Christian positive thinking

DAILY BIBLE READING:

2 Kings 3:1–4:17 
Acts 14:8-28 
Psalm 140:1-13 
Proverbs 17:22

BIBLE VERSE(S) FOR TODAY:

Proverbs 17:22 (CSB) "A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones."

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

What we think about is just as important as what we eat. In reality, it's probably more important.

I'm sure that you've noticed within our American culture that quite frequently a food or beverage will be labeled unhealthy. Whether it's sugar, or sugar substitutes, or fried foods, or carbonated drinks, we are told to avoid these products because they are not good for our body.

However, our culture is not nearly as concerned with what our minds feast on. Yet, our Verse for Today reminds us that the state of our minds directly affects the state of our bodies. It tells us that if we are happy, it is like medicine to our bodies and if we are broken and depressed, it adversely affects our body in powerful ways.

Proverbs 17:22 "A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones."

Everyone of us has experienced the truth of this verse. 

We can remember spending time with friends and laughing so hard that our cheeks hurt - but we felt so alive! We needed less sleep. Any aches we may have had temporarily disappeared. We just felt great!

Yet, we may also know what it is like to feel utterly defeated, completely hopeless, and hopelessly depressed. Even if the sky was brilliantly blue, the sun was shining, the birds were singing, and everything else was going wonderfully well, we didn't notice. We just felt like staying in bed all day. We had no energy. Our body ached. And we dreaded another day.

Friend, what you think about and how you respond to what happens to you directly affects everything else in your life. If you allow your mind to dwell on the negative, then eventually, your body will feel the effects ... and it's a downward spiral. Yet, if you insist on thinking only about what is good and right, this too will affect your body and everything else.

As a Christian, we struggle with our thought life just like anyone else. Yet, there is no reason that we should be negative. There is so much going for us!

God is our Father.

Nothing can happen to us without coming from His hands.

He has promised to work everything for our good.

Jesus, our older brother, died to make us a part of His family.

God's Holy Spirit has taken up residence in our body.

One day, we will be with our Lord in Heaven forever and ever.

On and on we could go.

So, keep your chin up and only think about what is good!

Colossians 3:2-4 "Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory."

Philippians 4:8 "Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable - if there is any moral excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy - dwell on these things."

Humbling ourselves before God

DAILY BIBLE READING:

1 Kings 22:1-53 
Acts 13:16-41 
Psalm 138:1-8 
Proverbs 17:17-18

BIBLE VERSE(S) FOR TODAY:

Psalm 138:6 (CSB) "Though the Lord is exalted, he takes note of the humble; but he knows the haughty from a distance."

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

Our Verse for Today reminds us of a couple of very important truths:

The Lord is exalted. Bringing other Scriptural truths to bear upon this verse, we recognize that God is above all else. There is none like Him. He is the ruler of Creation and the posture most fitting (and enjoyable) for us is kneeling and bowing before Him.

As the most high and exalted over Creation, we are surprised to read the next part of the verse.

He enjoys those who are humble. Yet, He "knows the haughty from a distance" which means there is no relationship with them.

God is attracted to humility. The attribute of thinking of others more than we do ourselves was evidenced even by His own Son (see Philippians 2:3-11).

So, humble yourself before God today. Recognize your dependence upon Him. Demonstrate that dependence by spending time listening to Him in your Bible reading. Further demonstrate it by offering up prayers throughout the day anytime you have a decision to make, a need to be met, or a moment to share. Recognize that He wants you to enjoy Him but you cannot do that when you have unconfessed sin in your heart so be quick to confess and repent of (turn from) any sin that you are aware of.

Friend, most certainly there is more of God to enjoy than you are presently experiencing. So, take the steps to increase your happiness by submitting to God and deepening your relationship with the One you were made to worship.

Gladness in God's house

DAILY BIBLE READING:

2 Samuel 22:1–23:23 
Acts 2:1-47 
Psalm 122:1-9 
Proverbs 16:19-20

BIBLE VERSE(S) FOR TODAY:

Psalm 122:1 "I rejoiced with those who said to me, 'Let us go to the house of the Lord.'"

