Sunday, March 30, 2008
Looking For Love
Living on the Edge
Wouldn't it be great if, starting today, you could take some positive steps toward that deep relationship you've always wanted? Let's take a look at two opposing models for achieving a loving, lasting bond with another person.
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First, there's the model we're all familiar with, the one that's as old as Lawrence Olivier, as recent as Ally McBeal. It's Hollywood's model.
Hollywood Says
Find the right person
Fall in love
Fix your hopes and dreams on this person for your future fulfillment
If failure occurs, repeat steps 1, 2, 3.
The premise of this formula is clear: if you fail, you must not have found the right person. Much like a bottle cap sweepstakes game, if you don't win... sorry! Try again.
How well does it work? You and I both know the answer to that. The divorced population is the fastest growing marital category in the US, and the fallout is huge. The impact of fractured relationships on children, the anguish, the hurt, the emotional wounds, not to mention the economic impact on both parties, is painfully obvious. Now let's move to another perspective, and take a look at the model created by the One who thought up relationships in the first place.
God Says"Therefore, be imitators of God as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you, and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma." Eph. 5:1-2
First, there's a command.
Be imitators of God. What does this look like? For a more detailed picture, let's start a few verses back, at chapter 4:31-32. Here we have instructions for putting on a new life in Christ as we relate to others. Get rid of attitudes that tear down and hurt, Paul says. Treat each other as God treated you when He extended His endless supply of grace and forgiveness to you, even at great cost to himself.
Is the focus here on finding the right person? Is it about molding someone else into the person you want them to be? No.
The Key to a Right Relationship is Not Finding the Right Person, But Becoming the Right PersonDrs. Les and Leslie Parrott, in their book, Relationships, outline what they call "The Compulsion for Completion."
"If you attempt to build intimacy with another person before you've done the hard work of becoming a whole and healthy person, every relationship will be an attempt to complete the wholeness that you lack and end in disaster." (Relationships, p. 20)
In other words, if our identity is not secure in Christ, if we are still looking to others to make us feel secure, complete or "okay," our relationships will never be healthy and strong. This is ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL to understand. Contrary to the pop philosophy of Jerry McGuire, the most romantic thing you can say to someone is not "you complete me." If you must be completed by another person, you will find that whatever they have to give you will never be enough. Only God, through His Son and through the Holy Spirit, can provide what each of us need to be complete. When we are whole and secure in Him, then we can approach a relationship in a healthy way.
Next comes the command for how we are to relate to one another.
Walk in love. Notice Paul doesn't say, "fall in love." He's talking about an intentional, sacrificial love that wills and acts what is best for its object.
God's way is very hard, but it's very effective. He tells us to:
Become the right person (mimic God)
Walk in love
Fix your hope on God and seek to please Him through this relationship
If failure occurs, repeat steps 1, 2 and 3.
Failure will occur. When it does, the question must be: "Am I being who I should be? Am I walking in love?" It's not time to give up; it's time to go back to square one.
Here is a crucial point. The goal of relationships is not fulfillment and self-actualization. It's not about discovering yourself, filling your need, meeting your desire. The goal of relationships is to please God. Right relationship with Him is food for our soul, and wherever else we will search, we will ultimately find that nothing else satisfies. The beautiful byproduct, when we are pleasing him in our horizontal relationships, will be deeper intimacy than you ever imagined.
You don't have to be a statistic. You don't have to be afraid to make a commitment. There is a supernatural way to do relationships that will leave a legacy of faith. The price tag is too high, the risk too great, to do it Hollywood's way.
Wouldn't it be great if, starting today, you could take some positive steps toward that deep relationship you've always wanted? Let's take a look at two opposing models for achieving a loving, lasting bond with another person.
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document.write('');
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First, there's the model we're all familiar with, the one that's as old as Lawrence Olivier, as recent as Ally McBeal. It's Hollywood's model.
