JACKS DAILY DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS
(Philippians 4:11) “I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content”
American culture fosters discontentment and all the miseries and heartaches that go along with it.
Discontentment is coveting what we do not have, longing for it, believing that if we have it, then we will be satisfied.
However you don’t have to look very far to see that it is an emotion or an activity that fails to do that no matter who we are or where we come from.
People purchase new homes, new vehicles, new clothes and run up huge loads of debt, trying to satisfy the quest to be happy thru material gain or acquisitions.
However if you truly want to be content… we need to obey the 10th commandment… “You shall not covet”.
I want to share with you ten thoughts about contentment and challenge you to prioritize your quest for material happiness in the light of these ten thoughts this morning.
And if you find yourself in any of these descriptions of contentment, then determine in your heart to respond to (Matthew 28:11) “Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest for your souls.”
#1) Contentment is a sweet, inward matter of the heart.
Many people appear to be calm on the outside, but inwardly, they are frantic emotional basket-cases. True contentment is an inward peace and calmness of soul no matter what kinds of terrible trials and sufferings may be happening on the outside.
#2) Contentment doesn’t mean that you don’t feel the pain of your suffering.
In fact, in order to learn contentment, you often have to go thru the pain of your sufferings. The pain and sorrow that we deal with are often the things God uses to teach you to find comfort in Christ.
#3) Contentment doesn’t mean you’re not allowed to cry out to God and to your friends in Christ. It’s only by crying out to God in faith and submission that you’ll find contentment.
God brings you into a state of contentment through communion or time spent together with him in prayer, worship, and solitude in His presence and with Himself… and often, God uses godly friends to speak the truth to you in love, to remind you of the graces of Christ, and to comfort you in His love.
#4) Contentment doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t try to end your suffering.
#3) Contentment doesn’t mean you’re not allowed to cry out to God and to your friends in Christ. It’s only by crying out to God in faith and submission that you’ll find contentment.
God brings you into a state of contentment through communion or time spent together with him in prayer, worship, and solitude in His presence and with Himself… and often, God uses godly friends to speak the truth to you in love, to remind you of the graces of Christ, and to comfort you in His love.
#4) Contentment doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t try to end your suffering.
You should certainly seek every God-honoring and lawful means of ending the sufferings you’re experiencing in life.
Particularly, if an injustice is being committed against you, and it’s causing you suffering, then it’s your Christian duty to try to end it in any lawful and morally upright way possible.
#5) Contentment means that you don’t grumble under God’s leading and direction.
Particularly, if an injustice is being committed against you, and it’s causing you suffering, then it’s your Christian duty to try to end it in any lawful and morally upright way possible.
#5) Contentment means that you don’t grumble under God’s leading and direction.
If you’re content, you’ll remember that God Himself has a hand in your suffering and is bringing you to a place where you learn certain lessons in the walk of faith.
To often, people complain that God isn’t good or wise in what He does in their lives, because hey think they know better than Him how their lives ought to be.
But grumbling and complaining is forbidden because it fails to rest in the knowledge of God and receive His comfort and strength.
#5) Contentment means that you mustn’t become bitter or angrily lashing out at God and others. Some get so deeply angry when trials come into their lives that they lash out at God and others.
But God calls you to quietly accept His loving Fatherly “rod” of discipline.
He kindly calls you to contentment for your own good and allow Him to mold you make you and conform you into the image of Christ.
#6) Contentment means that you’re not distracted from your God-given duties.
To often, people complain that God isn’t good or wise in what He does in their lives, because hey think they know better than Him how their lives ought to be.
But grumbling and complaining is forbidden because it fails to rest in the knowledge of God and receive His comfort and strength.
#5) Contentment means that you mustn’t become bitter or angrily lashing out at God and others. Some get so deeply angry when trials come into their lives that they lash out at God and others.
But God calls you to quietly accept His loving Fatherly “rod” of discipline.
He kindly calls you to contentment for your own good and allow Him to mold you make you and conform you into the image of Christ.
#6) Contentment means that you’re not distracted from your God-given duties.
Some are so discontent in their trials that they neglect the responsibilities God gives them in life.
They may begin to neglect family, church, or their job responsibilities because their present circumstances are so full of sorrow.
But this isn’t how a Christian should respond to suffering.
Often it’s by doing what God calls you to do in a disciplined way that you can grow in contentment.
#7) Contentment means that you don’t neglect communion or time with Christ.
