Listen Much, Obey More

If a person thinks he is religious, but does not keep his tongue from speaking bad things, he is fooling himself. His religion is worth nothing.
James 1:26 NLV (New Life Version)

I was going to expound on this a little, but the Truth is it's very clear. I love this passage in James - it's simple but so rich. Verses 19-27,  My Christian brothers, you know everyone should listen much and speak little. He should be slow to become angry. A man’s anger does not allow him to be right with God. Put out of your life all that is unclean and wrong. Receive with a gentle spirit the Word that was taught. It has the power to save your souls from the punishment of sin.

Obey the Word of God. If you hear only and do not act, you are only fooling yourself. Anyone who hears the Word of God and does not obey is like a man looking at his face in a mirror. After he sees himself and goes away, he forgets what he looks like. But the one who keeps looking into God’s perfect Law and does not forget it will do what it says and be happy as he does it. God’s Word makes men free.

If a person thinks he is religious, but does not keep his tongue from speaking bad things, he is fooling himself. His religion is worth nothing. Religion that is pure and good before God the Father is to help children who have no parents and to care for women whose husbands have died who have troubles. Pure religion is also to keep yourself clean from the sinful things of the world.

Prayer:

Father,

          Thank You for making it very clear about what is pure and good religion in Your eyes. Always, always keep our eyes open to discern the difference between pure religion and religious acts done for the sake of looking "good". Keep our hands clean and our hearts pure before You, Father, so we may stand in Your holy place, according to Your Word. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Cleaning House

So don’t turn a deaf ear to these gracious words. If those who ignored earthly warnings didn’t get away with it, what will happen to us if we turn our backs on heavenly warnings? His voice that time shook the earth to its foundations; this time—he’s told us this quite plainly—he’ll also rock the heavens: “One last shaking, from top to bottom, stem to stern.” The phrase “one last shaking” means a thorough housecleaning, getting rid of all the historical and religious junk so that the unshakable essentials stand clear and uncluttered.

Do you see what we’ve got? An unshakable kingdom! And do you see how thankful we must be? Not only thankful, but brimming with worship, deeply reverent before God. For God is not an indifferent bystander. He’s actively cleaning house, torching all that needs to burn, and he won’t quit until it’s all cleansed. God himself is Fire!

Hebrews 12:25-29 The Message

It's that time of year - going into the end-of-year holidays - getting the house ready to receive friends and family who are coming home. Getting serious about actively cleaning house. Not just a once-over with a dust rag, we're talking polish and wax! Making it shine. Letting the light shine through. Don't you just love the end result of it?

So does Almighty God, our Father. He's getting ready for us to come home. He's shaking it all out! Anything that can be shaken will fall to the wayside and all that remains will be unshakeable. Do you see what we’ve got? An unshakable kingdom! And do you see how thankful we must be? Not only thankful, but brimming with worship, deeply reverent before God. 

Prayer:

Father,

           Keep us aligned with Your plan for Your people - that we will be - and will remain steadfast, strong, and immovable. May we follow Your example by doing more than enough in service to You and the Body of Christ. May our roots grow deep in You and Your Truth, firmly establishing our foundation in You. You only are our rock and our salvation: You are our defense; we shall not be moved. You are our salvation. You are the rock of our strength, and our refuge is in You. We will trust in You at all times. Keep us ever mindful, Father. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Training is not Punishment

Not one of these people, even though their lives of faith were exemplary, got their hands on what was promised. God had a better plan for us: that their faith and our faith would come together to make one completed whole, their lives of faith not complete apart from ours.
Hebrews 11:39-40 The Message

Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we’d better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. 

When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!

In this all-out match against sin, others have suffered far worse than you, to say nothing of what Jesus went through—all that bloodshed! So don’t feel sorry for yourselves. Or have you forgotten how good parents treat children, and that God regards you as his children?

My dear child, don’t shrug off God’s discipline,
but don’t be crushed by it either.
It’s the child he loves that he disciplines;
the child he embraces, he also corrects.