Hollywood Says
Find the right person
Fall in love
Fix your hopes and dreams on this person for your future fulfillment
If failure occurs, repeat steps 1, 2, 3.
The premise of this formula is clear: if you fail, you must not have found the right person. Much like a bottle cap sweepstakes game, if you don't win... sorry! Try again.
How well does it work? You and I both know the answer to that. The divorced population is the fastest growing marital category in the US, and the fallout is huge. The impact of fractured relationships on children, the anguish, the hurt, the emotional wounds, not to mention the economic impact on both parties, is painfully obvious. Now let's move to another perspective, and take a look at the model created by the One who thought up relationships in the first place.
God Says"Therefore, be imitators of God as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you, and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma." Eph. 5:1-2
First, there's a command.
Be imitators of God. What does this look like? For a more detailed picture, let's start a few verses back, at chapter 4:31-32. Here we have instructions for putting on a new life in Christ as we relate to others. Get rid of attitudes that tear down and hurt, Paul says. Treat each other as God treated you when He extended His endless supply of grace and forgiveness to you, even at great cost to himself.
Is the focus here on finding the right person? Is it about molding someone else into the person you want them to be? No.
The Key to a Right Relationship is Not Finding the Right Person, But Becoming the Right PersonDrs. Les and Leslie Parrott, in their book, Relationships, outline what they call "The Compulsion for Completion."
"If you attempt to build intimacy with another person before you've done the hard work of becoming a whole and healthy person, every relationship will be an attempt to complete the wholeness that you lack and end in disaster." (Relationships, p. 20)
In other words, if our identity is not secure in Christ, if we are still looking to others to make us feel secure, complete or "okay," our relationships will never be healthy and strong. This is ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL to understand. Contrary to the pop philosophy of Jerry McGuire, the most romantic thing you can say to someone is not "you complete me." If you must be completed by another person, you will find that whatever they have to give you will never be enough. Only God, through His Son and through the Holy Spirit, can provide what each of us need to be complete. When we are whole and secure in Him, then we can approach a relationship in a healthy way.
Next comes the command for how we are to relate to one another.
Walk in love. Notice Paul doesn't say, "fall in love." He's talking about an intentional, sacrificial love that wills and acts what is best for its object.
God's way is very hard, but it's very effective. He tells us to:
Become the right person (mimic God)
Walk in love
Fix your hope on God and seek to please Him through this relationship
If failure occurs, repeat steps 1, 2 and 3.
Failure will occur. When it does, the question must be: "Am I being who I should be? Am I walking in love?" It's not time to give up; it's time to go back to square one.
Here is a crucial point. The goal of relationships is not fulfillment and self-actualization. It's not about discovering yourself, filling your need, meeting your desire. The goal of relationships is to please God. Right relationship with Him is food for our soul, and wherever else we will search, we will ultimately find that nothing else satisfies. The beautiful byproduct, when we are pleasing him in our horizontal relationships, will be deeper intimacy than you ever imagined.
You don't have to be a statistic. You don't have to be afraid to make a commitment. There is a supernatural way to do relationships that will leave a legacy of faith. The price tag is too high, the risk too great, to do it Hollywood's way.
I greet you all in the Name of Our Lord Jesus. It have been a good time I had lost two moth in two port.
I wan to thanks you all for standing with me in my ministry by your prayer support. Because of your prayer I could so His ministry in the way HE want to do. And there was some difficult time happen still God was there in the time of my need.
The place it was so hot the sunny days we have to work more and invite the people to the ship so stand in under the sun still God was there to keep going. Some time I was feeling why should I stay like this but it is not for me this is for God so the days went well. He given me strength to stand and do his minister. So I want to thanks you all again to keep praying for me. Here I am going to write about the ministry and How God use me.
We came to the place call Lea, It is the one of the city in PNG more people. The ship was here many years before. Then now we came here again so people are so much in rested to see the ship.
