Vol 3 No 28 THEO'S DEVOS
Eph 1:3-4 How we praise God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we belong to Christ.
Our verses today are hard to grasp. I have seen Christians who earnestly seek the blessings of God. Some refer to a special grant called the Second Blessing. I must confess that I have been saddened to see the church divided over this kind of thought but I fully understand the desire to have something special from God. The problem is that, according to Paul, we already have everything coming to us. He tells us that we have been blessed with 'every spiritual blessing.' How can that be? I have needs just as you do. Things don't always go the way I want them to and I have prayed to God for things and God has said 'No' or 'Wait' many times.
I can't take a long time to delve into the mystery of this verse here but I do know what it says and have to try and understand. What it comes down to is not that we need another blessing but that we need to know how to access those blessing already given to us. How is that done? Firstly we must acknowledge that God is not holding out on us as many Christians seem to feel. We must believe that God loves us and will always do what is best for us as it fits into His plan. Next we must ask God for understanding concerning our present condition. Good or bad, as we see it, we are where God wants us to be. After we have bowed to the sovereignty of God we can begin to rest in our state and seek that inner confidence that God will pour out on us.
This falls back on the devotional on answered prayer. We can know that God sees us and loves us. But we must also know that His plan, ultimately, is more important than our temporary pleasure. I have often said that 30 seconds after we die and enter heaven,all this life will seem like a split second and none of the suffering that we have had to endure will matter. God will have eternity to help you understand what was happening in this life and how your part was crucial to His effort.
No Christian suffers in vain unless they refuse to acknowledge God's will and do not give Him the glory for whatever happens. This is a lot harder to do than to say, I fully understand but according to Paul those blessing in the heavenly realms are there for the taking. We just need to reach out in faith and they can be ours. God is not holding out on you. There are no first and second class Christians. There are only those who exercise faith and those who do not. Please, today, ask God to help you be a person of faith. It is what He has been looking for all along.
Here is an extra blessing given to us by one of our readers. Thanks Debbie
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtrnB4FZ-yc
Theo
Dear Small Group Leader (or soon to be Facilitator)
Please allow everyone in your group to answer the Quick Question. It will get things started on the right foot, encouraging quieter ones to open up. Please do not require everyone to answer every question. They may not be ready to share yet. Also please allow at least 5-10 minutes at the end of your study so as many as would like to can respond to the REFLECTION question. This may be the most important time in your small group study. Thank You
SMALL GROUP BIBLE STUDY
Please Read: Ephesians 1:1-14
QUICK QUESTION: Share some blessing with the others in your group.
1.In what ways has God blessed us?
2.What is the meaning of 'redemption'?
3.What does the Holy Spirit do in our lives?
4.What are 'spiritual blessings'?
5.Why did God give us these blessings?
REFLECTION: How can others around you benefit from your blessings?
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Because of Their Unbelief
Vol 3 No 27 THEO'S DEVOS
Mark 6:4-6 Then Jesus told them, “A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his relatives and his own family.” 5And because of their unbelief, he couldn’t do any mighty miracles among them except to place his hands on a few sick people and heal them. 6And he was amazed at their unbelief.
Scattered through Theo's Devos is the thought that all you sense is not all there is. There is an unseen world behind what we think of as existence. A spiritual world, in which, our world finds its meaning. Not everyone believes this and, because of this unbelief, there are serious consequences. In our verses for today it appears that Jesus did not perform many of the works He would have liked to due to the unbelief of the people. They were stymied by their limited vision. They believed what they could see and what they saw was a human being, a carpenter's son. Maybe he built some of their houses or maybe he built an addition to their house and they had given him lunch while he worked.
Whatever they thought, it did not lead them to accept who Jesus really was and what he could do. Their limited belief was tragic. Jesus, we are told healed a few of them but, in his heart was 'amazed at their unbelief.”
Now it is very easy to put our finger of criticism on those people and think that they should have known better. Didn't they see the miracles or at least hear about them? What was it about Jesus that caused them to limit their faith? You would have expected them to have been discussing this unusual man quite often. I am sure that they did but it was the content of the conversations that may have led them to look down on Jesus rather then look up to him.
