User blogs

Scripture

Hebrews 2:14

Because God’s children are human beings—made of flesh and blood—the Son also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the devil, who had the power of death.

Observation

God calls us his children. Jesus had to become human like us in order to save us from sin and death. By dying, Jesus broke the power of death. Death did not defeat him. He rose from the grave.

Application

I am a child of God. What an amazing realization. God gave his own Son to lower himself and become a human so that I could be part of His family. How can I even begin to grasp how big of a love God has for me? Because Jesus conquered the power of the devil and death, I can have eternal life with Him.

Prayer

Lord, thank you for sacrificing your Son so that I can be part of your family. I am sorry for taking this for granted. Please give me opportunities to share this good news with others who do not know you. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Scripture

Hebrews 1:3

The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven.

Observation

Jesus is God’s Son. God sent him to earth to be with us. God’s Son walked with people on earth. Jesus was not just a man, He was God. We could see God’s character and his glory through Jesus. He came to earth so that we could meet God “in the flesh” and after he died on the cross for our sins, he went back to heaven to sit in a place of honor. Jesus was not just a good man or an angel. He was above all. He is God’s son.

Application

Too many times, I forget who Jesus is. How amazing is it that God son actually walked this earth?! We are able to understand God’s character a little bit better because the early believers actually got to meet and to eat with and to walk with God’s son. I should be thankful that Jesus came to earth. Because Jesus walked among men and died for us, I can know God and he can know me. I should respect and honor Jesus because he is not just a good teacher. He is the Son of God, our representation of God on earth.

Prayer

God, thank you for sending your Son to this earth. Thank you for cleansing us from our sins so that we can have a relationship with you. Thank you for being a personable God, a God that actually lived among us. I am sorry for not elevating Jesus to the level of God at times. Thank you for your forgiveness. In the Son’s name, Amen.

Scripture

Titus 2:7-8

In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.

Observation

Paul really pushes Titus in teaching the people how to act but adds that he must be the example.  Titus is going to have to model what godly living looks like before telling others to live that way.  There is integrity in what is said when it is lived out first.

Application

It would be easy to say this or that, and point to someone else and say because they say so.  However, there would be no accountability to what you teach or say.  Integrity keeps you accountable to what you say to others and how you live.  The challenge though is to take serious what we say, and how and why we say it.  My words and actions speak volumes to everyone.  

Prayer

Father I can so easily misguide others by what I say and do.  Guard my lips and heart that I may not sin against you.  Help me to be quick to admit any faults.  Help me to walk faithfully and humbly before you that I may stay tinder to others.  In Jesus name. 

Scripture

Titus 1:16

They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good.

Observation

There are some people in this world that love to use Christianity for their gain and are far from knowing Jesus.  Saying you go to church, pray, and read scripture, doesn’t mean you are a Christ follower or know Jesus.  That just means you do some good things.  The time has to come when words are not necessary because people know after being with me that God loves them.

Application

I want to be known for loving well--loving God with all that he has entrusted to me from the seen to the unseen.  I don’t want to be known for what I have accomplished but by how they sensed Jesus in me.  For that to take place, there needs to be an emptying of me and an over flowing of Jesus.  “I” get in the way too much of Jesus wanting to show himself off.         

Prayer

May I decrease so that you, Jesus, increase in me.  I desire for you to be known in all that I do and say.  Help me to set my “self” aside and let you lead and guide this day, in your name. Amen

Scripture

Titus 3:2-7

They must not slander anyone and must avoid quarreling. Instead, they should be gentle and show true humility to everyone.Once we, too, were foolish and disobedient. We were misled and became slaves to many lusts and pleasures. Our lives were full of evil and envy, and we hated each other.

 But—“When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love,he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit.He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. Because of his grace he declared us righteous and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life.”

Observation

God poured out his grace and mercy on us as believers. Without his grace and mercy, we would be in the same place as those we judge.  Because of this, we should be humble and show kindness to everyone because we are no better than them. We as believers have a new life in Christ. Not because of anything we have done but because God generously showed us love through giving us his Son. This new life should be evident to all in the way we humbly show Christ’s love to others.

Application

I am no better than anyone else, yet I look down others who have become “slaves to lusts and pleasures”. Instead of talking about people who are caught up in a sinful lifestyle, I should show them love, mercy, and grace just like Christ has shown me. I have no room for pride because God saved me purely out of his mercy. I did not earn anything and I still stumble.

