Dust February 7, 2017

Genesis 2:7 (NIV)

7 Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.

We are God's creation. He fashioned and formed our original ancestors out of the dust of the ground. He molded each of us and created each of us in our mother's womb (Psalm 139:13-16). Like Adam, God fills us with his breath and blesses us with life. We are his workmanship, his artistry, made to experience life in all its fullness (John 10:10) and created to do his work in our world (Ephesians 2:10).

Thought for today: Do I allow things to distract and detract from God in my life?

The Wheel In The Middle February 6, 2017

Colossians 2:6-7 (NIV)

6 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, 7 rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

Jesus is our center! He is the hub around which we turn. Rather than trying to add on to the truth of Jesus, we must learn to accept it and trust it in child-like faith. But that child-like faith must be nourished and grown. As Jesus remains our central focus and our hearts remain thankful to God for his grace, we will that our faith is strengthened and that Jesus is more real than ever.

Thought for today: Am I centered enough to recognize false teachings?

Check Your Attitude February 5, 2017

Philippians 2:5-6 (NIV)

5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;

What a glorious thought! What a lofty aspiration! What an incredible challenge! I am to have the same attitude as Jesus had. It's almost unthinkable. But just almost! You see, God calls us to this glorious, lofty, and unthinkable height because he calls us his children. He wants us to be humble and to be a servant just as Jesus was.

Thought for today: Do my thoughts and actions line up with those of Jesus?

Love & Mercy February 4, 2017

Ephesians 2:4-5New International Version (NIV)

4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.

We have no claim to bring to God! We have no right to demand salvation! We have no power within us that can hold on to life! Only God's love can bring us life, hope, and grace. Only God's mercy can bring us salvation. Only God's gift of Christ can awaken us from the death-slumber of sin.

Thought for today: Do I really take time to consider what grace and mercy add to my life?

Humility February 3, 2017

Philippians 2:3 (NIV)

3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,

Humility is recognizing who God has made us to be and using that recognition to serve and redeem others. Living in humility as Jesus did, we don't just practice the golden rule, but we go one step better — we treat others better than we would treat ourselves. Are we instructed to do this because we're unworthy or unfit? No! Jesus was worthy and glorious, but he chose to treat others better than himself when he sacrificially gave himself to redeem them. It's a high standard. It's a hard standard. It is not for wimps. But it is ultimately glorious. (Hint: Read down through verse 10 and remember that the same type of reward will be given to the faithful!)

Thought for today: Do I allow God to empower me for service?

Herod’s Temple February 2, 2017

Hebrews 7:23-27 (NIV)

23 Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; 24 but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. 25 Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.

26 Such a high priest truly meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. 27 Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself.

Reconstruction of the altar of burnt offering at Herod’s Temple. Unlike other priests, Jesus “does not need to offer sacrifices day after day” (Hebrews 7:27).

(Hebrews 7:26–27) One final quality in verses 7:26-28 sets Jesus off as superior to the old covenant high priests: he is “holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners” (Hebrews 7:26; see Hebrews 4:15 and 9:14) in contrast to their “weakness” (Hebrews 7:28) and their need to offer sacrifices “first for [their] own sins, and then for the sins of the people” (Hebrews 7:27; compare Hebrews 5:2-3 and Hebrews 9:7). That Jesus is “exalted above the heavens” (Hebrews 7:26) prepares the way for the topic of chapters 9-10: he is the heavenly high priest of a new order. In addition to his complete holiness, in which he is “unlike the other high priests” (Hebrews 7:27), Jesus “does not need to offer sacrifices day after day” (Hebrews 7:27). His single sacrifice is completely effective: “once for all; he offered himself” (verse 27; compare Hebrews 7:23–24). The phrase “once for all” denotes “once for all time, never to be repeated,” not “once for all people.”

Thought for today: Do I continuously present empty offerings?

A Knowledgeable God February 1, 2017

Genesis 18:1-2 (NIV)

18 The Lord appeared to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance to his tentin the heat of the day. 2 Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he hurried from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground.

God’s tender affection for his people is shown by his willingness to reveal himself, often through his spoken word, to his people. It is clear that the people of God were stunned that God would even speak to them. They often stood at a distance, in fear and awe, at the revelation of God to his people (Ex 20:21). These appearances in the Old Testament find perfect fulfillment in the incarnation of Jesus Christ. In his birth, Jesus willingly laid aside the glories of heaven to take the form of a servant in order to make a way for sinful people to come to the Father (Php 2:1–11). In his deity, Jesus demonstrated and declared to the world the nature and character of God in a way that allowed humanity to see not only a temporary glimpse of his glory but the exact imprint of God’s glory in a permanent, ongoing fashion (Heb 1:3). Jesus made himself known so that fallen men and women can know God.

Jesus, thank you for giving me a glimpse of God’s glory. Thank you for showing me who he is and for gifting me with a way to know him intimately. Amen.

Thought for today: Am I hospitable ?