11/16/2021 0 Comments BitterNaomi’s outlook on life, although grounded in God’s sovereignty, was not hopeful; thus she asked to be renamed “Mara” which means “bitter”. Her experiences were not unlike Job’s, but her perspective resembled that of Job’s wife. She had missed the blessing that was in front of her.
Questions for further thought: 1. In what ways have you let bitterness draw you away from the Lord and His blessing? 2. Think about your answer to #1. How could you go about changing these things today? Challenge: When you face bitter times, God welcomes your honest prayers, but be careful not to overlook the love, strength, and resources that He provides in your present relationships. Don’t allow bitterness and resentment to blind you to opportunities.
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11/15/2021 0 Comments Dark DaysThe story of Ruth takes place sometime during the period of the rule of the Judges. These were dark days for Israel, when “everyone did as they saw fit” (Judges 17:6; 21-25). However, even during these dark and evil times, there were some who followed God. Naomi and Ruth are beautiful examples of loyalty, friendship, and commitment to God and each other.
Questions for further thought: 1. When times seem dark and gloomy, in whom do you seek solace? Friends? Family? The Lord? 2. When times are hard and things are not going as you would like, do you gravitate toward the Lord or away from Him? Why do you think that is? Challenge: Seek the Lord and His righteousness and all these things will be added onto you. He will uplift and sustain His children when we call upon His name. 11/12/2021 0 Comments Eyes on JesusMany years ago I had a job change. After decades of seeing myself in that role it was very hard to see who I was without that job. After confessing to a close friend, I wasn’t sure who I was without that job, my friend responded, “who you have always been: a child of God.” If we keep our eyes on Jesus we see a model for our how shame is removed and our identity is secure. He died a death intended to bring shame and yet he is seated at the right hand of God.
Questions for further thought: 1. What helps you keep your eyes fixed on Jesus? 2. What shame do you need to release? Challenge: Jesus understands what you are going through. Talk to him and turn it over to God. 11/11/2021 0 Comments AssuranceThe definition of assurance is a positive declaration intended to give confidence; a promise. God’s promise is that we have full assurance that we can be cleansed from a guilty conscience. It is not because of anything we can or have done, but because of the one who makes the promise – God. He is trustworthy and keeps his promises. Jesus’ death and resurrection is an example of God keeping his promises. He did die on the cross, but rose from the dead after paying for the sins of mankind, you and me.
Questions for further thought: 1. How comfortable are you believing in God’s promises? 2. What ways do you struggle trusting God. Challenge: God can handle our doubts. You can talk with him about that, and be assured that he will keep his promises. 11/10/2021 0 Comments Where Did My Sin Go?It can be very hard to let go of shame or guilt for things we’ve done, said or thought. As humans we like to keep track of wrongs done to us, and consequently it can be hard to forget wrongs we have done to others. Thankfully God is not like us. When we release things to him, tell him of our wrongs, he forgives us and remembers them no more. In fact, imagine the East and West ever meeting. That is how far our sins are from us once we have been forgiven.
Questions for further thought: 1. What things haunt your memories? 2. How wonderful would it be to be separated from those memories? Challenge: Start today. Imagine a life free from those bad memories. 11/9/2021 0 Comments ShameThere is a consequence to sin: shame. Just as Adam and Eve hid from God after their sin, so do we like to hide our actions from others – family, friends, co-workers and God. There is punishment for sin and God has provided us with a payment; Christ has paid the punishment for all sin, for everyone, for all time. In exchange for that payment we get eternal life with God. As long as our sin is hidden, there is no relief from that shame. Acknowledging and accepting God’s gift of eternal life, because of what Jesus did, frees us from shame.
Questions for further thought: 1. Have you accepted Jesus’ payment for your sin? 2. Have you received the gift of eternal life? Challenge: If you answered no to either question, what is holding you back? You can say yes today. 11/8/2021 0 Comments SinSince the Garden of Eden, sin has existed on the earth. This was not God’s design for humanity. He wanted perfection for us. Adam and Eve were free to eat from any tree, except the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. God wanted to protect us. Adam and Eve broke that one rule and mankind has been dealing with sin and shame since then. Just like sin separated Adam and Eve from God in the garden, since can separate us from God.
Questions for further thought: 1. Do you have something keeping you from a close relationship with God? 2. Is there someone you can talk to about this? Challenge: Admitting to yourself can be the first step to moving from shame to healing. 11/5/2021 0 Comments LovePeter’s list of virtues, one added upon the other, ends up with love. Practicing self-control, along with faithfulness, joy, peace, gentleness, kindness, goodness and patience, will make us better people and better Christians, for sure, but Jesus is interested above all in the shape of our hearts. Without love, even with discipline, we are clanging gongs.
Questions for further thought: 1. How does self-control make us better at loving people? 2. How does self-control make us better at loving God? Challenge: Ask God for His love to infuse your heart, making it easier for you to exercise self-control. 11/4/2021 0 Comments Connected VirtuesThere’s a reason the Bible often groups virtues: virtue in one area such as joy makes it easier to have peace, and gentleness might help with patience, for example. In his list, Peter specifically links self-control to knowledge and perseverance. This makes a lot of sense – the more knowledge we have of God’s word, the stronger our ability is to have a ready defense when we face temptation.
Questions for further thought: 1. If you were making a Fruits of the Spirit list, what virtues would be on your personal list that are your strengths? 2. What other virtues might grow stronger as you practice self-control? Challenge: Focus on one virtue that might be missing from your personal Fruits of the Spirit list, and pray for strength to improve it. 11/3/2021 0 Comments Discipline/ PracticeThere’s a reason that “discipline” is a synonym for self-control; it requires practice to become better at restraining our worst impulses. Just as training a dog or a horse takes time and constant attention, training our spirits to react in the right way and resist temptation improves the more we work at it. In these verses in Titus, Paul is talking about the virtues an elder should have, but all of us disciples need to “hold firmly to the trustworthy message” in order to have self-control.
Questions for further thought: 1. Do you think of yourself as a disciplined person? 2. If you are disciplined in, say, working out or not eating too much, or getting to bed on time, how can that self-control apply to your spiritual self-control? Challenge: Pick one specific way you can challenge yourself to be more disciplined. |
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April 2024
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