Lure

Commercials are meant to entice us into something that the producer wants us to believe that we need. I have a friend who has a garage full of unopened boxes of new purchases. He took the bait and then realized that he did not need what was being sold to him. You would think that after a few purchases of unopened boxes, he would not be lured into another worthless purchase. When I pause to think of him, I have to question how many times the evil one has lured me into things I don’t need.

James 1:13-18 (NIV)

13 When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone;

14 but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed.

15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

16 Don't be deceived, my dear brothers.

17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

18 He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.

How well Do You Know?

Number of years ago Karen and I purchased a new SUV. After owning the vehicle for a couple of years and a couple of trips snow skiing, our son-in-law showed us that the vehicle was equipped with a seat warming feature. Yes, I was embarrassed that I did not know about this feature. We had missed out on what was available to us when we were going through some cold times. God has a wealth of blessings for us if we would know Him better.

Let us strive to know the LORD. His appearance is as sure as the dawn. He will come to us like the rain, like the spring showers that water the land. Hosea 6:3

Heat and Pressure

Back in the day, we had a Vac-U-Form by Mattel. We would take a small square plastic sheet and place it in the Vac-U-Form. After it was heated, we would press it on a desired mold. When the plastic sheet dried, it took on the form of the mold. When we face fires of and pressures in life, we begin to take on the form of our mold. We need to thank the Lord for the heat and pressures we face as they mold us into the image of Christ.

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 1 Peter 4:12

Free Pass

A friend of mine carries a badge. He told me that he is not concerned about being pulled over for his driving now. He just makes sure that his badge is in plain view of the officer pulling him over. If you did not know that he is now carrying a badge, you might be concerned about his driving record. Jesus did not come to abolish the law, but to fulfill it. By His grace, we have forgiveness of our sins. However, we are to strive not to sin. We are to be an example of Christ to others.

Romans 6:15 (ESV)

15 What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means!

Be Glad

Life seems to become over whelming at times when we are not forced on our Lord. May you find fresh and new joy each day in the simple things of life.

Psalm 16:8-9 CSB

[8] I always let the LORD guide me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. [9] Therefore my heart is glad and my whole being rejoices; my body also rests securely. …

Never a Bad Day

I have lots of fishing friends who would tell you a bad day of fishing is better than a good day at work. In the boat or on the pier is never a bad day. They claim to leave all their cares behind when casting for fish. I am not sure that is always the case, but every day with the Lord is a great day.

Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall.

Psalm 55:22

Keys

I have a few cars that lie dormant in my garage. Because I have not given them attention, their keys provide no real value.

Two thousand years ago, Jesus manufactured a vehicle to change the world. He gave it power and authority to make a difference in society. He called it the “church.” In Matthew 16, he said the gates of hell would not prevail against it. Then he gave his disciples the keys to this new vehicle saying, “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Did you get that? They were given the keys to God’s vehicle! We have those same keys. Are we giving attention to His vehicle?

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:8

Your Favorite Meal

My wife fixes a great lasagna that you would not want to pass up. The older I get, the more I enjoy meal times. Snacks are not bad either. Because of my love for food, I have to watch my weight. God desires us to enjoy feasting on His Word. Do we crave His Word more than food?

Jeremiah 15:16 CSB

[16] Your words were found, and I ate them. Your words became a delight to me and the joy of my heart, for I bear your name, LORD God of Armies.

A Flop

In basketball, there is a term for a simulated fall after contact or near-contact with an opposing player. It is called a flop. The player is striving to get a call-in order to have the referee call a penalty on the opposing player. Sometimes this tactic works, depending on the referee’s point of view. At times when a real foul occurs, the referee might view it as a flop. Referees can’t see everything that happens on the court. When we really need help from a true fall, we have someone who always gets the call. And they get the call right every time.

Lord my God, I cried to you for help, and you healed me. Psalm 30:2

Shout for Joy

Have you ever attended a ballgame where people were shouting? Shouting results from people celebrating something going on; sometimes, they are in agreement or maybe in disagreement. Choosing joy or anger is an expression of your investment in something. We are commanded to shout with joy to the rock of our salvation. Remember that Jesus paid a price that we couldn’t pay! That is worth shouting about.

