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Post by Parker on Sept 30, 2022 14:06:56 GMT -8
Dressed for Success
All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time. 1 PETER 5:5-6 NKJV
I struggle with having a humble heart. When I don’t get my way, pride gets in my way. I have a choice—submit to self and become proud, or submit to God and experience humility. Self wants to fight, but the Spirit leads me to walk by faith in peace. It’s my choice to live from the point of view of grace or a get-even mindset. Under God’s mighty hand, I develop a humble heart. Without Him, I only embolden my pride, but when I put on humility, I dress for spiritual success.
Paul uses the imagery of getting dressed. Each day we choose to put on a prideful attitude or one that esteems others as better than ourselves. When we prioritize another person’s needs or desires before our own, we choose to wear the attractive spirit of humility. When we move toward another’s perspective and support whatever is important to them, we can delay our own gratification for another day. The choice to be humble facilitates patience and nurtures intimacy.
“Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up” (James 4:10).
Who needs your humble response? What problem could be solved by you deferring to another? Perhaps you are in the middle of heated negotiations, and though you believe you are right, you compromise for what’s best for the whole. Humility gives in for the sake of the greater good. In your child’s activities, you may have occasion to give another family preference even if your son or daughter is more deserving of the opportunity. Generosity is a delicious fruit of humility.
Above all, we trust Almighty God to bring about His best for us in His timing. We may feel hurt or taken advantage of, but we know who is in control. When we give up our right to be right, we can rest in the Lord’s righteousness. Our attitude of humility is the result of our will surrendering to God’s will. He looks for followers of Christ who die daily to self so He can raise them up for Himself. We demand our way less often and seek His way more consistently. So don’t dress up in the apparel of arrogance, but in the gracious garments of humility. God’s grace floods into a humble heart.
“Learn from me [Jesus], for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:29).
Heavenly Father, by Your grace I choose humility over pride. Teach me to rest in You.
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Post by Parker on Oct 1, 2022 14:01:33 GMT -8
Tell the Truth
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life.”
JOHN 14:6
When he [the devil] lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
JOHN 8:44
Truth flows from the One who is the truth—Jesus. Lies flow from the father of lies—the devil. So truth tellers side with the Lord, and liars side with Satan. With whom do we align? We are quick to say Jesus, but in everyday life, if not careful, we can drift into representing the devil. Fear can tempt us to speak untruths, but trust empowers us to speak the truth.
Lying has such a short-term focus. We are afraid we will lose something if we don’t lie. We may lose someone’s admiration if we don’t inflate the truth, but when we are found out to be a liar, we will be humiliated. We may lose money unless we bend the rules, but when indiscretions are exposed over time, we lose more in compromised creditability. Better to lose a little with honesty than a lot with lies.
The devil is an expert in luring us away from the Lord’s desires by offering short-term solutions—lies—that lead to long-term destructive consequences. Liars are unable to keep their stories straight, so when confronted they sheepishly say, “I don’t remember, or I can’t recall what I said.” Children who chronically lie seem oblivious; they continue to fib until the pain of not telling the truth causes them to change.
“If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth” (1 John 1:6).
The first lie was presented by the serpent in paradise as he led Eve to believe she could be like God. Some things never change. Every day we are tempted to promote ourselves and pretend we are better than we really are. But Spirit-led living exalts Christ and others, not self. To be honest is to take responsibility for our actions and to avoid blaming others.
“The man said, ‘The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.’
“Then the LORD God said to the woman, ‘What is this you have done?’
“The woman said, ‘The serpent deceived me, and I ate’ ” (Genesis 3:12-13).
Are you honest with yourself about constant exposure to compromising situations? Are you loose with the truth, or do you speak directly and include all the information? Take responsibility for wrong decisions. Going forward, seek sound advice from friends who will tell you the truth. Be totally honest with them so they can offer the best advice. Begin by coming clean with Christ—He already knows anyway. Then be totally open and real with others.
“Friend deceives friend,
and no one speaks the truth.
They have taught their tongues to lie;
they weary themselves with sinning” (Jeremiah 9:5).