They may begin to neglect family, church, or their job responsibilities because their present circumstances are so full of sorrow.
But this isn’t how a Christian should respond to suffering.
Often it’s by doing what God calls you to do in a disciplined way that you can grow in contentment.
#7) Contentment means that you don’t neglect communion or time with Christ.
It’s possible for your fears and anxieties to become so great that you would neglect vital union and communion and time with Jesus.
But knowledge of Christ’s love and communion with Him is the very foundation of contentment… and the source of peace with God and joy in this fallen world.
#8) Contentment doesn’t sink into dark discouragements.
But knowledge of Christ’s love and communion with Him is the very foundation of contentment… and the source of peace with God and joy in this fallen world.
#8) Contentment doesn’t sink into dark discouragements.
The believer who is content in God remembers God’s power and love, and that He’s able to rescue sinners, heal the sick, and make the blind to see.
God calls us to trust that He will deliver us from our sufferings in His time and in His way, according to His good pleasure.
#9) Contentment doesn’t sin to try to get relief from pain.
God calls us to trust that He will deliver us from our sufferings in His time and in His way, according to His good pleasure.
#9) Contentment doesn’t sin to try to get relief from pain.
Sometimes when things are particularly dark, Christians are tempted to find comfort or a distraction from their pain or struggle by engaging in ungodly activity.
Or they may be tempted to believe and grasp false doctrine as a means of escaping their pain, fostering some false hope of temporal rescue.
But Christ would have us to be content in Himself and to flee from sin and heresy.
(Psalms 37:23) says “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord and He (God) delights in his way”.
Knowing that God has your life ordered according to a plan that He has set in place for your good, can bring about a contentment in life that the world can not give you.
(Isaiah 55:6) says “seek the Lord while He may be found”.
(Jeremiah 33:3) says “call upon me and I will answer you says the Lord”
(Jeremiah 29:11) “I know the plans I have for you say’s the Lord. Plans to prosper you and give you a future, not plans for evil”.
Believe me folks true contentment is found when God is in your focus 24/7.
John tells us to “love not the world nor the things that are in the world”.
(John 14:27) Jesus said, “peace give I unto you not as the world would give it, and do not let your heart be troubled.”
That’s where you find contentment!
Good day!
Or they may be tempted to believe and grasp false doctrine as a means of escaping their pain, fostering some false hope of temporal rescue.
But Christ would have us to be content in Himself and to flee from sin and heresy.
(Psalms 37:23) says “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord and He (God) delights in his way”.
Knowing that God has your life ordered according to a plan that He has set in place for your good, can bring about a contentment in life that the world can not give you.
(Isaiah 55:6) says “seek the Lord while He may be found”.
(Jeremiah 33:3) says “call upon me and I will answer you says the Lord”
(Jeremiah 29:11) “I know the plans I have for you say’s the Lord. Plans to prosper you and give you a future, not plans for evil”.
Believe me folks true contentment is found when God is in your focus 24/7.
John tells us to “love not the world nor the things that are in the world”.
(John 14:27) Jesus said, “peace give I unto you not as the world would give it, and do not let your heart be troubled.”
That’s where you find contentment!
Good day!
(Colossians 3:12) "Clothe yourselves with...kindness."
Since the people we deal with every day notice what we wear, the Bible says, “Clothe yourselves with…kindness.”
But sometimes kindness is the last thing on our minds.
There’s an old cliché I’ve heard many times concerning the ability to overcome issues.
“Fake it till you make it”.
Now the truth is, we may not feel like being kind and we may not want to feel kind to others around us, because of the issues we all deal with from day to day.
But the bible tells us… (especially if you are a child of God and a believer in Christ) that we need to “put on” certain spiritual clothing each morning.
“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
Just as you put on your clothes in the morning to prepare to go out into the world… so to… we need to “put on” compassion, kindness, humility gentleness and patience.
In both (Colossians 3:5-8), Paul listed five “ways of life” Christians are to avoid… sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed.
And then in (Colossians 3:12)… he encourages believers to put on or practice five “ways of life”… by putting on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, and longsuffering.
In addition, he prefaces this list by referring to believers using three descriptions that should identify each of us to the world around us.
First, we are "God's chosen ones"… God has selected each us to be part of His family.
Second, we are “holy’… which means to be "set apart."
This is due to God's work in us, not our supposedly own good deeds.
