Build Your Life upon Jesus

Have you ever gone to a construction site and seen the remnants of the builder’s work? There are bits and pieces of wood, cement, and tile that were cut off to make the larger piece fit. Most of the debris is unusable for anything else, so it is thrown away. Jesus is a foundation for the church. If you choose to build your life upon Jesus, you will never be discarded.

‭‭Luke‬ ‭20:17

“But Jesus looked at them and said, “What then is this that is written: ‘THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED, THIS BECAME THE CHIEF CORNERSTONE’?”

Jesus is quoting Psalm 118:22, a Messianic prophecy about the leaders (builders) of Israel rejecting Jesus, the chief cornerstone on which His church will be built. The Psalmist prophesied this over one thousand years earlier. Think about that for a second. God spoke thru a prophet during King David’s time, and it came to fulfillment during the time of Jesus. As believers, we need to read and understand prophecy. There are over 300 prophesies in the Old Testament about Jesus.

Defeating the Devil in Your Life

The pews of churches are filled with people bravely putting up a front that everything is good, and they have it all together while privately they are sinking into despair. They are struggling with secret sin and are fearful that it be exposed. They want victory over their struggle but are not sure how. Defeating…

Asking with the Right Motives

When I was young, I heard a Sunday School lesson on, “Ask, and it will be given to you.” The teacher added to that lesson, “If you believe with all of your heart, God will answer it.” I went home and proceeded to ask God for a new bike. I didn’t get one even though I asked Him for weeks. It wasn’t until I got older that I realized I had the wrong motives. Asking with the right motives behind your prayers will ensure that God hears them and increase the likelihood of Him answering.

‭‭James‬ ‭4:3

“You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures.”

Some people wonder why their prayers aren’t answered. In a previous devotional, I talked about not getting what you want because you don’t ask. Today, I want to look at another reason your prayers aren’t being answered, wrong motives. James, blunt as always, tells his readers that their prayers aren’t being answered because they want to spend it on selfish pleasures. God will not honor those prayers because they’re bad for us, and they don’t glorify Him. He wants to answer our prayers and give us the desires of our hearts as long as those desires align with His will.

In Midst of the Fire

Fire can be a powerful tool when it is under control. It’s when it turns into a wildfire that houses can get destroyed and lives harmed. When life gets difficult it can feel like we are in the midst of the fire and everything around us is crashing down. Scripture shows us that Jesus is right there with us in the midst of the fire.

‭‭Daniel‬ ‭3:25

“He said, “Look! I see four men loosed and walking about in the midst of the fire without harm, and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods!”

The story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego is one of the classic Sunday School stories of all time. Friends of Daniel, they resolve not to bow down to worship Nebuchadnezzar’s huge statue. They are reported and this makes Nebuchadnezzar furious.

Enter His Presence with Praise and Thanksgiving

For those in the United States, today is Thanksgiving. It is a national holiday where we remember how thankful we are for the founding of our country. The early settlers dedicated a feast after surviving their first winters and for a good harvest. Most of us in the USA will be feasting as well. God lets us know that He is our creator, and we should enter His presence with praise and thanksgiving.

Psalm 100:3-4
Know that the LORD, He is God! It is He who made us, and we are His; we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture. Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise!
Give thanks to Him; bless His name!

Psalm 100 is one of the Psalms you need to bookmark. Verse three and four is one of the highlights. For me, The Psalmist wants us to know that the Lord is God and He made us. You would expect to hear this in the Bible, but this is only a set up for the main point, the creator of the earth is also our Shepherd and wants us to know we are the sheep of His pasture. With that knowledge, it is easy to understand why we should enter His presence with praise and thanksgiving.

Use Your Talents

One thing that gets me down as a pastor is watching extremely talented people waste those talents by letting them sit idle. God has uniquely gifted everyone to serve Him, and we are expected to use those talents for His glory. When we do, there is a promised reward. When we don’t, it disappoints God, but it will also bring with it a consequence. Use your talent.

‭‭Luke‬ ‭19:26

“I tell you that to everyone who has, more shall be given, but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away.”

This passage comes from the end of the parable on the Talents. If you remember, three servants were given Talents by their master, who was going away on a long trip. The first servant was given five talents, the second was given two talents, and the third was given one. During the master’s absence, the first two doubled their talents while the third one buried his.

Practice What You Preach

No one likes someone who is all talk but no action. It’s true in the workplace and on the playing field. You either put up or shut up. The same can be said for those who follow Christ. There are some who want to give the impression they are wise when, in reality, they say it, but they don’t show it. James says to practice what you preach.

‭‭James‬ ‭3:17

“But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy.”

James is very clear when he says wisdom is shown, not spoken. Lots of people love to quote wise sayings but do not show the wisdom in their own life. They desire to tell others how to live but don’t want to emulate it themselves. A truly wise person is someone who speaks softly but lives loudly. Their actions scream much louder than their words.

Held to a Higher Standard

Teaching is one of the most honorable positions in society. Millions of teachers across the world go to their classrooms every day without fanfare and pour into their students. They will give much more than just the information in a book. They will give their time and resources to see their students thrive. One day they will be rewarded for their selfless effort. What makes these teachers so successful? They know they are held to a higher standard.

‭‭James‬ ‭3:1

“Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment.”
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James lets all those who desire to be teachers know that they will be held to a higher standard. They not only teach but set the standard for which their students follow. Students watch twice as much as they listen, so more is caught than taught. It’s more than practicing what you preach. It is understanding that the next generation is looking for someone to model themselves after.

Your Attitude Matters

This world would be a better place if people were more humble. There is so much pride and arrogance out there. Your attitude matters, and it can make a big difference in how your life turns out. Jesus tells us that if we exalt ourselves, we will be humbled, but we will be exalted if we humble ourselves.

‭‭Luke‬ ‭18:13-14

But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Jesus tells the parable of two guys who come to the temple to pray. One is a self-righteous Pharisee who is impressed with everything he does to be holy while looking down on the second guy, the tax collector. The Pharisee’s prayer is full of pride, while the tax collector’s prayer is one of humility. Jesus then asks the disciples which one went home justified?

The Good Works We are Called to Do

There is a lot of talk about cloning humans. Without a doubt, numerous laboratories around the world are working towards that. I understand the challenge that scientists see but what concerns me is that they will produce a whole new human race without any spirit in them. The spirit within every human is God-given, and it is by that spirit we can possess faith. Through faith come the good works we are called to do

‭‭James‬ ‭2:26

“For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.”

While you cannot get saved by doing good works, living for Christ without doing them is a dead faith. We worship, obey, and serve God out of our hearts’ gratitude for what He has done for us. We don’t do it out of obligation or to repay God. Our best work is “as filthy rags’ to the righteousness of Christ. James was still adamant that doing the work of the church was essential for every believer.