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 Posted: Sun Aug 13, 2006 8:49 am
Thou Shalt Not Take the Name of the Lord Thy God in Vain
We hear God’s name used so frequently today in sitcoms, movies, plays and everyday conversations, that it’s easy to forget how serious this commandment is. God’s name reflects His holy character. His name is sacred. How we use His name echoes how we feel about Him. If we use His name in a curse or to get a laugh or in frustration, we’re showing that we have no respect for His holiness. God wants us to use His name in ways that reflect His godliness.
So let’s do a quick recap: The first commandment instructs us to put God first in our lives. The second commandment is that we get the right picture or image of God. This third commandment instructs us to think about God in the right way and to use His name accordingly. Whatever you think about, eventually determines what you become. Your thoughts define your vocabulary and your actions.
Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “A man is what he thinks about all day long.” Marcus Aurelius (also known as Marc Anthony), one of the wisest men of ancient Rome, said, “Our life is what our thoughts make of it.” But way before Emerson and Anthony were on the scene, King Solomon told us in Proverbs that whatever we think about in our hearts shows up in our character.
Ask God to help you think about things that are lovely, pure, true and honest so you’ll constantly be dwelling on the holy qualities of God Himself. When you’re saturated with those thoughts, it’s difficult to take His name in vain.
Have you profaned God’s holy name. How’s your language? Does it mirror a holy God or what the culture around you screams? If you’re reading and watching entertainment that profanes His name, you’ll eventually become desensitized to it. And, of course, once you’re desensitized, it’s extremely easy to let His name slip in profane ways.
We can also profane God by not taking Him seriously. To talk about God but choose not to live like Him is profanity. God doesn’t want your lip service; He wants your life service. We can also profane His name by rejecting His forgiveness. When we sin, there is only One who can forgive and cleanse us — Jesus Christ. To rationalize our sin and refuse to admit that we have truly sinned, is profaning God’s name.
Know It!
With the help of the Holy Spirit, your language, your actions, your life can all reflect the holy character of God Himself.
Read It!
Exodus 20:7; Proverbs 23:7; Philippians 4:8; Matthew 7:24.
Pray It!
Do you need to seek God’s forgiveness for any profanity in your life? He’s ready and willing to forgive.
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Posted: Mon Aug 14, 2006 8:42 am
Remember the Sabbath Day, To Keep it Holy
God gave us the Sabbath as a reward for our labor. The one who works, deserves to rest. When we overlook this precious gift from God, we’re cheating ourselves. God also gave us the Sabbath so we could become re- energized. Batteries and people are a lot alike. We both run down. We both need to be re-charged.
Think of God as an eternal power outlet. When you take time to plug into His power, you automatically receive new energy, new life, new power. Trying to run on reserve can only be temporary. A run-down person is unproductive and ineffective. These same principles are at work spiritually as well. Not only do our physical bodies need to be replenished; our souls need to be revived as well.
It’s well documented that people who consistently take one day off a week to worship God, replenish themselves and have fellowship with other believers are not only happier and more productive during their work week, but they’re also more fulfilled spiritually and physically than those who don’t set the Sabbath aside.
God yearns to speak with His children. But to hear His voice requires that we learn to become still before Him. One of the best ways to do this is to make a good habit out of setting aside the Sabbath to focus on Him, learn more about Him, worship Him, fellowship with other believers and receive His replenishment for the coming week.
There’s an old saying, “That really got my goat.” This phrase began with the custom of placing a goat in the stall of a high-strung race horse. Just being in the same stall with the calm goat helped the anxious race horse to relax. Sometimes, before an important race, competitors would steal the goal from a horse’s stall. The horse would again become anxious and high- strung and wouldn’t run his best.
We, too, can easily become high-strung and anxious about life. That’s why we need spiritual renewal and physical relaxation. God, our Creator, knows us much better than we know ourselves. So when He commanded that we set aside a day to remember Him, He did it for our benefit.
Know It!
You can’t go wrong by keeping this command. But overlooking it, can damage your spiritual and physical well-being.
Read It!
Exodus 20:8-11; Psalm 46:10; 1 Thessalonians 4:11- 12; Revelation 3:20.
