The Here and Now

Ecclesiastes is a somber view of life on earth and “the human lot.”  Solomon’s bottom line conclusion was that you should take care of yourself, have a good time, do good work and delight in the bounty and capacity to enjoy what God gives you in the here and now.    

Ecclesiastes 5:18-20 (MSG) 18-20 After looking at the way things are on this earth, here’s what I’ve decided is the best way to live: Take care of yourself, have a good time, and make the most of whatever job you have for as long as God gives you life. And that’s about it. That’s the human lot. Yes, we should make the most of what God gives, both the bounty and the capacity to enjoy it, accepting what’s given and delighting in the work. It’s God’s gift! God deals out joy in the present, the now. It’s useless to brood over how long we might live.

11/24/2019

Live at Peace with Everyone

Things can get heated with those around you when it comes to some things, such as money, religion or politics. Believers should heed Paul’s directions: If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Ask God to guide you in this and he will. 

Romans 12:18 (NIV) 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

11/20/2019

Love your Enemies

Jesus said to love your enemy is to “let them bring out the best in you, not the worst.” You do this by responding with “the energies of prayer.”  If you start with prayer, you can face anything with grace. Your God-created self is gracious and generous. 

Matthew 5:43-47 (MSG)  43-47 “You’re familiar with the old written law, ‘Love your friend,’ and its unwritten companion, ‘Hate your enemy.’ I’m challenging that. I’m telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does. He gives his best—the sun to warm and the rain to nourish—to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty. If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that. If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that. 48 “In a word, what I’m saying is, Grow up. You’re kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you.”

11/17/2019

Positions of Power

In ordinary affairs, those in power are at the top and tend more to their own interests. In God’s plan, those in power look after the interests of those they are over. They serve, giving or sacrificing as necessary for the good of those they serve. 

Mark 10:42-45 (TPT) 42 Jesus gathered them all together and said to them, “Those recognized as rulers of the people and those who are in top leadership positions rule oppressively over their subjects, but this is not the example you are to follow. 43 You are to lead by a different model. If you want to be the greatest one, then live as one called to serve others. 44 The path to promotion and prominence comes by having the heart of a bond-slave who serves everyone. 45 For even the Son of Man did not come expecting to be served by everyone, but to serve everyone, and to give his life as the ransom price in exchange for the salvation of many.”

11/13/2019

A Judgmental and Critical Spirit

Judgmental criticism of others is hurtful and actually deception. The one who does it is hiding that they do exactly what they accuse others of doing. If you have this kind of spirit, at some point you will be found out. God holds you to what you’ve done.  

Romans 2:1-2 (MSG) 1 Every time you criticize someone, you condemn yourself. It takes one to know one. Judgmental criticism of others is a well-known way of escaping detection in your own crimes and misdemeanors. 2 But God isn’t so easily diverted. He sees right through all such smoke screens and holds you to what you’ve done. 

11/10/2019

Praise the Lord No Matter What

When you are down and discouraged, even if all agree you should be, this passage tells you how to deal with it.  “I will praise the Lord no matter what happens.”  This is one of the most difficult disciplines and understandings to develop but one of the most profitable.

Psalm 34:1-10 (TLB) 1 I will praise the Lord no matter what happens. I will constantly speak of his glories and grace.2 I will boast of all his kindness to me. Let all who are discouraged take heart. 3 Let us praise the Lord together and exalt his name.4 For I cried to him and he answered me! He freed me from all my fears. 5 Others too were radiant at what he did for them. Theirs was no downcast look of rejection! 6 This poor man cried to the Lord—and the Lord heard him and saved him out of his troubles. 7 For the Angel of the Lord guards and rescues all who reverence him. 8 Oh, put God to the test and see how kind he is! See for yourself the way his mercies shower down on all who trust in him. 9 If you belong to the Lord, reverence him; for everyone who does this has everything he needs. 10 Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry, but those of us who reverence the Lord will never lack any good thing.

11/3/2019