1 Corinthians 10
"These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come. So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it" (vs 11-13).
Good News! The verses that come before - 'these things happened' - are from the Old Testament saints experiences...when they set their hearts on evil, we see what happened.
And now, we who live in the 'fulfillment of the ages'...which is the age in which Jesus has come; salvation has been accomplished through the God & Man Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit has been given...we do well to not take pride in ourselves in thinking we stand (apart from Christ) and will not give in to temptation. We are all vulnerable.
Yet, Paul assures us that we will not encounter any temptation, that others before us have not encountered (including the Man Jesus Christ - who did so without sin, without giving in). Paul reaffirms that God is faithful! God will be with us in any temptation we encounter - not just watching and waiting to see what we will do - sin or not - BUT God is faithful and is with us, showing us a way OUT of the temptation, so that we do not have to give in!! Hallelujah! What a Savior!
"Lord, I pray this day for You to give me eyes to see where You are and the way out You are providing, when I encounter temptation today. Lord, reveal Yourself in the Spirit to my brothers and sister too, that they will see You and Your way out. Because, temptation WILL come today, for each one of us...You are more powerful and fully faithful, to empower us through the way out, to not give in, but to say YES Lord....and run, walk, turn, jump, whatever it takes. Lord, let us be a people of 'whatever it takes', to follow You. Thank You for Your Holy Spirit. Even today, fill us Lord. We love You."
Showing posts with label faithfulness of God. Show all posts
Showing posts with label faithfulness of God. Show all posts
Friday, October 8, 2010
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Faithful Creator
Leviticus 24
Acts 22
Food for Life:
Leviticus 24
Wow - an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth law...remember the grace of God through Jesus Christ and the presence and power of the Holy Spirit to thwart the plans of the evil one. The Lord says that vengeance is His (Hebrews 10:30)... so whenever thoughts of pay-back, retaliation, revenge, or 'putting someone in his/her place' come to mind - call on the Name of Jesus, ask for the Presence and Power of the Holy Spirit to enter in...and depend on God to pour out Himself in the place of all that...and trust the Lord of the universe to do what is right.
"....[Continue] to entrust yourself to a faithful Creator in doing what is right' (1 Peter 4:19).
"Help us Lord to look to you in all things. When we have been wronged, help us to seek Your Face, depending on You to 'take care of the situation'...help us to pray for those who wrong us, so that Your Glory will be evident. Thank You for Your Grace toward me Lord, when i wrong others. Help me to recognize my wrong/offense, apologize to the one I've wronged, ask forgiveness of her/him and of You, - so that we might all grow up in You, and that You might be glorified. Thank You God."
Acts 22
Wow - I use that exclamation a lot as I read Scripture! Not very original, but expresses my first reaction! Paul describes for those listening, those who want to harm him, what took place in his life that brings him to the point of that day. He goes into his defense - he is honest about 'who he use to be' and what happened, what Jesus did, and as a result 'who he is today.' Now one would hope that by Paul laying everything out on the table, that folks would at least not want to harm him any longer - if not rejoice and say 'what must I do to be saved?!' BUT GOD, that is not the case.
They want to kill him! But aren't we told that telling the truth is always best? Isn't everything suppose to be okay if we tell the truth?....yes. And in the end...everything will be 'okay' if we tell the truth! BUT GOD...in living in this world where sin abounds, where people want their own way (don't you want your way sometimes...I do...), where we combat the three enemies of God - the world, the flesh, the devil - folks don't respond the right way, the God way....
SO, 1 Peter 4:19 comes in to this picture too...Paul continues to entrust himself to the faithful One and continues to speak and 'do the right thing' - trusting that God will see him through - even if through hardship, trial, and in Paul's case, impending death. But remember, Paul is the one who said that his life was nothing compared to the glorious riches in Christ Jesus...
"Oh God, I pray today that we would be a people that would not shy away from what the world, flesh, and devil have to offer, But like Paul, we would be a people that would continue to entrust ourselves to You, The Faithful One, in doing what is right; being convinced that in due time, in the fullness of time, we shall see Your Face - we shall see the recompense of the Lord. Help us to call on You and walk in the presence and power of Your Holy Spirit!"