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

In the Old Testament, "the house of the Lord" was the temple. It was a building that was designated for the purpose of worship. If the people wanted to come into God's presence, they went to the temple ("the house of the Lord").

But, after Jesus ascended into Heaven (Acts 1:9-11) and the Holy Spirit came down (John 14:16, 26; 15:26; Acts 2; etc.), the Holy Spirit took up residence within the bodies of believers (Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20). And according to that last Scriptural reference, our bodies are now the "temple of the Holy Spirit" (a.k.a. "the house of the Lord"). Our bodies are now the place where we worship the Lord.

That brings up two very important points:

1). Our worship is no longer limited to a time and location. We are to worship our Lord in each moment of every day in whatever location we find ourselves in (1 Corinthians 10:31).

2). The church building is not the place of worship. The church is actually a called out group of believers. It is the body of believers who gather for corporate worship, mutual encouragement, needed accountability, and so much more. While our worship is not limited to our gathered times, we realize that the Christian life was never intended to be lived alone - we need each other.

So, our Verse for Today should apply in two ways:

1). We should desire to be glad all the time because we ARE the house of the Lord.

2). We should desire to be glad every time we prepare to gather with other believers in our respective churches because in a very special way we get to experience our God with our family of friends.

Psalm 122:1 "I rejoiced with those who said to me, 'Let us go to the house of the Lord.'"

God is happy

DAILY BIBLE READING:

2 Samuel 18:1–19:10 
John 20:1-31 
Psalm 119:153-176 
Proverbs 16:14-15

BIBLE VERSE(S) FOR TODAY:

Proverbs 16:15 "When a king’s face lights up, there is life; his favor is like a cloud with spring rain."

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

To understand our Verse for Today, we have to use our informed imaginations and put ourselves in the time period in which it was written.

Kings were not simply figureheads like what we see in present-day England. They were the ultimate authority. Their rule was sovereign. They did whatever they pleased with plenty of power to enforce compliance. There was no Congress or Supreme Court to create a balance of powers. All power resided in the king and whatever he said or did (right or wrong) could not be stopped.

With this kind of unchecked authority, you can imagine how terrifying it would be to live in a kingdom with a wicked-hearted king. He could enslave some of his people, confiscate their property, and even order someone's death with no recourse. The people of the kingdom would comply with his every word - but they would be motivated by fear.

However, there have always been those kingdoms in history who were ruled by monarchs who were capable of enjoying life. They laughed and smiled. And when their citizens saw those reactions, it was "like a cloud with spring rain." They knew that at least while the king was smiling, he would tend to make decisions that they would find pleasant.

Kings that were upset or discouraged tended to make decisions that hurt their people. Kings that were happy tended to make decisions that blessed their people.

Well, friend, when you look Heavenward and, in your minds eye, see your King of kings, what do you see? If your mind is informed by Scripture, you will see King Jesus smiling on His throne. (If you doubt this, purchase the excellent book, "Happiness," written by Randy Alcorn and jump to Section 2: "The Happiness of God." The author does an incredible job of presenting Scripture after Scripture that demonstrates that God is incredibly happy.)

So, as Jesus smiles while He reigns on His throne, we can find in His expression much comfort and peace for our hearts. He is happy because His will is being carried out. He is happy because He has glorified the Father. He is happy because He is drawing people to Himself. He is happy because no matter what happens to us, He is working it out for our ultimate good. He is happy because Heaven awaits all of those who have or will trust in Him.

On and on we can go. Our God is a happy God. Jesus, our King, is smiling on His throne. Just realizing that one truth can inject so much peace and hope into our minds and hearts. So, reflect on that thought today.

Proverbs 16:15 "When a king’s face lights up, there is life; his favor is like a cloud with spring rain."

The joy of being kind

DAILY BIBLE READING:

Judges 17:1–18:31 
John 3:1-21 
Psalm 104:1-23 
Proverbs 14:20-21

BIBLE VERSE(S) FOR TODAY:

Proverbs 14:20-21 "A poor person is hated even by his neighbor, but there are many who love the rich. The one who despises his neighbor sins, but whoever shows kindness to the poor will be happy."