Thirdly, Believers are loved by God (John 3:16).
The first “positive practice” we are to put on is a “compassionate” heart.
This is a response to God and to other…, a response which should be filled with love and concern rather than selfishness.
Second, Paul says to put on “kindness. “
The term refers to how a person treats others.
Third, believers are to put on or… “live in humility”… a trait valued by God throughout Scripture (James 4:6).
The gospel requires people to admit they are sinners in need of a Savior.
As believers, we should recognize God's “supremacy” in our lives and how limited we are in comparison.
Humility is also important so that we don't act arrogantly or unfairly towards other people.
Fourth, Paul mentions “meekness”.
Meekness is not an attitude of fear, or the suggestion that Christians ought to be timid.
Rather, meekness refers to gentleness, instead of a hard-hearted response to others,
A "meek" person is one who controls their strength and power, rather than abusing it.
Fifth, Paul tells us to put on “patience!”
This and the other traits in this verse, closely reflect the list describing the fruit of the “Spirit” in (Galatians 5:22–23)
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”
Think about how often you’ve passed a motorist stranded on the road and didn’t stop or even offer to call for help.
How do you react to the motorist that cut you off or took the parking spot you were waiting for?
Or how you allowed the busyness and pressures of work to make you curt and short with others.
Or the waitress or waiter who messed up your order, or took to long to serve you.
Sometimes when you pay someone a compliment, they’ll say, “You’re too kind”… but what they really mean is, “Say it again.”
Just as people see or notice what your wearing, they also see or notice your kindness, your compassion, your humility, your gentleness and your patience
These are positive traits as Christians, we should all “strive” to emulate.
Why!
Because people are watching you… and everything you do and say is a witness of Christ.
More important than any other is love, which not only inspires the other traits… but which binds Christians together as a single family under Christ.
Following Christ should include every aspect of our lives.
Whatever we think or do as believers, ought to be compatible with the example of our Lord Jesus Christ.
After Confederate General Robert E. Lee retired from the military, he became president of Washington College in Lexington, Virginia.
One day a new student came into his office asking for a copy of the rules and regulations.
The old general replied, “Son, we don’t have a rule book.
Our only rule is kindness.”
So today, practice being kind.
People are watching you!
You just can’t go wrong by being nice!
Good Day
(Ecclesiastes 5:19) "Enjoy your work...this is indeed a gift from God."
Two-thirds of your adult life will be spent earning a living, and God wants you to enjoy it… “To enjoy your work and accept your lot in life—this is indeed a gift from God.”
So stop grumbling about what it is you do and start thanking God that you have the ability and the health to be able to do what He has set before you to do at this time in your life.
Try to realize that God has a purpose for your being where you are. “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord” (Psalm 37:23).
When you understand that, and you begin to “rejoice” on the job rather than resent it, and believe that God “has a plan for your future”, (Jeremiah 29:11), then and only then will you be able to be the witness of God for others to see.
From (Philippians 4:4-9) We read “Rejoice in the Lord always… and again I say, Rejoice.
Let your moderation be known unto all men... the Lord is at hand!
Be anxious for nothing... but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God... and the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things”
Paul is trying to encourage believers to refocus or change their attitude toward the life they are living and the witness we should be, as we live out our faith in God in front of the world that is dealing with the same issues of life.
And when we have the right attitude… that’s when the miracle working power of God, under the direction of the Holy Spirit… begins to make our lives a witness for the Gospel of Christ and the love of God.
It may be a different job, a promotion in your present job, or improving your skill set which will result in your feeling fulfilled, knowing you are a valued and contributing team member.
So with one eye on the present and another on the future, your goal should be to perform your responsibilities with efficiency and professionalism and glorify the One whose name you carry.
Learn all you can from your current position... both in skill building and in character building.
Prepare yourself for what God has in mind.
So what if others overlook or undervalue you?
David’s family didn’t think he was qualified to be Israel’s next king, but God had a different opinion.
Joseph, wound up living and working in some unfair conditions under bosses that were not fair.
But with a right attitude and submission to God, he was ultimately promoted to the second highest office in the land of Egypt.
There’s an important lesson here for you.
Be faithful and seek to excel where God has placed you, and when the time is right, He will bless you and promote you. “It is God alone who judges… he decides who will rise and who will fall” (Psalm 75:7).
So today put a song of praise and thankfulness in your heart, a smile on your lips and determine to be Gods servant at work today, tomorrow and everyday.
