Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days John 11:5-6
Oh…the stress of leadership…
Jesus chose to stay, even though His friends were hurting…
Not because He was cruel…
Not because He didn’t care…
We know it wasn’t easy on Jesus…
Tweet This week I encountered several people living in the bondage of the law. They were beating themselves up for not being able to maintain every rule, many of which…
Someone needs to read this…
I sense it…
The Psalmist wrote:
Will the Lord spurn forever, and never again be favorable?
Has his steadfast love forever ceased?
Are his promises at an end for all time?
Has God forgotten to be gracious?
Has he in anger shut up his compassion?
(Psalm 77:7-9)
Have you ever felt like this before?
Don’t let the title of this post upset you just yet…
God is fully God.
There’s no way to describe the greatness, majesty, holiness, perfection, bigness of God…
You could spend eternity…and will…trying to figure God out completely or fully comprehend the depths of His love, power, and grace.
But I wonder sometimes…
If you are following this series of Scripture memory verses, I hope they are making a difference in your life. Isn’t that the end goal of God’s Word?
This week’s verse, if we truly applied it to our life, and practiced it, could change all we are this week.
Here is this week’s memory verse:
When they had crucified Him, they divided up His clothes by casting lots. Matthew 27:35 NIV
The baby was born. It seems we just celebrated His birth a few months ago. He was laid in a borrowed manger. He grew in wisdom and stature. He fulfilled all prophecy that was written about Him.
He performed many miracles. He did only the will of His Father. He never sinned. He cared for the sick. He loved the poor.
He taught the disciples. He baptized many.
But…
Tweet Last week, we memorized Jeremiah 24:7. Read that post HERE. Today we have what I believe is a great companion verse to memorize. Years ago I prayed these two…
Tweet After we were brought safely through, we then learned that the island was called Malta. Acts 28:1 I’ve been to Malta….what a beautiful island country! I even visited places…
“Oh, that one of you would shut the temple doors, so that you would not light useless fires on my altar! I am not pleased with you,” says the Lord Almighty, “and I will accept no offering from your hands.” Malachi 1:10
What a powerful and scary verse!
Let me set the stage…
Times were hard for the Israelites. The land was dry. The crops were barely producing. The animals and people were suffering. The enemies of the Israelites were prevailing in battle. The people, who had time after time seen the delivering hand of God, were wavering in their faith.
They went to the altar of God, but instead of sacrificing their very best, they gave God their rejects. If they had prize sheep or goats, they kept these for breeding. It was their way of protecting their own investments. Afterall, they must have thought, in hard times, it didn’t make sense to waste the best, of which they had very little, on God? (Oh Lord, forgive me for even having to type that…but it’s true!)
God would not accept their half-hearted worship!
God said He would rather see the church doors closed than to be worshipped in such a way. Whew! That’s tough stuff!
I don’t know about you, but
But even if my life is to be poured out like a drink offering to complete the sacrifice of your faithful service (that is, if I am to die for you), I will rejoice, and I want to share my joy with all of you. Philippians 2:17 NLT
Would you be willing to die for another person’s spiritual growth? I’m not sure I’m with Paul on this one yet, because as much as I like to see people growing spiritually, I don’t know if sacrificing my life for their growth is yet an option.
Paul, though, was seeing life through an eternal perspective. Remember he said earlier in the same letter, “for me to live is Christ and to die is great gain.” He recognized that the purpose of his life was to encourage others in Christ.
I’m reminded of an old song. Perhaps you’ve heard it. I don’t think it is copyrighted, but here goes:
