Thu, Apr 30th - 10:09AM

Test

The word of the day is:

Test

Psalm 11:5

⁵ The LORD examines the righteous,
       but the wicked and those who love violence
       his soul hates.

   God doesn’t protect His believers from difficult times in their lives, but He will test the righteous along with the wicked. For some people, God’s tests become a refining fire, while for others it could be an incinerator for their destruction. Don’t ignore these tests or try to defy them, but use them as a tool to refine yourself in God’s kingdom.

Challenge;

   The next test in your life, sit down and take a good hard look at it. Look to it as a blessing that God would care enough to think that much of you, to put you through whatever test it may be, and make you a better person for it. We are faced with tests every day, what test have you been through?

Wed, Apr 29th - 11:55AM

God

The Word of the day is:

God

Luke 11:3

 ³Give us each day our daily bread.

   An interesting phrase in the Bible that we’ve all heard many times. What does it mean really? God’s provision is daily, not all at once. We cannot save up what He has for us to put Him on a shelf for one day when we think we’ll need Him. When we find ourselves struggling or low on strength, ask yourself then – how long have I been away from God?

Challenge;

   God is, and should be, our source for everything in our lives. Too many times, even seasoned Christ followers, forget where the source is. Some people feel like if they went to church for three services in one weekend that they don’t have to attend the next weekend. We need our daily bread to survive each day, not every weekend or every other day. God is amazing and a relationship with Him is absolutely the best. The more you spend with Him the better you understand the way to live by Him.

Tue, Apr 28th - 9:56AM

Manasseh

The word of the day is:

Manasseh

2 Chronicles 33:12-13

¹² In his distress he sought the favor of the LORD his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers. ¹³ And when he prayed to him, the LORD was moved by his entreaty and listened to his plea; so he brought him back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD is God.

   Manasseh was one of the top most corrupt kings with a long list of evil deeds. From idol worshiping to sacrificing his own children, even desecrating the Lord’s temple. Eventually he recognized his sins and did cry out to God and ask for his forgiveness, and the Lord listened and forgave. If God can forgive someone like Manasseh, surely he can forgive anyone. Are you burdened with guilt that you feel you can’t overcome? Do you doubt that anyone could forgive the things that you have done in your life? Be relieved in the knowledge that until death, no one is beyond the reach of God’s forgiveness and no one has a heart to forgive bigger than God.

Challenge;

   Do you have an overwhelming dread that you cannot be forgiven or that you cannot forgive someone for what they have done to you? Manasseh was incredibly an evil entity that humbled himself after the acknowledgement of his sins, turned toward God and asked for His forgiveness. There is nothing God doesn’t want to forgive because He loves us that much. Be forgiven and be loved!

Mon, Apr 27th - 10:36AM

Evidence

The word of the day is:

Evidence

Luke 11:31-32

³¹The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them; for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon's wisdom, and now one^a]">[a] greater than Solomon is here. ³²The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now one greater than Jonah is here.

   With far less evidence than that of today and His listeners, the Ninevites and the Queen of the South had turn to God and believed. Today we have eyewitness’s reports that Jesus did in fact rise from the dead, the continuing power of the Holy Spirit unleashed at Pentecost, easy access to the Bible, and knowledge of 2000 years worth of Christ’s acts through His church. With all this knowledge and insight available to us, we should believe more wholeheartedly and more complete than those who didn’t have all this knowledge available to them.

Challenge;

   How much more evidence do we need to believe that Jesus is the Messiah? Why don’t we believe with all our hearts? Go out today and tell someone that Jesus is Lord and Savior and that He’s waiting for them. Reevaluate the evidence in your life that demonstrate that Jesus lives through you. Make sure it is evident to everyone else who is your master.

Sat, Apr 25th - 10:21AM

Freedmen

The word of the day is:

Freedmen

Acts 6:9-11

⁹Opposition arose, however, from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called)—Jews of Cyrene and Alexandria as well as the provinces of Cilicia and Asia. These men began to argue with Stephen, ¹⁰but they could not stand up against his wisdom or the Spirit by whom he spoke. ¹¹Then they secretly persuaded some men to say, "We have heard Stephen speak words of blasphemy against Moses and against God."