Pray It!
Ask God to re-energize you. Make time this week to focus more intently on Him, His power and His healing. Be still long enough to hear His voice.
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Posted: Tue Aug 15, 2006 8:50 am
Honor Thy Father and Thy Mother
This is the first commandment God gave us that deals with our relationship with other people. It’s also the first commandment that ends with a promise. This commandment is so important that God made sure it not only showed up in the Old Testament, but He also carried it over to the New Testament in the book of Ephesians.
What does it mean to honor your parents? Does this command mean you have to agree with them? No. God knows your parents even better that you do! He created them. He understands their frailty, their weaknesses and their faults. He knows they’ll sometimes make decisions that aren’t the best. There will be days when your feelings are hurt by their actions and their words. But through it all, God still commands that you honor them.
To honor your parents means to respect the position of authority God has placed them in over you. The structure He has created places God at the top, parents underneath God’s instruction, and children underneath parental guidance. Ideally, it’s much easier to honor parents when they’re honorable themselves. But sometimes they’re not. When they ask you to go against God’s law, you are not held responsible to obey them.
If your parents ask you to do something illegal or immoral, you’re still commanded to honor them by being polite and respectful, but God doesn’t expect you to obey them.
The promise God gives us when we keep this command and honor our parents is that we’ll have a long and fulfilling life. To honor your parents means to be polite, show kindness, express your love to them. It’s okay to disagree with them — just do it in a godly manner — and continue to honor and obey.
It’s obvious parents will make mistakes. Think about it: They never got to attend a “School of Perfect Parenting.” They simply had you . . . and they’re learning by doing. You’ll someday make mistakes with your children. Be willing to give your parents room to fail. But continue to encourage them, honor them and love them no matter what.
Know It!
When was the last time you told your parents that you love them? Do it as often as possible—every single day if you have the chance! They’re not perfect, but they’re God’s special gift to you.
Read It!
Exodus 20: 12; Ephesians 6:1-3; Proverbs 1:8-9; Proverbs 3:1-10.
Pray It!
Spend time thanking God for your parents and praying for their spiritual and physical health.
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Posted: Wed Aug 16, 2006 8:42 am
Thou Shalt Not Kill
When God commands we not kill, it’s interesting He didn’t simply focus on physical murder. There are other ways to commit murder. Flip back to May 24- 27 for another peek at this topic.
Within the Ten Commandments, God gave us five rules to govern our relationships with each other. The first one is “Thou Shalt Not Kill.”
Chances are, the first thing that popped into your mind when you read that, was the act of murdering another person. But this rule also applies to ourselves. Since we didn’t create our lives, we don’t have the authority to decide when our life should end. And to commit suicide is breaking this commandment. Yes, God understands a mind and heart that are emotionally unstable and psychologically damaged. But He has also commanded that we not murder. So what about the person who commits suicide? That person is taking an extremely big risk. He’s willingly and knowingly breaking this important commandment of God.
This command also applies, obviously, to the taking of another’s life. Again, since we were not given control of how long a creation of God lives, when we murder someone, we’re stealing that control from our Creator. But there are even degrees to which we can act that eventually lead to murder.
For instance, when you speed down the interstate with friends in your car, you’re taking the risk of breaking this command. When friends encourage others to drink, take ecstasy or engage in other harmful behavior, they’re playing around with this holy commandment.
And, as discussed in the devotions in May 24-27, we can also commit spiritual murder. Jotham was a king in the Old Testament who chose not to go to church. He was a good man, and he had high morals, but simply didn’t want to go to church. When the people in his jurisdiction saw his example, they stopped going to church, too. The end result was that the nation eventually became corrupt. Jotham committed spiritual murder during his reign.
Through this commandment, God is talking about much more than an act. He’s talking about a lifestyle. Because He created life and cherishes it, He wants us to value life as well — all of life. He wants us to cherish the unborn, to take care of the animal kingdom, the plant life and our world at large.
Know It!
