Ezekiel 34:5
"So my sheep have been scattered without a shepherd, and they are easy prey for any wild animal."
We're all guilty at times of looking for 'the easy way', that's one reason lotteries are so popular. However, we need to remember that when we look for 'something for nothing', that old saying, "If it looks too good to be true, it usually is" kicks in. Critics of the Bible say that, too.... "Follow Jesus and have life everlasting.... bah humbug." They just don't 'get it', how powerful are those two thoughts.
'Follow Jesus' --- Matthew 16:24 - "Then Jesus said to His disciples, 'If any of you wants to be My follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow Me'." See, WE have to 'do something', 'give up something', 'live a certain way', make a firm commitment.
'Life everlasting' --- Galatians 6:8 - "Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit."
It's not 'something for nothing', but the rewards are greater than anything you can imagine. Matthew 5:10 - "God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs."
Hope you have a great day. Maggie
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Coffee Break
"Pick And Choose"
"For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." Hebrews 4:12
Last night I pulled out my children's illustrated Bible story book to read to my eighteen month old granddaughter. Of course we didn't get very far with the reading- she was more interested in the pictures. She loves ponies and puppies so all she wanted to do was turn the pages- back and forth- looking for puppies and ponies. I wonder how many of us are guilty of doing the same thing with God's word. You know- skipping the parts we don't like and turning to the ones we do like.
Do you skip over the commands in order to look for the blessings? Do you only want to hear the parts that tell you what God's responsibility toward you is but quickly turn past the passages that point out your responsibility toward Him? Do you overlook the verses that talk about sacrifice, self denial, repentance, taking up your cross? Are you more interested in reading about God's love but neglect to read about His justice? Do you like the promises but look past the conditions that you have to meet in order to receive the promises?
You can't divide the Word of God- you can't dissect it into pieces and take only the pieces you like. You can't receive some of it and reject the rest. You can't have the blessings and promises without the conditions. You can't have the glory without the suffering. You can't have the victory without the battles. You can't have it your way, picking out only what you want.
God gave us the "whole" Word, we have to have all of it- what we like and what we don't like, what is good and what seems bad, the conditions and the promises, the do's and the don'ts, the blessings and the chastening, the sacrifice and the rewards. The whole Word of God works together for our benefit- every chapter, every verse, every word, every part.
Have a great day. It's like one man said, "The Word of God is not a buffet; you can't pick and choose what you want".
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Coffee Break is written by Lorraine Ezell
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
http://www.mastersbusiness.org
Daily Thoughts from Guideposts
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A Time to Think
"Each today, well lived, makes yesterday a dream of happiness and each tomorrow a vision of hope.
Look, therefore, to this one day, for it and it alone is life." - Anonymous |
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To Act
Find strength for today and hope for tomorrow. |
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To Pray
Lord, help me to nurture the part of me that longs to feel secure and deeply loved by You. |
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Do you remember your simplest fears as a child? Did you shudder every time a spider crept across the ceiling? Or did mighty claps of thunder send you scurrying to your parents' bed?
| "Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God." - Psalm 20:7 |
On September 11, 2001 Americans experienced terrible fright when bad men flew planes into huge buildings and thousands died. In such extraordinary circumstances, you come to the end of your own resources and find yourself utterly reliant on God and others. In the face of such difficulty, you turn to Him with the same helplessness as a child in a raging storm.
God promises His very presence in fright or joy alike. You do not know when or if terrorists will strike again, but you do know that your prayers serve as a great shield, protecting the nation from unseen terror and guarding your heart as you pray. You can pray for the country with confidence and peace in those moments when you fear for America. God promises to hear and answer those prayers as you trust fully in Him. - Meagan Gillan
Recommended Reading: Psalm 91:1-12
"Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. This I declare about the Lord:
He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; He is my God, and I trust Him. For He will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease. He will cover you with His feathers. He will shelter you with His wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection.
"Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night, nor the arrow that flies in the day. Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness, nor the disaster that strikes at midday. Though a thousand fall at your side, though ten thousand are dying around you, these evils will not touch you. Just open your eyes, and see how the wicked are punished.
"If you make the Lord your refuge, if you make the Most High your shelter, no evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your home. For He will order His angels to protect you wherever you go. They will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone."
John 16:33
"I have told you all this so that you may have peace in Me.
Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows.
But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”
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