Grateful to God by Boyd Bailey
But thanks be to God, who
always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads
everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. 2 Corinthians 2:14
Gratitude
to God is a guarantee for an attitude of humility and happiness. It is
hard to be grateful and not be full of joy and contentment. When we
reflect on His salvation and grace in Jesus Christ, we are left
awestruck that almighty God would freely give us the gift of His only
Son. Indeed, grateful Christians never get over the forgiveness and
freedom they have in Christ Jesus. Gratitude gives us the right
attitude!
How can we renew our thinking each day to be
appreciative when so many negative thoughts assault our minds? What is a
wise process to keep us praising God for His provision? One way is to
recount His blessings by writing them in a journal. Take the time to pen
what the Lord has done for you, and your sorrow will turn into a smile
of satisfaction. Your glow comes back when you remember Christ’s
incredible love and acceptance. When was the last time you spent your
entire prayer time just praising and thanking God?
“Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness” (Psalm 150:2).
Perhaps
you praise Him in the morning for life and love. Praise Him midmorning
for fulfilling work. Praise Him at the noon hour for health and
happiness. Praise Him midday for forgiveness and faith. Praise Him at
dinner for family and friends. Praise Him before bed for His Word and
the wonder of His grace. Praise God, and gratitude will follow.
Your
gratitude goes a long way in leading others to be grateful. A grateful
life is like a sea of thanksgiving that buoys all boats with hope.
Appreciation attracts great people. Your thanksgiving to God for His
favor and blessings and for the incredible people in your life sets you
up for success. Gratitude is a self-fulfilling prophecy for peace, joy,
and love.
“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it
all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father
through him” (Colossians 3:17).
Enter into His gates with
Thanksgiving and into His courts with Praise. Be thankful to Him and
bless His name, for the Lord is good. Psalm 100:4
O, give thanks to the Lord for He is good! His mercy endureth forever. 1 Chronicles 16:34
Giving Thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:20
In everything Give thanks, for this is the will of God in Jesus Christ for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:18
Friday, November 24, 2017
Friday, November 17, 2017
We Love
Bible Reading: 1 Corinthians 13 and to go deeper 1 John 4:7-21
Focus Verse: "We love because he first loved us." 1 John 4:19 and "By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." John 13:35
We love. Why are Christians to be known by our love? (John 13:35) The root of the answer is because God is love. (1John 4:8) Notice that I said that God IS love and that is better than God loves because love is not just something that God does, but it is the essence of who He is.
Because God is unfailing love, He would not leave us in our sin, but sent his only son Jesus, to take the sin punishment in our place. (John 3:16) No greater love is there than this. The failure in humanity (sin) was a reason to love all the more, because it is needed and not because it is deserved.
Because we have been redeemed and have experienced the greatest love known to mankind, we can, in turn love others as God has commanded us to do. Love, even if love isn't returned. (2 Cor. 12:15)
Because our flesh often gets in the way due to our selfishness, pride, self-righteousness, and unforgiveness, loving others can be a challenge and we often do a poor job of representing our role as a Christian. Paul so loved the Corinthians that though they didn't love him in return, he continued to love them. (2 Corinthians 12:15)
Because we are not left alone in our struggle to love one another, we can allow the Holy Spirit to show us our sin and convict us of the lack of love in our lives. We can approach God in confession and ask Him to work in our hearts to love others as the Holy Spirit equips us to do so.
Love should be who we are. Loving others is not our achievement to be proud of, but the work of God in our lives that we can praise Him for. Love should be flowing through so that others may understand our Heavenly Father and praise Him. We love imperfectly, but God loves perfectly.
I recently went to a funeral of a lady named Pearl. She was not considered accomplished by the world's standards, but her legacy was that of love. She cared for the children in the church as their parents could go to worship without being disturbed. She loved each child completely and they each thought they were favored. I know this well, because she also cared for my children and they knew that she loved them well. She loved the parents and the pastors. She loved in a way that was not just flat, but deeply, even telling truth in love sometimes. A failure in another person was a reason to love all the more because it is needed, not because it's deserved. She loved. We love.
Page Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Focus Verse: "We love because he first loved us." 1 John 4:19 and "By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." John 13:35
We love. Why are Christians to be known by our love? (John 13:35) The root of the answer is because God is love. (1John 4:8) Notice that I said that God IS love and that is better than God loves because love is not just something that God does, but it is the essence of who He is.
Because God is unfailing love, He would not leave us in our sin, but sent his only son Jesus, to take the sin punishment in our place. (John 3:16) No greater love is there than this. The failure in humanity (sin) was a reason to love all the more, because it is needed and not because it is deserved.
