Archive for April, 2008
As the bracelet says: ‘What Would Jesus Do?’
Written by Gary on April 13, 2008 – 4:36 pm -Read Hebrews 12:1-13
"Consider him [Jesus] who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart" (Hebrews 12:3).
What Does This Scripture Mean for Us?
You've probably seen the bracelets that have been quite the rage for a number of years now, and maybe you even wear one -- "WWJD -- What Would Jesus Do."
That concept -- not the bracelets, but the concept ON the bracelet! -- is not only something very old within the history of the church, it's really incredibly helpful and biblical. We are commanded in today's reading, for example, to "consider" Jesus. That means to keep your eyes on him in every situation and, yes, ask yourself: "What would Jesus do?"
Not only will he give you guidance -- you'll be encouraged as you see his love and his goodness
even if you should find yourself, as the saints mentioned here in Hebrews did, facing the threat of torture and death.
Let his life of endurance and love inspire you and guide you in every situation today!
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Are we living in the ‘last days’ or not? Each generation has thought so
Written by Gary on April 6, 2008 – 4:40 pm -Read Hebrews 11:17-40
"These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect" (Hebrews 11:39,40).
What Does This Scripture Mean for Us?
f you read much church history, you'll discover what I think of as the "last days syndrome": From New Testament times through every decade of the history of the church, some believers and teachers have been absolutely CONVINCED that they were living in the last days.
Of course, so far every one of them have been wrong. Because the church is still here, the world goes on, and Jesus has not yet come back for his people, has he?
My point? Perhaps WE are living in the last days, but perhaps not -- yet we know the reason God continues to let the world go on without Jesus' return. He does it so that people alive right now will have the opportunity to come to him, to be welcomed into that heavenly home along with you and me when he does return.
Tell all your friends about it. Really.
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Trust God and live by faith — even when you don’t ‘feel’ filled with faith
Written by Gary on April 3, 2008 – 12:42 pm -Read Hebrews 11:1-16
"All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance" (Hebrews 11:13).
What Does This Scripture Mean for Us?
I don't know about you, but I frequently find it downright HARD to live "by faith."
I'd like to be able to say that my faith is as firm and as awesome as that of the "saints of
old," but in reality I find myself often doubting, often feeling like my prayers are just sort of
bouncing off the ceiling rather than reaching God's throne of grace.
Then I read these glorious words in Hebrews 11. And I take courage. I remember that those great men and women of God were pretty much like me, and like you. But they kept on believing and living and trusting God -- even when they didn't feel like doing it!
You take courage today, too, all right? Keep on trusting God, even when you don't feel like it.
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Do you criticize or do you encourage others each day?
Written by Gary on April 2, 2008 – 8:07 pm -Read Hebrews 10:19-39
"Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds" (Hebrews 10:23,24).
What Does This Scripture Mean for Us?
How often to we grumble and criticize when we should instead be encouraging and challenging
others to positive things and "good deeds"?
Let me give you some "real-life" examples of what I mean:
I worked at a daily newspaper for seven years as a copy editor. This was an incredibly stressful job, with 3 or 4 major deadlines EVERY DAY that had to be met to get the paper out.
During those seven years, the "norm" was to be hassled and criticized (yes, even yelled at) over
problems -- and almost NEVER "praised" or encouraged when things went right.
Following that job, I worked for seven years (is there some bizarre pattern here??) at a weekly magazine. The magazine job entailed more responsibility as well as a set of serious daily/weekly deadlines. (The deadline pressure was much less at a weekly magazine, but it was there.)
The "norm" at the magazine was almost NEVER to be criticized or yelled at. In fact, our boss made a point of walking through the office unannounced on a regular basis just to give us the proverbial (and sometimes literal) pat on the back.
Which publication do YOU think ran more smoothly and efficiently?
Find something encouraging to say or do today to help someone be and do better than they ever have before!
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