There is a County Western song that says that you can’t buy happiness, but you can buy dirt. I believe that happiness comes from circumstances. And there are times when happiness is nowhere to be found. Joy and Peace are available to believers 24/7 regardless of the circumstances. Joy and Peace are a gift that God has for us.
Romans 15:13 (ESV)
13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
The tree is surrounded by nicely wrapped packages. Which ones are the first to be opened? Big or little usually doesn’t matter if there is one that outshines the others the way it is wrapped. Over the years I have noticed that jewelry stores usually do a better job wrapping than the other stores. The greatest gift that man can receive is the gift of eternal life with our Heavenly Father. It is the precious gift! Yet, we are the wrapping paper that God uses to present His gift to men. What is it about you and me that wants others to open this great gift?
Galatians 5:22-25 (ESV)
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.
I have a wonderful relationship with my wife. We spend time with each other almost every day. It is that time and days apart that makes me yearn to be with her even more. Yes, after 46 years of marriage; I am still learning more about her. The only relationship that I value more than the one I have with Karen is the relationship I have with my Lord. What kind of relationship would I have with the Lord if I just spent one day with Him? What if I failed to talk daily with Him?
Psalm 63:1-4 (ESV)
1 O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
2 So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory.
3 Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you.
4 So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands.
There is a natural law at work in the idea of sowing. You plant and you harvest what you plant. Gravity is similar. Gravity will work for you and then you might think against you. If you jump, gravity will bring you back down. If you fall, it will let you. If you plant good somewhere down the line you will get good. If you plant bad things, that too will catch up with you. Take time to evaluate your actions.
A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:7–9)
Our Bible Study for this week covers, God making woman. My first thought was, what did she look like? I know that is not somewhere my mind should have gone, but it did. My first and only response was that she must have looked like Karen (my wife of 46 years). A woman’s greatest beauty comes from her image of God, her spirit. Long before I ever was, God knew that I needed a help mate, a person that I could have a relationship with that would enhance my life. Yes, God is all about relationships. First and foremost, we should walk with him. Then let Him bless us with other relationships so that we are not alone. If God desires that you do not have a spouse, he will put others in your life who will be there for you, so you are not alone. I thank the Lord for the relationship He has with me, for the relationship I have with my bride, and for the many relationships with others who have helped discipled me.
Genesis 2:18 (ESV)
18 Then the LORD God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.”
When Karen and I were deciding on names for our children we purchased a name book. Striving to find the right name for our children was not just a choice on a whim. We wanted to name them with a name that would help develop their character in a positive way. We wanted the best for them.
Philippians 2:9-11 CSB
[9] For this reason God highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, [10] so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow- in heaven and on earth and under the earth- [11] and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. …
Do you expect turkey for Thanksgiving? Do you expect red lights to turn green? When told there is a 90% chance of rain, do you expect rain? What did the women expect when they went to the tomb? What do you expect from God today?
Mark 16:5-6 (ESV)
5 And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were alarmed.
6 And he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him.
A friend was sharing how people need to be more concerned about their walk with the Lord than the walk others have. His illustration was that “You need to look in a mirror when shaving.” There have been a few times that a mirror was not available when it came time for me to shave. That is when I should have used an electric razor. My friend’s statement cuts to the point when Jesus was talking about trying to get a speck out of someone’s eye while having a log in your own eye. When people see believers search your heart and show you what you need to shave out of your life.
Matthew 7:3-5 (ESV)
3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?
4 Or how can you say to your brother, “Let me take the speck out of your eye when there is the log in your own eye?”
5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.
Recall after God led His people out of Egypt they began to complain. Their cravings, and their confused memories, left them short-sighted and unhappy—and they began to say they were better off in Egypt! How many times do we fail to thank the Lord for the blessings He has given us.
That evening quail came and covered the camp, and in the morning. . . . thin flakes like frost on the ground appeared on the desert floor. Exodus 16:13-14
I was told some important information this past week, but the manner in which I was told was not even close to being kind. Not sure if the messenger was having a bad day, or if that was his/her personality. I walked away with some great information, and I chose not to let the harsh words define my day. We need to remember that how we say things to others matters as we are a reflection of Christ.
Proverbs 15:4 Gentle words are a tree of life; a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.
Proverbs 18:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
Colossians 3:12 Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.
When my boys, were young they enjoyed playing with Transformers. They could transform what looked to be an ordinary car into a robot of destruction at will. After conquering that playful task, they would transform their toy back into a playful simple car. When Jesus told us to be transformed into His image, He did not mean to be as a child’s toy. We are not to bounce back and forth with our desires. We are to die to our old nature.