What do I need to be honest about with God and myself? Who needs my complete honesty?
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Post by Parker on Feb 1, 2023 5:59:58 GMT -8
Abundant Forgiveness
Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.”
MATTHEW 18:21-22
Sin’s offense hurts. There is no doubt about it. Sin wounds indiscriminately. It is no respecter of persons. Sin builds walls. It ravishes relationships and it separates. Sin is a sorry excuse for wrong behavior. Just the sound of the word solicits negative emotion. Sin is deceptive, carnal, and Christ-less. Sin is unfair, sad, and sometimes sadistic.
Sin follows a process of desire, conception, birth, maturity, and death. James describes its diabolical development. “After desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death” (James 1:15). So sin is not to be taken lightly. Certainly the pain it inflicts cannot be ignored for long. It can kill relationships.
Nonetheless, when someone sins against you, you are to forgive. When their sin assaults your character, you are to forgive them. When their sin berates your work, you are to forgive them. When their sin violates your trust, you are to forgive them. When their sin steals your joy, you are to forgive them.
When someone’s sin crushes your dreams, you are to forgive them. When their sin steals from you, you are to forgive them. This level of forgiveness is counterintuitive and countercultural, but it is the way of Christ. Forgiveness is God’s game plan. You will lose if you don’t forgive. Unforgiveness is torturous to the soul. It is unhealthy for the body and emotions. Unforgiveness fills prescriptions and leaves hollow lives in its wake.
It doesn’t matter who is the most right or the most wrong. Forgiveness cuts through the varying degrees of guilt and erases the entire debt. True forgiveness comes from the offended person’s heart. It is not a flippant acknowledgment, but a sincere removal of anything that is owed. When the offended one forgives, he or she wipes out the expectation for an apology, a repayment, or change. It is forgiveness, clear and simple. Forgiveness is letting go of the hurt, anger, and shame. When you forgive, you are free. You are free from the shackles of sin. When you forgive, you trust God to judge others in His time. His judgment is just. God can be trusted to handle the consequences of sin’s offense.
You continue to forgive others because your heavenly Father continues to forgive you. Without Christ’s forgiveness, we are of all men and women most miserable. Jesus does not deal in forgiveness quotas. The forgiveness of the cross was swift, full, and final. Unlock your relational restraints with the key of forgiveness. Write a letter with tear-soaked ink outlining your forgiveness. Call or email someone today and let them know that because you are forgiven, you have forgiven them. Set others free with forgiveness, and you will be set free. There is freedom in Christ. Forgive fast and forgive often.
“Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing’ ” (Luke 23:34).
Have I accepted Christ’s forgiveness? Whom do I need to forgive by God’s grace?
Related Readings
Genesis 50:17; Psalm 130:4; Luke 17:3; Ephesians 4:32
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Post by civic on Feb 1, 2023 6:12:59 GMT -8
Good lessons and biblical principles to follow. I have been on a study lately with the head/mind and the heart and how they are interconnected. I have been going through this with the mens discipleship groups I meet with on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday mornings. The will and heart are intertwined and one will follow the other. Out of the heart proceeds....... whatever a man thinketh so is he in his heart...... love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength..... do not be conformed to the pattern of the world but be transformed by the renewing of your minds.......... and there are many other biblical principles that tie in together the heart and the mind such as Jesus saying you lost your first love so repent and do those things you use to do. The mind starts and the heart follows. Jeremiah 2:2- “Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem: “This is what the LORD says: “’I remember the devotion of your youth, how as a bride you loved me and followed me through the wilderness, through a land not sown.
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Post by Parker on Feb 2, 2023 5:52:52 GMT -8
Out-Give God
Give away your life; you’ll find life given back, but not merely given back—given back with bonus and blessing. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity.
LUKE 6:38 MSG
It is impossible to out-give the Lord, because He augments any gift given in Jesus’s name with His sovereign influence. He can turn a penny into a dime or a dime into a dollar. He can turn a dollar into a hundred dollars or a hundred dollars into a thousand. Eternally motivated gifts grow exponentially.
