Give thanks

1 Thessalonians 5:15-18

Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Yesterday was a bad day for me.  I had been wronged by someone and I was very upset.  This left me with an attitude that was not so present.  I’ll be honest, I was a little rude to a few people because of this this.  Once I finally realized that I was paying back wrong for wrong, I had to go and apologize to the people that I was rude with.  I had realized that I had an attitude and it was not right.  I had to really work to improve that attitude. 

It was during some down time that I started praying and trying to focus on the blessings I have that I finally realized that in all things, I need to give thanks.  Yes, someone may be attacking you and making you feel horrible, however it’s important to remember not to allow the domino effect to take place. 

Today I just want to encourage you to rejoice always and pray continually.  Even when being wronged, there is something you can be thankful for.

Thursday Devotional - Glorifying God

Romans 1:21-23            “For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.  Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.”            Romans 1:21-23

So often I read through passages like this thinking it doesn’t apply to me because I know who the true God is and I don’t worship idols. There is a difference between knowing and glorifying God, though, as verse 21 indicates. I know who the true God is, but I don’t always glorify Him.

We glorify God by growing in a personal relationship with Him.

We glorify God by adoring Him.

We glorify God by worshiping and praising Him for who He is.

We glorify God by giving Him the credit for all of our accomplishments.

We glorify God by thanking Him for all of our blessings and sufferings. 

We glorify God by exalting Him above anyone and anything else.

This week, what mortal thing have you and I placed above our relationship with God? (possession, person, project, plan, player, etc.) Our relationship with God is eternal and the most important.

One of the hymns I sang with the kids last night was “To God Be the Glory.” Let’s give glory to God rather than exchanging it for glorifying something mortal!

Alice 

Love Never Fails

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 

Love never fails.  1 Corinthians 13:4-8a 

There is so much going on in the world today.  The world has always been a place with uncertainty that surrounds us, and we at times feel that we are destined to succumb to it at some point.  However, I’m reminded at church that through it all, we must be shining examples as Christ.  Many do not understand it.  At times, I do not know if I understand others.  However, I lean on the power of Jesus to inspire inside of me that which is good and to keep me on the righteous path.  How?  The answer is simple. Love.  It is the one thing that I can always draw on that keeps me strong.  It is the endless reservoir of hope that always seems to keep those around me feeling it will be alright.  It’s kept my wife and me together through thick and thin.  It never fails. 

We must continue to fall back on the love Christ has for us and share it with others.  There have been many things that love has been characterized as.  Often, it is referred to by others as soft, a sign of weakness, and unnecessary in times of uncertainty.  However, I would argue that it is quite the opposite.  It is strong when others are feeling weak.  It is difficult to display when you must love one undeserving of it.  And yes, it is entirely necessary in times of uncertainty because when everything else is uncertain, God’s love for us is certain.  As the first part of verse 8 says, “Love never fails.”  Never. 

There is nothing that is more powerful than God’s love.  Lynne Hybels was troubled by some of the things happening with a group of women that were rescued from the terrorist group ISIS.  In hearing their story, she wrote: 

As a Christian, I feel compelled to combat the distortions of twisted religion, misused power and entrenched and evil patriarchal systems with the loving and liberating way of Jesus. 

The loving and liberating way of Jesus is the answer against all the hurt and evil that at times seems to attack our sense of morality nonstop.  We must fight with both the courage and love of God.  That is how we overcome a world determined to destroy others.  Let us not be faint of heart.  Let us push forward with ‘the loving and liberating way of Jesus.’  What is suppressing your ability to love more today?  How can you let God’s love fill your heart to share with others?  My prayer is that we are willing to have the strength to love for God’s love never fails.  Amen. 

Tues Devo: Talker

Proverbs 13:3 “The one who guards his mouth preserves his life; the one who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.” (NASB)

Hello,

There are a bunch of verses that I could have referenced for this today, as this is a common topic in the Bible. In our culture we certainly don’t lack the opportunity to be heard. We have ways to have our voice heard, opinions recorded and messages delivered. But we need to slow down and ask one important question – why? OK, perhaps we need to ask more than one….

Why 1) – Why is it that constant running of our mouths leads to ruin?

Why 2) – Why do we feel compelled to keep talking?

I do not intend to directly answer those here, I think they are great questions for us to meditate on in our hearts and through reading Scripture.

But I will say this – do we trust God in the heat of the moment? That is where I know I tend to get into trouble – the quick moment of emotion or pressure. We look to vent/strike/defend – but when we do it so quickly we are not doing so in the strength and guidance of God, we are driven by self.  We need to pause before we start talking. During that pause, I encourage all of us to take a moment and ask God if we doing this through ourselves only, or allowing God to truly drive our decision to speak.

Have a blessed day,

Will Hill