Post by mommadee48 on May 27, 2022 12:59:06 GMT -5
IN TOUCH WITH CHARLES STANLEY:
OBEDIENCE:
A LEARNING PROCESS; READ; (EPHESIANS 6:1-9).
1) THROUGHOUT THE BIBLE, GOD commands His people to obey Him. But submission doesn't come naturally to us because we're all born with a rebellious spirit. We must be taught to obey the LORD, and we begin to understand how to yield through interactions with people in authority over us.
The most common place for learning obedience is the home. Today's passage tells children to honor and obey their mother and father(vv.1-2). God planned that our earliest experiences of authority would involve submitting to parents who love and care for us. Through their admonitions and discipline, we learn what it takes to master our rebellious spirit.
At every stage of life, God places us under leaders, whether parents, teachers, coaches, employers, or governing officials (ROMANS13:1-2). Of course, like all of humanity, these people were born into sin, so they'll make mistakes and sometimes treat us unfairly---but they're still HIS instruments. Whether or not we approve of how we're ruled, people in these roles teach us the value of obedience and the consequences of disobedience.
We often balk at the idea of answering to someone else. But it helps to realize that the ultimate goal is to obey the LORD---and that God's commands are for our good (DEUTERONOMY 10:12-13).
NEXT:
THE CROSS: READ; (1 CORINTHIANS 1:18-25).
THE HEART OF GOD:
2) THE MESSAGE OF THE CROSS SEEMS like foolishness to unbelievers because the "natural person does not accept the things of the SPIRIT of GOD" (1 CORINTHIANS 2:14). Only when our mind is renewed by the Holy Spirit can we begin to fully grasp the wisdom and power of Christ's atoning sacrifice.
People with a worldly mindset often think they have a firm grasp of wisdom, yet they can't understand what leads the lost into a saving relationship with the heavenly Father. To them, it's all a waste of time.
What's more, there are many religions around the world that consider good works to be the means of salvation. However, no amount of kindness of generosity can ever overcome the debt of our sin or reconcile us to a holy God. That's why Jesus Christ, knowing exactly what was necessary to save our souls, offered His blood as a substitutionary atonement on our behalf.
Even when our own ideas might seem to make the most sense, we should realize our heavenly Father is much wiser than we are. He knows what we need before we even ask Him (MATTHEW 6:32). Therefore, let's be grateful that He didn't leave this matter in our hands and thank Him for providing what we could never earn on our own: salvation, forgiveness of sins, and eternal life in His presence.
NEXT:
THOUGHTFUL LIVING; READ (PSALM 25:8-15).
ARE YOU LIVING THOUGHFULLY OR AUTOMATICALLY?
3) IT's EASY TI GET UP EACH MORNING, do our work, enjoy some relaxation or entertainment, and fall into bed each night without giving any thought to God's involvement in our lives. But consider the benefits of keeping our spiritual eyes and ears open throughout the day---to see how God has blessed, guided, protected, and warned us.
Being aware of the Lord's presence reminds us He is always in control and working to accomplish His good purposes. When we look for God's footprints in our days. we discover the scope of His involvement in our life. Maybe He strengthened you for a task or opened a door of opportunity. Perhaps He guided your decisions or helped you respond in a compassionate way to a difficult person. Furthermore, if our ears are attuned to the Lord's warnings and instructions, we're less likely to repeat our mistakes.
Each night before you go to sleep, take some time to reflect on the day's activities. Know that the Lord is constantly with you, guarding you and offering guidance. He wants you to understand life from His perspective as you rely on His wisdom and power to face any challenge.
NEXT:
WHY WE'RE SIFTED; READ (LUKE 22:31-61).
4) IN TODAY's SCRIPTURE, JESUS tells Peter that Satan has demanded permission to sift the disciples like wheat. It seems strange to think that the Enemy would have conversations with God about people on earth, but this is a reality---even Job was discussed (JOB1:6-12).
Have you ever wondered if Satan discusses you?
We may think we aren't significant enough, but our true potential makes us important in the spiritual realm.
We often expect the Adversary to tempt us in our weak points---but he attacks where we are strong, too. In fact, we let down our guard because we have confidence in our strengths, and that's when the Evil One moves in. Consider Peter: He was quick to boast of his loyalty to Jesus, and yet he failed in this very area when he denied knowing Jesus. The Enemy targets believers who understand God's truth, because they 're his biggest threat.
Jesus compared the disciples to wheat because it was sifted through vigorous shaking that separated the chaff from the Kernel. He knows Satan wants to shake our faith loose from its foundation, so we'll go our own way, away from God. Thankfully, the Lord can use this sifting process to purify our faith, positioning us to receive His grace instead.
NEXT:
HOW TO SEEK GOD; READ (PSALM 105:1-8).
5) YESTERDAY WE LEARNED what it means to seek God, but many of us don't know where to begin.
Start with the Scriptures and prayer. Set aside time each day for meditating on God's Word: Listen for His voice, slowly digest what you read, talk to the Lord, ask Him questions, and apply what you learn. Don't just read the Bible---study it, perhaps starting with a verse or short passage. Some of you may say, "I've never been into that". My advice: Get into it! The deep things of God don't just drop into our brains; they are placed there through diligent study.
Hunger for the Lord is an acquired taste. The more we pursue Him, the greater our craving will be. However, if we ignore God, what little hunger we have will dimmish even further.
Do you find this last statement describes your experience?
Then ask the Lord to whet your appetite for Him and follow through be becoming a seeker. This requires time and effort, two things we want to invest wisely.
To neglect the Lord would mean cheating yourself of the benefits He promises to those who diligently seek Him. No one wants to go after that which is fleeting. Choose instead to pursue the Eternal One---the source of all contentment, joy, and hope.
