Accepting Truth

Are you willing to listen to the truth? Will you open your heart to hear the message of Jesus Christ? Will you willingly accept the possibility you have been wrong in the past? Will you give your heart to Jesus?

Being willing to listen to and understand the truth of the gospel is challenging for many people. They desire to continue in their old ways. There is no desire to hear truth. Believing in Jesus is not considered to be cool. Religion is boring.

The most unfortunate thing about that attitude is people are being led to destruction. Without being willing to admit they have been wrong about their life decisions; they will never accept the truth of Jesus. Without accepting the truth, they continue down the path of destruction.

Just as Lydia responded to the message of Jesus the Apostle Paul was preaching, we all need to respond to the message of Jesus within God’s Word. There is no other way to spend eternity with God. It may not be the popular message. The message of Jesus may not be hip in pop culture. But the truth is the truth and cannot be altered by our modern culture.

Jesus is calling each of us. He is patiently waiting for us to come to Him. He desires every one of us to be saved. He has given us all the information we need to accept Him as Lord and Savior. The responsibility to accept His message and Him is on us. Will you accept it?

I pray we all decide to hear the message of Jesus. I pray we decide to accept the truth. I pray each one of us will seek to hear the truth of God’s Word and accept Jesus as Lord and Savior. Hear God’s Word as truth. Understand the message of Jesus. Accept Jesus as Lord. Accept Jesus as Savior. Be willing to be uncool. Open your heart to Jesus.

Acts 16:14 One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message.

Increase Your Faith

Is your faith strong? Would you like to strengthen your faith? What have you done to strengthen your faith? Have you thought about having a stronger faith? Have you asked God to strengthen your faith?

Faith can be hard to put our finger on. We think we have a strong faith until it gets tested, then we may struggle or fall down. A strong faith can only be achieved by exercising it. However, in exercising it, we cannot test God.

To grow stronger physically we exercise. We lift weights. We do pushups. We do pullups. We do crunches. We do limbering exercises for flexibility. We walk or run to build up endurance. All of this to strengthen our physical bodies to prepare us for all those fun things we like to do.

We can strengthen our faith as well. One way to strengthen our faith is to grow in our knowledge of Jesus. That includes reading God’s Word, participating in Bible studies, going to worship services, praying, and having Godly discussions with other Christians.

But doing all these brain exercises is not enough. We must put our faith into action. That is where the challenge begins. This is where we often struggle. We don’t know how to put our faith in action. What action is a faith-based action?

Any action that furthers God’s work here on earth is a faith-based action. The more the action requires God to be involved for it to succeed, the more we exercise our faith. Perhaps it requires us to get out of our comfort zone, relying on God to help us. Maybe it is a mission project. It could mean going into ministry. The key is spending time in prayer to discern what God wants you to do, rather than following your own desires, which results in you testing God.

I pray we desire to strengthen our faith. I pray we spend time growing in our knowledge of God. I pray each one of us will exercise our faith by doing what God has called us to do.  Grow in knowledge of God. Exercise your faith. Strengthen your faith. Step out of your comfort zone.

Luke 17:5-6 The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!”

He replied, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.

Crown of Life

Are you going through a trial? Are you experiencing difficult times? How are you facing challenges? What or who is helping you get through the trials of life? Do you have someone who will walk through difficult times with you?

We face challenges at different times during our lives. They may come in the form of a severe illness. They may be financially related. They may occur in our relationships. We may be fired from a job.

Trials, challenges, or difficult times are part of life. They come. We battle our way through them. We experience a time of peace. Another challenge arises. It seems to be a cycle in our lives we experience over and over. There are times we grow weary of the battles. We are ready for the challenges to end.

As we go through difficult times, we wonder if they will ever end. We long for completion. We may even wonder how we will get through them. Though it is hard to remember while we are going through them, God will lead us through them. When necessary, He will carry us. By leaning on Him, we can go through anything. That’s not to say it will be easy.

