December 16: 1Peter 1-5

Useless/Useful

Scripture: 1Peter (NIV) 4: 8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.
10 Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.

Observation: Everyone has received gifts, talents that make us useful in life. These are gifts, given and not earned. We may have worked to develop them, but they are likes, tendencies, and abilities that came with birth. They have been given to us to make us useful to others. They are not primarily for our benefit, but for the benefit of others.

Application: God did not design me to be selfish but selfless. He has equipped me to serve others and equipped others to serve me. I am discovering that I am mutually dependent on the other members of the body of Christ. To keep myself away from the fellowship (church) is to withhold the benefit I can give as well as the benefit I can receive. I hurt others as I am robbing them of the benefit they could otherwise receive from me. I hurt myself as I am robbing myself of the benefit I could otherwise receive from them.

Prayer: Lord, it is a terrible thing to feel useless. Work in me an attitude that makes me useful. Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

December 7: Colossians 1-4

Glad & Thankful

Scripture: Colossians (NIV) 1:3 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you,
4 because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints—

Observation: Yesterday I noted that Paul always prayed for those in Philippi with a glad heart. (Philippians 1:4) Here we see Paul praying for those living in the city of Colosse with a thankful heart.

Application: I have many reasons to pray with a glad heart. There are many people for whom I pray with a thankful heart.

Prayer: Lord, I am glad you do not expect me to live on an abandoned island all alone. I am thankful you have placed so many wonderful people in my life. Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

December 5: Ephesians 5-6; Psalm 119:1-80

Opportunities

Scripture: Ephesians (NIV) 5: 15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise,
16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.

Observation: “Evil days” may be a good reason to play it safe but Paul here urges us to seize every opportunity. “Evil days” are not a reason to fearfully hold back, but to courageously push forward.

Application: Being retired does not mean I have less opportunities, but more. I am finding to make the most of every opportunity the Lord brings my way, may mean that I have to pass on some “opportunities” the world brings my way. For the opportunity to give more in the offering at church, I may have to pass up the opportunity to buy a meal at McDonalds or a new shirt at Wal*Mart.

Prayer: Lord, help me to quickly recognize the opportunities that come my way, and then courageously step out to honor you. Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

November 26: Matt 23-25

Useful

Scripture: Matthew (NIV) 23:11 The greatest among you will be your servant.
12 For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

Observation: The inclination of the world is to climb to the most important position. Some would think that Jesus turned things up-side-down. In reality, He set things straight. When people work to exalt themselves, there are always others ready to tear them down. However when people humble themselves to serve, there will be others ready to lift them up.

Application: I am a good servant only as long as I am useful.
The downside of being useful is that I may feel “used.”
The downside of not being used is that I will feel “useless.”
The upside of being useful is that I have value to the Kingdom.
The upside of being used is that I bring joy to my Heavenly Father!

Prayer: Lord, what a privilege to be used by You and for your glory. My service is in response to your great service to me through the sacrifice of Jesus. It comes from a heart of love and thanksgiving. Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

November 25: Matthew 20-22

Reading/Living

Scripture: Matthew 21:15 But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple area, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were indignant.
16 “Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him. “Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read, “‘From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise’?” …

Observation: Earlier in this chapter Jesus said, “It is written … ” He said it as justification for his actions in cleansing the temple. Here (and in verse 42) he asks ” … have you never read … ?” Many times our questions could be easily answered if we but read God’s Word! In reading the Word we gain understanding about Him; in living the Word we really get to know Him. Reading it makes us want to live it; living it makes us want to read it more.

Application: The Written Word has been wonderfully provided by God to help me get to know the Living Word, Jesus. To go a day without reading the Bible would be like going a day without talking to my wife. When communication breaks down, there is a problem in the relationship.

Prayer: Lord, like our marriage, one of the best things about living for you is that it is a daily thing. Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

November 10: Job 35, 36; 1Corinthians 7, 8

Scripture: 1Corinthians 10:31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

Observation: Here is a good scripture to take as one to build my life around; however I cannot build my life around it if I do not build my day around it.

Application: Even the things I consider insignificant things like eating and drinking need to be done for the glory of God.

Prayer: Lord, I want to live my life in a way that makes you look good. May people readily see that I consider it a high honor to serve You. Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

November 10: Job 35, 36; 1Corinthians 7, 8

Scripture: 1Corinthians 7:16 How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or, how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?

Observation: “But God wants me to be happy,” is the reason I have heard from a “believer” wanting to justify their desire to divorce, and subsequently their desire to marry someone else. “God would not want me to stay unhappy all my life.” No! No! No! What God wants is for your spouse to be saved! God wants you to rejoice all through eternity because the one who was your husband/wife is in heaven too. God wants us to love our wives/husbands the way Christ loved us, even when we were unlovable! Should an unbelieving spouse get a divorce (verse 15), may they never be able to say that they were not loved!

Application: Living for God is so worthwhile, however it is not always easy. Doing my best to keep the wedding promises I made as a solemn vow before God is always worthwhile, but that too is not always easy. But we have the promise of His presence every moment of every day!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for those who have been married for 50, 60, and some even 70+ years. What a blessing their example is to us. Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!