#853 God’s Response to Spiritual Concerns – Neglecting Public Worship

Good Day Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Christians should have a deep desire to worship the Lord, and that desire should include a deep desire to worship the Lord with fellow believers.  We as Christians know that we are able to worship the Lord in many ways:  during our daily devotions, when we are watching a service on television or listening to a service on radio, when we spend time with the Lord when exploring His creation, etc.  These are all ways we can worship the Lord; however, none of them take the place of worshipping Him with fellow believers during a public worship service.  This is not to say this public worship service has to be in a church building as there are churches in homes in which the Lord is present just as surely as in a church building.  The key is the fellowship, love, support, and encouragement we gain from being with our fellow believers in worship as well as spending time praying with each other.  We may have lost the desire to attend public worship on a regular basis, but it is God’s response to not neglect public worship.

If you have the concern that you are neglecting public worship more and more, take God’s response (and command) seriously and begin again to worship and fellowship with fellow believers!

“And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.”   (Hebrews 10:24-25 – NKJV)

May God Richly Bless You Today

#766 Psalm 23 – Significance

Good Day Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

One of the most beautiful and beloved of the Psalms, Psalm twenty-three is a source of strength, hope, encouragement, and comfort for millions of Christians as well as many nonbelievers.  Funerals use the Psalm on memory cards with pastors using it in the services, it is used with seriously-ill patients and their families, and many use it over and over in their devotions.  Additionally, it is one of the first multi-verse passages memorized by young children as well as teenagers and adults.  It is much more than a popular Psalm, though, as it is rich with meanings and applications that are sure to be a blessing to all Christians that take the time to study and learn it.  As a shepherd-king himself, David’s description of the Great Shepherd-King in this Psalm will serve to further strengthen our faith in God and His love and care for us.

If you have not already done so, challenge yourself today to begin memorizing the twenty-third Psalm, and as you do, pray that you will gain a new and greater understanding and appreciation for God’s Word through studying the Psalm!

 “And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even My servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd.  And I, the LORD will be their God, and my servant David a prince among them; I, the LORD have spoken it.”   (Ezekiel 34:23-24)

May God Richly Bless You Today

#590 Christian Brothers and Sisters – Godly Love

Good Day Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

For the previous few devotionals we have been looking at how we as Christians should interact with other Christians; there being fellowship, partnering, encouraging, and sharing one with another.  In fact, how we treat and interact with our fellow Christians truly reflects our true Christian commitment.  God expects us to treat each other with love; however, this is not love we can develop and implement on our own.  It is love that comes from our love of God through the Holy Spirit within our hearts.  It is also the same love with which God has loved us, even to the extent of sacrificing His life that we may have eternal life.  This illustrates the extent our love should be for fellow believers; a love that is strong, active, continual, sharing, and ready to endure hardships for their benefit.  As we fellowship with fellow followers of Christ, let us do so with a pure demonstration of Godly love!

If you are having trouble fellowshipping with fellow Christians, allow the Holy Spirit to reveal God’s love through you to others!

“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”   (Ephesians 5:1-2 – ESV)

May God Richly Bless You Today

#589 Christian Brothers and Sisters – Sharing the Gospel

Good Day Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

It is one thing to share Scripture with fellow believers and still another to share it with unbelievers.  Sharing with our brothers and sisters in Christ is important as we continue to mature spiritually, yet it is vitally important that we communicate our faith in the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ to those who do not know Him personally.  In Scripture, many if not most of the Christian believers went out preaching and teaching with another Christian believer.  Throughout Paul’s ministry he had a companion and often more than one companion as he went on his missionary journeys.  That is a good way for us to go out to reach those who do not believe in Christ as personal Savior.  When we have someone with us it encourages us and gives us confidence in our witness.  Likewise, if the Gospel and God’s Word is rejected, a Christian partner can assist us in avoiding discouragement by reminding us that we are being obedient to God’s command to tell others about Christ.  God blesses obedience to His commands.

If you are hesitant to share your faith with friends and others, have met resistance to the Gospel, or tend to get discouraged when results are not seen, seek a Christian friend to share in the privilege of witnessing to others!

