Christlikeness

For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. (Romans 8:5)

• It is difficult to give up things we have grown accustomed to.
   
• But God may want us to.
   
• We may be involved in an activity that has become all-encompassing.
   
• We know it would be best to limit it.
   
• We may have a habit or practice that we know misses the mark of pleasing God.
   
• We realize that we need to let it go because we love God and want Him to be glorified through us.
   
• When we find things that interfere with our relationship with the Lord, with His help we can stop.
   
• God has given us the provision.
   
• The Spirit has provided us the power.
   
• Let us ask God to help us not to let anything block His glory from shining through.
   
• God is perfect, but we are so far from perfect.
   
• May the Lord chip away our imperfections through the work of His Holy Spirit.
   
• May the Lord help us each day to grow more and more like Him.
   
• May we draw closer to Christ each day.
   
• May we grow in Christlikeness.
  
  
  
  

Be Hungry to Satisfy Others' Deepest Needs

Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work. (John 4:34)

• For some of us, food is more than a necessity.
   
• It is a wonderfully enjoyable part of life!
   
• We enjoy sitting down to a well-prepared meal, especially when we are feeling hungry.
   
• The disciples were hungry for lunch when they returned to the well where Jesus was interacting with the Samaritan woman.
   
• They urged Him, “Rabbi, eat”.
   
• Jesus responded to them, “I have food to eat of which you do not know”.
   
• This made them wonder if someone had already brought Him something to eat.
   
• The disciples were so consumed with thinking about food that they couldn’t see past their immediate circumstances.
   
• They didn’t understand the significance of what was going on at the well.
   
• The most important thing to Jesus was to do the will of Him who sent Him, and to finish His work.
   
• He was focused on the spiritual needs of this woman who desperately needed what only He could give.
   
• It is easy to become preoccupied with needs of the moment.
   
• But Jesus invites us to get beyond our own interests — our own little lunch.
   
• We are to open our eyes to the souls who are searching for answers to their deepest needs.
   
• Let us join Jesus at the well.
   
• Let Him use us to tell others about the spiritual food only He can give.
   
• Let us fix our eyes not just on the things we are interested in, but lift our eyes to see the needy souls around us.
   
• May the Lord God give us passion for the lost and the joy of seeing others satisfied in Him.
   
• Let us be hungry to satisfy the needs of others around us.
  
  
  

Sin Is Never Private

But the children of Israel committed a trespass regarding the accursed things, for Achan the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed things; so the anger of the LORD burned against the children of Israel. (Joshua 7:1)

• One person’s actions can affect an entire group.
   
• What happens to one happens to everyone.
   
• We learn from the story of Achan that sin is never private.
   
• After the great victory at Jericho, God gave Joshua specific instructions on how to deal with the city and its loot (Josh. 6:18).
   
• The people were to abstain from the accursed things.
   
• They were to put all the silver and gold into the treasury of the Lord.
   
• But they disobeyed His command to them.
   
• The interesting thing is, not all of Israel sinned.
   
• Only one person did — Achan.
   
• But because of his actions, everyone was affected and God was dishonored.
   
• As followers of Jesus, we belong to one another.
   
• Our individual actions can impact the entire body and God’s name.
   
• Let us be careful so that we may individually and together give God the honor He deserves.
   
• Our sin is never private, though we may try to hide it.
   
• We belong to God and to one another.
   
• What we do individually may grieve God and impact fellow Christians.
   
• Private sins will inevitably have public impact.
  
  

Internalizing The Word Of God

Your words were found, and I ate them, And Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart; For I am called by Your name, O LORD God of hosts. (Jeremiah 15:16)

• The prophet Jeremiah expressed a way of letting the Scriptures nourish our hearts.
   
• The Holy Scriptures was written for our learning.
   
• We are to internalize the Bible.
   
• We are to know the Word, obey the Word, and share the Word.
   
• We are to hear, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest passages of Scripture through prayerful meditation.
   
• We are to ask the Lord to help us apply the Bible to our heart today.
   
• We are to take time to ponder the meat and milk of the Word (Heb. 5:12).
   
• As we quiet our heart, God will teach us about Himself through His Book.
   
• Let us meditate on God’s precepts and contemplate His ways.
   
• Let us delight in His statutes.
   
• Let us never forget His Word.
   
• Some books are to be tasted.
   
• Others to be swallowed.
   
• And some others are to be chewed and digested.