Sanctified and Appointed

 

If you are here, you have a purpose. Before Jeremiah was even formed in his mother’s womb, God sanctified and appointed him. Like Jeremiah, you are called by God to your place and work. God lifts you up to your purpose as you know him and let him. 

Jeremiah 1:4-10 (TLB) 4 The Lord said to me, 5 “I knew you before you were formed within your mother’s womb; before you were born I sanctified you and appointed you as my spokesman to the world.” 6 “O Lord God,” I said, “I can’t do that! I’m far too young! I’m only a youth!” 7 “Don’t say that,” he replied, “for you will go wherever I send you and speak whatever I tell you to. 8 And don’t be afraid of the people, for I, the Lord, will be with you and see you through.”9 Then he touched my mouth and said, “See, I have put my words in your mouth! 10 Today your work begins, to warn the nations and the kingdoms of the world. In accord with my words spoken through your mouth I will tear down some and destroy them, and plant others, nurture them, and make them strong and great.”

6/27/2021

You are only as free as ........

 

Paul said Christians need to control what they say, especially fault finding. You are watched and held to a higher standard by God and others. You are only as free as you are able to control what you say to others. Be humble as you see others fall short and control your tongue. 

James 3:1-4 (TLB) 1-2 Dear brothers, don’t be too eager to tell others their faults, for we all make many mistakes; and when we teachers of religion, who should know better, do wrong, our punishment will be greater than it would be for others.  If anyone can control his tongue, it proves that he has perfect control over himself in every other way. 3 We can make a large horse turn around and go wherever we want by means of a small bit in his mouth. 4 And a tiny rudder makes a huge ship turn wherever the pilot wants it to go, even though the winds are strong.

6/24/2021

Untaught Desire

 

God never causes sin or temptation. For example, more succumb to sexual sin than don’t, laws are needed to keep even nice people in line, or sins of omission are not even considered sin. Innate selfishness, flawed logic, evil thoughts and wishes are the cause of sin.

James 1:13-14 (TLB) 13 And remember, when someone wants to do wrong it is never God who is tempting him, for God never wants to do wrong and never tempts anyone else to do it. 14 Temptation is the pull of man’s own evil thoughts and wishes.

6/17/2021

The Long and Deep Love

 

There is an inexplicable peace believers have that is hard for most to explain but in Ephesians 3:17-19 Paul comes close. Conversion experiences can be dramatic but this is a long and deep love that comes from spending time developing and experiencing it.   

Ephesians 3:17-19 (TLB) 17 And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts, living within you as you trust in him. May your roots go down deep into the soil of God’s marvelous love; 18-19 and may you be able to feel and understand, as all God’s children should, how long, how wide, how deep, and how high his love really is; and to experience this love for yourselves, though it is so great that you will never see the end of it or fully know or understand it. And so at last you will be filled up with God himself.

6/13/2021

Love is Large and Incredibly Patient

 

1 Corinthians 13:4-6 is easy to agree with but hard to apply, especially in close relationships. It describes how God loves you and invites you to seek this level of honor in relationships. It is the love God has for you.  As you know this, you can begin to apply it to others. 

1 Corinthians 13:4-6 (TPT) 4 Love is large and incredibly patient. Love is gentle and consistently kind to all. It refuses to be jealous when blessing comes to someone else. Love does not brag about one’s achievements nor inflate its own importance. 5 Love does not traffic in shame and disrespect, nor selfishly seek its own honor. Love is not easily irritated or quick to take offense. 6 Love joyfully celebrates honesty and finds no delight in what is wrong.

6/6/2021