So the ship was open the for the people that day I was working my Leader told me that you can stay on the book shop I can go and see the crowd. Then after some time he call me and ask me can u bring some table we need to open the ticket booth in the different place. Then I want to see what happening ther is when I went there I got surprise because there was crowed almost 2000 people waiting to come to the ship but there were in the gate not making the line so all come to close by gate. So the security told that I am not going to open the gate. Then our caption came and ask the people to stand in one line none lesion to him . then we went to inside the crowed and make then to fall in a line and we divided the people in a group and send few by few people. It was really so hart to do that but it went well.
This make me to think how much people long to see the ship. All the weekend we had more people coming to the ship I was there most of the time to control to crowed. It is some time fun and also difficult. And we have to stand under the sunny. I got the sunburn in the first time in my life. It is good to help the people for God. I praise God for the people who all came to see the ship.
One day I had ministry day then we find that, this day we have to go for anchor the ship so it happen in three time to our ship this place.
But my Team told me that we have to go to the gate there will be some people come to see the ship today so we have to do the program for them. I was not feeling to go there without willing I went there. There we show that more people were standing to see the ship then we told them that today we will not open the ship but we have program for you. So all were stating and watching the program. And one of my Team made told me that can u do the application for the derma then we did derma it was good. I did give a application it that I call the people to be Friend of Jesus, there was some people lift the hand, again I ask the all lift the hand I was so happy to see the people willing to do that. And we pray for that people. Then we came to ship by boat it was so fun because when we went to site the boat it was not able to start the man were trying to do that they good not but later they could do it. Then we went to the ship.
One more day I went to church Team it was with some people this was the first time I went church in PNG. It is really nice time I had. They church have given more time to us. One of our Team bother was preaching and I was given a testimony. Then some our our team people went to help with Sunday school.
The next day one person came and calls my name I was thinking who know my name? Then he told me that u came to my church the testimony was touch my life, I was praise God for that.
In Lea I have been in one church Team it was good. It was so big church around 400 believers come to his church they have given us more time so we did program.
In the church they finish the worship and all the time have given to us, we did Sunday SCHOOL program, but I was not there I was in the church I given my testimony and also tell him about the ship it was good. This was they way to the Sunday school. Then it was surprise that the pastor told that we have to stand in the church door when it finish al the people give a hand to us. That was really nice, after that we had nice meal it was so nice I enjoy that then they given a gift for the Doulos ministry. The next day one of the sister From the ship ask me that did u go to church yesterday I said yes I did. She told that one of her visitor told that the testimony was engorge them. I was praise God for that. We will not know how the work of God is. I was thinking one testimony but it have engorge the one person that is really nice God can use even our minute talk.
It is on the Doulos we have every 6month there will be saying bye bye and welcome the new people it is some time good.
This port there was some of my friend left the ship, they commitment finish and they went home. And the lost week of this port there was 63 people came to join the ship. It is nice to see them joy and wiling to work for God. We had good welcome party. And we also got some people to work in with us. God is all way good He know that when we need people and whom he want to send he do that. God is amazing God.
This is the next port in PNG it was nice welcome we got I never seen this many people came to see the ship coming.
We reach the Rabule some one told me that this was the place the first misnary came to PNG. So they wan tot welcome us. There was almost 200 people came to welcome us and there was one more think they want to show us. That was the old culture of that people who all welcome the first misnary how did they do?. They show us they people how did they dress like and how did they see the misnary. So they call our caption and our Leaders went to recive the welcome from them. And they had Hims it was so good to see that.
And also we had a nice scenery what a God made infant of the ship we can see the volcano it is really so good. I enjoy see it in the night God is so good. I have read about that but never seen not only me most of the people from the ship, some time it make dustup to us still most of the time it was so good. I never been that much closes to there but there are some people went from the ship and told that is it so hot we can’t go near to that.
Here also there was more people come to the ship then lea. We had almost 10000+ people on one day it was weekend.
