Read: Psalm 4; Ephesians 4:25-27
Life is full of emotions. Anger, sadness, joy, and love are a few emotions we experience in a life time. Many times our lives are so filled with extreme negative emotion that it consequently may lead to depression, stress, and anxiety which often results in an unhealthy lifestyle and frequent doctor visits.
In the fourth Psalm, we read of David who struggled with some distress in his life. He cried out to God to relieve him, and he cried out to his people to do right and trust in the Lord. David challenged his people to not sin in their anger but instead search their hearts at the end of the day and be silent.
Paul echoes this wisdom in Ephesians. He reminds the church of Ephesus to not sin when they are angry and not to remain in their anger. Paul encourages them to resolve their anger before the end of the day. Unresolved anger gives place to the devil.
God's desire is not for us to be filled with anger and sadness. His desire is that we be filled with his spirit and with joy. Let’s use our imaginations for a moment. Let’s imagine that we are a cup. If we continue to fill our cup with anger, bitterness, sadness, thoughts of revenge, lusts, and worry, then our cup will soon be overflowing with negativity. How can God fill our cup with joy when it is already full with everything else? Instead we must repent and ask the Lord to empty our cups so that he can fill us with the joy of his spirit.
We cannot offer our gift of worship to God if these things are in our life. We must resolve them in order to worship. Matthew 5:23-24 tells us that we must leave our gift at the altar and be reconciled with our brother before we can offer our gift. A true worshiper is one who empties his/her self to God.
Questions:
How is your lifestyle of worship? Is your cup full of joy? Are there any friends or family members you need to be reconciled with?
Friday, February 27, 2009
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Series of Unfortunate Events
Read: Psalm 3
There are times in every person's life when they face a series of unfortunate events. These events may include job loss, school frustrations, and disunity in one's church. Often during a series of unfortunate events, friends turn into enemies. Employers become the enemy of the employee, teachers and professors become enemies of the students, and church leadership becomes the enemy of the faithful members.
Christians begin to wrestle with their flesh nature. The desire for vengeance becomes strong. However, God says that vengeance is His (Romans 12:19) and Christians are not to wrestle with other people or flesh and blood (Ephesians 6:12).
David struggled with his enemies, and in the case of Psalm chapter three, his enemy truly was his own flesh in blood. His enemy was his son Absalom. In Psalm three, it is written that God is the shield or defender; God is the sustainer; and God is the deliverer. Verse seven is especially a favorite among all who look to God for vengeance. It says, “Arise, O Lord! Deliver me, O my God! Strike all my enemies on the jaw; break the teeth of the wicked (Psalm 3:7).” One has to love that verse! Vengeance, refuge, and peace can be found in God the defender, sustainer, and deliverer. Praise God!
Questions:
Are you letting God fight your battles for you, or are you still trying to win them on your own merit? What else must you surrender in order for God to be in complete control of your life?
There are times in every person's life when they face a series of unfortunate events. These events may include job loss, school frustrations, and disunity in one's church. Often during a series of unfortunate events, friends turn into enemies. Employers become the enemy of the employee, teachers and professors become enemies of the students, and church leadership becomes the enemy of the faithful members.
Christians begin to wrestle with their flesh nature. The desire for vengeance becomes strong. However, God says that vengeance is His (Romans 12:19) and Christians are not to wrestle with other people or flesh and blood (Ephesians 6:12).
David struggled with his enemies, and in the case of Psalm chapter three, his enemy truly was his own flesh in blood. His enemy was his son Absalom. In Psalm three, it is written that God is the shield or defender; God is the sustainer; and God is the deliverer. Verse seven is especially a favorite among all who look to God for vengeance. It says, “Arise, O Lord! Deliver me, O my God! Strike all my enemies on the jaw; break the teeth of the wicked (Psalm 3:7).” One has to love that verse! Vengeance, refuge, and peace can be found in God the defender, sustainer, and deliverer. Praise God!
Questions:
Are you letting God fight your battles for you, or are you still trying to win them on your own merit? What else must you surrender in order for God to be in complete control of your life?
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
This Little Light of Mine
Read: Matthew 5:14
I’m sure we have all heard the famous children’s church song, This Little Light of Mine. We get caught up in the repetitive melody and the lyric usually stays in our heads for days. We sing the song, but do we really understand its meaning?
If we are Christians, then the light of Jesus Christ is in us, and it is our responsibility to let that light of Jesus Christ shine through so that the entire world can see it. We know it is not practical to light a candle and then place a bowl over it. Likewise, it is not practical nor is it right to hide our light from others around us. Some of the ways that we may hide our light is by being quiet when we should speak, choosing to follow our peers when we know they are wrong, denying Christ out of embarrassment like Peter, and refusing to witness and serve others.
If we are not hiding our light, then others will see it and it will be a witness of what Christ is doing in our lives. This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine. Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.
Questions:
Are you hiding your light? If not, is it evident to others around you?
