Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.

Hebrews 12

Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. v14

We exist to glorify God and to bring others to Jesus (see also here) - plain and simple to save them. The author of Hebrews makes it clear in v14 that people are watching us (believers) and if they don't see "holiness" in us they won't be drawn to Jesus. 

V14-17 include other warnings/encouragements, including:
- to be on guard for bitter roots that prevent fruit or in other words for "hinder[ance]s and the sin that so easily entangles" (v1)
- to avoid sexual immorality or godlessness, using Esau as an example of someone who through the promise of quick earthly satisfaction (a meal) threw away his father's blessing (v16-17)

On the subject of v14, there are MANY other scriptures about how we are to be a light. 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who came to save me and feeds me - well beyond what I deserve.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such blessings.  I worry and I have other sins.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer.

2 Timothy 2

No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer. v4

As Paul foresees his own martyrdom (book overview here), he shares final words of encouragement with his protege Timothy.  Just as he did in his first letter to Timothy (see post yesterday), Paul hopes Timothy avoids the "entanglements" in this world as they can easily take us astray from what is important, and most importantly we exist to glorify God and to bring others to Him. Paul has shared these thoughts not just with pastors as he does with this pastoral epistle to Timothy but also in the general epistles such as Romans (12:2) as well as via references to citizenship in Heaven where our actions reflect our allegiance.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who has transformed my heart and life - thank You Jesus for helping me become more like You.  I know that is MUCH more work to do but I am grateful that You adopted me as a child of God.  I am undeserving.  I sin...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul and mind.  Help me love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.

Matthew 13

And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith. v58

Either at the end of their lives or at the End of Times, there will be those who lack faith and will be condemned.  It's hard to fathom this - a loving God who loves all of His children who does not save all of His children.  Yet this is not the case - God wants us to be in a willing relationship with Him where we submit to Him and depend on Him, where we deny ourselves and instead seek His desires above our own. 

God is the One who bring us to faith...or not.  This does not get us off the hook for His command to tell others about Him.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God who loves us and who willingly goes to the cross to save us from the sting of sin and death.  Thank You Jesus - the greatest gift of all time.  I am not worth such a gift.  I daily miss the mark.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

God is with you in everything you do

Genesis 21

God is with you in everything you do. v22

Abimelek sees God in Abraham. God wants us to be a living sacrifice so that others may see Him in us (see also Romans 12:1).  We must first understand who God is and be obedient to Him (see also Romans 12:2).  In all that we do we must also do it all for the glory of God.

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:17

You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.  Matthew 5:14-16 

 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God full of compassion, mercy, and patience for me.  Thank You Jesus.  I am not worth such love.  I am often not full of compassion, mercy, and patience for others.  Please forgive me and help me overcome and turn from such sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

2 Peter 3

But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. v8-9

Peter is warning is that scoffers will come and we must be alert and stay focused on Jesus' return, maintaining our faith and trying to snatch others from the fire (Jude 1:23). We must live with the end in mind, recognizing that God wants everyone to be in Heaven.

Help me bring others to Him.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are indeed a patient God, with me and with all of Your children.  Thank You Jesus for Your patience, compassion and mercy.  I am not worth such mercy.  I know I don't do all that I can to bring others to You.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me bring others to You.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself strength and wisdom. Please heal her of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Do not be surprised, my brothers and sisters, if the world hates you.

1 John 3

Do not be surprised, my brothers and sisters, if the world hates you. v13

God wants us to be different...to be set apart.  Others should see Jesus in us and be drawn to Him.  If are to be different, to be set apart, then it should not come as a surprise if the world rejects us.

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Romans 12:2

Others should see the Light in us:

All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel. Acts 6:15

You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.  Matthew 5:14-16 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are indeed, the Way, the Truth, and the Life...and I have no path to the Father but through You.  I DO desire You.  And I want to please and glorify You and bring others to You.  I want to be a Light just as You are a Light.  You bless me beyond what I deserve.  Thank You Jesus for the many blessings You pour out for me and for adopting me as Your son.  I am not worth such love and blessings.  I worry..and am harsh with my words and actions.  Please forgive me.  Help me overcome such sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness.

1 John 2

Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness. v9

Hate implies anger and other emotions that harden our heart.  Any hardening of our hearts prevents us from loving God and loving others - the two most important commandments in the Bible.

As I posted Saturday, we are to live as Jesus did so that others can see Jesus in us and we can draw others to Him.  Bottom line, we exist to glorify Him and for His purpose.

They are the shoot I have planted, the work of my hands, for the display of my splendor. Isaiah 60:21

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God and You are love - everything You are and all that You do is out of love...perfect love, perfect justice...yet You chose me, knowing everything about me, then suffered and died for me so that I can find freedom from the sting of sin and death and eternity in Heaven with You.  What a great God You are!  I am not worth such love....I am lazy, selfish, and I worry.  Please forgive me and help me overcome such sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself strength and wisdom.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, the church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.

1 John 1

We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. v3

Yesterday, I posted about God wants us to "snatch" others from the fire...to bring others into God's Kingdom.  This morning, this message is reinforced by John who encourages us to bring the Good News of Jesus Christ to others as well.  

We should feel compelled to tell others about Jesus.

As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard. Acts 4:20

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, indeed I am witness to Your miracles in my life, in the lives of others around me, and in the world.  You are all powerful, all knowing and full of love, compassion and mercy for me.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love and compassion. I worry...too much.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from such sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do. Help me grow in my faith.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

1 Peter 2

Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us. v12

We exist to glorify God:
- see v9
- John 15:16
- Romans 12:1

and to bring others to Him.  This latter part of the verse is often overlooked.  Jesus help me focus on this.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God full of compassion, mercy, gentleness, patience...love for me...I not worth such blessings...I am weak and I fail to boldly proclaim Your glory...with my life and words.  Thank You that You bless me so but please forgive me Jesus!  Help me overcome my sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Help me live such a life that others are drawn to me and I can share the gospel with them.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of this cancer.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.