Help Me to be a Servant

Jeremiah 17:5

This is what the LORD says: "Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans, who rely on human strength and turn their hearts from the LORD."

Hosea 6:6

Romans 1:16 (NIV)

I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.

Romans 1:16 (NIV)

Matthew 20:26-28

"But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his live as a ransom for many."

Lord, you desire truth in the innermost being, so I'm being brutally honest with myself here. I have a bad habit of wanting others to serve me, especially my family. Please help me to break this habit and be willing to serve my family instead. Please forgive me for my selfishness. Thank you for the example you gave us. Thank you for being willing to serve me! In Jesus' name, amen.

Who's on My Throne?

Jeremiah 17:5

This is what the LORD says: "Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans, who rely on human strength and turn their hearts from the LORD."

Hosea 6:6

Romans 1:16 (NIV)

I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.

Romans 1:16 (NIV)

Matthew 19:21

Jesus told him, "If you want to be perfect, go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come and follow me."

It seems better to me to have my treasures in heaven rather than on earth. Maybe it's easier for me to say that since I don't have a lot of possessions. And yet, as I take a look around me...my yarn, my laptop, the couch I'm sitting on, the home I live in...would I be willing to give all this up for Jesus?

That is a hard one. I'm beginning to understand why the young man went away sad. However, if I can keep an eternal perspective, then it seems more do-able. It seems much better to have treasures in heaven where I will have eternity to enjoy them.

Matthew 16:26

"And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?"

Matthew 6:19-21

"Don't store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be."

Jesus, help me to hold only loosely to the things I own. Don't let them own me! Help me to be content with what I have but not to treasure anything or anyone here on earth more than I treasure you. Help me to be ready and eager to share what I have so that I can store up treasures in heaven.

I think it was Louie Giglio who first said it, but Pastor Danny often quotes this:  "You simply follow the trail of your time, your affection, your energy, your money, and your loyalty. At the end of that trail you'll find a throne; and whatever, or whomever, is on that throne is what's of highest value to you. On that throne is what you worship."

Jesus, I want you to be the ONLY one to occupy that throne!

God's Gift

Jeremiah 17:5

This is what the LORD says: "Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans, who rely on human strength and turn their hearts from the LORD."

Hosea 6:6

Romans 1:16 (NIV)

I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.

Romans 1:16 (NIV)

Matthew 19:16

Someone came to Jesus with this question: "Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?"

Jesus, there is absolutely nothing I can do to get to heaven. You were trying to help this man see that he needed a radical life adjustment. He needed to be reborn into a life of service to you. That is the only way any of us can have eternal life.

Matthew 19:21

Jesus told him, "If you want to be perfect, go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.

Ephesians 2:8-10

God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

Protect My Marriage

Jeremiah 17:5

This is what the LORD says: "Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans, who rely on human strength and turn their hearts from the LORD."

Hosea 6:6

Romans 1:16 (NIV)

I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.

Romans 1:16 (NIV)

Matthew 19:8

Jesus replied, "Moses permitted divorce only as a concession to your hard hearts, but it was not what God had originally intended."

Jesus, may my heart never be that hard. Please protect my marriage. Thank you for the love and friendship my husband and I enjoy. Thank you for getting us the hard times. May our union be an illustration of the way Christ and the church are one.

Ephesians 5:31-33

As the Scriptures say, "A man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one." This is a great mystery, but it is an illustration of the way Christ and the church are one. So again I say, each man must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

Lord, please teach me how to respect my husband in the way he most needs. Teach me to submit to him as you have called me to.

Ephesians 5:22-24

For wives, this means submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For a husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church. He is the Savior of his body, the church. As they church submits to Christ, so you wives should submit to your husbands in everything.

Like a Little Child

Jeremiah 17:5

This is what the LORD says: "Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans, who rely on human strength and turn their hearts from the LORD."

Hosea 6:6

Romans 1:16 (NIV)

I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.

Romans 1:16 (NIV)

Matthew 18:2-4

Jesus called a little child to him and put the child among them. Then he said, "I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven."

Jesus, I want to be like a little child. Increase my faith and help me to be humble. A child is not afraid to look foolish. They are eager to please. Help me to be like that for you.

1 Peter 2:2

Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment, now that you have had a taste of the Lord's kindness.

Jesus, I cry out for the nourishment of pure spiritual milk. I want to grow into a full experience of salvation. Help me to crave this nourishment more and more. In Jesus' name, amen.

This picture was borrowed from: http://www.treasuringchristonline.com/teaching-kids-theology-matters/

Mustard Seed Faith

Hosea 6:6

I want you to show love, not offer sacrifices. I want you to know me more than I want burnt offerings.

Hosea 6:6

Romans 1:16 (NIV)

I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.

Romans 1:16 (NIV)

Matthew 17:19-20

Afterward, the disciples asked Jesus privately, "Why couldn't we cast out that demon?"

You don't have enough faith," Jesus told them. " I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there.' and it would move. Nothing would be impossible."

Lord, I'm not sure that I would have the faith to cast out a demon. But then after looking at the commentary footnotes in my Bible, maybe I would. The footnotes suggest that the disciples were trying to do this in their own strength and they needed faith in God's power to do this.

So I just need to believe in God's power to do things. I think too often I forget to remember to live and operate in God's power, not my own. My God is the Creator of the universe! Absolutely nothing is too hard for Him.

Mark adds more to this story including Jesus' conversation with the father of the boy. The father begged Jesus to heal his son if he could.

Mark 9:23-24

"What do you mean, 'If I can'?" Jesus asked. "Anything is possible if a person believes." The father instantly cried out, "I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!"

Lord, help me to overcome MY unbelief! Help me to have unwavering faith in your power to lead and care for me. In Jesus' name, amen.

Take Up Your Cross Daily

Hosea 6:6

I want you to show love, not offer sacrifices. I want you to know me more than I want burnt offerings.

Hosea 6:6

Romans 1:16 (NIV)

I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.

Romans 1:16 (NIV)

Matthew 16:24-25

Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your live you will loose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it."

Lord, please help me to be willing to turn from my selfish ways! I want to take up my cross and follow you everyday. I want to be willing to loose my life for you, Jesus.

Please help me to be willing to go through pain or humiliation for you. When I step out and share the gospel, I'm likely to encounter both. Give me such a burning need to share you with others that I don't even consider the consequences for myself. In Jesus' name, amen.

In my research for this post I came across another blog that gives another perspective on the cross. I thought it was very encouraging: Darlene's Ponderings -- Take Up Your Cross - Trade With Christ.