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

The book of Proverbs is a wealth of knowledge. It is a compilation of wise saying and observations that are generally true. They aren't necessary true all of the time but they are definitely true most of the time.

In our Verses for Today, we come across Proverbs 14:20 where we are told what we know to be true - people tend to avoid ("hate" / "despise") the poor and try to stay in the company of those who are wealthy.

Why is this? Personal interest. When we are around the poor, we suspect that it will require us to give what is ours and receive nothing in return. When we are around the rich, we suspect that it will require nothing of us but some of their wealth may rub off on us.

Well, Proverbs 14:21 tells us what we need to hear if we are behaving like verse 20.

First of all, if we despise our neighbor (look down on and refuse to consider helping the poor who we see throughout the day), then it is sin. It's not just bad manners. It's an offense against a holy God. It is also a sin against a person created in the image of God.

Secondly, when we give to those who need help in spite of the fact that we think we will get nothing in return, we will get something in return. People who give to those in need realize that there is a joy attached to helping someone else. It feels wonderful to help someone in need. If you don't believe me, just try it today. 

Finally, rarely does the wealth of the rich slip out of their hands into yours. On top of this, it is utterly self-centered to try to befriend someone who is wealthy simply because of what you can get out of them.

So, today, see those around you as people of value. Don't base your judgment of their worth upon what you perceive to be in their bank account. Access their worth based upon the fact that they were created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-27). And if they have a need that you can meet and you believe God would have you to meet that need, then do it and receive joy in return.

The source of happiness

DAILY BIBLE READING:

Joshua 11:1-12:24
Luke 17:11-37
Psalm 84:1-12
Proverbs 13:5-6

BIBLE VERSE(S) FOR TODAY:

Psalm 84:10-12 (CSB) "Better a day in your courts than a thousand anywhere else. I would rather stand at the threshold of the house of my God than live in the tents of wicked people. For the Lord God is a sun and shield. The Lord grants favor and honor; he does not withhold the good from those who live with integrity. Happy is the person who trusts in you, Lord of Armies!"

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

The verses that I have chosen for today are incredible! To keep our focus on them, I will only add two very short insights:

1. The Psalmist acknowledges over and over in this Psalm that our craving for happiness can be met in the Lord. (Christianity is not merely a religion, it is a relationship.)

2. Regardless of what "bad" things happen to us and around us, if we recognize that our God is good and that our craving for happiness can be met in Him, then we are in a much better position to deal with the trials that come our way.

One way to lighten your mood

DAILY BIBLE READING:

Deuteronomy 9:1-10:22
Luke 8:4-21
Psalm 69:19-36
Proverbs 12:2-3

BIBLE VERSE(S) FOR TODAY:

Psalm 69:30 "I will praise God's name with song and exalt him with thanksgiving."

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

Life can get tough. Sometimes, it can seem as if it will swallow you alive.

Financial burdens. Stresses at work. Relationship problems in the family. Church discord. On and on this list could go.

If we aren't careful, we will settle into a low-grade discouragement.

So, how do we work to lift our mood? If we are waiting on our feelings to lead the way, we will almost certainly never feel like doing it. We've got to defeat the problem in our mind and let our emotions follow behind.

Our verse for today gives us exactly the kind of actions that will lift our mood.

Psalm 69:30 "I will praise God's name with song and exalt him with thanksgiving."

"I will" - It's an act of the will. You simply chose to do what you may not feel like doing - but do it anyway.

"praise God's name" - That means that you are reflecting on His character and speaking of how wonderful He is.

"with song" - God has made us musical creatures. We generally love music. Our culture has been blessed with so many songs of praise - so pick one and sing it. And sing it from your heart.

"exalt Him" - That means that you are lifting Him up. Now, let's be clear, God is already highly exalted. Nothing we do can "lift him up." But, too often, He is not highly exalted in our minds. We don't acknowledge His greatness. So, we need to acknowledge it and recognize that He is sovereingly reigning over all things. He's got it under control.