The first day we understand that we will have more people come to the ship they something happen , even there was so hot still people willing to wait and keep in line waiting to see the ship and buy books, every day we had 1000+ visitor come to the ship. And also the sell was so good God is doing his work with the Ship ministry. We sold more bible. And lot of the school comes to buy the book because this is less price then in that country so I have seen lot of school buy lot of book. I hope that this all wll help the local people to understand the Lord and grow in the knowledge. Let God will use all the book for His glory that is my prayer.
This place one day we went to school it was nice time we had. This school is run by one church, they have 6 teachers and 200 student.
This was my ministry day they told me that it will be school visit so I was in happy about that, when I went there and see there was more student were setting and waiting for us. Then we did program for them it was a hour. Not only was the student they parents also there to watch the program. When the programs finish then the person who took us she told that now we will give the gift to the Doulos team. That one really makes me to think of it. We all setting infrient of the table the children all one by one came and put the money on the table. It was really good to see that even there are child may be thy have to eat some sweet so the money is for them, but they given to Doulos. It remain me that on the bible Jesus was setting in the temple and looking the gift box and told that the one lady have given more than all other rich people. So I was thinking of that only. after that we had a nice meal and before we come to the van all the children want to give a hand to us so it was more crowed came and say bye to us. I want pray with me for the children study and all we said will work in the heart of them. So they will believe in God.
It was really morning 7:30 am we came to the place call Kavieng it was a nice port. There also was more people waiting to see us. And had a nice welcome party. From different church came together to welcome us. From here the Doulos visit make the church coming together that is really nice to see that. We hope to have a good time here too.
Here I had two monastery day that two was so nice one was in the church we had the program for then the pastor told that that church was the first misnary came to this place. And we went to that church one of my friend preach the word of God really God work in that people heart after that he told that you all can come and commit you life to God. So there was more people came before us to pray I did pray for that people. And even there was some children came . and there was one man came one of my friend was praying for him , that man was crying like a child it make me to think of that God’s work in that place. I thank God for that. And we had nice meal with them and there was lost of people come to the ship after we come to the ship that evening.
The next one was in a school that also was so nice it was one hour way from the ship we went with our van there after one hour we reach to that school. There the entire student was waiting to welcome us. And we had a program with drama and song , with all we said to them that Jesus is the really friend in our life. The entire student all so happy to see us. And the teacher also so welcome to us. I praise God for that school, next day that school came ot the ship most of them talk to me. That was really nice time after that they given us more fruits and coconut.
One day I was working in the book shop I have seen two people look like Indian, I told one of my friends that they are Indian. Then they came and talk to me and I talk to them they speak my language. And I told them that if u comes next time sure I can take you inside the ship. They told that that will be so nice sure we will come and they also told us to come to the shop where they work.
So one Sunday they came and I took them inside the ship. And they told that you can take your friends with you we can go to our room we can have some food there and come. So I and my friends went with them. We had a nice meal after long we had nice Indian food. Almost one week I went to see them then the lost day I given them a bible and told then to red they told that they want to read that. I pray that one day they will come to know that Lord. Thanks God for that people.
This was the first time I have seen that local people arrange the Farewell party for the ship people. It was one filed there was so many people came and all the church brought the food for us, and they had some song dance it all went so nice. and so many people came to ship after that. God is so good to us in this place. God will help that church to become together all the time. And the lost day there was many people came to say good bye to us.
1. Please pray for the people who all came to the ship and get the gospel of john they can come to know the Lord.
2. Please for my Indian friend who got bible they red and know the truth.
3. Please pray for my family back at India they may do well.
4. Please pray for the next port God will use me in His way.
Edvin.raju@mvdoulos.org
Ucedvin@gmail.com
ucedvin@yahoo.com
I wan to thanks you all for standing with me in my ministry by your prayer support. Because of your prayer I could so His ministry in the way HE want to do. And there was some difficult time happen still God was there in the time of my need.
