Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. (1 Peter 3:8 ESV)
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Verse of the day – Unity of Mind
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Monthly Archives: February 2012
Sin Brings Shame
Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not become partners with them; for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,
“Awake, O sleeper,
and arise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.”
Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.(Ephesians 5:1-21 ESV)
Yep, sin brings shame. I know it because I have experienced it. The thing is, I have a Facebook account since 2007, yet I was saved in 2009. I realized I used to like a lot of things that were really bad, they reflected sins of insecurity and idolatry in my life. As I looked through my Facebook account and edited my “likes” and websites I was ashamed to read that my testimony in front of people, was embarrassing. At the time I “liked” these tv shows, websites and all the bad things I saw, I was proud I liked them, I mean I really liked them. I wasted my time in them. I never realized how bad they were and in my BLINDNESS I pursued them and I let everyone know about that. Now I deleted them because I wanted to keep a good testimony and I didn’t want to be a stumbling block to another believer.
That was a good reminder of a couple of things:
1. My heart is sinful and I’m able to deceive myself. I can blind myself. I can think something is right, but it might be wrong, that’s why I need God’s Word.
Open my eyes, that I may behold
wondrous things out of your law.
(Psalm 119:18 ESV)
2. God’s truth does set you free! The gospel changes people! I know now those things are not acceptable for a Christian and I dont like them anymore. Some of the things I liked were dishonoring to parents and dishonoring to God. And as Christians we should stay away from that. Because we have a new nature, we despise those things!
Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.
(John 17:17 ESV)
3. God is working! God is growing Christians all the time! I was happy to know He showed me what was right, because He was merciful to me. But I needed to submit to the authority of His Word first, that’s the only way Christians can be changed.
And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
(Philippians 1:6 ESV)
Don’t do something that you would be ashamed of later. Prove and test everything by God’s word. Try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. (Ephesians 5:10 ESV)
Blessed are those whose way is blameless,
who walk in the law of the LORD!
Blessed are those who keep his testimonies,
who seek him with their whole heart,
who also do no wrong,
but walk in his ways!
You have commanded your precepts
to be kept diligently.
Oh that my ways may be steadfast
in keeping your statutes!
Then I shall not be put to shame,
having my eyes fixed on all your commandments. (Psalm 119:1-6 ESV)
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Shooting at Chardon High
This morning around 7:30 a.m. there was a shooting at Chardon Highschool. There are 4 injured and 1 suspected shooter. Please be in prayer for all the families involved and for the police as they sort through this.
Quote of the day – Be an Unmistakable Christian
”Let your Christianity be so unmistakable, your eye so single, your heart so whole, your walk so straightforward, that all who see you may have no doubt Whose you are, and Whom you serve.” -J.C. Ryle
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Hymn of the Day – Nearer Still Nearer
Nearer Still Nearer By: Leila Naylor Morris
Nearer, still Nearer,Close to Thy heart,
Draw me, my Savior, SO precious Thou art!
Fold me, Oh fold me, close to Thy breast,
Shelter me safe in that haven of rest;
Shelter me safe in that haven of rest.
Nearer, still nearer, nothing I bring,
Naught as an offering to Jesus, my King;
Only my sinful, now contrite heart,
Grant me the cleansing Thy blood doth impart,
Grant me the cleansing Thy blood doth impart.
Nearer, still nearer, Lord, to be Thine!
Sin, with its follies, I gladly resign,
All of its pleasures, pomp and its pride,
Give me but Jesus, my Lord, crucified,
Give me but Jesus, my Lord, crucified.
Nearer, still nearer, while life shall last,
‘Till safe in glory my anchor is cast;
Through endless ages, ever to be,
Nearer, my Savior, still nearer to Thee,
Nearer, my Savior, still nearer to Thee.
To listen to an arrangement of this hymn by Dan Forrest, click here: http://beckenhorstpress.com/audio/1755.mp3
James 4:8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
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Ordinary Men
But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.(2 Corinthians 4:7 ESV)
[God]..does great things beyond searching out, and marvelous things beyond number.(Job 9:10 ESV)
While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he [Jesus] saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Immediately they left their nets and followed Him.(Matthew 4:18-20 ESV)
Our God has power to do amazing things, I mean He created the earth! It’s amazing that I can read my Bible today because of the hard work of 12 ordinary men whom God used as TOOLS to show His power and His glory. They were just men with different skills. And they were sinners. They didn’t have a whole New Testament written and they sure didn’t have the Bible in pocket size that they could carry everywhere and read anytime like we do. They didn’t have great theology teachers or amazing sermons to listen to like we do. Yet God accomplished great things through them. They sinned, but they were growing in Christ–likeness. The same Peter, who denied Jesus, is the same Peter who boldly speaks in front of thousands of people in Acts. The same John who wanted to sit next to Christ in His kingdom is the same one who writes about loving others and abiding in God’s love in 1 John, a love that would want the best for others, not self promotion. The apostles shared the gospel tremendously with people, they wrote great epistles that built up tons of believers in the first century churches and still build up believers today. Because of their hard work, the gospel came to OUR EARS more than 2000 years later! And you and I are being encouraged by them in the Scriptures!!!! But let’s not lose the focus. These ordinary men became unique not because of who they were or what they did. We don’t recall a “Great Peter” or “Amazing John” or at least that was not their point. They were amazing because their main point was exalting Christ’s name. That was the business they were about and only God made their efforts toward the gospel to yield fruit. Do we realize God doesn’t change and He still can use ordinary people like you and me? He calls people and once He does that, the people become EXTRAORDINARY people, (yes maybe not amazing to the world around us, but yes spiritual men and women!!) literally out of this world, unique, not the normal people! He can do great things for the Gospel sake through you, you just need to let Him have your life. Let it be consecrated to Him. Like the disciples who left ALL for Him. Surrender then to Christ. He is pleased in using those whom He calls and those who are dependent on Him. Don’t have a small view of what God can do (Again, He is Creator, He can do BIG things! Take a look outside, see the grass? What makes it green? See the sun? What holds the sun in a perfect distance that it will not burn us to death? See your hands? What gives them the perfect size and shape? God does!). Honor Him, be strengthened by Him through His Word and let Him use you. Pray that He will use you. Know you are not worthy to be used because you are imperfect, but God’s power is shown through your weaknesses. If God only needed 12 ordinary men consecrated to Him to spread the gospel around the world and write letters that continue to help the church grow today, imagine what He can do this generation with so many of us if we all as Christians would have a gospel surrendered heart!!! God could use us to accomplish great things.
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Quote of the Day- Main Pursuit of Every Believer
Soulwinning is the chief business of the Christian minister; indeed, it should be the main pursuit of every true believer. We should each say with Simon Peter, “I go a fishing,” and with Paul our aim should be, “That I might by all means save some.”~ Charles H. Spurgeon The Soul Winner
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Verses of the day – Do Not Be Conformed
“For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.” (1 John 2:16 ESV)
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:2 ESV)
“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.” (Philippians 4:8-9 ESV)
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Quote of the Day- The Greatest Injustice
“You know what’s unfair? Having a knowledge of the gospel, and work with people, know people, see people, have relatives who are unsaved; and keep it [the gospel] to ourselves. That’s the greatest injustice my mind can think of.”~Randy Jaeggli
For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”
(Romans 10:13-15 ESV)
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Verses of the day – God Provides
“If then God so clothe the grass, which is today in the field, and tomorrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?” -Luke 12:28
“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” -Matthew 6:33
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