Wisdom is a fascinating subject. Is someone wise because they have a high IQ or great ability to process information? Or a great memory? Or street smart? All of these contribute but the scripture teaches the highest wisdom comes from God. James has a special insight into humility and wisdom today. I had not considered this kind of wisdom until I paused after reading...
"Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness."
Wow! What a concept. Wisdom comes from a life of humility with ego under control. The Book of James speaks so powerfully about what may be considered ordinary producing a harvest of the extraordinary.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Monday, August 23, 2010
Day 359...(2 Timothy 1,2; 1 John 5; Revelation 1,2,3)..."Seven Churches"
Revelation is a confusing Book. Yet...the teachings about seven churches make clear sense. Churches are strong and weak for reasons. We can learn from the seven in Revelation.
Ephesus - forgot first love Jesus
Smyrna - commended for faith in difficult times
Pergamum - reprimanded for bad teaching
Thyatira - reprimanded for too much tolerance
Sardis - Dead (needs to be alive)
Philadelphia - A great opportunity
Laodicea - Lukewarm (needs passion)
Can we not learn from these churches? What would our church be commended for or why would it be reprimanded?
Ephesus - forgot first love Jesus
Smyrna - commended for faith in difficult times
Pergamum - reprimanded for bad teaching
Thyatira - reprimanded for too much tolerance
Sardis - Dead (needs to be alive)
Philadelphia - A great opportunity
Laodicea - Lukewarm (needs passion)
Can we not learn from these churches? What would our church be commended for or why would it be reprimanded?
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Day 358...(Malachi 4; 1 John 3,4; 1 Timothy 4,5,6)..."Malachi Ends and So Does the Old Testament"
Well here we are 358 days later and we finish the Old Testament. In about a week, we will finish the Bible. Malachi ends with a word about obeying Moses and looking out for Elijah. Remember, Elijah never died. Is this a way to heighten awareness of the truth "God is a God of the living and not the dead?" (much like the resurrection morning) Neither do the words of the Old Testament ever die...they will endure forever.
Something else that will endure forever is love. God's love and our aim to love for each other. Are there more important words about the centrality of love than John? Here are the words...
"God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love."
What a wonderful message that love removes fear!
Something else that will endure forever is love. God's love and our aim to love for each other. Are there more important words about the centrality of love than John? Here are the words...
"God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love."
What a wonderful message that love removes fear!
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Day 357...(Malachi 3; 1 John 1,2; 1 Timothy 1,2,3)..."Convincing Passages"
The Lord says "test Him" in tithing. Is there a more convincing word about giving God the first ten percent of all we have? The tithing passage speaks for itself. In addition, 1 John speaks with confidence about the forgiveness of sins. 1 Timothy is convincing with three qualities needed in love. Here are the passages...
"Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. "But you ask, 'How do we rob you?' In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse—the whole nation of you—because you are robbing me. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it."
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."
"The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith"
"Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. "But you ask, 'How do we rob you?' In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse—the whole nation of you—because you are robbing me. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it."
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."
"The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith"
Friday, August 20, 2010
Day 356...(Malachi 2; 2 Thessalonians 1,2,3; Jude)..."UnGodly People"
Malachi and Jude both address unGodly people. In Malachi the people are described as not having a heart for God. In Jude, they are described as fruitless faultfinders. Here are the passages...
Malachi...
"And now this admonition is for you, O priests. If you do not listen, and if you do not set your heart to honor my name," says the LORD Almighty, "I will send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings. Yes, I have already cursed them, because you have not set your heart to honor me."
Jude....
"These men are blemishes at your love feasts, eating with you without the slightest qualm—shepherds who feed only themselves. They are clouds without rain, blown along by the wind; autumn trees, without fruit and uprooted—twice dead. They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their shame; wandering stars, for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever. Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men: "See, the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones to judge everyone, and to convict all the ungodly of all the ungodly acts they have done in the ungodly way, and of all the harsh words ungodly sinners have spoken against him." These men are grumblers and faultfinders; they follow their own evil desires; they boast about themselves and flatter others for their own advantage."
Malachi...
"And now this admonition is for you, O priests. If you do not listen, and if you do not set your heart to honor my name," says the LORD Almighty, "I will send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings. Yes, I have already cursed them, because you have not set your heart to honor me."
Jude....
"These men are blemishes at your love feasts, eating with you without the slightest qualm—shepherds who feed only themselves. They are clouds without rain, blown along by the wind; autumn trees, without fruit and uprooted—twice dead. They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their shame; wandering stars, for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever. Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men: "See, the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones to judge everyone, and to convict all the ungodly of all the ungodly acts they have done in the ungodly way, and of all the harsh words ungodly sinners have spoken against him." These men are grumblers and faultfinders; they follow their own evil desires; they boast about themselves and flatter others for their own advantage."
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Day 355...(Malachi 1; 1 Thessalonians 3,4; Philemon)..."Paul Reveals How to Win Friends and Influence People"
Paul reveals how to win friends and influence people. Before you think this is too cheesy read the verse! Is this not the key to winning the respect of people and living a most productive life?
"Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody."
"Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody."
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Day 354...(Zechariah 13,14; 1 Thessalonians 1,2)..."Paul's Night Job"
Paul was a tent maker. Did he make tents at night? He earned an income somehow. In 1 Thessalonians we read were Paul eludes to this second job. His reason for doing so was not to be a burden to those in which he would reach and preach. Paul like so many great people of the faith kept long hours. Here is the reference...
"As apostles of Christ we could have been a burden to you, but we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children. We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us. Surely you remember, brothers, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you."
"As apostles of Christ we could have been a burden to you, but we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children. We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us. Surely you remember, brothers, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