The place it was so hot the sunny days we have to work more and invite the people to the ship so stand in under the sun still God was there to keep going. Some time I was feeling why should I stay like this but it is not for me this is for God so the days went well. He given me strength to stand and do his minister. So I want to thanks you all again to keep praying for me. Here I am going to write about the ministry and How God use me.
We came to the place call Lea, It is the one of the city in PNG more people. The ship was here many years before. Then now we came here again so people are so much in rested to see the ship.
So the ship was open the for the people that day I was working my Leader told me that you can stay on the book shop I can go and see the crowd. Then after some time he call me and ask me can u bring some table we need to open the ticket booth in the different place. Then I want to see what happening ther is when I went there I got surprise because there was crowed almost 2000 people waiting to come to the ship but there were in the gate not making the line so all come to close by gate. So the security told that I am not going to open the gate. Then our caption came and ask the people to stand in one line none lesion to him . then we went to inside the crowed and make then to fall in a line and we divided the people in a group and send few by few people. It was really so hart to do that but it went well.
This make me to think how much people long to see the ship. All the weekend we had more people coming to the ship I was there most of the time to control to crowed. It is some time fun and also difficult. And we have to stand under the sunny. I got the sunburn in the first time in my life. It is good to help the people for God. I praise God for the people who all came to see the ship.
One day I had ministry day then we find that, this day we have to go for anchor the ship so it happen in three time to our ship this place.
But my Team told me that we have to go to the gate there will be some people come to see the ship today so we have to do the program for them. I was not feeling to go there without willing I went there. There we show that more people were standing to see the ship then we told them that today we will not open the ship but we have program for you. So all were stating and watching the program. And one of my Team made told me that can u do the application for the derma then we did derma it was good. I did give a application it that I call the people to be Friend of Jesus, there was some people lift the hand, again I ask the all lift the hand I was so happy to see the people willing to do that. And we pray for that people. Then we came to ship by boat it was so fun because when we went to site the boat it was not able to start the man were trying to do that they good not but later they could do it. Then we went to the ship.
One more day I went to church Team it was with some people this was the first time I went church in PNG. It is really nice time I had. They church have given more time to us. One of our Team bother was preaching and I was given a testimony. Then some our our team people went to help with Sunday school.
The next day one person came and calls my name I was thinking who know my name? Then he told me that u came to my church the testimony was touch my life, I was praise God for that.
In Lea I have been in one church Team it was good. It was so big church around 400 believers come to his church they have given us more time so we did program.
In the church they finish the worship and all the time have given to us, we did Sunday SCHOOL program, but I was not there I was in the church I given my testimony and also tell him about the ship it was good. This was they way to the Sunday school. Then it was surprise that the pastor told that we have to stand in the church door when it finish al the people give a hand to us. That was really nice, after that we had nice meal it was so nice I enjoy that then they given a gift for the Doulos ministry. The next day one of the sister From the ship ask me that did u go to church yesterday I said yes I did. She told that one of her visitor told that the testimony was engorge them. I was praise God for that. We will not know how the work of God is. I was thinking one testimony but it have engorge the one person that is really nice God can use even our minute talk.
It is on the Doulos we have every 6month there will be saying bye bye and welcome the new people it is some time good.
This port there was some of my friend left the ship, they commitment finish and they went home. And the lost week of this port there was 63 people came to join the ship. It is nice to see them joy and wiling to work for God. We had good welcome party. And we also got some people to work in with us. God is all way good He know that when we need people and whom he want to send he do that. God is amazing God.
This is the next port in PNG it was nice welcome we got I never seen this many people came to see the ship coming.
We reach the Rabule some one told me that this was the place the first misnary came to PNG. So they wan tot welcome us. There was almost 200 people came to welcome us and there was one more think they want to show us. That was the old culture of that people who all welcome the first misnary how did they do?. They show us they people how did they dress like and how did they see the misnary. So they call our caption and our Leaders went to recive the welcome from them. And they had Hims it was so good to see that.
