#VerseForToday
We grow spiritually when we learn the importance of loving others
We grow spiritually when we learn the importance of loving others
Time is a talent God gives to us. Our time is misused when it is not used according to God’s design.
Praise the Lord. I will praise the Lord with all my heart. I will praise him where honest people gather for worship. The Lord has done great things. All who take delight in what he has done will spend time thinking about it. What he does shows his glory and majesty. He will always do what is right. The Lord causes his miracles to be remembered. He is kind and tender. He provides food for those who have respect for him. He remembers his covenant forever. He has shown his people what his power can do. He has given them the lands of other nations. He is faithful and right in everything he does. All his rules can be trusted. Psalms 111:1-7
FOCUS VERSE: Psalms 111:2 God’s works are so great, worth A lifetime of study—endless enjoyment! (msg)
Implimentintation of Step 12 in our lives is a demonstration of God’s power to release us from the bondage of our addictions and compulsions. Sharing the ‘Good News’ of God’s deliverance with others helps them and gives them encouragement God can do for them what He has done for us.
When times get bad, people cry out for help. They cry for relief from being kicked around, But never give God a thought when things go well. Don’t walk around with a chip on your shoulder, always spoiling for a fight. Don’t try to be like those who shoulder their way through life. Why be a bully? “Why not?” you say. Because God can’t stand twisted souls. It’s the straightforward who get his respect. If with heart and soul you’re doing good, do you think you can be stopped? Even if you suffer for it, you’re still better off. Job 35:9-10 ~ Proverbs 3:30-32 ~ 1 Peter 3:13-14
Respect needs to be earned. I’ve said it, you’ve said it. We convince ourselves if God is real and wants me to respect Him and His Word He needs to do something to earn my respect.
When caught up in a life of addiction, lying, cheating and stealing I had no respect for anyone or anything, including myself. That all changed when I made a conscious decision to follow Jesus. When I look at where I was to where I am now; Yes, I respect Him!
Psalms 33:18 God’s eye is on those who respect him, the ones who are looking for his love.
Proverbs 15:16 It is better to have respect for the Lord and have little than to be rich and have trouble.
Once upon a time, it was all about having. The right job, the right car, the right house, the right girl. Once upon a time, I thought happiness was all about things. I thought the more things I had the happier I would be.
When I became a Christian and started working for a Christian organization I still thought it was about having the right status, within the church, within my work, and within my home. But you know what it isn’t.
It’s all about living the life that God has called you to live. If you do He will always look after you. Matthew 6:25 Jesus says “I tell you, do not worry. Don’t worry about your life and what you will eat or drink. And don’t worry about your body and what you will wear. Isn’t there more to life than eating? Aren’t there more important things for the body than clothes?”
Prayer: The Lord helps me today to rely on You for everything I need.
Hebrews 12:28 We are receiving a kingdom that can’t be shaken. So let us be thankful. Then we can worship God in a way that pleases him. We will worship him with deep respect and wonder.
STAY CONNECTED TO GOD
Jesus is the Mediator between God and us. Through Him we are joined together . We can not worship God unless we worship Jesus with reverence. Only the grace of God enables us to recover from our addictions and compulsions. In our lives we need to seek His grace so that we can become all He is calling us to be. Faith in Him sets us on the ri ght path. Obedience to Him pleases Him and sets us up for a life of continued spiritual growth.
Continued spiritual growth is always dependent on vital connection to God
As the believers stood around him, he got up and went back into the city! The next day he left with Barnabas for Derbe. After preaching the Good News there and making many disciples, they returned again to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, where they helped the believers to grow in love for God and each other. They encouraged them to continue in the faith in spite of all the persecution, reminding them that they must enter into the Kingdom of God through many tribulations. Paul and Barnabas also appointed elders in every church and prayed for them with fasting, turning them over to the care of the Lord in whom they trusted. Then they traveled back through Pisidia to Pamphylia, preached again in Perga, and went on to Attalia. Finally they returned by ship to Antioch, where their journey had begun and where they had been committed to God for the work now completed. Upon arrival they called together the believers and reported on their trip, telling how God had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles too. And they stayed there with the believers at Antioch for a long while. Acts 14:20-28
We have an altar—the cross where Christ was sacrificed—where those who continue to seek salvation by obeying Jewish laws can never be helped. Under the system of Jewish laws, the high priest brought the blood of the slain animals into the sanctuary as a sacrifice for sin, and then the bodies of the animals were burned outside the city. That is why Jesus suffered and died outside the city, where his blood washed our sins away. So let us go out to him beyond the city walls (that is, outside the interests of this world, being willing to be despised) to suffer with him there, bearing his shame. For this world is not our home; we are looking forward to our everlasting home in heaven. With Jesus’ help we will continually offer our sacrifice of praise to God by telling others of the glory of his name. Don’t forget to do good and to share what you have with those in need, for such sacrifices are very pleasing to him. Hebrews 13:10-16
FOLLOW JESUS
Jesus called out, “Come along with me and I will show you how to fish for the souls of men!” Matthew 4:19
He calls us to follow Him. Learn from Him and reach out to others in His name.
FIND COMMON GROUND TO REACH PEOPLE ON
When I am with those whose consciences bother them easily, I don’t act as though I know it all and don’t say they are foolish; the result is that they are willing to let me help them. Yes, whatever a person is like, I try to find common ground with him so that he will let me tell him about Christ and let Christ save him. 1 Corinthians 9:22
Never act like you are better than anyone else because you are in recovery. Remember where you came from or you might end up back there. Look for the similarities, not the differences.
ANSWER THEIR QUESTIONS
Quietly trust yourself to Christ your Lord, and if anybody asks why you believe as you do, be ready to tell him, and do it in a gentle and respectful way. 1 Peter 3:15
Trust God. Answer peoople’s questions. Respect the differences. And, be gentle.
NEVER BE ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL
For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is God’s powerful method of bringing all who believe it to heaven. This message was preached first to the Jews alone, but now everyone is invited to come to God in this same way. Romans 1:16
Tell the truth. Share what God has done for you. Invite others to participate.
DARE TO BE DIFFERENT
“Those who are wise—the people of God—shall shine as brightly as the sun’s brilliance.” Daniel 12:3
Let your light shine. Live His principles in every area of yor life. Let God lead.
The gullible believe anything they’re told; the prudent sift and weigh every word. The wise watch their steps and avoid evil; fools are headstrong and reckless. The hotheaded do things they’ll later regret; the coldhearted get the cold shoulder. Foolish dreamers live in a world of illusion; wise realists plant their feet on the ground. Eventually, evil will pay tribute to good; the wicked will respect God-loyal people. Proverbs 14:15-19