By: Oswald Chambers
(The Determination to Serve)
The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve . . . —Matthew 20:28
Jesus also said, "Yet I am among you as the One who serves" (Luke 22:27). Paul’s idea of service was the same as our Lord’s— ". . . ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake" (2 Corinthians 4:5). We somehow have the idea that a person called to the ministry is called to be different and above other people. But according to Jesus Christ, he is called to be a "doormat" for others— called to be their spiritual leader, but never their superior. Paul said, "I know how to be abased . . ." (Philippians 4:12 ). Paul’s idea of service was to pour his life out to the last drop for others. And whether he received praise or blame made no difference. As long as there was one human being who did not know Jesus, Paul felt a debt of service to that person until he did come to know Him. But the chief motivation behind Paul’s service was not love for others but love for his Lord. If our devotion is to the cause of humanity, we will be quickly defeated and broken-hearted, since we will often be confronted with a great deal of ingratitude from other people. But if we are motivated by our love for God, no amount of ingratitude will be able to hinder us from serving one another.
Paul’s understanding of how Christ had dealt with him is the secret behind his determination to serve others. "I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man . . ." (1 Timothy 1:13). In other words, no matter how badly others may have treated Paul, they could never have treated him with the same degree of spite and hatred with which he had treated Jesus Christ. Once we realize that Jesus has served us even to the depths of our meagerness, our selfishness, and our sin, nothing we encounter from others will be able to exhaust our determination to serve others for His sake.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Monday, February 9, 2009
TDW 02-09-09 Real Heroes Believe In God
By: Jimmy Ray Lee
(Real Heroes Believe In God)
Today's Scripture
"So let's not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don't give up." Galatians 6:9 NLT
Thoughts for Today
Heroes are known for bold exploits and notable achievements acclaimed by people. But the godly hero is acclaimed by God. This week we will take a look at some of the heroes in the Bible who paint a picture of what makes a godly hero—even today.
God used Joshua to carry out great military strategies in the Promised Land. One of the great victories was the conquest of Jericho, a city protected by two parallel walls, the outer one six feet thick, the inner one double that width, both about 30 feet high. The Lord instructed Joshua and his warriors to march around the city of Jericho once a day for six days. On the seventh day, they were to march around the city seven times. The seventh time the priests were to blow the trumpets and the people were to give a loud shout.
Did this make sense? Of course not. But Joshua believed God, and he was persistent in his obedience. They circled the city six days … and nothing happened. Joshua persisted. They circled Jericho the seventh time, the priests blew the trumpets, the people shouted—and those mighty walls came down. Joshua took the city. (Joshua 6)
Consider this…
Has God led you to do something that just doesn't make sense—and doesn't seem to be working? Don't be discouraged. God's plan will work—in his way and in his time. Be persistent. Keep your eyes on Jesus and don't give up!
Prayer
Father, I really believe I am doing what you have called me to do, but sometimes things just don't seem to be working out the way I thought they would. Help me to keep my eyes on Jesus and not to give up. I thank you for your love and faithfulness—and for the outcome you will bring. In Jesus' name …
(Real Heroes Believe In God)
Today's Scripture
"So let's not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don't give up." Galatians 6:9 NLT
Thoughts for Today
Heroes are known for bold exploits and notable achievements acclaimed by people. But the godly hero is acclaimed by God. This week we will take a look at some of the heroes in the Bible who paint a picture of what makes a godly hero—even today.
God used Joshua to carry out great military strategies in the Promised Land. One of the great victories was the conquest of Jericho, a city protected by two parallel walls, the outer one six feet thick, the inner one double that width, both about 30 feet high. The Lord instructed Joshua and his warriors to march around the city of Jericho once a day for six days. On the seventh day, they were to march around the city seven times. The seventh time the priests were to blow the trumpets and the people were to give a loud shout.
Did this make sense? Of course not. But Joshua believed God, and he was persistent in his obedience. They circled the city six days … and nothing happened. Joshua persisted. They circled Jericho the seventh time, the priests blew the trumpets, the people shouted—and those mighty walls came down. Joshua took the city. (Joshua 6)
Consider this…
Has God led you to do something that just doesn't make sense—and doesn't seem to be working? Don't be discouraged. God's plan will work—in his way and in his time. Be persistent. Keep your eyes on Jesus and don't give up!
Prayer
Father, I really believe I am doing what you have called me to do, but sometimes things just don't seem to be working out the way I thought they would. Help me to keep my eyes on Jesus and not to give up. I thank you for your love and faithfulness—and for the outcome you will bring. In Jesus' name …
Friday, February 6, 2009
TDW 02-06-09 Sin That Entangles Us
By: Henry T. Blackaby
(Sin That Entangles Us)
Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, (Hebrews 12:1)
Sin is our most persistent, determined, and pernicious enemy. Sin seeks to rob us of every good thing God has designed for us. Paul tells us that sin brings death (Rom. 7:11). Yet it is very subtle. Sin creeps into our lives when and where we least expect it. It packages itself so attractively that we are lulled into thinking that it cannot really harm us (2 Cor. 11:14–15).
Sin stealthily and relentlessly entangles our lives. We will never be able to run the race marked out for us as long as we are entrapped in sin. We free ourselves from sin’s only if we recognize it for what it is. If we call sin a “mistake,” a “bad habit,” or a “weakness,” we will never escape its grasp. We must not blame our sins on others. We must not allow pride to convince us it is too humiliating to admit the sin in our lives. Sin can blind us to its presence. It does not always command our attention but rather, it subtly and pervasively robs us of the spiritual power and victory that could be ours. The good news is that there is no extent to which sin can entangle us that God’s grace does not abound still more to free us (Rom. 5:20).