In any event it doesn't matter much today what they thought or what happened in their town. What is critical is what do we think? Can we look at verses like this and examine our own belief structure? Where is you faith today? How much are you willing to risk in your service of God? Churches are made up of large numbers of people. What that local church can accomplish will be in line with the collective faith of the members. A single pastor can't overcome the lack of faith of his congregation and those full of faith can be greatly discouraged, as was Jesus, when those of limited faith voice that limitation in board meetings and public gatherings.
There was a church that was considering a needed change in government. In a crucial meeting one of the older members said that he didn't believe in fixing something that wasn't broke. It was his way of saying that the church should maintain the status quo. With that, a young man (who reads Theo's Devos) stood up and told the congregation that his father had bought a new tractor for their farm. The old tractor worked great. It didn't need to be fixed. It just didn't do what needed to be done on this modern farm. It had been purchased years before when tractors did little more than pull things. The wisdom of this young man carried the day and the church was filled with the faith it needed to take the necessary steps toward church government much more suitable for the society in which it existed.
So how about your faith? Have you been stretched lately? Or are you still doing the same things for the Lord that you have been doing for some time? Maybe it is time for a change in your life. Maybe Jesus would like to perform something nearly miraculous through you but, like the people in our verses, your unbelief is hindering him. Before you run off and start making changes, or do nothing at all, maybe you should talk to a spiritual advisor that you respect and prayerfully determine if a change is due. Checkups like this are helpful every once in a while. Just don't put it off. Don't miss the kinds of exciting things that the people of our verses missed. Life is way to short for that.
May God bless you.
Theo
Dear Small Group Leader (or soon to be Facilitator)
Please allow everyone in your group to answer the Quick Question. It will get things started on the right foot, encouraging quieter ones to open up. Please do not require everyone to answer every question. They may not be ready to share yet. Also please allow at least 5-10 minutes at the end of your study so as many as would like to can respond to the REFLECTION question. This may be the most important time in your small group study. Thank You
SMALL GROUP BIBLE STUDY
Please Read: Mark 6:1-6
QUICK QUESTION: If you had the chance to witness, would you prefer it to be a friend, family member or total stranger and why?
1.Why did these people reject Jesus message?
2.What was Jesus reaction?
3.What hindered Jesus from doing some of the things He wanted to?
4.What amazed Jesus?
5.What hinders us from listening to people we know well?
6.What can we do about our response to question 5?
REFLECTION: When do you think it is necessary to seek the advice of a family member, if ever?
Mark 6:4-6 Then Jesus told them, “A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his relatives and his own family.” 5And because of their unbelief, he couldn’t do any mighty miracles among them except to place his hands on a few sick people and heal them. 6And he was amazed at their unbelief.
Scattered through Theo's Devos is the thought that all you sense is not all there is. There is an unseen world behind what we think of as existence. A spiritual world, in which, our world finds its meaning. Not everyone believes this and, because of this unbelief, there are serious consequences. In our verses for today it appears that Jesus did not perform many of the works He would have liked to due to the unbelief of the people. They were stymied by their limited vision. They believed what they could see and what they saw was a human being, a carpenter's son. Maybe he built some of their houses or maybe he built an addition to their house and they had given him lunch while he worked.
Whatever they thought, it did not lead them to accept who Jesus really was and what he could do. Their limited belief was tragic. Jesus, we are told healed a few of them but, in his heart was 'amazed at their unbelief.”
Now it is very easy to put our finger of criticism on those people and think that they should have known better. Didn't they see the miracles or at least hear about them? What was it about Jesus that caused them to limit their faith? You would have expected them to have been discussing this unusual man quite often. I am sure that they did but it was the content of the conversations that may have led them to look down on Jesus rather then look up to him.
In any event it doesn't matter much today what they thought or what happened in their town. What is critical is what do we think? Can we look at verses like this and examine our own belief structure? Where is you faith today? How much are you willing to risk in your service of God? Churches are made up of large numbers of people. What that local church can accomplish will be in line with the collective faith of the members. A single pastor can't overcome the lack of faith of his congregation and those full of faith can be greatly discouraged, as was Jesus, when those of limited faith voice that limitation in board meetings and public gatherings.
There was a church that was considering a needed change in government. In a crucial meeting one of the older members said that he didn't believe in fixing something that wasn't broke. It was his way of saying that the church should maintain the status quo. With that, a young man (who reads Theo's Devos) stood up and told the congregation that his father had bought a new tractor for their farm. The old tractor worked great. It didn't need to be fixed. It just didn't do what needed to be done on this modern farm. It had been purchased years before when tractors did little more than pull things. The wisdom of this young man carried the day and the church was filled with the faith it needed to take the necessary steps toward church government much more suitable for the society in which it existed.