He can use one life surrendered to Jesus to influence a family. He can use a family under the lordship of Christ to influence a church, a ministry, and a community. He can use a Christ-centered community to influence a state. He can use a state that stands for God’s standards to revive a nation. Indeed, He has already used a nation founded on His principles to influence the world. One submitted life is leverage in the Lord’s hands.
“The generous will themselves be blessed,
for they share their food with the poor” (Proverbs 22:9).
Would you be interested in an investment with a 100 percent guaranteed return on investment? In God’s economy, this is how He multiplies gifts given for His glory. He receives our ordinary faith offerings as acts of worship and invests them with extraordinary eternal results. Money is not an end in itself, but sometimes it warms a needy heart like nothing else can. Look to give toward ministries that manage His financial resources well.
When you give in Jesus’s name, you are giving to Jesus. The Lord is the righteous recipient of your good and generous gifts. Would your motivation to give and the amount you give change if you gave to Jesus in person? Would your heart and posture bow in holy reverence and gratitude? Yes, giving is an act of worship to holy God—not because He needs anything, but because we recognize our need for Him and His reward.
“Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the LORD,
and he will reward them for what they have done” (Proverbs 19:17).
Your Master Jesus matches your giving with His resourcefulness and rewards. The Lord has chosen to meet the needs of His people through His people. He even uses unbelievers to care for believers. And the kindness of God through godly people leads those outside the faith to repentance. Your gracious gift, combined with God’s grace, is a conduit for people to know Christ. You cannot out-give God. Rather, through your generosity, you work with Him to bring people into the saving knowledge of His Son Jesus.
“Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God” (2 Corinthians 9:10-11).
Where is the Lord calling me to join Him and aggressively give in the name of Jesus?
Related Readings
Psalm 146:7; Matthew 14:17-21; 2 Corinthians 8:2; Hebrews 6:10
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Post by Parker on Feb 3, 2023 4:57:26 GMT -8
Gratitude and Contentment
Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 THESSALONIANS 5:18
I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.
PHILIPPIANS 4:12
Gratitude and contentment go together like turkey and dressing. They feed each other, and are both fostered by faith. When I remember how God has so richly blessed me, I am overwhelmed by His generosity. For example, I am eternally grateful for His salvation in His Son Jesus. When I think of His gift of grace, I am grateful for its freedom. When I consider His forgiveness, I am grateful for guilt-free living. When I reflect on His love, I am grateful for the ability to love and be loved.
When I think of His holiness, I am grateful that His character can be trusted and is transformational. Stuff is secondary, but the blessings of faith, family, friends, and fitness feed our contentment. We may not have what we want or deserve, but in Christ we have all that is necessary. So be humbly grateful to God, and your contentment will increase.
“The fear of the LORD leads to life;
then one rests content, untouched by trouble” (Proverbs 19:23).
To be contented is to rest in Christ and trust He is in control. Circumstances, good or bad, are opportunities for Him to show Himself faithful. So once you go to God in gratitude, you can live in contentment, knowing Christ is in control. Contentment is not passive and uninformed; rather, it is engaged and educated. It is not anxious. It replaces worry with work, pity with prayer, hubris with humility, and grumbling with gratitude.
Your peace and stability are the fruit of contentment, which grows in the rich soil of gratitude. Sow seeds of prayer into that soil, and you will reap an abundance. You are able to overcome adversity because the Almighty has gone before you. You are able to keep your desire for riches in check and to give to others because of your gratitude to God and contentment to Christ. Thank God often, and trust Him to cultivate your contentment.
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13 NKJV).
What are some reasons for my gratitude to God, and how can I express my contentment in Christ?
Related Readings
Job 1:21; 2 Corinthians 6:4-10; Ephesians 4:20-24; Colossians 2:6-7
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Post by Parker on Feb 4, 2023 7:58:20 GMT -8
Diligence Rules
Diligent hands will rule, but laziness ends in slave labor.
PROVERBS 12:24
Do you work hard, or do you hardly work? God said to Adam, “Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat food from it all the days of your life… By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food” (Genesis 3:17,19). And He explained to Moses, “Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work” (Exodus 20:9-10).
