"If we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself." 2 Timothy 2:13
The Lord Jesus may disown us if we disown Him (v.12) but if we are faithless He cannot return the favor. Faithlessness is not in the character of Jesus. As "God does not lie" (Titus 1:2) so Jesus is not faithless. He will always be faithful to His character--He is unchanging. He will always be faithful to His promises--He is unfailing. He will always be faithful to His purposes--He is unstoppable. We may falter and fail but when we look to Him we will find Him ever faithful.
Lord Jesus, I rejoice in your unfailing faithfulness and pray that You may so fully live in me that I may reflect your faithfulness.
I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark
Monday, September 6, 2010
Thursday, September 2, 2010
RESPONSE
I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise,
and I am saved from my enemies. 2 Samuel 22:4
These two lines are a small part of the song that is recorded in this chapter (also Psalm 18), but they reveal one reason God considered King David “a man after my own heart.” Whenever he was in danger, David’s response was to turn to God. God was his source of strength in the battles of life.
Faced any enemies lately? Every time we face temptation, we are under attack by the enemy. How can we survive unscathed? Turn to God and seek His strength to overcome temptation. God tells us in James 4:7: “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
Lord, I turn to you now for strength to overcome the temptations I will face today. Give me a heart that seeks and submits to You over anything else. You are truly worthy of praise.
God’s grace to you,
Jim
and I am saved from my enemies. 2 Samuel 22:4
These two lines are a small part of the song that is recorded in this chapter (also Psalm 18), but they reveal one reason God considered King David “a man after my own heart.” Whenever he was in danger, David’s response was to turn to God. God was his source of strength in the battles of life.
Faced any enemies lately? Every time we face temptation, we are under attack by the enemy. How can we survive unscathed? Turn to God and seek His strength to overcome temptation. God tells us in James 4:7: “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
Lord, I turn to you now for strength to overcome the temptations I will face today. Give me a heart that seeks and submits to You over anything else. You are truly worthy of praise.
God’s grace to you,
Jim
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Eternal Investments
"The sins of some men are obvious, reaching the place of judgment ahead of them; the sins of others trail behind them. In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even those that are not cannot be hidden." 1 Timothy 5:24-25
Our sins may be obvious to men and precede us to the place of judgment or they may be done quietly and trail behind us. But whether obvious or quiet "Be sure your sins will find you out" (Numbers 32:23). We cannot afford to trifle with sin. We must kill it through repentance and confession. Once our sin has been dealt with through the blood of Christ then we need not fear meeting it again at the place of judgment (1 John 1:7, 9).
Not only do our sins follow us but so do our good deeds. Sometimes our good deeds are obvious and recognized by others. But those done quietly will not go unnoticed by God (see Matthew 6:3-4). Rather than depleting our spiritual account through sin, we can invest in it through good deeds that will bring eternal dividends. Once again remember Galatians 6:7: "A man reaps what he sows."
Father, may it be good deeds rather than sin that mark my life that I may hear Your "Well done" when I stand before You.
I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark
Our sins may be obvious to men and precede us to the place of judgment or they may be done quietly and trail behind us. But whether obvious or quiet "Be sure your sins will find you out" (Numbers 32:23). We cannot afford to trifle with sin. We must kill it through repentance and confession. Once our sin has been dealt with through the blood of Christ then we need not fear meeting it again at the place of judgment (1 John 1:7, 9).
Not only do our sins follow us but so do our good deeds. Sometimes our good deeds are obvious and recognized by others. But those done quietly will not go unnoticed by God (see Matthew 6:3-4). Rather than depleting our spiritual account through sin, we can invest in it through good deeds that will bring eternal dividends. Once again remember Galatians 6:7: "A man reaps what he sows."
Father, may it be good deeds rather than sin that mark my life that I may hear Your "Well done" when I stand before You.
I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Spiritual Fitness
. . . train yourself to be godly. - 1 Timothy 4:7b
I find this short little phrase to be extremely profound and deeply convicting. This is a lesson that I must be reminded of often. Godliness doesn't just happen. I can not expect that just because I've been a Christian for a while that sin just will lose its power. Nor can I expect that just because I go to (or even work for a) church that my walk with Christ will grow.
We don't passively stumble into godliness.
Paul parallels our pursuit of godliness with physical training. So just as with physical training, godliness requires effort and work. To grow stronger we must practice discipline and be consistent. When we get lazy and neglect our disciplines then we become spiritually unfit. If we want to enjoy a better relationship with Christ we must commit ourselves to the spiritual disciplines of prayer, studying, meditating on and memorization of Scripture, fasting, silence, a Sabbath, giving, etc.
Father, give me joy in exercising my spiritual muscles and show me more of yourself as I pursue a deeper relationship with you.
By His Grace,
Matt
I find this short little phrase to be extremely profound and deeply convicting. This is a lesson that I must be reminded of often. Godliness doesn't just happen. I can not expect that just because I've been a Christian for a while that sin just will lose its power. Nor can I expect that just because I go to (or even work for a) church that my walk with Christ will grow.
