Daily Scripture Verse – 1 Peter 2:9
September 27th, 2007
1 Peter 2:9 - 9But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
You have been chosen. You have been called by God to belong to Him….’a people belonging to God’. He chose you for His own.
The word ‘Belong‘ is a powerful word. Everyone, from the time they are born, searches for a sense of ‘belonging’, or another way to put it, ‘a place to call home’. I think one of the biggest struggles that a young adult faces is this. If it isn’t found at home, it will be sought out elsewhere. This scripture is a comfort to all seeking that place to just be and be at peace. For me, it’s usually not until I go back to the farm place that I grew up on, do I truly feel at home. It doesn’t matter how long I’ve been away. Whenever I’m there…I just feel more like me. The other place that I feel like this is at my church. The thing I’ve decided though is that it’s not about the building…it’s about the people that are there. People that I love and care about and that love and care about me.
Do you have a place to ‘belong‘ to? If not, know that God has chosen you and you belong to Him. If you still have other desires to ‘belong to a family’, ‘belong to a church’, or ‘belong to a significant other’, realize that God knows these desires. He placed them within you. He intends to fulfill them in His time.
Prayer
Father,
I belong to You. Praise be to Your blessed name. Thank You for choosing me to be Your child. My identity as belonging to You is the best thing that could ever happen to me. Remind me during the times where I struggle to find a ‘sense of belonging,’ that Your will for me is perfect, that Your love for me is immeasurable, and that Your Son Jesus bought me with the sacrifice of His life.
In Jesus Name,
Amen.
Book of Matthew – Matthew Chapter 6 Summary
September 26th, 2007Quick Chapter Summary
Context: Continuation of the Sermon on the Mount
- Jesus tells the disciples to be humble in discrete in several areas of their lives versus being boastful. These things are about giving glory to God and not yourself. Also, doing these in secret will result in rewards from the Father in secret.
- Give to the needy so that your ‘left hand does not know what your right is doing.’
- Pray in your home with the door closed and don’t babble on about what you need…God already knows your needs. Jesus introduces the Lord’s Prayer here.
- When fasting, don’t make it obvious to everyone. Go on normally.
- Jesus goes on to talk about the failing, fading, temporary things of the earth:
- Earthly treasures will pass away. Store up treasures in heaven by keeping your heart on things of God.
- What you look at with your eyes affects the entire body.
- No one can serve two masters…specifically God and Money.
- Don’t worry about food or clothing. God feeds the birds and clothes the flowers which are fairly insignificant things and pass away quickly. God provides for these, so He’ll also provide for us.
Full Chapter Summary
If you’re reading this and would like a more in-depth summary on this chapter, post a comment. Thanks.
Full Text Matthew Chapter 6
Daily Scripture Verse – 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
September 26th, 20071 Thessalonians 5:16-18 - 16Be joyful always; 17pray continually; 18give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
What a challenge Paul poses to the Thessalonians in the closing of his first letter to them! ‘Be joyful always‘…that’s a tough proposition for anyone…but should it really be for a true Christian? We have had the ultimate sacrifice paid for us while we were still sinners! We were facing eternal damnation in the lake of fire…and were rescued. Isn’t that reason enough to awake each morning in joyful celebration?!?
Pray continually. I have good days and bad days in this department. I might be the opposite of some people, but I find my self feeling closer to God during the positive in my life and having a strong relationship during those times. During stressful and busy times, I basically can’t find ‘time’ for God, and my prayer life suffers. Really, it should be the opposite.
Give thanks in all circumstances. All circumstances?…Surely he can’t mean this. I mean there are times when you shouldn’t give thanks, right? Like if somebody dies. Why would I thank God for that? This is where we need to take a lesson from Job. ‘The Lord gives and the Lord taketh away…Blessed be the name of the Lord’. In all things we can find a reason to be thankful. When someone leaves us…it’s not permanent. We’ll see them again. Also, we were privileged with being able to know and love that person. We can thank God for all the amazing memories we were able to make. No matter the circumstance, there is something to be thankful for.
Prayer
Father,
I come to you today, joyful in the life You have given me, the blessings You shine on me everyday, and the numerous opportunities I’m given each day to serve Your purpose. I am thankful for all the challenges and joys that each of these brings me. I thank you for the breath I am taking right now. Use each of them to Your glory.
In Jesus Name,
Amen.
Daily Scripture Verse – Romans 12:6-8
September 25th, 2007Romans 12:6-8 - 6We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. 7f it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; 8if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.
What’s your gift? Do you have trouble answering that question some days? I know I sure do. If someone were to walk up to me and ask that right now, I’d have a tough time just picking one thing. Paul points out that each of us has different gifts according to God’s plan for us. The context around the verse of this chapter is about becoming a living sacrifice for God and submitting to being our portion of the body of Christ here on earth. Each one of us have gifts to support that body.
This is also a good lesson for those of us that try to do ‘everything’. I don’t think being ‘obsessive-compulsive’ is one God’s true gifts 
. It’s just a sign that we don’t trust other’s to use their talents to complete the tasks. It’s impossible to do everything yourself. You will need someone else’s help. You will need God’s help. It’s a fact of life. It’s part of God’s plan as well. He asks us to submit to one another in service and in love.
Prayer
Father, Thank you for the gifts that You have given to me and the enjoyment I receive from utilizing my talents. Help me today to see where I may use those talents to further Your kingdom, to server others, and to allow others to serve me. I praise all the amazing gifts that I see in myself and the others around me. Let us be blessings to each other as long as we live.
In this day, just as yesterday, Your grace is sufficient for me.
In Jesus name,
Amen.
Daily Scripture Verse – Epeshians 6:7-8
September 24th, 2007vEpeshians 6:7-8 - 7Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, 8because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free.
This verse struck me yesterday with a strong conviction. I have many days were I’m just doing what I need to do to ‘get by’. I waste time doing things that don’t matter and, most often, that are selfish indulgences. Television, needless web surfing, lazying about the house when there’s work to be done…these are all things I’ve been guilty of this last week. Today I want to change that. I will change that. Not all at once maybe… During my 26 years on this earth I’ve learned lots of things. One of the more important ones is that change is not immediate. It doesn’t happen overnight. It is a slow, tedious, and sometimes painful process. It takes courage, determination, and faith to bring about change.
Today is a new day…today I pray for change…today I begin my change.
Prayer
Father,
I come today as a person ready for change. Prepare my heart, my will, my entire being for the journey that is change. Let my purpose be defined by the steps you’ve laid for me. Let your entire will for me take hold and be perfectly fulfilled in this.
Amen.