   The Freedmen was a group of Jewish slaves who had been freed by Rome and had formed their own synagogue in Jerusalem. These men lied about Stephen, causing him to be arrested, brought before the Jewish council and ultimately got Stephen stoned to death. The Sadducees were the dominate party in the council and strictly studied and accepted only the writings of Moses. In their view, the Freedmen‘s lies brought about an anger in the Sadducees that were murderous. To speak blasphemy against Moses was a crime. Later in this story we learn that the accusation was false because Stephen based his review of Israel’s history on Moses’ writings.

Challenge;

   Today’s is a different kind of challenge. I never knew that there was a group of people in the Bible called the “Freedmen.” How many things can you find in the Bible that people rarely hear, speak or teach about? Today I find that the Bible is truly an amazing tool that can teach us, guide us, reveal to us, and help us in our daily lives even today. I have read the bible in its entire a few times and constantly have God teach or reveal something new each time! Pick up your Bible and spend at least an hour to just read it. Start from where you feel God is leading you to and you will truly be amazed at what message he gives you.

Fri, Apr 24th - 10:23AM

Warriors

The word of the day is:

Warriors

1 Chronicles 12:1-22

Warriors Join David

 ¹ These were the men who came to David at Ziklag, while he was banished from the presence of Saul son of Kish (they were among the warriors who helped him in battle; ² they were armed with bows and were able to shoot arrows or to sling stones right-handed or left-handed; they were kinsmen of Saul from the tribe of Benjamin):

 ³ Ahiezer their chief and Joash the sons of Shemaah the Gibeathite; Jeziel and Pelet the sons of Azmaveth; Beracah, Jehu the Anathothite, ⁴ and Ishmaiah the Gibeonite, a mighty man among the Thirty, who was a leader of the Thirty; Jeremiah, Jahaziel, Johanan, Jozabad the Gederathite, ⁵ Eluzai, Jerimoth, Bealiah, Shemariah and Shephatiah the Haruphite; ⁶ Elkanah, Isshiah, Azarel, Joezer and Jashobeam the Korahites; ⁷ and Joelah and Zebadiah the sons of Jeroham from Gedor.

 ⁸ Some Gadites defected to David at his stronghold in the desert. They were brave warriors, ready for battle and able to handle the shield and spear. Their faces were the faces of lions, and they were as swift as gazelles in the mountains.

 ⁹ Ezer was the chief,
       Obadiah the second in command, Eliab the third,

 ¹⁰ Mishmannah the fourth, Jeremiah the fifth,

 ¹¹ Attai the sixth, Eliel the seventh,

 ¹² Johanan the eighth, Elzabad the ninth,

 ¹³ Jeremiah the tenth and Macbannai the eleventh.

 ¹⁴ These Gadites were army commanders; the least was a match for a hundred, and the greatest for a thousand. ¹⁵ It was they who crossed the Jordan in the first month when it was overflowing all its banks, and they put to flight everyone living in the valleys, to the east and to the west.

 ¹⁶ Other Benjamites and some men from Judah also came to David in his stronghold. ¹⁷ David went out to meet them and said to them, "If you have come to me in peace, to help me, I am ready to have you unite with me. But if you have come to betray me to my enemies when my hands are free from violence, may the God of our fathers see it and judge you."

 ¹⁸ Then the Spirit came upon Amasai, chief of the Thirty, and he said:
       "We are yours, O David!
       We are with you, O son of Jesse!
       Success, success to you,
       and success to those who help you,
       for your God will help you."
      So David received them and made them leaders of his raiding bands.

 ¹⁹ Some of the men of Manasseh defected to David when he went with the Philistines to fight against Saul. (He and his men did not help the Philistines because, after consultation, their rulers sent him away. They said, "It will cost us our heads if he deserts to his master Saul.") ²⁰ When David went to Ziklag, these were the men of Manasseh who defected to him: Adnah, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu and Zillethai, leaders of units of a thousand in Manasseh. ²¹ They helped David against raiding bands, for all of them were brave warriors, and they were commanders in his army. ²² Day after day men came to help David, until he had a great army, like the army of God.

   David surrounded himself with great warriors, the best of the best, the cream of the crop, from the Israelite army. What made them worthy to be David’s warriors and servants?

1.       The practiced long and hard to perfect their weaponry skills.

2.       They were determined and mentally tough.

3.       They were physically in great shape.

4.       They were dedicated to God and then to David.

   Weak leaders are easily threatened by competent subordinates while strong leaders surround themselves by the best. They are not intimidated by these strong followers.