We don't passively stumble into godliness.
Paul parallels our pursuit of godliness with physical training. So just as with physical training, godliness requires effort and work. To grow stronger we must practice discipline and be consistent. When we get lazy and neglect our disciplines then we become spiritually unfit. If we want to enjoy a better relationship with Christ we must commit ourselves to the spiritual disciplines of prayer, studying, meditating on and memorization of Scripture, fasting, silence, a Sabbath, giving, etc.
Father, give me joy in exercising my spiritual muscles and show me more of yourself as I pursue a deeper relationship with you.
By His Grace,
Matt
Monday, August 30, 2010
The Church Matters
"...I am writing you these instructions so that...you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God's household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth." 1 Timothy 3:14-15
Although our culture would marginalize the church that is not God's view. In God's view the church is central--it is God's household (family). In God's plan the church is essential--it is the pillar and foundation that upholds the truth in this world.
When we allow the church to become in our thinking only a meeting place or an organization we do a great disservice to ourselves and our community. We must embrace our significant identity as God's family and our significant mission of holding up and out God's truth in a morally and spiritually crumbling world.
Father, help the church to be what you created it to be in this world. Help our church to realize your vision for us in our community.
I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark
Although our culture would marginalize the church that is not God's view. In God's view the church is central--it is God's household (family). In God's plan the church is essential--it is the pillar and foundation that upholds the truth in this world.
When we allow the church to become in our thinking only a meeting place or an organization we do a great disservice to ourselves and our community. We must embrace our significant identity as God's family and our significant mission of holding up and out God's truth in a morally and spiritually crumbling world.
Father, help the church to be what you created it to be in this world. Help our church to realize your vision for us in our community.
I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark
Thursday, August 26, 2010
The Worst Sinner?
"Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners--of whom I am the worst." 1 Timothy 1:15
Would Paul have literally won a worst sinners contest? There were undoubtedly men whose deeds were worse than Paul's when judged by this world's standard. But Paul knew his own heart and the righteousness of Christ.
The heart that seems pure when looked upon by the light of this world is revealed to be stained with sin when held up to the light of Christ. Our realization of the magnificence of God's grace grows in proportion to our recognition of our own utter sinfulness apart from Christ. Then like Paul we will stand in awe of the fact that He saved us and give Him glory.
Lord Jesus, I am the worst sinner I know for I know my own heart. I thank you that you saved me and continue to pour grace on me daily. May your grace be magnified in my life that other sinners around me may be drawn to you.
I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark
Would Paul have literally won a worst sinners contest? There were undoubtedly men whose deeds were worse than Paul's when judged by this world's standard. But Paul knew his own heart and the righteousness of Christ.
The heart that seems pure when looked upon by the light of this world is revealed to be stained with sin when held up to the light of Christ. Our realization of the magnificence of God's grace grows in proportion to our recognition of our own utter sinfulness apart from Christ. Then like Paul we will stand in awe of the fact that He saved us and give Him glory.
Lord Jesus, I am the worst sinner I know for I know my own heart. I thank you that you saved me and continue to pour grace on me daily. May your grace be magnified in my life that other sinners around me may be drawn to you.
I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark
Monday, August 23, 2010
Keep Alert
"In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war, David sent Joab out wit the king's men and the whole Israelite army. They destroyed the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained in Jerusalem." 2 Samuel 11:1
So began David's fall into sin. When he should have been with the army fighting Israel's battles he stayed in the comfort of his palace. Instead of being disciplined and diligent he settled into complacency and comfort. He was in the wrong place as far as his responsibility to God was concerned. He was in the right place for the enemy of our souls to attack and overcome him. David's fall did not begin with his first look at Bathsheba but with the relaxing of his discipline and duty.
If we become complacent and comfortable about our spiritual life and duty we become an easier target for the enemy. The battle rages everyday and so everyday must find us putting on our spiritual armor and standing at spiritual attention ready to fight the good fight of the faith. Keep yourself planted in the Word. Keep alert in prayer. Keep faithful in duty.
Father, help me not to become spiritually complacent and comfortable but rather to maintain discipline and diligence that I may be ready to stand against the schemes of the evil one and the desires of the sinful nature.
I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark
So began David's fall into sin. When he should have been with the army fighting Israel's battles he stayed in the comfort of his palace. Instead of being disciplined and diligent he settled into complacency and comfort. He was in the wrong place as far as his responsibility to God was concerned. He was in the right place for the enemy of our souls to attack and overcome him. David's fall did not begin with his first look at Bathsheba but with the relaxing of his discipline and duty.
If we become complacent and comfortable about our spiritual life and duty we become an easier target for the enemy. The battle rages everyday and so everyday must find us putting on our spiritual armor and standing at spiritual attention ready to fight the good fight of the faith. Keep yourself planted in the Word. Keep alert in prayer. Keep faithful in duty.
Father, help me not to become spiritually complacent and comfortable but rather to maintain discipline and diligence that I may be ready to stand against the schemes of the evil one and the desires of the sinful nature.
I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark
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