And also we had a nice scenery what a God made infant of the ship we can see the volcano it is really so good. I enjoy see it in the night God is so good. I have read about that but never seen not only me most of the people from the ship, some time it make dustup to us still most of the time it was so good. I never been that much closes to there but there are some people went from the ship and told that is it so hot we can’t go near to that.
Here also there was more people come to the ship then lea. We had almost 10000+ people on one day it was weekend.
The first day we understand that we will have more people come to the ship they something happen , even there was so hot still people willing to wait and keep in line waiting to see the ship and buy books, every day we had 1000+ visitor come to the ship. And also the sell was so good God is doing his work with the Ship ministry. We sold more bible. And lot of the school comes to buy the book because this is less price then in that country so I have seen lot of school buy lot of book. I hope that this all wll help the local people to understand the Lord and grow in the knowledge. Let God will use all the book for His glory that is my prayer.
This place one day we went to school it was nice time we had. This school is run by one church, they have 6 teachers and 200 student.
This was my ministry day they told me that it will be school visit so I was in happy about that, when I went there and see there was more student were setting and waiting for us. Then we did program for them it was a hour. Not only was the student they parents also there to watch the program. When the programs finish then the person who took us she told that now we will give the gift to the Doulos team. That one really makes me to think of it. We all setting infrient of the table the children all one by one came and put the money on the table. It was really good to see that even there are child may be thy have to eat some sweet so the money is for them, but they given to Doulos. It remain me that on the bible Jesus was setting in the temple and looking the gift box and told that the one lady have given more than all other rich people. So I was thinking of that only. after that we had a nice meal and before we come to the van all the children want to give a hand to us so it was more crowed came and say bye to us. I want pray with me for the children study and all we said will work in the heart of them. So they will believe in God.
It was really morning 7:30 am we came to the place call Kavieng it was a nice port. There also was more people waiting to see us. And had a nice welcome party. From different church came together to welcome us. From here the Doulos visit make the church coming together that is really nice to see that. We hope to have a good time here too.
Here I had two monastery day that two was so nice one was in the church we had the program for then the pastor told that that church was the first misnary came to this place. And we went to that church one of my friend preach the word of God really God work in that people heart after that he told that you all can come and commit you life to God. So there was more people came before us to pray I did pray for that people. And even there was some children came . and there was one man came one of my friend was praying for him , that man was crying like a child it make me to think of that God’s work in that place. I thank God for that. And we had nice meal with them and there was lost of people come to the ship after we come to the ship that evening.
The next one was in a school that also was so nice it was one hour way from the ship we went with our van there after one hour we reach to that school. There the entire student was waiting to welcome us. And we had a program with drama and song , with all we said to them that Jesus is the really friend in our life. The entire student all so happy to see us. And the teacher also so welcome to us. I praise God for that school, next day that school came ot the ship most of them talk to me. That was really nice time after that they given us more fruits and coconut.
One day I was working in the book shop I have seen two people look like Indian, I told one of my friends that they are Indian. Then they came and talk to me and I talk to them they speak my language. And I told them that if u comes next time sure I can take you inside the ship. They told that that will be so nice sure we will come and they also told us to come to the shop where they work.
So one Sunday they came and I took them inside the ship. And they told that you can take your friends with you we can go to our room we can have some food there and come. So I and my friends went with them. We had a nice meal after long we had nice Indian food. Almost one week I went to see them then the lost day I given them a bible and told then to red they told that they want to read that. I pray that one day they will come to know that Lord. Thanks God for that people.
This was the first time I have seen that local people arrange the Farewell party for the ship people. It was one filed there was so many people came and all the church brought the food for us, and they had some song dance it all went so nice. and so many people came to ship after that. God is so good to us in this place. God will help that church to become together all the time. And the lost day there was many people came to say good bye to us.
