Life Journal 05-31-2009

Real Strength

(S) Scripture
Better a patient man than a warrior, a man who controls his temper than one who takes a city.
Proverbs 16:32 (NIV)

(O) Observation
We often think of warriors and conquerors as people of strength but here the writer says that patience and a controlled temper are qualities of real strength.

(A) Application
In my younger days I found it easy to fly off the handle and launch a verbal barrage showing my impatience and wanting to coerce my way in things. I have not always been this nice peaceful man that I am today J (tongue firmly planted in my cheek). As I have sought to live out this proverb I have found that it is true. There is real strength in being patient and controlling your temper. That strength is recognized by others. I want to exhibit that strength in my life. I know that when I want patience God puts me in situations where I must choose to be patient. When I want to control my temper I find myself in circumstances where in the past I would lose my temper. Interesting to me is that I never really "lost" my temper it was always right there in front of me, just out of control. Today by God's grace I will demonstrate these qualities in my life and so live in a way that pleases God.

(P) Prayer
Father, You know how easy it is for me to abandon these qualities so let me experience your strength today to live as you would have me to live. Let me be patient and let my temper stay under control. Amen

Life Journal 05-30-2009

The Wonder of Worship

(S) Scripture
Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!
"Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?"
"Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him?"
For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.
Romans 11:33-36 (NIV)

(O) Observation
Paul has been addressing the relationship of the Israelites and Gentiles to God. He explains it using the ideas of faith and obedience. He then comes to this great moment of worship as he thinks about our Great God.

(A) Application
I want to be caught up in this kind of worship; 'nough said.

(P) Prayer
Lord let me worship you in Spirit and Truth today. Let me get caught up in Who You are. Amen

Life Journal 05-29-2009

Generosity

(S) Scripture
A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.
Proverbs 11:25 (NIV)

(O) Observation
The writer simply states the truth that is also found in the New Testament. "You reap what you sow". Generous people prosper and those who refresh others find themselves being refreshed.

(A) Application
When I think of being generous I immediately think of money and yet there are so many other ways to be generous. Investing my time and abilities in others is a form of generosity. Sharing what I have with others is generosity. When I share what I have I prosper, I gain more and that allows me to give more. It is a sweet and calm spirit that refreshes people and that is what I desire. When I am operating at a hectic, chaotic pace I cannot refresh anyone and will not stop long enough to be refreshed myself. Today I will slow down and make the most of each and every conversation. I will give of myself and whatever I have. I do so not to get more but because it is the way I am to live as a Christian.

(P) Prayer
Lord let me know your presence and power in my life so that I might live the way you describe. Let me invest myself in others so that they too might walk close to you. Amen

Life Journal 05-28-2009

Created with Purpose

(S) Scripture
"I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence; I possess knowledge and discretion.
Proverbs 8:12 (NIV)

"The LORD brought me forth as the first of his works, before his deeds of old;
I was appointed from eternity, from the beginning, before the world began.
When there were no oceans, I was given birth, when there were no springs abounding with water;
before the mountains were settled in place, before the hills, I was given birth,
before he made the earth or its fields or any of the dust of the world.
I was there when he set the heavens in place, when he marked out the horizon on the face of the deep,
when he established the clouds above and fixed securely the fountains of the deep,
when he gave the sea its boundary so the waters would not overstep his command, and when he marked out the foundations of the earth.
Then I was the craftsman at his side. I was filled with delight day after day, rejoicing always in his presence,
rejoicing in his whole world and delighting in mankind.
Proverbs 8:22-31 (NIV)

(O) Observation
This proverb places "wisdom" behind all of creation. There was purpose in the creative process. God did not create randomly but rather all that was created was done so in wisdom with purpose and meaning. This proverb reminds me again of the greatness of our God. He is the author and Creator of all that is and it all has purpose and meaning.

(A) Application
I was created with purpose and meaning. It was God's wisdom that decided when and where I would be born, He decided my parents and my life has purpose that was set in it from before the beginning of time. That is an incredible thought. I am not a mistake or a random happening. God knew me and made me in His time for His purpose. It would be a shame to miss all that in life. This fact gives deep meaning to my life and I will not question the Potter about why He made me this way. Today I will rejoice in God's creative work in me and the meaning He gives to my life.