Because we have been redeemed and have experienced the greatest love known to mankind, we can, in turn love others as God has commanded us to do. Love, even if love isn't returned. (2 Cor. 12:15)
Because our flesh often gets in the way due to our selfishness, pride, self-righteousness, and unforgiveness, loving others can be a challenge and we often do a poor job of representing our role as a Christian. Paul so loved the Corinthians that though they didn't love him in return, he continued to love them. (2 Corinthians 12:15)
Because we are not left alone in our struggle to love one another, we can allow the Holy Spirit to show us our sin and convict us of the lack of love in our lives. We can approach God in confession and ask Him to work in our hearts to love others as the Holy Spirit equips us to do so.
Love should be who we are. Loving others is not our achievement to be proud of, but the work of God in our lives that we can praise Him for. Love should be flowing through so that others may understand our Heavenly Father and praise Him. We love imperfectly, but God loves perfectly.
I recently went to a funeral of a lady named Pearl. She was not considered accomplished by the world's standards, but her legacy was that of love. She cared for the children in the church as their parents could go to worship without being disturbed. She loved each child completely and they each thought they were favored. I know this well, because she also cared for my children and they knew that she loved them well. She loved the parents and the pastors. She loved in a way that was not just flat, but deeply, even telling truth in love sometimes. A failure in another person was a reason to love all the more because it is needed, not because it's deserved. She loved. We love.
Page Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Saturday, November 11, 2017
Settled in Heaven
Scripture Reading: Psalm 119:89-136
Focus Verses: Psalm 119:89-90, 129-130 “Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in Heaven. Your faithfulness endures to all generations, You established the earth, and it abides. Your testimonies are wonderful, therefore my soul keeps them. The entrance of Your works give light, it gives understanding to the simple.”
It is said “the only permanent thing in this world is change.” But there is something that is absolutely permanent. God’s Word is here in in scriptures and will last for all eternity. The Bible says “the word of the Lord is settled in heaven. The Hebrew word for settled means, absolutely, irrevocably, and fixed. Most of the millions of words we speak here on earth will one day be forgotten. But God’s words will still be truthful trillions of years from now. People have tried to destroy God’s word, say it has contradictions, say it is irrelevant for today. Don’t believe any of that. The Bible is the same yesterday, today, and forever. It is our guide for life. So let God’s Word that is settled in heaven, also be settled in our hearts.
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Focus Verses: Psalm 119:89-90, 129-130 “Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in Heaven. Your faithfulness endures to all generations, You established the earth, and it abides. Your testimonies are wonderful, therefore my soul keeps them. The entrance of Your works give light, it gives understanding to the simple.”
It is said “the only permanent thing in this world is change.” But there is something that is absolutely permanent. God’s Word is here in in scriptures and will last for all eternity. The Bible says “the word of the Lord is settled in heaven. The Hebrew word for settled means, absolutely, irrevocably, and fixed. Most of the millions of words we speak here on earth will one day be forgotten. But God’s words will still be truthful trillions of years from now. People have tried to destroy God’s word, say it has contradictions, say it is irrelevant for today. Don’t believe any of that. The Bible is the same yesterday, today, and forever. It is our guide for life. So let God’s Word that is settled in heaven, also be settled in our hearts.
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Saturday, November 4, 2017
Walking Step by Step
Scripture Reading: 2 Corinthians 4: 7-18
Focus Verses: 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
As we walk through this Christian life we understand that we will go through difficult times. Most times we would like to see what is ahead for us, especially when difficult times are coming. Sometimes we even face storms in life when are doing our best to be in a right relationship with the Lord. You may have read the verse in Psalm 34:19 that says “many are the afflictions of the righteous”. But sometimes we fail to read the rest of the verse that says “But the Lord delivers us from them all.”
Today's scripture reading tells us to make a comparison between the temporary with the eternal. The light afflictions we have here on earth compared to the glory of heaven, and the seen to the unseen. If we have the right perspective on life with God’s help we can endure any trial by taking it one step at a time. The unseen of heaven one day we will see. Then the trials of this world will just be a faded memory. So take this journey with the Lord step by step and remember to look for the unseen eternal.
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Focus Verses: 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
As we walk through this Christian life we understand that we will go through difficult times. Most times we would like to see what is ahead for us, especially when difficult times are coming. Sometimes we even face storms in life when are doing our best to be in a right relationship with the Lord. You may have read the verse in Psalm 34:19 that says “many are the afflictions of the righteous”. But sometimes we fail to read the rest of the verse that says “But the Lord delivers us from them all.”
Today's scripture reading tells us to make a comparison between the temporary with the eternal. The light afflictions we have here on earth compared to the glory of heaven, and the seen to the unseen. If we have the right perspective on life with God’s help we can endure any trial by taking it one step at a time. The unseen of heaven one day we will see. Then the trials of this world will just be a faded memory. So take this journey with the Lord step by step and remember to look for the unseen eternal.
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
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