Taking Care of “Numero-uno”

SCRIPTURE
(I Cor. 12:7) “But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good”


OBSERVATION
In the time of Paul, Corinth was a very ungodly, corrupt city. The pagan life-style of the city profoundly influenced the newly forming church and Paul is addressing the correlated problems. In the twelfth chapter he is talking about the impartation of spiritual gifts to every believer. Secular society tends to support the principle of self-advancement. Christian principles teach the importance of giving and supporting each other. Paul tells the church that the gifts of the Spirit are to be used for the common good of the collective Christian community, not for personal feelings or self-worth.


APPLICATION
If I have been given a gift with the specific instruction that it must be shared openly, and I choose to keep it to myself, I stand to be judged by the one who gave the gift. To withhold my spiritual gifts, to not use my talents and abilities in the church, is to rebel against the intentions of God Himself. Our society imposes the belief of taking care of yourself because no one else is looking out for your interests. The Christian teaching says we should “take care of number one” also, number one for us is not ourselves but God almighty.

PRAYER
Lord, I want you to be the central influence in all I do or say. Let others see Your grace and compassion in my actions and interactions.

Written By Roger Watson

God’s Opinion of Situational Ethics

SCRIPTURE
(Josh. 23:12 & 13) “For if you ever go back and cling to the rest of these nations, these which remain among you, and intermarry with them, so that you associate with them and they with you, know with certainty that the Lord your God will not continue to drive these nations out from before you; but they shall be a snare and a trap to you, and a whip on your sides and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from off this good land which the Lord your God has given you.”


OBSERVATION
Joshua warns his people of giving in to the pressures and beliefs of the world around them. The environmental standard of the “majority opinion is right” does not hold true with God. He has a standard that does not change with time or situation. Joshua warns the people that compromise to the beliefs and practices of others will result in His removal of protection and provision for them.


APPLICATION
To base my actions or beliefs solely upon the majority opinion, will lead to eventual destruction. Special interest groups that lobby for acceptance and support of their cause, that are not in line with the Word of God, will continue to lead to the demise of any country. Just because the poles indicate a majority opinion about a person or issue, does not mean that it is the coarse I should take or support. God is not moved by situational ethics.

PRAYER
Lord, let me be the one who stands for righteousness and the advancement of the Kingdom of God. Help me to stand firm in the face of adversity.

Written By Roger Watson

Mexico here we come.

SCRIPTURE
Galations 6:9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time you will reap a harvest if you do not give up.


OBSERVATION

I am on my way to Mexico, and I am already tired. It seems like the preparations and packing is the hardest part. The focus of our trip to Rancho De Sus Ninos is to reach out to the orphans and share God's love. It seems like it would be easier if we just sent a letter, supplies, or money. God is sending a group of youth and young adults to be his arms. We are going to express God's love and tell them how much he loves them even if takes hours of packing and hours of driving. We made it to San Diego last night and we are getting ready to cross the border this morning. I am excited for the youth who are going for the first time. They will forever be changed. It is a wonderful feeling knowing you are going to be used by God.


APPLICATION
Lord use us today to be a friend to the fatherless. Teach us how to be your witness. I want the children to know that you care for them and you have a divine purpose for their lives. 

PRAYER
I pray, this morning that you will give us protection while traveling. I pray that we will reap a harvest and that lives will be changed. Lord we will not give up serving you. Let us see your Glory today as we serve you!

Listen to the Spirit

SCRIPTURE
Galtatians 5:16 So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. 17 For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.
19 The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.


OBSERVATION
All around us we see people who are in leadership or in the public eye fall to temptations that the Bible clearly marks as a trap for our life. It is always disappointing to see someone that appears to have everything together fall to immorality and to sins listed in these verses. Is there any difference between a Pastor of a Mega church who falls into homosexuality, A Governor who falls to adultery or a Pop stars who falls to drugs and alcohol? I believe the answer is no! We all have sinned and fallen short of the the glory of God (Romans 3:23). Witchcraft is being taught in our schools, prostitution is in our streets, and anger is in our hearts. The Bible warns us that if we live with sin in our lives we will not inherit the Kingdom of God. The first step is to recognize various sins in our life. My hope is as a leader, I will not fall to these sins. I want to be an example, of how to live by the Spirit and not by my fleshly desires.


APPLICATION
If I can keep my spiritual eyes and ears open, the Holy Spirit will guide me to make the right choices in life. I can follow after pleasure or purity! The good news is that Jesus was the ultimate example of how I can live my life in the Spirit. If I will listen to the Lord's voice he will help me to turn away from these sins. As a child, my parents told me "no" to certain things. Today I can still hear their voices, when I am about to make a wrong decision. I want to hear the Heavenly Father's voice clearly and be led by the Spirit. Sin starts with one thought, so teach me how to guard my mind.

PRAYER
Father, teach me to make the right choices in life. It is so easy to get tangled up in fleshly desires. I pray, that I will be an example of how to live by the Spirit. Forgive me for making bad choices and I pray that you will restore those who have fallen to sin. Lord send your grace to those who have fallen to temptations and show us how to receive the power of the cross in our lives. Guard our hearts and our minds!

Who is your daddy?

SCRIPTURE
Galatians 4: 6 Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba,[a] Father." 7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.

OBSERVATION
I love to read this scripture because not only is God calling us to be his sons, but we have the Spirit of his Son. This is an incredible look into how God views me. The King of Kings views me as a prince! He has chosen me to be in his royal family (1 Peter 2:9). This scripture brings to mind the story of Joseph. Not only was Joseph sold into slavery, but he was also a prisoner at one time. God makes a way for Joseph to become the ruler of the Egyptian Empire and live in royalty with the Pharoh. The same story line is seen through out the Bible. Moses is another great example of how God loves to take people who are in slavery and set them free. Not only, does he want to free us, but he wants to adopt us and make us his own. I believe that God has done this for me. I am nothing with out him! I was a slave to sin and this world and now I am an Heir to his Kingdom! My Father loves to bring people from rags to riches!

APPLICATION
I believe that every day I have the priveledge of meeting with the King. My father is an awsome God. Sometimes I say to myself I am to busy to pray or talk to my father, thats when the Holy Spirit brings back to my attention that I have a divine appointment with the King everyday and all I need to do is call out Aba Father. He is never faraway and he is everywhere! Today, we can talk with people across the globe at any given time or chat with people on the internet who live across the United States. For us, it is so easy to forget that people in the past did not have the technology like we do today, yet they found a way to stay in touch! I have the ability to talk to my father at anytime of the day, and all I have to do is bow my head in prayer.


PRAYER
Thank you Lord, for making me your son. I pray that we will be able to spend some time this weekend. Forgive me for getting so caught up in the things of this world. I just want to please you and make you smile. I know you understand that sometimes I get really busy but I am so glad that I can call you anytime. Thanks for making me your favorite son. I know that others think they are your favorite as well! I pray that people who are reading this blog, will relize that
you are a great God and you have room in your heart for all of us!

Living in the Spirit

SCRIPTURE

Galations 3:1 You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. 2I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard? 3Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort? 4Have you suffered so much for nothing—if it really was for nothing? 5Does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the law, or because you believe what you heard?

OBSERVATION

The words Apostle Paul spoke seem very harsh. He calls the Christians in Galatia Foolish! Why was the Apostle so upset. I believe that he recognized that their was a spiritual warfare going on to confuse the new believers. He states, "Who has bewitched you?" Satan is trying his hardest today to confuse the world into believing that Jesus is just another good teacher or spiritual guru. He does not want people to believe that Jesus is the messiah and that he died on the cross for our sins. It is only by the power of the cross that he has set us free from sin and has given us access into God's presence! There are no good works that will set us free from our sins. We can observe the law and all the commandments and still not have access to the father!


APPLICATION
I believe as Christians, it is easy for us to get trapped in doing good works for the Lord. As a new believer, I tried so hard to do as much as I could to make myself look like a good Christian. I tried so hard to do the right things and say the right things in order to feel better about my walk with Christ. The truth is that Jesus has already paved the road for us. There is no way that we can make it as a Christian with out the power of the cross and the Holy Spirit.

PRAYER
Lord teach me how to serve you out of my faith in what you have done for me. It is not by might or by my power (the flesh). It is by your Spirit that I can walk in this spiritual journey with you. I pray that I will not try to go down the road with my own strength because it will only lead me down a dead end street.

A Family Tradition

SCRIPTURE
Deut. 16: 1 Observe the month of Abib and celebrate the Passover of the LORD your God, because in the month of Abib he brought you out of Egypt by night.

