Wednesday, January 27, 2021
Tuesday, January 26, 2021
God's Process
Monday, January 25, 2021
Remember and Tell
Sunday, January 24, 2021
Be Blessed!
Have you ever been manipulated? Usually, it was only afterward I realized I had been covertly and skillfully managed to someone else's benefit. Sounds terrible, yet we are guilty of the same thing. In His deep love for us, God has wisely given us instructions to both honor Him and to live honorably among others. Yet! Yet! Yet! we live as if wiser. "Rebellion is as [serious as] the sin of divination (fortune-telling), and disobedience is as [serious as] false religion and idolatry. Because you [King Saul] have rejected the word of the LORD, He also has rejected you as king." (1 Samuel 15:23). King Saul paid a tremendous price for rebellion against God, acting in his own wisdom, doing things his own way. In V.25 God makes clear He takes great delight in obedience rather than "burnt offerings and sacrifices." We can say with our lips all-day-and-every-day we love God but it's the obedient heart alone that honors God! Perhaps we do not think of ourselves as rebels or rebellious but when we choose to do anything other than obey God, that's exactly what we are. Let us turn aside from spiritual rebellion - manipulating our lives to suit ourselves, to our own benefit. God's commands to us are not burdensome; He loves us and has instructed us to honor Him and to our greatest benefit. Obey Him and be blessed!
Thursday, January 21, 2021
Kind To God
Have you ever thought about how very little of us is required to be kind? Why then are we so stingy with it? Weary and thirsty, Jesus said to the woman in John 4:7, "Give Me a drink." The woman's act of giving Jesus water was nothing short of, yes - kindness. We rightly talk of the kindness of God to us; indeed, the ways of His kindness are without number and measure. However, we forget how God values our kindness to Him! To His people, God said, "I remember the devotion of your youth, how as a bride you loved Me and followed Me through the wilderness, through a land not sown." (Jeremiah 2:2). Can't you just hear the treasure of that memory to God - the devotion and kindness of those who love Him: God remembered! How kind have you been to God lately? Do the words of your mouth and meditations of your heart reflect a kindness toward The Father? Is your kindness toward Him evident in your uncompromising obedience? Are you kind to others because, like your Father in heaven, is kind? Kindness always counts and it costs so very little. Make kindness a way of life; practice kindness, and let it begin with being ... kind to God.