Pause to Think

Have you ever gotten upset at someone for telling you something you did not expect? Did you react with shock or negatively? After your initial reaction, did you decide you should listen and digest what you were told? Did find that they had told you the truth?

Receiving unexpected news or instruction can throw us off balance. We can react in unexpected ways. We may be in disbelief. We may be angry. We may want to completely disregard what they told us. Yet, there may be a nagging feeling deep inside that they may be right.

Naaman found himself is just such a situation. He was sent to Elisha to be healed of a skin disease. Naaman was an important man, a commander of the army of the king of Aram. As a high ranking official, he thought he would be treated with deference. He thought Elisha would come out to meet him. He thought Elisha would give him some challenging thing to do to be healed.

When Elisha merely sent a messenger to tell him to go wash himself in the Jordan river seven times, Naaman felt disrespected. He felt that Elisha had shunned him. He was upset. He thought Elisha might be a fraud. It was good for Naaman that one of his servants talked to him and got him to do what Elisha told him to do. Naaman was healed.

There are times we are told things we don’t want to believe. Rather than immediately disbelieving, we would be better served to take a little time to think about what we’ve been told. We just might discover that what we were told is for our best interest. Perhaps it is God’s way of working through someone else for our good.

I pray we all seek to listen for God speaking to us. I pray we evaluate our initial reaction. I pray each one of us will take time to think and ask God to reveal to us the truth of his message. Listen for God. Evaluation your reactions. Take time to think. Ask God to reveal his truth to you.

2 Kings 5:10-11 Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go, wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored, and you shall be clean.” But Naaman became angry and went away, saying, “I thought that for me he would surely come out and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God and would wave his hand over the spot and cure the skin disease!”

Cost of Business

Have you heard about the cost of business? Have you heard it takes money to make money? Have you heard nothing is free? Have you heard there is no such thing as a free lunch? Have you heard about the cost to follow Jesus?

There is a cost to everything, even if it is only our time. Yet, our time is extremely valuable. Especially in this fast-paced world we live in. We pay the price for all of it, whether we think we do or not. In most cases, we do so willingly.

But are we willing to pay the cost to follow Jesus? In the last few verses of Luk 9, Jesus gives us clues to what the cost of following Him is. We may have nowhere to lay our heads down for some much needed rest. We are to leave the dead behind. We are to follow Him and never look back.

Though some of this may seem harsh, when we take a closer look at them, they make sense. When we are on a mission, we are often away from our own beds. We are away from home. We are in strange places. And sometimes we work around the clock.

Leaving the dead may seem uncaring. Yet, Jesus is talking about those who will never accept Him. We are not to waste our time on them. We are to continue to move into the future with Him as our focus. That means leaving behind our old selves. We are to step out in faith with a focus on obeying Him and trusting in His promises. That means shedding our sinful ways and becoming who He wants us to be.

I pray we all count the cost for following Jesus. I pray we trust in Jesus’ promises and obey Him. I pray each one of us will choose to follow Jesus, moving into the future with Him as our focus. Count the cost. Trust Jesus’ promises. Follow Jesus. Focus on Him. Let Him be your future.

Luke 9:61-62 Another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” And Jesus said to him, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”

Fruit of the Spirit

Do you like to think you are in control? Do you think you can control yourself? How patient are you? Do you consider yourself to be a generous person? Are you a kind person? Do you have joy in your life? Are you a loving person? Are you gentle? How faithful are you?

Most of us either think or want to think we are in control. We may even like to think we have self-control, but don’t put a plate of our favorite cookies in front of us. Our self-control and our patience can quickly fly right out the door. We can quickly fail the test for both.

When we look at the list of the fruits of the Spirit closely, we may find ourselves weaving in and out of them. We may be experiencing one or more of those fruits for a while, then we slide out of them. But how much of that is due to our own efforts and how much is fruit coming from walking with and following the lead of the Holy Spirit?