Believe it or not others will see it and it will make a difference!
Good Day!
(Ephesians 5:2) “Walk in love, as Christ also has loved us."
We often see cars with bumper stickers announcing that a child is an “honor student” at a particular school.
And while we all feel good about the successes of our children, two potential problems can arise.
First, there’s a natural irritation on the part of other parents whose kids struggle or are less gifted.
One mother put this bumper sticker on her car… “My kid can beat up your honor student.”
A second problem arises when the “pride of the family” is riding on the shoulders of an immature child.
Your child is not designed to handle that level of pressure!
They need to know that they are loved and accepted because of their own “unique worth”, not because of their performance.
In the same way as God our heavenly Father who loves you because of your unique worth to Him… not because of your performance or lack of it.
John McKay, the great football coach who was with the University of Southern California, had a son who was also a successful football player on the USC team.
When an interviewer asked Coach McKay to comment on the pride he must feet over his son’s accomplishments, this is what he said: “Yes, I’m pleased that John Jr. had a good season this year.
He does a fine job, and I’m proud of him.
But I would be just as proud if he had never played the game at all.”
That was a great answer!
His son would not lose his father’s respect if the next year brought failure and disappointment, because his place in his father’s heart was secure and “independent” of his performance.
That’s the kind of love your children need from you… and that’s the kind of love that God holds in His heart for you as well.
(Romans 5:6–8) “at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.
Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die.
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this… While we were still sinners, Christ died for us”
Although He is proud of us when we “abstain from sin” and we reach out to help our fellowman, and we actively engage in the “good works of righteousness”,
His love is still just as strong even if and when we fall away or fall into rebellion or acts of the flesh motivated by influences of the world and the enemy of our soul.
“Walk in love, as Christ also has loved us.” (Ephesians 5:2)
Christ’s love for us is not “performance” based… it’s unconditional, unbreakable, and unending.
This divine rescue, based on unconditional love, resulted in a gracious act of self-sacrifice.
As Jesus said, “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13)
That is precisely what God, in Christ, has done.
The unconditional nature of God’s love is made clear in other passages of Scripture as well…
(Ephesians 2:4–5) “But because of his great love for us God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions… it is by grace you have been saved”
When asked what the greatest commandment was, Jesus replied… “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind, this is the first and greatest commandment.
And the second is like it… Love your neighbor as yourself… all the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
And He asks each of us to extend that same kind of love to each other.
(Ephesians 5:2) “Walk in love, as Christ also has loved us."
No matter who they are, no matter how much hurt they have caused, no matter if they are friend or stranger… God wants you and I to reach out in love to our fellow man or woman just as if they are the most important person there is in this world.
Two things happen when we extend that kind of love to others around us.
It changes the world around us… and it changes us as well… from the inside out.
Unconditional love, the key to peace and transformation in all of our lives!
Good day!
(Romans 12:2) "That you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."
For a redeemed child of God… nothing in life should be more important than discovering and doing Gods will.
The bible teaches us that we should be consumed with Gods will for our lives and that our first focus in life should be the advancement of His Kingdom.
From Johns gospel (1st John 2:15) we are taught “love not the world nor the things that are in the world.”
Jesus told us in (Matthew 6:33) to “seek first the Kingdom of God and all these things will be added unto us.”
(Psalm 37:3-5) says “Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
Take delight in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, trust in Him and He will do this”.
But you do have four other options:
(1) You can remain ignorant of it.
Chances are this isn’t you, or you wouldn’t be reading this daily devotional right now.
Clearly you have a desire to know God’s will for your life, and He will help you find it (Isaiah 30:21). “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way… walk in it.”
(2) You can know it and choose to disobey it.
Jonah knew God’s will, but he ran from it and ended up in the biggest storm of his life.
What was his problem?
He didn’t like the assignment God gave him.
Samuel the Prophet told King Saul “Has the Lord as great a delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams”.
God had sent King Saul to utterly destroy everything that reminded people of the Amalekites.
They were a wicked people that knew no bounds when it came to wickedness and evil.
Everything from child sacrifice to every deviant immoral activity possible is what the Amalekites where known for.
They were a people that had a complete disregard for life and for God.
God helped Israel subdue and over power the Amalekite nation and army… giving Israel a great victory.