Has our culture become accustomed to receiving good things without great effort? Who is entitled to influence without being industrious? Perhaps a dearth of diligence has depressed some people and entire economies. Lazy people want to control others, but honest laborers find new opportunities and advance. Don’t despair in your diligence, for you are set for success. Mind your business meticulously, and you’ll be much more likely to enjoy it and prosper.
“Now the man Jeroboam was a valiant warrior, and when Solomon saw that the young man was industrious, he appointed him over all the forced labor of the house of Joseph” (1 Kings 11:28 NASB).
Your faithfulness to your work will not go unnoticed. In fact, your industriousness will lead to preferment. Your diligence is a distinctive that separates you from the average or lazy laborer. This level of service brings security. Promotion follows performance that produces the right results the right way. Be an industrious example whom others seek to emulate.
The Lord blesses hands that are hard at work. He smiles when He sees your service exceeds expectations. You go the extra mile to make sure others are cared for as you would like them to care for you. God sees your thoroughness on the job and your integrity in its execution, and He knows you can be trusted with more.
“The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching” (1 Timothy 5:17).
Lord, what task do You want me to diligently complete before beginning another?
Related Readings
1 Kings 12:20; Proverbs 10:4; Romans 12:8; 1 Timothy 4:15
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Post by Parker on Feb 5, 2023 7:12:07 GMT -8
A Grace-Made ManBy the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. 1 CORINTHIANS 15:10 A self-made man is the antithesis of a grace-made man. A self-made man becomes desperate for God on occasion, such as whenever a crisis occurs. A grace-made man is continually desperate for God because he sees himself as a needy man. A self-made man struggles to give God the glory for his accomplishments, but the grace-made man never forgets to give Christ the credit for his success. Grace brings out the best in humble hearts. A grace-made man does not work less, but more. Gratitude focuses grace-based behavior into diligence. A man or woman motivated by the grace of God works for an audience of One. Their godly ambition has an eternal allegiance that no earthly boss can inspire. We work hard because God’s grace is at work within us. Do your work and life blend into a divine portrait of grace? If so, you are winning the respect of those around you. “For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you” (Romans 12:3). We are nothing more than what the Lord makes us by His grace. We may make money, but unless we lean into the Lord’s grace, it is just another temporal transaction. How can we know we are leaning into the Lord’s grace? Our words will be gracious and our attitude humble. We will see people not as a means to make money, but as individuals with hopes, dreams, and fears. We will engage people with kindness, not passive pride. So work hard with a heavenly agenda. Acknowledge that the larger the Lord’s blessing on your life, the greater your need for His grace. Christ increases our capacity to receive His grace as we credit Him for His favor. Amazing grace starts at salvation and becomes a growing marvel as you apply humble faith and thanksgiving. God’s grace makes the man; man does not make the man. Your Creator created you and your success. “ ’Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home.” “You may say to yourself, ‘My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.’ But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth” (Deuteronomy 8:17-18). Heavenly Father, teach me to rely more and more on Your generous grace. Related Readings 1 Samuel 2:7; 2 Corinthians 11:23; Philippians 2:13; Colossians 1:29
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Post by Parker on Feb 6, 2023 6:35:57 GMT -8
Motivated by Love
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love.
But the greatest of these is love.
1 CORINTHIANS 13:13
Love is the highest and best motivation. Like contestants in a beauty pageant, faith and hope accompany love as the top three finalists, but love is crowned the winner. It reigns because it brings out the very best in the lover and the one being loved. Similar to an invisible force field, love protects us from ourselves and compels us to give ourselves to others. It generates goodwill and garners trust. Love is the pinnacle of the Lord’s expectations because it points to Christ.
Love is loyal when most are disloyal. Love steps up when some step away. Love believes the best and doesn’t think to assume the worse. Love looks out for the interests of loved ones above its own needs. Love always loves—when unloved, when lonely, and when loved. Love loves the unlovely, the unconcerned, and the underutilized. Love looks for potential where impatience is disappointed. Love is the Lord’s lubricant that causes relationships to run smoothly.
“The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love” (Galatians 5:6).
