The Lord is Your Example
The Lord Is Your Example
Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. – Ephesians 5:1,2 How can we be imitators of God? How can we, who are mere mortal, imitate the almighty immortal one? This seems to be a tall order. It would seem that to be imitators of God that we would love as he loves. His love, as demonstrated by Christ is an offering and a sacrifice, a sweet-smelling aroma. Is it possible to love like that? Yes, it is, by his grace. We have the example of countless men and women who have loved like that and have made their life a sacrifice to God for the benefit of the kingdom of God. One writer gives this application: Watch what God does, and then you do it, like children who learn proper behavior from their parents. Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with him and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn’t love in order to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us. Love like that. We can only love the way Christ loved by submitting to his lordship in our life. We can imitate God only when He makes himself alive in us. We can love like Jesus loved, but we must be born of God (born again) to do that. Let us indeed love Him as he loves us and love others as he loves them. Prayer: Father, teach me the secret of imitating you. I know that in my natural ability I cannot do it; I need divine intervention. I want to love as you love and share my life, yes, even give my life for the kingdom. Amen. Message: We can only love the way Christ loved by submitting to his lordship in our life. We can imitate God only when He makes himself alive in us. We can love like Jesus loved, but we must be born of God (born again) to do that. Affirmation: It is not hard to imitate God when it is God living in me. I can love like Jesus loved because it is His love living in me. Reflection: Do some self-examination to discover whether you truly love as Jesus loved. His love drove him to make great sacrifice - what is your love causing you to sacrifice for Him and His kingdom? Sermon On The Mount - Blessed are Those Hungry for God
Blessed are Those Hungry for God
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. – Matthew 5:6 There is a difference between desiring to have the favor of God and desiring God himself. There are many who desire God’s favor, but there are not nearly as many who desire God. We certainly believe in the grace of God and in fact, if it was not for his grace all of us would be doomed. But, there are far too many who seek the grace, or favor, of God only to relieve their anxiety concerning the after-life. They desire God’s favor, but they are not hungry for God. Jesus is addressing people who knew what it was like to be hungry and thirsty. Most of those who followed him were poor and in need of much comfort. They were pursuing him with the hope that something he says will open a door for them and they can find relief. The door to fulfillment Jesus gives them is God himself; those who hunger and thirst for God will be filled with God. It has been my blessing to watch the growth of many people as they progress in their journey of faith. I think of Steve, a drug addict who came to God just to get clean of drugs, but didn’t have the sufficient motivation to stay free of that addiction. Then something changed in him. Instead of seeking to be free from drugs he began to seek God and God alone. Today Steve serves God well and is free from drugs. I remember David who had seen what others were getting when they gave their heart to the Lord and he wanted it too. At first David didn’t know it was God he needed, he just wanted the benefits of faith he saw in the lives of others. Finally he got it; he realized that the only way to get what he wanted was to develop a desire for God that was stronger than anything else. The day David cried out to God from a desperate heart God filled him with grace. Those who are hungry for God will seek God and those who seek God will be filled with God. Prayer: Lord, may my hunger for you continue to push away the desires of this world. May my hunger for you fill me with righteousness as you fill me with your spirit. In Jesus name, amen. Message: Those who are hungry for God will seek God and those who seek God will be filled with God. Affirmation: I am hungry for God; I seek God; God fills me with himself. Now I am becoming more like him. Reflection: Give some thought to what it means to be hungry for God. How does a person know when he is hungry for God? When a person is hungry for God what is he hungry for? If you would like a copy of the devotional, Sermon On The Mount Volume One, just make the request in a comment and we will see that you get your personal copy. There will be no charge to you, it is our ministry gift - so; ask for your copy in the comment section. Blessed Are Those Who Are Hungry For God
Blessed Are Those Who Are Hungry For God
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. – Matthew 5:6 There is a difference between desiring to have the favor of God and desiring God himself. There are many who desire God’s favor, but there are not nearly as many who desire God. We certainly believe in the grace of God and in fact, if it was not for his grace all of us would be doomed. But, there are far too many who seek the grace, or favor, of God only to relieve their anxiety concerning the after-life. They desire God’s favor, but they are not hungry for God. Jesus is addressing people who knew what it was like to be hungry and thirsty. Most of those who followed him were poor and in need of much comfort. They were pursuing him with the hope that something he says will open a door for them and they can find relief. The door to fulfillment Jesus gives them is God himself; those who hunger and thirst for God will be filled with God. It has been my blessing to watch the growth of many people as they progress in their journey of faith. I think of Steve, a drug addict who came to God just to get clean of drugs, but didn’t have the sufficient motivation