But instead of annihilating and removing their presence from the earth as God had told Him to do… King Saul had the soldiers plunder the wealth of their enemy and bring it back home to Israel along with the King or leader of the Amalekites.
When challenged by God as to “why” he did this instead of obeying Gods instructions, Saul said "But I did obey the Lord. I went on the mission the Lord assigned me. I completely destroyed the Amalekites and brought back Agag their king.
The soldiers took sheep and cattle from the plunder, the best of what was devoted to God, in order to sacrifice them to the Lord your God at Gilgal."
But Samuel replied… "Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord. To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.
For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry.
Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He has rejected you as king."
Now you might think this was kind of harsh on Gods part…
Your probably thinking that Saul had good intentions… however we know and understand that God knows the beginning from the end.
There is a reason that God wants us to obey Him completely and whether we realize it or not, and our obedience to God reveals the nature of our heart.
The road to hell is paved with good intentions.
Saul thought “I have a better idea than what God told me to do”. I will use all this wealth and plunder to sacrifice to the Lord.”
But what Saul did not understand and what you and I often miss… is that God is looking for a people that will be obedient to His word.
It wasn’t the sacrifice that God wanted from Saul… it was his obedient heart.
So here’s a thought for you to consider this morning.
Is your problem revealed in the fact that you know God’s will… but you just don’t like it or maybe you think you have a better idea?
(3) You can listen to the lies of the enemy of your soul who will tell you that its not really Gods will… you can do what you think is best… after all God gave you the ability to choose.
The truth is… you can choose to do your own thing… yet deep in your heart know you’re settling for less than God’s will.
We are not called to obey the Old Covenant law of the Old Testament any longer.
That has been fulfilled in Christ (Matthew 5:17)… “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets… I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.”
However we are called to obey the “law of Christ,” which is a law of love (Galatians 6:2) “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”
(John 13:34) “A new command I give you… love one another… as I have loved you… so you must love one another.”
Jesus stated the greatest commands of all… “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and with all your mind.
This is the first and greatest commandment.
And the second is like it… Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the prophets hang on these two commandments” (Matthew 22:36–40).
If we love God… we will obey Him.
We won’t be perfect in our obedience, but our ongoing desire should be to submit to the Lord and display His good works thru our obedience to His word.
When we love God and obey Him, we naturally have love for one another.
Obedience to God’s commands will make us to be “light and salt” in a dark and tasteless world (Matthew 5:13-16).
(4) Finally… You can settle for nothing less than God’s will.
There are moments and at times God’s will seems too difficult, too prolonged, and too unrewarding.
Your own ideas seem easier, quicker, and more enjoyable.
In the end though, you find that His plan was better than yours… and there will never be an exception to this rule.
(Isaiah 55:8-9) “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways.”
With that verse still ringing in your thoughts… you may as well decide from now on to yield to God’s will… do things His way… and believe Him for His best.
Why don’t you surrender your heart to Him right now… get down on your knees and say with the Psalmist, “I delight to do Your will, O my God…Your law is within my heart” (Psalm 40:8).
Gods will… its what Jesus came to fulfill… and it should be ours as well!
Good Day!
(Romans 12:2) "Be transformed by the renewing of your mind."
The story is told of a man who lived on a beautiful farm and when he died, the property, which had been in the family for over 200 years, was sold to one of the neighbors.
One day, the new owner was walking in a field when he noticed an odd-looking rock sticking out of the dirt.
He took it home, washed it, and took it to a jewelry store.
The jeweler confirmed what the owner already suspected.
The old stone, which had been in the field for thousands of years, was a large, uncut emerald and proved to be worth several million dollars.
This gemstone had been in the field all along, waiting for someone to come along and discover it.
Over the years, people had walked past it thousands of times and overlooked it, because it looked like nothing more than a common old garden rock.
When we “discover” something… in actuality, we’re finding something that has already “existed” or “exists” even though we were “unaware” of it.
Here’s the point: while many of us are seeking God’s will for our lives, often what we’re looking for is right under our noses, but we keep searching because we don’t “recognize” it.
To recognize a precious stone, you need to be familiar with its “characteristics” and know what to look for.
Likewise, to recognize God’s will, you must live by this scripture:
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the “renewing of your mind”, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” (Romans 12:2)
That calls for quality time reading your Bible and talking with and listening to the Author.
Our minds have been conditioned by this world from birth, to think contrary to the mind and will of God.