For many, they attempt to fulfill this list on their own. We try really hard to be kind and gentle. We try to maintain self-control. We love some and not others while telling ourselves we need to love everyone, but not making much progress on it. We tell ourselves to be patient, but it wears thin quickly when someone cuts us off in traffic.

What we need to do is stop trying to do it on our own. There is a reason this list is called the fruit of the Spirit. When the Holy Spirit lives in us and we submit to him, these things come about naturally. In fact, they come about abundantly, and we are set apart, seen by others as being different than anyone else they know. So, stop trying to do it yourself and allow the Holy Spirit to work through you.

I pray we all stop trying to exercise the fruits of the Spirit on our own. I pray we allow the Holy Spirit to work in us. I pray each one of us lives the abundant life Jesus promised through the Holy Spirit. Quit doing it on your own. Allow the Holy Spirit to work in you. Live the abundant life.

Galatians 5:22-23 By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things.

Led by the Spirit

How do you live? What are you chasing? What do you work for? What are you seeking? How do you determine what you pursue? Is it all about what you want? Or are you guided by something bigger than you? Are you being led by the Spirit? Do you know how to follow the Spirit?

Each of us follow guiding principles of one sort or another. We may be able to identify them, recite them, or write them down. Yet, they are there anyway. The real question is, where did they come from? They may be good and yet not the best.

If we are chasing after the desires of the flesh, we are not following the Spirit. In other words, we are not following God. That doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy the things of this world. We absolutely can. It simply means chasing after what this world has to offer is not following God’s commands. But if we follow his commands, the things of this world come with it. The opposite is not true.

When we choose the follow the Spirit, we no longer need to worry about the law. Though the Apostle Paul was referencing the Old Testament law of God, it applies to our laws today. Think not? If we are following the Spirit, he would not lead us into trouble with the law. For the Spirit will only lead us to follow God’s law, principles, and guidance.

I pray we all give up the desires of the flesh. I pray we choose to follow the Spirit. I pray each one of us trust the Spirit will lead us according to God’s plan, following his law, principles, and guidance. Give up the world. Follow the Spirit. Trust the Spirit. He lead you on God’s path.

Galatians 5:16-18 Live by the Spirit, I say, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh. For what the flesh desires is opposed to the Spirit, and what the Spirit desires is opposed to the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to prevent you from doing what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not subject to the law.

Set Free

What comes to mind when you hear the word freedom? Do you think of being able to do whatever you want? Do you think of financial freedom? Do you think of being free to make your own choices? Do you think of freedom as being the opposite of slavery?

Freedom can mean different things to different people. It can mean getting away from a bad relationship. It can mean paying off your home or car loan. It can mean moving out of your parents’ house. It can also mean escaping from being oppressed or enslaved.

Our American culture often points freedom to our ability to seek a job where we want, earn a livable wage, and pursue the American dream of owning a house, having a spouse and children. We know that freedom came at a cost. Unfortunately, our culture has carried freedom to a level it was never meant to go—doing and saying whatever you want. With freedom comes responsibility.

Freedom, as the Apostle Paul speaks of it, is being free to obey God’s commands, no longer governed by our culture. Freedom to love everyone. In fact, Paul states, as part of his discourse on freedom, that the whole law is summed up in Jesus’ command to love your neighbor as yourself. His point is our freedom is the very reason why we should love everyone.

Our freedom in Christ came at a cost, just as our freedom as Americans came at a cost. This freedom comes with responsibility as well. Paul is implying that responsibility when he tells us to serve one another, rather than using our freedom for self-indulgence. In other words, don’t be selfish, be selfless. We are free to do that because Christ broke the shackles Satan had on us.

I pray we all know we have been set free. I pray we understand that with freedom comes responsibility. I pray each one of us use our freedom to love and serve one another. You are set free. Be responsible with your freedom. Love one another. Serve one another. Obey Jesus’ commands.

