#546 Lessons from Ants (Proverbs 6:6-8) – A Christian’s Insight

Good Day Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

We as Christians are expected to use our Source of Insight, the Lord Jesus Christ, in our daily Christian walk.  This insight is a discernment of the true nature of a situation and seeing the situation intuitively.  Paul had instructed Timothy to reflect on what he was saying, and the Lord would give him insight or understanding.  God speaks through His Word, the Bible, but to hear Him we must be open and receptive to Him as we read.  As we meditate upon His Word while reading, we ask God to show us His truths and how to apply those truths to our daily life.  When we do so and spend time in contact with Him through prayer, we are not only taking the steps of maturing in our Christian walk but we also continue to mature spiritually as we strive to be more Christlike.  When we accompany each step with Christian love, we will see a result of greater knowledge of Christ, greater insight and moral discernment, all based on what God has done for us.

Utilize your Source of Insight today by meditating on God’s Word, praying for wisdom to your heavenly Father, and demonstrating Godly love to everyone around!

“Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this.” (II Timothy 2:7 – NIV)

May God Richly Bless You Today

#511 Perfecting our Prayer Life – Mechanical Prayer

Good Day Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Not being alert can also lead us to mechanical, perfunctory prayer.  We may be faithful in praying, but constantly repeating the same phrases from habit will not be effectual.  Even praying the Lord’s Prayer can be a prayer of habit if we are not alert and sincere about each part of the prayer.  There are possibly some phrases we may repeat genuinely, but many may be just to get the prayer complete, to sound pious, or to fill a gap while our minds wander.  A third reason to stay alert while praying is to allow the Lord to speak to us as we pray.  Prayer is not just a one-way communication or fellowship; God also speaks to us.  Many times it is following our time of prayer with Him; however, He through the Holy Spirit will often speak to us while we are before His throne of grace.  We will never hear him if our minds are not alert.  Our prayer life must be one of alertness and watchfulness.

As you pray, stay alert and listen for the Lord to speak to you!

“Then saith He unto them, ‘My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death:  tarry ye here, and watch with Me.’”   (Matthew 26:38)

May God Richly Bless You Today

#498 Judgment and Promises (Isaiah 65) – Lessons from Evil Doers V

Good Day Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

God not only accused the Israelites of not answering His call, but also of not hearing Him when He spoke.[1]  God had previously told them that “I have spread out my hands…unto a rebellious people.”[2] He had called them and spoken to them, but they deliberately rejected Him by not answering His call and closing their ears to Him.  Today the rejection is of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, God’s call to accept Christ and to serve Him, and failing to hear Him when He speaks.  Often, we have shut Him out of or drifted so far away from Him in our daily lives that we cannot hear Him call or speak to us.  A part of our daily walk with the Lord should be a time of Bible study, prayer, and worship; and when we fail to take the time for those disciplines we cannot hear Him as so often He calls and speaks to us through the Bible study, prayer, and worship.  When we are in deep fellowship with God we will hear His call and will answer, and hear Him speaking and be ready to do His will.

How closely do you listen to God’s voice as you pray, worship and study His Word?

“Listen to Me, My son!  I know what I am saying; listen!”  (Proverbs 5:1 – TLB)

May God Richly Bless You Today

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[1] Isaiah 65:12

[2] Isaiah 65:2

#496 Judgment and Promises (Isaiah 65) – Lessons from Evil Doers III

Good Day Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Just as He did in Old Testament times with the Israelites, God continues to call us, and just as during that time there are many who do not answer.  God called the entire nation of Israel to believe in Him, to serve Him, and to obey Him, and they refused to answer His call, thus bringing judgment upon themselves.  Today, God calls people to believe on Him, to serve Him, and to obey Him, and still people refuse to answer His call.  Although God gives various calls, there is a call more important for eternity than any other, and that is the Holy Spirit’s conviction and call of an individual to accept Jesus Christ as personal Savior and Lord.  An individual’s place in eternity is determined by whether he or she accepts Christ as Savior since accepting Him is the only way of salvation and salvation is the only way of spending eternity in heaven with God.  Not answering this call brings eternal judgment of separation from God.  This is this most important lesson one can learn from the Israelites who failed to answer God’s call.

Have you answered the Holy Spirit’s call of salvation?

“And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.  He that hath the Son hath life, and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.”  (I John 5:11-12)

May God Richly Bless You Today

#495 Judgment and Promises (Isaiah 65) – Lessons from Evil Doers II

Good Day Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

As we learn from the sins of those from the nation of Israel we find that avoiding their rebellious actions against God and honoring Him through our obedient actions will bring us reward and renewal.  They had rebelled against God by not following His precepts and obeying His commandments; however, God reveals specifics to them when He tells them that He has called and received no answer, He has spoken and they have not heard, they have done evil deeds, and their choices have not pleased Him.  These actions brought upon those committing them as well as the nation of Israel punishment that was judgment for their wrongdoing.  When God calls and speaks, He desires and deserves us listening to Him; He desires and deserves us staying away from evil deeds, instead doing those things that please and delight Him.  Let’s continue tomorrow on how we can learn from these failures by the Israelites. 

Take time to learn from the mistakes of those in the Bible who chose to rebel and defy God!

“Therefore will I number you to the sword, and ye shall all bow down to the slaughter:  because when I called, ye did not answer; when I spake, ye did not hear; but did evil before mine eyes, and did choose that wherein I delighted not.”  (Isaiah 65:12)

May God Richly Bless You Today

#451 The Good News of a Risen Savior

Good Day Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

We often consider the resurrection of Jesus Christ as the time for the end of celebration, but the empty tomb is only the beginning of celebration.  Mary Magdalene, when, along with other women, seeing the stone rolled from the tomb and realizing it was empty, personally ran and told Peter and John that Jesus’ tomb was empty.  Later, when she was at the tomb alone, weeping, Jesus appeared to her without her recognizing Him…until He called her name.  When we recognize the empty tomb and accept the risen Jesus as alive and as our Savior and Lord we will acknowledge the fact that He is always with us and calling our name.  The risen Savior is the Good News of God’s Word, and we will have such joy over this Good News that we will have a desire to share Him with others with whom we come in contact.     

Have you met the risen Christ?  If you have not, listen to His call today!

“Jesus saith unto her, ‘Mary’.  She turned herself, and saith unto Him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.  Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that He had spoken these things unto her.”   (John 20:16, 18)

May God Richly Bless You Today