Father, I thank you for the love and faith of those who have shown me what it means to know you.
I know I do not always live as a faithful child of yours and for that I am truly sorry, but I know also that your Holy Spirit is always ready to work in me, with me and through me, to change me and show the world that you are the only true God. Give the will to begin, live, and end each day with you so that I may be a living testament to my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. I pray it in His name. Amen
I know I do not always live as a faithful child of yours and for that I am truly sorry, but I know also that your Holy Spirit is always ready to work in me, with me and through me, to change me and show the world that you are the only true God. Give the will to begin, live, and end each day with you so that I may be a living testament to my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. I pray it in His name. Amen
How many times in a day does a teacher say "Listen!"
Quite a few I suspect. Children are so absorbed by
their own interests that they find it difficult to be
bothered with other things, however important they
might be. Adults are often the same. Sometimes God
has to stop us in our tracks by some drastic means in
order to get our attention and prevent us from doing
something really stupid. But even then we can ignore
Him and carry on anyway - to our own cost. This often
happens when people never bother to get to know
God and instead listen to one of the many other voices in the world. The truly wise are those who spend time and energy getting to know God - and the rest of His family -the Church. And it is within that family that we find the help and encouragement we need. Human beings are gifted with an enormous capacity to learn, and to pass on that learning to others. But we must also make choices about what we learn: medicine or safe-breaking; providing for the needy or stealing. As we learn about God's love, understanding what it cost Him to choose to release us from the grip of sin and death, we begin to see that our choices too can either condemn or save others. It can be a huge incentive to do all we can to know the Lord Jesus better. Once we know how amazing it is to be part of His family we simply have to share our experiences with others, showing them how to discover all the wonderful things that God has prepared for them. This is why Christians are different! They live in different ways from the rest of society simply because they delight in pleasing the God who has them constantly in His care. Now, how will we show it today?
Quite a few I suspect. Children are so absorbed by
their own interests that they find it difficult to be
bothered with other things, however important they
might be. Adults are often the same. Sometimes God
has to stop us in our tracks by some drastic means in
order to get our attention and prevent us from doing
something really stupid. But even then we can ignore
Him and carry on anyway - to our own cost. This often
happens when people never bother to get to know
God and instead listen to one of the many other voices in the world. The truly wise are those who spend time and energy getting to know God - and the rest of His family -the Church. And it is within that family that we find the help and encouragement we need. Human beings are gifted with an enormous capacity to learn, and to pass on that learning to others. But we must also make choices about what we learn: medicine or safe-breaking; providing for the needy or stealing. As we learn about God's love, understanding what it cost Him to choose to release us from the grip of sin and death, we begin to see that our choices too can either condemn or save others. It can be a huge incentive to do all we can to know the Lord Jesus better. Once we know how amazing it is to be part of His family we simply have to share our experiences with others, showing them how to discover all the wonderful things that God has prepared for them. This is why Christians are different! They live in different ways from the rest of society simply because they delight in pleasing the God who has them constantly in His care. Now, how will we show it today?
Enriching our minds
In the same way that the health of our bodies is determined by our diet, so what we feed into our minds determines our spiritual health. In the desert, Jesus was tempted to be self concerned but rejected the way that leads to death and won the battle against sin by feeding on the Word of God. Seeking God's word enriches our souls and makes us fit for the Kingdom. What am I going to feed my mind on today?
Mastering our work
Jesus was a carpenter by trade, and from the information that we have, a good one. Applying himself fully to the training and job of his earthly father enabled him to give himself fully to the task to which his heavenly Father called him when the time came. Our work may be dull or exciting, but by doing our very best now we determine where we go next. Blessed is he who is faithful in small things: he will be given much.
Sharing with others
No-one is truly independent. As John Donne wrote in his powerful poem nearly 400 years ago, 'No man is an island'. Our well-being is bound up with the well-being of the rest of mankind. Just as we would be glad help in our hour of need, so we need to be aware of the needs of others, both close by and far away. After all, God created us to be a family, caring, sharing and loving. Who can I help today? Someone near... and someone far.
Responding to the call to be counted
It is said that it only takes good people to do nothing for evil to succeed. When Joshua asked the people, "Who is on the Lord's side?" it meant putting up a hand to let others know, and then following wherever God led them. People who live in God's way are different from the rest of the world - they have God as their Father - and He is wonderful! Am I proud to be a follower of Jesus and to let the world know it - or do I hide it?
Setting an example in living
We are loved by God and nothing on earth can change that, but sitting back and basking in that love is like the picture of the Dead Sea. The river Jordan is constantly pouring its fresh wafer into the Sea of Galilee, and because it constantly empties itself info the Dead Sea, the Sea of Galilee is alive with marine life. The Dead Sea passes nothing on - it is dead, To whom can I pass on the love of God today?
Encouraging others
Life can be hard going at times - even for the strongest. When we are at our lowest a simple word of encouragement can reinvigorate us and spur us on. God knows how much we need encouragement and it comes in a most surprising way: If we look for it and force it, it never satisfies. But if we set out to encourage others we find God sends His encouragement to us! So, how many people can I encourage today?
Give thanks for the many ways God is at work, through:
- evangelists
- parents
- teachers:
- counsellors
- scientists
- writers
- evangelists
- parents
- teachers:
- counsellors
- scientists
- writers
Remember today, those who carry the burden of:
- sickness
- a lawless past
- fear
- loneliness
- broken families
- obsessions
- not knowing
God
- sickness
- a lawless past
- fear
- loneliness
- broken families
- obsessions
- not knowing
God
