your promises. Help us to trust You, knowing that You still keep Your word and that nothing is too difficult for You.
Grace to You,
JIM
God’s people enjoyed great prosperity and peace during the reign of King Solomon. This was a high point in Jewish history and, as a result, the nation flourished—especially in population growth and in geo-political influence. However, even though King Solomon is known for his wisdom, it is God who deserves all the recognition and honor for the success of His people.
God is the one who promised Abraham that his descendants would be “as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore” (Genesis 22:17). And while this promise has more spiritual implications than physical ones, it is clear that God was fulfilling His promise during King Solomon’s reign.
God always keeps His word. It is impossible for Him to fail.
Father, thank You for keeping Your word and for showing us time after time in scripture how You keep Your promises. Help us to trust You, knowing that You still keep Your word and that nothing is too difficult for You.
Grace to You,
JIM
Monday, September 6, 2010
Fatihful without Fail
"If we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself." 2 Timothy 2:13
The Lord Jesus may disown us if we disown Him (v.12) but if we are faithless He cannot return the favor. Faithlessness is not in the character of Jesus. As "God does not lie" (Titus 1:2) so Jesus is not faithless. He will always be faithful to His character--He is unchanging. He will always be faithful to His promises--He is unfailing. He will always be faithful to His purposes--He is unstoppable. We may falter and fail but when we look to Him we will find Him ever faithful.
Lord Jesus, I rejoice in your unfailing faithfulness and pray that You may so fully live in me that I may reflect your faithfulness.
I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark
The Lord Jesus may disown us if we disown Him (v.12) but if we are faithless He cannot return the favor. Faithlessness is not in the character of Jesus. As "God does not lie" (Titus 1:2) so Jesus is not faithless. He will always be faithful to His character--He is unchanging. He will always be faithful to His promises--He is unfailing. He will always be faithful to His purposes--He is unstoppable. We may falter and fail but when we look to Him we will find Him ever faithful.
Lord Jesus, I rejoice in your unfailing faithfulness and pray that You may so fully live in me that I may reflect your faithfulness.
I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark
Thursday, September 2, 2010
RESPONSE
I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise,
and I am saved from my enemies. 2 Samuel 22:4
These two lines are a small part of the song that is recorded in this chapter (also Psalm 18), but they reveal one reason God considered King David “a man after my own heart.” Whenever he was in danger, David’s response was to turn to God. God was his source of strength in the battles of life.
Faced any enemies lately? Every time we face temptation, we are under attack by the enemy. How can we survive unscathed? Turn to God and seek His strength to overcome temptation. God tells us in James 4:7: “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
Lord, I turn to you now for strength to overcome the temptations I will face today. Give me a heart that seeks and submits to You over anything else. You are truly worthy of praise.
God’s grace to you,
Jim
and I am saved from my enemies. 2 Samuel 22:4
These two lines are a small part of the song that is recorded in this chapter (also Psalm 18), but they reveal one reason God considered King David “a man after my own heart.” Whenever he was in danger, David’s response was to turn to God. God was his source of strength in the battles of life.
Faced any enemies lately? Every time we face temptation, we are under attack by the enemy. How can we survive unscathed? Turn to God and seek His strength to overcome temptation. God tells us in James 4:7: “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
Lord, I turn to you now for strength to overcome the temptations I will face today. Give me a heart that seeks and submits to You over anything else. You are truly worthy of praise.
God’s grace to you,
Jim
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Eternal Investments
"The sins of some men are obvious, reaching the place of judgment ahead of them; the sins of others trail behind them. In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even those that are not cannot be hidden." 1 Timothy 5:24-25
Our sins may be obvious to men and precede us to the place of judgment or they may be done quietly and trail behind us. But whether obvious or quiet "Be sure your sins will find you out" (Numbers 32:23). We cannot afford to trifle with sin. We must kill it through repentance and confession. Once our sin has been dealt with through the blood of Christ then we need not fear meeting it again at the place of judgment (1 John 1:7, 9).
Not only do our sins follow us but so do our good deeds. Sometimes our good deeds are obvious and recognized by others. But those done quietly will not go unnoticed by God (see Matthew 6:3-4). Rather than depleting our spiritual account through sin, we can invest in it through good deeds that will bring eternal dividends. Once again remember Galatians 6:7: "A man reaps what he sows."
Father, may it be good deeds rather than sin that mark my life that I may hear Your "Well done" when I stand before You.
I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark
Our sins may be obvious to men and precede us to the place of judgment or they may be done quietly and trail behind us. But whether obvious or quiet "Be sure your sins will find you out" (Numbers 32:23). We cannot afford to trifle with sin. We must kill it through repentance and confession. Once our sin has been dealt with through the blood of Christ then we need not fear meeting it again at the place of judgment (1 John 1:7, 9).
Not only do our sins follow us but so do our good deeds. Sometimes our good deeds are obvious and recognized by others. But those done quietly will not go unnoticed by God (see Matthew 6:3-4). Rather than depleting our spiritual account through sin, we can invest in it through good deeds that will bring eternal dividends. Once again remember Galatians 6:7: "A man reaps what he sows."
Father, may it be good deeds rather than sin that mark my life that I may hear Your "Well done" when I stand before You.
I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark
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