Be all in for Christ!!!

Prophecy - New Testament
S - Scripture
Revelation  3 v. 16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of my mouth. 

O - Observation
In or Out. Its decision time. Jesus says in Matthew 12 v. 30, "He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters." You need to be all in. You can't be a partial Christian and do your church thing for an hour a week and then live the remaining time of the week pursing worldly passions. James 4 v. 4, "Do you no know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God." Its not easy. The world is alluring and initially much simpler. Jesus recognizes this in Matthew 16 v. 24, "If anyone would come after me he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." The reward for being hot for Jesus is Great. Revelation 2 v. 10b, "Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life."
 
A - Application
So....Am I all in? Am I hot for God?

P - Prayer
Jesus, Let all I say, think and act be for you and your glory.  Love Will

Photo by Wren Meinberg on Unsplash

Show yor love!

Wisdom - New Testament
S - Scripture
1 John  3 v. 16  By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

O - Observation
Love is sacrifice. What a great role model, example, the real deal Jesus is. Romans 5 v. 8, "But God shows his love for us in that while we were sinners Christ died for us." Jesus left the comforts of Godhood not only physically, but also emotionally, when on the cross he cried out, My God, My God. Why have you forsaken me? Total sacrifice. Total love. How are we to follow? Lay down our lives? Not necessarily physically dying for someone, but give up self for them. 1 John 3 v. 17, "But anyone who has the worlds good and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him?" Today's world, Today's economy give us plenty of opportunity to love. So.... Lets do it!!!

A - Application
Am I displaying Love? Who am I sacrificing for?

P - Prayer
Jesus, Give me the strength, endurance, encouragement and will to love sacrificially.  Love Will

Image by bess.hamiti@gmail.com from Pixabay 

Keep God's word Pure

Wisdom - New Testament

S - Scripture
2 Peter  3 v. 16  Speaking of this as he does in all his letters. There are some things in them hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other scriptures.

O - Observation
Keep Gods word pure. All of it. Some of God's words make sense at face value, some of God's word truly needs to be meditated on for God's logic, guidance and love to come through. Peter gives us advice on how to approach God's word in 1 Peter 2 v. 3, "Like newborn babies long for the spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up to salvation." Keeping God's word pure produces great reward. Today's world is polluting God's word. Christian churches approving  the homosexual lifestyle. People kill and bomb abortion clinic's in God's name.  People use selective verse from the bible to drive their destructive agendas: Manson, various hate groups.

A - Application
Am I accepting and drinking God's word as pure spiritual milk?

P - Prayer
Jesus, Help me to keep your word pure and to pour the spiritual milk for everybody.  Love Will

Photo by Kim Gorga on Unsplash

One Mediator

 Guest Blog by Gary Riedel

S - SCRIPTURE: 1 Timothy 1:5 For there is one God and one MEDIATOR between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all people.

O - OBSERVATION: This a profound and beautiful passage from the Apostle Paul to his brother in the faith, whom he calls his true son because of his young age and faithfulness. Paul charged Timothy with overseeing the church at Ephesus, so as we began the study of the book of Ephesians last Sunday, this truth in verse 5 becomes both timely and always relevant.

A - APPLICATION: When the curtain in the temple tore in Mark 15:38, in symbolized that the separation between God and man because of sin was now over. We could bring our petitions directly to God for the full atonement of Jesus the Lamb of God was sufficient for all sin. But, Jesus is still at work in heaven interceding for us. That is, He is our mediator, our “go between" the One who pleads our case when we bring our petitions before the Heavenly Father. There is no Mediator between God and us other than the man Christ Jesus!!

P - PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Jesus as our Mediator! My simple prayer today is that all men be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth 1Tim 2:4 and as His people we would know He is in heaven interceding and mediating for each one of His people.
In Jesus Name, Amen

Photo by Tim Wildsmith on Unsplash

Learn to pray for your enemies

Wisdom - New Testament

S - Scripture
1 Peter 3 v. 16  and keep your conscience clear, so that, when you are abused, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. 

O - Observation
Turn the other cheek. If you live your life for Jesus, especially in today's rapidly deteriorating culture, you will take some abuse. Today's verse is instruction how to handle this type of abuse. In this case, don't let anger, resentment or hatred seep into your hearts when your accusers, enemies attack or make fun of you. Instead, do as Jesus commands in Matthew 5 v. 44, "But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." The mindset is way different than what the world would have us take. The difference is, we already know the outcome. 1 John 5 v. 4a, "For whatever is born of God overcomes the world."
 

A - Application
Do I live knowing that God has overcome the world? Do I pray for my enemies?

P - Prayer
Jesus, Give me the strength and courage to love my enemies.  Love Will

Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

Know where to set your focus!!!

Wisdom - New Testament

S - Scripture
James 3 v. 16  For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.

O - Observation
Pride is a killer. Not only for you but those around you. Think about America's corporate culture, the leaders of these companies. They position themselves above the good of the people. But yet they destroy so many lives. We've had to bank role banks and auto manufacturers. Enron. Why? Pride begets power. And Power is driven by money. After all, "He who dies with the most toys win." Right??? Money in itself is not bad, its the selfish ambition towards it that is the danger. 1 Timothy 6 v. 10a, "For the LOVE of money is the root of all evils." Since money fuels power and power inflates self, you could rephrase the 1st Timothy verse to say, "For the love of SELF is the root of all evils." Pride is the #1 item on the list of things God hates. See Proverbs 5 v. 16-17.
 
A - Application
What is my focus? What is my ambition? Is it for myself or for God?

P - Prayer
Jesus, Help me to have and pursue your ambitions and not mine.  Love Will

Image by 0fjd125gk87 from Pixabay

Faith is a lifetime journey

Wisdom - New Testament
S - Scripture
Hebrews   3 v. 16 Who were they that heard and where rebellious? Was it not all those who left Egypt under the Leadership of Moses?

O - Observation
Faith is NOT a one time event. We need to be able to keep our faith, our focus, especially after a mountain top experience. We need to have the same vigor and passion for our Lord Jesus when times are not easy, or obvious. Think about the history mentioned in this verse. What would you do if you lived thru watching the Plagues devastate Egypt, but not you?  Watched and experienced the Red Sea parting? Would you have joined them, when things didn't go there way? Would you have created a golden calf to worship vs. worshiping the actual God that did those miracles? Hebrews 3 v. 12-13, "Take care brethren, lest there be in any of you and evil and unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the Living God. But exhort one another everyday, as long as it is called "today" that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin."

A - Application
Am I allowing my faith to waiver? Am I letting my friends and brothers faith waiver?

P - Prayer
Jesus, Help me to stay steadfast to you my entire life.  Love Will

Photo by Alex Shute on Unsplash