The old hymn “This Is My Father’s World” by Maltbie Babcock and Franklin Sheppard helps us focus on the view God desires we have of ALL His creation: “This is my Father’s world. And to my listening ears, all nature sings, and round me rings the music of the spheres. This is my Father’s world; I rest me in the thought of rocks and trees, of skies and seas — His hand the wonders wrought.”
Read It!
Exodus 20:13; 2 Chronicles 27:2; Matthew 5:21; 1 John 3:15.
Pray It!
Ask God to help you appreciate and understand the value of life on a deep level.
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Posted: Thu Aug 17, 2006 6:02 am
Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery
Sexual intimacy outside of marriage is considered to be adulterous. Adultery is violating the marriage vows of faithfulness. If you’re single and experiencing sexual intimacy, you’re still violating the vows of marriage — even though you haven’t yet spoken those vows in front of an audience. The vows are still there.
The speed limit on your city streets may be 35 miles per hour. Even if you don’t have a driver’s license, the law still exists. You don’t have to be 16 and of legal driving age to break this law. You could break the law on a motor scooter. In the same way, you don’t have to be married to break the vows of marriage.
We often equate virginity with sexual purity. The truth is, just become someone is a virgin doesn’t mean he or she is sexually pure. Virginity means that someone hasn’t engaged in sexual intercourse. Sexual purity isn’t simply refraining from intercourse. Sexual purity is a lifestyle. It involves what we wear, what we listen to, what we watch, who we date, what we say.
You may have friends who “have done everything but” and claim they’re sexually pure. Again, sexual purity is much more than simply refraining from intercourse. When God commands us not to commit adultery, He’s commanding that we not experience sexual intimacy outside the bonds of marriage.
Why is it wrong? Because sex was created by God to act as a bonding agent — a sort of superglue that cements two people closer than anything else can. When we engage in that bonding experience outside of marriage, we’re becoming closer and more intimate with another human than God intended. His gifts of sex was intended for marriage and marriage only.
God not only wants to protect you physically (against sexually transmitted infections, pregnancy, AIDS), He also wants to protect you emotionally and spiritually. He’s commanding you say no now, so you can have a more fulfilling yes in the future!
What if you’ve been sexually abused? Does God hold that against you? Absolutely not! You were a victim of a hideous crime, and when God looks at you, He sees a pure and a whole person.
Know It!
There are always consequences when God’s commands are ignored. He has clearly given a bright red stop light regarding sexual intimacy outside of marriage. Wait until you’ve said your vows and have been pronounced husband and wife to follow the green light.
Read It!
Exodus 20:14; Psalm 51:3; Matthew 5:27-28; Ephesians 5:3.
Pray It!
Make a pledge to God to save yourself physically and emotionally for your future spouse.
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Posted: Fri Aug 18, 2006 5:53 am
Thou Shalt Not Steal
Jesus once told the story of a man journeying from Jerusalem to Jericho. You might remember this as the story of the Good Samaritan. The man was robbed, beaten and left by the side of the road. A priest and a Levite passed by the man but didn’t stop to help. A Samaritan saw the man and stopped to help him. This Samaritan also made financial provisions for the man and made sure he was nursed back to health.
Obviously, the robbers believed “What belongs to this guy, also belongs to me. I can take whatever I want.” That’s active and blatant stealing — the most common way this commandment is broken.
But there are other ways to steal that aren’t quite as blatant. To carelessly go into debt without the means to pay off what you’ve purchased is stealing. Many people rack up huge bills on several credit cards, and then simply declare bankruptcy. To purposefully go into debt knowing you don’t have the means to pay your bills, is breaking this eighth command from God.
To be hired for a full day’s work and not put in a full day is also stealing. Taking too long on a break, coming in late, leaving early — all these habits are ways of taking what’s not rightfully yours.
We can also steal by taking someone’s good reputation and purposefully ruining it. Every time you gossip about someone and negate their character, you’re stealing from him. You may have friends who have tried to steal your faith. Perhaps they’ve laughed at you and made fun of your belief in Christ. They’re trying to rob you of something you own.