What is your primary reason for relating to people? Is it to be loved or to love? Fortunately, when we are free to love without expecting anything in return, we are fulfilled by love’s fruit. Indeed, the glorious grace of God does not stand still when you run to love someone starved for compassion. Your gift of love invites the Holy Spirit to spread His love across the landscape of your heart and soul. Like a fast-spreading plant, love reaches into places we would never expect.
Make sure you are motivated to love by your intimacy with your heavenly Father. Let your communion with Christ inspire you to love others. The more consistent your love relationship with Jesus, the more capacity you have to love. To the extent you are loved well by the Lord, you will love well. The world’s noise drowns out the gentle words of Jesus—“I love you.” But in your daily quiet time, you hear and feel His presence. God’s love motivates you to love with intentionality!
“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God” (1 John 4:7).
Heavenly Father, let Your gracious and generous love motivate me to love.
Related Readings
John 15:12; Romans 5:8,10; 1 Thessalonians 1:3; 3:6; 1 John 4:7-21
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Post by civic on Feb 6, 2023 7:13:47 GMT -8
Motivated by LoveAnd now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. 1 CORINTHIANS 13:13Love is the highest and best motivation. Like contestants in a beauty pageant, faith and hope accompany love as the top three finalists, but love is crowned the winner. It reigns because it brings out the very best in the lover and the one being loved. Similar to an invisible force field, love protects us from ourselves and compels us to give ourselves to others. It generates goodwill and garners trust. Love is the pinnacle of the Lord’s expectations because it points to Christ. Love is loyal when most are disloyal. Love steps up when some step away. Love believes the best and doesn’t think to assume the worse. Love looks out for the interests of loved ones above its own needs. Love always loves—when unloved, when lonely, and when loved. Love loves the unlovely, the unconcerned, and the underutilized. Love looks for potential where impatience is disappointed. Love is the Lord’s lubricant that causes relationships to run smoothly. “The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love” (Galatians 5:6). What is your primary reason for relating to people? Is it to be loved or to love? Fortunately, when we are free to love without expecting anything in return, we are fulfilled by love’s fruit. Indeed, the glorious grace of God does not stand still when you run to love someone starved for compassion. Your gift of love invites the Holy Spirit to spread His love across the landscape of your heart and soul. Like a fast-spreading plant, love reaches into places we would never expect. Make sure you are motivated to love by your intimacy with your heavenly Father. Let your communion with Christ inspire you to love others. The more consistent your love relationship with Jesus, the more capacity you have to love. To the extent you are loved well by the Lord, you will love well. The world’s noise drowns out the gentle words of Jesus—“I love you.” But in your daily quiet time, you hear and feel His presence. God’s love motivates you to love with intentionality! “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God” (1 John 4:7). Heavenly Father, let Your gracious and generous love motivate me to love. Related ReadingsJohn 15:12; Romans 5:8,10; 1 Thessalonians 1:3; 3:6; 1 John 4:7-21 Well needless to say you know I really like this devotional. Amen ! I have been camping out lately on the connection in scripture between the head and the heart and tying that into the Greatest Commandment in our men's groups that meet throughout the week. Theology is only as good as its practical application. There must be both the mind and the heart working together in harmony. That results in a mind that loves God, a heart that passionately serves Him and a life that reflects His love to others. The Christian life all boils down to loving God with your entire being- heart, mind, soul and strength and others. That is the Royal Law of Love at work. Just as the mind/heart are co-joined together, 2 sides of the same coin so to is faith/works- that being the fruit of the Spirit being lived out through us. Ephesians 2:8-10- our purpose was God beforehand preparing us to do His good works that we should walk in them. That is one of the main purposes in our salvation to reflect His love towards others. Amen ! |
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Post by Parker on Feb 6, 2023 7:44:34 GMT -8