Notice James tells us there is a crown of life waiting for us on the other side. Again, it may be hard to look forward to that when faced with a particularly difficult challenge. Yet, keeping our eye on the prize will help. It will prod us to hold on. It will encourage us to keep going. God has promised us a reward for holding on to Him and persevering through the trials of life.

I pray we all learn to lean on God before trials come. I pray we continue to lean on God through the trials. I pray each of us will trust God to get us through the trials of life. Persevere through the trials. Hold on to God during difficult times. Keep going while trusting God. Know that God will see you through it.

James 1:12 Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.

Bless One Another

Do you feel blessed? Do you like to hear blessings from others? Have you ever blessed others? Do you know that you can bless other people? Do you know that being a believer in Jesus Christ means you can call God’s blessing down on those you love?

I dare say we all like to be blessed. Especially when we think of blessings as gifts. After all, we generally like to receive gifts. Most of us also like to give gifts. Being on the receiving end or able to give blessings from God is wonderful.

We don’t often think about blessing someone. Sure, we think about giving gifts. But we typically think of those gifts as coming from us, not God. When we give someone a birthday gift, we think about how we have worked to earn the money to purchase the gift, even if it is only a minor thought in the back of our minds. But it is because of God’s blessing of us that we are able to bless someone else.

We can also bless others as they go to leave us, just as the believers in Antioch blessed Judas and Silas. Notice the believers blessed them with peace as they were setting off to return to Jerusalem. Today, we may say, “Safe travels.” But isn’t peace a better blessing? Not only that but wishing someone safe travels is not the same as saying, “May God bless you and carry you home safely.”

Blessing others is something we can do. We don’t need to be ordained to bless others. Being believers in Jesus is all we need to bless them. When someone else blesses us with God’s blessing, we notice a difference. When we bless others with God’s blessing, they will feel the difference as well. The more specific the blessing, the more significant the other person will feel the presence of God in the blessing.

I pray we all bless one another. I pray we call God’s blessings down on everyone we meet. I pray each one of us look for ways to bless one another, especially those we love and care for. Call down God’s blessings. Bless one another. Bless everyone you meet. Accept God’s blessings from others.

Acts 15:33 After spending some time there, they were sent off by the believers with the blessing of peace to return to those who had sent them.

Wonderful Disruptions

Have you ever set out to do one thing only to end up doing something else? Have you thought you were going to get time to spend alone with God only to find someone else needed you? Have you gone to pray to be interrupted by something else?

If your life is anything like mine, you often find yourself being redirected to do something other than what you planned. That’s not to say they are bad things, just different. In fact, there are times when the thing you were redirected to is far more important.

But being redirected can be frustrating at times, can’t it? You set out for a quiet spot to meditate and discover there is a gaggle going on there. Paul found this while he was in Philippi. As it turned out, it was good that he went there. He was able to talk with some women and convince at least one and her entire household to become followers of Jesus.

We may have experienced something similar. We may have intended to have a quiet afternoon of meditation only to be interrupted by someone who was seeking the truth. We take the opportunity to tell them about Jesus and they decide to believe. What an awesome disruption for us!

We don’t care for disruptions much, but disruptions can be extremely positive. The automobile was disruptive. The telephone was disruptive. Computers were disruptive. Any new invention is disruptive, and typically for the good. Paul experienced a disruption. We may experience a disruption. But that disruption may be just the opportunity we need to talk about Jesus and have a positive impact on someone else.

I pray we all accept disruptions with a positive attitude. I pray we turn disruptions into positive impact situations. I pray each one of us uses a disruption to see what God wants us to do to fulfill His plan. Seek God’s plan. Look for His plan in disruptions. View a disruption in a positive manner. Maintain a positive attitude. Take advantage of disruptions.

Acts 16:13 On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there.

A Night of Prayer

To what extent do you pray? How much time do you spend in prayer? When do you pray? What do you pray about? Is your prayer a one-way conversation, a listing of your wants? Or is your prayer a two-way conversation, including you listening for God’s answer?

If you are like me, your prayer life has its ups and downs. There are times when it is relatively good and times when it is not very good at all. There are times when I reach out in dire need and times when I sit and listen. There are times when it is only about my wants and times when I’m petitioning on behalf of others.