Come, let us shout to the Lord, shout triumphantly to the rock of our salvation! Psalm 95:1

Proper Training

I was talking to a personal trainer at a local gym about their clients. In order for this trainer to take one on as a client, the prospective client must be willing to change their life habits. They need not only to change their exercise habits, but also their eating habits. As believers seeking to follow Christ, we must also change our worldly habits. The older I am getting the greater the need to work on my habits, both my physical as well as spiritual habits.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-23 (NIV)

16 Be joyful always;

17 pray continually;

18 give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

19 Do not put out the Spirit's fire;

20 do not treat prophecies with contempt.

21 Test everything. Hold on to the good.

22 Avoid every kind of evil.

23 May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

100 or Out

A friend’s daughter is in nursing school. A couple of times he has requested prayer for his daughter as she has to make a perfect score on a test, or she will be out of the program. When I heard the first request, I thought that was a little harsh. After thinking about a nurse or doctor that missed something about a procedure that could save my life, I reconsidered and appreciate that requirement. I know people who hope their good works outweigh their bad in order to get into heaven. God set the standard, 100 or out. Because Jesus was without sin, He made the grade to pay for our entrance to eternity in heaven.

Ephesians 2:8-9 CSB

[8] For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift— [9] not from works, so that no one can boast. …

More Like Your Eye

Think about your eyes for a moment. Your eyes can focus on whatever you are looking at, but your eyes do not see themselves. If we could be more like our eyes, we would be more aware of others and our surroundings and less self-centered.

Philippians 2:3 (ESV)

3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.

Continually Surrounded

Whenever our president travels, he is continually surrounded by a group of secret service members that are there to protect him. As believers, we have a greater protection. Jesus is always with us even though we may not see Him.

“The LORD’s unfailing love surrounds the man who trusts in him. Rejoice in the LORD and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart!” Psalm 32:10, 11

Important Documents

I received a large envelope with these words on the outside: “This Envelope Contains IMPORTANT Legal Instruments for Your Safe Keeping.” Can you guess what was inside? If you guessed a wedding license, you were correct. Also marked on the envelope are the words, “Do Not Bend.” One might think that this document is of great importance. To the couple whose name is on the document, it is of great value. The Word of God should have words like these on the cover: Important documents for living the abundant life, should be read daily, and shared with everyone that they might believe the truth.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NIV)

16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,

17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Coloring in the Lines

When toddlers scribble, we look at their handy work and say that it looks so good. As children grow, we expect them to learn to color in the lines. The more they work with their color crayons, they learn to change shades with a crayon. Some people become incredible artist with a box of crayons. Our maturity is seen in how we color with our character.

Philippians 4:8-9 (NIV)

8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.

9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me--put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Miss Marked

Have you ever been disappointed because something was missed marked? A couple of months ago I set out to purchase a backpack sprayer. To my amazement, I found what I thought was a great deal on a very nice sprayer. I checked the label on the shelve to see if the sprayer was in the wrong spot. No, it was in its right place. When checking out, the price more than tripled. The sprayer as well as the shelf label was miss marked.

I knew that the shelve price could not be right, but there was hope. Does our shelf appearance reflect our true nature?

1 Samuel 16:7

But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.”

Remember

This morning a friend of mine told me that she forgot to take her medication. Without the medication, her back will so begin to hurt. The other day, another friend told me he was not ready to start taking his medications. He did not know how they might affect him. I think that we can be like both my friends when it comes to trusting in God for our daily needs. I want to urge you to remember what He has done for you and trust that He will deliver what is best for you today.

Psalm 78:7 (NIV)

7 Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget his deeds but would keep his commands.

Proper Pressure

Have you pushed a wheel barrow that had a low tire? Maybe you have ridden a bicycle with low tire pressure. What a difference proper tire pressure makes. Life is easier when we are filled with the Spirit. Listen to the rich words God has given to us. Life will be easier when we are led by His Word.

Ephesians 5:18-21 (NIV)

18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.

19 Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord,

20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Buying a Used Car

When looking at a used car to purchase, you want to see its history. Has it been in a wreck? Does it have cancer (rust)? What might a new paint job be hiding? You can actually take a little magnet and run over the body to see if the paint is hiding body filler.

When we become believers, our damaged parts are not just repaired and painted over, but we become new. That is a miracle that God does with us. The history is there for us to learn from; however, we need to live in the new life. So, I want to encourage you to let go of the past and walk in Him.

Isaiah 43:18-19 (NIV)

18 "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.

19 See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.

Philippians 3:12-14 (NIV)

12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.

13 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,

14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.