Expected to be Corrected

Expected to be Corrected

Hebrews 12: ³ Think of what he went through; how he put up with so much hatred from sinners! So do not let yourselves become discouraged and give up. ⁴ For in your struggle against sin you have not yet had to resist to the point of being killed. ⁵ Have you forgotten the encouraging words which God speaks to you as his children?

 

“My child, pay attention when the Lord corrects you,
    and do not be discouraged when he rebukes you.
⁶ Because the Lord corrects everyone he loves,
    and punishes everyone he accepts as a child.”

 

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Hearing “No” as the final answer, I dreamed of ways to sneak out of the house. “Maybe I can leave out the back door while everyone was sleeping.” I thought to myself. But for some reason. Everyone stayed awake this particular night. My plans failed. Next I actually got the car and drove all over the city. The radiator leaked and I spent all my time and money repairing the car. “I can’t catch a break!”

 

• I was trying to be sneaky and my plans failed.
• I was trying to do something I was told not to do, yet I did it anyway.
• I was trying to get my way but “something” kept me from doing wrong.

 

Paul, the assumed writer, talks about a difficult subject, namely sin. He addresses the “struggle” all humans face. He reminds everyone that GOD will correct HIS children through punishment that is meant to be a guide back to the right path.

 

My Observations:

• GOD knows there is a part of me that does not like HIS way, BUT HE gently corrects me to follow HIM.
• GOD sees when I do not want to be like HIM or follow HIM, AND HE corrects me when I rebel against HIM.
• GOD says to me “You are now in MY family so some of the things you do act against what I am trying to do.”

 

I can tell that GOD is speaking to me when I hear something I am supposed to do that would benefit HIS kingdom, yet I do not want to do it. I mean, when “that” person makes me mad and GOD says “reconcile even though it’s not your fault” I don’t want to do it. When I get punished for not reconciling, I question GOD.

 

HE then replies, “Because you are MINE and I expect you to act like you are in MY family.” GOD does not sin, is full of grace and tries to reach all people, not matter how horrible he or she is. GOD wants me to be filled with grace and sometimes HE uses mild punishment that does not kill me, to correct me. I reluctantly welcome GOD’s correction and I am glad when I get back on HIS path.

 

Challenge

• What children is the writer talking about?
• Have you ever been corrected and been thankful for HIS correction?
• Will you accept GOD’s correction with encouragement, knowing HE loves you and wants you to grow in HIS truth and grace today?

Good Fruit

Good Fruit

Galatians 5: ²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. ²⁴ And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

 

²⁵ If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. ²⁶ Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

 

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Continuing on my thought of going to college, bearing the fruit of human nature and getting kicked out, I felt lost, let down and angry. I started thinking of excuses like “Nice guys finish last” and “They are simply trying to control people into being slaves.” I began searching for racial freedom and other forms of freedom, but I remained thirsty. Tired of “my” efforts I asked “What do YOU want from me?”

 

• I was losing hope but ready to hear GOD.
• I was always angry or frustrated but was now ready to surrender to GOD.
• I felt like people were letting “me” down but realized “I” could be part of the solution with GOD.

 

“But the fruit of the SPIRIT” are words that provide hope to everyone Paul wrote to. It takes pressure off of trying to be perfect by performing the Law correctly. One singular fruit is produced by nine wonderful actions.

 

My Observations

• Good fruit gives me rest assurance that GOD loves me dearly.
• The HOLY SPIRIT is responsible for guiding me to bear good fruit.
• I can rest well when I put aside my human nature and follow what the HOLY SPIRIT says.

 

Keeping “in step with the SPIRIT” is hard but doable. I mean, when I want things to go “my” way I usually want to speed the process up. When it does not happen as quickly as I would like, I lose patience and bear bad fruit.

 

BUT THE HOLY SPIRIT steps in and says, “Use patience” when I want to go fast or “Use joy” when I want to be happy but things are going wrong. All nine actions bear a single fruit which draws people back to GOD. I am grateful GOD gave me an alternative to “my” actions.

 

Challenge

• What part of the fruit could you use today?
• Do you have a problem with this list if people showed these actions towards you?
• Will you slow down and show these actions towards others without thinking you will get something in return?

Bear Letters

Bear Letters

2 Corinthians 3: Does this sound as if we were again boasting about ourselves? Could it be that, like some other people, we need letters of recommendation to you or from you? ² You yourselves are the letter we have, written on our hearts for everyone to know and read. ³ It is clear that Christ himself wrote this letter and sent it by us. It is written, not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, and not on stone tablets but on human hearts.

