Sunday, November 30, 2014

Restoring God to the Lord of my life.

S - Romans 1:24-25 (NASB)
24Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. 25For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. 





O -  This passage in Romans speaks of the old testament of God's people whom which he favored, and gave promises, and laws to live by.  None of these proved capable of overcoming the sin within the human heart.   Each generation had an up and down of faithfulness to God, and extreme wandering away from His ways.   God never gave up on His people, however He did give them over to the lust of their heart. The said part of this is revealed in verse 25 , the core of the problem is our sin causes us to worship and serve the created (creatures and possessions of the land) and not the Creator himself.  

A -  The application is a fresh reminder that I too am very susceptible and certainly guilty of beginning to worship, or put my heart, mind, and soul, behind the things of this world,  instead of worshiping God.   It is so easy to do, as I either try to become God myself and make provision for the things of my hearts desire, through my hard work; or I put someone else in a position in my life to be the one whose approval I seek, or whose decision and guidance I use to guide my life.    I must recommit today to trust in God to give me the desires that will go into my heart, to be my protector and provider, and to be my wise counselor.

P - Lord thank you for this timely message, may it be sealed to my heart.  I pray Lord for an unrooting of any unrighteous desires that reside in my heart, and reminder of your provision, and a clear replacement of people I have placed above you , with you as my Chief Counselor.  I pray all this in Jesus name, Amen.

Monday, November 24, 2014

Forgivenss

S - Mathew 18:21-22 (NASB)
 21Then Peter came and said to Him, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?" 22Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.

O -  Jesus is teaching the disciples all about the church on earth, and as it is in heaven.   He is teaching kingdom of God principles, to be lived in the new church, and many of the principles the disciples are beginning to get but still yet not fully fathom the Kingdom of God.  Here Peter shows that he is beginning to grasp the concept of forgiveness, as much of Jesus' earthly ministry he went around forgiving sins and healing people.  So Peter likely thinking he understood, but yet still questioning God's level of commitment to forgiveness ask the question how many times shall I forgive the same person.   Jesus answer the question in a way that reveals God's infinite grace, and our ultimate fallen nature.   Jesus says not seven but seventy times seven.  This is how much God loves us that he has given us forgiveness through Christ, and not through our own works, because we will always stumble.

A - The application for me is to recognize that I will never earn God's forgiveness and that I will continue to fall short of perfect obedience.   I am so grateful to have Jesus to come to and confess my sin, and receive comfort and forgiveness.   I do not use this as an excuse to sin, but just the opposite, as a reason to be faithful and righteous to follow and grow in the kingdom principles God has taught be through His word,  His Holy Spirit, and His son.

P - Dear heavenly Father thank you today for your blessings on my life.  I pray now for relief from the tensions and problems in my daily life that cause me to react poorly and sin.  Help me to represent your love well.  I pray all this in Jesus name, Amen.