"with thanksgiving" - Just Google the relationship between a grateful heart and a happy heart. Studies show that these two go hand in hand. You want to be happy? Learn to be thankful.

God isn't shown to be the wonderful God that He is when His followers are walking around with an upside down smile. But, we don't want fake, plastered smiles either. Praise the Lord and exalt Him with a grateful heart and the smiles will naturally follow.

Be happy when you are mistreated

DAILY BIBLE READING:

Deuteronomy 2:1-3:29
Luke 6:12-38
Psalm 67:1-7
Proverbs 11:27

BIBLE VERSE(S) FOR TODAY:

Luke 6:22-23 "Blessed are you when people hate you, when they exclude you, insult you, and slander your name as evil because of the Son of Man. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy. Take note ​— ​your reward is great in heaven, for this is the way their ancestors used to treat the prophets."

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

We like to be liked, don't we? We like it when others say kind things about us.

But, it can feel like a dagger has been thrust into our spirit when we hear that someone is slandering us. The last thing we feel like doing when we hear such reports is to "rejoice" and "leap for joy." Yet, Jesus has told us to do this.

But, there are a couple of qualifiers:

First, the bad things said about us must be "because of the Son of Man." That simply means that if we are to rejoice when bad things are said about us or done to us, it needs to be because of the seriousness with which we take our life with Jesus. 

Maybe we are slandered for refusing to watch a movie with our friends that has content that the Lord says is wrong.
Maybe we are slandered for leaving the conversation of a group that is telling dirty jokes.
Maybe we are slandered for standing up for the truths of the Bible in an academic setting.

Being treated badly and slandered is a cause for joy ONLY if it is "because of the Son of Man."

Second, our joy comes from the fact that "(our) reward is great in Heaven." In other words, the Lord is taking note and will reward us when we arrive at our heavenly home.

Within the human heart is a longing for justice. Often, we may feel as if life isn't fair. Well, friend, that longing for justice was put in our hearts by God. And justice will be done on the Day of Judgment. When the Lord sees us treated unjustly, He will make it right when we stand before Him. He will reward us for those times that we were unfairly treated.

So, follow Jesus with reckless abandon. If others slander you or mistreat you for your walk with the Lord, an act of injustice. That just means that you will be rewarded all the more when you stand before Jesus.

Luke 6:22-23 "Blessed are you when people hate you, when they exclude you, insult you, and slander your name as evil because of the Son of Man. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy. Take note ​— ​your reward is great in heaven, for this is the way their ancestors used to treat the prophets."

How to have a happy heart

TODAY'S BIBLE READING:

Numbers 2:1-3:51
Mark 11:27-12:17
Psalm 47:1-9
Proverbs 10:24-25

BIBLE VERSE(S) FOR TODAY:

Psalm 47:1-2 "Come, everyone! Clap your hands! Shout to God with joyful praise! For the LORD Most High is awesome. He is the great King of all the earth."

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

Life is tough. For some, it can be incredibly tough.

Yet, God does not get glory when His children walk around with discouragement written all over their faces. While we should never plaster fake smiles on our faces, we should strive to think in such a way that smiles come naturally.

In our Bible reading for today, the Psalmist calls us to clap (our) hands and shout to the Lord with joyful praise. In other words, we aren't called to go through some lifeless religious ritual - we are to enjoy Him! This joy is to come from a heart that full to overflowing!

There is much superficiality in Christianity these days. People plaster a smile on their face and speak of how blessed they are. Yet, all the while, their heart is aching and empty.

So, what is the basis for clapping and shouting for joy? How can these actions be filled with genuine substance?

Believe the truth of verse 2: For the LORD Most High is awesome. He is the great King of all the earth."

When we spend time reflecting on the character and works of God and come to the conclusion that He is absolutely wonderful, then the heart attitude will flow naturally. When we reflect on the fact that our Heavenly Father rules as the sovereign King over the earth, a positive attitude and a smile will be the most obvious response.