 

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“Are they still talking?” I said with frustration. My father and a friend’s father seemed to be record holders for talking after church. As we sat in the car, bored, the conversation droned on and on. That “guy” ended up being a mentor to me.

 

• He guided me to GOD outside of what my parents taught.
• He spoke gently about CHRIST so I could understand.
• He let me be my own person so I could carry JESUS in my own way.

 

Paul spoke highly of the people he wrote to. He saw their obvious fruit in how they carried the message of JESUS. Each person had become a living “recommendation letter” written by the SPIRIT of GOD. They were building a collection of letters.

 

My Observations

• My heart has to be open to spreading the word of GOD.
• My actions are not mine but are examples of many people who poured GOD into me.
• My faith has been built by many people who took time to show me how JESUS wants me to act.

 

Bearing letters is the same as bearing fruit but with a slight difference. I mean, fruit may be something I do, never expecting something in return, or not seeing the fruit tree grow in another person. Bearing letters is taking the time to grow people to grow others. In both instances, I am not the benefactor, but CHRIST is.

 

Bearing letters is important to GOD. HE wants the right amount of encouragement, mixed in with patience, mixed in with a tiny dose of correction. The right mix will have someone follow JESUS for themselves and desire to have others do the same. I am glad GOD put many people in my life to guide me to speak about HIM.

 

Challenge

• Can you hear the words of excitement from the writer?
• What words of encouragement have you heard that makes you excited about JESUS?
• Do you have any words of encouragement for someone so they can bear their own fruit for GOD today?

Detoured

 

Detoured

Acts 28: ¹¹ After three months we put out to sea in a ship that had wintered in the island—it was an Alexandrian ship with the figurehead of the twin gods Castor and Pollux. ¹² We put in at Syracuse and stayed there three days. ¹³ From there we set sail and arrived at Rhegium. The next day the south wind came up, and on the following day we reached Puteoli. ¹⁴ There we found some brothers and sisters who invited us to spend a week with them. And so we came to Rome. ¹⁵ The brothers and sisters there had heard that we were coming, and they traveled as far as the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns to meet us. At the sight of these people Paul thanked God and was encouraged. ¹⁶ When we got to Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, with a soldier to guard him.

 

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Traffic was thick and I wanted to get home. I couldn’t take the stop and go moments any longer. I exited the jammed up road to take my chances on the side streets. I decided to forego making dinner so I stopped to pick up something to eat for the family. There was a homeless person outside of the restaurant. I gave to him.

 

• There have been times when I had a destination in mind, but was detoured.
• There have been times when I had a plan in mind but the plan did not go as expected.
• There have been times when I had a solid expectation in mind, but got a different opportunity.

 

Paul was led to go to Jerusalem to speak about JESUS. He knew he would face opposition from the church leaders, yet he went anyway. After being mobbed, thrown in jail, shipwrecked and detoured to strange places, Paul finally arrives in Rome. Along the way Paul told people about JESUS and showed HIS power.

 

• GOD wants me to accept HIS detours in life.
• GOD wants me to understand that my expectations may be holding me back from see how amazing HE is.
• GOD wants me to be excited about a new fruitful road of life rather than being stuck on the fruitless road of trying to control my fears.

 

Expect detours when serving GOD is what I have learned. I mean, nothing will go as expected in life. When one thing calms down another trial pops up. GOD wants me to see that I can have peace in the middle of life’s journey. HE leads me to places I would not expect and protects me along the way. I am grateful for HIS detours.

 

• Do you have a destination in life that seems to have taken a detour?
• Are there new people in your life that need to hear about GOD?
• Will you accept GOD’s detour by dropping your expectation and allow HIM to guide you to a better place than you anticipated?

Wanting To Be Angry

Wanting To Be Angry

Acts 19: ³² The assembly was in confusion: Some were shouting one thing, some another. Most of the people did not even know why they were there. ³³ The Jews in the crowd pushed Alexander to the front, and they shouted instructions to him. He motioned for silence in order to make a defense before the people. ³⁴ But when they realized he was a Jew, they all shouted in unison for about two hours: “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”

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“Why is it so dismal today?” I asked. “Why is traffic so heavy today?” I asked. “Why is that guy driving so stupid?” I asked. “Why don’t they just open up some lines at this grocery store?” I asked. Each complaint was met with silence because I was by myself. If someone looked at me the wrong way, I was ready to fight.

