Positive Example

What is your idea of improvement? How are you setting yourself up for success? What is your definition of success? How do you migrate your way out of bad situations into good situations? Are you hanging on to bad habits that are keeping you from being the best version of yourself?

We often hear about seeking self-improvement. There are many books written on the topic. There are more lists of advice for being better than we care to count. Though they may make good points and provide incremental steps toward improvement, they often leave out one key point.

The Apostle Paul tells the church in Rome to throw off their old self. He says they are to give up their former ways that were self-destructive. He tells them to step out of the darkness and into the light. Why? Salvation is near. They are encouraged to put on Jesus, to live their life for Him, to give up personal desires. That is good advice and encouragement for us as well.

Imagine how we could influence the people around us if we were to give our bad habits, our sinful ways. Setting a positive example for the people around us, for our children and grandchildren, is the best thing we can do for the future. We set the example by putting Jesus, living for Him, and setting aside our personal desires.

Paul doesn’t give this advice lightly. He does so with the weight of eternity and a love for the people weighing on his shoulders. Every good pastor has that same mindset, a desire to lead people to live for Christ. Nothing is more life altering nor more impactful than living for Christ and setting a positive example for others.

I pray we all give up our destructive behavior. I pray we set aside our personal desires. I pray each one of us will put on Christ, living our lives for Him, and setting a positive example for others. Give up destructive behavior. Set aside personal desires. Put on Christ. Live for Christ. Be a positive example.

Romans 13:14 Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

Wake Up

How aware are you? Do you use your peripheral vision? Is your head on a swivel when you are in an unfamiliar area? Do you pick up on the subtle signs of another person? Do you recognize when they are angry, upset, hurt, or uncomfortable? Are your eyes open and observing?

Being aware can be a challenge. Yet, being aware can keep us out of trouble. Many of us will be a little more alert when we are in an unfamiliar area, especially if we are in a foreign country. Being observant can also clue us in on the feelings of someone else.

During my time in the Marine Corps, I was taught to be alert at all times. Being alert has saved me grief a few times. We were especially alert when we were deployed in a foreign country. We were made aware of local customs and culture. Even when we were at our home base, we were taught to be aware when going into town. It wasn’t paranoia, simply being alert and aware of what was going on around you.

The Apostle Paul tells the church in Rome to wake up and be aware. They were to understand that walking around oblivious to what was going on was not acceptable. They were followers of Jesus and were to be alert for those who would do them harm and recognize they were saved. They were to know their behavior did not just represent them but Jesus as well.

We, too, need to wake up. We need to let go of the mindset that we only represent ourselves. We represent Jesus in every moment of every day. There are people who want to see us fail. They want to point their finger at us and laugh at us for failing to live up to the standard. So, we need to wake up, recognize our situation, and choose to do our best to follow Jesus’s example.

I pray we all choose to wake up. I pray we decide to be alert and aware of our situation. I pray each one of us realizes we not only represent ourselves but represent Jesus every moment of every day. Wake up. Be alert. Be aware. Recognize your situation. Know that you represent Jesus.

Romans 13:11a Besides this, you know what time it is, how it is already the moment for you to wake from sleep.

Look Forward to Worship

What brings you joy? What makes you glad? Does being with family and friends make you happy? What about co-workers? Does seeing your favorite team win bring you excitement and happiness? Are you happy when you go to the church building for worship services?

Being glad or happy can depend on the situation. Some will make us happy and others won’t. Many of the earthly things that makes us happy are short lived. They are fleeting moments. It is not to say they are bad, just momentary. But what if there was a place that could make us glad regularly?

There is such a place, if we approach it with the right frame of mind. Going to our local church can make us glad. It can lift our spirits. We see people like us, people who have accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Though none of them are perfect, we can worship with them every week knowing we are saved through the same blood.

The Psalmist was glad to the temple. He was happy to go before God and worship. It was a reminder that God cares for his people. It was an opportunity to express thankfulness to God in community with others. Being together, corporately praising God is uplifting. We receive something when we attend worship services, whether we think we do or not.