(P) Prayer
Heavenly Father, I thank you for your goodness toward me; for creating me and giving meaning to my life. Thank you for sending your Son to pay for my sins in order that by faith in Him I might experience your purpose for me. Amen

Life Journal 05-27-2009

An important Correction

(S) Scripture
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Romans 8:1 (KJV)

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,
Romans 8:1 (NIV)

(O) Observation
The conditional phrase at the end of verse one in included in the KJV but is not found in the best manuscript evidence and is therefore omitted in more recent translations. This changes the statement completely. It takes it from a conditional phrase to an imperative statement. That is really good news for followers of Jesus.

(A) Application
As a follower of Jesus I am not condemned in any way. My life is safe and secure in Christ. My security is not dependent on me but rather on God. My response to this is to love the Lord and follow Him. If I understand this I cannot use my freedom and security as a license to sin. I cannot ignore God's leading and direction and command of my life. Because I am not condemned I will live in gratitude and by faith in the One who saved me and set me free. This is such an important correction because it moves the Christian life away from legalism and to relationship. Today I will celebrate my relationship with God and thank Him for securing my relationship with Him.

(P) Prayer
Father thank you for saving me and securing my place with you. Help me to live today as your child in a way that honors you. Amen

Life Journal 05-26-2009

A New Way To Live

(S) Scripture
For when we were controlled by the sinful nature, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in our bodies, so that we bore fruit for death.
But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code.
Romans 7:5-6 (NIV)

(O) Observation
Paul is writing about the release that comes to our lives when we die to sin. We die to sin and the law has no more power over us when we receive Christ as Savior. The control the law has over us and the power our sin nature has are released when we become Christians. Our sin natures bring about death, separation from God, but our new natures in Christ bring about service energized by the Holy Spirit. Our focus is no longer on keeping the law but is on living by faith empowered by the Holy Spirit.

(A) Application
Even though my sinful nature died when I became a Christian it seems to come to life when I feed it. I know it can never separate me from the love of God but it does affect my fellowship and closeness to the Father. I am not to focus on the law – that energizes my sin nature. So often I talk with people who think the Christian life is simply keeping the Ten Commandments. Their focus is on the law and they wonder why they keep feeling defeated in their spiritual lives. Their focus is wrong. They are focused on what only energizes the sin nature. I must not live that way, I want a new way of living. I am to focus on being controlled by the Holy Spirit and living by faith. When I live that way my life reflects God's righteousness and there is no law against living that way. Today I will again trust the Holy Spirit to fill me and use me. I will focus on loving God and following Him.

(P) Prayer
Lord, I thank you for the reminder from Paul today that I am to focus on you and not on the law. I want to live free with you and by faith in you empowered by the Holy Spirit. Work your work in me today. Amen

Life Journal 05-22-2009

My Utter Sinfulness

(S) Scripture
What shall we conclude then? Are we any better? Not at all! We have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under sin.
As it is written: "There is no one righteous, not even one;
there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God.
All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one."
"Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit." "The poison of vipers is on their lips."
"Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness."
"Their feet are swift to shed blood;
ruin and misery mark their ways,
and the way of peace they do not know."
"There is no fear of God before their eyes."
Romans 3:9-18 (NIV)

(O) Observation
Paul is reminding his readers that no one is righteous in themselves. He builds that case against both Jews and Gentiles. In this passage he reminds us of our utter sinfulness. It is certainly a description of the world in which we live. As I read the verses over again I see a description of the moral condition of our country. "Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit." "The poison of vipers is on their lips." "Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness." "Their feet are swift to shed blood; ruin and misery mark their ways, and the way of peace they do not know." "There is no fear of God before their eyes."

(A) Application
Worse though than seeing our nation is when you see yourself. I am reminded of Isaiah when he describes himself as a "man of unclean lips." Is my speech pleasing to God and profitable for the people I speak with. Am I really selfish to the point of ignoring the needs of others or only looking out for myself. This passage reminds me that I an utterly sinful in my nature and that apart from Jesus and the righteousness He brings to my life I am hopeless. Left to myself my life will reflect these verses in Romans 3. Thanks be to God that He has not left me to myself but has sent His Son to die for my sins and through faith in that death He gives me forgiveness and a new nature that is filled with His Holy Spirit that can accomplish through me all He has for me to do. Today I will again renew my commitment to following Jesus and to being filled with the Holy Spirit.

(P) Prayer
Father, I thank you for forgiving my sins through Jesus' death on the cross. Thank you for allowing me through faith to avoid the life described by Paul that is separated from you. Let me live for you today and use me to make a difference in people's lives today. Amen