• There were times when I wanted to be angry.
• There were times when I wanted to complain about everything.
• There were times when I wanted to be in a bad mood; even if an issue was remedied, I may have complained about how it was handled.

Many people in the angry mob didn’t even know why they were there. They just wanted to be angry and went along with the crowd. When Alexander, a Jew, tried to settle things down, the crowd saw through the ploy and shouted their allegiance to the goddess Artemis.

• GOD wants me to have peace.
• GOD wants me to investigate my rage and anger.
• GOD wants me to trade my anger in for love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control, namely the fruit of the Spirit.

Rage and anger bears no fruit. It does get someone’s attention, but should not be the method of change. GOD says “Bear fruit.” What better fruit to bear than that of the fruit of the Spirit. Many sinful situations need to be resolved in society. All situations can be resolved using the fruit of the Spirit. I am grateful JESUS used the fruit of the Spirit to save me.

• What are you angry about?
• Do you quickly get angry and stay there without remedy?
• Will you remediate your rage by applying the fruit of the Spirit today?

More to Life

More to Life

John 15: ¹⁶ You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. ¹⁷ These things I command you, that you love one another.

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After working twelve hours that day, I took a break for dinner. I had a lot to do so I stayed overnight. I kept working until everyone arrived again the next day. I worked all that day as well. We did not land the account.

• There were times when I felt like saying “What is the purpose of life?”
• There were times when I was too busy to do anything else but work.
• There were times when I worked until I was exhausted so I rested, only to do it again.

JESUS explains to the disciples that they were chosen for a purpose. HE wants those who follow HIM to bear fruit. This fruit is not temporary, but permanent. JESUS equipped them before they went.

• JESUS equips me with the purpose of seeking those HE wants to save.
• JESUS equips me with the ability to ask the FATHER to clear any barrier that impedes bearing HIS fruit.
• JESUS equips me with love for one another as the primary weapon for bearing fruit.

There is more to life than getting stuff or fighting over getting more money to get stuff. JESUS says “Bear fruit” and that is it. Bearing fruit doesn’t have to be hard, it simply has to be done. Some places have complicated the message, guilting people into false fruit. BUT JESUS wants true fruit that lasts.

JESUS wants me to love those HE sends to me or sends me to. This will make tangible fruit that is unseen to the world but is permanent to GOD. It is not out of obligation that I bear fruit, it is because HE chose me and loved me first.

• Are you exhausted?
• Do you think bearing fruit requires hard work in some program or giving every last dime that you are worried about?
• Will you take GOD’s easy yoke and allow HIM to guide you to true and permanent fruit that only you can bear?

Alive

Alive

John 15: “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. ² Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. ³ You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. ⁴ Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.

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Driving around the city, instead of riding the bus, made me feel alive. I was free to leave at any time instead of being stuck on a schedule. After a while though, I did not feel as alive. I barely had enough money to pay for gas. Some liquid always needed replenishing. To top it off… it would not start sometimes and I would be late. When the car died, so did I, or at least I felt that way.

• Moments of my life made me feel alive.
• Moments of my life made me feel like nothing could stop me.
• Moments of my life made me feel free to do anything I wanted.

JESUS says “I AM the true vine.” The vine is something that is alive and can bear fruit. Since JESUS “is” the true vine, all of HIS messages enable me to bear fruit. But what about my desires to be free to do anything I want? JESUS has a solution.

• JESUS wants me to believe in HIS word so I will be free indeed.
• JESUS wants me to live for HIS purpose so I will not be chained to temporary things that die.
• JESUS wants me to put all things in HIM so I can truly be alive.

Desire to live can make me die. I mean if I examine my life based upon what the world says “alive” should be, I would be sad, exhausted and unwanted. Utopia cannot be achieved by human standards. BUT GOD enables me to truly be alive.

HE gives me purpose, drive, determination and love that never fails. HE and HE alone is the truth in which I can place my trust. Human kingdoms come and go, BUT GOD’s kingdom will last forever! I am alive eternally because of JESUS.

• Are you dead or alive?
• Do you feel you are living a life of purpose?
• Will you turn to JESUS so HE can guide you to bear fruit, even through troubles, today?

No Pat on the Back

Luke 17: ⁵ And the apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.”