Motivated by LoveAnd now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. 1 CORINTHIANS 13:13Love is the highest and best motivation. Like contestants in a beauty pageant, faith and hope accompany love as the top three finalists, but love is crowned the winner. It reigns because it brings out the very best in the lover and the one being loved. Similar to an invisible force field, love protects us from ourselves and compels us to give ourselves to others. It generates goodwill and garners trust. Love is the pinnacle of the Lord’s expectations because it points to Christ. Love is loyal when most are disloyal. Love steps up when some step away. Love believes the best and doesn’t think to assume the worse. Love looks out for the interests of loved ones above its own needs. Love always loves—when unloved, when lonely, and when loved. Love loves the unlovely, the unconcerned, and the underutilized. Love looks for potential where impatience is disappointed. Love is the Lord’s lubricant that causes relationships to run smoothly. “The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love” (Galatians 5:6). What is your primary reason for relating to people? Is it to be loved or to love? Fortunately, when we are free to love without expecting anything in return, we are fulfilled by love’s fruit. Indeed, the glorious grace of God does not stand still when you run to love someone starved for compassion. Your gift of love invites the Holy Spirit to spread His love across the landscape of your heart and soul. Like a fast-spreading plant, love reaches into places we would never expect. Make sure you are motivated to love by your intimacy with your heavenly Father. Let your communion with Christ inspire you to love others. The more consistent your love relationship with Jesus, the more capacity you have to love. To the extent you are loved well by the Lord, you will love well. The world’s noise drowns out the gentle words of Jesus—“I love you.” But in your daily quiet time, you hear and feel His presence. God’s love motivates you to love with intentionality! “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God” (1 John 4:7). Heavenly Father, let Your gracious and generous love motivate me to love. Related ReadingsJohn 15:12; Romans 5:8,10; 1 Thessalonians 1:3; 3:6; 1 John 4:7-21 Well needless to say you know I really like this devotional. Amen ! I have been camping out lately on the connection in scripture between the head and the heart and tying that into the Greatest Commandment in our mens groups that meet throughout the week. Theology is only as good as its practical application. There must be both the mind and the heart working together in harmony. That results in a mind that loves God, a heart that passionately serves Him and a life that reflects His love to others. The Christian life all boils down to loving God with your entire being- heart, mind, soul and strength and others. Thats the Royal Law of Love at work. Just as the mind/heart are co0joined together, 2 sides of the same coin so to is faith/works- that being the fruit of the Spirit being lived out through us. Ephesians 2:8-10- our purpose was God beforehand preparing us to do His good works that we should walk in them. That is one of the main purposed in our salvation to reflect His love towards others. Amen ! Then you should like this from "LOVE YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR MIND THE ROLE OF REASON IN THE LIFE OF THE SOUL" by J. P. Moreland THE LOSS OF THE CHRISTIAN MIND IN AMERICAN CHRISTIANITY Two major developments emerged in the late nineteenth century that contributed to the loss of the Christian mind in America. The legacy of the Pilgrims and Puritans waned, and two new movements emerged from which the evangelical church has never fully recovered. Let’s take a brief look at these two movements, and then we’ll examine the deeper problems that have resulted. Historical Overview 1. The emergence of anti-intellectualism. While generalizations can be misleading, it is safe to say that from the arrival of the Pilgrims to the middle of the nineteenth century, American believers prized the intellectual life for its contribution to the Christian journey. The Puritans were highly educated people (the literacy rate for men in early Massachusetts and Connecticut was between 89 and 95 percent) who founded colleges, taught their children to read and write before the age of six, and studied art, science, philosophy, and other fields as a way of loving God with the mind. Scholars like Jonathan Edwards were activists who sought to be scholarly and well informed in a variety of disciplines. The minister was an intellectual, as well as spiritual, authority in the community. As Puritan Cotton Mather proclaimed, “Ignorance is the Mother not of Devotion but of HERESY.” In the middle 1800s, however, things began to change dramatically, though the seeds for the change had already been planted in the popularized, rhetorically powerful, and emotionally directed preaching of George Whitefield in the First Great Awakening in the United States from the 1730s to the 1750s. During the middle 1800s, three awakenings broke out in the United States: the Second Great Awakening (1800–1820), the revivals of Charles Finney (1824–1837), and the Layman’s Prayer Revival (1856–1858). Much good came from these movements. But their overall effect was to overemphasize immediate personal conversion to Christ instead of a studied period of reflection and conviction; emotional, simple, popular preaching instead of intellectually careful and doctrinally precise sermons; and personal feelings and relationship to Christ instead