So how about your faith? Have you been stretched lately? Or are you still doing the same things for the Lord that you have been doing for some time? Maybe it is time for a change in your life. Maybe Jesus would like to perform something nearly miraculous through you but, like the people in our verses, your unbelief is hindering him. Before you run off and start making changes, or do nothing at all, maybe you should talk to a spiritual advisor that you respect and prayerfully determine if a change is due. Checkups like this are helpful every once in a while. Just don't put it off. Don't miss the kinds of exciting things that the people of our verses missed. Life is way to short for that.
May God bless you.
Theo
Dear Small Group Leader (or soon to be Facilitator)
Please allow everyone in your group to answer the Quick Question. It will get things started on the right foot, encouraging quieter ones to open up. Please do not require everyone to answer every question. They may not be ready to share yet. Also please allow at least 5-10 minutes at the end of your study so as many as would like to can respond to the REFLECTION question. This may be the most important time in your small group study. Thank You
SMALL GROUP BIBLE STUDY
Please Read: Mark 6:1-6
QUICK QUESTION: If you had the chance to witness, would you prefer it to be a friend, family member or total stranger and why?
1.Why did these people reject Jesus message?
2.What was Jesus reaction?
3.What hindered Jesus from doing some of the things He wanted to?
4.What amazed Jesus?
5.What hinders us from listening to people we know well?
6.What can we do about our response to question 5?
REFLECTION: When do you think it is necessary to seek the advice of a family member, if ever?
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Faint Not
Vol 3 No 26 THEO'S DEVOS
Galatians 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
Today's text is one of those incredible promises that almost seems to good to be true and many of us have seen it to be true and it sure can help all of us through some tough spots. I remember a TV preacher speaking on the topic “Tough times don't last, tough people do.” The problem lies in that we, often do not feel like a tough person and yet, with the indwelling Holy Spirit we are.
The first part of this verse, however, almost appears out of place. Paul is writing, not to those who are hurting but to those who are doing well and may be getting weary anyway. Have you ever been there? Things are going well but, in order for that to have happened, you have been working extra hard and don't think you are going to make it. I find it interesting to note that most inmates who escape from jail have less than 6 months to serve. It is hard to imagine why someone would risk the added punishment that comes with escaping when you have a short time left to serve.
In any event, there may be some of you who, right now, are experiencing weariness. Whether things have been going good or bad, you just wish you could hang it up and walk away. Well the Bible says that it is at that point that you need to build your trust in the Lord and keep going. You will reap. You will see the end and when it comes you will be glad that you stuck with it.
I think it was Franklin D Roosevelt who when asked to speak at a commencement service gave, perhaps the sho0rtest commencement address ever. He said: “Never give up. Never give up, Never give up.” And then he sat down. This was the advice, in a secular setting, of what it takes to succeed. If that is the case, and it is, how much more for the child of God who has the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit to enable and empower if we will allow Him to.
My prayers are with you who are struggling right now. No one may know what you are up against but God does and He is the one working behind the scenes on you behalf. Faint not. Not now, not tomorrow, not ever and watch what God will reap.
May He bless you richly. You are in my prayers.
Theo
Dear Small Group Leader (or soon to be Facilitator)
Please allow everyone in your group to answer the Quick Question. It will get things started on the right foot, encouraging quieter ones to open up. Please do not require everyone to answer every question. They may not be ready to share yet. Also please allow at least 5-10 minutes at the end of your study so as many as would like to can respond to the REFLECTION question. This may be the most important time in your small group study. Thank You
SMALL GROUP BIBLE STUDY
Please Read: Galatians 6:1-10
QUICK QUESTION: What is the hardest thing about serving other people?
1.How can you and the others in your group help each other?
2.How can you keep yourself from being fooled?
3.What is your responsibility toward your elders?
4.What responsibilities do you have toward each other?
5.If a Christian brother or sister is caught in sin, what is your responsibility?
REFLECTION: If someone is your group is hurting this week, how can the group help?