to stay free of that addiction. Then something changed in him. Instead of seeking to be free from drugs he began to seek God and God alone. Today Steve serves God well and is free from drugs. I remember David who had seen what others were getting when they gave their heart to the Lord and he wanted it too. At first David didn’t know it was God he needed, he just wanted the benefits of faith he saw in the lives of others. Finally he got it; he realized that the only way to get what he wanted was to develop a desire for God that was stronger than anything else. The day David cried out to God from a desperate heart God filled him with grace. Those who are hungry for God will seek God and those who seek God will be filled with God. Prayer: Lord, may my hunger for you continue to push away the desires of this world. May my hunger for you fill me with righteousness as you fill me with your spirit. In Jesus name, amen. Message: Those who are hungry for God will seek God and those who seek God will be filled with God. Affirmation: I am hungry for God; I seek God; God fills me with himself. Now I am becoming more like him. Reflection: Give some thought to what it means to be hungry for God. How does a person know when he is hungry for God? When a person is hungry for God what is he hungry for? Love… It’s the Command of God
Love… It’s the Command of God
Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.” - Matthew 22:37-39 In ancient days people feared their gods. Their life involved appeasing the gods they feared. In fact they created gods and named them after the things that worried them. There were gods of rain, of thunder, Sun, and gods of health and prosperity. People served their gods because they feared what would happen if they didn’t and because of what they wanted their gods to do for them. They feared their gods but loving their gods was a foreign concept. When the Lord God called Israel out of Egypt he began teaching them the concept of serving God out of love for him rather than responding to him out of fear. What was the difference between the God of Israel and the gods of those around them? Why should they serve him from love rather than fear? The answer is so simple, yet profoundly complex. We are commanded to love because loving another moves us outside of ourselves. It is impossible to be self-centered and love the way God has called us to love. Loving the way God has called us to love requires a knowledge of God, being able to put trust in him and knowing that his desire is to express his love for us rather than to place some judgment upon us. Prayer: Lord, I tend to use the resources you have given me for my own benefit first. Help me to live to fulfill your purposes. In Jesus name, amen. Message: We are commanded to love because loving another moves us outside of ourselves. It is impossible to be self-centered and love the way God has called us to love. Loving the way God has called us to love requires a knowledge of God, being able to put trust in him and knowing that his desire is to express his love for us rather than to place some judgment upon us. Affirmation: I have been baptized in agape (God’s love) and now I love him with all of my being and I love my neighbor as myself. Reflection: This devotion speaks of needing a knowledge of God in order to love as God calls us to love. How do we gain that knowledge? To get your complimentary copy of the devotional titled Sermon on the Mount Volume Two JUST CLICK HERE
Is Your Treasure Temporal or Eternal?
Do not store up for yourselves treasure on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. – Matthew 619-21 Why do we tend to store up “treasure,” or in today’s vernacular, “put something away for the future”? Do you think it might be that we are just a little unsure of the future and we want to be prepared for whatever comes along? Or we might be looking forward to the time when we can retire and then live on what we have accumulated. It is good to save for unexpected expenses and it is good planning to be prepared. The point that Jesus was making is not that things are evil, or that we should take a vow of poverty and have nothing, but the message is to not let things become the treasure of your heart. Jesus said, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Another way of saying it is, “Where your heart is will be evidenced by where you invest your resources.” I know people who cannot afford to pay tithe or give to benevolent causes because by the time they make two car payments, a boat payment, and storage for the boat and RV, they are just barely making it. Oh yes, I forgot the house that is in the right neighborhood, and the stylish clothes the kids demand. Also there is the “guilt payment” to the children. You know what I’m talking about; dad has the boat so out of guilt he has to get the kids the latest electronic games, and maybe even a dirt bike. God doesn’t care what things you have, but he is very concerned about what things have your heart. He wants us to have treasure, but the treasure he has for us is the treasures in the kingdom of God. The first treasure he offers is eternal life. He then offers righteousness, joy and peace (Romans 14:17). The Lord actually delivers the treasure that the world of things promises, but falls short of producing. Prayer: Lord, grant me the grace of surrendering my heart to your will sothat my treasure will be in the eternal kingdom. In Jesus name, amen. Message: God doesn’t care what things you have, but he is very concerned about what things have your heart. He wants us to have treasure, but the treasure he has for us is the treasures in the kingdom of God. Affirmation: I am careful to be certain the things I have do not have me. Rather, my hope is in the kingdom of God and his righteousness rather than in the earthly things I can accumulate. Reflection: Do you think God is concerned about the extra things we have like boats and video games? What was the point he was trying to make when he said, "Do not store up for yourselves treasure on earth?"