Has sin robbed your joy? Has it prevented you from being the best husband, wife, son, daughter, or friend you could be? Is it keeping you from spiritual maturity? If you have become entangled with sin, God can release you immediately, no matter how desperately entangled you may have become!
(Sin That Entangles Us)
Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, (Hebrews 12:1)
Sin is our most persistent, determined, and pernicious enemy. Sin seeks to rob us of every good thing God has designed for us. Paul tells us that sin brings death (Rom. 7:11). Yet it is very subtle. Sin creeps into our lives when and where we least expect it. It packages itself so attractively that we are lulled into thinking that it cannot really harm us (2 Cor. 11:14–15).
Sin stealthily and relentlessly entangles our lives. We will never be able to run the race marked out for us as long as we are entrapped in sin. We free ourselves from sin’s only if we recognize it for what it is. If we call sin a “mistake,” a “bad habit,” or a “weakness,” we will never escape its grasp. We must not blame our sins on others. We must not allow pride to convince us it is too humiliating to admit the sin in our lives. Sin can blind us to its presence. It does not always command our attention but rather, it subtly and pervasively robs us of the spiritual power and victory that could be ours. The good news is that there is no extent to which sin can entangle us that God’s grace does not abound still more to free us (Rom. 5:20).
Has sin robbed your joy? Has it prevented you from being the best husband, wife, son, daughter, or friend you could be? Is it keeping you from spiritual maturity? If you have become entangled with sin, God can release you immediately, no matter how desperately entangled you may have become!
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
TDW 02-04-09 God's Hand Of Correction Is Rooted In Love
From: The Word Among Us
(God's Hand Of Correction Is Rooted In Love)
Do not disdain the discipline of the Lord or lose heart when reproved by him; for whom the Lord loves, he disciplines. (Hebrews 12:5-6)
Did you know that the words “discipline” and “disciple” come from the same root word, which means “learner”? We want to be disciples of Jesus, responding to his call to learn from him and to be transformed more and more into his image. And part of that learning and transformation process involves discipline and correction. Like any good teacher, Jesus knows he must encourage us and tell us where we are doing well. And like any good teacher, he knows that he must also point out our mistakes and correct us when we go the wrong way.
The author of Hebrews shows us how God can use the hard things we are asked to do, or the hard things that befall us, to discipline us. Experiences like these clarify two things. First, when things don’t go well, we discover what matters most to us. And second, when pressed beyond our natural abilities, we realize that our real strength comes from God and not from our own resources.
Often God clarifies his intentions for us through a word of correction. This may come through Scripture, in our prayer, or through a brother or sister. We may also be brought up short by the example of another believer. One man noticed that a fellow parishioner always stayed after Church to pray, and it got the man thinking. “Why do I act as if nothing special just happened? I really should start praying myself.” Thus, one man’s witness caused another man to draw closer to the Lord.
Are you being disciplined by the Lord? Try to take a look at your heart today and see if anything is out of God’s order. Perhaps there is an area of your life that you need to strengthen or correct. If so, don’t get discouraged or frustrated. Instead, follow the advice from Hebrews. Your Father is only treating you as his beloved child. Remember the Son who “learned obedience from what he suffered” so that he could become “the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him” (Hebrews 5:8).
”Father, sometimes it’s hard to see beyond the difficulties of the present moment. Help me to keep my eyes on the prize and never lose hold of your unconditional love for me.”
Psalm 103:1-2,13-14,17-18; Mark 6:1-6
(God's Hand Of Correction Is Rooted In Love)
Do not disdain the discipline of the Lord or lose heart when reproved by him; for whom the Lord loves, he disciplines. (Hebrews 12:5-6)
Did you know that the words “discipline” and “disciple” come from the same root word, which means “learner”? We want to be disciples of Jesus, responding to his call to learn from him and to be transformed more and more into his image. And part of that learning and transformation process involves discipline and correction. Like any good teacher, Jesus knows he must encourage us and tell us where we are doing well. And like any good teacher, he knows that he must also point out our mistakes and correct us when we go the wrong way.
The author of Hebrews shows us how God can use the hard things we are asked to do, or the hard things that befall us, to discipline us. Experiences like these clarify two things. First, when things don’t go well, we discover what matters most to us. And second, when pressed beyond our natural abilities, we realize that our real strength comes from God and not from our own resources.
Often God clarifies his intentions for us through a word of correction. This may come through Scripture, in our prayer, or through a brother or sister. We may also be brought up short by the example of another believer. One man noticed that a fellow parishioner always stayed after Church to pray, and it got the man thinking. “Why do I act as if nothing special just happened? I really should start praying myself.” Thus, one man’s witness caused another man to draw closer to the Lord.
Are you being disciplined by the Lord? Try to take a look at your heart today and see if anything is out of God’s order. Perhaps there is an area of your life that you need to strengthen or correct. If so, don’t get discouraged or frustrated. Instead, follow the advice from Hebrews. Your Father is only treating you as his beloved child. Remember the Son who “learned obedience from what he suffered” so that he could become “the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him” (Hebrews 5:8).
”Father, sometimes it’s hard to see beyond the difficulties of the present moment. Help me to keep my eyes on the prize and never lose hold of your unconditional love for me.”
Psalm 103:1-2,13-14,17-18; Mark 6:1-6
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