"Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise,
And apply your mind to my knowledge;
For it will be pleasant if you keep them within you,
That they may be ready on your lips." Proverbs 22:17-18
Think about all of the many influences on our thinking and how we interact with the world. We are constantly inundated by songs on the radio (or from our music collection), the opinions of pundits on the news, television shows, movies and across the back fence chat. Think harder about how much of that we seek and why we do so.
The book of Proverbs is primarily a collection of wise sayings written by Solomon to his son. In it, he both advises that he avail himself of the godly wisdom he shares and then conduct himself according to it. This is still great advice for us today. It was Jesus who said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God’” Matthew 4:4. This elevates the Word of God from interesting information to that which is necessary for life.
Beloved, it is important that we are aware of what goes on around us. It is ok to seek entertainment and participate in community activities. It is necessary that we communicate with each other and with our neighbors. The advice today, however, is that we make seeking the wisdom of God a priority in our lives. And we need to know that it is available just for the asking (James 1:5). If we would seek out wisdom and apply it, not only will our lives be enriched but we will then be in a position to pass it along to others who may be in need of it.
Committed,
Lee
Showing posts with label sharing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sharing. Show all posts
Friday, August 16, 2013
Tuesday, August 13, 2013
Witness II 8/13/2013
"John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, 'This was He of whom I said, He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.’” John 1:15 (NKJV)
Yesterday we discussed the power of witness. We approached it from the standpoint of how we today can accept and believe the reality of Christ. Accepting and believing, however, is short of the full intent of witness for us.
In Jesus day, particularly at his prosecution by the local religious leaders, many false witnesses were sought and obtained to testify against him. There was a strong desire to discredit him, defame him and ultimately, end his life. After all, he claimed to be the very son of God, even God in the flesh which was considered blasphemy by the religious elite. One wonders what their religion was all about if they rejected the prophesied Messiah. Nevertheless, there were problems with their witnesses. "Now the chief priests and all the council sought testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, but found none. For many bore false witness against Him, but their testimonies did not agree" Mark 14:55-56. Then as now, for witness to be credible, it must be consistent and found in the mouths of more than one.
Beloved, our witness is true because it comes from those who were there. Further, we can testify to the truth of our own experiences with the Lord. We are then called upon by him to share our witness with the world. What he told the apostles remains true for us today: "...but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.” Acts 1:8. We know that the false witnesses gathered by the Adversary are still active. Let us combat falsehood with truth. "Let the redeemed of the Lord say so" Psalm 107:2.
Committed,
Lee
Yesterday we discussed the power of witness. We approached it from the standpoint of how we today can accept and believe the reality of Christ. Accepting and believing, however, is short of the full intent of witness for us.
In Jesus day, particularly at his prosecution by the local religious leaders, many false witnesses were sought and obtained to testify against him. There was a strong desire to discredit him, defame him and ultimately, end his life. After all, he claimed to be the very son of God, even God in the flesh which was considered blasphemy by the religious elite. One wonders what their religion was all about if they rejected the prophesied Messiah. Nevertheless, there were problems with their witnesses. "Now the chief priests and all the council sought testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, but found none. For many bore false witness against Him, but their testimonies did not agree" Mark 14:55-56. Then as now, for witness to be credible, it must be consistent and found in the mouths of more than one.
Beloved, our witness is true because it comes from those who were there. Further, we can testify to the truth of our own experiences with the Lord. We are then called upon by him to share our witness with the world. What he told the apostles remains true for us today: "...but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.” Acts 1:8. We know that the false witnesses gathered by the Adversary are still active. Let us combat falsehood with truth. "Let the redeemed of the Lord say so" Psalm 107:2.
Committed,
Lee
Monday, June 24, 2013
Revelation 6/24/2013
"The woman said to Him, 'I know that Messiah is coming (He who is called Christ); when that One comes, He will declare all things to us.' Jesus said to her, 'I who speak to you am He.'” John 4:25-26
Picture Jesus, the very son of God, even God in the flesh (Phi 2:5-7). Picture him venturing to a land that his people, the Jews, avoided. Picture him engaging a woman whose heritage and personal life are of ill repute in a conversation. Picture this conversation being about all that is available to her through a relationship with him.
