Wednesday, September 29, 2021

Wednesday, September 29, 2021
The apostle Paul encourages Christ-followers to discipline themselves so they can live a life pleasing to God.

I Corinthians 9:25 Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. (NASB)
When athletes want to run in the Boston Marathon or the Olympics, they must first prepare themselves with a proper diet, building their endurance . . . strengthening themselves. They cannot live like people who don’t want to compete! If you want to compete and run a world-class race — you have to sacrifice and do hard things you don’t feel like doing. The same is true of the spiritual side of your life.
Living a life of impact for Christ requires self-control. For starters, you completely avoid all known sin. Period! Other aspects of self-control are more subtle and require more effort to identify. For example, things you enjoy doing that are innocent, but for someone else that activity could lead them to sin. Christ-followers must discipline themselves to be willing to, at times, give up good things for the sake of others! That kind of sacrifice will someday be rewarded with a crown that will last forever.

Tuesday, September 28, 2021

Tuesday, September 28, 2021
The apostle Peter reviews the basic characteristics of a Christ-follower.

II Peter 1:5-6 . . . applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, (NASB)

Peter is writing to remind some Christians of a few things they had forgotten – some important things. It’s a little like the great NFL coach Vince Lombardi, who, when frustrated with the way his Packers were playing, said we’ve got to get back to the fundamentals. So, he gathered the players together and said, “This is a football!” Peter says, let’s begin with your faith – where the change for the better began. As a Christ-follower, you’ve been forgiven of sins, freed from their power to enslave you, and you have all the heavenly power you need, daily, to do what God wants you to do.

Now . . . Peter says, move on from the basics, and each day add to your faith, virtue. Virtue is goodness. But it’s more than that – it’s excellence. Seek to be all you can be as a Christ-follower. Be the best man or woman of God you can be – by being like Christ Himself! Strive for excellence. Next, add to your goodness, knowledge. Not just knowledge for knowledge’s sake – like a professional student but applied knowledge. Knowledge that changes the way you live! Finally, add to your knowledge – self-control. It means to control your desires and emotions, instead of being controlled by them.

Monday, September 27, 2021

Monday, September 27, 2021
King Solomon describes the virtues of not being vengeful, but rather forgiving.

Proverbs 16:32 He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit, than he who captures a city (NASB)

American culture does not exalt those who “turn the other cheek”. Yet recall the ripple that went across this country, first in 2006 when the Amish of Pennsylvania came to the mother of the Amish school shooter (who had killed 10 young girls before shooting himself), and asked her not to move, but to stay in the community. Some of the victim’s families even attended her son’s funeral.

The second instance of self-control was in 2015, after the shooting of 9 people by a racist fanatic at the Emmanuel A.M.E. Church in Charleston, S.C. Once the shooter was arrested, the victim’s families showed up at his arraignment not to rail and curse him, but to tell him they forgave him. You could hear a pin drop across America’s cultural landscape . . .

Ultimately, it’s not the words of those who follow Christ – but their actions that validate Scripture’s teachings.

Friday, September 24, 2021

Friday, September 24, 2021
The apostle Paul describes the normal Christian life.
Ephesians 4:32 Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you. (NASB)
Christ-followers should be known as the most gracious, welcoming, loving, and joyous people in the world! Yet, the rest of the world often sees Christians as killjoys, judgmental, critical, frowning people. Why is that?
When Christ-followers allow sin in their life and do not deal with it immediately, that sin begins to drain away their joy, peace, and compassion. Over time, unconfessed sin can turn a Christian inward-looking so that living for Christ becomes a duty and duty without the energy of the Spirit becomes drudgery!
On the other hand, when a follower of Christ is maintaining fellowship with the Heavenly Father & under the control of the Spirit of God – it becomes second nature to be kind and forgiving. Christ is our example.

Thursday, September 23, 2021

Thursday, September 23, 2021
The apostle John wrote that confessing sin to God results in forgiveness and cleansing.
I John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (KJV)
When John F. Kennedy was president, LIFE magazine did a photo-shoot of a day in the Oval Office. One of the pictures was of the president’s son, John Jr. in his father’s office playing on the floor. John Jr. wasn’t a member of the president’s cabinet or a member of Congress – but he had access to the Oval Office because he was the president’s son! As Christ-followers we have access into God’s presence. Today’s verse is all about maintaining our relationship with the Heavenly Father.
Confession of sin is harder than it sounds! Sometimes you wait until you’re sorry for what you’ve done, and that can delay the restoration of fellowship with God. The idea of confession is not feeling sorry for what you have done wrong – although that’s usually part of repentance – but rather choosing to “agree with God” that what you’ve done was wrong. Keeping short accounts is vital to maintaining a close relationship with God

Wednesday, September 22, 2021

Wednesday, September 22, 2021
(See You at the Pole – theme “Just Pray”)The apostle James writes that the way up in God’s eyes — is down.
James 4:10 Get serious, really serious. Get down on your knees before the Master; it’s the only way you’ll get on your feet. (MSG)
God is a gentleman: if you think you can do life without Him, He will not force you to do otherwise. However, if you admit your limitations — God offers His followers all of the strength necessary to accomplish His plan for their lives.
The late Chuck Colson was convicted of breaking the law in the Watergate affair. Yet, it was while in prison that God got a hold of Chuck’s heart and gave him a greater purpose for his life and a vision for a new ministry: Prison Fellowship! The lesson is clear: a life lived in humble dependence on God will prosper!
Scripture quotations marked MSG are taken from THE MESSAGE, copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, represented by Tyndale House Publishers. All rights reserved.