Tag Archives: Relationship

2016 Day 152 – 1 Corinthians 10

31 Tuesday May 2016

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Though we have freedom in Christ and some things are not wrong in and of themselves, they may not be beneficial to our relationship with Christ. Further, it may not be beneficial as a witness to other believers. This may sound legalistic, but it’s not. In 1 Corinthians 10:23-24 Paul says, 23 “Everything is permissible” – but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible” – but not everything is constructive. 24 Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others. Our freedom should not trample on those around us. Freedom is for the benefit of others as much as ourselves.

2016 Day 97 – Acts 1

06 Wednesday Apr 2016

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Today we begin the transition from the Gospel of Jesus to the start of the Church. The Church (with a capital “C”) is what we refer to as the body of believers of Christ. This is not a building. It is not comprised of associations or denominations. It is the body of Christ manifest through those who believe in Him and have a desire to serve Him in the light of eternity. While I am not against the congregation of believers in buildings, I do believe we get too caught up in our own idea of what Christianity is supposed to be about. We also get too caught up in defending our individual nuances of the details of our beliefs. In the end, we are called to do two simple things. 1) Love God. 2) Love others. If we can figure out how to accomplish those two simple things, we will be in great shape.

2016 Day 96 – John 21

05 Tuesday Apr 2016

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In this final chapter of John as we finish the Gospels of Jesus Christ, we read the final documented interaction with His disciples. As Jesus commands Peter to feed His sheep, Peter turns around and looks at John and asks Jesus, “What about Him?” Jesus responds in John 21:22, Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.” In other words, “Peter, worry about yourself.” The same advice applies to us. We worry too much about the rest of the world and the influence it has on others. We need to spend the majority of our energy and time worrying about our own relationship with God. While Jesus plainly commands us to “Feed His sheep”, when it comes to relationship, the only one we can control is our own.

2016 Day 76 – Matthew 26

16 Wednesday Mar 2016

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When things go wrong, do you run to Jesus or do you run away from Him? What about when you feel you are in a place (maybe work or school) where those around you don’t understand your faith; do you stand with Jesus in defiance of everyone around you, or do you act as though you are just like everyone else? When faced with adversity, the disciples ran even though they promised Jesus they would stand with Him, even if it meant dying for Him. Matthew 26:31 says, Then Jesus told them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written: “I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.” We all want to think we would run into a burning building, but the truth is most of us do not have that kind of courage unless it involves someone very close to us. If our relationship with Jesus is weak, so will our desire to stand with Him when things get tough. If the disciples ran, what makes us think we won’t? Our strength and courage to stand can only come from our faith and a close relationship with Him.

2016 Day 67 – Matthew 22

07 Monday Mar 2016

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When Jesus was asked by religious leaders what the great commandment is, He replied in Matthew 22:37-40, 37 Jesus replied: ” ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Jesus’ point was that if we love God and our neighbors, we will naturally keep God’s commandments. Instead of worrying about everything we cannot do, we should be more concerned with everything we should be doing.

2016 Day 28 – Matthew 10

28 Thursday Jan 2016

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Fear is a human emotion we all possess. Even the most hardened soldier experiences fear in the heat of battle. But here in Matthew 10:28, Jesus tells us not to fear those who can only kill our physical bodies, Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. What we should fear is what can kill us for eternity. This can only happen when we submit ourselves to a life apart from God. Jesus gives us salvation to prevent us from separation from God. There are no excuses, just poor choices which keep us from eternity with Him.

2016 Day 1 – Matthew 3

01 Friday Jan 2016

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It is sometimes difficult to remember that Jesus was both the Son of God and God. It is a difficult concept to understand the trinity, but the important thing to remember is that God the Father was proud of God His Son. After Jesus was baptized, God responded in Matthew 3:17, And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased. God the Father not only showed pleasure and support for His Son, He also showed that He owned the relationship. As a reflection of Christ, we should be striving for God’s pleasure in us as well.

2015 Day 351 – Psalm 15

17 Thursday Dec 2015

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In today’s reading David goes through a long list of things required by man to be on solid foundation with God. He finishes the end of Psalm 15:5 with, He who does these things will never be shaken. Do not be mistaken, these are not requirements for salvation, they are requirements for living a blameless life and in turn a life in relationship with God, our Heavenly Father.

2015 Day 337 – Psalm 134

03 Thursday Dec 2015

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Of the three verses in today’s Psalm, verse 134:2 stood out to me, Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and praise the Lord. In all we do for the Lord, let us do it fully and with reverence to Him. By lift our hand to God, not as a public display, but as submission to Him, we fully give ourselves to God’s service.

2015 Day 336 – Psalm 122

02 Wednesday Dec 2015

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There is a peace we feel when we are in the house of God. Just being in God’s presence with other believers brings clarity and perspective with whatever we are facing. In Psalm 122:1 David expresses how much he enjoyed being in God’s presence, I rejoice with those who said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord.” The closer our relationship is with God and the more we seek Him, the better the experience when we are in His presence with other believers in our time of worship.