God doesn't simply want our religious activity. If we go through the motions and there is no joyful heart that drives those actions, then we are no better than the hypocritical Pharisees. God wants us to demonstrate that we are people of joy - but He wants it to come from our heart.

And, as we have seen in our verse for today, a change in action and heart always starts in the mind. We must think on the right things. So, be very careful what you think today:

Philippians 4:8 "And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise."

A cure for discouragement

TODAY'S BIBLE READING:

Leviticus 20:22-22:16 
Mark 9:1-29
Psalm 43:1-5
Proverbs 10:18

BIBLE VERSE(S) FOR TODAY:

Psalm 43:5 "Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again— my Savior and my God!"

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

I suspect that virtually every person alive has experienced discouragement at least once in their life. Most of us have experienced it many, many more times than that.

In our verse for the day, we see the Psalmist's remedy. He said he, as an act of his will, would put his hope in God. He also said that he, as an act of his will, would praise the Lord.

First, it was an act of his will. He said, "I will..." Oftentimes, when we are discouraged, we lack the strength or will-power to get out of that valley. So, we settle into it. But, if we are to get out of the valley onto the mountaintop, it takes action on our parts. We must ask God for the strength and then act in faith.

Second, the Psalmist put his "hope in God." Hope is essential to mental well-being. When we come to the end of our hope, we come to the end of our rope. But, someone who is saturated with hope is naturally happy and positive. The Psalmist rested in the fact that God was in charge. He trusted the Lord in the situation knowing that what was transpiring had to get through God's hands before it got to him. He also knew that God was going to work something good out of it. So, hope grew.

Finally, the Psalmist said that he would "praise him again." He was going to focus on God's attributes and celebrate them. He was going to focus on things like God's love, God's power, God's infinite wisdom, God's holiness and so much more. As He focused on the wonderful attributes of God and praised Him for them, the Psalmist's heart would naturally lift out of the valley of discouragement to the mountaintop of joy.

Do you battle with discouragement? Why not try the Psalmist's remedy today.

The Lord enjoys those who follow Him

TODAY'S BIBLE READING:


Leviticus 7:28–9:6 
Mark 3:31–4:25 
Psalm 37:12-29 
Proverbs 10:5

BIBLE VERSE(S) FOR TODAY:

Psalm 37:23 "The LORD directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives." 

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

The light of His presence

TODAY'S BIBLE READING:

Exodus 34:1-35:9 

Matthew 27:15-31 

Psalm 33:12-22 

Proverbs 9:1-6

BIBLE VERSE(S) FOR TODAY:

Psalm 33:12 "What joy for the nation whose God is the LORD, whose people he has chosen as his inheritance." 


REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

A heart that is hungry to enjoy its God will find its curiosity peeked in these chapters. 

In Exodus, we see a man who craved in his innermost being to experience God's glory (see Exodus 33:18). In the very next chapter, we learn that Moses was (temporarily) changed by the experience.

Notice what being with God did to Moses...

Exodus 34:29-30 "When Moses came down Mount Sinai carrying the two stone tablets inscribed with the terms of the covenant, he wasn’t aware that his face had become radiant because he had spoken to the LORD. So when Aaron and the people of Israel saw the radiance of Moses’ face, they were afraid to come near him."

His face was shining! But, where did that light come from?

Have you ever heard of "the glory of the Lord"? Remember when the shepherds were out in the field when Jesus was born in Bethlehem and "the glory of the Lord shown all around them?" (see Luke 2:9).

The glory of the Lord, the radiant light that emanates from His presence, appears to be something to behold. Moses cried out to see it (Exodus 33:18). Peter wished that he could continue to experience it (Matthew 17:14). 

When we read things like this, we come to realize that there is much more of God to enjoy than we are presently experiencing. There is so much more of Him to know (see Philippians 3:10). So much more to enjoy (Psalm 42:1-2).

So, why do we settle so often for lesser things when God Himself is there, inviting us into a deeper fellowship with Him so that we can enjoy Him.

If we cultivate this kind of relationship, while there may not be a physical light that emanates from our faces, there will be a glow. People will be able to see that we've been with Jesus (see Acts 4:13).

