Who We Are

What we believe, or profess to believe, should be reflected in what we do. The person who proclaims a belief in the sanctity of marriage should be faithful to their spouse and do everything that they can to make their marriage work. The one who teaches financial principles should live by the principles which they teach.

James 2:18 says, “But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” Sincere faith is always demonstrated by good works in service to God and other people. Those who proclaim the teachings of Jesus and believe in Him as Savior and Lord should be motivated by His love and grace to serve Him and people.

Safe and Secure

Where can we keep the things that we value so that they will remain safe and secure? Are we confident that banks can and will protect the valuables that we place in their safe deposit boxes? Or do we place these items in some hidden place within our homes? What about the people we love? How do we keep them safe from harm? We can’t stay with them every moment or arm ourselves with weapons to protect them against every threat.

Psalm 121:7-8 says, “The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.” The Lord promises to guard, watch over, and attend to you carefully if you will ask Him and then let Him. He is able to watch over us because He is everywhere and knows everything that can and will happen to us. He is also powerful enough to keep us from every evil that threatens us. No one can snatch us out of His hands. Let’s ask Him to attend carefully to our protection from evil and then trust Him to fulfill His promise to do so.

Mental Gymnastics

Our minds are wonderful things, capable of great thoughts. But our minds can also deceive us. When we hurt someone, intentionally or unintentionally, our minds will seek to justify our actions, most often by blaming the other person in some way. When we commit some deception, our minds will downplay our wrong, often by telling us we deserve better. The cause of these mental gymnastics is that we want to defend ourselves and feel better about ourselves.

Isaiah 1:18 says, “Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord; though your sins are life scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.” Despite what our minds tell us, our weaknesses, errors, failures and mistakes are not to be minimized. They are sins against God and deserving of His wrath. However, for the Christ follower, the list of all of our sins has been covered by the blood of Jesus, so that they cannot be seen or remembered by God. For the believer in Jesus, this means that we are free from the burden of sins, and should also remember them no more. God’s mercy is deeper than any hole that sin has dug for us and His grace places upon the rock on which we firmly stand, which is Jesus.

Power and Glory

Psalm 63:2-3 says, “So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory. Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you.” An honest search for God’s power and glory will most assuredly result in praise for Him.

I wrote the following this morning after turning my thoughts to God:

When there is nothing to see 

You are still here 

When no sound is heard 

Your voice thunders 

When my strength is gone 

Your power remains 

When I act ignorantly 

Your wisdom calls me 

When my attitude sinks 

Your love and mercy lift me up 

Receive With Thanksgiving

It seems to be a trend among parents that post on social media to not encourage their children to say “thank you” when they receive something from another person. I am not quite sure what the reasoning is behind these parents, but I am sure that it will eventually breed a whole slew of negative attitudes.

Hebrews 12:28-29 says, “Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.” When we give thanks for what we have, it’s difficult to become discouraged. Thanksgiving changes our attitudes for the better as we remember blessings that we have received. Those who trust in Jesus receive God’s kingdom and therefore lack nothing. Give Him praise!