We can also steal by refusing to share with others. Jesus told of a man who was very wealthy and had much more than he needed. Instead of sharing his wealth, he simply built bigger barns and hoarded what he had. Everything you have was given to you by God Himself. It’s possible to hold so tightly onto your material possessions that you end up losing them. God meant for you to share what He has blessed you with. To refuse to do that is stealing, because you’re not giving away what God intended you to share with another in need.
Know It!
You can also steal from God by not giving Him what is rightfully His. Have you given Him complete control of your money, your talent, your service? Do you give generously in tithes and offerings?
Read It!
Exodus 20:15; Luke 10:30-37; Luke 12:16-21; Malachi 3:8.
Pray It!
Pray Mark 8:36, and tell God to make you aware of anything you’ve stolen. Then ask for His strength to make it right.
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Posted: Sat Aug 19, 2006 9:08 am
Thou Shalt Not Bear False Witness Against Thy Neighbor
To bear false witness is to deceive, and to deceive is to lie. It’s easy to deceive others by leaving something out of a story, or by telling only part of the truth instead of the whole truth. That’s why when we’re sworn in by a court of law, we have to promise to “tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.” In other words, a judge is commanding that we leave nothing out; that we focus intensely on all that is true and nothing else.
A far greater Judge commands the same of His children. Whether it’s deceiving our neighbor, our friends, our parents or strangers, God says it’s wrong. Deception has become a way of life for many people. Instead of being truthful, they twist and deceive to make themselves look good. Which of the following can be labeled as deceitful answers?
• “Josh, were you cheating on the quiz?” Mrs. Wilson asked.
“Oh, come on, Mrs. Wilson! Surely you know me better than that!” he replied as he slid the cheat sheet inside his jacket.
• You’ve had a crush on Adam for two weeks but have recently heard he likes Tabitha. She doesn’t know he likes her, and when she approaches you with, “Isn’t Adam great? What a guy!” you respond with, “Don’t bother. I heard he’s already taken.”
• It’s obvious this is the sales clerk’s first day on the job. Though you’re not counting every piece of change he places in your hand, you’re pretty sure he gave you an extra bill. He shuts the register and looks confused. “Did I give you the right amount back?” he naively asks. “I wasn’t counting,” you respond. “Okay,” he says with a smile and a shrug of his shoulders. “It’s been really hectic today.”
In each of the above situations the person responding hasn’t been completely honest, therefore deceit took place. And when we purposefully deceive someone, we’re breaking this ninth commandment.
Aren’t you glad God is totally honest with you? He doesn’t withhold any of His truth from you. He expects no less of you. But what about the times when the truth will hurt someone? you may be thinking. There are ways to tell the truth cushioned in love. For example, Hillary has a new dress that’s way less than flattering on her. She says, “How do you like my new dress?” Instead of responding, “I love it!” you could say, “Hillary, I’m excited that you got a new dress, but I’ve seen other colors that bring out your features better.”
Know It!
There are no lies or deceit in God’s kingdom, so Start practicing honesty right now. Determine to live a life of integrity. Make it your goal to known for gentle truthfulness. Let others know you can be fully trusted.
Read It!
Exodus 20:16; Psalm 63:11; Proverbs 19:22; Revelation 21:8.
Pray It!
Ask God to help you develop a lifestyle of pure honesty and integrity. Seek His forgiveness for any deceit that comes to your mind.
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Posted: Sun Aug 20, 2006 8:38 am
Thou Shalt Not Covet
God’s final rule for life is that we shouldn’t covet. In other words, we shouldn’t want what our neighbor has. God knows, much better than we do, that material possessions won’t make us happy. While it’s natural to admire what someone else has and even think, I’d love to have a car like that! it’s when we become envious that we’re breaking this tenth commandment. When we envy what someone else has, we become resentful of him. A covetous spirit leads to spiritual downfall.
To covet something means we begin thinking inward, focusing on ourselves and what we want and how we can get it. This naturally removes our focus from God. He wants us to forget about ourselves and become lost in Him. When we do that, we naturally want to meet the needs of others instead of constantly fulfill our own.
This final commandment from God teaches us to learn the secret of contentment — to be happy with what we have. How do learn this secret? By allowing God to produce the fruit of His Spirit in our lives — love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. When we’re truly living out these characteristics, we allow them to take the place of our sinful nature: sexual immorality, impurity, debauchery, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, discord, jealousy, rage, selfishness and envy.