Acts 22
Food for Life:
Leviticus 24
Wow - an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth law...remember the grace of God through Jesus Christ and the presence and power of the Holy Spirit to thwart the plans of the evil one. The Lord says that vengeance is His (Hebrews 10:30)... so whenever thoughts of pay-back, retaliation, revenge, or 'putting someone in his/her place' come to mind - call on the Name of Jesus, ask for the Presence and Power of the Holy Spirit to enter in...and depend on God to pour out Himself in the place of all that...and trust the Lord of the universe to do what is right.
"....[Continue] to entrust yourself to a faithful Creator in doing what is right' (1 Peter 4:19).
"Help us Lord to look to you in all things. When we have been wronged, help us to seek Your Face, depending on You to 'take care of the situation'...help us to pray for those who wrong us, so that Your Glory will be evident. Thank You for Your Grace toward me Lord, when i wrong others. Help me to recognize my wrong/offense, apologize to the one I've wronged, ask forgiveness of her/him and of You, - so that we might all grow up in You, and that You might be glorified. Thank You God."
Acts 22
Wow - I use that exclamation a lot as I read Scripture! Not very original, but expresses my first reaction! Paul describes for those listening, those who want to harm him, what took place in his life that brings him to the point of that day. He goes into his defense - he is honest about 'who he use to be' and what happened, what Jesus did, and as a result 'who he is today.' Now one would hope that by Paul laying everything out on the table, that folks would at least not want to harm him any longer - if not rejoice and say 'what must I do to be saved?!' BUT GOD, that is not the case.
They want to kill him! But aren't we told that telling the truth is always best? Isn't everything suppose to be okay if we tell the truth?....yes. And in the end...everything will be 'okay' if we tell the truth! BUT GOD...in living in this world where sin abounds, where people want their own way (don't you want your way sometimes...I do...), where we combat the three enemies of God - the world, the flesh, the devil - folks don't respond the right way, the God way....
SO, 1 Peter 4:19 comes in to this picture too...Paul continues to entrust himself to the faithful One and continues to speak and 'do the right thing' - trusting that God will see him through - even if through hardship, trial, and in Paul's case, impending death. But remember, Paul is the one who said that his life was nothing compared to the glorious riches in Christ Jesus...
"Oh God, I pray today that we would be a people that would not shy away from what the world, flesh, and devil have to offer, But like Paul, we would be a people that would continue to entrust ourselves to You, The Faithful One, in doing what is right; being convinced that in due time, in the fullness of time, we shall see Your Face - we shall see the recompense of the Lord. Help us to call on You and walk in the presence and power of Your Holy Spirit!"
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
God's Design and Faithfulness
Leviticus 14,15
Acts 16
Food for Life:
Leviticus 14,15
These chapters continue the instruction/regulation for cleanliness. Chapter 15 attends to sexual relations as well as bodily discharges. The Lord covered continues to be concerned about how we handle/conduct ourselves. Sexual intimacy was designed for pleasure and procreation between a married couple. The New Testament records the marriage relationship to be a picture of the relationship between Christ and (His bride) the church. Today we have publicized and societally (another new word !) made common (as opposed to sacred and special) the intimacy God intended for between husband and wife. In Biblical times there were pagan religious practices that incorporated sexual relations as part of the altar worship - something that the Levitical code would renounce and reveal the Israelites as being separate from the pagan practices.
"Lord, forgive us for the way we have made our marriage relationships and sexuality something so far outside Your design and intention. God, have mercy on us, turn us back to You, Your design, and Your purpose."
Acts 16
Wow - I love it when I am just struck by something for the first time, even though I've read it hundred's of times! That is how God reveals Himself in the Bible. The Word of God is not just words on a page, but are the Power of God; they contain information that leads to transformation - not just information for information sake! Thank You Lord!
