Useful/Useless

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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!

What is wisdom like?

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December 15: James 1-5

What is wisdom like?

Scripture: James 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him
James 3:17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.

Observation: Wisdom is valuable and when short in supply, obviously one needs a good source from which to gain wisdom. What better source of wisdom could one find than God! And He is not grudging, but generous in giving out wisdom.

Application: Many times I have asked for wisdom; however I do not ever recall taking the time to consider the various characteristics of this wisdom from heaven. “Giving someone a piece of my mind” may show my worldly wisdom, but it does not display the wisdom from above. “Submissive” was the characteristic I needed today when someone told me I could not do what I needed to get done. It was something I have done many times in the past without even a question.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the book of James that that gives me specific ways to live out this new life you have given me. Help me better learn the submissive expression of your wisdom. Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

Those in prison…

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December 14: Hebrews 12-13; Jude

Those in prison…

Scripture: (NIV) Hebrews 13:3 Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow-prisoners, and those who are ill-treated as if you yourselves were suffering.

Observation: Among the many exhortations in this closing chapter of Hebrews, is this one to remember those who are being persecuted for their faith. This is more than a casual acknowledgment that we have brothers and sisters in the Lord who are suffering; this is remembering them as though we were in the same prison cell or enduring the same persecution.

Application: If I was in prison or suffering persecution, I would not need to be reminded to pray. The Voice of the Martyrs web site (www.voiceofthemartyrs.com) is one of several that can provide me current information about persecution happening around the world. I will begin getting their email news alerts so I can keep informed and pray.

Prayer: Holy Spirit, make me aware when people around me are being mistreated. Make me a channel of your justice and grace. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

A city prepared by God!

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December 13: Hebrews 9-11

A city prepared by God!

Scripture: Hebrews 11:15 If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return.
16 Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

Observation: As people age, they often think about places they have been and would like to return. I’m sure some would like to visit places they have only heard about. However if our aging has been done in the Lord, we should be looking for a better country and a city prepared for us by God!

Application: Having lived in Hawaii for many years, when I hear people say how much they would like to visit the Aloha state, I like to tell them, “It is indeed beautiful, but if you are going to heaven, you will not feel like you missed a thing.”

Prayer: Lord, May I be as diligent in preparing my heart for you as you are in preparing a place for me! May you enjoy living in my heart as much as I will enjoy living in the place you are preparing for me! Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

The perfect fit!

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December 12: Hebrews 5-8

The perfect fit!

Scripture: Hebrews 7:25 Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.
26 Such a high priest meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens.
27 Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself.

Observation: Jesus is the perfect High Priest who made the perfect sacrifice for sin. He meets my need perfectly!

Application: So many times I have had to settle for less than what I really needed. From two or three choices I had to choose the one that would come closest to meeting my need. It was not exactly what I needed, but it would have to do. However, the more I understand Jesus, the more I am convinced that he perfectly meets my need.

Prayer: Lord, it is a perfect match: my need and your supply! Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

What a plan!!!

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December 11: Philemon; Hebrews 1-4

What a plan!!!

Scripture: Hebrews 2:14 Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil—
15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.

Observation: “…he too shared in their humanity…” What a powerful statement reiterating the words of Jesus who always referred to himself as the “Son of Man” although he never denied it when called the “Son of God.” He did not stop being who he was, God the Son, but he gave up relying on those “God” qualities in order to live with the limitations as a man. As Philippians 2:5-8 declares, Jesus emptied himself of his “God-ness” which was rightfully his. As a man, Jesus became the perfect example of how men are to live today. As a man, he was the perfect sacrifice, having not sinned so that his death could be the payment for our sins. Having lived on earth as a man, he is the perfect high priest to make intercession for us.

Application: Jesus became a part of the family of man, so that I may be part of the family of God!

Prayer: Lord, The more I understand of your plan, the more amazing it is. No man could have dreamed up such a plan in which the Supreme Being would make the sacrifice to pay for creation’s sin! Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

Not chained!

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December 10: 2Timothy 1-4

Not chained!

Scripture: 2Timothy (NIV) 2:8 Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel,
9 for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God’s word is not chained.

Observation: Paul was writing a letter to Timothy from prison. Many of Paul’s letters were written from prison. Today we can be thankful that Paul was in prison or we would not have those letters. For Paul, it was a time of suffering, “being chained like a criminal.” But in his prison letters, Paul seldom mentions that he is in prison, and seems never discouraged. He knows that “God’s word is not chained.”

Application: Many times in life I find myself in less than desirable circumstances, but I too can have confidence that “God’s word is not chained.”

Prayer: Lord, when I am living in your Word, I have no reason to be discouraged. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

Past, Present, & Future

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December 9: 1Timothy 5-6; Titus 1-3

Past, Present, & Future

Scripture: Titus (NIV) 3:5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy….
7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.

Observation: In verse seven I see three themes: a past, a present and a future.

Application: As to my past, I have been forgiven and in God’s eyes I am “just-as-if-I’d” never sinned. I was justified by His grace! (Romans 3:24)
As to my present, I am an heir. I am God’s child. I am family! (Romans 8:17)
As to my future, I have a hope of eternal life. It is a hope of living forever with God in the place Jesus went to prepare for me! (Titus 2:13)

Prayer: Lord, you have provided for the whole of my life, my past, my present, and my future. It is good to know my whole life is in your hand. Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

Only One!

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December 8: 1Timothy 1-4

Only One!

Scripture: (NIV) 1Timothy 2:4 (God our Savior) who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.
5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,
6 who gave himself as a ransom for all men…

Observation: I remember as a very young boy, our family would stay with my grandparents in the summers where my dad helped with the farm work. I remember being awakened one night by Uncle Urban who drove out to let us know the Arkansas River was flooding and would soon be at our door. We had to leave in a hurry. I remember the long drive as we followed my uncle to his home. He knew which bridges were already underwater and which roads would lead to crossable bridges. We trusted him and followed him readily. He was our way out of trouble. He was the only one who had come from a place of safety and knew the way to take us with him back to that place of safety.

Application: Having a great desire to escape the judgment coming on sin, I am so glad that Jesus came from a place of safety and made the necessary sacrifice to provide me peace with God. He not only knows the way to heaven, He is the way—the only way! Sometimes I look for short-cuts, but He knows the best places to cross the rivers.

Prayer: Lord, You are the only one who came from where I want to be to where I am. You are the only one who knows the way to heaven! I place my life in your hands and trust you. Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

Glad & Thankful

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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!