Since true contentment is found only in a solid, growing relationship with Jesus Christ, we need to allow Him to meet all of our needs. When you become envious of someone, ask God to help you dig a little deeper to see if there’s a more basic need you’re lacking.
For example, if you’re envious of Nathan’s being elected class president, look a little deeper. Maybe you’re feeling insecure, unappreciated or lonely. Ask God to meet your basic needs, and this will help guard against covetousness.
Which of the following statements depict an envious spirit?
• “Wow! Did you see Beth’s new car? I’d love to be driving one just like it someday.”
• “I can’t believe Alex got the new Nikes! I’ve gotta have them. Hmmm. Wonder how I can get them? He doesn’t even need new shoes. I really deserve them! I’ll watch and see if he leaves them in his locker during P.E. If he does . . . too bad, Alex! They were meant for my feet!”
• “Hi, Sami. I heard you’re moving to a new house. One with a pool. I guess you think you’re pretty special now, don’t you?”
Again, there’s nothing wrong with admiring something that someone else has — as in the first example. It’s only when that admiration becomes selfish, arrogant and destructive that it turns into envy.
Know It!
When you allow God to be the source of your contentment, you’re automatically guarding against envy.
Read It!
Exodus 20:17; Proverbs 14:30; Galatians 5:19-26; Philippians 4:11-13.
Pray It!
Pray for total contentment in your relationship with Jesus Christ.
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Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2006 8:28 am
Do You Understand?
Some things are just tough to understand. For example . . .
• In medical terms, a black eye is technically a “bilateral periorbital hematoma.”
• Years ago, rabies was called hydrophobia, because one of the strangest symptoms of the disease has to do with the repulsion and fear of water. Here’s what happens: Once someone has been inflicted with rabies, the act of drinking water immediately causes violent throat spasms choking, gagging and great panic. As the disease progresses, even the sight or sound of water will trigger these reactions.
• If we could place your circulatory system in a straight line, it would measure 60,000 miles. That’s enough to circle the globe two and a half times!
• When searching for the healthiest place to build a hospital, doctors in ninth-century Baghdad, hung pieces of meat at various locations. The site at which the meat last turned rotten, was the place they would build the hospital.
It’s tough to understand the intricacy of the human circulatory system, why physicians thought the way they did in ninth-century Baghdad and why rabies and water don’t get along. But thankfully, it’s not important we truly understand these things. It is important, though, that we understand, know and put into practice the Ten Commandments.
Aren’t you glad God gave us 10 rules for living that are easy to understand? Think about it: We don’t have to analyze them, interpret them or discuss them. We simply need to accept them. They’re black and white. There are no gray areas to complicate things. They’re simple rules given by God to help us get the very most out of life.
If you’ve never broken one of God’s commandments, you don’t need a Savior. But each one of us is guilty, because each one of us is born with sin. It’s only because of God’s grace that we can be forgiven when we break His heart by breaking His commands.
Know It!
It’s impossible to keep God’s commands in our own strength. We need His power to live the holy life He commands we live. Realize these commands weren’t given to make your life miserable, rather they were given so that you can truly live abundantly!
Read It!
Exodus 20:3-17; John 3:16; John 10:10; Philippians 4:13.
Pray It!
Seek God’s forgiveness for any commandments you have broken and ask Him to empower you with His strength so you may live in obedience to His rules for living.
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Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2006 4:54 am
Are You Paying Attention?
Ready for a fun brain teaser? Okay, here goes! Read the following statement:
FINISHED FILES ARE THE RE-
SULT OF YEARS OF SCIENTIF-
IC STUDY COMBINED WITH
THE EXPERIENCE OF YEARS.
Now count the F’s in the above statement. Count only once!
Guess what — there are actually six F’s in that statement. Many people only count three; some will find four or five their second time around. But there are actually six.
It really does make a difference to pay close attention to the details, doesn’t it? Flip back to the devotions on January 1-3 dealing with details. When you started this devotional, you pledged to commit yourself to two important spiritual details: Giving God 100 percent and meeting with Him on a daily basis. So how’s your attention to those two details?
