Need A Break?

Then he came to a cave and lodged there; and behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and He said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” He said, “I have been very zealous for the Lord, the God of hosts; for the sons of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. And I alone am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.”

1 Kings 19:9-10.

Elijah called the fire down from heaven. I would call that a roaring success, but Elijah was discouraged and hid in a cave.  He was exhausted.  

We all have times when we feel like we have been beaten up when all we were trying to do was the right thing.  We need to take a break and take time to pray and study the scriptures and to rest.  

That’s OK, but don’t lose heart.  God will come looking for you, and when He does say, “Here Am I.” 

Read I Kings 18 and 19 to get the whole story of Elijah calling the fire down from heaven. 

The Right Time

So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.

James 4:17

Sometimes it takes a life time of bad choices to figure this out, but I say, "Why wait?" 

Think before you act. 

As Martin Luther King said, "The time is always right do do what is right." 

 

Everything Will Be Alright

 

Then Job’s wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast your integrity?  Curse God and die!”

But Job said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women speaks.  Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?”  In all this Job did not sin with his lips.

Job 2:9-10

Did you ever notice when bad things happen to Christians there are always people who say they must have done something wrong?

I should know because I have felt at times like I was melting in the midst of purgatory with accusations from those who I thought would support me in the worst five minutes of my life.  I was driven to the point of questioning my faith. 

Then I discovered my accusers were wrong.  If your spouse cheated on you or your child got arrested or your house burnt down or if you were laid off from your job, it was not because you sinned.  It is because God has some bigger plan He is working on and you just happen to be right in the middle of it. 

It may be rough going, but we need to praise God for our circumstances and with great anticipation wait to see what He has planned next. 

Raise your hands up and say, “Thank you God for everything.  I trust you.  Hallelujah!  Amen.”

Take A Walk

Therefore I, a prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, and being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope in your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all. 

Ephesians 4:1-6

Paul wrote to the Ehesians to encourage them to maintain their Christian faith in his absence.

Paul points out that we, as Christians, have a higher calling than our own personal agendas, that being serving God by acting with humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, and striving for unity in the Church.

All of this is possible because the one God and Father is over all and through all and in all.  All includes us!

So, take a walk and find the bond of peace. 

 

 

 

We Are More Alike Than Different

 

Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus, so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

 

Therefore, accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God.

Romans 15:5-8

The Apostle Paul wanted Christians to present a united front against those who opposed the church.  There is still some discord between various Christian denominations because they do not agree on the same interpretation of all the scriptures.  While we may not all understand the scriptures in the same way, we all share the common confession of Jesus Christ, Lord, Master and Savior.

We are different denominations, but we all serve the same God, and we should act like it because we are more alike than different.  Our Christian unity enables us to better present the Gospel to the World.  

 

So, with one voice glorify God.  

 

Amen. 

Not Karma - Mercy

 

Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

Do not judge, and you will not be judged; and do not condemn, and you will not be condemned; pardon, and you will be pardoned.

Give and it will be given to you.  They will pour into your lap a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over.  For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.

Luke 6:36-38

One of principles of Christianity is that we received mercy from God and, therefore, we are to be merciful to mankind.

 

Did you ever notice that mean people sometimes stay mean?   We are nice to them and they return our kindness with meanness. 

 

This may make us think that the Bible got it wrong about getting back what we give. But then someone who we hardly know will do something kind for us, and there it is: Pressed down, shaken together, and running over - the mercy we gave coming back to us.

 

It’s not karma.  It’s mercy.

Equipped For Battle

Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist on the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. 

Stand firm therefore, having belted your waist with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 

and having strapped on your feet the preparation of the gospel of peace; 

in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 

And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Ephesians 6:13-17

The full armor of God includes truth, righteousness, the gospel of peace, faith, salvation and the Word of God.  

When we choose to live our lives with these gifts from God, we are equipped to withstand the forces of evil which attack us and our testimony.  And, sometimes, just being known for these characteristics is enough to warn off those who would want to mess with us.

Get equipped for battle - pray and study God's Word.