Light of Dawn

One of my favorite things to do is to watch a sunrise, especially over some beautiful nature scenery. I watch as the sky turns from darkness to light, then the first glimmer of the sun appears turning the sky a bright orange. The light gets brighter as the sun rises on the horizon and soon the whole sky is lit up, along with daylight for all of us.

Proverbs 4:18 says, “But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day.” Walk in righteousness and God shows you the way that you should go as bright as the noon day sun. In addition, your path will shine for others to follow also.

Freedom

Old habits are hard to break. We try willpower and sometimes that works. We enlist the help of someone as an accountability type partner in the process. Sometimes we find success and sometimes we don’t. Behavioral patterns are even harder to stop. They are ingrained in us and often are difficult to even identify. Some of these patterns are sins in God’s eyes. We probably don’t want to continue to do thspese things, but seem helpless to stop.

II Corinthians 3:17 says, “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” Because the Holy Spirit lives within the believer, He gives the believer power to free oneself from old habits and ways. He transforms the believer into a new kind of person, into the image of God.

What Love Can Do

When we love someone, we tend to do special things for them. Whether it is an unusual spontaneous act of kindness or a well-planned demonstration of our feelings, we spare no expense and give our greatest effort for the ones who are closest to us.

Philippians 2:1-3 says, “Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and sympathetic? Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, working together with one heart and purpose.” Those who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord become the children of God and the objects of His eternal love. We become the bride of Christ while also obtaining the inheritance of Jesus. Since we have encouragement in Christ, comfort in His love, fellowship with one another, and tender hearts through Christ, let us be truly united in love for one another. Let us spare no expense and withhold no effort in demonstrating our love for one another.

Give As You Have Received

Have you ever received such a generous gift that it motivated you to give generously to someone else? Have you been forgiven for some awful thing that you did to someone else and that inspired you to forgive someone who did an awful thing to you? Periodically I hear of people paying for Christmas layaways or a meal for random other people.

Luke 15:1-2 says, “Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, ‘This man receives sinners and eats with them.'” No one has gone so low in life or so far away from God that God does not extend grace to bring them near to Him. We should offer the same grace to others that Jesus gives to us, which will cause anger, jealousy, fear, and worry to flee from our thoughts. We have received overwhelming gifts of grace from God. We should extend grace to others who are in need or have offended us in some way.

Slow Going

For much of this past week it has snowed. Every morning the snow is a fresh several inches deep. That complicates my morning walks. I can still pass through the snow, but the progress is much slower as I seek to safely walk. Sometimes, we don’t see the progress that we would like to see in our lives. What do we do in those cases? Do we become frustrated or can we wait and endure the delays?

Habakkuk 2:3 says, “For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end, it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay.” God never lies or fails to fulfill a promise. Take hold of His promises because they will surely come true. Wait upon Him, remembering His goodness and faithfulness.