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Luke 5
4 When Jesus had finished speaking, he told Simon, “Row the boat out into the deep water and let your nets down to catch some fish.” 5 “Master,” Simon answered, “we have worked hard all night long and have not caught a thing. But if you tell me to, I will let the nets down.” 6 They did it and caught so many fish that their nets began ripping apart. 7 Then they signaled for their partners in the other boat to come and help them. The men came, and together they filled the two boats so full that they both began to sink.
Observation: Jesus asked Simon to row back out into the water after a very fruitless night of catching no fish. Peter did it not with the right attitude but out of a favor to Jesus. To Peter’s surprise and others, the amount of fish that caught was unfathomable in those days. They even called other fishermen in of this unbelievable catch.
Application: Often when we are tired and ready to call it a day God appears and hands a miracle because of our faithfulness. Peter was blessed because he kept going and did something that he really did not want to do but his allegiance to jesus propelled him to do it. That oftne is the way it is in the Christian journey.
Prayer: Help not forget that when Jesus lays on my heart to keep going or do the unthinkable I do it our of allegiance of him being my Savior.
Genesis 3
21 The smell of the burning offering pleased God, and he said:
Never again will I punish the earth for the sinful things its people do. All of them have evil thoughts from the time they are young, but I will never destroy everything that breathes, as I did this time.
Observation: This is God’s narrative concerning destroying the flood in the days of Noah. It must have broken the heart of God seeing so many people pound on the ark to get inside. They would have been screaming to open the doors. Reminds me of the Titanic disaster in April 12, 1914.
Application: No matter how bad it is God will not destroy the earth again. We destroy ourselves by our decisions that do not honor HIM.
Prayer: May my decisions reflect what God has done in my heart!
Scripture: Ephesians 1:23 “The church is his body; it is filled by Christ, who fills everything everywhere with his presence.”
Observation: The church is supposed to function as the body of Christ. The church is filled by his presence always.
Application: This sounds good and I want to believe it. But, if Christ fills our churches why are so many declining and empty? When I see lots of people coming together for worship, I see His presence. I believe that Satan is in the division business while God is in the multiplication business. Just as Jesus told the parable of the mustard seed.
Prayer: Help me to always see the presence of Jesus in the church.
Scripture: Romans 16:17b -18 “Watch out for people who cause divisions and upset people’s faith by teaching things that are contrary to what you have been taught. Stay away from them. Such people are not serving Christ our Lord; they are serving their own interests.”
Observations: People who are trouble makers should not be near you to drain or deceit your thinking. Their reasoning is to please themselves and not the Lord.
Application: I know and have known many of these people in the church. People become convinced that their way is right because they are in control or just want to be right. Healthy discussion about theology or about the church is always valid. Some though play the rules that if they don’t win they take their toys and go home. The unchurched rolls of America are filled with people who got mad at the church because of a decision that did not go their way.
Prayer: Help me to keep wise counsel.
Scripture: Romans 15: 15 “Even so, I have been bold enough to emphasize some of these points, knowing that all you need is this reminder from me.” Proverbs 27:19 “As a face is reflected in water, so the heart reflects the person.”
Observation: The need to be reminded is constant. It can be annoying but if not said things go undone. Being reminded of God’s Word helps the heart stay pure.
Application: I need reminding of the cost of discipleship. Discipleship is the hardest thing to do in the faith. It requires discipline which involves time which creates tension. This tention is felt between doing what I want to do and what God is asking me me to do. Allowing others to remind me is like “Iron sharpens Iron.” Proverbs 27:17.
Prayer: The best way for me to be reminded by God is my prayer life.
Scripture: Proverbs 23:12 “Commit yourself to instruction; attune your ears to hear words of knowledge.” Romans 14:10 “So why do you condemn another Christian? Why do you look down on another Christian?”
Observation: Commitment is hard. It takes a constant focus to stay on track. It requires daily adjusting your thoughts in conjunction with the mind of Christ.
Application: It is easy and convenient to react by our feelings. Our feelings have gotten where we are today. It has split churches and families. It has destroyed friendships and caused isolation. Judging someone when you are living right or have been hurt is vicious way to elevate yourself yourself to where you become the judge. I am guilty of this and need daily to see through the lens of Christ.
Prayer: Empower me to see through the lens of letting God be the judge not me.
Scripture: Romans 12:1 “Let them (bodies) be a living and holy sacrifice – the kind he will accept. When you think of what He had done for you, is this too much to ask?”
Observation: Paul was speaking in how we should use our bodies for the Lord. The reason is that God has done so much for us.
Application: This is verse the poster for athletic clubs and the craving to be healthy and attractive that drives so many. Looks do matter. Turn on the tv and notice all the unattractive people but often when their personal lives are exposed they are in ruins. Sandra Bullock, lead in movie “Blindside”, had a blockbuster of a movie. She played an attractive suburbanite rescuing an inner city troubled youth. But, after the movie is a hit the news breaks how her husband is cruising the seas with other women. The application is to live a life to where we can faithfully serve the Lord without being slowed down by having a body out of shape and in need of rest.
Prayer: It is easy to throw stones on others faults but I still have mine. Help me to live a life that is respectful with integrity. That starts in my own home. sometimes I feel good about it and sometimes I don’t. Empower to think wisely and say words that build up and not tear down.
Scripture: Ephesians 5:18b-19 ” Instead, let the Holy Spirit fill and control you. Then you will sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourself, making music to the Lord in your hearts.”
Observation: Being filled with the Holy Spirit has to be the most awesome feeling ever. No worries just his presence . This presence leads one to sing together in their hearts.
Application: Why is so hard being in his presence? The Ephesians letter spoke so much to my heart in how Satan is always lurking to steal my heart. I remember so fondly when I first went into ministry how I was debt free and all I wanted to do was serve God on the mission field. There were no people to manage, no repairs on the facility, or no dysfunction in families, no music wars, n0 technology, just the Bible and a big heart. I guess that is the reason I have always liked the movie “Pure Country.” It is never about the big church or bright lights but the Gospel in the clearest and simple form. When that happens the presence of God appears and all you want to do is sing your heart out to God.
Prayer: May I find the presence daily of the Holy Spirit as I seek to lead the church, the staff, my children, and love my wife.
Scripture for today:
2 Corinthians 7-10
Key verse for today:
2 Corinthians 8:5 And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God’s will.
Observation: The believers dedicated there selves to the Lord by submitting to His will.
Application: This is incredible and I long to be in a body of believers who are this sold out. Their opinions meant nothing but their hearts were united to go wherever and do whatever God ask them as a group or a families to do in His name. Incredible commitment and movement of the Spirit.
Prayer: Help me be in that number.
Scripture for today:
2 Corinthians 3-6
Key verse for today:
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
Observation: Our eyes and heart are key to our walk with God. Our heart is broken by what we feel around us. Our eyes are discouraged by focusing on what we see. These two ingredients are depressing unless we focus on what is eternal.
Application: Focusing on the eternal takes faith. Faith is not believing that God can but that God will. Much of the discouragement of Christians is focused on their inability to not focus on eternal matters. Asking questions such as “What does this matter in light of eternity?” Instead we give ourselves pity parties on our small matters which in light of eternity is insignificant.
Prayer: May my attention be drawn to eternal matters.