As Sunday approaches, we should look forward to worshiping God with others. We should look forward to going to the church. Praising God and thanking him for his grace, mercy, and love should lighten our hearts. After all, everything we have, including the very air we breathe, is a gift from God.

I pray we all look forward to worship services. I pray we go to church with an attitude of thankfulness. I pray each one of us seek to praise God corporately, thanking him for his grace, mercy, and love. Look forward to worship. Be thankful. Praise God. Accept his blessings of grace, mercy, and love.

Psalm 122:1

I was glad when they said to me, 

“Let us go to the house of the Lord!”

Prophecies and Promises

We all need something to look forward to. Whether it is goal to achieve, a child to be born, a promotion in a job, or a relationship blossoming, we need a future with promise. Why? It provides us with hope. That hope is the driving force that gives us a reason to continue.

God gives us hope, if we will only read his prophecies and promises. The Israelites had hope of the Messiah coming. They looked forward to the Messiah restoring Israel, making them a great nation once again. Their hope carried them through many difficult times.

Though we know today that the Messiah has come and He will return, there are still prophecies and promises from God yet to be fulfilled. Some of those prophecies were made in the Old Testament and some in the New Testament. They all foretell God showing his glory, an eternity spent with him, and his righteous judgment.

In today’s passage, through the prophet Isaiah, we see that God’s house shall be above all. Though Isaiah uses the imagery of a mountain, it should not be taken literally. Often prophecies use figurative visuals to present the Israelites, and us, with an image we can relate to. The point is that God’s house will be the place everyone goes to. They will naturally be attracted to it to worship him. His light will shine all around.

We may hear of “a city on a hill.” The phrase should remind us of God’s prophecy and promise of eternity. It should remind us that we have hope because of those prophecies and promises. That hope can carry us through whatever trial we face. We know there is an eternal home waiting for us.

I pray we all read the prophecies and promises of God. I pray we put our hope in the prophecies and promises of God. I pray each one of us has a hope in God that will carry us through whatever we face. Read God’s Word. Read God’s prophecies and promises. Put your hope in God.

Isaiah 2:2

In days to come 

the mountain of the Lord’s house 

shall be established as the highest of the mountains 

and shall be raised above the hills; 

all the nations shall stream to it.

Such a Time as This

Have you ever wondered why you were born when you were? Do you wonder why you are experiencing the things you experience? Have you considered there is a plan for you? Have you thought you were put right where you are, at this specific time for a reason?

Timing can be everything. Missing being in a vehicle accident because you had to change your shirt can cause us to thank God. Arriving at the store just before it becomes extremely busy can make us feel lucky. Being at the right place at the right time is important.

Many of us don’t often think we are put in this specific time, place, or situation for a reason. We often think it is all random. Even though everyone has the blessing from God to make our own choices, God is still in control. He knows the choice everyone will make at any given time and puts people in situations to be of assistance.

Because God is in control and puts us in specific situations, he expects us to use our blessings, skills, and spiritual gifts to aid in resolving issues. The issue may be feeding the hungry, lifting someone up in need of it, befriending someone, listening to others, lending a helping hand, or merely being present. Do not underestimate any of these reasons, and there are many more.

So, the next time you are wondering why you are put in the middle of a specific situation, rather than complaining, ask God what he wants you to do. See it as an opportunity to be part of God’s bigger plan. Be open to being used by God and trust that he is in control. Know that God has put you there for just such a time as this.

I pray we all trust that God is in control. I pray we ask him to reveal his plan for us. I pray each one of us realize that God has put us right where he wants us to be for just such a time as this. Trust that God is in control. Ask him to reveal his plan. Know that God has put you where he wants you.


Esther 4:14b “Who knows? Perhaps you have come to royal dignity for just such a time as this.”

Act on Faith

How is your prayer life? What do you pray for? Do you pray for your family, friends, co-workers, and acquaintances? Do you pray when people ask you to pray? Do you ask others to pray for you? How often do you pray? Are you praying that God’s will be done?