Romans 12:1-2 (ESV)
1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
This past week with all that is going on with Israel, I have had a few people make reference to the coming back of Jesus. My response has been, “Are you ready?”. I have been thinking about if Christ were to come back today or this week. My heart breaks for those I know who are not ready to spend eternity with our Heavenly Father because they thought they had more time or that they were not good enough to deserve Heaven. My prayer is that they will get ready, not by their works, but by receiving God’s grace.
Ephesians 2:8-9 (ESV)
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,
9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
Many years ago when I traveled overseas, I learned that there are cultures where daily baths or showers were not the custom. People there had become accustomed to living with body odor. Personally, I take at least one shower a day and many days, I take multiple showers as needed. This morning after my time with the Lord, as I was showering He likened my physical cleaning to His Spiritual Cleansing of me. Just as I don’t like body odor, I don’t like the fact that I still sin daily. He is there to “wash” my sins away. Yes, when I recognize my stench of sin, He will forgive me regardless of how many times I need forgiveness.
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
We are to study God’s Word. We are to memorize it in order for it to transform us from being conformed to this word. Yet, if we just have a head knowledge we will not be changed. Last week I shared about the compassion of our Lord. We too will have compassion when we move the knowledge of God’s Word from our head to our heart. We will be changed because God’s Word in our heart will drive us to be more like Him. Listen to the Holy Spirit working through God’s Word in your heart. Then act as He set the example.
Psalms 119:11
11 I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.
“'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength. ' The second is this, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself. ' There is no other commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:30-31).
Before Jesus fed the 5,000 in Mark’s gospel, He told the apostles to do it. They had just healed and cast demons out of people. They had been empowered by their Lord who had just asked them to do another task. Can you imagine how the story would have read if they fed the 5,000 instead of offering up excuses? How might our stories be different when our Lord asks us to do a task and we just do it? We are given everything we need to do what He asks us to do. Think about that next time you hear the Lord calling on you.
Mark 6:37 (ESV)
37 But he answered them, “You give them something to eat.” And they said to him, “Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give it to them to eat?”
Have you wondered what motivated Jesus into actions at times? Why Jesus wept at the death of Lazarus when He knew that He was going to raise him from death? What motivated Jesus to heal the man with the withered hand?
If we are to be Christ like, should the same things that drove our Lord into action also drive us into action?
Colossians 3:12 CSB
[12] Therefore, as God's chosen ones, holy and dearly loved, put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.
We buy safes, secure safety boxes, and create secret places to keep the treasures we have. Okay, I am speaking of things we have. When someone breaks in and takes what we have, we feel violated. What can not be taken from us are the valuables we store in our hearts. Relationships are so very important to us for all eternity. One of the greatest valuables we can store up for all eternity is the gift we share of eternal life. Each of us is called, not asked, to share the gift with others. This life-lasting gift can never be stolen away. I believe one of the greatest ways we can bring delight to our Savior is to share the Good News with others.
Delight thyself also in the Lord; and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Psalm 37:4
I have a great drill that has handled any project that I have used it to do. There have been times that when I picked up the drill, the battery was not fully charged, and I was not able to finish the project. When fully charged the battery in the drill has outlasted every project set before it. I liken my rechargeable battery to my spiritual walk. When I charge up my life in the morning with time with God, it seems to help me face what lies ahead of me for the day. When I get too busy or forget to spend time with God, my day shows signs of weakness. I want to encourage you to begin your day with a charge from our Lord. If you need to get up a little earlier, it is worth spending the time. If you can’t get up any earlier, I might suggest being late to that first appointment in order to seek God’s plans for you and your day.
So do not worry, saying ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Matthew 6:31-33
Remember when you were looking at new cars back then? When Karen and I purchased our first new car back in 1978, there were just a handful of options that we could add to the base model of the car we ordered. Today, new cars have page after page of options available to be added to the base model. When I think of all the blessings that God has for us, I am not sure if we have enough paper to list them on. We need to thank the Lord and praise Him for all that He has done and has in store for us.
Ephesians 1:3 (ESV)
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places
Many years ago, before the computer, the typewriter was the means to produce papers that needed to be handed to teachers or professors. Most of the papers that were needed from me while in college and seminary consisted of many pages. While my typing skills were adequate, it was a rare day that I could produce a paper without typing errors. Yes, I drove up the stock value of the company which produced the product, “White Out”. Just blot a little white paint on the mistake and blow it dry then you were ready to retype over the mistake. Yes, some of my papers had a few white paint blots while others were riddled with blots.
My walk with the Lord is a lot like my papers. Sins enter my day, some more than others. But I have a Lord who is better than White Out. Not only will He blot out my sins when I repent, but He will make my life new again every morning.
Psalm 51:1-2 (ESV)
1
Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!