Enjoying God

TODAY'S BIBLE READING:

Exodus 15:19-17:7

Matthew 22:1-33

Psalm 27:1-6

Proverbs 6:20-26

BIBLE VERSE(S) FOR TODAY:

Psalm 27:4 (NLT) "The one thing I ask of the LORD - the thing I seek most - is to live in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, delighting in the LORD’s perfections and meditating in his Temple."

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

The language of the verse for today shows a man who knew and loved his God. Showing up to the Temple wasn't something to check off his 'To Do' list - it was something that he desperately craved. It was the "one thing (he) asked of the LORD." It was "the thing (he) sought most." He realized that the LORD has intended for us to enjoy Him and he was enjoying that truth.

I wonder how many of us are simply trying to live a moral life and to be a "good Christian." And I wonder how many are really, really enjoying the Lord. We say all the time that Christianity is not a religion, it's a relationship - but too often we turn it into a dry, lifeless religion that lacks the joy of knowing God.

So, let's get really practical. How can we develop a relationship with the Lord where we are enjoying Him? Let me give you four points to ponder:

• Spend time listening to Him in His Word. Read your Bible daily. And I'm not talking about 5-10 minutes. Spend at least 30-60 minutes reading and pondering what God is saying. But, don't read it as a lifeless book - instead, read it as God's personal Word to you.

• Spend time speaking with Him in prayer. Don't just rattle off your requests. Share with the Lord exactly what is on your heart. If you feel like you need permission to let it all out in the presence of the Lord, read the book of Psalms. King David and the other psalmists were often incredibly 'real' with God and said things that we might not dare say in our own prayers. But, they were real and that's what relationship is all about. So, be open and honest with the Lord about everything - the good, the bad and the ugly. Rest in His love for you and let Him draw your heart closer to Him.

• Let difficulties cause you to lose your taste for sin. Oftentimes, it takes really painful ordeals in life to bring us to our senses. In the good times, when we aren't keenly aware of our need for God, we may tolerate sin in our life. Yet, when times get tough, God may cause us to see how clearly we need Him and how utterly self-defeating it is to do anything that would keep us from Him. It is in these times that we can learn to despise sin and lose our taste for it.

• Look for God's fingerprints around you. In the crazy, hectic pace of life, we often fail to see God's hands at work in the details. Yet, if we are looking, we will see acts of grace all around us. While we are not so egocentric as to think that God only demonstrates those acts of goodness on our behalf (there are so many other people that He loves, too), we realize that He is mindful enough to include us specifically in the details around us. Thank Him for each of those acts of kindness as you recognize them. (Reread that last sentence until you resolve to do it.) In seeing God at work all around you, you will come to see that He is to be enjoyed in every moment of our days.

There are many other ways that God works to invite us into deeper relationship with Him so that we can enjoy Him. But, from my own experience, these four are the biggies that God has used to help my wife and me enjoy Him more as the years go by.

January 1 - Through the Bible in a Year

Today's Bible Reading:
Genesis 1:1-2:25
Matthew 1:1-2:12
Psalm 1:1-6
Proverbs 1:1-6

Bible verse(s) for the Day:

Psalm 1:1-2 "Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, not sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night."

Some of my reflections on today's reading:
Let's be honest. No, let's be brutally honest! We will start with the sobering news and end with great news.

Far too many folks who profess to be Jesus followers are simply playing games with God and their eternity. They claim that they have "said a prayer" and are on their way to Heaven. Yet, while they may have a striking resemblance to their "Christian" friends, they look nothing like Jesus.

Yes, we live by grace. In fact, if we are completely honest with ourselves and others, we desperately need regular doses of grace. Every day, we find ourselves falling at the foot of the cross asking once again for forgiveness for a sinful action, oversight, word, thought, attitude, or motive.