Deliver Us From The Evil One
This, then, is how you should pray… Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. – Matthew 6:9,13 Do you remember the comedian who used to say, “The Devil made me do it”? That line was always good for a laugh, but God wasn’t laughing. We cannot justify our actions by passing the blame on to someone, or something, else. That is called denial. Temptation is a very real part of the human experience, but we often do not realize the source of our temptation. James writes, “Each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed” (James 1:14). It really wasn’t the devil – it was our own desires. Remember the comic strip Pogo? This comic character was an alligator in the everglades swamp and every week he would impart his brand of wisdom to all who read it. In one episode he was standing in the swamp ready to do battle and he was saying, “We have found the enemy and he is us.” The only way we can be tempted is when something we desire comes to our attention and demands that we respond to it. The only way to effectively deal with this temptation is to deal with the desire. When we destroy the desire we destroy the temptation. God created systems in man that releases into our consciousness a sense of calm and well being giving us a generally pleasurable experience as humans. When we walk in his way these systems produce harmony and a balanced life, but when we pursue the pleasurable sensation that comes from these systems then our life gets out of balance and our desire for pleasure overrides our desire for righteousness and we sin. At this point our inner desires becomes the evil one. We must agree with Pogo – the enemy is us. God delivers us from our evil by living his righteousness through us. For that to happen we must be submitted to his will and committed to his kingdom. If the enemy is us then we should seek deliverance from ourselves. Prayer: Lord, deliver me from the evil desire that rises up within me so that I am free to serve you in righteousness. In Jesus name, amen. Message: The only way we can be tempted is when something we desire comes to our attention and demands that we respond to it. The only way to effectively deal with this temptation is to deal with the desire. Affirmation: When I am tempted I examine my desires and deal with wrong desires by submitting them to God. Reflection: How does the example of Pogo declaring, "We have found the enemy and he is us," relate to how we are tempted. Think of some ways you can effectively deal with the temptations you face. To get your complimentary copy of the devotional titled Sermon on the Mount Volume Two JUST CLICK HERE Devotion for Today: Forgive Our Debts
Forgive Our Debts
This, then, is how you should pray… Forgive us our debts. – Matthew 6:9,12 We used to sing a chorus some years ago that went like this, “I owed a debt I could not pay and he paid a debt he did not owe.” That is the case for all of us who have come to faith in Christ. I like the way Luke recorded this part of the prayer. He writes, “Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us” (Luke 11:4). He clarifies the point that the debt for which we are asking forgiveness is our sins and the debts we forgive are the sins, or offences, others have committed against us. Most of us have never robbed or caused great bodily harm to come to another, but we have all sinned. Sin is a part of the human condition and God has made a way for us to deal with our sinfulness through faith in Christ. The following is excerpted from “The Lord’s Prayer Directive,” an examination of this prayer: “Forgive us our debts...”We have sinned, and if we say we haven’t we are lying. Before you become upset with me for saying that, take note; it wasn’t me who said it. 1 John 1:8 says that very thing. But verse 9 of that same chapter ys, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” God has made provision in Jesus Christ to forgive all our sins, but we have to ask him. In fact, every day when we pray through this prayer we should spend some time thinking through the previous day and ask God to bring to our mind anything we did, or thought about doing that we need to be cleansed of. Then we should ask God to forgive us of those things. And he will because, “He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins.” Prayer: I know I have sinned, and I need your forgiveness. Grant me repentance for all my sins and wash me clean of every wrong desire. In Jesus name I pray. Amen. To get your complimentary copy of the devotional titled Sermon on the Mount Volume Two JUST CLICK HERE
Pray… Our Father in Heaven
This, then, is how you should pray: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed by your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one, for yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.” – Matthew 6:9-13 Jesus gave us this concise prayer in rebuttal to the babbling of many words like pagans who think they will be heard because of their many words (v7).
He begins this prayer, which I call “the Lord’s prayer directive,” with “Our Father who is in heaven.”
We aren’t too sure where, or what, heaven is, but most of us believe it is the spirit realm where God, our Father, dwells.
Our Father in heaven is truly father to us in ways that no one else can be. Many of us had good and healthy relationship with our father, but others of us do not have pleasant memories of that personage.
The fact that he is our "Heavenly Father" puts him in a realm that no earthly father could reach.
Prayer: Thank you for being my eternal Father in heaven. And thank you for being more than any other father could be. Amen. Message: Jesus gave us this concise prayer in rebuttal to the babbling of many words like pagans who think they will be heard because of their many words (v7). He did not expect his followers to just recite this prayer, but he was giving them a pattern by which to pray. Affirmation: I have learned to use this prayer Jesus gave us as a pattern to use when approaching God. Reflection: Give some thought to the pattern Jesus gives us in this prayer. First, adoration of the Father and the revelation of himself through his name. Then committing to do his will followed by petitioning him for our daily needs and seeking his strength and courage to resist temptation. The conclusion of the prayer is praise and worship. Follow this pattern in prayer and you will be blessed. Would you like to receive your own copy of the Daily God Walk devotional? It is real simple. Just fill in the form below with your name and email then click on "send it" and you will be given access to the devotional.... go ahead and go for it; there is no charge to you - it is our ministry gift. |
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AuthorPaul Smith: Husband, Grandfather, father, writer, preacher, pastor, servant of God... and hopefully thought of as a Christian. Take A Knee In Prayer Challenge
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