Your kingdom is built on what is right and fair. Love and truth are in all you do. Psa 89:14 The single most difficult pursuit is truth and love. That sentence is grammatically correct. I know every English teacher would like to pluralize it to read: The most difficult pursuits are those of truth and love. But that's not what I mean to say. Love is a difficult pursuit. Truth is a tough one, too. But put them together, pursue truth and love at the same time and hang on baby, you're in for the ride of your life. Love in truth. Truth in love. Never one at the expense of the other. Never the embrace of love without the torch of truth. Never the heat of truth without the warmth of love… To pursue both is our singular task. The Inspirational Study Bible (Max Lucado) The LORD will always lead you. Isaiah 58:11 You've been there. You've escaped the sandy foundations of the valley and ascended his grand outcropping of granite. You've turned your back on the noise and sought his voice. You've stepped away from the masses and followed the Master as he led you up the winding path to the summit… Gently your guide invites you to sit on the rock above the tree line and look out with him at the ancient peaks that will never erode. "What is necessary is still what is sure," he confides. "Just remember: "You'll go nowhere tomorrow that I haven't already been. "Truth will still triumph… "The victory is yours…" The sacred summit. A place of permanence in a world of transition. The Applause of Heaven (Max Lucado) But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 3:18
Growth is the goal of the Christian. Maturity is mandatory. If a child ceased to develop, the parent would be concerned, right? … When a Christian stops growing, help is needed. If you are the same Christian you were a few months ago, be careful. You might be wise to get a checkup. Not on your body, but on your heart. Not a physical, but a spiritual. May I suggest one? … Why don't you check your habits? … Make these four habits regular activities and see what happens. First, the habit of prayer… Second, the habit of study… Third, the habit of giving… And last of all, the habit of fellowship. When God Whispers Your Name (Max Lucado) The purpose of the church is to provide bread and swords! To the spiritually hungry, the church offers bread–spiritual nourishment. To the fugitive, the church offers swords–weapons of truth:
Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” Food and equipment. The church exists to provide both. Does it always succeed? No, not always. People-helping is never a tidy trade, because people who need help don’t lead tidy lives. Jesus calls the church to lean in the direction of compassion. At the end of the day, the question is not how many laws were broken but rather, how many desperate were nourished and equipped? God’s sanctuary—where He gives food to the hungry and tools to the soldiers. May your church provide both for you. And may you be a part of a church that does the same for others. When I was helpless, he saved me. Psalm 116:6
As youngsters, we neighborhood kids would play street football. The minute we got home from school we'd drop the books and hit the pavement. The kid across the street had a dad with a great arm and a strong addiction to football. As soon as he'd pull in the driveway from work we'd start yelling for him to come and play ball. He couldn't resist. Out of fairness he'd always ask, "Which team is losing?" Then he would join that team, which often seemed to be mine. His appearance in the huddle changed the whole ball game. He was confident, strong, and most of all, he had a plan. We'd circle around him, and he'd look at us and say, "OK boys, here is what we are going to do." The other side was groaning before we left the huddle. You see, we not only had a new plan, we had a new leader. He brought new life to our team. God does precisely the same. We didn't need a new play; we needed a new plan. We didn't need to trade positions; we needed a new player. That player is Jesus Christ, God's firstborn Son. In the Grip of Grace (Max Lucado) Work as if you were doing it for the Lord, not for people. Colossians 3:23 When do we get our first clue that [Jesus] knows he is the Son of God? In the temple of Jerusalem. He is twelve years old. His parents are three days into the return trip to Nazareth before they notice he is missing. They find him in the temple studying with the leaders… As a young boy, Jesus already senses the call of God. But what does he do next? Recruit apostles and preach sermons and perform miracles? No, he goes home to his folks and learns the family business. That is exactly what you should do. Want to bring focus to your life? Do what Jesus did. Go home, love your family, and take care of business. But Max, I want to be a missionary. Your first mission field is under your roof. What makes you think they'll believe you overseas if they don't believe you across the hall? Just Like Jesus (Max Lucado) I can get lost anywhere. Seriously. Anywhere. I once got lost in my hotel. I told the receptionist my key wasn’t working. I’d been on the wrong floor trying to open the wrong door. If geese had my sense of direction, they’d spend winters in Alaska. Can you relate? Of course you can. We’ve all scratched our heads a time or two. Do I take the job, or leave it? One of life’s giant-size questions is “How can I know what God wants me to do?”
In 2 Samuel 2:1 David inquires of the Lord: “Shall I go up to any of the cities of Judah?” “Go up.” David said, “Where shall I go up?” He made a habit of running his options past God. We do the same and the God who guided David guides you. Are you like me? Do you get confused? Psalm 32:8 is the promise you need: God says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life.” We all need that promise, don’t we? I tell you the truth, whoever hears what I say and believes in the One who sent me has eternal life. John 5:24
When you recognize God as Creator, you will admire him. When you recognize his wisdom, you will learn from him. When you discover his strength, you will rely on him. But only when he saves you will you worship him. It's a "before and after" scenario. Before your rescue, you could easily keep God at a distance… Sure he was important, but so was your career. Your status. Your salary… Then came the storm … the rage … the fight … the ripped moorings… Despair fell like a fog; your bearings were gone. In your heart, you knew there was no exit. Turn to your career for help? Only if you want to hide from the storm … not escape it. Lean on your status for strength? A storm isn't impressed with your title… Suddenly you are left with one option: God. In the Eye of the Storm (Max Lucado) Has any other book ever been described like it? Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the Word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”
The words of the Bible have life. Life-giving words! Nouns with pulse rates. The Bible is to God what a surgical glove is to the surgeon. He reaches through them to touch deep within you. Haven’t you felt His touch? In a late, lonely hour you read, “I will never leave you. I will never forsake you.” The sentences comfort like a hand on your shoulder. Don’t make a decision without sitting before God with open Bible, open heart, open ears. Let the words of Christ live in your heart and make you wise. You have a Bible? Read it. From Facing Your Giants We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me. Colossians 1:28-29
Look at Paul's aim, to present everyone perfect in Christ. Paul dreamed of the day each person would be safe in Christ. What was his method? Counseling and teaching. Paul's tools? Verbs. Nouns. Sentences. Lessons. The same equipment you and I have… Was it easier then than now? Don't think so. Paul called it work. To this end I labor, he wrote. Labor means work. Work means homes visited, people taught, classes prepared. How did he do it? What was his source of strength? He worked with all the energy he so powerfully works in me. As Paul worked, so did God… And as you work, so does the Father. When God Whispers Your Name (Max Lucado) |
Ana & Andre Schoonbee God uses us to motivate and encourage the body. Authors
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