THE GRACE OF OUR LORD WAS EXCEEDINGLY ABUNDANT.  1 Timothy 1:14

These are the days when there are so many people who are filling out job applications.  Hundreds of them because of job losses.  I remember reading about a man who was filling out a job application and came to the question “Have you ever been arrested?” He wrote ‘No.’

The next question, intended for people who had answered “Yes” to the previous question, was ‘Why?’  The applicant answered it “I never got caught.”

Is that how we live our lives?  We’re okay as long as we don’t get caught?

There’s a lot of people today who feel that way.  And they can do this because in our post-modern thought we get to make up our own truth and rules.  So we can live our lives any way we feel like it.  And we’re okay as long as we don’t get caught.

St Paul did not feel that way.  In writing to Timothy he was very much aware of his sins and his guilt.  He knew that he had disobeyed God. But in contrast to his guilt was God’s grace.  And Paul felt that it was EXCEEDINGLY ABUNDANT for him.  And it is for you and me also.  God’s grace never runs out, nor can it.  It is always more than enough to cover our sins.  Never doubt that.

Blessings on your day, 

SAMUEL SAID TO SAUL, “YOU HAVE DONE FOOLISHLY. YOU HAVE NOT KEPT THE COMMANDMENT OF THE LORD.”  1 Samuel 13:13

This has been the season when houses and sometimes whole towns just disappear because of tornadoes.  But there are towns that disappear for other reasons also.  There used to be a town in Oklahoma by the name of Picher.  In the early 20th century it had 20,000 citizens.  It was booming because of the minerals there that were used in both World Wars.

But when the ore ran out so did the town.  It’s sort of like when Saul’s commitment to serve God faithfully ran out he disobeyed.  And as a result his kingdom came to an end. God had plans for King Saul but he was not a man after God’s heart.  He did not do what God wanted.  He did his own thing.  He disobeyed the command of God.  And he was gone.

In our lives and our desire to find success and prosperity we need to be careful about how we live our lives.  God desires us to serve Him.   He wants obedience.  Let me encourage you to consider your life and see what you are doing.

Blessings on your day, 

DO NOT BE AFRAID OF THEIR THREATS, NOR BE TROUBLED.  1 Peter 3:14

Corporal Desmond Doss was the first conscientious objector to earn the Congressional Medal of Honor, the United States’ highest military award.

As a Christian he believed that it was not right for him to kill others, but he wanted to serve his country.  He did so as a medic.  At first he was ridiculed during boot camp, but in May, 1945 on Okinawa he repeatedly risked his life to rescue scores of wounded men. He earned the gratitude and respect of his former critics.

As Christians we sometimes are ridiculed for our beliefs and for our commitment to the way we live our lives.  But as we reach out to a hurting world let’s continue to work on showing God’s love to others.  Peter reminds us “Even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed.”

Blessings on your day, 

PRAY FOR KINGS AND ALL WHO ARE IN AUTHORITY.   1 Timothy 2:2

In June 2009, 95 years old Emma Gray died. For over two decades she had been the cleaning lady in a big house.  Each night as she did her work, she prayed for blessings, wisdom, and safety for the man she worked for.

She worked for 24 years in the same house, but the occupants of the house changed every four or eight years.  She offered prayers for President Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Ford, and Carter.

You and I need to be like Emma Gray who continue to pray for our leaders and our elected officials so that they carry out their duties according to God’s will.  Paul urged Timothy to pray for all in authority so that we may live a quiet and peaceable life.  God hears our prayers.  And rest assured as Proverbs says “The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord..”

Blessings on your day,