OBSERVATION
In the Jewish calender, a holiday begins on the sunset of the previous day, so observing Jews will celebrate Passover on the sunset. Passover in 2008 will start on Sunday, the 20th of April and will continue for 7 days until Saturday, the 26th of April.
During this holiday, Jews tell the story of the Exodus and relive the joy felt by ancient ancestors who were eventually led by Moses out of ancient Egypt to freedom. Today, Passover celebrates not only a specific historical event, but the idea of freedom itself. During the Passover, a lamb was slain and the blood was poured over the door post. The death angel would pass each house if the blood was applied. As Christians we remember what Jesus did for us and how he freed us from the bondage of sin with his blood. There are four things for us to remember and celebrate:
1.Freedom
2.Deliverance
3.Redemption
4.Release

It seems like every Easter growing up our family looked forward to watching the Ten Commandments on TV. I can remember the excitement of making popcorn and my mom making cookies for us while we stayed up late. As a boy, I can remember the best part of the movie was when the rod turned into a cobra (Awesome). The scariest part of the movie was during the Passover when the death angel came through the town. This family tradition of watching the Ten Commandments was not only a good time but has been etched in my memory. Looking back, I can now appreciate what Jesus did for us! Thanks to Charlton Heston (my hero) I will always remember the Ten Commandments.

APPLICATION
I want to continue to remember what God has done for us! He has freed us from the things of this world and has given us spiritual freedom. We no longer are slaves to sin and we live because he lives! Now, that I am a father I want to continue to teach our children the commandments and observe this special holiday season. As a child, I remember memorizing the Ten Commandments during children's church! Many people today have a hard time quoting the Ten Commandments in order. Test yourself: What is the 4th commandment?

The Ten Commandments are divided into two parts. The first five commandments are about loving God and the last 5 commandments are about loving people. In Matthew 22:36-41 Jesus states there are 2 commandments that all the commandments hang on: #1. Love God with all your heart and #2 Love your neighbor. If I can remember these two spiritual laws and apply them to my life I can't go wrong!

PRAYER
Lord teach me how to observe your commandments and what you have done for us. Thank you for freeing us from sin. I pray that we will not forget how to love you with all our heart and love our neighbor as ourselves. May you help our family to remember the importance or the Passover Holiday and the lamb that was slain for us!

What are you reading?

SCRIPTURE
Galations 1:6-7 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ.


OBSERVATION
Paul the apostle wrote a letter to the Christians in Galatia. The letter was a warning to not follow any other gospel accept for the one that Jesus Christ preached. Paul was concerend that some of the new Christians were following different teachings rather than the true gospel. Today we have the same situation going on in our world. Motivational speakers, authors and so called spirtual leaders are wanting you to buy their new book. People want to teach their own principles, doctrines, and spiritual teachings. These men are wanting you to buy their "Secret" to success. They promise you everything from happiness, riches and better health. 1 Timothy 4:1 says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons. We need to be careful to not fall prey to people who are wanting you to listen to their insights rather than the Holy Bible. Some authors bring certain scriptures out of the bible and publish them in their New Age books. The book, "The Secret" promises you success if you apply the "Law of Attraction" to your life. This teaching is not from the Gospel and will lead you away from Christ. The "Law of Attraction" is a demonic teaching that originated from a seance, and was given to Ester Hicks through a spirit-being(demon) called Abraham. Do not be mislead or confused!

APPLICATION
We all want to have happiness in life and to feel successful! So many times we get our eyes off of Christ and want to read some new teaching that will help us to be a better person or more positive. Jesus promises in his word that he has come to give us life and more abundantly. (John 10:10) If we will read his word daily and apply his spiritual teachings we will find true joy and happiness! I want to share the true gospel of Christ with people and not some teaching that will make people feel good. The good news is that Jesus has come to give us life!

PRAYER
Lord teach me to spend more time in your word and to not follow the teachings of men. Jesus send me your Holy Spirit that teaches all things. (Luke 12:12). Lord teach me what to say and how to say it. I pray that you will open our spiritual eyes to see that you are all we need! Protect your church from false teachings and help us to preach the true gospel.

Envy and Pride

SCRIPTURE
Mark 15:9-11: "Do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews?" asked Pilate, knowing it was out of envy that the chief priests had handed Jesus over to him. But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have Pilate release Barabbas instead.

OBSERVATION
So, it was obvious to many that this was all a fabrication - the trumped up charges against Jesus. Pilate knew it was "out of envy" that the chief priests had brought Jesus to him. In Chapter 14, Jesus appears before the Sanhedrin, and it is mentioned several times that their stories did not agree. Out of envy! Were these priests really Godly men who gave in to fleshly temptation to keep their reputations and positions? Or were they merely 'acting out' Godliness for the sake of a prestigious job? Although this was all the fulfillment of God's divine plan, it's so easy to see the sin at work from which Jesus was sent to redeem us. What irony.


APPLICATION
What do I do out of pride or envy? Use my words inappropriately? Put on appearances? Be less than genuine? Am I overly critical of others? Do I use my position at work or in my home to pull rank? Ouch! Do I have to keep thinking about this?

PRAYER
Father, let me humble myself on a daily basis so that You don't have to do it for me. Teach me to be real and to choose my words carefully. Amen.