of a deep grasp of the nature of Christian teaching and ideas. Sadly, as historian George Marsden notes, “anti-intellectualism was a feature of American revivalism.” Obviously, there is nothing wrong with the emphasis of these movements on personal conversion. What was a problem, however, was the intellectually shallow, theologically illiterate form of Christianity that came to be part of the populist Christian religion that emerged. One tragic result of this was what happened in the so-called Burned Over District in the state of New York. Thousands of people were “converted” to Christ by revivalist preaching, but they had no real intellectual grasp of Christian teaching. As a result, two of the three major American cults began in the Burned Over District among the unstable, untaught “converts”: Mormonism (1830) and the Jehovah’s Witnesses (1884). Christian Science arose in 1866 but was not connected with this area. |
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Post by Parker on Feb 7, 2023 5:56:28 GMT -8
Character Is Respected
Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
PROVERBS 31:23
Character invites respect and admiration. This comes over time as you establish a track record of consistently doing right. Your character becomes valuable as a creditable community assigns it value. This begins in your home. Do your wife and children (or your roommates) see the same person in private that others see in public? To win the respect of respectable persons, align your private and public character.
The Lord creates His character in us and confers His blessings on it. One of His favorite descriptions of one of His own is a “righteous” man or woman. “The LORD rewards everyone for their righteousness and faithfulness” (1 Samuel 26:23).
Character means something because Christ says it means something. He respects righteousness. Righteous behavior is a barometer of the Lord’s blessing. Have you ever observed that other people’s character rubs off on you? If you are around a gentle person for long, do you tend to grow in gentleness? If you are honored to see up close the generous deeds of good people, do you become more generous? If praying people regularly lift you and your needs to the Lord, do you find yourself looking for those you can carry to Christ in intercession?
People of character have a profoundly positive effect on you—as you do on others! God created you with an innate desire for authentic respect from those you admire. When you feel respected, you are quick to reciprocate that respect. However, be cautious not to dwell on feeling respected. Instead, extend respect to others. As God develops your character, respect for you will take care of itself. Character is an incubator for respect. You may wonder if righteousness can bring your relationships into alignment. Yes it can! It prepares a road of respect on which relationships can travel smoothly.
“Righteousness goes before him
and prepares the way for his steps” (Psalm 85:13).
Respect reaps the rewards of trust and transparency in growing relationships.
Is my character worthy of Christ’s respect and the admiration of respectable persons? Do I respect character in others?
Related Readings
Psalms 92:12; 112:6-9; Matthew 1:19; 1 John 3:6-8
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Post by civic on Feb 7, 2023 7:30:53 GMT -8
Character Is RespectedHer husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land. PROVERBS 31:23Character invites respect and admiration. This comes over time as you establish a track record of consistently doing right. Your character becomes valuable as a creditable community assigns it value. This begins in your home. Do your wife and children (or your roommates) see the same person in private that others see in public? To win the respect of respectable persons, align your private and public character. The Lord creates His character in us and confers His blessings on it. One of His favorite descriptions of one of His own is a “righteous” man or woman. “The LORD rewards everyone for their righteousness and faithfulness” (1 Samuel 26:23). Character means something because Christ says it means something. He respects righteousness. Righteous behavior is a barometer of the Lord’s blessing. Have you ever observed that other people’s character rubs off on you? If you are around a gentle person for long, do you tend to grow in gentleness? If you are honored to see up close the generous deeds of good people, do you become more generous? If praying people regularly lift you and your needs to the Lord, do you find yourself looking for those you can carry to Christ in intercession? People of character have a profoundly positive effect on you—as you do on others! God created you with an innate desire for authentic respect from those you admire. When you feel respected, you are quick to reciprocate that respect. However, be cautious not to dwell on feeling respected. Instead, extend respect to others. As God develops your character, respect for you will take care of itself. Character is an incubator for respect. You may wonder if righteousness can bring your relationships into alignment. Yes it can! It prepares a road of respect on which relationships can travel smoothly. “Righteousness goes before him and prepares the way for his steps” (Psalm 85:13). Respect reaps the rewards of trust and transparency in growing relationships. Is my character worthy of Christ’s respect and the admiration of respectable persons? Do I respect character in others? Related Readings Psalms 92:12; 112:6-9; Matthew 1:19; 1 John 3:6-8 Can I ask where this devotional came from or did you come up with it ? I like it and was considering using it in our mens group. |