“And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.  But Peter and John answered and said unto them, whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.”   (Acts 4:18-19)

May God Richly Bless You Today

#588 Christian Brothers and Sisters – Sharing the Scripture

Good Day Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Throughout Scripture we find believers sharing God’s Word not only with unbelievers but also with each other, this being a part of their fellowship.  They had a continuing desire to know and learn more about the mystery of the Gospel, the Good News of Jesus Christ.  As centuries have passed, nothing has really changed, Christians continue to have a desire to know and learn more about the Gospel, spending time in churches across the world, listening to God’s Word being proclaimed on the radio and television, and sharing with one another in small and larger group Bible studies.  It is said that when Dwight L. Moody was holding evangelistic meetings in England in the late nineteenth century, he and others would go to a park or someone’s home after each evening service and spend hours sharing verses from the Bible, discussing the interpretation and learning how best to apply the Scripture to their lives.  That was their Christian fellowship and encouragement just as it can be ours today.

Find some Christian brothers and sisters with whom you can fellowship and encourage through the sharing of the insights of God’s Word!

“I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now.”   (Philippians 1:3, 5)

May God Richly Bless You Today

#587 Christian Brothers and Sisters – Sharing Our Blessings

Good Day Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

As we are to encourage our Christian brothers and sisters through sharing, we previously gave the example from the New Testament where they would share their possessions, but that is not the only way we can share with those who have a need.  In the early church deacons were called to minister to the widows[1] while special offerings were taken at various churches for poor and needy saints.[2]  Granted, there are numerous programs today for both groups; however, there are many of them that drop through the crack and are faced daily with basic needs.  Today, we can share the blessings we have received through many Christian ministries that are available, many in our own local congregations.  Food panties, clothes closets, and other ministries are available for our sharing, and they probably could use our work assistance in addition to any donations we may share.  As the Lord has blessed us, we as Christians should share with brothers and sisters in Christ who are less fortunate and in need.

Do not just consider donating to the various Christian social ministries, if you are able to do so, spend some time volunteering with one of them!

“And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.”   (Acts 2:45)

May God Richly Bless You Today

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[1] Acts 6:1-7

[2] I Corinthians 16:1

#586 Christian Brothers and Sisters – Sharing Possessions

Good Day Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

One of the characterizations of Christian brothers and sisters is the fellowship they have with one another.  A part of fellowship is encouragement, and a part of encouragement is sharing with one another.  The Bible recounts a number of different things Christians shared such as possessions, food, lodging, God’s Word, and other blessings, and they gladly shared with each other as they did so in service for the Lord.  Christians were taught and had full realization that all of their possessions belonged to the Lord; therefore, they looked upon them lightly, ready to share with fellow Christians whenever and wherever there was a need.  An example is if they had two tunics or coats, they were ready to give one to a needy Christian as they could only wear one at a time.  What a difference in today’s world.  Often we are willing to give to a clothes closet or to needy Christians a piece of clothing only if it is well worn.  Could there possibly be less needy Christians if we would be willing to follow the example of New Testament Christians by sharing a portion of our clothing that God has so generously provided for us?

 

Take time today to provide some nice, clean clothing to a church clothes closet!

 

“He answereth and saith unto them, ‘He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise.’”   (Luke 3:11)

 

May God Richly Bless You Today

#584 Christian Brothers and Sisters – Encouraging Each Other

Good Day Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Does it not feel good to have a Christian brother or sister stand up for us, help us, and encourage us?  It may have even been someone we were not familiar with that was there for us as a Christian.  We as Christians are called to be encouragers to one another on the basis of our common salvation in Jesus Christ.  A man in Scripture named Joses (Joseph) was given the name Barnabas by the apostles, a name that means “son of encouragement,” aptly describing his nature of encouraging others.  He sold land and gave the money to the apostles for poor Christian believers in Jerusalem; he spoke to the apostles on Paul’s behalf after Paul was converted;[1] he supported and encouraged Paul and John Mark on their first missionary journey; and subsequently mentored and encouraged John Mark in the ministry.  We as Christians have a choice:  to be negative and avoid our fellow Christians or obey Scripture and be a “Barnabas” as we help and encourage each other.

Demonstrate your Christian commitment by being a “Barnabas” to your fellow Christian brothers and sisters!

“Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.” (Acts 4:36-37 – ESV)

May God Richly Bless You Today

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[1]Acts 9:26-30