WATCHWORD:
“We have studied life and found all this to be true. Listen to my counsel, and apply it to yourself.” Job 5:27
And this is the way to have eternal life—to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth. John 17:3
Fight the good fight for the true faith. Hold tightly to the eternal life to which God has called you, which you have declared so well before many witnesses. By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may experience true life. 1 Timothy 6:12,19
Meditation:
True Life
Practice, practice, practice. Pro golfer Lee Trevino tells us that the more he practices the luckier he gets. I believe that. I wonder if there is an application here for us?
How about this — In the book of John Jesus tells us “A new covenant I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” I wonder if anyone could love as he loves us without Him in our lives. Think about it, unless we have an intimate relationship with Jesus, I mean every day and every day, how can we possibly understand the fullness of what he is asking us, no, commanding us to do. Practice, practice, practice.
The thing about loving as he loves us is that it communicates that we are His. But more than that, by such love we are changed. One cannot truly love another unless selfishness is removed from our equation. How do we do that? By surrendering it all to God because we know that we can’t love others like this without His help.
In one of my morning devotionals I read something to the effect that we must set ourselves aside, you know deal with our own greed and selfishness desires daily, and pick up our cross. Jesus showed us the way when he surrendered his authority and power and died on the cross for us so that we could truly live because of that sacrifice. So, we are called upon to surrender.
In Matthew 10:39 we read about Jesus telling us whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it. We find true life by loving one another as Jesus loves us.
I never doubted what Lee Trevino said. With a bit of application, you know, practice, I could have become one of the truly great golfers of all time, too. On the other hand, if I apply what Jesus tells us, to come to Him and practice, practice etc., each morning, I would become what God had in mind for me, and that’s probably a better way.
Bulletin Board Humor:
So, let me get this straight, there is no known cure for Covid, a virus that can be killed by sanitizer and hand soap?
If these last months have taught us anything, it’s that stupidity travels faster than any virus on the planet, particularly among politicians and bureaucrats.
People are scared of getting fined or arrested for congregating in crowds, as if catching a deadly disease and dying a horrible death wasn’t enough of a deterrent.
Morning Prayers:
“I come before you, O Lord. As the sun rises, may your hope rise up in me. As the birds sing, let your love flow out of me. As the light floods into this new day, may your joy shine through me. I come before you, O Lord And drink in this moment of peace, That I may carry something of your hope, love, and joy today in my heart. Amen.”
Father, I am tempted to worry about so many things. Our world is a mess! Forgive me for focusing on anything or anyone but You. Thank You for the Bible that equips and empowers me to live each day. Right now, I declare that You are my only Hope. Please help me remember that You really are in control. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Dear Father God, Thank You for Your unfailing love for me, Your blessings, and goodness. Thank You for Your faithfulness to guide me and see me through times of uncertainty, for lifting me up, and setting me on high. Thank You for Scripture that comforts and reminds me of Your promises, plan, and provision. Thank you for taking away my fears and worries, the what-ifs, and reminding me that my help comes from You. Help me be a good steward and to sow wisely. In Christ’s name, Amen.”