Prayer

Lord, please forgive me for talking about “sinners” behind their backs instead of showing them love and mercy. Thank you for your mercy and grace you have shown me despite my sinful heart. Thank you for loving me so much that you gave your Son to die for me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Scripture

2 Timothy 4:1

In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge:

Observation

There is a sense of seriousness and finalization in this passage.  What is said is said and what is done is done in the light of Jesus who will judge the living and the dead.  Every word that I utter, thought that crosses my mind, and action that I take is seen and heard by Jesus.  So I best be wise with what I hear from my spiritual leaders because Jesus is a witness to what has been said and I will be have to give an account to how I respond.   

Application

God has charged me and all those that are followers of Jesus to love Him with every ounce of our beings and love others the same way.  It is that simple, and yet it is that hard.  It all boils down to how well do I love others and God.  What comes to mind is what Saint Francis of Assissi said, “Preach the Gospel at all times, if necessary use words.”  This kind of loving will take on many different forms, in different contexts, and with different people but will be done in the presence of the same Jesus.

Prayer

Father may I live and love and do life all with a full awareness of your presence.  Grant me a hunger and thirst and even pain for what matters to you.  I want to take seriously what you have charged me with.  In Jesus Name.

Scripture

2 Timothy 3:16-17

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Observation

All of scripture is God breathed--meaning it has the power to bring about life, beauty, and redemption.  God is the beginning point of all that is good, whole and perfect.  In a culture that is disjointed, deceived, and consumed with consumption, only God can bring about proper alignment, clarity, and the peace that people crave.  It would be impossible to know how things should be in our lives unless you know how God intended it to be.  You can’t know God unless you know Jesus.  Through scripture Jesus is revealed.       

Application

Not everyone likes to be rebuked, corrected, or trained.  We think we have life all figured out through our limited understanding of the world around us.  Yet, we find ourselves searching for something more, something meaningful, something beyond us that can bring things back to the way they should be.  There is a good work that God wants us to take part in with Him.  But we can’t know what that is unless we spend time with the one who has revealed himself through scripture.  As I spend time with Jesus and read his word, he shows me what he wants to do in and through me by correcting, rebuking, and training me in the way of righteousness.

Prayer

Father your word is food for my soul.  May your word breath life into the areas of my life that are dead.  May your word teach me the ways of life.  May your word correct my misunderstandings and false views of you.  May your word be ever before me.  In Jesus name.

Scripture

2 Timothy 2:7

Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this. 

Observation

Timothy was a young pastor who was in need of much more life experience and wisdom.  Reflecting on things that have been said to me by those that have left a mark in my life has proven to be enriching. Whether the things said were wrong and hurtful or encouraging and inspiring it is worthy of giving it thought and energy to extract the lessons behind them all.  Yet reflecting is not something that comes easily, especially in the practice of listening to God. 

Application

God is constantly speaking to us through creation, life events, others, His word, and His Spirit.  A great place to begin is to listen and familiarize oneself with His voice is His word.  But, you can’t listen much or think through things until you quiet yourself.  He has revealed much of Himself through his word and there are many things he wants for us to understand, but unless we take the time to reflect and think through what He has said, we will miss out on the truths that could transform our lives.  

Prayer

Father quiet my heart that I may hear you alone.  May you help me to be still and know that I am in need of your voice alone.  Help me to set aside the stuff that is secondary and focus on what matters most, that is your voice.  In Jesus name.

Scripture

2 Timothy 1:6

This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you…

Observation

According to scripture, all those that have surrendered their lives to Christ and have become His followers have a spiritual gift. This is a special ability to do something (not a talent or skill) for the benefit of God’s Kingdom and His church. There are several lists in the Bible of these gifts.

Application

I personally have the gifts of pastoring and encouragement. I use my gift of pastoring like second nature at this point in my life. But I think I still need to fan the flame of encouragement. 

Prayer 

Lord, thank You for being so good and kind. Your love is amazing and mind-blowing. Help me to constantly grow in all that You created me to be, so that my life may bring You glory and honor. In Jesus name, amen!

Scripture

1 Timothy 6:17

Tell those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which will soon be gone. But their trust should be in the living God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment.

Observation

This is such a rich and powerful verse. There is too much in this to unpack but the most important thing in this verse is that the words “the rich in this world” is talking to me. In fact it’s talking to 95% of the people that live in the US. If we live in the US, we are the rich of this world.

Application

I love that God wants to bless me in such a way that all my needs are met and that I can enjoy life. The problem is that it’s so easy for me to meet my own needs so many times. I make enough to eat and live, therefore I don’t always depend on God. So even if my income can meet my needs, I need to understand that God is the one that is providing my needs through my income. Ultimately He is the one that is meeting my needs.

Prayer 

Lord, thank You for always taking care of me. You have always blessed me beyond my needs and even expectations. You have been extremely generous to me. I don’t need all that You so richly blessed me with. You are amazingly good! My full trust is in You – with lots or with little I have learned to fully depend on You. Thank You! In Jesus name, amen!