Galatians 5:13 For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters, only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become enslaved to one another.

God’s Mighty Deeds

Where do you turn when trouble hits? Do you try to recall better days? Do you remember the carefree days of your childhood? Do you remember the glory days of high school sports? Do you remember winning a medal at a state competition? Do you remember what God has done?

Troubling times can make us weary to the bone. We may find it very difficult to get through them. We may prefer to curl up in a ball and hope they simply disappear. Our approach to those troubling times will dictate how well we survive them.

Recalling what God has done for us in the past can be a huge help for us in troubling times. They remind us that God cares. They remind us that he will never leave us alone. They remind us that God is in control, even if we doubt that he is. For God has done a plethora of good things for each of us. It’s a matter of whether we give him credit or try to take it for ourselves.

Additionally, praising God for what he has done for us will lift our spirits. When we concentrate on his wonderful works and give him the credit, it boosts our confidence that he will come through again. When we acknowledge that God is holy and his ways are far above our ways, we remember that we are trust him in all circumstances. Doing so will carry us through the troubling times and bring out a better person on the other side of them.

I pray we all recall the wonderful deeds of God. I pray we trust that he is always with us. I pray each one of us praise God during troubling times so that our spirits will be lifted. Remember God’s works. Trust that he is in control. Believe that he is always with you. Praise God for all he has done for you.

Psalm 77:11-14

I will call to mind the deeds of the Lord; 

I will remember your wonders of old. 

I will meditate on all your work 

and muse on your mighty deeds. 

Your way, O God, is holy. 

What god is so great as our God? 

You are the God who works wonders; 

you have displayed your might among the peoples.

Faith of a Child

What is it you desire most? Do you secretly desire fame and fortune? What do you long for deep down inside, something you won’t tell anyone else about? Is it a new job? Is it a new car? Do you want to move to another city, state, or country? Are you longing for God?

When we are young, there are things we desire. It may be a specific vehicle, job, status, or ability. If we do not achieve those by middle age, this desire can lead to a mid-life crisis, if that desire has not relented. Failing to achieve it can cause us to feel like failures.

Elisha had a desire. His opportunity was presented to him when Elijah asked him what he wanted. Elisha knew this was a once in a lifetime opportunity to ask for his hidden desire. So, Elisha asked Elijah for something that Elijah could not give him on his own. It would require God to give it to Elisha. Yet, Elijah had a very special relationship with God.

We may believe that God doesn’t do things like this today. We may believe there is no one who has that type of relationship with God today. Yet, we must never underestimate God working in this world in whatever way he decides. We must not completely discount the possibility that someone has a very special relationship with God.

Often our faith, or lack thereof, holds us back. Jesus tells us in Matthew 18:1-5 that we must be like a child to enter the kingdom of heaven. This translates to us believing God is capable of anything and trusting he will always provide, just as a child trust in their parents. When we have that kind of faith, anything is possible.

I pray we all believe that anything is possible with God. I pray we trust that God will always provide. I pray each one of us will have faith in God as a child has faith in their parents. Believe God can do anything. Trust God to provide. Have the faith of a child. Humble yourself before God.

2 Kings 2:9-10 When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me what I may do for you before I am taken from you.” Elisha said, “Please let me inherit a double share of your spirit.” He responded, “You have asked a hard thing, yet if you see me as I am being taken from you, it will be granted you; if not, it will not.”

Mentor and God

Do you have a close friend you would do anything for? Would you go anywhere with them? Have you had a mentor you believe in? Would you follow them wherever they may lead you? Do you like stories about people who have a bond so close they cannot be separated?

Having close friends we would do anything for and who would do anything for us is wonderful. Knowing you can count on someone is comforting. Knowing they can count you us is a confidence builder. Both parties are all the better because of the other.

Having a wonderful mentor who teaches us how to be successful in life is priceless. For as we grow older, we realize success in life is not all about money. A great mentor will teach us that and show us how to succeed in life without material possessions. A mentor such as this is worth more than any amount of money we can ever accumulate.