I’m sure we have all heard the famous children’s church song, This Little Light of Mine. We get caught up in the repetitive melody and the lyric usually stays in our heads for days. We sing the song, but do we really understand its meaning?
If we are Christians, then the light of Jesus Christ is in us, and it is our responsibility to let that light of Jesus Christ shine through so that the entire world can see it. We know it is not practical to light a candle and then place a bowl over it. Likewise, it is not practical nor is it right to hide our light from others around us. Some of the ways that we may hide our light is by being quiet when we should speak, choosing to follow our peers when we know they are wrong, denying Christ out of embarrassment like Peter, and refusing to witness and serve others.
If we are not hiding our light, then others will see it and it will be a witness of what Christ is doing in our lives. This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine. Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.
Questions:
Are you hiding your light? If not, is it evident to others around you?
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Two Roads
“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.”
-- Robert Frost, The Road Not Taken
Psalm 1:1-6
Two paths of life lay before each of us. One path leads to everlasting life, and the other leads to destruction. Many of us have been privileged to be given more than one opportunity to choose the correct path. However, Christ is not obligated to present us with the choice at all. He has promised that we will be given an opportunity to know Him but not multiple opportunities. According to the writer of Ecclesiastes, life without Christ is meaningless. The Psalmist tells us that a man is blessed if he mediates on things of God and His Word. A blessed man knows God’s promises and believes them. He is content and bears good fruit. He is deeply rooted, and his spiritual condition is healthy. Jeremiah writes that a man who relies on his own flesh for strength and turns his heart from the things of God is cursed. If you have given your life to Christ, then you are blessed. Christ promises to continue to bless your daily obedience. Consequently if you reject Christ you are cursed. You may enjoy material, earthly blessings for a season, but your path leads to destruction.
Questions:
Are you blessed or are you cursed? What path are you taking?
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.”
-- Robert Frost, The Road Not Taken
Psalm 1:1-6
Two paths of life lay before each of us. One path leads to everlasting life, and the other leads to destruction. Many of us have been privileged to be given more than one opportunity to choose the correct path. However, Christ is not obligated to present us with the choice at all. He has promised that we will be given an opportunity to know Him but not multiple opportunities. According to the writer of Ecclesiastes, life without Christ is meaningless. The Psalmist tells us that a man is blessed if he mediates on things of God and His Word. A blessed man knows God’s promises and believes them. He is content and bears good fruit. He is deeply rooted, and his spiritual condition is healthy. Jeremiah writes that a man who relies on his own flesh for strength and turns his heart from the things of God is cursed. If you have given your life to Christ, then you are blessed. Christ promises to continue to bless your daily obedience. Consequently if you reject Christ you are cursed. You may enjoy material, earthly blessings for a season, but your path leads to destruction.
Questions:
Are you blessed or are you cursed? What path are you taking?
Monday, February 23, 2009
Entourage
Read: Psalm 1:1
People you associate yourselves with can have a profound influence on your life. When I was young, and I was “searching for myself,” I experimented with many different hair styles, clothing styles, and personality styles. In my struggle for individuality I noticed three influences in my life that remained constant: my father, mother, and God. I allowed my individuality to be determined by those around me. I was really no individual at all. I was merely another member of a different group. Many of my friends professed Christianity but did not honor God, and my attitude became a mirror image of the attitude of my friends. I professed Christianity, but I did not honor God. The Bible is very clear about how Christians should live. Galatians gives us a list of character traits a growing Christian will possess (Galatians 5:22ff). Many of my friends did not help build my faith, but they hindered my faith. The psalmist says that a man is blessed if he does not walk side by side with the wicked, stand with sinners, or sit with those who mock Christianity and the things of God. Your friend should help you develop a closer relationship with God. Ask yourself the following questions: Who do you hang out with? What does your entourage look like? Do your friends help you grow in your faith, or do the subtly hinder your relationship with God?
Discussion question:
How would you define individuality?
People you associate yourselves with can have a profound influence on your life. When I was young, and I was “searching for myself,” I experimented with many different hair styles, clothing styles, and personality styles. In my struggle for individuality I noticed three influences in my life that remained constant: my father, mother, and God. I allowed my individuality to be determined by those around me. I was really no individual at all. I was merely another member of a different group. Many of my friends professed Christianity but did not honor God, and my attitude became a mirror image of the attitude of my friends. I professed Christianity, but I did not honor God. The Bible is very clear about how Christians should live. Galatians gives us a list of character traits a growing Christian will possess (Galatians 5:22ff). Many of my friends did not help build my faith, but they hindered my faith. The psalmist says that a man is blessed if he does not walk side by side with the wicked, stand with sinners, or sit with those who mock Christianity and the things of God. Your friend should help you develop a closer relationship with God. Ask yourself the following questions: Who do you hang out with? What does your entourage look like? Do your friends help you grow in your faith, or do the subtly hinder your relationship with God?
Discussion question:
How would you define individuality?
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