Beloved, many of us saved and sanctified Christians would not bother ourselves to share the good news of God's love with anyone who does not walk up to us and specifically ask, let alone go to an inner city area, a GLBT enclave, a homeless shelter or even across the street to do so. Yet the Savior we love, follow and emulate did just that in instance after instance. How is it that we can claim to be his disciples and do any less? How can we pick up our cross daily and some how leave this very important aspect out?
Jesus thought enough of a Samaritan woman at a well to find her and share with her. More to the point, he cared enough about us, to leave heaven, seeking to save the lost, to give his life for us. He did so without discriminating race, color, gender, religion, class, occupation, disability or national origin. How truly blessed we are that he was willing to meet us where and how we are to share his amazing love.
And if that were not enough, he personally revealed himself to this lowly and lost individual. Imagine what it would be like for God to come to your door, job or favorite restaurant, strike up a conversation with you and then reveal that He is the creator of the universe and that He desires a close relationship with you. This is exactly what He did with the woman at the well and with you and with me. Let us then be about the business of allowing Him to reveal Himself to others through us.
Committed,
Lee
Picture Jesus, the very son of God, even God in the flesh (Phi 2:5-7). Picture him venturing to a land that his people, the Jews, avoided. Picture him engaging a woman whose heritage and personal life are of ill repute in a conversation. Picture this conversation being about all that is available to her through a relationship with him.
Beloved, many of us saved and sanctified Christians would not bother ourselves to share the good news of God's love with anyone who does not walk up to us and specifically ask, let alone go to an inner city area, a GLBT enclave, a homeless shelter or even across the street to do so. Yet the Savior we love, follow and emulate did just that in instance after instance. How is it that we can claim to be his disciples and do any less? How can we pick up our cross daily and some how leave this very important aspect out?
Jesus thought enough of a Samaritan woman at a well to find her and share with her. More to the point, he cared enough about us, to leave heaven, seeking to save the lost, to give his life for us. He did so without discriminating race, color, gender, religion, class, occupation, disability or national origin. How truly blessed we are that he was willing to meet us where and how we are to share his amazing love.
And if that were not enough, he personally revealed himself to this lowly and lost individual. Imagine what it would be like for God to come to your door, job or favorite restaurant, strike up a conversation with you and then reveal that He is the creator of the universe and that He desires a close relationship with you. This is exactly what He did with the woman at the well and with you and with me. Let us then be about the business of allowing Him to reveal Himself to others through us.
Committed,
Lee
Monday, January 17, 2011
Sharing Eternity-DD 1/17/2010
"So faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of Christ." Rom 10:17
This first day of the rest of our lives, let us ponder how we became believers and subsequently Christians. Did you come seeking for him as was said by Isaiah: "I was found by those who did not seek me. I became manifest to those who did not ask for me?" Or was it a friend, neighbor, co-worker, relative or clergyman that planted the seed of an idea about Christ that germinated and grew over time? Have you ever contemplated what your life and even eternity might be like if that person had not taken the time and that conversation had never happened? Is it possible that someone else's eternity hangs on whether or not you share the word?
Beloved, Paul once wrote: "WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED." How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, "HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE THE FEET OF THOSE WHO BRING GOOD NEWS OF GOOD THINGS!" Rom 10:13-15. In this case, a preacher is simply someone who brings the good news of Christ. That is all of us. And according to the scripture, we are all sent. Surely we were made for a purpose and sent to a people, just as those were who shared with us.
Loving Like Jesus,
Lee
This first day of the rest of our lives, let us ponder how we became believers and subsequently Christians. Did you come seeking for him as was said by Isaiah: "I was found by those who did not seek me. I became manifest to those who did not ask for me?" Or was it a friend, neighbor, co-worker, relative or clergyman that planted the seed of an idea about Christ that germinated and grew over time? Have you ever contemplated what your life and even eternity might be like if that person had not taken the time and that conversation had never happened? Is it possible that someone else's eternity hangs on whether or not you share the word?
Beloved, Paul once wrote: "WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED." How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, "HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE THE FEET OF THOSE WHO BRING GOOD NEWS OF GOOD THINGS!" Rom 10:13-15. In this case, a preacher is simply someone who brings the good news of Christ. That is all of us. And according to the scripture, we are all sent. Surely we were made for a purpose and sent to a people, just as those were who shared with us.
Loving Like Jesus,
Lee
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