Our prayer life says a lot about how in tune we are with God. It also has a direct impact on how our lives go. When we spend less time in prayer, our lives can get out of control. We can find ourselves trying to do everything on our own. Our lives can become a tangle of events, stressful, anxiety ridden, and filled with frustration. We are far from peaceful.

On the other hand, when we spend time in prayer, we become calm and peaceful even in the midst of chaos. It may seem counterintuitive. How can we take time to pray when we have so much to do? Regardless of how it appears, it is exactly what we need to obtain clarity, set priorities, and achieve what God wants us to achieve.

Take the situation in today’s passage as an example. When Jesus knew He was going to choose the twelve Apostles, He spent an entire night in prayer. It is likely He didn’t just pray that He choose the right twelve, but likely also prayed over the ministry He was about to embark on. He likely prayed for wisdom, discernment, and guidance for every situation He would encounter in His ministry. But I’m sure He also prayed for each of the twelve He would choose, that they would also gain wisdom, discernment, and would listen for God’s guidance.

We may walk through dry times in prayer. When we recognize we are in one of those times, it is time to spend more time in prayer to get ourselves back on track. We may not spend an entire night, but we need to purposely choose to set aside time to be in conversation with God.

I pray we all choose to spend time with God in prayer. I pray we recognize the dry times and make a concerted effort to reach out to God. I pray each of us will go to God in all situations, with all our needs, and to listen. Recognize the dry times. Go to God in prayer. Spend time listening. Make it a two-way conversation. Find the peace you desire.

Luke 6:12-13 One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles:

Love Life

Do you want to love life? Do you want to see good days? Would it be great to have many good days, so many that you absolutely love life? Do you know how to achieve it? Are you willing to do what is necessary?

Most of us would say we want good days. We would say we want to love life. Yet, we often aren’t willing to do what is necessary to truly have those good days and truly love life. The reason is simple…we have to give our old ways.

Peter says we are to keep our tongue from evil. I dare say most of us don’t think our tongue is evil. All the while we slander others, poke fun at them, use foul language, and make snide comments. Not only that, but we complain about everything.

We don’t think we are evil. Yet we drink like a sieve. We ogle over another person like they are a piece of meat. We purposely set others up to fail. We turn our backs on those in need. We horde worldly possessions like they are gold.

Peter says we are to do good and seek peace. Doing good is more than sending a few dollars to your favorite charity. It is getting out, going to those in need, speaking encouraging words, seeing each person as Jesus sees them, and following His commands.

Seeking peace is more than avoiding conflict. It is actively looking for ways to resolve conflict. It is asking God to grant you peace in a stressful situation. It is seeking that inner calm. It is learning at Jesus’ feet so as to be like Him.

I pray we all seek good days. I pray we long to love life. I pray each one of us seek to do good and seek the peace we need in our lives to live a life we love. Rid yourself of evil. Do good. Seek peace. Ask God to bless you with peace. Follow His plan for your life.

1 Peter 3:10-12 For,

“Whoever would love life

and see good days

must keep their tongue from evil

and their lips from deceitful speech.

They must turn from evil and do good;

they must seek peace and pursue it.

For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous

and his ears are attentive to their prayer,

but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

Determined and Blessed

Do you want to be blessed far more than you can comprehend? Do you have any idea how you can be blessed in such a way? If you knew, would you do what was necessary? We often like to think we will, but will we really?

We all want to be blessed richly. We often ask God to bless us. God hears our prayers. He decides how and when to bless us. His timing is perfect. He also rewards those who are willing to follow His plan.

Most of us are unwilling to go through the tiring work required. That may sound odd. We hear that God blesses us when we ask. We hear that God is a loving God. And all that is true. Yet, we must remember that God is also a just God, which means He doesn’t bless us regardless of what we do.