Are you paying close attention to what God is trying to teach you? Are you truly growing closer to Him every day? The truth is, God dreams BIG dreams for you! But ignoring Him and not paying attention to His voice can cause you to miss out on all He has in store for you.
One way to help your spiritual growth is to develop some accountability. Ask God to bring someone to your mind — someone you admire spiritually — who can ask you the tough questions to ensure you’re “paying attention spiritually.”
Seek someone of the same sex. (When you try to develop an accountability relationship with a friend of the opposite sex, it soon becomes complicated with feelings and confusion.) You may want to choose someone a little older. But it needs to be someone you know is spiritually grounded, someone who will keep your confidences and someone who will daily hold you up in prayer.
After you’ve found an accountability partner, establish a specific time you can get together. At this first meeting, share prayer requests, struggles and praises of what God is doing in each of your lives. Then decide how often, when and where you’ll continue to meet. You’ll be surprised at how much easier it is to pay attention to God’s voice when you know someone will soon be asking you what He’s teaching you!
Know It!
God wants to make sure you “get it.” That’s why He provided the Bible, and that’s why He brings spiritually mature friends into our lives.
Read It!
Romans 8:37-39; Romans 14:9-13; Romans 15:7-9, 13.
Pray It!
Ask God to bring someone to your mind whom you can approach about becoming accountable.
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Posted: Wed Aug 23, 2006 8:53 am
Angels of Protection
Diane, a young Christian college student, was home for the summer. She had spent the evening with friends sharing and laughing about their combined college experiences. Diane hadn’t planned on staying so late, and when she looked at the clock at noticed it was past midnight, she wished she had kept better track of time. She had to walk home.
But it was a small town, and she only lived a few blocks away. As she started on her way, she silently asked God to protect her as she walked underneath the tall elm trees that lined the neighborhood streets. She decided to take a short cut — the alley — would shave off about five minutes on her walk home. But halfway down the alley, she noticed a man standing at the end of the road . . . as though he were waiting for her.
Diane grew increasingly uneasy and continued to pray for God’s protection from harm and danger. As she neared the end of the alley, she felt as though a blank of comfort and security were wrapped around her. She also had the unusual sensation that someone was walking with her! When she finally reached the end of the alley, she walked right past the man and arrived home safely.
The next day, she read in the newspaper that a young girl had been raped in the same alley just 20 minutes after she had been in that same spot. Knowing it could have been her, she began to weep. After thanking the Lord for protecting her, she decided to help this young woman by going to the police station and describing the man she saw.
The police asked her to look at a line-up of suspects. She immediately pointed to the man she had seen in the alley. When the man was told he had been identified, he broke down and confessed. The officer thanked Diane for her involvement and asked if there was anything they could do for her. She replied that she wanted to ask the man a question. The officer took her question to the rapist: “Why didn’t you attack the girl you saw about 20 minutes before the other girl passed down the alley?”
“Because she wasn’t alone,” the rapist responded. “She had two tall men standing on either side of her.”
Know It!
Never underestimate the power of prayer! God doesn’t want you to make foolish decisions then expect Him to bail you out, but He does help those who call on His name in a sincere manner. He sends angels to protect and guide you.
Read It!
Hebrews 13:2; Hebrews 13:5; 2 Peter 1:16; 2 Peter 3:18.
Pray It!
Ask God daily for His supernatural protection and guidance in your life.
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Posted: Thu Aug 24, 2006 8:59 am
The Power of Water
We know water is important . . . after all, most of the world is made up of water. But here are some amazing facts about water you might not know!
• Research tells us that drinking eight to 10 glasses of water a day can significantly reduce pain for almost 80 percent of the people who suffer from back and join pain.
• Seventy-five percent of all Americans are chronically dehydrated.
• A mere two percent drop in body water can trigger fuzzy short-term memory, trouble with basic math and difficulty focusing on the computer screen or on a printed page.
• In 37 percent of Americans, the thirst mechanism is so weak that it’s often mistaken for hunger.
• One glass of water shut down midnight hunger pangs for almost 100 percent of the dieters studied in a University of Washington research project.
