Respect Reminder

Respect Reminder

1 Peter 3: ⁷ In the same way you husbands must live with your wives with the proper understanding that they are more delicate than you. Treat them with respect, because they also will receive, together with you, God's gift of life. Do this so that nothing will interfere with your prayers.

 

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Name calling was my new found humor. I was able to tear down people by weaving a tapestry of insults together. But when I got married, I realized that maybe I needed to stop this.

 

• I found out there were many ways I could disrespect my wife.
• I had to consider that GOD was looking at what I said and did.
• I did not know that the answer to my prayers were based on my conduct.

 

Peter turns his advice to the husband. His advice was to use “respect” and “understanding” in order to have harmony, which leads to prayers being heard.

 

My Observations:

• GOD wants me to use “understanding” to gain harmony.
• GOD wants me to use “respect” to gain HIS gift of life.
• GOD wants me to consider why my prayers may be hindered and make adjustments.

 

Arguments and disagreements happen in marriage. I mean, two people who come together with unresolved baggage will run into disagreements. BUT GOD desires understanding and respect to come to resolution.

 

HE listens to me more when I can demonstrate understanding and respect. The goal is for all to have GOD’s gift of life by revering HIM. I gladly trade in my insults for a controlled tongue.

 

Challenge

• Why does the writer discuss “understanding “ and “respect?”
• Have you ever felt a person deserves to be disrespected?
• Will you consider using “understanding” and “respect” to gain GOD’s ear today?

It Has To Make Sense

It Has To Make Sense

Hebrews 11: ¹⁷ It was faith that made Abraham offer his son Isaac as a sacrifice when God put Abraham to the test. Abraham was the one to whom God had made the promise, yet he was ready to offer his only son as a sacrifice. ¹⁸ God had said to him, “It is through Isaac that you will have the descendants I promised.” ¹⁹ Abraham reckoned that God was able to raise Isaac from death—and, so to speak, Abraham did receive Isaac back from death.

 

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“Try praying more” someone told me. Another person said “Try fasting.” Yet another person said “Have you confessed any sin you did?” I was facing a difficult situation and well meaning people were trying to give e advice. None of their advice made sense to me at the time.

 

• I did not know what GOD was doing and I wrestled with going through pain.
• I had people trying to help me make sense out of a painful situation, but quick remedies did not make sense.
• I had to reason out what GOD was doing and when I did, I was able to place my faith in HIM.

 

Paul, the assumed writer, was truly impressed by Abraham’s faith. He provides another example of his faith. Abraham did not know what GOD was going to do. He was told by GOD to sacrifice his son. Abraham reasoned through the atrocity by believing GOD was powerful enough to raise Isaac from the dead. His reasoning brought on faith.

 

My Observations:

• My faith in GOD needs the illogical to become logical to me.
• In order for me to place my faith in GOD, it has to make sense to me.
• Even the things that seem out of the ordinary have to make senses to me in my heart.

 

Let’s face it, there are quite a few stories that seem unimaginable in the Bible. I mean, dead people getting raised, sick people being healed and murderers being converted to missionaries, seem a bit farfetched.  BUT GOD opens my eyes to HIS power and theses examples make sense.

 

HE shows us HIS love for us through many examples and HE let’s me know HE still can do the same for me. I can then put my faith in the unknown, more and more. I can look back at all the examples and relate them to my own. GOD helps me make sense out of today by providing HIS deliverance yesterday. I am glad HE wants me to see HIS power in action.

 

Challenge

• Why do you think the writer chose this example?
• Is there a circumstance that you are going through that seems difficult?
• Will you ask GOD questions and seek answers from the Bible so you can be guided in knowledge to strengthen your faith today?

Ambition

Ambition

Colossians 1: ⁹ For this reason we have always prayed for you, ever since we heard about you. We ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will, with all the wisdom and understanding that his Spirit gives. ¹⁰ Then you will be able to live as the Lord wants and will always do what pleases him. Your lives will produce all kinds of good deeds, and you will grow in your knowledge of God.

 

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After a taste of “success” I wanted more. I figured I could “help” more people if I obtained a certain title. I worked day and night climbing the ladder of “success.” While I was working, I was too busy to help those who I intended to help.

 

• I was blinded by ambition.
• I thought the title was more important than my actions.
• I believed I knew what could help people.

 

Paul indirectly addressed the human will. He knew humans could be blinded by the world’s ambitions, justifying selfish actions along the way. There was only one way to please GOD, namely be filled.