God is educating you; that’s why you must never drop out. He’s treating you as dear children. This trouble you’re in isn’t punishment; it’s training, the normal experience of children. Only irresponsible parents leave children to fend for themselves. Would you prefer an irresponsible God? We respect our own parents for training and not spoiling us, so why not embrace God’s training so we can truly live?

Hebrews 12:1-9 The Message

Prayer:

Father,

          Open our eyes to see Your Truth. Give us hearts that run to obedience and minds that understand training and discipline are great acts of love and not punishment. Help us, O God, guide and direct us. Lead us in Your ways of understanding. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

A Portion of Praise

Praise the Lord! I will thank the Lord with all my heart as I meet with his godly people.

Psalm 111:1 NLT

How amazing are the deeds of the Lord! All who delight in him should ponder them. Everything he does reveals his glory and majesty. His righteousness never fails.

He causes us to remember his wonderful works.
How gracious and merciful is our Lord!

He gives food to those who fear him; he always remembers his covenant. He has shown his great power to his people by giving them the lands of other nations.

All he does is just and good, and all his commandments are trustworthy. They are forever true, to be obeyed faithfully and with integrity.

He has paid a full ransom for his people. He has guaranteed his covenant with them forever.

What a holy, awe-inspiring name he has!

Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true wisdom.
All who obey his commandments will grow in wisdom.

Praise him forever!
Psalm 111:1-10 NLT
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Prayer:

Father,
           Truly, we give You praise! For everything You've done, for everything You're doing, and for all that we know You have in store for us because of Your promises to us. Cause us to continue to remember Your wonderful works. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

By Example

It was by faith that Abel brought a more acceptable offering to God than Cain did. Abel’s offering gave evidence that he was a righteous man, and God showed his approval of his gifts. Although Abel is long dead, he still speaks to us by his example of faith.
Hebrews 11:4 NLT

Abel was a righteous man. God approved of Abel's offerings but did not approve of Cain's. So out of anger born of jealousy, Cain murdered Abel... and yet it is Abel's example of faith that still speaks to us.

What does it say? God was very specific about what offerings were acceptable. Abel listened and obeyed. He brought to God what God had required. Cain brought what he wanted, thereby placing himself above God. It's not just our actions that matter to God, it's the attitude of our hearts, as well. 

Prayer:

Father,

           Please forgive us for bad attitudes. Change our hearts, O God! Let all that we say and do be pleasing to You. Let the examples of our faith speak Life, Truth and Light to those coming after us. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Busy

Let’s see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out, not avoiding worshiping together as some do but spurring each other on, especially as we see the big Day approaching.
Hebrews 10:23-25 The Message

Church, work, home, school, kids' extra-curricular practices and events - our lives are awhirl with obligations. Sometimes it feels like all we do is run from one thing to another. When was the last time we took the time to review all that we've taken on? 

It can be overwhelming when we take the time to think about all of it. However, we ARE supposed to think about it. We are not supposed to be mindlessly running from one thing to the next. That's how BUSY became an acronym for Being Under Satan's Yoke. Are we?

If you've ever stayed home from church because your week has been so busy... it's time to re-evaluate our lives and properly prioritize.

Prayer:

Father,

            Open our eyes to see the BUSY in our lives. Give us wisdom to properly prioritize life, putting You first in all things. Help us to be creative in encouraging love and helping others by making the time to be with You and with them. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Speak Out

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever. Has the Lord redeemed you? Then speak out! Tell others he has redeemed you from your enemies.

Psalm 107:1-2 NLT

What a great psalm of praise is this! Sharing all the diverse life challenges and how God has delivered them out of every one. When we look back over our lives and retell all the times God has seen us through - the times we didn't think we would ever make it - it builds hope in the face of adversity. It lends strength to those suffering under the onslaught of the enemy. 

It reinforces our faith and the faith of those around us with whom we share our lives. 

Yes! Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! His faithful love endures forever. The Lord HAS redeemed you! Speak out! Tell others He has redeemed you from your enemies.

Prayer:

Father,

          We will praise You, Lord, for Your great love and for the wonderful things You have done for us. We offer the sacrifice of thanksgiving and sing praise about Your glorious and merciful acts. Let us never lose sight or remembrance of Your mercy and faithfulness to us so that we may speak out to encourage others with these Truths. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen