Thursday Thought – June 30, 2016

Good Morning Friends,

“After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, ‘Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.’ When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.” (Matthew 2:1-3)

You see two opposite reactions to the news of the new King in this text. The Magi came seeking the King when they saw His sign. Later, when they see the star again leading them to Bethlehem they are overjoyed. Seeking the King and overjoyed when they find Him, that’s one reaction to the news of Jesus.

Herod’s response was the opposite. When Herod heard the news of the King, he was disturbed. He was angry and frightened. He was angry because he didn't want anyone, not even God, threatening his kingship. He was frightened because this was one threat that would be difficult to deal with, after all, it included a supernatural sign, a star in the sky.

People still respond in opposite ways to the news of the King. When some hear, they seek Him and are overjoyed to find Him. Others respond like Herod did, with anger and fear. Some want a King. Some are afraid of what a King would mean for their lives.

How do you respond to the King?

His, by Grace, Steve

Wednesday Thought – June 29, 2016

Good Morning Friends,

Matthew records the most profound statement in the entire Bible. It is in the account of the events that led up to the birth of Jesus. He said, “All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: ‘The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel’ -- which means, ‘God with us.’” (Matthew 1:22-23)

He was quoting from the prophet Isaiah: “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” (Isaiah 7:14)

John declared the same truth as he began his gospel: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ... The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1;1,14)

And one more time, this from the pen of Paul: “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.” (Philippians 2:5-7)

The most profound truth in the history of the world is that God came into the world when Jesus was born! The Creator lived with His creation. The Holy One walked with sinners. The Eternal One clothed Himself in flesh. God lived -- and died -- here on earth. Because He loves us. Because it was the only way to provide for our greatest need. God came to earth!!!

WOW!

His, by Grace, Steve

Tuesday Thought – June 28, 2016

Good Morning Friends,

“This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.’” (Matthew 1:18-21)

From the beginning of His life, Jesus’ purpose was to save us from our sins. His purpose was planned before He was ever born! His name, Jesus, reflects His purpose. Jesus comes from the Hebrew word “Joshua” and means “Jehovah is salvation or Savior.” He came to bring salvation to us.

God had been planning this since before time and waited until the time was just right. “When the time had fully come, God sent his Son.” (Galatians 4:4) Peter made the same point, “He was chosen before the creation of the world.” (1 Peter 1:20)

Sometimes people consider the birth of Jesus as just a beautiful story of the humble birth of a great man … like Lincoln born in a log cabin. From God’s perspective, that’s not at all what it is. God knew what Jesus was here to do. The cross cast its shadow across Jesus’ entire life, even across the manger! God sent Jesus knowing full well what the world would do to Him. He knew the mocking and hatred Jesus would get. He knew many would not listen to Him and the betrayal He would face. He knew the pain, the torture, and the death that awaited Him.

Knowing what He was coming to, God still sent Jesus. He did it for you and me. That’s how much He loved, and loves, us.

His, by Grace, Steve

Monday Thought – June 27, 2016

Good Morning Friends,

Paul’s final greeting and encouragement to TItus, “Everyone with me sends you greetings. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with you all.” (Titus 3:15)

The letter to Titus was from an experienced, mature Christian leader (Paul) to a younger, less experienced Christian leader (Titus). Paul was a mentor to Titus, helping him with the issues of faith and ministry with which he was confronted. Paul’s expectation of Titus was that he would also seek those that he could mentor. He was to appoint leaders in the church of Crete and take responsibility for helping those leaders fulfill the ministry to which God had called them and help them in their own Christian lives, too. Those leaders, as they were being mentored by Titus, were to take responsibility for the congregation they led, mentoring those people to be sure they were growing and maturing in the faith.

What is described in the relationships between Paul, Titus, the Cretian leaders, and the Cretian Christians is a continuum of mentoring, with each responsible for being in a relationship in which they were being mentored and to be in one or more relationships in which they were mentoring others.

That’s always been God’s design for the church. The church is to be made up of people helping people grow and mature in their relationship with the Lord. We aren’t to be in this alone. We are to rely on others to help us and be available to help others.

Paul’s relationship with Titus brings up the question of our own relationships with others in the faith. Are there one or more mature and experienced Christians to whom you look for mentoring? They serve as models and teachers to you in the things of the faith and in your service in the Kingdom of God. Just as important, are there younger, less experienced Christians to whom you serve as a mentor – perhaps in a formal way or, more likely, in an informal way?

To be mentored and to be mentoring – that’s God’s way to keeping us all growing!

His, by Grace, Steve

Friday Thought – June 24, 2016

Good Morning Friends,

“Warn a divisive person once, and then warn him a second time. After that, have nothing to do with him. You may be sure that such a man is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.” (Titus 3:10-11)

Unity among His people is a deep desire of God’s heart. Divisiveness breaks His heart and brings His displeasure.

Unity attracts God’s blessings. The Psalmist wrote, “How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity! For there the LORD bestows his blessing, even life forevermore.” (Psalm 133:1,3)

Unity was the prayer of Jesus on the night of His betrayal. Unity means so much to the Lord that it was on His mind in the midst of the most difficult night of His life. Jesus prayed for unity because He knew that the unity of His people was an essential element in reaching and changing the world with His message of grace and love. He prayed, “May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” (John 17:23)

So many of the New Testament letters to churches and individuals speak directly to the issues of unity and divisiveness. It becomes obvious that unity means a great deal to God and that divisiveness is a real disappointment to Him and a direct disobedience to Him.

That’s not just true in the church. That’s also true in our individual lives. God desires that we get along with the people around us.

Paul’s advice is clear, “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” (Romans 12:18)

So, are you getting along with the people around you? God desires it. God commands it, as much as it depends upon you.

His, by Grace, Steve

Thursday Thought – June 23, 2016

Good Morning Friends,

“This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone. But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless.” (Titus 3:8-9)

There are things worth giving your time to and there are things that are not worth it. It’s a matter of priorities.

How many angels can dance on the head of a pin? Can God create a boulder so big that even He could not lift it? Those are just two of the multitude of meaningless arguments that some people in ages past have wanted to debate. They aren’t worth spending time talking about! There are more important things to which to devote yourself.

Too often, arguments and controversies take the place of action. People spend their time debating theology instead of putting what they believe into practice. Paul challenged Titus and those with whom he worked to “devote themselves to doing what is good.” It was a challenge to action, not debate.

Paul wrote similar advice to the Philippians: “If on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. Only let us live up to what we have already attained.” (Philippians 3:15-16)

Don’t give so much time and effort to trying to resolve disagreements that you fail to live what you already believe!

His, by Grace, Steve

Wednesday Thought – June 22, 2016

Good Morning Friends,

“He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.” (Titus 3:5-7)

Paul includes several of the most impressive and important words in all language.

Saved: that’s what God has done for us. He did it, not us nor anyone else. We were doomed and He rescued us. We were headed for the pit of hell and He turned our destination around. We were lost, in every sense of that word, and He found us.

Mercy: someone defined that as “not getting what we deserve.” We deserve hell, in Christ, we won’t get it. We deserve to be punished for our sins, but Someone else got what we deserve and let us go free from our rightful consequences.

Justified: that is to be given right standing before God. Someone simplified the definition for it to say it means, “just as if we’d never sinned.” That is the way God sees us through Christ. Our sin goes onto His account and His righteousness is transferred to ours.

Grace: there’s almost no greater word than this one. It means to “get what we don’t deserve.” Because of mercy, we don’t get hell. Because of grace, we get heaven instead. Grace is derived from the word for “gift.” That’s what God has done for us, given us a gift, the most generous gift imaginable. In fact, it’s so generous it’s unimaginable!

There are more words in those few verses, too. Words like: heirs, hope, eternal life, generously, and more. Let me mention one more:

Jesus. Now, that’s the most impressive and important word you’ll ever know, because everything God has done for us is because of Him. All of the other impressive and important words are firmly and forever attached to Him.

His, by Grace, Steve

Tuesday Thought – June 21, 2016

Good Morning Friends,

“Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men. At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us.” (Titus 3:1-5)

I need to be reminded often that I’m not supposed to live the same way I used to live!

I used to live by trying to get everything I thought I deserved, my fair share of whatever was being passed out. I’m not to live that way anymore. God has already given me far more than I could ever deserve.

I used to be rebellious against authority. Sometimes, maybe even most of the time, it didn’t show. On the outside I did what I was supposed to do, but on the inside I was rebellious. I didn’t want anyone else to be in charge of me. I wanted to be in charge of me. I’m not to live that way anymore. I have found Someone I can trust and I have given my life to Him. He’s in charge now. Whoever He wants to put over me, in whatever way, He can do that.

I used to try to make myself look better and others look worse. I’d spout bad things about them and put them down. Slander and malice came frequently from my lips. I don’t have to be that way anymore. Someone loves me so much that He sacrificed more than is imaginable for me. How others look can’t ever change how much He loves me.

I am not the same as I used to be. There’s only one reason: He saved me. In kindness, He paid the price for me. In love, He saved me. I’ll never be the same again.

I often need to be reminded of that truth. I forget, and go back to some of the patterns of the past.

I need frequent reminders, don’t you?

His, by Grace, Steve

Monday Thought – June 20, 2016

Good Morning Friends,

“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope -- the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.” (Titus 2:11-14)

Christians are waiting for something. Actually, we’re waiting for Someone! Jesus is coming again. His coming will be the fulfillment of our hopes.

In the meantime, we face temptations to sin. The grace we have received is working in our lives to give us the power to say ‘no’ to the temptations we face. Still it is a struggle. Grace hasn’t had its full impact on our lives, none of us will let it. Though we have the power to change, we still struggle with ungodliness and give in to our passions.

In the meantime, we live in a world that is against us. It is not that the world attacks us for our faith. Rather, the world is wicked and its influence goes against where God desires to take us. The world has tremendous pull on us. It’s a constant battle within us between the world on one side and God on the other.

It won’t always be this way. Temptation will be gone when we are ushered into eternity. It won’t be a struggle anymore. We’ll be released from ungodliness in our own hearts and freed from our passions toward evil. The world will be gone, too, or at least radically changed. Its pull will no longer be toward wickedness and its influence will no longer be away from God. The battle will be over.

That’s the hope. That’s what we’re waiting for. It’s coming, He’s coming! It will, indeed, be a great and glorious appearing!

His, by Grace,

Steve

Friday Thought – June 17, 2016

Good Morning Friends,

“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. Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them, not to talk back to them, and not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive.” (Titus 2:7-10)

I can’t imagine a more unbearable life-situation than to be a slave. That anyone would consider that they could “own” another person, is beyond comprehension. It hasn’t been long since such thoughts were common in the U.S. My own ancestors “owned” slaves. I’m glad we’ve moved beyond that insanity.

Paul was familiar with slavery. The Roman Empire was filled with slaves. In some cities there were more slaves than non-slaves. Slaves were as poorly treated by some then as they were in the pre-Civil War south.

It is startling to find statements like the one Paul made to Titus: “slaves be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them, etc.” It seems logical that slaves had a right to stand up for what is right. But for Paul, there were more important things than individual rights. The advance of the Gospel was more important. A slave could do more to advance the Gospel by being cooperative than rebellious.

I’m not a slave. Yet, I struggle to let go of my rights for any reason, even for the greater good of the Gospel. I struggle to let go of my rights in marriage; my rights at work; my rights as an American; my rights as a homeowner and the list goes on. I still have a lot of growing to do in order to more fully understand God’s priorities and values! How about you?

His, by Grace, Steve

Thursday Thought – June 16, 2016

Good Morning Friends,

“You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine. Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance. Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God. Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled.” (Titus 2:1-6)

Paul had advice and challenge for every group of people. Older men, older women, younger women, and younger men have different needs and different temptations that are unique to their stage in life. One challenge is universal to all of the groups Paul mentions: self-control. That challenge is spoken clearly to the older men, younger women, and younger men, and implied with the older women in the comment about addiction to wine.

Self-control is a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:23). It is a characteristic that God, by His Holy Spirit, desires to develop in every believer. Yet, it is a characteristic that none of us will have completely conquered, no matter what stage of life we find ourselves in. Whether young or older, whether male or female, self-control is a challenge we always need to hear.

Self-control manifests itself differently in men and women. We face different challenges to self-control at different stages of our lives, too. It is always a characteristic that we must be developing and never a characteristic that we can think we have fully developed.

There is an area of your life in which God is challenging you to develop greater self-control. It’s not the same area in which He is giving that challenge to those around you, but in your life you know in what area God is making that challenge.

His, by Grace, Steve

Wednesday Thought – June 15, 2016

Good Morning Friends,

“For there are many rebellious people, mere talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision group. They must be silenced, because they are ruining whole households by teaching things they ought not to teach -- and that for the sake of dishonest gain. Even one of their own prophets has said, ‘Cretans are always liars, evil brutes, lazy gluttons.’ This testimony is true. Therefore, rebuke them sharply, so that they will be sound in the faith and will pay no attention to Jewish myths or to the commands of those who reject the truth.” (Titus 1:10-14)

Deception was a problem in Paul’s day, even as it is in ours. When someone speaks with an air of authority and confidence and a knowledge of enough Bible to be able to use it in what he says, people follow. Jim Jones, the Hale-Bopp Comet cult, and dozens of other examples are enough to confirm that to us. People will believe some strange stuff. Whole families and groups of people are duped and ruined by such teachers.

Paul mentions several characteristics that are common among false teachers: their lives do not match what they teach (mere talkers), they are in it for what they can get (for the sake of dishonest gain), they want to be in charge, not even submissive to God (rebellious), and they simply reject the truth for their lie.

It’s that final characteristic that provides the greatest safeguard for us and the greatest challenge. If we know the truth, we cannot be led astray by lies. Jesus declared, “Your word is truth.” (John 17:17) Several other passages affirm that the message of Jesus is the “word of truth.” Knowing the truth -- knowing what the Bible teaches -- is the best safeguard against the false teaching that is so prevalent around us.

The liars and false teachers can be very persuasive with smooth words, charismatic presence, and grand claims. The truth will set you free from their lies. Know the truth! Know the Bible!

His, by Grace, Steve

Tuesday Thought – June 14, 2016

Good Morning Friends,

What does it look like to be spiritually mature?

There are actually a number of gauges that can be used. We can compare ourselves to a Person, Jesus Christ. He embodies perfection -- perfect spiritual maturity. Or, we can look at the fruit of the Spirit. The more fully those characteristics are developed in our lives, the more mature we are. The same thing can be said for the Beatitudes in Matthew 5. They provide another set of benchmarks against which we can compare our growth.

Paul provides such a list in his letter to Titus, and a similar one when he wrote his first letter to Timothy. He’s talking about the qualifications for an elder, but, with a few exceptions, it’s basically about spiritual maturity.

“An elder must be blameless, the husband of but one wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient. Since an overseer is entrusted with God’s work, he must be blameless -- not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain. Rather he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined. He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.” (Titus 1:6-9)

Take a close look at that list of character traits and then take a look at your own life. How are you doing in your growth toward maturity? Can you see the progress you’ve made in the last year or so? Are there specific areas in which it is clear that you need to allow the Lord to work in your life?

The road we are on has a clear and certain destination: heaven. There the transformation of our lives will be complete. But the destination isn’t all that is important to the Lord. He’s interested in our journey here, too. Are you allowing Him to change you along the way?

His, by Grace, Steve

Monday Thought – June 13, 2016

Good Morning Friends,

“Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ for the faith of God’s elect and the knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness – a faith and knowledge resting on the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time, and at his appointed season he brought his word to light through the preaching entrusted to me by the command of God our Savior, To Titus, my true son in our common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.” (Titus 1:1-4)

One eternal attribute of God that you can count on: God does not lie. It would be a contradiction of His character to lie and God cannot and will not contradict His own character.

And God, who does not lie, has promised these things:

He has promised that there is eternal life. That’s not a new promise, it is one that is as old as time. There is a heaven, God has promised it. People will go to heaven, God has promised it.

The people who will go to heaven are those who have come to Him through Jesus Christ. Jesus declared, and the Father affirmed, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father except through Me.’ (John 14:6) It is through the person and message of Jesus that eternal life is available. God has spoken it and His Word can be counted on as true.

It is faith in Jesus Christ and the knowledge of the truth that leads to life. First, the message of the truth about Jesus must be heard, that’s where knowledge comes in. Then, the message must be responded it, that’s faith.

Eternal life, through Jesus Christ, by faith. That’s what God has said. And God doesn’t lie. You can count on it!

His, by Grace, Steve

Friday Thought – June 10, 2016

Good Morning Friends,

“‘Do not fear, O Jacob my servant; do not be dismayed, O Israel. I will surely save you out of a distant place, your descendants from the land of their exile. Jacob will again have peace and security, and no one will make him afraid. Do not fear, O Jacob my servant, for I am with you,’ declares the LORD. ‘Though I completely destroy all the nations among which I scatter you, I will not completely destroy you. I will discipline you but only with justice; I will not let you go entirely unpunished.’” (Jeremiah 46:27-28)

Sometimes the discipline of the Lord is severe. It was for Judah. They were taken captive to Babylon and lived as oppressed people there. It was a bitter pill for the proud people of Judah to swallow. They considered themselves God’s people, how could God abandon them like that?

But God hadn’t abandoned them! The discipline, though severe, would not destroy them. It would be only temporary, only for them to learn the lessons they needed to learn. When the time was right, God would restore them to their land and to His blessings.

So, too, is God’s treatment of those who follow Him today. Sometimes His discipline on us is severe, so severe that we think it unfair and so harsh that we think it will destroy us. As with Judah, God disciplines “only with justice.” He disciplines, not for the sake of punishment, but for the sake of teaching. As He taught Judah, even through great pain, so He will teach us, too.

Remember, no discipline of the Lord will destroy you. No discipline is meant for your long-term harm. All of God’s discipline is for your good, to bring you back and to teach you to walk in the ways of His blessings.

His, by Grace, Steve

Thursday Thought – June 9, 2016

Good Morning Friends,

“The LORD said to Jeremiah: ‘Take a scroll and write on it all the words I have spoken to you concerning Israel, Judah and all the other nations from the time I began speaking to you in the reign of Josiah till now. Perhaps when the people of Judah hear about every disaster I plan to inflict on them, each of them will turn from his wicked way; then I will forgive their wickedness and their sin.’ So Jeremiah called Baruch son of Neriah, and while Jeremiah dictated all the words the LORD had spoken to him, Baruch wrote them on the scroll. Jeremiah told Baruch, ‘I am restricted; I cannot go to the LORD’s temple. So you go to the house of the LORD on a day of fasting and read to the people from the scroll the words of the LORD that you wrote as I dictated. Read them to all the people of Judah.’” (Jeremiah 36:1-6)

You can’t say that God didn’t warn the people of Judah about what was ahead if they did not turn back to Him. Nothing should have been a surprise to them. Jeremiah wasn’t the first prophet to be sent to warn them, but even Jeremiah’s preaching should have been enough for them to repent.

But the majority of the people of Israel did not repent. Perhaps there were a few that listened to Jeremiah’s words. Perhaps there were small pockets of repentance and revival. Most of the people ignored Jeremiah and the predicted discipline came upon them just as he had said it would. They should have been ready, but they weren’t because they did not listen to God’s Word.

God told Adam and Eve what would happen if they ate of the forbidden tree. They were warned, but didn’t listen!

God told Noah to preach among the people for 120 years before the rains started. They were warned, but didn’t listen!

God has made clear what is ahead. Death will overtake each of us and after death comes judgment. We’ve been warned, but too many don’t listen! A day of reckoning is ahead for the whole world. We’ve been warned, but too many don’t listen!

There will be no excuse for those who face God’s judgment.

His, by Grace, Steve

Wednesday Thought – June 8, 2016

Good Morning Friends,

“Again and again I sent all my servants the prophets to you. They said, ‘Each of you must turn from your wicked ways and reform your actions; do not follow other gods to serve them. Then you will live in the land I have given to you and your fathers.’ But you have not paid attention or listened to me. … Therefore, this is what the LORD God Almighty, the God of Israel, says: ‘Listen!  I am going to bring on Judah and on everyone living in Jerusalem every disaster I pronounced against them. I spoke to them, but they did not listen; I called to them, but they did not answer.’” (Jeremiah 35:15, 17)

Jeremiah proclaimed that disaster was coming upon the people of Judah. They were to be defeated by Babylon and taken as captives to that land. It was not by chance that Babylon was coming to attack Judah. It would not be by chance that Jerusalem would fall into their hands. God allowed Babylon to attack and God would allow Babylon to defeat Jerusalem. God was removing His hand of protection from His people and allowing them to be defeated.

These were God’s own people, why would He remove His hand of protection from them?

Judah was reaping what it had sown. It had sown disobedience and it was reaping discipline. Warning after warning had come from the Lord to listen to His word and follow the ways He set before them. But the people of Judah ignored God’s word and followed their own way. God had spoken clearly of the blessings that would come from obedience and the pain that would come from disobedience. The people did not believe that pain would come, so they disobeyed. Now, they would reap what they had sown. What God had promised was coming.

It is a principle of God, as Paul declared, “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.” (Galatians 6:7)

His, by Grace, Steve

Tuesday Thought – June 7, 2016

Good Morning Friends,

“The LORD says: ‘If you can break my covenant with the day and my covenant with the night, so that day and night no longer come at their appointed time, then my covenant with David my servant -- and my covenant with the Levites who are priests ministering before me -- can be broken and David will no longer have a descendant to reign on his throne. I will make the descendants of David my servant and the Levites who minister before me as countless as the stars of the sky and as measureless as the sand on the seashore.’” (Jeremiah 33:20-22)

God made a covenant with the people of Israel. It was His agreement with them. He would bless them and work through them to accomplish His will for mankind. They would be His people, special to Him and precious. It was a covenant with David and his descendants and with the priestly tribe of Levi, along with the rest of the Jews, to make them as numerous as the stars and as measureless as sand. It was a covenant God entered into with Abraham on the basis of Abraham’s faith.

The question is: would God keep His end of the covenant? Could God become unfaithful to what He had promised? What if the Jews were unfaithful to their part of the covenant, would that cause God to back out on His part, too?

God, through Jeremiah, provided the answer to that question. God declared that His part of the covenant was as sure as day and night. When the Jews learned to shut the sun off during the day so that it becomes night and to make the sun shine during the night so that it becomes day, then God would break His covenant! The point is – that’s impossible! The Jews -- or any individual or group -- could never turn night to day or day to night. As impossible as that is – that’s how impossible it is for God to break His word!

The Jews could count on what God promised! So can you! God ALWAYS keeps His word!

His, by Grace, Steve

Monday Thought – June 6, 2016

Good Morning Friends,

“This is what the LORD says, he who made the earth, the LORD who formed it and established it -- the LORD is his name: ‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’” (Jeremiah 33:2-3)

“Call to me and I will answer.”

What a marvelous promise that is from the Lord. He created everything that exists. He made it like it is and He keeps it operating. He is the Lord, the ruler of all that is. Yet, He has time for you and me. When we call to Him, He hears and He answers. He’s never too busy for us. He’s never involved in such important work that He cannot be disturbed or interrupted to hear our plea. He’s there for us, whenever we call to Him.

He promises to answer and to answer with things we cannot figure out for ourselves. His will is beyond discerning on our own, but when we call to Him, He will reveal it to us. His plan of salvation is a mystery, beyond human comprehension, but when we call to Him, He makes it known to us. We don’t seek after God until we find Him. God finds us. He pursues us, He convicts us, He touches our heart, and then when we call to Him, He opens Himself up to us to reveal Himself.

Call to Him and He will answer. That is God’s promise!

His, by Grace, Steve

Friday Thought – June 3, 2016

Good Morning Friends,

“Ah, Sovereign LORD, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.” (Jeremiah 32:17)

Leprosy was the most dread disease of Bible days. It was the cancer or the AIDS of that day. When a person contracted leprosy, life was over for them. They were made outcasts and lost all hope of ever reentering life. They were doomed to a slow and painful and very lonely death. But God is more powerful than leprosy. He proved it when Jesus touched the lepers and they were healed. Not even cancer or AIDS are too powerful for Him to overcome.

The forces of nature are beyond our control. We’ve tried to make it rain when and where we need it, but have basically been failures at it. We’ve studied tornadoes, but can do nothing to diminish their power. We know all about earthquakes, but we cannot control them. But God is more powerful than the forces of nature. He proved it when Jesus walked on water and calmed the storms. No force of nature is too powerful for Him to overcome.

And then there is death. There is no power that causes greater terror than death. There is nothing we can do to keep the relentless march toward death from happening. There is little we can do to slow its progress. Stop smoking, watch your diet, and get some exercise and life may be a few years longer, but death inevitably comes calling. But God is more powerful than death, too. He proved it when Jesus called out Lazarus’s name and he walked out alive from his grave. He proved it when Jesus Himself left the tomb empty! Not even death is too powerful for Him to overcome.

Nothing is too hard for Him. Not even the greatest miracle is too hard for Him -- the miracle of transforming your life by His grace!!!

His, by Grace, Steve

Thursday Thought – June 2, 2016

Good Morning Friends,

The majority of Jeremiah’s prophecy was gloom and doom for the people of Judah. The land was to be invaded and conquered by Nebuchadnezer. The people were to be carried into captivity. But it wasn’t all negative, there was a hopeful word in his prophecy, too. One day the people would return. They would come back to the Lord and He would then bring them back to their land. But it promised to be a long time before the people would be restored to the land.

It wasn’t too hard to see that troubled times were ahead. The nation had been in a downward spiral for many years. There were probably many who weren’t prophets who were giving similar messages of gloom.

Then God gave a strange instruction to Jeremiah. Jeremiah said, “The word of the LORD came to me: Hanamel son of Shallum your uncle is going to come to you and say, ‘Buy my field at Anathoth, because as nearest relative it is your right and duty to buy it.’ Just as the LORD had said, my cousin Hanamel came to me in the courtyard of the guard and said, ‘Buy my field at Anathoth in the territory of Benjamin. Since it is your right to redeem it and possess it, buy it for yourself.’ I knew that this was the word of the LORD; so I bought the field at Anathoth from my cousin Hanamel and weighed out for him seventeen shekels of silver.” (Jeremiah 32:6-9)

If destruction was coming, why would anyone buy a field? This was not the time to be making investments, but to be getting rid of them for whatever you could get out of them. But Jeremiah obeyed God’s instruction and bought the field.

God’s instruction was a statement that He was indeed bringing His people back to the land. Jeremiah’s obedience was an act of faith. Even when it didn’t look like it was a smart move, Jeremiah did what God told him to do and trusted God with the future.

It’s hard enough to say that we trust God with the future. Like Jeremiah, do we have enough faith to ACT on what we believe?

His, by Grace, Steve

Wednesday Thought – June 1, 2016

Good Morning Friends,

“‘The time is coming,’ declares the LORD, ‘when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. It will not be like the covenant I made with their forefathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they broke my covenant, though I was a husband to them,’ declares the LORD. ‘This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time,’ declares the LORD. ‘I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, “Know the LORD,” because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest,’ declares the LORD. ‘For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.’” (Jeremiah 31:31-34)

Jeremiah prophesied of a day that was in the future from where he stood. He predicted a marvelous day. It would be a day of a new covenant. The old covenant was an external, imposed law. The new covenant would be a relationship from within, implanted in the hearts of those who entered the new covenant. It would be a day of close relationship with God. It would be a day of “knowing the Lord” and not needing priests and intermediaries to make Him known. It would be a day of forgiveness and grace, a day in which sin would be dealt with.

It would be a marvelous day. We live in that day! It is not future to us. Jeremiah saw it from hundreds of years before it happened. He saw it only in prospect, only from a distance. We see it up close. We live it. We enjoy it. It is God’s gift to us.

A day of close relationship with Him.

A day of God implanting Himself within us.

A day of “knowing Him.”

A day of forgiveness.

A day of grace.

The day of Christ. The day in which we are blessed to live!

His, by Grace, Steve