• Even mild dehydration will slow down one’s metabolism as much as three percent.
• Lack of water is the number one reason for daytime fatigue.
• Drinking just five glasses of water daily decreases the risk of colon cancer by 45 percent, plus it can slash the risk of breast cancer by 79 percent, and one is 50 percent less likely to develop bladder cancer.
It’s obvious that our bodies need water — and lots of it! We can live a few days without food, but we can’t live long without water. And just as important as it is to be sure we’re drinking the amount of water we should each day, it’s also essential that we consume living water every day. Jesus told the Samaritan woman at the well that He was living water. As she was drawing water from the well to her parched, dry lips, He explained that He could provide an H2O supplement that would last throughout eternity.
At first she didn’t understand what He was talking about, but as He continued to look into her eyes and tell her the things about her life that no one else knew, she realized He was the Messiah. She accepted His forgiveness for her sins and began walking with the Creator of the universe.
Know It!
God wants to fill your life with spiritual nourishment. To get the spiritual vitamins you need, make it a necessity to spend time with your heavenly Father every single day.
Read It!
Zechariah 14:8; John 4:1-26; John 7:38; 1 Peter 3:21.
Pray It!
Ask God to give you an unquenchable thirst for His Word.
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Posted: Fri Aug 25, 2006 7:23 pm
Handling Adversity
“It’s great to see you!” Pastor Steve announced to the youth group at the beginning of his lesson.
Amanda sighed. Sure hope tonight’s lesson is good, she thought. I have so much homework, it’s ridiculous! Mom and Dad are fighting again, no one knows if Joey’s coming back home or if he’s run away for good this time. She sighed again. Life reeks!
“I understand many of you are going through some really tough times right now,” Pastor Steve continued. “So tonight, we’re going to get really basic. I’m going to present something to you that’s so simple, you may wonder if I’ve mistaken you for the children’s department. But stick with me, and you’ll walk away with something to hang onto.”
Pastor Steve was always up to something creative. He was always searching for new ways to drive home old truths to the students in his youth group. He asked them to follow him to the church kitchen. There, they noticed three pots of boiling water on the stove.
“Amanda,” Pastor Steve began. “I want you to toss carrots in the first pot, eggs in the second pot and ground coffee beans in the last pot.”
She did, and no one said a word as the contents boiled. Pastor Steve asked Derrick and Marci to read some specific Scriptures. About 20 minutes later, Pastor Steve fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. Then he pulled out the eggs and put them in a bowl. Next he ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl. Turning to Amanda, he said, “What do you see?”
“Carrots, eggs and coffee,” she replied flatly.
Pastor Steve brought her a little closer and asked her to feel the carrots. As she did, she noted that they were soft. He then asked her to take an egg and break it. After peeling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg. Finally, he asked her to sip the coffee. Amanda smiled as she tasted its rich aroma. “I don’t get it, Pastor Steve,” she said. “What does this mean?”
“Each of these faced the same adversity — boiling water — but each reacted differently. When you tossed the carrot into the pot, it went in strong, hard and unrelenting. But after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak.
“You then placed a fragile egg into the boiling water. Its thin outer shell protected its liquid interior. But after sitting in the boiling water, its inside became hardened. The ground coffee beans were unique, weren’t they? After they were in the boiling water, they changed the water.”
Amanda swallowed the lump in her throat. Pastor Steve turned to the youth group. “Which are you? When tough times knock on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?”
Know It!
You, and only you, can decide how you’ll react to the tough times in your life. They can make you a better person . . . if you’ll let them.
Read It!
2 Corinthians 4:8-9; 1 Peter 1:7; 1 Peter 4:1-2; James 1:2-4.
Pray It!
Ask God to use the adversity in your life to make you stronger.
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Posted: Sat Aug 26, 2006 8:46 am
Bitter or Better?
Pastor Steve continued his lesson to the youth group, and Amanda listened carefully. “Think about how you react when tough times hit,” he said. “Are you like the carrot that seems hard, but with pain and adversity do you wilt and become soft and lose your strength?