Elijah and Elisha had a mentor – mentee relationship. Elijah was the great mentor who taught Elisha what it meant to follow God, to listen for him, and to commit his whole self to him. Elisha soaked in what Elijah taught him and committed himself, not only to God, but to Elijah as well. Elisha would not allow Elijah to run off and leave him. So, Elisha followed Elijah wherever he went. We can follow Elisha’s example by following God and a great mentor.

I pray we all have a great mentor we can follow. I pray we learn from that mentor how to succeed in life. I pray each one of us chooses to follow God just as Elijah and Elisha did. Follow your mentor. Be a great mentor. Learn to succeed in life. Choose to follow God.

2 Kings 2:1-2 Now when the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here, for the Lord has sent me as far as Bethel.” But Elisha said, “As the Lord lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel.

Walk in the Light

Have you ever stopped to notice light? Have you noticed what happens when you turn on a light in a dark room? Have you noticed the difference in light at night when there is a full moon rather than just a sliver? Have you thought about how that can apply in your life?

Light eliminates darkness. When a turn is turned on in a dark room, all darkness is gone, no matter how dark it had been. A full moon can brighten the night so well, you can walk around outside just as well as if it were day.

Light bounces off objects and continues to spread. You don’t think so? Go into a dark room with a flashlight. Turn the flashlight on and point it at the ceiling. You will see the entire room light up. It is reflecting off the ceiling to dispel the darkness. That same kind of reflection should happen within us.

When we accept Jesus into our hearts, His light should reflect from us to those around us. If we are truly walking in His ways, His light will shine wherever we go in whatever we do and say. As John states in the next few verses following the passage below, if we say we are in fellowship with God but there is no light, we are lying to ourselves and others.

We may think John is being harsh, yet he is stating the truth. We cannot claim to be following Jesus and act like the rest of the world. No, we must act as Jesus acted, say what He said, and treat people as He treated people, whether they are friend or foe. Otherwise, we are nothing more than hypocrites.

I pray we all know that God is light. I pray we choose to follow Jesus. I pray each one of us welcomes the light of Christ in us and shares that light with everyone we encounter. God is light. Follow Jesus. Welcome the light of Jesus. Share the light of Jesus. Proclaim the gospel.

1 John 1:5 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in him there is no darkness at all.

Bow to Jesus

What is your reaction when you meet someone of high importance? How have you reacted when you have met a CEO, president, actor, sports figure, or newscaster? Have you been in awe? Have you told others about your meeting? How will you react when you meet Jesus?

Meeting people of high importance can cause us to be in awe of them. We only see them from a distance or on television. Being close to them, perhaps even shaking their hand and having a conversation, is exciting. We like to tell others about our encounter with them.

Meeting famous or important people also can give us a sense of importance ourselves. We may think we connected with them, and they will remember us. Unfortunately, most of them will not remember us. They meet so many people as they tour the country or world that they cannot remember everyone they meet.

There is One who will remember us. In fact, He does remember us every day. He intercedes for us every day. Will we fall down at His feet? The man who had been tormented by demons did. When Jesus expelled His demons, the man worried that Jesus would torment him as well. Jesus had no such idea in mind. Instead, Jesus sent him home and told him to declare what God had done for him.

We should do the same. Each of us has our own issues. As Jesus removes them from us, we should declare what God has done for us. It is our declaration that we tell others about Jesus. This is how we spread the gospel. This is how we convince others to come to Him and be made whole. It is doing the work of God on earth.

I pray we all bow to Jesus. I pray we know that He remembers us every day. I pray each one of us will tell others what God has done for us, spreading the gospel, and bringing others to Jesus. Bow to Jesus. Know that He remembers you. Tell others what He has done for you. Spread the gospel.

Luke 8:28-29a When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before him, shouting, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not torment me,” for Jesus had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man.