16:1 tells us that Timothy, who was a young man of God and accompanied Paul on missionary journeys, came from a home in which one of his parents was a believer and the other was not. I saw this in a different way, for the first time! His was raised by a Mom who was a believer and a Dad who was not (he was "a Greek", indicating he was not a believer).
What I'm struck by is the encouragement Timothy's life gives to parents whose household is divided - one believing parent, another who is not. Timothy grew up to be a mighty (young) man of God, even though there was conflicting beliefs, views, probably instruction, and certainly modeling within his home! SO, be encouraged that though it is a battle, it is possible for children to follow Christ from a home that is conflicted in belief. We know that this is true, and yet I've heard from so many parents about the struggles and battles they encounter when the household is divided. It is hard, BUT GOD, it is possible for Him to work through the life of one parent who is modeling a life in Christ. Thank You Lord.
"Lord, we pray for our children today. Not just the children within our homes, but children all around us. There are so many conflicting messages and modeling to which our children are exposed. We pray for their hearts, minds, spirits, eyes to be fixed on those messages and models that are Godly and life-giving. Protect them Lord from the ravages of the world, the flesh, and the devil (1 John 2:16). Help them to 'test the spirits' (1 John 4:1) thus being able to discern what is of You and what is not. Yea Lord, help us to do so and to be bold in our word and deed; to speak the Truth in Love; and to live our lives in ways that children will be able to see the difference - the difference of You shining through. Thank You Lord."
Acts 16
Food for Life:
Leviticus 14,15
These chapters continue the instruction/regulation for cleanliness. Chapter 15 attends to sexual relations as well as bodily discharges. The Lord covered continues to be concerned about how we handle/conduct ourselves. Sexual intimacy was designed for pleasure and procreation between a married couple. The New Testament records the marriage relationship to be a picture of the relationship between Christ and (His bride) the church. Today we have publicized and societally (another new word !) made common (as opposed to sacred and special) the intimacy God intended for between husband and wife. In Biblical times there were pagan religious practices that incorporated sexual relations as part of the altar worship - something that the Levitical code would renounce and reveal the Israelites as being separate from the pagan practices.
"Lord, forgive us for the way we have made our marriage relationships and sexuality something so far outside Your design and intention. God, have mercy on us, turn us back to You, Your design, and Your purpose."
Acts 16
Wow - I love it when I am just struck by something for the first time, even though I've read it hundred's of times! That is how God reveals Himself in the Bible. The Word of God is not just words on a page, but are the Power of God; they contain information that leads to transformation - not just information for information sake! Thank You Lord!
16:1 tells us that Timothy, who was a young man of God and accompanied Paul on missionary journeys, came from a home in which one of his parents was a believer and the other was not. I saw this in a different way, for the first time! His was raised by a Mom who was a believer and a Dad who was not (he was "a Greek", indicating he was not a believer).
What I'm struck by is the encouragement Timothy's life gives to parents whose household is divided - one believing parent, another who is not. Timothy grew up to be a mighty (young) man of God, even though there was conflicting beliefs, views, probably instruction, and certainly modeling within his home! SO, be encouraged that though it is a battle, it is possible for children to follow Christ from a home that is conflicted in belief. We know that this is true, and yet I've heard from so many parents about the struggles and battles they encounter when the household is divided. It is hard, BUT GOD, it is possible for Him to work through the life of one parent who is modeling a life in Christ. Thank You Lord.
"Lord, we pray for our children today. Not just the children within our homes, but children all around us. There are so many conflicting messages and modeling to which our children are exposed. We pray for their hearts, minds, spirits, eyes to be fixed on those messages and models that are Godly and life-giving. Protect them Lord from the ravages of the world, the flesh, and the devil (1 John 2:16). Help them to 'test the spirits' (1 John 4:1) thus being able to discern what is of You and what is not. Yea Lord, help us to do so and to be bold in our word and deed; to speak the Truth in Love; and to live our lives in ways that children will be able to see the difference - the difference of You shining through. Thank You Lord."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