“Or are you like the egg? Did you used to have a teachable heart? But maybe after a death, a breakup, a divorce or trouble at school, your fluid spirit became hardened and stiff. Your shell may still look the same. But on the inside . . . are you bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and heart?”
Amanda fought back the tears. Wow. This is exactly what I need to hear right now, she thought. I’ve become like the egg. Because of our family problems and everything that’s going on at school, I’m becoming hardened.
“Or are you like the coffee bean?” Pastor Steve continued. “The bean changes the hot water — the thing that’s bringing the pain — to its peak flavor reaching 212 degrees Fahrenheit. When the water gets the hottest, it just tastes better.”
Oh, dear God, Amanda prayed silently, Please forgive me for becoming hardened and unteachable. I want to be like the coffee bean. Help me!
“If you’re like the coffee bean,” Pastor Steve said, “you get better when things are at their worst, and with God’s help you can make things better around you.
“When people talk about you behind your back, does your prayer time increase? Do you continue to praise the Lord? When the hour is darkest and trials are their greatest, does your worship elevate to another level? Gang, the choice is up to you: Become bitter or better.”
Amanda stopped trying to hold back her tears. Before she knew it, some of the youth leaders had surrounded her and were praying with her. Other students, also, were seeking help from the Lord.
“Amanda.” She recognized Pastor Steve’s voice.
“Amanda, this is what the Body of Christ is all about,” he said. “When you’re experiencing difficulty, we want to pray with you, support you and love you.”
Know It!
You may be tempted to stay away from church and youth group when you’re going through a tough time. Fight the urge to be alone and let God help you through other Christians.
Read It!
Isaiah 40:31; Jeremiah 29:11-13; 1 Peter 5:7; 1 Peter 9- 11.
Pray It!
Ask God to help you evaluate what you are in adversity — a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean. Ask Him to help you become better instead of bitter during adversity.
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Posted: Sun Aug 27, 2006 8:40 am
Are You Listening to the Right Directions?
A train was traveling through a horrendous snow storm. A woman with her baby wanted to exit the train at one of the little stations along the route. She repeatedly said, “Don’t forget me!” to the brakeman who was responsible for calling out the stations they approached. The woman’s husband was scheduled to meet her and their baby along the route, and she wanted to make sure they didn’t miss each other in the heavy blizzard.
The train slowed to a stop, and another passenger spoke up. “Maam, this is your station,” he said politely. The woman exited the train into the heavy storm. The train soon started again and continued its route. Almost an hour later, the brakeman came to the area she had been sitting. “Where’s the woman?” he asked as he looked around.
“She got off at the last stop,” the passenger who had spoken to her replied.
“Then she got off at death’s door. The only reason we stopped was because there was something wrong with our engine. That wasn’t her stop!”
The staff asked for volunteers to return to the spot and search for the woman and her child. When they found her, she was covered with ice and snow. The little boy was protected underneath her arms as she had pressed him close to her heart.
She had followed the passenger’s instructions, but they were wrong. He was a fellow traveler simply trying to be polite and help another passenger. But he didn’t have the correct information. Many of your friends and acquaintances will give you wrong directions — not on purpose — but simply because they don’t know better.
Determine right now who you’re going to listen to. It doesn’t matter how polite, popular or fun someone is, if he’s giving you the wrong directions, you’ll be doomed if you follow them. Jesus Christ and His Holy Word are our authorities. He’s the only One who can tell us how to reach our final destination. And His book — the Holy Bible — is the only road map with the correct directions to heaven.
Friends who practice other religions, and people who say there are many ways to reach your eternal destination, may be articulate and convincing, but they’re giving you false directions. Determine to know God’s voice so well, and strive to know His Holy Word so well, that you can quickly discern wrong directions from the Truth.
Know It!
By placing complete faith in the One who has died for you, conquered death for you, forgiven you and is preparing a place for you in heaven, you’ll be heeding the right directions.
Read It!
Proverbs 23:12; 2 Thessalonians 3:14; 1 Timothy 6:3; 2 Timothy 4:2.
Pray It!
Ask God to help you not be taken in by the voices around you that may sound good but aren’t speaking Truth.
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