July 2010
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July 26
THE GRACE OF OUR LORD WAS
EXCEEDINGLY ABUNDANT. 1 Timothy 1:14
These are the days when
there are so many people who are filling out job applications. Hundreds
of them because of job losses. I remember reading about a man who was
filling out a job application and came to the question “Have you ever
been arrested?” He wrote ‘No.’
The next question, intended
for people who had answered “Yes” to the previous question, was ‘Why?’
The applicant answered it “I never got caught.”
Is that how we live our
lives? We’re okay as long as we don’t get caught?
There’s a lot of people
today who feel that way. And they can do this because in our
post-modern thought we get to make up our own truth and rules. So we
can live our lives any way we feel like it. And we’re okay as long as
we don’t get caught.
St Paul did not feel that
way. In writing to Timothy he was very much aware of his sins and his
guilt. He knew that he had disobeyed God. But in contrast to his guilt
was God’s grace. And Paul felt that it was EXCEEDINGLY ABUNDANT for
him. And it is for you and me also. God’s grace never runs out, nor
can it. It is always more than enough to cover our sins. Never doubt
that.
Blessings on your day, |
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July 19
SAMUEL SAID
TO SAUL, “YOU HAVE DONE FOOLISHLY. YOU HAVE NOT KEPT THE COMMANDMENT OF
THE LORD.” 1 Samuel 13:13
This has been the season
when houses and sometimes whole towns just disappear because of
tornadoes. But there are towns that disappear for other reasons also.
There used to be a town in Oklahoma by the name of Picher. In the early
20th century it had 20,000 citizens. It was booming because of the
minerals there that were used in both World Wars.
But when the ore ran out so
did the town. It’s sort of like when Saul’s commitment to serve God
faithfully ran out he disobeyed. And as a result his kingdom came to an
end. God had plans for King Saul but he was not a man after God’s
heart. He did not do what God wanted. He did his own thing. He
disobeyed the command of God. And he was gone.
In our lives and our desire
to find success and prosperity we need to be careful about how we live
our lives. God desires us to serve Him. He wants obedience. Let me
encourage you to consider your life and see what you are doing.
Blessings on your day, |
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July 12
DO NOT BE
AFRAID OF THEIR THREATS, NOR BE TROUBLED. 1 Peter 3:14
Corporal Desmond Doss was
the first conscientious objector to earn the Congressional Medal of
Honor, the United States’ highest military award.
As a Christian he believed
that it was not right for him to kill others, but he wanted to serve his
country. He did so as a medic. At first he was ridiculed
during boot camp, but in May, 1945 on Okinawa he repeatedly risked his
life to rescue scores of wounded men. He earned the gratitude and
respect of his former critics.
As Christians we sometimes
are ridiculed for our beliefs and for our commitment to the way we live
our lives. But as we reach out to a hurting world let’s continue
to work on showing God’s love to others. Peter reminds us “Even if
you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed.”
Blessings on your day, |
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July 5
PRAY FOR
KINGS AND ALL WHO ARE IN AUTHORITY. 1 Timothy 2:2
In June 2009, 95 years old
Emma Gray died. For over two decades she had been the cleaning lady in a
big house. Each night as she did her work, she prayed for blessings,
wisdom, and safety for the man she worked for.
She worked for 24 years in
the same house, but the occupants of the house changed every four or
eight years. She offered prayers for President Eisenhower, Kennedy,
Johnson, Nixon, Ford, and Carter.
You and I need to be like
Emma Gray who continue to pray for our leaders and our elected officials
so that they carry out their duties according to God’s will. Paul urged
Timothy to pray for all in authority so that we may live a quiet and
peaceable life. God hears our prayers. And rest assured as Proverbs
says “The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord..”
Blessings on your day, |
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