Habits for Good

We tend to think of habits as harmless quirks of our personalities. But many habits lead us away from the people we want to be. For instance, we may have a habit that other people find distasteful and drives people away from us. Then, we have a hard time developing relationships. We may also have a habit that can get us into trouble, like the habit of easily getting angry over the slightest offense. On the other hand, we may also have habits that are beneficial, like the habits of courtesy and humility.

Romans 6:19 says, “For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present you members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification.” Habits are not harmless obsessions, they have lifelong consequences. Under the Holy Spirit’s guidance and power, make sure that your habitual practices lead to righteousness and sanctification.

Forgiveness is Difficult

Forgiveness can often be difficult for us to muster up. In our lifetimes, it is likely that people will do some truly awful things to us. Sometimes, we can say that we forgive, but a thought of the pain inflicted upon us can return with a single thought. At the same time, we rarely think that we need to be forgiven. Though our actions or words may have inflicted hurt upon others, we can rationalize away our faults in the matter pretty easily. Fortunately for us, God is rich in mercy. He forgives the sins of those who confess their sins and trust in the sacrifice of His Son on the cross for the forgiveness of their sins.

Psalm 51:1-2 says, “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Was me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!” When we trust God for salvation and redemption, He covers our sins with the blood of Jesus so that He no longer sees them and chooses not to remember them. His steadfast love led Him to sacrifice His own Son so that our sins are forgiven and so that we will live forever. By this sacrifice, God’s abundant mercy is demonstrated.

Change Your World

Have you ever met anyone, who literally changed your life, just in one meeting. Perhaps it is the person who became your spouse or your children. But I am talking about someone outside of your family that contributed something to you that changed your life. Maybe it is a doctor who helped cure a chronic disease. It could be a financial advisor that gave you the keys to success. It might be a trusted counselor who gave you the encouragement to change how you lived.

I Chronicles 29:11 says, “Yours, O lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all.” We may think that God is some abstract figure who gives false hope to believers. Instead, He resides in majesty and has all power and greatness, and is worthy of all worship. Yet, He chooses to save and redeem people so that they may know Him. As He rules all things, He elects to know us personally and to give us every spiritual blessing. Knowing God changes everything!

Wow! You Are Really Good At That!

Sometimes, we are really good at doing certain things, and it takes little effort for us to succeed at using these innate gifts. Other times, we have to work really hard at something to succeed. In either case, our motivation for success is important. Are we trying to help others or serve selfish ambitions?

I Corinthians 12:4-7 says, “Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.” God gives each believer spiritual gifts for the common good. These gifts are used in a variety of ways to encourage and build up others, not for selfish gain or prideful purposes.

Wisdom Multiplied

How often do we receive good information or training and then do nothing with this useful knowledge? The impact of this good information is thereby nullified. I firmly believe that we have the responsibility to pass forward the good that we receive.

II Timothy 2:2 says, “and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.” When we are teaching, we should earnestly seek to train those who can and will then train others. When we are students, we should earnestly seek to train others in the training which we have received. In this way, the benefits of knowledge and wisdom are multiplied.