Challenge;

   The first challenge was to actually read all of the scripture above. I find it sometimes rough to get through all the names I cannot pronounce. Next is to see who is on your side. Do you back down against tougher people who try to change your mind about the Messiah or your beliefs? Surround yourself with people that will help you stand firm. Let your faith not be shaken by others who try to drag you down into the pit with them. When we have warriors on our side, such as Jesus, nothing can totally defeat us in anything. Seek the best warriors and you shall become one.

Thu, Apr 23rd - 10:10AM

Thoughts

The word of the day is:

Thoughts

Micah 2:1-2

¹ Woe to those who plan iniquity,
       to those who plot evil on their beds!
       At morning's light they carry it out
       because it is in their power to do it.

 ² They covet fields and seize them,
       and houses, and take them.
       They defraud a man of his home,
       a fellowman of his inheritance.

   Micah was speaking out against those that planned to do evil deeds at night and rising at dawn to carry them out. A person’s thoughts and plans reflect his or her character. Remember that evil thoughts lead to evil deeds.

Challenge;

   What do you think about when you lie down to go to sleep? Do your desires involve revenge, greed or stepping on others as a means to get ahead in life? Not only when we go to bed but how about when someone has wronged us.  What is invading our thoughts? Are they thoughts of forgiveness, or thoughts of getting retaliation? Thoughts are a dangerous area and the way to purer thoughts is through that great book called the Bible. Stay in that truth and your thoughts should follow.

Wed, Apr 22nd - 10:15AM

Gentleness

The word of the day is:

Gentleness

1 Thessalonians 2:7

   [7] but we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her children.

   Gentleness is often overlooked as a personal trait in today’s society. Power and assertiveness gain more respect even though people don’t like to be pushed around. Gentleness is love in action, a kind of love that includes; being considerate, meeting the needs of others, allowing time for the other person to talk, being willing to learn, giving someone your full attention, the list can go on. This is an important and essential trait for both men and women. Keep your relationships full of this gentleness.

Challenge;

   Everyone needs gentleness in their lives. Whether you are giving or receiving, think about what gentleness does for you and how it makes you feel. Don’t you think everyone wants to be loved? By showing gentleness in your daily lives you will show love to the world. Just when you thought nobody would see or understand that you are a gentle soul, they do. Love everybody by showing gentleness and kindness to others, see what happens!

Tue, Apr 21st - 10:08AM

Pagans

The word of the day is:

Pagans

Deuteronomy 12:30-31

³⁰ and after they have been destroyed before you, be careful not to be ensnared by inquiring about their gods, saying, "How do these nations serve their gods? We will do the same." ³¹ You must not worship the LORD your God in their way, because in worshiping their gods, they do all kinds of detestable things the LORD hates. They even burn their sons and daughters in the fire as sacrifices to their gods.

   God did not want the Israelites to even ask about the pagan rituals and religions surrounding them. Idolatry completely saturated the land of Canaan. It was too easy to get sucked into their rituals, unknowingly and subtle, and being tempted by their ways. Most of their ways simply seemed harmless practices. Sometimes, if we are not careful, curiosity can cause us to stumble. Knowledge of evil is very harmful if the evil becomes too hard to resist. In resisting the curiosity about harmful practices shows discipline and obedience.

Challenge;

   If we are tempted by worldly challenges that meet us in everyday life, make the changes necessary to overcome the temptations. Get more educated and by all means, never challenge or engage paganistic or tempting subjects without another brother or sister. Seek the advice and counsel of people who love you and don’t want you to fall. Let me leave you with a question as an example; “Are slasher movies really good for our soul to watch?”  What is the point? If you find yourself defending a willingness to watch that kind of movie, be very careful and ask a fellow brother or sister what they think about it, preferably a mature child of God.

Mon, Apr 20th - 10:56AM

Conclusions

The word of the day is:

Conclusions

John 7:40-44

⁴⁰On hearing his words, some of the people said, "Surely this man is the Prophet."

 ⁴¹Others said, "He is the Christ."

   Still others asked, "How can the Christ come from Galilee? ⁴²Does not the Scripture say that the Christ will come from David's family and from Bethlehem, the town where David lived?" ⁴³Thus the people were divided because of Jesus. ⁴⁴Some wanted to seize him, but no one laid a hand on him.

