Tag Archives: Relationship

2012 Day 230 – Acts 24

17 Friday Aug 2012

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Paul continues to show courage and faithfulness where ever he goes. In this chapter, even while he is being accused by the Jews in front of Governor Felix, Paul is not deterred even to the point where it turns a bit personal to the Governor and makes Felix a bit uncomfortable and afraid. Most people are ok with discussing the gospel as long as it doesn’t touch them personally. The reality is the gospel is very personal. It’s about a personal relationship with Christ. Unless someone is touched by God in a way that changes them in a deep and personal way, it is just religion and ritual following of the rules and the law.

2012 Day 212 – Romans 6

30 Monday Jul 2012

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In our modern world we don’t often think of the implications of slavery anymore. We mostly see it as our past and the lessons we can learn from our history. But when Paul talks about slavery in this chapter, he is speaking from a first hand perspective. Slavery was common in his day and when he talks about sin being you master in verse 14, he is also talking about being set free from sin because we are under grace, For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace. Since we are no longer under the law, grace has set us free from focusing only on controlling the individual sins in our lives and allows us to focus on the big picture of concentrating on having a relationship with God. Verse 16 goes on to talk about what we should be slaves to, Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey–whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? In the end, it is much better to focus on being a slave to righteousness, not because it is a requirement of salvation, but because God wants what is best for us which is why He sacrificed His Son for us in the first place.

2012 Day 208 – Romans 2

26 Thursday Jul 2012

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We always want to put our best foot forward. We always want to show everyone our best side. While that makes people around us more at ease and happier to be around us, the real us is who we are inside. Paul uses circumcision as an outward indicator of what makes someone a Jew. In verses 28-29 it says, A man is not a Jew if he is only one outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. No, a man is a Jew if he is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man’s praise is not from men, but from God. What makes us who we are is what is inside through Christ and the Holy Spirit working in our lives. We may be able to fool people around us when things are going wrong, but God knows who we really are. For this reason it is important that we work on improving inwardly so that we can outwardly express who we are in Christ and who the Holy Spirit is making us become.

2012 Day 205 – Psalm 43, 44

23 Monday Jul 2012

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The first two verses in today’s reading struck me right away. Psalm 42:1-2, 1 As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. 2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? Our lives depend on God 100%. We are like the deer in verse 1 who realizes he will die without water, and so will we if we do not find God. Separation from water for the deer is the equivalent of separation from God in our lives. Both will ultimately lead to death. When we feel separated from God we must seek to be with Him even more.

2012 Day 192 – 2 Corinthians 3

10 Tuesday Jul 2012

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The last verse in this chapter caught my eye this morning. Verse 18 says, And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever‑increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. The notes in my Bible talks about the glory that Moses experienced when he was in the presence of God and how much more glory the Spirit imparts on believers. By gazing with unveiled minds at the glory of God through the Spirit, we can be more like Him. As that glory penetrates us and allows us to build a deeper relationship with God, we understand how wonderful God is and what He is really like. This helps us change in a progressive experience to become more like Him.

2012 Day 185 – Psalm 21, 37

03 Tuesday Jul 2012

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We are back to Psalms for a few days and in today’s reading the verse that stood out to me was Psalm 37:4, Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. The only way to really delight in someone is to experience great pleasure in their presence. This can only happen when we get to know that person very well. So, in order to delight in the Lord we must get to know Him very well. As we’ve said a few times this past year, it is all about the quality of the relationship we have with God that really matters.

2012 Day 182 – 1 Corinthians 14

30 Saturday Jun 2012

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This chapter spends a lot of time talking about worship, including tongues and prophecy. Ultimately, it is talking about the importance of having worship with a purpose. Everything has meaning and should be for the edification of the body. Here in Nashville, because of the amazing musical talent this city provides, most worship experiences are really good from a talent perspective. The problem is when it becomes a performance by the musical artists. Please don’t hear me condemn the artists because the truth is it goes both ways. Those listening must take responsibility for what they hear or experience and turn it to the strengthening of your relationship with God.

2012 Day 176 – 1 Corinthians 8

24 Sunday Jun 2012

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Verse 13 stood out to me today, Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause him to fall. While we are not under the law, we are part of a community of believers and we should be sensitive to those who are in a different place spiritually from us. For me, it is easy to say it is ok to have a glass of wine from time to time, but for someone else it may not be something they are willing to do for whatever reason. The important thing for me is to be willing to refrain from drinking a glass of wine for the spiritual benefit of a fellow believer. My relationship with God and helping others with their relationships is what really matters.

2012 Day 175 – 1 Corinthians 7

23 Saturday Jun 2012

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1 Corinthians 7 is always an interesting chapter to me. At first glance it feels as though Paul is really against marriage. The reality is not that Paul hates marriage, it’s that he is against anything that could possibly turn our attention away from fully serving God. Paul simply says that the desire to be married, if it is a distraction, should not get in the way of turning our attention to God. The truth is that Paul is correct. As a married man with kids, I have to spend the majority of my time concerned with my family’s well being. If I was single I could get a lot more done for the kingdom of God. However, the thing to keep in mind is that singleness does not ensure full time service to God. The level of commitment to service is what really matters. In the end, a servants heart that is dedicated to a genuine relationship with God, will fully serve Him in everything they do.

2012 Day 174 – 1 Corinthians 6

22 Friday Jun 2012

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Verse 12 says, “Everything is permissible for me”–but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible for me”–but I will not be mastered by anything. While all things are permissible through the freedom we have in salvation through Christ, not all things are beneficial. More over, things should never be allowed to master our hearts. There should never be anything in our lives that takes the place of Christ or our relationship with Him.