the.Sold.Out.Soul

Each of us has something that makes us weak in the knees, something that makes us tremble.  Some of those fears are completely irrational, and some come from real experiences.  Whatever the case, God wants us to be brave and have courage because He does not give us a spirit of fear.  Let us learn to walk with even a measure of the courage Christ carried when He gave himself for us.

We know deception is out there.  This is no secret to the Church.  Many of us, however, have not developed the discernment necessary to distinguish good shepherds from bad ones or true teachers from false ones.  It is a critical skill not only for our protection but for the protection of the brothers and sisters we love.  No one is above deception, so let us get serious about training our discernment now.

God puts hope in front of us so that we can bring that same hope to others.  Sometimes we accomplish this with words and sometimes with actions.  Let us ask God to reveal to us the opportunities we have today to be another person's hope.

Our God has no equal, and none are above him.  He is the undisputed greatest, which means that those who worship him should revere him in that highest place.  The proof of our worship to the one true God is the unique place He holds in our lives, and we must make sure that place always remains set apart for him.

Recently, I have been challenged to evaluate how I spend this time and this life while God still grants me minutes and hours here.  There is a lot we could be doing, and then there is a lot we should be doing.  Perhaps it is time yet again for us to seek God regarding whether there are a few more minutes or hours we can devote to him and his kingdom, a better way to spend this time.

Hurts, pains, wounds, scars.  They can serve a great purpose in this Christian walk, but they also can be unpleasant and uncomfortable, experiences we do not wish to relive and reminders we want to turn off.  The greatest thing about those wounds and their scars is that God promises that one day they will be no more.  They will fade beyond memory, outside the bounds of recollection and never to be revisited again.

We are in a war, and that war is comprised of many small battles.  Each of those fights will test our mettle and our perseverance.  Whether we start strong or sloppy, we must endure until the end of the fight.  If we do, we are guaranteed the win.

What does God want from us?  What would be the gift we can offer which would satisfy someone as great as He?  His word tells us that obedience is greater than sacrifice, but that takes submission.  On this day of loving gestures, let us recommit to submit to God and his training, his teaching and his molding, but out of love instead of obligation.

The difference between fear and faith is the recognition and acceptance of God's mercy.  A mercy which is powerful enough to save a soul certainly can meet any natural need we have.  Instead of reacting out of fear, nervousness or anxiety, let us take advantage of the opportunity God gives us to respond in faith by tapping into his mercy.

I have struggled with my own understanding of the Sabbath and what it means to those who have been saved by faith and grace.  Perhaps you haven't considered the Sabbath recently or ever, but I think it is worth exploring and considering, worth asking what God's commandment to remember it and keep it holy means for our faithfulness to him.