1. Please pray for the people who all came to the ship and get the gospel of john they can come to know the Lord.
2. Please for my Indian friend who got bible they red and know the truth.
3. Please pray for my family back at India they may do well.
4. Please pray for the next port God will use me in His way.
Edvin.raju@mvdoulos.org
Ucedvin@gmail.com
ucedvin@yahoo.com
THE LIGHT TO OUR PATH
Psalm 119:105 Thy word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path
We live in a world where the flip of a switch instantly lightens or darkens a room. The lamps in biblical times, on the other hand, burned brightly but required proper tending. If not cared for, they would become a dwindling flame. God's Word uses the metaphor of a lamp to teach us about guidance for our lives. And it provides the opportunity for some graphic applications of this teaching.
Earnestly seeking the clear teaching of God's Word allows the lamp to burn brightly and us to stay on the path. When we fail to acknowledge our theological bias and limited perspective, the light lessens and our path becomes twisted. The lamp flickers when form replaces function and traditions push aside the commandments of God. The light dims when we stay away from God's Word and the fellowship of believers. It goes out when we serve another master.
Sometimes we overlook the obvious: God's will is expressed by His Word. As a child, I didn't struggle with knowing my earthly father's will. He clearly expressed it to me. I learned early on that we lived together peacefully if I was quick to obey. Being a farm boy, it made sense to help my father establish his kingdom (the family farm). Farmers know from nature that we reap what we sow. Not only that, I stood to inherit the family farm along with my brother and sisters as my father had with his sisters. Yet I wonder how many Christians realize that what they are presently sowing in the kingdom of God is what they will reap for all eternity.
God's will is revealed to us in His Word. There is no substitute for being "diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth" (2 Timothy 2:15). The Bible is a light to your path.
Prayer:
Father, don't let anything enter my life today that would dim Your glorious light. I choose to find my way by the light of Your Word.
Thank you for using the Daily in Christ devotionals brought to you through Crosswalk by Freedom in Christ Ministries (FICM). We are a faith-based, donor-supported ministry. If you have been touched by these devotionals, and would like to make a monthly pledge or a special gift of any amount, please use the link below to give as the Lord leads. Thank you so much!
We live in a world where the flip of a switch instantly lightens or darkens a room. The lamps in biblical times, on the other hand, burned brightly but required proper tending. If not cared for, they would become a dwindling flame. God's Word uses the metaphor of a lamp to teach us about guidance for our lives. And it provides the opportunity for some graphic applications of this teaching.
Earnestly seeking the clear teaching of God's Word allows the lamp to burn brightly and us to stay on the path. When we fail to acknowledge our theological bias and limited perspective, the light lessens and our path becomes twisted. The lamp flickers when form replaces function and traditions push aside the commandments of God. The light dims when we stay away from God's Word and the fellowship of believers. It goes out when we serve another master.
Sometimes we overlook the obvious: God's will is expressed by His Word. As a child, I didn't struggle with knowing my earthly father's will. He clearly expressed it to me. I learned early on that we lived together peacefully if I was quick to obey. Being a farm boy, it made sense to help my father establish his kingdom (the family farm). Farmers know from nature that we reap what we sow. Not only that, I stood to inherit the family farm along with my brother and sisters as my father had with his sisters. Yet I wonder how many Christians realize that what they are presently sowing in the kingdom of God is what they will reap for all eternity.
God's will is revealed to us in His Word. There is no substitute for being "diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth" (2 Timothy 2:15). The Bible is a light to your path.
Prayer:
Father, don't let anything enter my life today that would dim Your glorious light. I choose to find my way by the light of Your Word.
Thank you for using the Daily in Christ devotionals brought to you through Crosswalk by Freedom in Christ Ministries (FICM). We are a faith-based, donor-supported ministry. If you have been touched by these devotionals, and would like to make a monthly pledge or a special gift of any amount, please use the link below to give as the Lord leads. Thank you so much!
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