Fear Not

Do not fear for I am with you;

Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you, surely I will help you,

Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.

Isaiah 41:10

Fear is disabling.  Fear keeps us from doing the things that God would have us to do.  Fear limits our possibilities by convincing us that things are too difficult.  Fear makes worry about what other people will think, rather than about what the right thing to do is. 

We have God’s promise that He will help us and uphold us.  We are not operating a lone; we are operating in God’s grace. 

Stop worrying and start living.  God is with you.

Do Your Best And God Will Do The Rest

The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, but the soul of the diligent is made fat.

Proverbs 13:4

None of us are immune to the blahs, those times when we don’t want to do anything.  If we still go to church, that’s all we do there – go to church.  We are disengaged.  Maybe we are mad about something or bored or burnt out. Whatever it is, it zaps the zeal from our Christianity. 

While we may enjoy wallowing in our leisure, it is not productive nor is it good for us.  And, it does nothing to further spread of the Gospel.  Even when we don’t feel like doing something, when we get up and get busy, God will bless our efforts. 

Do your best and God will do the rest.

Make Things Right

Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering.  

Matthew 5:23-24

God desires our full attention.  When we are stewing about disagreements with friends, relatives, neighbors or associates, it takes the focus away from worshiping God.

The easiest way to make up with a friend or enemy is to say, “I am sorry.” 

It doesn’t matter who is right or wrong because, when we think about it, most of our disagreements are small when we look at the big picture.  And, the act of saying, “I am sorry,” clears the air for discussion if it is needed. 

Plus, saying “I am sorry,” costs us nothing, except our pride.  And, do we want to let our pride get between us and God?  I don’t think so. 

When Stuff Goes Right

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.

Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.

Colossians 3:15-17

The Bible says a lot about the bad times that the early Christians suffered, but it also indicates that they had times of great joy.

Paul in his letter to the Colossians reminds them that they need to be thankful to God and to celebrate His love and care for them. 

When things are going wrong, we run to God and plead for help.  We need to remember when things are going right, to run to God with our thanks and praises. 

When Stuff Goes Wrong

Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

James 1:12

Christians are not exempt from life’s ups and downs, but we are guaranteed that God is with us through it all.  All we have to do is buckle up and hang on.

My friend, Georga, was always upbeat, even when her life was on the edge of being a wreck.  One time when one thing after another was going wrong, she said, “Sometimes when you get something going; you just have to ride it out to the end.”

Even if we don’t feel victorious, we need to remember God’s promise: if we remain faithful to Him, we will triumph in the end. 

Free In Christ

See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.

For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority….”

Colossians 2:8-10

Since the beginning of time there have been those who tried to deceive believers in God with false ideas.  The first was the serpent in the Garden of Eden who deceived Eve and the last has yet to be born. 

Those who spiel and wrap ideas in words which contradict the Word of God and what we know about God, are true enemies of salvation. 

We know that God sent His Son, Jesus, and that the only way to God and salvation is through Him.  We use this as our measuring stick to determine if what we hear is true.

Stay free in Christ.