   Naturally, the crowd was asking questions about Jesus. Some believed he was the Messiah, others were hostile. Some disqualified Jesus as Messiah because he was from Nazareth and not from Bethlehem. He grew up in Nazareth and was born in Bethlehem. If they would have investigated more they would have found this out! Instead of looking more carefully, they jumped to the wrong conclusions. When you search for God’s truth, make sure you look carefully and thoughtfully at the Bible with an open heart and mind. Don’t ever jump to conclusions before knowing exactly what the Bible says.

Challenge;

   Ever read just part of a scripture and say to yourself, “Whoa, I thought that was ______!” Before you jump to conclusions, study it more; spend more time knowing what it says. The more you read it the more truth will be revealed. Read it and study it with an open mind and heart.

Sat, Apr 18th - 10:06AM

Remnant

The word of the day is:

Remnant

Jeremiah 4:27

²⁷ This is what the LORD says:
       "The whole land will be ruined,
       though I will not destroy it completely.

   God warned that there will be destruction, but He also promised that the faithful remnant will be spared. God is committed to preserving those who are faithful to Him.

Challenge;

   Even though this world is moving at a seemingly record pace to destroy itself, look to be a remnant. Be the remnant that God wants to preserve and help to persevere. Don’t be like the world who refuses to be the one to take a stand for what God is really all about. Be brave and don’t embellish God’s word, but live it as Jesus would. Your reward will be beyond measure.

Fri, Apr 17th - 9:04AM

Samaritans

The word of the day is:

Samaritans

2 Kings 17:24

 ²⁴ The king of Assyria brought people from Babylon, Cuthah, Avva, Hamath and Sepharvaim and settled them in the towns of Samaria to replace the Israelites. They took over Samaria and lived in its towns.

   Moving the Israelites out and foreigners back in was Assyria’s resettlement policy. This was designed to prevent a revolt. Spreading the captives all across Assyria prevented them from uniting and repopulating Israel with foreign captives made it difficult on the Israelites to reunite also. The mixture of these people that were resettled in Israel became known as Samaritans. They were despised by the Jews even during the time of Christ.

Challenge;

   How to find a challenge in this word you ask? How many Christ followers are there at your work, or in your neighborhood, or in your local grocery store? It is interesting to see that we are intermingled in today’s society just as back in Christ’s time, or in the time of the Samaritans. The challenge is to see these different people intermingled with us as creations of God, not unbelievers or cast outs, or even people who do not have our exact beliefs. If you meet a church goer, rejoice in the fact that they believe and do not try to tell them they need to go to your church. We all have different paths set by God and its how we encounter them that will set the difference. Be glad that God sees fit to intermingle you so you can experience His will for your life.

Thu, Apr 16th - 10:04AM

Locusts

The word of the day is:

Locusts

Joel 1:4

⁴ What the locust swarm has left
       the great locusts have eaten;
       what the great locusts have left
       the young locusts have eaten;
       what the young locusts have left
       other locusts have eaten.

   A locust plague can be extremely devastating, just as bad as an invading army. Locusts gather in numbers that are way too many to count. They fly several feet above the ground and seem to darken the sun as they pass by. When they land, they devour everything in their path that is made of vegetation. Covering the vegetation, it makes the ground look alive.

Challenge;

   Ever feel like the world is a swarm of locusts waiting to devour you? Tear you limb from limb, suck the life out of you, leave nothing but an empty husk? Whenever life comes at you like a swarm of locusts, make sure you head for cover. I’m not talking about a building; I’m talking about a Savior! Jesus is more than what the world teaches; oh He is so much more. I challenge everyone here reading this that if you do not believe it to be true, try it. Try a small group or church ministry. Better yet, try to serve in some capacity at your church. The rewards are far greater than you can imagine! One being the fact that the locusts of the world can never harm you and that is a reward better than wallowing in what is left over after the locusts leave.

Wed, Apr 15th - 11:49AM

Orphans

The word of the day is:

Orphans

James 1:27

²⁷Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

   In this first century, widows and orphans had very little means of economical support. Unless a family member would step up and be willing to care for them, they had to starve, beg, or sell themselves as slaves. By caring for these powerless people, the church put God’s word into practice. When we give with no hope of receiving in return, we truly show what it means to serve others.

Challenge;

   What are you doing right when you meet life’s orphans? Do you turn your back or do you try to help in any way you can? Being ‘Christian’ not only reading and studying God’s word, but following it. We must rise up and humbly help those that need it, when they need it, in any way we can, knowing we won’t even receive anything in return. This is how Jesus served us! If you think about it for a moment, we were orphans to Him. What could we do or give back to Him that He needed or couldn’t do? Nothing, nothing but our love and faithfulness. Thank You Jesus!

Tue, Apr 14th - 9:49AM

Emptiness

The word of the day is:

Emptiness

Judges 18:24

²⁴ He replied, "You took the gods I made, and my priest, and went away. What else do I have? How can you ask, 'What's the matter with you?' "

   Micah had made idols and hired a priest to run his own personal religion. When the men of Dan took his idols and priest, nothing remained. What a very empty spiritual condition! Remember that and idol is anything that takes God’s place in your life. Some people invest all their time and energy into the pursuit of money, success, possessions, or careers. If these idols are taken away, only an empty shell remains. The only way to protect yourself against the emptiness in your life during such a loss is to invest your life in the living God, whom you can never lose and He will never leave.

Challenge;

   Have you ever experienced the emptiness inside after a great loss in your life? Job, money, something stolen, or an accomplishment that went haywire? Recently this happened to me. Working the soundboard at church, I woke up bright and early Sunday morning. As I got into my car I realized that my car stereo was gone. I really took it as a blessing that nothing was damaged other than the radio was gone. They didn’t break any windows or cut any wires. My old self before the church, I would have felt violated, cheated and angry. How many times do we put stuff above and beyond our spouses, family and ultimately before our God? The real challenge is to make sure that your whole life is ultimately run by God and not the other stuff. Then our lives won’t be full of emptiness.

Mon, Apr 13th - 10:13AM

Burial

The word of the day is:

Burial

John 19:31

³¹Now it was the day of Preparation, and the next day was to be a special Sabbath. Because the Jews did not want the bodies left on the crosses during the Sabbath, they asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken down.

   It was against the law of God to leave a body of the dead person exposed overnight and it was also against the law to work after dark on Friday because this is when the Sabbath began. This was the reason the religious leaders wanted to get Jesus off the cross and buried immediately.

Challenge;

   How often do we procrastinate when responsibilities need to be finished? Why don’t we live by and immediately finish the tasks God has given us? Today, bury whatever it is that needs to be buried. In other words, finish the tasks God has given you. Don’t wait until tomorrow, do it now.

Sat, Apr 11th - 12:27PM

Pharisees

The word of the day is:

Pharisees

Luke 15:32

³²But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' "

   In the story Jesus is painting, the older brother represented the Pharisees. They were angry and resentful that sinners were being welcomed into God’s kingdom. The Pharisees thought that they sacrificed and had done so much that they alone should be worthy. How easy is it to resent God’s gracious forgiveness toward others whom we consider even bigger sinners than ourselves? When our self righteousness gets in the way of rejoicing and being genuinely happy for those who come to Jesus, we find ourselves no better than the Pharisees.

Challenge;

          First of all, to get the whole story to understand how this scripture refers to the Pharisees, read all of it, Luke 15:11-32. It’s a great story with a lot of life lessons to be learned.

          Now, how many of us do a lot of things for the church and ministry to find out that someone else comes along and bypasses who hasn’t even been with the church that long? We should be happy that someone has the energy and desire to do what is right. It doesn’t matter what we do or how we do it, it is what is in our hearts toward Jesus that counts. Don’t have that Pharisees attitude, instead, love them as Jesus would and help them achieve their goal.

Fri, Apr 10th - 12:05PM

Cloak

The word of the day is:

Cloak

Exodus 22:26

If you take your neighbor’s cloak as a pledge, return it to him by sunset.

   The cloak was one of the Israelites most valuable possessions. Why did the law insist upon returning it by evening? Making clothing in their time was extremely difficult and time consuming. As a result, most people only owned one. Not only was it used for clothing, it was also used for, a blanket, a sack to carry things in, a place to sit, and to make a pledge on a debt.

Challenge;

   How many cloaks do you have? I think the significance is that if someone pledges to you all they have, don’t take their livelihood. Don’t leave them out in the cold without a blanket. If a man with kids comes up and asks for a loan until payday so he can feed those kids, are you going to demand they pay it back right away? Next time you are in the position to loan, make sure that whatever it is, that getting that repayment back is not going to harm that person. Help those in need maintaining their dignity, honor, and respect. This is so totally true these days.

Thu, Apr 9th - 10:16AM

Pastors

The word of the day is:

Pastors

Micah 2:11

¹¹ If a liar and deceiver comes and says,
       'I will prophesy for you plenty of wine and beer,'
       he would be just the prophet for this people!