OBEDIENCE:
A LEARNING PROCESS; READ; (EPHESIANS 6:1-9).
1) THROUGHOUT THE BIBLE, GOD commands His people to obey Him. But submission doesn't come naturally to us because we're all born with a rebellious spirit. We must be taught to obey the LORD, and we begin to understand how to yield through interactions with people in authority over us.
The most common place for learning obedience is the home. Today's passage tells children to honor and obey their mother and father(vv.1-2). God planned that our earliest experiences of authority would involve submitting to parents who love and care for us. Through their admonitions and discipline, we learn what it takes to master our rebellious spirit.
At every stage of life, God places us under leaders, whether parents, teachers, coaches, employers, or governing officials (ROMANS13:1-2). Of course, like all of humanity, these people were born into sin, so they'll make mistakes and sometimes treat us unfairly---but they're still HIS instruments. Whether or not we approve of how we're ruled, people in these roles teach us the value of obedience and the consequences of disobedience.
We often balk at the idea of answering to someone else. But it helps to realize that the ultimate goal is to obey the LORD---and that God's commands are for our good (DEUTERONOMY 10:12-13).
NEXT:
THE CROSS: READ; (1 CORINTHIANS 1:18-25).
THE HEART OF GOD:
2) THE MESSAGE OF THE CROSS SEEMS like foolishness to unbelievers because the "natural person does not accept the things of the SPIRIT of GOD" (1 CORINTHIANS 2:14). Only when our mind is renewed by the Holy Spirit can we begin to fully grasp the wisdom and power of Christ's atoning sacrifice.
People with a worldly mindset often think they have a firm grasp of wisdom, yet they can't understand what leads the lost into a saving relationship with the heavenly Father. To them, it's all a waste of time.
What's more, there are many religions around the world that consider good works to be the means of salvation. However, no amount of kindness of generosity can ever overcome the debt of our sin or reconcile us to a holy God. That's why Jesus Christ, knowing exactly what was necessary to save our souls, offered His blood as a substitutionary atonement on our behalf.
Even when our own ideas might seem to make the most sense, we should realize our heavenly Father is much wiser than we are. He knows what we need before we even ask Him (MATTHEW 6:32). Therefore, let's be grateful that He didn't leave this matter in our hands and thank Him for providing what we could never earn on our own: salvation, forgiveness of sins, and eternal life in His presence.
NEXT:
THOUGHTFUL LIVING; READ (PSALM 25:8-15).
ARE YOU LIVING THOUGHFULLY OR AUTOMATICALLY?
3) IT's EASY TI GET UP EACH MORNING, do our work, enjoy some relaxation or entertainment, and fall into bed each night without giving any thought to God's involvement in our lives. But consider the benefits of keeping our spiritual eyes and ears open throughout the day---to see how God has blessed, guided, protected, and warned us.
Being aware of the Lord's presence reminds us He is always in control and working to accomplish His good purposes. When we look for God's footprints in our days. we discover the scope of His involvement in our life. Maybe He strengthened you for a task or opened a door of opportunity. Perhaps He guided your decisions or helped you respond in a compassionate way to a difficult person. Furthermore, if our ears are attuned to the Lord's warnings and instructions, we're less likely to repeat our mistakes.
Each night before you go to sleep, take some time to reflect on the day's activities. Know that the Lord is constantly with you, guarding you and offering guidance. He wants you to understand life from His perspective as you rely on His wisdom and power to face any challenge.
NEXT:
WHY WE'RE SIFTED; READ (LUKE 22:31-61).
4) IN TODAY's SCRIPTURE, JESUS tells Peter that Satan has demanded permission to sift the disciples like wheat. It seems strange to think that the Enemy would have conversations with God about people on earth, but this is a reality---even Job was discussed (JOB1:6-12).
Have you ever wondered if Satan discusses you?
We may think we aren't significant enough, but our true potential makes us important in the spiritual realm.
We often expect the Adversary to tempt us in our weak points---but he attacks where we are strong, too. In fact, we let down our guard because we have confidence in our strengths, and that's when the Evil One moves in. Consider Peter: He was quick to boast of his loyalty to Jesus, and yet he failed in this very area when he denied knowing Jesus. The Enemy targets believers who understand God's truth, because they 're his biggest threat.
Jesus compared the disciples to wheat because it was sifted through vigorous shaking that separated the chaff from the Kernel. He knows Satan wants to shake our faith loose from its foundation, so we'll go our own way, away from God. Thankfully, the Lord can use this sifting process to purify our faith, positioning us to receive His grace instead.
NEXT:
HOW TO SEEK GOD; READ (PSALM 105:1-8).
5) YESTERDAY WE LEARNED what it means to seek God, but many of us don't know where to begin.
Start with the Scriptures and prayer. Set aside time each day for meditating on God's Word: Listen for His voice, slowly digest what you read, talk to the Lord, ask Him questions, and apply what you learn. Don't just read the Bible---study it, perhaps starting with a verse or short passage. Some of you may say, "I've never been into that". My advice: Get into it! The deep things of God don't just drop into our brains; they are placed there through diligent study.
Hunger for the Lord is an acquired taste. The more we pursue Him, the greater our craving will be. However, if we ignore God, what little hunger we have will dimmish even further.
Do you find this last statement describes your experience?
Then ask the Lord to whet your appetite for Him and follow through be becoming a seeker. This requires time and effort, two things we want to invest wisely.
To neglect the Lord would mean cheating yourself of the benefits He promises to those who diligently seek Him. No one wants to go after that which is fleeting. Choose instead to pursue the Eternal One---the source of all contentment, joy, and hope.