(Romans 8:7-8) “the carnal mind is at “enmity against” God… for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.”
Enmity can be essentially described as “perpetual” opposition or enemies, inherently at odds with each other.
We all have a “sinful nature” that lives with in us… that’s what Paul was talking about in (Romans 7:15-20) when He said “I do not understand what I do.
For what I want to do, I do not do, but what I hate, I do… it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me.
For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature.
For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.
For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do…this I keep on doing.
Now if I do, what I do not want to do… it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.”
The only way we can overcome this old nature of sin that continually rises up in us, that causes us the anguish we experience between spirit and soul,
Is to continually immerse our selves in the Word of God and focus on (Philippians 4:8)… “what so ever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report, if there be any virtue and if there be any praise, think on these things”
Solomon the wisest man in history and scripture says “as a man thinketh in his heart so is He” (Proverbs 23:7)
That’s why the scripture encourages us to “come out from among them and be ye separate” (2nd Corinthians 6:17).
Paul’s not telling us to be “separatists” in that we think we are “above those whom are around us, or to think that we are spiritually superior… no!
He is encouraging us to be separate for the purpose of our own “mental recalibration”.
We need to be transformed by the renewing of our mind!
So that we don’t think like the world… which is at enmity with God!
Listen folks there is a plethora of treasures that God has for His people, but they are not found when we are focused on this world and all that it has to offer.
Jesus said “seek ye first the Kingdom of God” (Matthew 6:33)
That needs to be our focus!
Before anything else in this world captures our focus… kidnaps our priorities… we need to “Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33)
Good Day!
(Luke 23:33) “When they came to the place called Calvary, they crucified him there…”
The word Calvary appears only once in the New Testament, but what happened there changed our destiny.
In spite of the myths and misunderstandings, the truth is clear and life changing.
Calvary is where Jesus was crucified… and that crucifixion was something He did… and allowed to happen of His own will and choice.
As much as we blame the religious leaders and the Roman authorities for being involved in and being used as the tools of that cruel event,
It was Jesus Himself that willingly went to the cross/Calvary to fulfill the work of atonement needed, to deliver mankind from the penalty of sin and it’s mastery over humanity.
Never forget… Calvary was voluntary.
Those who watched it thought Jesus was a victim of “circumstances” beyond His control… the collusion of Jewish hatred and Roman might.
But that is wrong!
Jesus rejected Peter’s well-intentioned but misguided defense saying, “Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and He will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?” (Matthew 26:53)
Jesus could have chosen to live without the hardship, pain, or the death of Calvary.
No one coerced Him into going to the cross.
He said, “No one can take my life from me, I sacrifice it voluntarily... for I have the authority to lay it down when I want to… and also to take it up again” (John 10:18).
Calvary was certainly unjust and unfair but it wasn’t assassination!
It was atonement!
The enemies of God, Satan, and those religious leaders that were offended with the message that Jesus was bringing… intended Calvary to end His life… but Jesus intended it… to save us from a lost eternity.
And after they had done their worst and failed to stop Him… Peter confronted them on the day of Pentecost with this victorious truth…
“In accordance with His own plan God had already decided that Jesus would be handed over to you… and you killed him by letting sinful men crucify him” (Acts 2:23).
Jesus “gave himself as a ransom for all [people]” (1st Timothy 2:6) that includes you!
So what does that mean for us this morning?
What does that mean for you this morning?
It means that you are free this morning from the sins of your past, the sins of your present, and the sins of your future.
Jesus knows your weakness, and my weaknesses as well.
He knows we cannot save ourselves.
He knows that we needed something stronger than the blood of bulls goats and doves to cover our weakness and our sin.
So He allowed His blood to be shed on our behalf, and because of that… you and I are guiltless before God this morning.
God looks upon you and I “just as though we had and have never sinned”.
We are reconciled to him because of the cross, and made guiltless and pure before Him today because of the shed blood of Jesus on Calvary
In fact the bible says (Romans 5:8-10) “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this… While we were still sinners... Christ died for us.
Since we have now been justified by His blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through Him!
For if, while we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son, how much more, having been reconciled… shall we be saved through His life!”
What does that mean for you and I today?
“The skies the limit”.
There is nothing holding you back, God has forgiven you… accepted you… and the bible says…
“Eye has not seen nor ear heard… nor has it entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” (1st Corinthians 2:9)
He went to Calvary for you!
And because of that … the skies the limit!
Good Day