Prayer is our communication mechanism with God. From personal experience, many of our prayers are personal. We pray for things we want done. We pray for healing, relationships, jobs, and general well-being. We don’t always pray for God’s will to be done.

Though Jesus gave us one example of how we should pray in what we commonly call The Lord’s Prayer, His example of prayer just before going to the cross gives us an even more profound example of prayer. He prayed that God’s will be done. He was willing to give up His personal desires for God’s. He knelt down and submitted to the Father’s will.

When we are willing to kneel and submit to God’s will, we follow Jesus’s example in the best possible way. It isn’t easy. We must let go of our own desires, giving up our will to obey God’s will. It won’t be comfortable. It won’t be popular. We may be required to go where we don’t want to go. Yet, we can trust in God’s promises.

How do submit to God? We can only do so in faith. Our faith includes belief, trust, and action. We believe God has a plan for us. We trust he will fulfill his promises. We act on our belief and trust. Our action is to submit to God’s will, giving up our will and following his plan for our lives.

I pray we all follow Jesus’s example. I pray we choose to give up our will and submit to God’s will. I pray each one of us believe God has a plan for us, trust his promises, and act on our faith. Follow Jesus’s example. Submit to God’s will. Believe he has a plan for you. Trust God’s promises. Act on faith.

Luke 22:41-42 Then he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, knelt down, and prayed, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me, yet not my will but yours be done.”

Creator of All

What is your view of God? Do you envision God as three persons and yet one? Do you think of God the Father as the Creator and mastermind of the grand plan? Do you see Jesus as God the Son and see Him as human? How do you envision the Holy Spirit?

People have many different perspectives of God. Some view God the Father in the image of as a man with white hair and white beard, something like father time. Many believe the Father is the Creator, the one who created everything. They envision him as sitting on a throne.

Unfortunately, many have been taught incorrectly. It is Jesus the Son who is the Creator. As the Apostle Paul states in today’s passage, everything was created by Him and for Him. In effect, Paul is repeating what the Apostle John states in chapter 1 of his gospel. But it is not only the physical earth, people, animals, plants, fish of the ocean that He created. It is much more.

Notice that Paul states that He created everything that is visible and invisible. What is invisible? We don’t think about it but is the very air we breathe. In fact, there are many invisible gases we use that were created by Him. Paul goes on to say that He created the authorities of the world. Think about that. He has created the nations. Paul states in today’s passage that He even sets the rulers, and the Apostle Peter states it in 1 Peter 2:13-14.

Regardless of where we go, what we see, who we encounter, it was all created by Jesus, God the Son. It might a good idea if we remember that the next time we want to complain about something or someone. Knowing that the one we call Savior also created what we don’t like should change our attitude toward it.

I pray we all take time to think before we complain. I pray we understand that Jesus, God the Son, created all things. I pray each one of us give thanks to our Savior for creating us. Think before complaining. Know that Jesus is the Creator. Thank your Savior for creating you.

Colossians 1:15-16 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation, for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers—all things have been created through him and for him.

Strength and Inheritance

Have you felt inadequate or not up to the task? Have you been unsure of your ability to do the job you were assigned? Have you been frustrated with yourself? Have you been impatient with others because of your frustration? Have you considered reaching out to the endless strength available to you?

We all can feel inadequate, unsure, and frustrated at times. It may come when starting a new job or when working on a project around the house. These feelings can cause us to be impatient with ourselves and others. In our frustration, we can lash out at others.

We can draw strength from God. It is not a short-term strength but an endless strength. His strength is just about physical strength but includes mental, emotional, and spiritual strength. With his strength, we can endure hardship. We can be patient with ourselves and others. All of this is available to us if we will ask. God stands ready to grant us the strength we need for the situation we are in.

As we grow comfortable asking and receiving strength from God, we experience more joy and thank God for his blessings. The closer we grow to God the more we realize that we have an inheritance that cannot be taken away from us. The more we understand that inheritance the less we worry about this world. We do what we can, understanding God is in control, and accepting his blessings without wishing for more than he has blessed us with.

