Do not be anxious about your life. - Matthew 6:25
Why do we worry? Because we don't believe. We're not really convinced the same Jesus who can keep a sparrow in the air knows where our lost luggage is, or how we'll pay that car repair bill. Or if we believe He can deliver us through our difficulties, we doubt if He will. We let satan sow seeds of doubt in our minds about God's love and care for us. Have you ever done this, I know that I have?
The great antidote to anxiety is to come to God in prayer about EVERYTHING! "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:6-7). Nothing's too big for Him to handle or too small to escape his attention. Paul said we're to come to God "with thanksgiving." We should thank Him for His past faithfulness in delivering us from troubles. We should thank Him for the fact that He's in control of every circumstance of our lives and that nothing can touch us that He doesn't allow. We should thank Him that in His infinite wisdom He's able to work in this circumstance for our good. We can thank Him that He won't allow us to be tempted beyond what we can bear (1 Corinthians 10:13).
The promised result is not deliverance, but the peace of God. One of the reasons we don't find this peace is that all too often we won't settle for anything other than deliverance from the trouble. But God, through Paul, promises us peace, a peace that is unexplainable. It will guard our hearts and minds against anxiety to which you and I are so prone. So when you become overwhelmed today, draw on prayer and believe that God can and will carry you.
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Faith of the Shepherds
Lately, I have been reading a daily devotion from Martin Luther - Here is the one from Dec 24th, enjoy. It is amazing that a man that lived hundreds of years ago, can write about issues that we are still dealing with today!
"When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about." Luke 2:15
If these shepherds hadn't believed the angels, they wouldn't have gone to Bethlehem. Neither would they have done any of what is recorded in Luke. But when unbelievers say, "Yes, I would have certainly believe the message if an angel from heaven announced it to me," they don't know what they are saying. For whoever doesn't receive the Word on its account will never receive it no matter who preaches it - even if all the angels come and preach it to them. Moreover, those who believe the message on account of the one preaching it aren't believing the Word. Neither do they believe in God through the Word. Instead, they believe in the preacher. As a result, their faith doesn't endure.
But those who believe in Word overlook the one who is preaching it. They don't honor the Word because of the person. On the contrary, they honor the person because of the Word. They never place the person higher than the Word. If the preacher is ruined, falls from faith, or begins preaching a different message, the believers would rather let go of the preacher than give up the Word. They would stick with the Word regardless of the person involved or the situation.
This is the true difference between genuine and human faith. Human faith is always attached to the person. It believes, trusts, and honors the Word because of the one who speaks it. On the other hand, genuine faith clings to the Word, which is God himself. Genuine faith believes, trusts, and honors the Word because of what it is, not who said it. Faith so strongly senses that the Word is true that no one can tear it away - not even the same preacher who first brought it.
"When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about." Luke 2:15
If these shepherds hadn't believed the angels, they wouldn't have gone to Bethlehem. Neither would they have done any of what is recorded in Luke. But when unbelievers say, "Yes, I would have certainly believe the message if an angel from heaven announced it to me," they don't know what they are saying. For whoever doesn't receive the Word on its account will never receive it no matter who preaches it - even if all the angels come and preach it to them. Moreover, those who believe the message on account of the one preaching it aren't believing the Word. Neither do they believe in God through the Word. Instead, they believe in the preacher. As a result, their faith doesn't endure.
But those who believe in Word overlook the one who is preaching it. They don't honor the Word because of the person. On the contrary, they honor the person because of the Word. They never place the person higher than the Word. If the preacher is ruined, falls from faith, or begins preaching a different message, the believers would rather let go of the preacher than give up the Word. They would stick with the Word regardless of the person involved or the situation.
This is the true difference between genuine and human faith. Human faith is always attached to the person. It believes, trusts, and honors the Word because of the one who speaks it. On the other hand, genuine faith clings to the Word, which is God himself. Genuine faith believes, trusts, and honors the Word because of what it is, not who said it. Faith so strongly senses that the Word is true that no one can tear it away - not even the same preacher who first brought it.
Christmas?
Well it appears that Christmas plans for many are being changed with the weather. I hope all are safe and enjoy the holiday. As you get ready to celebrate this wonderful time of our Savior's birth, I hope that the extra time that has been given to you that you spend in meditation and reflection of His birth. God has a way of slowing all of us down to listen to him.
I am including a few pics of the last snow storm for DSM, hope that this one is much less.
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