   The people liked the fact that the false prophets told them only what they wanted to hear. Micah spoke against the prophets that basically told the people that it is alright to be comfortable with sin. Preachers are great when they don’t point the finger at us, when they ease our challenges, or when they explain our greed or lust may be actually good for us. Listen, a true teacher of God’s word doesn’t water it down. They don’t make a bed of roses and they sure don’t pull any punches. Pastors that give the greatest messages don’t care what the listeners want to hear, it’s all about what God wants them to say or teach.

Challenge;

   We need to inspect who we learn from. Stay away from the pastors without back bone, you know, the ones that won’t call you on your stuff. Now is not the time to be learning from the false prophets who want nothing more than to steer us away from our salvation in Jesus Christ. Now is the time we need to be responsible for who we learn from and who we are. I would rather learn from Jesus than “Pastor XXXX.” When we don’t feel Jesus in the message is when we need to investigate why.

Wed, Apr 8th - 10:16AM

Showing off

The word[s] of the day is:

Showing Off

Proverbs 12:23

²³ A prudent man keeps his knowledge to himself,
       but the heart of fools blurts out folly.

   Prudent people have a quiet confidence, while insecure people feel the need to prove themselves. Prudent people do not need to prove anything. They know what they can do so they can quit dwelling on it and get on with their work. Beware of showing off. People may not notice you at first but they will respect you later.

Challenge;

   Are you a prudent man or woman, or do you feel the need to prove yourselves? Today, stop all that nonsense and try to humbly accomplish anything in your life without receiving any credit. If caught, humbly accept the compliment and give it back to God. Showing off will only makes you and your character seem a little stuck on yourself to where all you care about is you.

Tue, Apr 7th - 9:52AM

Magic

The word of the day is:

Magic

Luke 6:19

¹⁹and the people all tried to touch him, because power was coming from him and healing them all.

    When word got out about Jesus’ healing power, people would travel miles just to touch Him. For a lot of these people, He was a symbol of good fortune, a lucky charm or a magician. Instead of wanting God’s pardon for their sins and His immense love, they only wanted a glimmer of the magic tricks or physical healing, whatever selfish desires they wanted. People still look to God as a magician who should magically repair someone’s life, in whatever way is needed and not have to suffer the consequences for their actions that got them there in the first place. God is not a magician, He is master over ALL. Prayer is not a way to control God, for He is the controller, it is a way for us to put ourselves under His control.

Challenge;

   How many of us have ever prayed to God to fix a certain situation in life hoping whatever problem or consequence is deserved, will simply vanish? How many of us feel that God can magically repair a relationship with a loved one? The challenge is to remember that we are responsible to help God want to help us, by praying for His will and not our own selfishness. The true magic is that which is felt through the Holy Spirit that we can feel the blessings that God places in our lives. The changes that are made, not only in ourselves, but also in others, that’s the true magic. God’s greatest magic ever is our testimonies. Everyone has one and all are unique. Any other magic is just a trick and beware not to be deceived by them.

Mon, Apr 6th - 10:33AM

Loyalty

The word of the day is:

Loyalty

1 Corinthians 4:6-7

⁶Now, brothers, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying, "Do not go beyond what is written." Then you will not take pride in one man over against another. ⁷For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?

   It is so easy for us to become attached to our spiritual leader. It’s only natural to feel loyalty to one who has helped us. Paul warns us that we need to watch out for our pride in our leaders in such a way that it may cause divisions in the church. Any true spiritual leader represents Christ and has nothing to offer that God hasn’t already given to that leader. Don’t let your loyalties cause strife, slander, or broken relationships. Make sure that your deepest loyalties are with Christ not one of his human agents. Those who debate church leadership more than worrying about getting Christ’s message out to the masses, doesn’t have Christ as their top priority.

Challenge;

   Are your loyalties with Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, or with a human agent that leads us through our walk? Don’t get me wrong, but shouldn’t we focus on what God wants? Would you stop going to church, or doing God’s work if your spiritual leader were to disappear? Realign your thinking process and line up your loyalties to include Jesus first, and then your loyalties can go from there.

Sat, Apr 4th - 12:51PM

Threats

The word of the day is:

Threats

Acts 5:40-42

⁴⁰His speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.

 ⁴¹The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. ⁴²Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.