Galatians 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
Today's text is one of those incredible promises that almost seems to good to be true and many of us have seen it to be true and it sure can help all of us through some tough spots. I remember a TV preacher speaking on the topic “Tough times don't last, tough people do.” The problem lies in that we, often do not feel like a tough person and yet, with the indwelling Holy Spirit we are.
The first part of this verse, however, almost appears out of place. Paul is writing, not to those who are hurting but to those who are doing well and may be getting weary anyway. Have you ever been there? Things are going well but, in order for that to have happened, you have been working extra hard and don't think you are going to make it. I find it interesting to note that most inmates who escape from jail have less than 6 months to serve. It is hard to imagine why someone would risk the added punishment that comes with escaping when you have a short time left to serve.
In any event, there may be some of you who, right now, are experiencing weariness. Whether things have been going good or bad, you just wish you could hang it up and walk away. Well the Bible says that it is at that point that you need to build your trust in the Lord and keep going. You will reap. You will see the end and when it comes you will be glad that you stuck with it.
I think it was Franklin D Roosevelt who when asked to speak at a commencement service gave, perhaps the sho0rtest commencement address ever. He said: “Never give up. Never give up, Never give up.” And then he sat down. This was the advice, in a secular setting, of what it takes to succeed. If that is the case, and it is, how much more for the child of God who has the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit to enable and empower if we will allow Him to.
My prayers are with you who are struggling right now. No one may know what you are up against but God does and He is the one working behind the scenes on you behalf. Faint not. Not now, not tomorrow, not ever and watch what God will reap.
May He bless you richly. You are in my prayers.
Theo
Dear Small Group Leader (or soon to be Facilitator)
Please allow everyone in your group to answer the Quick Question. It will get things started on the right foot, encouraging quieter ones to open up. Please do not require everyone to answer every question. They may not be ready to share yet. Also please allow at least 5-10 minutes at the end of your study so as many as would like to can respond to the REFLECTION question. This may be the most important time in your small group study. Thank You
SMALL GROUP BIBLE STUDY
Please Read: Galatians 6:1-10
QUICK QUESTION: What is the hardest thing about serving other people?
1.How can you and the others in your group help each other?
2.How can you keep yourself from being fooled?
3.What is your responsibility toward your elders?
4.What responsibilities do you have toward each other?
5.If a Christian brother or sister is caught in sin, what is your responsibility?
REFLECTION: If someone is your group is hurting this week, how can the group help?
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Some Things May Change
Vol 3 No 25 THEO'S DEVOS
Proverbs 21:2 People may think they are doing what is right, but the LORD examines the heart.
1 Samuel 16:7 But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.
We have noted, over the last couple weeks, that some things must never change and some things must change. We have come to this week to note that some things may change. This is where some of the trouble occurs in our lives and in the church. They say that variety is the spice of life. I believe that and I also believe that if nothing changes in our lives we can become bored and restless. I used to think that change for the sake of change was not good. I no longer hold that position. I honestly believe that change is not only important, but essential. If nothing has changed for a while it is a good idea to look for something to do differently if only to keep your life from getting monotonous.
A very helpful activity was introduced to me many years ago and it has proven to be very beneficial. On each of my birthdays, I have searched for some activity that I had never done before and dedicated the next year to it. I have learned to play several musical instruments, taken up ballooning among many others which enhanced both my life and my ministry. Did you ever notice that the Bible doesn't specify what every Christian should do? God has given us all a gift but He has never said exactly how we were to use it. Over a lifetime there could be many applications of the spiritual gifts God gave you and, if you use them for His glory, they are all profitable. If you want to be a missionary, for instance, it doesn't matter where you go as long as you exercise your gifts when you get there.. Some may have solid reasons for doing what they are doing and others are doing what they love doing but each will be in the center of God's will if you are applying biblical principals to those activities.
What are you doing these days? Is it fulfilling? Is it accomplishing God's will for your life? Unless you can answer 'yes' you probably ought to be thinking about a change in your life.
Following God is to 'be' not simply to 'do.' We are human beings, not human doings. If you are sincerely following the will of God in your life in terms of what you are on the inside, you can do whatever you want on the outside and it will glorify God. In His sovereignty, God will use your efforts to accomplish His will and goals and you will have had a part in that.
God looks on the heart while man looks on the outside.
