Driving Home the Point
At the end of a long day, Father, may I hear what You have for me. Quiet my heart. Amen,
Matthew 13:47-51 (<<click the green – read the Amplified Version!)
Repetition develops habits. An old rule of thumb stated that it took 21 days for an action to become a habit. In looking that up I discovered that most hold that to be a myth. Some sources state it takes 66 days! But a quote I found in a link to a Forbes article puts it best I think.
Most people want positive habits to be as easy as brushing their teeth. HELLO…LET’S BE ADULTS HERE…being great isn’t easy. In fact greatness requires sacrifice. It requires doing things that others won’t or can’t do. GREAT HABITS ARE FORMED DAILY. Truth be told, good habits require consistent commitment.
Habit Formation: The 21-Day Myth
Lord, You really understand the importance of repetition in driving home the point. Fields of wheat and weeds and dragnets of fish, both good and bad – You used them all to make sure we understood about the Kingdom of Heaven. We’re responsible for obeying You and for spreading the word of Your grace and goodness. Our job is not to determine who gets it and who doesn’t. You and You alone will take care of those details – and with unquestionable justice.
Lord Jesus, may I never, ever, ever think I’ve got it all down pat. May I be consistent in my commitment to obey You. The Kingdom of Heaven on earth is much too important for me to take any chances. I must be determined to do my part with Your strength and wisdom. May I do so. Amen.Kingdom
Apr 3rd, 2018, Thurs, 8:33 am
A Choice Pearl
Father, so often I am overwhelmed by the fact that You love me and that Your Son sacrificially gave himself so my sins could be forgiven. This morning the lyrics of an old hymn penned by Robert Harkness come to mind.
“Love sent my Savior to die in my stead; why should He love me so?”
I don’t understand the entirety of it but, oh, how I cherish it!
Matthew 13:45-46 (<<click the green)
Yesterday’s parable spoke of what I should be willing to invest in our relationship but the Parable of the Pearl Merchant speaks of Your investment in me!
Lord, it should not surprise me but I am always amazed that even before I delve into the passage of the day that You are already speaking to me about it! Time and again, my opening thoughts are a precursor to what You have to share with me. Your providential care for me is astounding!
As I sit here pondering all of this, I realize that absolutely nothing can suffice as an illustration on my part of the sacrificial love You have for me. It is rare but occasionally I hear of someone fulfilling Your admonition from John 15:13, “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” First responders and military personnel are some who willing lay their lives down for their fellow men and women. But, no matter how admirable that may be, it pales in comparison to Your love in laying down Your life, in taking upon Your shoulders the sins of all of humanity for all time. “…the Kingdom pays the ultimate price to possess the pearl, the price God was willing to pay to redeem us.”*
Lord Jesus, as I continue on this journey of life, help me to keep Your love for me at the forefront of my vision. There is no greater deterrent to sin than that! May I be faithful!
*Life Application Study Bible New Living Translation
May 2nd, 2018, Wed, 6:33 am
Great Treasure
Father, this hymn by Haldor Lillenas came to mind as I thought of You this morning.
I have found a deep peace
that I never had known
And a joy this world could not afford
Since I yielded control of my body and soul
To my wonderful, wonderful Lord.
My wonderful Lord, my wonderful Lord
By angels and seraphs in Heaven adored
I bow at Thy shrine
My Savior divine
My wonderful, wonderful Lord
Matthew 13:44 (<<click the green)
A while back some friends of ours were talking with Karen and me about another couple whom we both know. We are all about the same age and it’s interesting to see how our thoughts change about things as we get older.
The lady we were speaking of runs a business out of her home. One of her lifelong dreams was to go to Hawaii and she had scrimped and saved for many years with the hope of one day making that trip. As time has progressed, their children have grown and they are married and now have children of their own. This couple loves their family dearly.
One thing they have struggled with over the years is that their home was small and family gatherings, as their family has grown, had become more difficult. So this lady made a decision. She traded her dream for something far more valuable…family. The money she had set aside for Hawaii paid for a family room addition to their home. And now they have plenty of room to share in the many blessings of their family.
In our lives, we have goals and dreams of this and that, but as we take it all in – if we really see what is of greatest value – we will see that You are worth more to us that everything else put together. Lord Jesus, the Kingdom of Heaven – and the intimate relationship with You at its core – there is no greater treasure to be found in all of life.
I would pray that You would be my greatest area of investment. I would pray that I will never hesitate to give up everything I claim as my own for the far greater “treasure” of You. Nothing in my life is more important.
May 1st, 2018, Tues, 6:29 am
Agents of Permeation
Good morning, Father! I am ready to begin this new week. Bless me as I seek to follow Your direction every step of the way. Use me as You will. Touch Your world through me! Amen.
Matthew 13:33-35 (<<click the green)
Permeate [pur-mee-eyt] verb – to pass into or through every part of
Lord, that is the word that sticks out to me is this parable.
Bright sunshine permeated the room.
The aroma of soup permeated the air.
“…a little yeast…permeated every part of the dough.”
We, those who choose to accept Your free gift of salvation, just like yeast are agents of permeation. We are Your means of proclaiming the “Kingdom of Heaven” throughout the entirety of Your world. Before You returned to Your heavenly home You commissioned Your followers to “pass into or through every part of” the world You have given us.
18 Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations [all peoples], baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:16-19
Back in the mid 80’s one of my favorite musical groups was a band called WhiteHeart. On their Vital Signs album was a song entitled “We Are His Hands” – this is how we permeate the world.
We are His hands
We are His feet
We are His people
Children of the Lord
We share the hope
We share the dream
Believers in Jesus
Children of the King
His Spirit lives within us
Flowing like a river
Filling us with strength
So that we can reach out for our brother
Help one another
Some of us build, some are teachers
Some can sing like angels
But all of us can love
Like He loved, pure and simple
So warm and gentle
Apr 30th, 2018, Mon, 6:23 am
Small as a Mustard Seed
Father, let my praise of You be reflective of the medley the choir sang this morning!
I will enter His gates with thanksgiving in my heart;
I will enter His courts with praise.
I will say, “This is the day that the Lord has made!”
I will rejoice for He has made me glad.
This is the day that the Lord has made.
We will rejoice and be glad in it.
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and all that is within me.
Bless His holy name.
He has done great things,
Bless His holy name.
Matthew 13:31-32 (<<click the green)
A couple of things come to mind after reading this passage, Lord. First of all, many feel that we, in the whole scheme of things, are relatively insignificant. And secondly, a thought from this morning’s message, is that our actions today on others, in that we influence those with whom we interact, is far more reaching than most of us believe or even really like to think about. We may feel insignificant but like it or not we impact the lives of others.
Lord, in the whole scheme of preceding history when looked at from a purely human perspective, the Kingdom of Heaven was barely noticeable when it first appeared – it was like a single “mustard seed planted in a field.” But once that seed was planted, it did not remain small.
Many scholars believe the tree You referred to was a black mustard tree – some call it a toothbrush tree. Its seeds are very small but it can grow up into a tree almost 10 feet tall!
We may feel small and insignificant, Lord Jesus, but as Your kingdom began as a small seed and grew to cover the earth, we, too, though small can be used by You to impact the world. We can accomplish and influence things, via Your strength and wisdom, that can very possibly turn the world on its ear!
Lord, I would pray that You would use me to touch Your world. So many need to hear the Good News You came to make possible. May I be ready and willing to accomplish what You need of me. Amen.
Apr 29th, 2018, Sun, 7:04 pm