 

My Observations

• Knowledge of GOD is important for me to seek.
• Wisdom from GOD helps me with discernment.
• Understanding from GOD provides me with better actions to help me grow.

 

Ambition is a very deceptive foe. I mean, on the surface it looks quite innocent and the world loves an ambitious hero. BUT GOD’s will speaks softly and will not compete with the human will. HE, unfortunately, allows us to try to reach our desires, which HE knows can take us off HIS path.

 

BUT GOD is forgiving and wants us to succeed. When I empty myself and allow HIM to “fill” me up, I can please HIM through HIS wisdom, knowledge and understanding. I am glad GOD enables me to produce HIS fruit.

 

Challenge

• What good deeds is the writer speaking of?
• What does “growth in GOD” look like?
• Will you seek GOD’s will so HE can give you wisdom, knowledge and understanding to do “good deeds” that are pleasing to HIM today?

Complete Understanding

Complete Understanding

2 Corinthians 1: ¹² We are proud that our conscience assures us that our lives in this world, and especially our relations with you, have been ruled by God-given frankness and sincerity, by the power of God's grace and not by human wisdom. ^13-14 We write to you only what you can read and understand. But even though you now understand us only in part, I hope that you will come to understand us completely, so that in the Day of our Lord Jesus you can be as proud of us as we shall be of you.

 

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When I become a parent, I will correct the list of complaints I had against my parents. But then I became one and got “complete understanding.” When I am the boss I will change how things are done. But I became one and things did not go as I thought. But now I had “complete understanding.” Running a business will be easy is what I said until I ran one and it wasn’t so easy. But now I had complete understanding.

 

Paul send his letter with a caveat. He did not include some of the stuff that would be hard to understand. Luke wrote about Paul being bit by a venomous snake and remaining alive. Paul did not write this about himself and did not include many other miracles he witnessed or performed. He knew his focus was not to point to himself, but JESUS.

 

My Observations

• GOD wants me to be ruled by HIS holiness.
• GOD wants me to be as sincere as I can when I speak about HIM.
• GOD wants me to know I will not have “complete understanding” until HE transforms me to HIS true creation.

 

Confusion seems to be the norm during this life. I mean, when one person says “the truth”, another comes along to refute what was said. Human brawls increase rips in families, neighborhoods and communities. Disunity increases. Slander undermines the ability to help.

 

BUT GOD completely understands and has given us only a tiny revelation of HIMSELF. JESUS spent a little time being human and was tempted in every way a human could be tempted. HE died and was raised from the dead. HE has all authority. I am glad HE has complete understanding and wants to share it with me.

 

Challenge

• Has anyone ever questioned how and what you do without having complete understanding?
• Have you ever questioned GOD or complained about HIS plan for your life?
• Will you step back from the current situation and know GOD has complete understanding over your situation and has already added HIS love to it just for you?

Searching But Not Finding

 

Searching But Not Finding

Acts 28: ²³ They arranged to meet Paul on a certain day, and came in even larger numbers to the place where he was staying. He witnessed to them from morning till evening, explaining about the kingdom of God, and from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets he tried to persuade them about Jesus. ²⁴ Some were convinced by what he said, but others would not believe. ²⁵ They disagreed among themselves and began to leave after Paul had made this final statement: “The Holy Spirit spoke the truth to your ancestors when he said through Isaiah the prophet:

 

²⁶ “‘Go to this people and say,
“You will be ever hearing but never understanding;
    you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.”
²⁷ For this people’s heart has become calloused;
    they hardly hear with their ears,
    and they have closed their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
    hear with their ears,
    understand with their hearts
and turn, and I would heal them.

 

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Angrily, I stormed off from “those” people. They said the wrong thing again. When I got to the next group, I was okay for a while, but that group started acting the same as the other group. I got angry and stormed off from “those” people. When I got to the third group I said. “I will stay here no matter what.” This group seemed to act different.

 

• There were times when I was searching for problems and found them.
• There were times when I was searching for what is wrong and found it.
• There were times when I was searching for peace but could not find it because I found problems and only could see what was wrong.

 

The church leaders decided to meet with Paul and brought a large number with them. Some were looking for answers and others were looking for an argument. Both groups found what they were looking for, but one group did not get what they wanted. They overlooked the answer that would bring them peace.

 

• GOD says to me “See ME with your eyes.”
• GOD says to me “Hear ME with your ears.”
• GOD says to me “Understand ME with your heart.”