   Despite threats to them, Peter and John continued to speak in the name of Jesus. They taught the Gospels over and over. We, too, should share the Gospel at all costs because it is what Jesus wants. The spread of this good news to those who really don’t know. Being beaten or jailed because of it may not be a reality in this day, but being ridiculed, slandered, and downright put down for it is a reality.

Challenge;

   I’m not saying beat people over the head with your Bible, but look for opportunities to share your faith. This could be not only speaking about it but living it out day by day. Make people wonder what you have in your life to make you the way you are. What makes you tick? The point of this is; to what extent are you willing to go, what are you willing to suffer or endure for the sake of sharing the good news to others?

Fri, Apr 3rd - 10:28AM

Soul

The word of the day is:

Soul

Revelation 7:2

²Then I saw another angel coming up from the east, having the seal of the living God. He called out in a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm the land and the sea:

   A seal on a scroll or document identified and protected what was inside. The seal of the living God is what God placed on His own followers, identifying them as believers and guaranteeing the protection of their souls. This should be a big time indicator of how important we are to God the Father. Our physical bodies may be beaten, maimed, or destroyed, but nothing can harm our souls when God puts His seal on us.

Challenge;

   Simply pray to God and ask Him to reveal if He has His seal of approval on you, protecting your soul for eternity. Save your own souls by giving it to God. Let Him seal it, so that you may be safe. It is incredible to me that it doesn’t take much for God to do this. All we have to do is commit and submit our souls to Him.

Thu, Apr 2nd - 10:05AM

Battle

The word of the day is:

Battle

2 Samuel 5:19-25

¹⁹ so David inquired of the LORD, "Shall I go and attack the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?"
      The LORD answered him, "Go, for I will surely hand the Philistines over to you."

 ²⁰ So David went to Baal Perazim, and there he defeated them. He said, "As waters break out, the LORD has broken out against my enemies before me." So that place was called Baal Perazim. ²¹ The Philistines abandoned their idols there, and David and his men carried them off.

 ²² Once more the Philistines came up and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim; ²³ so David inquired of the LORD, and he answered, "Do not go straight up, but circle around behind them and attack them in front of the balsam trees. ²⁴ As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, move quickly, because that will mean the LORD has gone out in front of you to strike the Philistine army." ²⁵ So David did as the LORD commanded him, and he struck down the Philistines all the way from Gibeon to Gezer.

   David fought his battles the way God had told him to. In each battle he asked first if he should fight or not. Next he followed God’s instructions carefully. He also remembered to give all the glory to God. In all this, he made God very happy and God blessed him for it.

   On the other hand, most battles are fought by ignoring these important attributes. We normally do things we want without asking for God’s guidance and advice. Two, we do things in our own way and ignore what the Bible teaches us about life. Then we normally take all the credit for ourselves or give it to someone else, not realizing that the victories we experience actually came from God himself. All these are examples of sinful ways.

Challenge;

   In our day to day battles with life in general, whatever battle you’re facing, do you ask for God’s advice first? Every battle in life we face, we need to wake up and realize who is with us and who can help us overcome. We are victorious through Jesus Christ but we need to make sure in every battle that we rely on His leading. We may lose a few battles but ultimately the victor is Jesus. Relying on ourselves or giving ourselves all the credit for overcoming is sin and when we offend in this way, we need to repent and let the Father back into our lives. Whose side are you on?

Wed, Apr 1st - 9:21AM

Salvation

The word of the day is:

Salvation (2)

Luke 3:8

⁸Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.

   Many of John’s listeners were shocked at his statement that being a child of Abraham’s was not good enough for God. Religious leaders often were more concerned about their family lineage than their faith in the one true God. For them their heritage was their fortress of their faith in God. Their family lines told of how they lined up in the kingdom of heaven. What they failed to see was that their belief in God is not handed down to be inherited but it is a personal relationship with the father who loves us. Don’t rely on someone else’s faith in God. Rely on your own personal relationship with Him. Put your own faith in Jesus and keep it day by day, every day.

Challenge;

   Salvation is a relationship with God not something that you just say. Anyone can get baptized and pretend to be a Christ follower. Even pagans can do that. Make it personal and see how you measure up in your faith. Are you truly saved, or is it just lip service? If it is the latter, reevaluate and seek guidance to get back on track. If you don’t know, see a brother or sister in Christ whom you trust. Be sure YOU know where you stand with Jesus.