Theo
Dear Small Group Leader (or soon to be Facilitator)
Please allow everyone in your group to answer the Quick Question. It will get things started on the right foot, encouraging quieter ones to open up. Please do not require everyone to answer every question. They may not be ready to share yet. Also please allow at least 5-10 minutes at the end of your study so as many as would like to can respond to the REFLECTION question. This may be the most important time in your small group study. Thank You
SMALL GROUP BIBLE STUDY
Please Read: 1 Samuel 16:1-13
QUICK QUESTION: Was there ever a time when you were singled out for some honor no matter how small? How did you feel?
1.When God looked for Samuel, what was he (Sam) doing?
2.Why did Samuel think that Eliab might be the chosen one?
3.What was God's response?
4.What does God concern Himself with?
5.Why did Samuel go over each son?
6.When considering leadership, what should we look for in those leaders?
REFLECTION: Is there someone in you life about whom you have been influenced by their outer appearance and should you re-evaluate how you feel about them now?
Proverbs 21:2 People may think they are doing what is right, but the LORD examines the heart.
1 Samuel 16:7 But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.
We have noted, over the last couple weeks, that some things must never change and some things must change. We have come to this week to note that some things may change. This is where some of the trouble occurs in our lives and in the church. They say that variety is the spice of life. I believe that and I also believe that if nothing changes in our lives we can become bored and restless. I used to think that change for the sake of change was not good. I no longer hold that position. I honestly believe that change is not only important, but essential. If nothing has changed for a while it is a good idea to look for something to do differently if only to keep your life from getting monotonous.
A very helpful activity was introduced to me many years ago and it has proven to be very beneficial. On each of my birthdays, I have searched for some activity that I had never done before and dedicated the next year to it. I have learned to play several musical instruments, taken up ballooning among many others which enhanced both my life and my ministry. Did you ever notice that the Bible doesn't specify what every Christian should do? God has given us all a gift but He has never said exactly how we were to use it. Over a lifetime there could be many applications of the spiritual gifts God gave you and, if you use them for His glory, they are all profitable. If you want to be a missionary, for instance, it doesn't matter where you go as long as you exercise your gifts when you get there.. Some may have solid reasons for doing what they are doing and others are doing what they love doing but each will be in the center of God's will if you are applying biblical principals to those activities.
What are you doing these days? Is it fulfilling? Is it accomplishing God's will for your life? Unless you can answer 'yes' you probably ought to be thinking about a change in your life.
Following God is to 'be' not simply to 'do.' We are human beings, not human doings. If you are sincerely following the will of God in your life in terms of what you are on the inside, you can do whatever you want on the outside and it will glorify God. In His sovereignty, God will use your efforts to accomplish His will and goals and you will have had a part in that.
God looks on the heart while man looks on the outside.
Theo
Dear Small Group Leader (or soon to be Facilitator)
Please allow everyone in your group to answer the Quick Question. It will get things started on the right foot, encouraging quieter ones to open up. Please do not require everyone to answer every question. They may not be ready to share yet. Also please allow at least 5-10 minutes at the end of your study so as many as would like to can respond to the REFLECTION question. This may be the most important time in your small group study. Thank You
SMALL GROUP BIBLE STUDY
Please Read: 1 Samuel 16:1-13
QUICK QUESTION: Was there ever a time when you were singled out for some honor no matter how small? How did you feel?
1.When God looked for Samuel, what was he (Sam) doing?
2.Why did Samuel think that Eliab might be the chosen one?
3.What was God's response?
4.What does God concern Himself with?
5.Why did Samuel go over each son?
6.When considering leadership, what should we look for in those leaders?
REFLECTION: Is there someone in you life about whom you have been influenced by their outer appearance and should you re-evaluate how you feel about them now?
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Some Things Must Change
Vol 3 No 24 THEO'S DEVOS
Luke 2:52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.
While it is true that some things must never change it is also true that some things must change. Someone has said that God loves you just the way you are, but loves you too much to let you stay that way. Who among us would say that we have no area for improvement? In our lives, work, church, et al. Even Jesus, we are told, grew and, as hard as it is to imagine, He changed as He grew. All living things change. It can be said that just about all dead things change as well due to deterioration so we know that virtually all things change.