I pray we all ask God for his endless strength. I pray we learn to be patient with ourselves and others. I pray each one of us know we have an eternal inheritance and thank God for giving it to us. Ask God for strength. Learn to be patient. Know you have an eternal inheritance. Thank God for his blessings.

Colossians 1:11-12 May you be made strong with all the strength that comes from his glorious power, so that you may have all endurance and patience, joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light.

God Inspired

Are you amazed by the many things of this world? Do you wonder how many creatures, plants, or other unique objects there are in the world that you know nothing about? Are there places you long to see? Are they all natural places? Are they places God created?

There is such a wide range of species in the world. People continue to discover new species, ones that had never been seen before, or at least not documented. We continue to discover new places or formations in the oceans. Who knows how much more we don’t know.

Because of the amount of knowledge left to be discovered about the earth and species today, today’s passage is even more amazing…and revealing. Read the passage slowly. Pick out the different points made within it. You might even want to read it two or three times before continuing to read what I have to say.

Did you catch what is says on line four, which is in verse two? No one at the time the Psalms were written would have known anything about mountains in the sea. Today, we know there are large mountains fully submerged in the oceans. A recently discovered sea mountain, or seamount, off the coast of Guatemala is 5,249 feet tall and covers 5.4 square miles. By any standard, that is big.

Psalm 46:2 reveals the moving of the Holy Spirit to guide the writer. Why? If no one at the time of the writing knew about mountains under the sea, the only way the writer could write about it is if God revealed it to him. When we dig into what is written, think about what was known more than 2,500 years ago, we cannot help but be amazed and come to the conclusion that God was providing the revelation that was written down.

I pray we all spend time thinking critically and logically about God’s Word. I pray we understand that God inspired the writers. I pray each one of us connect the dots and see just how amazing God is. Think about God’s Word. Know that God inspired it. See how amazing God is.

Psalm 46:1-3

God is our refuge and strength, 

a very present help in trouble. 

Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change, 

though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea, 

though its waters roar and foam, 

though the mountains tremble with its tumult.   Selah

Eternal Promises

How many promises have you made that you have not kept? Does it bother you when you must break a promise? Do you get upset when someone else breaks a promise made to you? Wouldn’t be nice if promises were never broken? Do you believe God keeps his promises?

Promises, promises, promises. We all have heard the saying promises are made to be broken. Yet, I doubt any of us like to break promises nor do we like promise made to us being broken. Breaking promises gives us a letdown feeling, we are disappointed. We may even be depressed.

We can count on God to keep his promises. We see in today’s passage that God makes a promise through the prophet Jeremiah. He promises that a descendant of David will become a wise king, one who will be righteous and just when dealing with everyone. From this prophecy, we deduce that it is pointing to Jesus. Yet, it did not point to Jesus’s birth and life on this earth. It is pointing to Jesus’s return and the new earth along with the new Jerusalem.

How can we make that claim? We must connect the dots throughout Scripture. We hear of the new earth in 2 Peter 3:13 and Revelation 21:1, and the new Jerusalem in Revelation 21:2. In both passages, they point to Jesus’s return and setting forth eternity. We also use experience or history. We know that there has been no earthly king who has been wholly righteous, just, and wise and ruling the land of Judah. Therefore, we must see this prophecy as one of many pointing to God’s promise being fulfilled in eternity with Jesus being the King of kings.

During our lives, we may make promises we must later break. Emergencies and urgent situations arise. We may have good intentions when we make a promise, and a higher priority pops up that causes us to break a promise. Despite our failures, we can count on God to keep his promises to us and all humanity.

I pray we do our best to keep promises. I pray we are careful about making promises. I pray each one of us know that God will keep his promises, even if they are made for eternity. Keep your promises. Be careful making promises. Trust God to keep his promises. Know that God’s promises last for eternity.

Jeremiah 23:5

“Behold, the days come,” says Yahweh, 

“that I will raise to David a righteous Branch; 

and he will reign as king and deal wisely, 

and will execute justice and righteousness in the land.”