Jump Start Mailing List - No. 1870
01/28/14 12:32 AM
God does not seem comfortable with our excuses and we shouldn't either.
Luke 5 records for us an account of a man brought to Jesus. Jesus healed
the man because those who brought him ignored the excuses they could have
made in bringing the man in. The man himself could have used many excuses
as to why he could not have gotten to Jesus for healing. Verse 24 tells what
Jesus said to the man: "I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your
house." What excuses do we use as reasons why we are stopped from listening
to Jesus. "It is too cold" or "I am too sick" or so many others. We need to ask
ourselves, "Am I really comfortable with the excuses I make?"
Have a great day!
Luke 5 records for us an account of a man brought to Jesus. Jesus healed
the man because those who brought him ignored the excuses they could have
made in bringing the man in. The man himself could have used many excuses
as to why he could not have gotten to Jesus for healing. Verse 24 tells what
Jesus said to the man: "I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your
house." What excuses do we use as reasons why we are stopped from listening
to Jesus. "It is too cold" or "I am too sick" or so many others. We need to ask
ourselves, "Am I really comfortable with the excuses I make?"
Have a great day!
Jump Start Mailing List - No. 1869
01/27/14 07:20 AM
Differences do not have to mean disagreements. Romans 14:19 reminds us:
"Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which
one may edify another." We all have differences in how we feel things should be,
but if we let the Bible speak, and not our opinions, we will then be able to agree to
disagree about things that are not spiritual matters found in Scripture. If someone
feels it would be better for someone not to dress in a certain way, that is a difference
in our opinion not something that God's Word puts as a requirement for us. Think
about all those areas where we are inserting our way, rather than to let God's Way
speak.
Have a great day!
"Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which
one may edify another." We all have differences in how we feel things should be,
but if we let the Bible speak, and not our opinions, we will then be able to agree to
disagree about things that are not spiritual matters found in Scripture. If someone
feels it would be better for someone not to dress in a certain way, that is a difference
in our opinion not something that God's Word puts as a requirement for us. Think
about all those areas where we are inserting our way, rather than to let God's Way
speak.
Have a great day!
Jump Start Mailing List - No. 1868
01/24/14 12:02 AM
Mending broken relationships is partnering with God. The mission of Jesus
seemed to be to restore broken relationships. First, man and God, and then
people to people. John 3:16 says all that to us today: "For God so loved the
world" so Jesus was to personally reconcile everyone to God. God used His
Son to be the vehicle to make that possible. Jesus was sent to correct the
damage done by broken relationships. Remember Jesus said in John 14:19
"Because I live, you will live also." God sent Jesus to tell us that by following
Jesus and what He taught, we could have that relationship with God,
just as Jesus has.
Have a great day!
seemed to be to restore broken relationships. First, man and God, and then
people to people. John 3:16 says all that to us today: "For God so loved the
world" so Jesus was to personally reconcile everyone to God. God used His
Son to be the vehicle to make that possible. Jesus was sent to correct the
damage done by broken relationships. Remember Jesus said in John 14:19
"Because I live, you will live also." God sent Jesus to tell us that by following
Jesus and what He taught, we could have that relationship with God,
just as Jesus has.
Have a great day!
Jump Start Mailing List - No. 1867
01/23/14 09:36 AM
How do you know that an apple tree is healthy and growing? By the quality of
fruit it produces. Jesus recognized that we needed something to show us what
that means in our lives as well. Matthew 12:33 "Either make the tree good and
its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by
its fruit." We may think we are growing like that good tree when we may not truly
be growing at all. Jesus taught us that examining ourselves helps us know how
we are growing. Self-awareness is the fruit of personal growth. If we are doing
the same thing we did last year and the year before that and are not producing
good fruit, perhaps we need to apply some fertilizer around that tree. That would
mean studying with the idea of looking for deeper meaning in the Scripture. It
could mean going a little further in what we do or say with people.
Examine and learn from that examination.
Have a great day!
fruit it produces. Jesus recognized that we needed something to show us what
that means in our lives as well. Matthew 12:33 "Either make the tree good and
its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by
its fruit." We may think we are growing like that good tree when we may not truly
be growing at all. Jesus taught us that examining ourselves helps us know how
we are growing. Self-awareness is the fruit of personal growth. If we are doing
the same thing we did last year and the year before that and are not producing
good fruit, perhaps we need to apply some fertilizer around that tree. That would
mean studying with the idea of looking for deeper meaning in the Scripture. It
could mean going a little further in what we do or say with people.
Examine and learn from that examination.
Have a great day!