God shows Ezekiel this vision of a valley of dry bones coming back to life in order to give the Israelites hope during their exile in Babylon. They felt hopelessness and despair. This vision is God’s message to them that He will bring life and restoration to hopeless situations. Just like the Israelites, we need to be reminded that God is an all-powerful God and He will make a way when we feel there is no way. Nothing is impossible for Him, even bringing dry bones to life.
Questions for further thought: 1. What has you feeling hopeless today? 2. When has God brought life and restoration to what you felt was a hopeless situation? Challenge: If God brought life and restoration for the named situation for question #2, He will do that now. Give it to God today by praying for the “dry bones” in your life to be brought to life and restored.
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9/27/2024 0 Comments Imitating Christ's HumilityAs followers of Christ, we are called to embrace a servant attitude, putting the needs of others before our own. This humility echoes the very heart of Jesus, who came not “to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45).
In a world that often exalts self-promotion and personal gain, we stand apart by valuing others above ourselves. We seek to meet the needs of people around us, extending kindness, empathy, and compassion. A servant attitude begins with a heart transformed by God’s love. As we live in God’s presence, we learn to lay down our ambitions and egos, making room for selflessness and sacrificial love. We act with grace and love toward others, just as God has done for us. In every interaction, let’s consider the interests of others, seeking opportunities to serve in both big and small ways. May we be known not by our accomplishments but by our love and by our servant hearts that follow the example of Jesus. Questions for further thought: 1. In what ways am I serving others? 2. What can I do when the temptation of selfishness arises? Challenge: Pray this prayer out loud…Spirit of God, mold my heart in humility and love to imitate the Lord Jesus. Help me to value others above myself and to serve selflessly. May I reflect Christ’s love for the benefit of others in this world each day. In Jesus’ name, Amen. 9/26/2024 0 Comments Moses's HumilityMoses’ relationship with his sister, Miriam, and brother, Aaron, was complicated. Miriam had been used by God to rescue baby Moses from slaughter, and Aaron had been Moses’ mouthpiece when speaking to the king of Egypt (see Exodus 1-3). Doubtless the three loved each other. Yet sibling rivalry apparently began to gnaw at Miriam and Aaron: they didn’t like Moses’ foreign wife, and they seemed jealous of Moses’ position as God’s special prophet. They began to talk against Moses: “Hasn’t [God] also spoken through us?”
Moses’ humility and love were evident in that he didn’t hold a grudge against his brother and sister for undercutting him. He hadn’t been looking for prestige when God chose him to be the leader of Israel. He hadn’t even wanted the job! He also knew that his privilege of speaking face to face with God was completely because of God’s grace. He didn’t become proud. Like Jesus, Moses was an intercessor. He pleaded with God for Miriam’s healing. Moses’ humility was precisely what made him a great servant of God. As Jesus said, “The great¬est among you will be your servant” (Matthew 23:11). As Colossians 3:12 says, “Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” We know from Jesus’ and Moses’ examples that humility covers a multitude of sins, and it brings healing to what would otherwise be ruined relationships. Questions for further thought: 1. Describe a time when you chose pride. What were the results? 2. Now think about a time when you chose humility. How were the results different? Challenge: Pray this prayer…Lord, give us patience and humility, and make us instruments of your peace. In Jesus’ name, Amen. 9/25/2024 0 Comments HumilityHe was the top commander in a powerful army. He knew all the right people. His king regarded him as “a great man.” He had influence and money. He had servants at his beck and call. He had an entourage that followed him everywhere. And he was a leper.
Leprosy changed everything for Naaman. And this leprosy set the stage for an intriguing drama, a story that tells us something of what baptism is about. Most of us, in our honest moments, would choose power over weakness, influence over being ignored, and prestige over neglect. We like to be the one making decisions and getting perks, not the one who depends on another’s mercy. Naaman found that no one could help him. And in this one area of his life, he couldn’t help himself. He was at the end of his rope. So, he went to see the prophet of God in Israel. The prophet’s instructions, though, seemed like a joke, an insult. Wash in the Jordan?! Naaman would gladly have done some great deed—anything!—to earn the favor of the God of Israel. But the God of Israel doesn’t work that way. He wakes us out of our self-sufficiency. Elisha didn’t even greet the entourage. He sent a messenger to say, in effect, “Go, humble yourself. And be cleansed.” Are we willing to be humbled? Questions for further thought: 1. In what ways am I willing to be humbled? 2. In what ways have I been blessed when I humbled myself? Challenge: Pray this prayer aloud…Lord, we often think we are self-sufficient. But you invite us into your baptismal waters that make us clean. Thank you. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen. 9/24/2024 0 Comments Humility: The AntidotePride is a vision problem that we all struggle with. In our pride, we fail to see our true place in God’s scheme of things. The Bible condemns pride as the very cause of humanity’s rebellion and its deadly consequences. Forgetting that we are creatures, we reject God’s design for our lives. Thinking that we are superior, we nurture contempt for others. Humility is the antidote to pride. True humility means clearly seeing our place in relation to God and the world he has made; it means treating God as God, and treating ourselves and others as his loved creatures. That’s how God wants us to walk with him—treating everyone with due dignity and grace. How do we practice humility? We walk humbly with God when we walk with Jesus. By his death, Jesus has redeemed us and set us on the right path. By his example, he leads us. As we follow, filled with his Spirit, we can walk rightly in God’s world, respecting and loving everyone.