So what has changed in you over the past year? Are you more loving? More intelligent? I remember going to an ordination council where the son of a very famous church leader was seeking approval for ordination. The person who was recommending him began by telling us that it had been several years since this man had attended a seminary so we should not expect him to be as sharp as most candidates. I thought to myself, what a cop out. Ate we to think that after we graduate from school we begin getting dumber? Well I suppose some do but if you are seeking ordination, it would seem that you would be staying on top of your game and not ignoring those things that you have learned. Now maybe an exception could have been made concerning Greek or Hebrew considering that he may not have stayed up on those subjects but they are rare;u, if ever, covered in the councils I have sat on. So it would appear that we can't stop change, we can only decide what kind of change will there be,
One huge problem in the church is that many are trying to minister to people in ways that are very outdated. As our culture changes, we must decide what we can do to minister to it without violating Biblical principles. To say that changing the way we do things to reach the world is capitulating with it is to miss the point. When God wanted to reach His creation and save it, He became a man. I doubt that there has ever been a change as dramatic as that. He did it without sin. He loved the sinner enough to become like him without sinning which He hates. When they put Jesus on the cross we are told that He became sin for us. He took on the sin of the world and paid for it with His sacrifice so that we, sinners, would not have to.
Please don't be afraid of change even if you don't like it. Change is going to happen whether we like it or not so we need to orchestrate that change in such a way as to be more effective for the Lord, not less. Instead of getting worse at what we do, we must get better. As iron sharpens iron, we need to challenge each other to better ways of serving God. Especially in these difficult times when the government seems to be heading in who knows what direction, we need to keep our target sharply in focus and continue to work at improving the way we fire at it.
Theo
Dear Small Group Leader (or soon to be Facilitator)
Please allow everyone in your group to answer the Quick Question. It will get things started on the right foot, encouraging quieter ones to open up. Please do not require everyone to answer every question. They may not be ready to share yet. Also please allow at least 5-10 minutes at the end of your study so as many as would like to can respond to the REFLECTION question. This may be the most important time in your small group study. Thank You
SMALL GROUP BIBLE STUDY
Please Read: Luke 2:52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.
QUICK QUESTION: In what way have you grown in the last year? Was it good growth or bad?
What is the definition of wisdom?
What is the definition of stature in this verse?
How could Jesus, being God in flesh, change?
How could He have grown in favor with God?
How could He have grown in favor with man?
How could Jesus have grown in favor with man and end up crucified?
REFLECTION: What can you do this coming month to follow Jesus' example?
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Some Things Must Never Change
Vol 3 No 23 THEO'S DEVOS
Jude 1:3 Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.
Leadership can be a difficult thing. This is made more difficult due to the fact that everyone of us is a leader. You don't think so? Well every morning, when you start your day, you must take the lead. You must decide so many things as you proceed through the day that one thing is quite clear, if nothing else, you are leading your life. Even if you turn over the leadership to someone else, there are still many times when the decision as to what you should do falls into your hands. Our thought for today is that, no matter what form of leadership you have, some things must never change.
In the church this phrase has led to all kinds of trouble which we will look at over the next couple weeks. It feels good to think that things don't change. The problem is that our subject tells us that some things don't change, not all things. Jude makes it clear that the foundation of our faith is not something that has evolved through the years. The content of our faith was 'once for all' delivered and has not changed since the apostles spelled it out. There are many who would distort our faith but the clear teaching of scripture lays out the things we should believe. It allows for differences in many ways but the foundations are strong. Among them is that salvation comes through the shed blood of Jesus and does not include human merit as many believe in this world. That the Bible is the Word of God and that Jesus is coming again are two more verities that have not changed.
The problem is that there are not as many things that must not change as we think. However, it is necessary to search through our lives and make sure that, as we grow in the Lord, we are not allowing things to slip and our lives to turn back to the kind of life we led before becoming Christians. It is easy to do. Just don't give much thought to it and you will find yourself allowing for all kinds of things to crowd out your devotion to Jesus. Things like not reading your Bible or not praying as often as you can.
An interesting discussion at any point in leadership is to try and discover those things that must never change. You might be surprised, as you study scripture, how few those things are. In any event, I suggest that you take inventory of your life and mark out the things you think should never change. Be careful to not allow human tradition to dictate what those things are.
May God bless you as you take stock of that life you are living this week.