⁶ So the Lord said, “If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you. ⁷ And which of you, having a servant plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and sit down to eat’? ⁸ But will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare something for my supper, and gird yourself and serve me till I have eaten and drunk, and afterward you will eat and drink’? ⁹ Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I think not. ¹⁰ So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.’ ”

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Looking at the article that went around about someone, who gave a lot of money to a church, sparked an idea. I would do the same. When I gave the same sum I placed my hand to my ear but heard no accolades. “What about the service I did on this particular day?” I said to the LORD. I mean, shouldn’t I be better off for doing stuff for GOD?

• There were times when I thought doing stuff for GOD was a measure of my faith.
• There were times when I thought I could “move up” in the corporation of GOD.
• There were times when I thought I could get “closer” to GOD by working really hard at it.

JESUS explains what it means to have faith. True faith can not only do the impossible with full belief, but it also means following GOD without needing to see what or how HE is doing things.

• GOD wants me to serve HIM with the attitude of “I am only doing what HE made me for.”
• GOD wants me to live my life with HIS purpose rather than expecting my service to promote me in HIS kingdom.
• GOD wants me to not think I can manipulate HIM into giving me more by being ”good.”

Faith is also knowing that GOD expects me to serve others just as HE, the Most High, serves me. When I doubt HIS love, I am not showing the faith HE deserves. HE simply wants me to believe in HIS plan, and tell people about HIS SON every moment I can. GOD increases my faith by giving me opportunities to explain HIS love daily.

• Do you want more faith?
• Do you think you deserve more from GOD?
• Will you seek the lost for GOD without expecting anything from HIM right now?
• When GOD does give you what you ask HIM for, will you believe it only came because of HIS love and not what you did?

Patient to a Point

Luke 13: ⁶ He also spoke this parable: “A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. ⁷ Then he said to the keeper of his vineyard, ‘Look, for three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree and find none. Cut it down; why does it use up the ground?’ ⁸ But he answered and said to him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it. ⁹ And if it bears fruit, well. But if not, after that you can cut it down.’ ”

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“Get rid of that person” were the words I feared as I stumbled to find my way on my first job. I did not know how complicated everything was and my direct boss was definitely of no assistance. His boss, however, was patient with me and decided to give me a little space to “study” my way into the position.

• There were times when I patient people watching over me.
• There were times when I was the one who was messing up but someone gave me grace.
• There were times when I had no direction so I needed an extra dose of forgiveness.

JESUS tells the parable of the barren fig tree. He explains the expectation of the tree is to bear fruit. If the tree does not bear fruit then it should be cut down. HE then takes a turn in the story by saying, the gardener begged to show the fruitless tree some mercy but to a point.

• The HOLY SPIRIT begs for forgiveness daily on my behalf.
• The HOLY SPIRIT has patience with me and shows me mercy daily.
• The HOLY SPIRIT wants me to bear fruit and shows me the way to true life.

GOD wants me to be successful and the HOLY SPIRIT cares for me. BUT GOD has an expectation that at some point I bear fruit. If my world only consists of “me” then I will not bear the fruit GOD expects. HE provides fertile ground and brings many people to me in expectation that I speak about the HOLY ONE, who is the CHRIST.

My silence equals barren fruit and while GOD is patient, HE could someday say “enough.” HE holds death in HIS hands and once HE provides it, there is no return. I am glad GOD has patience with me.

• Do you feel you are messing up?
• Do you feel lost and without direction?
• Can you believe GOD has patience with you and wants you to succeed?
• Will you ask GOD how HE wants you to bear fruit for HIM today in spite of your situation?

Patient Fruit

Luke 8: ⁹ Then His disciples asked Him, saying, “What does this parable mean?”

¹⁰ And He said, “To you it has been given to know the ^[f]mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is given in parables, that

‘Seeing they may not see,
And hearing they may not understand.’

¹¹ “Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. ¹² Those by the wayside are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.¹³ But the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away. ¹⁴ Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity. ¹⁵ But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience.

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“When will I ever be respected?” I said frustrated. I mean every word I said seemed to be stolen by someone in the room and credited to them. I decided I had enough. “I quit” was my solution to the situation. My patience had grown thin.

• Sometimes I want what I want, when I want it.
• Sometimes I get frustrated by circumstances out of my control.
• Sometimes I lose my patience for things going on around me.