Questions for further thought: 1. In what ways am I demonstrating pride in my daily life? Humility? 2. What are some practical ways to practice that humility? Challenge: Pray this prayer aloud… Lord Jesus, by your obedient life and death, you have shown us how to walk humbly with God. Help us to follow in your steps, serving you and others. Amen. 9/23/2024 0 Comments Greatness of SoulAzariah (also known as Uzziah) did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, so he was blessed.
In 2 Chronicles 26 we can see how this king was a success story--a reclaimer of land, rebuilder of towns, leader of a big army, inventor of military machines. God made Azariah into an awesome king. But when he became powerful, his heart became proud. One day Azariah strutted into the temple, broke God's rules about burning incense, and resisted the priests who confronted him. But then "leprosy broke out on his forehead"--a punishment from God. So, as all lepers had to do in those days, he was forced to live in seclusion, "in a separate house." How broken he must have been, and how lonely. He was king of a million subjects, but he couldn't be with anyone. It's hard, isn't it, to know that God cares less about success than we do. God is the One and Only King who lives within us, and in that inner place he is the Reclaimer of Satan's spiritual territory, the Rebuilder of ruined hearts, and the Inventor of the weapons of fellowship and peace. God would rather get all that inner work done than have us accomplish what is "successful" or "great" in the eyes of this world. So, let me ask you, are you thinking about your greatness, or God's? Questions for further thought: 1. What are some clues that I am predisposed to pride? 2. What are some practical steps of accountability that could help prevent me going down that path? Challenge: Pray this prayer…Dear Lord, live within me, and do your holy and divine work there. Keep me from pride and from selfishness. Help me to put you first in my life. In Jesus' name, Amen. 9/20/2024 0 Comments MeGod made us to be holy. But we are born into an unholy world. A world full of sin, deceit, pride, hate, and hurt. We are a product of our choices. Do I put God before my spouse, my work, my finances, or before my busy time commitments? Or do I live my life for myself out of selfish pride? God desires a relationship with us. He sent His Son to redeem us from sin and death. He is worthy to claim the number one spot for our attention, finances, and all that we are out of gratitude for what He has done for us.
Questions for further thought: 1. Is God #1 in your life? 2. Does your life support your answer? Challenge: God made you to glorify Himself. Humble yourself - get control of your prideful tendencies. Ask Him to help point out those areas in your life where you fall short. 9/19/2024 0 Comments My MarriagePutting God first in your marriage involves intentionally nurturing spiritual growth as a couple. Praying together, attending church services together and studying the Scriptures together are ways to deepen spiritual connection. By supporting each other's spiritual journey, couples grow closer to God, and in return, closer to one another. Shared spiritual growth strengthens the foundation of the relationship and fosters a sense of unity. God desires us to humbly love and serve our spouse. Pride has no place in a God centered marriage.
Questions for further thought: 1. Do you share your spiritual journey with your spouse? 2. If not, how can you change that? Challenge: Commit to praying with your spouse. Attend religious services together. Sharing in each other’s growth honors God. 9/18/2024 0 Comments My TimeGod's Word advises us to use our time wisely because He knows that there are many things in life that can distract us from what truly matters, namely spending time with God and serving and loving other people. Do not waste your time so that you look back with regret; you do not know what tomorrow holds.
Questions for further thought: 1. What things get in the way of spending time with God? 2. What things can you give up to commune with God and serve others? Challenge: There are habits you can incorporate in your busy day to help you use your time wisely-start the day with a short prayer, set aside a short time to read a couple verses in the Bible, start small and see what God does! 9/17/2024 0 Comments My FinancesJesus says we cannot love both God and money. Each is a powerful master and motivator. But we can prove which comes first in our heart by tithing, by providing our resources for others’ needs, by getting out of and avoiding future debt, and by not fretting about finances daily. God is very clear that He is the source of all of our possessions. We cannot forget that.
Questions for further thought: l. Is all money God's? 2. How do you live that out? Challenge: God wants us to live a good life. It does take a certain amount of money to do that. But the love of and the drive to make more and more money can distract you from God's plan for you. Give some thought to how you spend and how you give. "God loves a cheerful giver." (2 Corinthians 9:7) |
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