Theo
Dear Small Group Leader (or soon to be Facilitator)
Please allow everyone in your group to answer the Quick Question. It will get things started on the right foot, encouraging quieter ones to open up. Please do not require everyone to answer every question. They may not be ready to share yet. Also please allow at least 5-10 minutes at the end of your study so as many as would like to can respond to the REFLECTION question. This may be the most important time in your small group study. Thank You
SMALL GROUP BIBLE STUDY
Please Read: Jude 1-16
QUICK QUESTION: If you could live your life over again, what is one thing you would change?
How does Jude describe himself?
What does Jude mean by godless?
What relationship do godless people have with God's will?
What does Jude want his readers to remember about history?
To what does the writer liken godless people and why?
What can we learn from history?
What kind of things have happened in your life that have helped you get better at living it?
REFLECTION: What can you do to keep from repeating the mistakes of your own personal history?
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Your Spiritual GPS
Vol 3 No 22 THEO'S DEVOS
Psalm 48:14 For this God is our God for ever and ever;
he will be our guide even to the end
The US Census Bureau just told me that they want me to work for them in the next phase of the census. They said that I had done a good job and they want me to stay with them. Now in order to do that good job I had a very valuable helper. I have a GPS for my car. This device allows me to find any address anywhere and find the quickest route. By having this I am able to quickly find the addresses I have to map. I can get more done than someone just using a map. However, two days ago it developed a problem. I turned it on and it could not acquire the satellite. Without being able to contact the satellite circling the earth it is rendered useless. Everything else works fine and the thing does all kinds of extra stuff.
The problem is that I didn't buy the GPS to play music or look at pictures or convert currency. I bought it for one reason: to locate addresses. Since it cannot do that right now, it has to be sent back and replaced. I have no idea why it can't acquire a satellite. If you were to look at it, you would say that it looks OK. All the controls work but something inside does not function properly and it has been cut off from the source of its purpose.
Our verse today tells us that, spiritually we, as Christians have a built in GPS that leads us through life. God guides us and He is there for ever and ever. So, if that is true, and it is, why do we get off track and end up places that we know God does not want us to be. The answer is to know how this spiritual GPS works. What is it that connects us to the source of our guidance?
There are two parts to this answer. First is God's Word. Without access to His book we cut ourselves off from the map that we need to walk the path God desires for us. We need to read and study the map. My GPS does that first of all. It loads the right maps so it can find the locations that I ask it for. Without those maps I is useless. But my GPS does that, or at least it tells me that it loads them. So what else could be wrong? That is the second thing: prayer. Prayer, talking to God when He is not physically present, is the connection that plugs us into the source of our guidance. If we do not pray, we cut ourselves off from the pipeline that delivers the information to us. When we pray, God can bring the concepts of scripture, the truth that He wants us to know, so that it can lead and guide us into making the right decisions that will take us along the proper path in life.
Many Christians seem to think that everything will go right without having any contact with the Bible and without praying. This is a critical mistake. The only way that God can lead you if that is your plan, is to let you make mistake upon mistake and learn the hard way. But even if that is the path you take, you still cannot get going in the right direction without reading scripture and praying. The mistakes will just pile up and after years of living like that, you may find that there is no way to accomplish all that God had in store for you. It is very important that you begin to connect to your spiritual source as quickly as you can. Begin reading your Bible and praying to your Father so that your spiritual GPS will function properly. If you do, you will discover that life is not as difficult as it has seemed to be. This is not to promise that life will be smooth with no bumps but it is to say that it can be smoother than it has been.
May God bless you as you keep in touch with Him. I am praying for you.
Theo
Dear Small Group Leader (or soon to be Facilitator)
Please allow everyone in your group to answer the Quick Question. It will get things started on the right foot, encouraging quieter ones to open up. Please do not require everyone to answer every question. They may not be ready to share yet. Also please allow at least 5-10 minutes at the end of your study so as many as would like to can respond to the REFLECTION question. This may be the most important time in your small group study. Thank You
SMALL GROUP BIBLE STUDY
Please Read: Psalm 48
QUICK QUESTION: Do you have protection for your house and, if so, what kind? Does it make you feel safe?
What is this writer primarily trying to say?
What causes God's people to give thanks to God?
What is so important about the city of Zion?
How does the Paalm end?
What does this Psalm tell you about God's power?
Why does the phrase, “God has no grandchildren” ring true?
REFLECTION: For what would you like to praise God this week?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
