Friday prayer & verses (09 04 2010)

Thought for the day

I recently heard the following story:

“My daughter Michelle is the commander of a Coast Guard Cutter. When she gave my husband Bob a tour of her ship, he was impressed by the neatness of all decks.

“However, when Bob went to Michelle's house with her, he couldn't believe the disorganization. ‘Why is everything in its place on your ship,’ he asked, ‘but your house is such a mess?’

“‘My house,’ Michelle said, ‘does not take 30-degree rolls.’”

I found the story quite humorous, but it made me wonder. How often do others notice that things are just fine in our workplace, but not at home? Things may be “in its place” at work (and elsewhere), but at home things are “a mess.” One of the saddest passages in the Bible is found in I Samuel 8:1-3:

“Now it came to pass when Samuel was old that he made his sons judges over Israel…But his sons did not walk in his ways; they turned aside after dishonest gain, took bribes, and perverted justice.”

Here was Samuel – a great prophet, one of the greatest men in the Bible, arguably one of the godliest men in all of history, but his sons didn’t follow after his example. Some commentators have speculated that it was at least partly due to the fact that Samuel traveled around Israel fulfilling his responsibilities as a prophet (I Sam. 7:15-16), neglecting his family in the process.

It’s a problem that everyone who works struggles with, but especially preachers because we often view our work as being done “for God” so we feel justified in pouring more of our time and effort into our work. But there is always the danger -- the temptation – that we may be neglecting things at home.

Early in my new Christian life, my wife used to complain, “You always have time for anybody else who comes to you with a problem, but you can’t find time for me.” There were times she was right. I felt compelled to make sure that everything was in order at “work”, but I sometimes allowed things at home to be a “mess.” I’m sure there were many times my children felt the same way. I would like to think that I’ve learned from my mistakes and have a better balance now.

My message today comes with an encouragement for all of you who work to make an assessment of your own. Are you more interested in keeping things in order at work than you are at home? May God help each of us as we strive to fulfill our God-given responsibilities to our spouses and children.

Verses

Matthew 17:20

He said to them, 'Because your faith was too small; for in truth I tell you, if you have faith like a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, "Move from here to there", and it will move; nothing will be impossible to you.

Isaiah 53:5

And he is pierced for our transgressions, Bruised for our iniquities, The chastisement of our peace [is] on him, And by his bruise there is healing to us.

Matthew 16:19

I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven.

And the door you lock here on earth will immediately be locked in heaven, and the door you unlock here on earth will immediately be unlocked in heaven."

1 Samuel 12:23

"Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you; but I will teach you the good and the right way.

James 1:4

Then let endurance finish its work so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

Prayer

Jesus, help me to determine in my heart that Your words, “Follow Me” will far surpass the importance of any other mission I am called to in my life time. I pray that my goals, achievements, and ambitions never conflict with the major calling You have placed on my life. Lord, may all that I pursue establish for me a firm foundation where my faith will grow and where I bring glory to Your name, both in life and in death.

Thursday prayer & verses (08 04 2010)

Thought for the day

In a Peanuts comic strip, Charlie Brown stops at the psychiatric help stand to talk with Lucy and confesses, "My trouble is I never know if I'm doing the right thing. I need to have someone around who can tell me when I'm doing the right thing." Lucy says, "Okay. You're doing the right thing. That'll be five cents, please!" Charlie Brown walks away with a smile on his face.

In a few minutes, he returns with a frown. "Back already?" asks Lucy. "What happened?" Charlie Brown says, "I was wrong. It didn't help. You need more in life than just having someone around to tell you when you're doing the right thing." Lucy says, "Now you've really learned something! That'll be another five cents please."

We all like having someone tell us when we do the right thing. And when we're doing the right thing, it's important to have friends who encourage us. But what we don't like so much is having someone tell us when we're do the wrong thing. It's not easy to hear someone say, "I'm worried about you. You've made a mistake. You don't want to end up in the direction you're headed." But that's just as important.

One of the qualities of a faithful friend is honesty even when the truth is painful. We all need someone who will love us enough not to let us head in a harmful direction, someone who with gentleness and love will help steer us back on the path of righteousness. Solomon put it this way:

"Open rebuke is better than love carefully concealed. Faithful are the wounds of a friend, But the kisses of an enemy are deceitful." (Proverbs 27:5-6)

Charlie Brown was right. You need more in life than just having someone around to tell you when you're doing the right thing. That'll be five cents, please!

Verses

Mark 9:23

"If you can?" retorted Jesus. "Everything is possible for anyone who has faith."

1 Corinthians 6:20

For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's.

Romans 12:16

Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.

1 Samuel 12:23

"Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you; but I will teach you the good and the right way.

2 Corinthians 9:8

And God is able to give you more than you need, so that you will always have all you need for yourselves and more than enough for every good cause.

Prayer

Father, our hearts are deeply stirred as we consider the extent of Your love in sending Jesus to die for our sins. As He wept over Jerusalem we see His tender humanity in relation to our sin problem. How grateful we are that Jesus yielded Himself fully to be used as a sin sacrifice, once for all, not just for Jerusalem but for peoples of every tribe and language; for all generations prior to His sacrificial death and for all who follow. Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Amen.