 

When I look for problems with other people, I don’t have to look very long. I mean their flaws jump out immediately. BUT GOD looks at the person differently. HE sees a creation HE made and said “Well done.” When I look at that person through sin filled, hurt eyes, I can search for something I want to see, but will not find it.

 

But when I ask GOD to heal my eyes, I can see what HE sees in “that” person. When I ask GOD to truly speak to me, I can hear the comfort HE wants me to give to “those” people. And when I ask GOD to change “me” I can understand with my heart what I must do. I am grateful GOD gives me another chance to be healed by HIM.

 

• What are you searching for in someone but not finding?
• Are you ready to leave a group because “they” are not acting right?
• Will you ask GOD to open your eyes, ears and heart to HIM so HE can heal you without expecting “them” to change?

Not Understanding It

Not Understanding It

John 13: ⁶ Then He came to Simon Peter. And Peter said to Him, “Lord, are You washing my feet?”

⁷ Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this.”

⁸ Peter said to Him, “You shall never wash my feet!”

Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.”

⁹ Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!”

¹⁰ Jesus said to him, “He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.” ¹¹ For He knew who would betray Him; therefore He said, “You are not all clean.”

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Finally I ran into a group of leaders I appreciated being around. When an opportunity for advancement came open, I scheduled a meeting to ask for the position. It had nothing to do with my skills or accomplishments, I just wanted to be with that group. “Don’t worry” they said to me. “We have something for you too.” What were they talking about? I pondered.

• There were times when I did not understand my benefactors.
• There were times when I did not understand when people had good plans for me.
• There were times when I was suspicious of allowing someone else to look out for me, so I had to look out for “myself.”

Peter, not understanding what JESUS was doing, tried to stop HIM from washing his feet. JESUS tried to tell Peter that he would understand later. Peter went further in his misunderstanding by telling JESUS to wash his entire body. Peter had great intentions.

• GOD understands that I will misunderstand HIM.
• GOD understands that I will think I know what HE is doing, but I will be grossly wrong.
• GOD understands that I will try hard to please HIM, even though HE is already extremely pleased with me.

JESUS needed to serve humans so we could see a real example. I mean, GOD lowered HIMSELF to the point of washing grime and stench off of our feet. I believe HE was telling us that we may step in sin but our feet can be cleaned. But there was one who’s heart was not clean, therefore foot washing would have no effect.

GOD wants my heart. HE can cleanse me of all unrighteousness as long as I give HIM my desires. I am grateful HE can clean me up when I sin.

• Do you want to be clean?
• Do you want to be with GOD in HIS quest to save humanity?
• Will you allow HIM to clean you up the way HE wants to so you can serve many people?

What to Ask For

Matthew 7: ⁷ “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. ⁸ For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

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New to this “asking” thing, I prayed “Please, please let me win the lottery!” I was sincere and I thought my motives were right because I just wanted to “quickly” help those around me who were in debt, me included. I purchased a ticket and watched zealously. Strangely each number on my ticket was off by exactly one or two. What are the odds?

• There have been many times I asked for the wrong things.
• There have been many times I sought after things that were not good for me.
• There have been many times I knocked on the door that would have led me to my destruction.

Asking, seeking and knocking are powerful, yet dangerous abilities. Sometimes I ask to get into trouble and GOD allows me to do it abundantly, then when I ask to get out of the trial, it seems like HE leaves me there long enough for me to wish I never had asked! What can I ask for?

• GOD wants me to ask for wisdom, knowledge and understanding in order to grow HIS kingdom.
• GOD wants me to seek first HIS kingdom so HE can draw all who seek HIM back to HIM.
• GOD wants me to knock on the hearts of those who have turned their backs on HIM.

Asking for “that” person to be successful or better yet, saved, is what I find being aligned with what GOD wants. If money is required, then I truly have to check my motives to ensure the “ask” is not rooted in all kinds of evil. GOD also wants me to seek out those who are lost. HE then wants me to press on their heart by knocking on the door of their soul.

GOD also knows my needs. HE has granted me stuff, jobs and relationships. HE even showed me the location of my lost keys. HE allows me to ask for anything, but the more I ask for things that align with what HE wants, the more my prayers are answered with “Yes, of course!”

• Are you asking for something GOD does not want you to have?
• When is the last time you asked for something that would enable a person to seek GOD?
• Are you seeking GOD’s kingdom?
• Will you allow GOD to show you how to knock on someone’s heart to accept JESUS as their Savior?