There have been a couple of times that someone gave me a Christmas present and I had not bought one for them. I made sure I bought them one the following year. When someone gives us a gift, we naturally want to reciprocate. When we feel loved, we want to love in return. That is a principle of life God set forth in his kingdom.
The more I understand he how much he loves me, the more I will love others.
"We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith grows exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other abounds" (2 Thessalonians 1:3).
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Thursday, July 25, 2013
Wednesday, July 24, 2013
Desert Fountain
God's Grace is like a fountain of peace in a desert. You cannot wonder too far from it or the desert will kill you (2 Thessalonians 1:1-2).
Trying to live a godly life on our own strength is like chasing a mirage of a lake in the desert. You die before you get there.
Depending on God's grace is remembering that your strength comes from God (Philippians 4:13; Psalm 18:2). It is remembering our battles are not ours but his (Exodus 14:13; 2 Chronicles 20:15; Psalm 3). It is believing he will rescue you (Psalm 37). It is choosing to obey the principles set forth in God's word regardless of the circumstance or the behavior of others (Josua 24:15).
God is our refuge, our stream in the desert (Psalm 46:4-7; Isaiah 33:21; John 7;38-39; 2 Samuel 22:3; Psalm 9:9; Psalm 14:6; 91:1-2)
Trying to live a godly life on our own strength is like chasing a mirage of a lake in the desert. You die before you get there.
Depending on God's grace is remembering that your strength comes from God (Philippians 4:13; Psalm 18:2). It is remembering our battles are not ours but his (Exodus 14:13; 2 Chronicles 20:15; Psalm 3). It is believing he will rescue you (Psalm 37). It is choosing to obey the principles set forth in God's word regardless of the circumstance or the behavior of others (Josua 24:15).
God is our refuge, our stream in the desert (Psalm 46:4-7; Isaiah 33:21; John 7;38-39; 2 Samuel 22:3; Psalm 9:9; Psalm 14:6; 91:1-2)
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
Walk in the Woods
Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy open their second letter to the Thessalonians as they did most of their letters. "Grace and peace to you from God our Father and The Lord Jesus Christ" (2 Thessalonians 1:1-2).
People can be gracious who do not know God. People can experience a sense of peace as they walk on a sandy beach, see majestic mountains, or meander down a path in a rich green forest. Earth bound graciousness and peace can bring momentary relief but have no lasting affect on our state of well being.
The team of ministers who wrote this letter are referring to the only kind of grace that carries power to create lasting peace, God's grace. God's grace is the word used to encompass the mercy, love and power God is working in our lives. Knowing that God is specifically working in each individual life (yours and mine) produces a deep foundational peace both in our mind and in our spirit.
People can be gracious who do not know God. People can experience a sense of peace as they walk on a sandy beach, see majestic mountains, or meander down a path in a rich green forest. Earth bound graciousness and peace can bring momentary relief but have no lasting affect on our state of well being.
The team of ministers who wrote this letter are referring to the only kind of grace that carries power to create lasting peace, God's grace. God's grace is the word used to encompass the mercy, love and power God is working in our lives. Knowing that God is specifically working in each individual life (yours and mine) produces a deep foundational peace both in our mind and in our spirit.
Monday, July 22, 2013
Ending His Letter
So we come to the end of Paul's first letter to the Thessalonians. He ends his letter much the same way he begins his letter. "Grace be with you" (1 Thessalonians 5:28).
Those four words carry one of the greatest messages that any person will ever hear. God's grace us what saves us. God's grace is what daily sanctifies us, cleanses us from sin. God's grace purifies our hearts and our minds. God's grace gives us strength to obey him. God's grace gives us work to do and dies the work through us. God's grace denotes all of God's gifts to us.
Face all of your challenges today remembering that you are living with and in God's grace.
Those four words carry one of the greatest messages that any person will ever hear. God's grace us what saves us. God's grace is what daily sanctifies us, cleanses us from sin. God's grace purifies our hearts and our minds. God's grace gives us strength to obey him. God's grace gives us work to do and dies the work through us. God's grace denotes all of God's gifts to us.
Face all of your challenges today remembering that you are living with and in God's grace.
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