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Post by Parker on Feb 7, 2023 15:34:08 GMT -8
Character Is RespectedHer husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land. PROVERBS 31:23Character invites respect and admiration. This comes over time as you establish a track record of consistently doing right. Your character becomes valuable as a creditable community assigns it value. This begins in your home. Do your wife and children (or your roommates) see the same person in private that others see in public? To win the respect of respectable persons, align your private and public character. The Lord creates His character in us and confers His blessings on it. One of His favorite descriptions of one of His own is a “righteous” man or woman. “The LORD rewards everyone for their righteousness and faithfulness” (1 Samuel 26:23). Character means something because Christ says it means something. He respects righteousness. Righteous behavior is a barometer of the Lord’s blessing. Have you ever observed that other people’s character rubs off on you? If you are around a gentle person for long, do you tend to grow in gentleness? If you are honored to see up close the generous deeds of good people, do you become more generous? If praying people regularly lift you and your needs to the Lord, do you find yourself looking for those you can carry to Christ in intercession? People of character have a profoundly positive effect on you—as you do on others! God created you with an innate desire for authentic respect from those you admire. When you feel respected, you are quick to reciprocate that respect. However, be cautious not to dwell on feeling respected. Instead, extend respect to others. As God develops your character, respect for you will take care of itself. Character is an incubator for respect. You may wonder if righteousness can bring your relationships into alignment. Yes it can! It prepares a road of respect on which relationships can travel smoothly. “Righteousness goes before him and prepares the way for his steps” (Psalm 85:13). Respect reaps the rewards of trust and transparency in growing relationships. Is my character worthy of Christ’s respect and the admiration of respectable persons? Do I respect character in others? Related Readings Psalms 92:12; 112:6-9; Matthew 1:19; 1 John 3:6-8 Can I ask where this devotional came from or did you come up with it ? I like it and was considering using it in our mens group. Two Minutes in the Bible™ for Men: A 90-Day Devotional by Boyd Bailey Logos has it for 10 bucks same with Kindle or 12 for paperback |
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Post by Parker on Feb 8, 2023 5:11:12 GMT -8
Respectable Leaders
The overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money.
1 TIMOTHY 3:2-3
Respectability invites respect. You may say, “I can’t get any respect.” If so, on what do you base your expectations? Your charm, your charisma, or your ability to converse well? None of these make you respectable; in fact, they can repel respect and garner disrespect. Your skills and gifts must flow from a strong character in order to garner the admiration of others.
Respect is earned, not demanded. It is sustained by influence, not position. Presidents, preachers, and parents are respected for their position, but if they consistently underperform or lack integrity, respect is lost. Respect is not a right of the irresponsible but a privilege of the dependable. Respectable leaders get right results in the right way.
Respectable leaders also rise to the occasion and do the right things. They persevere and provide stability instead of panicking and creating chaos. They take responsibility by espousing the values of the organization, not by gossiping and blaming others. A depth of character runs deep in their souls, not to be stolen by sin.
Respectable leaders are well thought of because their track record demonstrates trustworthiness, honesty, and follow-through. However, the goal is not for people to like you. They may not like you when you lovingly hold them accountable, but they will respect you. They may not like your discipline, but they will respect your consistency. They may not embrace your beliefs, but if you express them in humility, they will respect you. Ask yourself, “Am I respectable?” If so, you can expect respect.
“A sensible person wins admiration,
but a warped mind is despised” (Proverbs 12:8 NLT).
What area of my character needs growth and transformation in order to elicit respect?
Related Readings
Exodus 18:21; Proverbs 15:27; John 10:12-13; Romans 16:18
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