I used to go to Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa on Monday nights and listen to Greg Laurie teach a Bible study in college. There were always hundreds of people there. At the end of every sermon, he would give a salvation message. I can’t remember a night where less than fifty people walked down the…
Read MoreIn the book “The Insanity of God” by Nik Ripken, he tells the story of going to Somalia during the civil war and dealing with land mines that had been placed by warring factions. It was dangerous to walk in the streets or fields for fear of setting one of these off. I couldn’t imagine fearing my children stepping on one of these by simply playing outside. King David knew what it was like to have traps set for him. He didn’t lose hope. Trust the Lord with Your Path
Psalms 142:3
“When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, You knew my path. In the way where I walk they have hidden a trap for me.”
One of the most challenging aspects of being overwhelmed is not knowing what to do or where to go? David felt this when he said his spirit was overwhelmed. The walls of his world were crashing in, but he didn’t lose trust in the Lord. He knew that even though he was lost, God knew the path he was on. God had put him there and was guiding him in the direction he was supposed to go. If you are feeling overwhelmed and lost, don’t lose hope. God is with you, and He knows the path you are on. Trust Him and keep putting one in front of the other.
Read MoreIt is getting tiresome watching all of the arrogant politicians, actors, and athletes spew their opinions and attitudes on the rest of us. These men and women who have achieved success in one area of their lives are often train wrecks in most other areas. Pride is a cancer that is destroying communities and churches all over the world. The Apostle Peter tells you to clothe yourself with humility.
1 Peter 5:5
“You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.”
Peter has to address an issue that needs to be repeated today, submitting to authority. Too many young adults are disrespectful towards the leadership of this country and the church. Young people need to be subject to the elders. That means they purposely place themselves under the church leadership. With so many rebellious people in the church, that is a challenge for young Christians.
Read MoreAre you the type of person with a good sense of direction, or are you easily turned around and soon lost? It seems people are one or the other. There are few things more disconcerting than not being able to find your way. The Psalmist understands that from a spiritual perspective and encourages us when we are spiritually lost to make sure we are looking in the right direction, at Jesus.
Psalms 141:8
“For my eyes are toward You, O GOD, the Lord; In You I take refuge; do not leave me defenseless.”
The Psalmist is on to something here. When you are looking in the right direction, many of the cares of the world fade away. We also find refuge and see our defender. A big part of fear focuses on our problem and not on the One who has the solution. Most people feel lost when they are engulfed with the worries of the world and are unable to see the refuge that available to them. Don’t become overwhelmed. Look to Jesus.
I will often look over at my wife when we are on a long drive and say, “penny for your thoughts?” She will turn and look at me and smile. Most of the time, her answer is “nothing,” which means she is developing her thoughts to share with me later. Sometimes she will say, “I was thinking about…” Every once in a while, she will say, “I have an idea.” When she says this, I know a long conversation is about to follow because she had been chewing on it for quite some time. What’s on your mind? Is it things of the Spirit or things of the flesh?
Romans 8:6
“For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace,”
The eighth chapter of Romans is all about the battle between the flesh and the Spirit. This is a daily battle that each believer fights. One of the keys to victory is what your mind is focused on. If your mind is set on the things of the Spirit, it is more than likely that you will win the battle that day. If your mind is set on the things of the flesh, defeat is inevitable. Before you can win the battle of the flesh, you have to fight and win the battle of the mind. What’s on your mind today? Is it the worries of your day? Is it some impure thought? These can easily control you and direct your path.
Read MoreMy brother-in-law and sister-in-law love to have people over to their home. Whether it be an elaborate party, family bbq, or spontaneous visit, they are always open. Every time you leave their home, you feel better. They have the gift of hospitality, but they exercise it, and God does the rest. Open your home, and the same will happen.
1 Peter 4:9
“Be hospitable to one another without complaint.”
Hospitality is becoming a lost art. Even though you hear people talk about entertaining on all of the home shows on TV, very few people know how to be hospitable. Entertaining is throwing a party. Hospitality is hosting someone in your home with the love of Jesus Christ. In Old Testament times, sojourners would enter the town square, usually by a well, and wait until someone from the town would come out and offer them shelter and food for their animals. It was required and considered a shame if no one offered. Things had changed a bit in New Testament times, but it was still considered a great honor to have people into your home for a meal and time of fellowship.
Read MoreThere is an old saying that goes something like this, “If you point your finger at someone, there are three pointing back at you.” While you can be quick to point out the fault of others, you are often slow to recognize your own. Peter points this out in today’s passage. It begins with us.
1 Peter 4:17
“For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?”
God always starts internally before He works externally. By that, I mean He works on His people before He works on the lost. No revival ever starts without repentance. The same can be said for judgment. Before God ever judges the world, He is going to start with the church. He holds it to a higher standard. If you want to see Him move in your church, your first prayer should be that He clean house first.
Read MoreWe are so much more gracious with those we love than we are with those we don’t know. While we may get annoyed by those close to us, we want to maintain those relationships, so we get over it. Peter is telling those in the church to treat each other that way. Love conversing a multitude of sins when our love is born of the Spirit.
1 Peter 4:8
“Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.”
The context of this verse is Peter telling the church “the end of all things is at hand.” He may have thought that Jesus was coming back soon, and so he was urging his readers to let love prevail. Trivial annoyances weren’t worthy of expending the energy getting mad. Just love the people and let the Lord work the issue out as you pray for them. It’s two thousand years later, but the emphasis behind it is still the same. Love covers a multitude of sins.
Read MoreI have a son who has autism and a daughter who has mild cerebral palsy. Each day they live with the challenges of their disability. My wife and I don’t look at them as children with disabilities but as creations of the Almighty God who formed them. No matter what you think of yourself, you are wonderfully made too.
Psalms 139:13-14
“For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well.”
God doesn’t make junk. No one is a throw-away. Your creator wonderfully makes you, and He lovingly created you in your mother’s womb. Life is precious to the Lord. From conception to death, He is at work in your life. Do you look at yourself as God’s creation? David did. He praised God for forming him in his mother’s womb. He knew that the Lord wonderfully made him, and it resonated with his soul.
Read MoreToo many Christians struggle with guilt and shame from the sin in their lives. You know you should be transformed and new creations, but you don’t see it in your daily walk. Everything you try doesn’t seem to work, and you end up frustrated. You can overcome that cycle of defeat and become an instrument of righteousness.
Romans 6:12-13
Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts, and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.”
The battle between the flesh and Spirit rages every day. We are bombarded with temptation and opportunities to sin. Paul recognizes this, so he urges us to resist. When we let sin reign and give in to the lusts of the flesh, our body becomes an instrument of unrighteousness, and it becomes difficult to root those out. You are a new creation in Christ, and victory over sin and death has been accomplished, but you will still battle while you are on earth.
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