The Flesh is Weak

SCRIPTURE
Mark 14:38: Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.


OBSERVATION
How true, how true. How many times have I succumbed to doing what I want instead of what I should? As I mature, spiritually and emotionally, it happens less and less, but it still happens. But, when we place our spirit under God's control, it strives against human weakness. That's why Jesus said, 'watch and pray'. If I'm seeking God frequently throughout my day, my spirit comes under His control and not under the weak control of the flesh.


APPLICATION
So, what do I do about it? Keep myself under God's control, praying and reading the Bible as much as it takes to relinquish my control to His perfect will for me.

PRAYER
Lord, Lord, I want Your will for my life daily. I ask that I would humbly submit to Your control - not my own weak attempt at running this life. Remind me to stay close. Amen.

Keep Watch!

SCRIPTURE
Mark 13:35: Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back.


OBSERVATION
This entire chapter is devoted to Jesus explaining to His disciples to watch for the end of days - when Jesus will return in glory and God will judge. Am I ready? There won't be time to tell one more person about Jesus. It needs to be done now - whenever an opportunity presents itself!


APPLICATION
To whom should I be witnessing? Family? Friends? If God doesn't want anyone to perish (2 Peter 3:9: . . . He is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.), am I doing all I'm supposed to?

PRAYER
Lord, let me not miss a single opportunity to tell someone about Jesus, to invite someone to church, or to show your selfless love through my life. I don't want to walk away from someone and say, "I should have said . . . ". I don't want to come to the end of days and know someone who was left behind because I missed an opportunity. Keep me sensitive to the moving of the Holy Spirit in these matters. Amen.

Listening with Delight

SCRIPTURE
Mark 12:37: ". . . The large crowd listened to Him with delight."


OBSERVATION
What must it have been like to live in Jesus' day - to actually hear Him teach? As he travelled, speaking to large groups, the people must have perceived that they were hearing a truth like no other. Did they have any idea that they were witnessing the greatest thing of history mankind has ever known? Probably not. Jesus was poor, humble, and not the type of person they would normally regard as important. But, yet the crowds gathered and followed and delighted at His words.


APPLICATION
Okay, so I don't have God, in the flesh, to listen to and delight in. What do I have? I have His Word, to dwell upon and follow. I have His Spirit to guide me and protect me. And I have the privilege to talk with Him, anytime, through prayer. I know that He is always there, ready to listen, watching over and waiting for our time to be together. Even better!

PRAYER
God, I delight in You. Let me fully appreciate how You are with me today - every day. Let me be fully aware of Your Presence at all times. Teach me to yearn for Your Words to guide and speak to my heart.

A Threat Rejected

SCRIPTURE
Mark 11:18: "The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this and began looking for a way to kill Him, for they feared Him, because the whole crowd was amazed at His teaching."

OBSERVATION
Can you believe it? That's right, chief priests and teachers of the law began looking for a way to kill Jesus! Why? They were threatened by Him and His teachings. They were afraid! The crowd was listening to Jesus, not them. The people were amazed at Jesus' teachings, not theirs. They must have felt that they and their teachings of the law were going to be exposed as false. Religious men, supposed followers of God, plotting murder! Wow!


APPLICATION
Are there things of God or in His Word that I reject because they threaten my way of life or my comfort? Do I become uncomfortable when certain topics are discussed ot studied? I am to attempt to lead a life pleasing to God, not just the easy stuff. As we read yesterday, we should continually search our hearts and ask God to expose what is not pleasing to Him.

PRAYER
God, I pray that I would not be selective in my obedience - rejecting what is uncomfortable or threatening to me. Please reveal to me what is not pleasing You.

Inside, Out

SCRIPTURE
Mark 10:21-22: Jesus looked at him and loved him. "One thing you lack", He said. "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.". At this, the man's face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.

OBSERVATION
This rich young man was trying to live right, at least on the outside. His actions of obeying the laws and of falling on his knees before Jesus to ask about eternal life demonstrate this. But, Jesus saw what was going on inside. I love that Jesus looked at him and loved him. I love that Jesus did not scold him or criticize him. He saw inside and knew that this young man's one stumbling block was his wealth. And, of course, He was right. The young man could not give it up and went away sad.

APPLICATION
We may be doing all the right things outwardly but what does God see inside of us? Psalms 139:23 says, "Search me, O God, and know my heart . . .". To ask God to do this is to invite His scrutiny of our deepest desires and motives. We should want to be held accountable and kept true no matter how painful or shameful it may be.

PRAYER
"Father, let me be constantly focused inward, scrutinizing myself as You would. Show me areas that are hindering me from following and serving You as I should. Amen."