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Do you struggle with finding true contentment in life…contentment that lasts? Many people do because the world around us perpetuates feelings of discontentment.
The world perspective is constantly telling us to seek something better in life. We want a better job with better pay and a better boss. We want better relationships and a better marriage. We want a better car and a better house. Better isn’t bad, but it’s not the source of true contentment. Contentment is defined as being satisfied with what one is or has; not wanting more or anything else. Paul, the apostle, wrote, “Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have.” Philippians 4:11. How could he make such a bold statement? Because he knew that true contentment was found not in what he had, but in whose he was. When I come into a relationship with God through his Son, Jesus Christ, I understand whose I am and what I have. A lack of contentment causes me to look horizontally - at what others have. When I do this, I am never satisfied. True contentment invites me to look vertically - at God. When I look in his direction, regardless of my possessions or lack of them, or my status or lack of one, I know that he is enough. Look to the one who truly satisfies…Jesus. Bro. Joe Suggested Readings: Sunday - Philippians 4:11 Monday - 1 Timothy 6:6-8 Tuesday - Philippians 4:12-13 Wednesday - Philippians 1:21 Thursday - Philippians 3:13 Friday - Philippians 4:19 Saturday - Philippians 4:13 Prayer: Lord, there are times I take my eyes off of you and find myself struggling with discontentment. Forgive me. Help me to keep my focus on you, Lord. I am learning to be content in you. Jesus, you are enough. You are all I need. Amen
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Throughout the years a variety of TV game shows have centered around the way people respond to questions. The answer given determines victory or defeat.
In reading the New Testament accounts of the life of Christ, we’re often drawn to encounters where people asked Jesus questions. In these cases, we’re usually interested in how He responds, but what about when He asks questions? Do we only read these questions in context with how they applied at the time Jesus asked them, or are we willing to read them as if Jesus is asking us the questions today? How will you respond to Jesus’ questions for you?
Do your answers reflect a response of victory or defeat? Walk in victory with Jesus. He’s got all the answers, but He also has some questions for you. Bro. Joe Suggested Readings: Sunday - Matthew 8:23-27 Monday - Matthew 20:29-33 Tuesday - John 5:1-13 Wednesday - Matthew 9:27-34 Thursday - Luke 6:46-49 Friday - Matthew 16:13-20 Saturday - John 21:15-19 Prayer: Jesus, I’m often fearful because I take my eyes off of you and focus on my circumstances. Help me to look to you. Lord, I need you in every area of my life. I believe that you are able to do all things. Jesus, you are my Lord…my redeemer…my savior. Thank you for loving me. I love you Lord. Amen July 4, 1776, fifty-six men representing the thirteen American colonies gathered in Philadelphia at the Pennsylvania State House. They signed a document that declared the colonies were now thirteen independent, sovereign states no longer under British rule. The following statement became one of the foundational elements on which the Declaration of Independence was based:
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” Liberty…Freedom. As Americans, we value freedom. Our nation was founded on the principle of “liberty and justice for all.” Our First Amendment guarantees freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom to assemble, and freedom to petition the government for redress. While our freedom of religion is under assault today more than ever before, it is the foundation of our nation. Political freedom is a wonderful thing, but spiritual freedom is even better, because you can experience it no matter the governing policies under which you live. And true spiritual freedom lasts forever. But, what is true spiritual freedom? “Jesus said to the people who believed in him, ‘You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’…”So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.” John 8:31&36 Freedom always comes with boundaries and choices. True spiritual freedom comes by understanding the boundaries that God has established and making the choices in life God wants you to make. This can only be accomplished by living in the state of a “Declaration of Dependence”. So, here’s mine: I hereby declare that I am utterly and totally dependent on God to guide my life, and I choose His ways and desires for me…to walk in the freedom of my Father in heaven. Let Jesus set you free today. Bro. Joe Suggested Readings: Sunday - John 8:31-31 Monday - Ephesians 1:7 Tuesday - John 14:6 Wednesday - Romans 6:7 Thursday - 2 Corinthians 3:17 Friday - Galatians 5:1, 13-14 Saturday - Galatians 3:22 Prayer: Lord, I choose to walk in the freedom of your grace, your forgiveness, your blessings and your light. Thank you for true freedom found in Jesus. Amen Think back with me to when you first met Jesus. Not when you heard about Him, but when you really met Him. What do you remember?
For some it’s not easy to do. Why is that? Today there are many, many people who know about Jesus—that is, they know some facts about Him, have committed Bible verses to memory, and perhaps attend church regularly. But they have never allowed what they know to become their personal reality. They hold knowledge in their heads without allowing the truth to penetrate their hearts. In Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman He makes a statement: “If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water.” John 4:10 The first part of this verse — “If you only knew . . .” — has captivated me. What an incredible truth spoken by Jesus. And it’s still true today. As a matter of fact, Jesus is saying the same thing to you right now. Think about where you are…what you’re facing. Now tell Jesus what that is, and then listen to Him say to you, “If you only knew who you were speaking to.” In other words, if you could fully grasp the truth of who it is you’re sharing your worries, concerns, and life issues with, you’d hear Jesus saying: …I’ve never left you nor forsaken you …I love you with an everlasting love …take heart, for I have overcome, therefore you can too …you can trust me …you can give it all to me …I have a plan for you, a plan for good not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. …I’m preparing a place for you Do you know Him? Bro. Joe Suggested Readings: Sunday - John 4:1-26 Monday - Romans 10:14-15 Tuesday - Romans 8:16 Wednesday - Matthew 15:8-9 Thursday - John 10:11-18 Friday - John 10:25-30 Saturday - Jeremiah 29:11 Prayer: Lord, I want to know your heart so well that it becomes my heart. Help me to see what you see…feel what you feel…love like you love. Thank you, Jesus. Amen Can you identify the type of relationship you have with Jesus? Is it a relationship of curiosity and observation? We see elements of this type of relationship with Nicodemus in John 3 and the Rich Man in Luke 18:18. In these relationships, we see someone seeking answers while not necessarily having made a commitment.
Perhaps your relationship with Jesus is based on service and participation. The best example we find of this type of relationship is in Jesus’ conversation with Martha in Luke 10:38-42. Martha was so distracted by her service, she could not focus on time with Jesus. She was doing a lot of good things, but in the end it wasn’t getting her anywhere. She confused activity for accomplishment. Maybe your relationship with Jesus is more like Mary’s . . . intimate and personal. Luke says that she was “sitting at Jesus’ feet.” Do you know that Mary of Bethany appears 3 times in the New Testament, and all 3 times she is found at the feet of Jesus. She was more focused on the presence of God in her life than anything else. How would you define your relationship with Jesus?
Is God pleased with your relationship?
Bro. Joe Suggested Readings: Sunday - John 3:1-17 Monday - Luke 18:18-23 Tuesday - Luke 10:38-42 Wednesday - Luke 14:15-24 Thursday - John 15:1-17 Friday - Matthew 26:6-13 Saturday - John 11:1-44 Prayer: Father, I desire a more intimate and personal relationship with you. Help me keep you as my number one priority in life. I love you, Jesus. Amen Psalm 145 is a psalm of David celebrating all God has done for those who have gone through trials and testing.
Have you been through trials? Have you been tested? Can you look back and see all that God has done for you? In this Psalm, David commends God’s goodness, greatness, and grace. Let’s join David in his celebration:
“I will exalt you, my God and King, and praise your name forever and ever. I will praise you every day; yes, I will praise you forever.” Psalms 145:1-2 “I will praise the Lord , and may everyone on earth bless his holy name forever and ever.” Psalms 145:21 Bro. Joe Suggested Readings: Sunday - Psalm 145:1-21 Monday - Psalm 34:8 Tuesday - Psalm 107:8-9 Wednesday - James 1:17 Thursday - Psalm 31:19 Friday - Psalm 145:3 Saturday - Ephesians 2:4-9 Prayer: Father, you truly are the source of all that is good. Thank you for pouring out your goodness over my life. Thank you for your greatness. There is no one greater than you in my life. Lord, thank you for your grace that has redeemed me, not because of anything I have done, but because of what you have done through Jesus. Amen Are there needs in your life or the lives of your loved ones that you know can only be met by Jesus? Perhaps you see problems that need solutions, or circumstances that appear to be insurmountable.
In Mark 5:36, when Jairus brought a problem to Jesus, Jesus said to him, “Don’t be afraid. Just have faith.” Faith: Jesus was touched by Jairus’ faith. The truth is, faith moves God, and Jairus’ faith moved Jesus to go with Him. Do you have faith that moves God? No matter what you’re facing, if you really know that Jesus is your only hope…your only answer … why not heed the advice given to Jairus? “Don’t be afraid. Just have faith.” Remember what Jesus said in Matthew 11:28-30: “Then Jesus said, ‘Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” Why not come to Jesus and believe? He’s trustworthy. Bro. Joe Suggested Readings: Sunday - Matthew 11:28-30 Monday - Mark 5:21-43 Tuesday - John 14:1 Wednesday - John 15:9-11 Thursday - 1 John 5:1-5 Friday - 1 Peter 2:4-10 Saturday - Matthew 6:25-34 Prayer: Lord, often I find that I readily identify with the man who told Jesus, “I believe, but help me overcome my unbelief.” So, today I cry out to you, asking you to help me overcome my unbelief. I want to have faith that moves you. Thank you, Father. Amen I realize Mother’s Day is a difficult time for many people for various reasons. Yet, it is a day when we pause to honor mothers. Today I hope to share at least a glimpse into the heart of a godly mother.
Interestingly, God himself compares His love to the love a mother has for her child. “Sing for joy, O heavens! Rejoice, O earth! Burst into song, O mountains! For the Lord has comforted his people and will have compassion on them in their suffering. Yet Jerusalem says, ‘The Lord has deserted us; the Lord has forgotten us.’ Never! Can a mother forget her nursing child? Can she feel no love for the child she has borne? But even if that were possible, I would not forget you!” Isaiah 49:13-15 When we think about the love a mother has for her children, we discover it’s simply one of the qualities found in a godly mother’s heart; a heart that is closely aligned to the heart of God. A godly mother knows, cares, gives, sees (everything…because she has eyes in the back of her head), motivates, prays and loves. The scripture records that at the age of 12, Jesus was separated from and then eventually reunited with his family, who found him talking with the religious leaders in the temple. We’re told that he returned to Nazareth with his parents and was obedient to them. This account of Jesus’ childhood concludes with: “and his mother stored all these things in her heart.” Try and imagine all that a mother’s heart stores up over a lifetime. A godly mother’s heart is an overflowing storeroom of thoughts…memories…dreams…hopes for the future…love for her family…and her personal relationship with her heavenly father. What an unbelievable storehouse…a treasure house. Thanking God for my mother and the mother of my children. Bro. Joe Suggested Readings: Sunday - Isaiah 49:13-15 Monday - Luke 2:34-35 Tuesday - Luke 2:41-52 Wednesday - John 19:25-27 Thursday - 2 Timothy 1:5-6 Friday - 1 Samuel 1:9-18 Saturday - Proverbs 31 Prayer: Lord, thank you for my mother and for the mother of my children…the godly example of love and nurturing they have been and are in my life. Amen The way we share messages with one another certainly has changed through the years.
I remember a long time ago…back in elementary school…that if you wanted to communicate with someone (a girl) you kind of liked, you would write her a note. But, you wouldn’t give her the note directly, you would pass it to someone else and ask them to give it to her, and then hope they wouldn’t read it before passing it on. Later in my teen years - while working out of state during the summer - I wrote and received letters. When I was a young adult, the cell phone came along, but it was quite large, and you carried it in a bag. Then came smaller cell phones, emails, texting, and now emojis, which are really nothing more than a throw back to Egyptian hieroglyphics. I guess you might say we have come full circle in the way we communicate. Through the centuries, God has also communicated His message in a variety of ways, but the message has never changed. He is always consistent and true to His message of hope, love, grace, faith, life, and salvation. There is power, strength, and truth in His message. The heart of His message is in the message of the cross. “The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God.“ 1 Corinthians 1:18 Paul writes in Romans: “In fact, it says, “The message is very close at hand; it is on your lips and in your heart.” And that message is the very message about faith that we preach: If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved…For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them?” Romans 10:8-10,13-14 How about it, would you be willing to pass a note to someone? It really is Good News. Bro. Joe Questions for Reflection:
Suggested Readings: Sunday - Romans 10 Monday - John 3:16-17 Tuesday - Acts 10:36 Wednesday - 1 Timothy 4:6 Thursday - Acts 20:32 Friday - Jeremiah 29:11 Saturday - 1 Corinthians 1:18 Prayer: Lord, thank you for allowing me to hear, live and share your message. Give me a willing heart and the courage to share the Good News with others you bring into my life. Amen The Bible is filled with invitations to come and experience the Lord God. This one in particular grabbed my attention: “Come to me with your ears wide open. Listen, and you will find life.” Isa. 55:3
I love the imagery this statement creates. I understand how to open my eyes wide to see, but how do I open my ears wide in order to listen? I picture someone leaning toward the one speaking with their hands cupped around their ears…their eyes laser-focused, avoiding all distractions because what is about to be said is really important This is a call for us to be intentionally focused…not to be distracted by the chatter of the world around us, but to really listen for the Word of Life to speak into our lives. It’s followed by the promise that if we do listen, we will find life. The truth is, if we really listen, we will find the Word of life. 1 John 1:1 says: “We proclaim to you the one who existed from the beginning, whom we have heard and seen. We saw him with our own eyes and touched him with our own hands. He is the Word of life.” John 14:6 says: “Jesus told him, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.” In John 10:10 Jesus says, “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” Paul says in Philippians 2:16, “Hold firmly to the word of life; then, on the day of Christ’s return, I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless.” The Word of life has power…the Word of life is a person…the Word of life has a purpose…the Word of life is Jesus! Listen intently…can you hear Him? Bro. Joe Questions for Reflection:
Suggested Readings: Sunday - Isaiah 55:1-13 Monday - John 1:1-5 Tuesday - 1 John 1:1 Wednesday - John 1:14 Thursday - John 14:23-31 Friday - Philippians 2:16 Saturday - John 6:63 Prayer: Father, help me to listen with ears wide open in order to hear the very Word of life speak peace to my life, joy to my heart, and love to my soul. Amen |
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