JESUS explains the parable of the sower. HE sums up all of life in a few brief sentences. HE basically says that life will have temptations, interruptions, difficulties OR fruit. It is my choice.

• GOD says to me “Bear fruit with patience.”
• GOD says to me “Hear MY word and place it in your heart.”
• GOD says to me “Ask me for a noble and good heart.”

My selfish heart has more statements that revolve around me. The more I’m focused on me the more life can beat me up. GOD wants me to see more than me. HE wants to remove my blindness so I won’t fall into life’s holes so easily. HE gives me patience to not only endure trials, but to accept grace HE has for me and those who are disgusted with me. HE loves my fruit.

• Are you bearing GOD’s fruit?
• Are you so focused on yourself that no one else matters?
• Can you have patience through trials and with “that” person today?

Pressure to Deny

Mark 14: ⁶⁶ Now as Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came. ⁶⁷ And when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked at him and said, “You also were with Jesus of Nazareth.”

⁶⁸ But he denied it, saying, “I neither know nor understand what you are saying.” And he went out on the porch, and a rooster crowed.

⁶⁹ And the servant girl saw him again, and began to say to those who stood by, “This is one of them.” ⁷⁰ But he denied it again.

And a little later those who stood by said to Peter again, “Surely you are one of them; for you are a Galilean, and your speech shows it.”

⁷¹ Then he began to curse and swear, “I do not know this Man of whom you speak!”

⁷² A second time the rooster crowed. Then Peter called to mind the word that Jesus had said to him, “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.” And when he thought about it, he wept.

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Crash, bang, slam were the noises the heavy sleds made as they tumbled off the shelves. I wanted to see one of them and all of them tumbled down. “Were you in that section of the store” was the question posed to me. “I don’t know” was the best answer I could give. I mean was I in trouble?

• There were times when I did not want to face consequence.
• There were times when I denied the truth so I could get out of trouble.
• There were times when I did not want to admit I was the cause of the trouble.

Peter faced a life or death situation. If He told the truth about being with JESUS, he would be captured, tortured and killed. He did what most would do, try to save himself by lying. Unfortunately, I would have done the same.

• JESUS wants me to mature to the point where I will not deny HIM.
• JESUS wants me to grow up so I will not forsake HIS ways.
• JESUS wants me to understand that following HIM means I will be ridiculed by HIS creation.

There are no front page stories about people who dedicate themselves to CHRIST. Even if there is not a word of judgment spoken, people find ways to look at innocent followers of GOD in a bad light.

I get lumped into political “Christians” simply by not doing what others are doing. If I say “I will never drink again”, people look at me as if I had a drinking problem that must have gotten out of control instead of saying “Wow, you are dedicating yourself to GOD.”  JESUS values what I do for HIM and does not want me to be ashamed of HIM so HE will not be ashamed of me.

• Is society pressuring you to hide your relationship with CHRIST?
• Do you feel pressure to act like everyone else so you will fit in?
• Can you stop trying to fit in and listen to GOD who made you for HIS purpose today?

Expectations

Mark 11: ¹² Now the next day, when they had come out from Bethany, He was hungry. ¹³ And seeing from afar a fig tree having leaves, He went to see if perhaps He would find something on it. When He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. ¹⁴ In response Jesus said to it, “Let no one eat fruit from you ever again.”

And His disciples heard it.

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After the orientation I had to sign a form. Looking back I signed it without reading what was on it. “You must be able to lift stuff and do stuff” is all I remember. Weeks later someone got fired for not performing their duties. There was a meeting before we punched out for the evening restating what we were supposed to be doing.

• Sometimes I am expected to do things.
• Sometimes I am entrusted with things to do.
• Sometimes I am given responsibilities that I need to carry out.

JESUS expected fruit but did not see it. HE cursed the tree and the disciples overheard the conversation between HIM and the tree. JESUS must have had an expectation.

• JESUS expects me to grow at some point.
• JESUS expects me to follow HIM since HE made me for HIS purpose.
• JESUS expects me to not just sit there and draw attention.

This passage is about expectations. Later JESUS will explain what it means, but for now JESUS’s actions were quite shocking. It wasn’t the season for figs so why was there an expectation figs would be there? JESUS could see that the tree from far off with leaves inviting HIM over. I am no botanist but the Maker of the tree expected it to have something and HIS expectations were not met.

• Are you maturing in CHRIST?
• Do you think just attending church is bearing fruit?
• Can you ask GOD to help you bear fruit today?