Ruth is a prime example of how we can be blessed beyond our wildest dreams if we follow God’s plan for our lives. She dedicated herself to her mother-in-law, Naomi. She moved from her country to the home country of Naomi. She stayed by Naomi’s side regardless of what the consequences may have been for her. She followed the God of Naomi. God saw her dedication and blessed her for it.

Ruth ended up in the family tree of both King David and, ultimately, Jesus. She married Boaz because she was fending for Naomi and herself and she bore a son named Obed. She followed the instructions of her mother-in-law. She continued to go where God called her to go. This resulted in God blessing her in a way she could not have imagined.

I pray we all follow God’s plan for our lives. I pray we submit to God’s will, doing what He asks us to do. I pray each of us will seek God’s plan for our lives and are blessed beyond our wildest imagination. Seek God’s plan for your life. Follow God’s plan. Submit to His will. Be blessed in ways you cannot imagine.

Ruth 14:18, 21-22 This, then, is the family line of Perez:

Perez was the father of Hezron, …

Salmon the father of Boaz,

Boaz the father of Obed,

Obed the father of Jesse,

and Jesse the father of David.

God of Peace

Where does peace come from? How can we acquire peace? What comes with the peace that is given to us? Why is peace offered to us? Who is pleased with granting us the peace we desperately need and desire?

Whether we realize it or not, we desire peace and we need peace. By acquiring peace, we are relieved of anxiety and worry. We are given peace for a reason, but we do have to ask for it and honestly desire it. Wait…didn’t I just say we desire it?

In our inner core we do desire peace. Unfortunately, that inner core has multiple layers wrapped around it and often we choose the drama of the world rather than our true desire. Why? We want the attention that comes with it. Think about it. Do you know someone that has peace? If so, I’m sure you have noticed that person doesn’t need to be in the limelight nor requires much attention. They just quietly go about their business and don’t allow external happenings to affect their peace.

If we want that kind of peace, we can only get it from God who is a God of peace. It has been offered to us through the blood of Christ. God is so, so ready to grant us that peace. But we must be willing to part with the layers of drama we cling to that wrap around our inner core.

Notice that with the peace God is willing to grant us comes the equipping we need to do the good He has planned for us to do. We need His peace to be ready to carry out His work. Have you ever known an anxious person who was effective at carrying out God’s plan? Yet, when we carry out His plan, we please Him. Isn’t that what we want or should want to do?

I pray we all ask God to remove our outer layers of drama. I pray we seek the peace God wants to give us. I pray each one of us look toward carrying out God’s plan for our lives. Shed the drama. Rid yourself of anxiety. Accept the peace of God. Be equipped for good works. Carry out God’s plan for you. 

Hebrews 13:20-21 Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Pray for Authorities

Do you want to live a peaceful life? Are you seeking to live quietly? Have you spent time praying for those in authority? Have you spent time petitioning God on behalf of those in leadership? Have you asked God to lead them to godliness?

As we seek to live lives that are peaceful and quiet, we often look for good jobs, nice neighborhoods, good friends, and maybe a church where we fit in. In other words, we look at external things, places, and people to provide us with the peace we seek.

The Apostle Paul tells his understudy, Timothy, to spend time in prayer. But not just any prayer. Prayer for those who are in authority and leadership. This may seem odd to us. We wonder how that would allow us to lead lives of peace and quiet. Yet, if we think about it a little while, we can see how that would affect our lives.

When we pray for our government leaders, God works in their lives. When we pray for leaders in our communities, God works in their lives. When we pray for leaders of our businesses, God works in their lives. When God works in people’s lives, they change for the better. As our leaders are changed for the better by God, our lives are changed for the better.

We may not be able to have a positive effect on our leaders directly, but we can indirectly through prayer. Prayer is power and effective (James 5:16), when we pray for God’s will to be done. Let’s all pray for those in authority and lead peaceful lives.

I pray we all spend time praying for our leaders. I pray we pray for God’s will to be done. I pray each of us will pray for our government and trust God to work out His will in all things. Spend time in prayer. Pray for authorities. Pray for leaders. Pray for God’s will to be done. Pray so that you will find peace and quiet.

1 Timothy 2:1-4 I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.