Yet, too often, it seems as if people who claim to be Jesus-followers are presuming upon God's grace. They assume that God is going to forgive them of any sin and fault. So, they live for themselves. They don't read God's Word and pursue holiness. They settle for simply trying to be good. And they measure their goodness based not upon the Bible but upon how their peers are living. They tolerate sin in their life because, after all, "no one is perfect." So, they continue tolerating sin and periodically offer up trite prayers in their attempt to clear the decks.

This sort of attitude angered the Apostle Paul:

"What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?" (Romans 6:1-2).

Did you notice Paul's statement, "By no means!"? The word he used in Greek was about as harsh a word as you can use without cursing.

So, what are we to do? 

Pursue holiness! 

"Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord." (Hebrews 12:14).

How do we become holy, more like Jesus? The answer to that question is the same as this question: "How can I be happy/blessed?" Apply Psalm 6:1-2!

Psalm 1:1-2 "Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, not sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night."

Absolutely refuse to engage in sin in any form! Even if the sin seems trivial, don't do it! When you sin, and we will(!), immediately drop to your knees, ask for forgiveness and cleansing and receive it.

Notice in verse 1 that there is a progression (or really a regression): first, the man is walking with sinners, then he slows down to stand with them, then he slows down even more to sit with them. Further, notice that he begins with personally engaging in sin and eventually develops a calloused heart with which he scoffs at those striving to pursue holiness. 

Everything about sin moves us, slowly but surely, away from Jesus and our journey toward holiness.

I've counseled enough people and know from my own sinful heart that sin, whatever it is (big or small), is a poison. It appeals to our sin nature and the first dose often feels great. But, eventually it doesn't satisfy like it once did and we may soon realize that it is seeking to destroy us. In reality, it is insane that we keep going after sin to satisfy the longing inside of us that can only be satisfied with Jesus.

Instead of engaging in harmful sin, what must we do? We develop an appetite for God's Word, we read it, and we find joy in reflecting on it and complying with it (Psalm 6:2).

Friend, God's Word is not intended to steal your fun. It is intended to warn us of what will steal our joy and our fellowship with God. God wants us to be blessed! He wants us to be happy in Him, regardless of what is going on in our life. 

But, in order to get that joy, we've got to despise sin and love God's Word. We've got to reject sin and pursue holiness (progressively becoming more like Jesus). 

Will you make that your aim today as you depend upon the Lord for the strength to do so?

When God humbles us it's a good thing

As I read the final chapters of the Biblical book of Job, I can't help but feel sorry for Job. From chapters 38-41, God hammers away with question after question. His intention is to remind Job that he is small man on a small planet that would appear to be an insignificant speck in the incredibly massive universe.

But, my sympathy is misplaced. When I come to understand what God is doing to Job (and what God desires to do with us), I realize that God is actually doing an incredibly loving thing.

Let me illustrate the point: Have you ever stood before a majestic mountain or a massive, cascading waterfall or something of the sort and just stood in awe? You felt so small in front of something so massive - so amazing - but your humility actually added to the joy. Because you were OK with feeling small, you were free to enjoy the greatness of what was before you.

Here's one more question: Have you ever had the previous experience with someone who was completely unimpressed? They diminished what you held in such high regard. They arrogantly treated what was so valuable as if it was common.

Here's another question: Who enjoyed the experience more? You who were humbled by it or the one who arrogantly was unmoved by the experience? The answer is obvious. We are most free to experience joy when we are humbled in the presence of something much greater than ourselves.

This is what God was doing with Job. Apparently, through all of his horrible experiences, Job had grown self-righteous and arrogant even to the point of questioning God's intentions and character. In that condition, He was not free to enjoy his God. So, to increase Job's joy, God pounded away at him with question after question with the intention of humbling him.

Application: Don't resist God's workings in your life to remind you of how frail and impotent you are in the grand scheme of things. It is only when we are humbled that we are free to really enjoy our incredible God.

Dog bones and holiness

How do you take a bone away from a hungry dog? Very carefully! But, you could make the task so much easier (and safer) if you simply put a piece of meat near the bone. The dog will gladly drop the bone because it desires the meat more.

This is a simple principle that applies to hungry dogs as well as humans on a trek for happiness and inner peace.

All too often, with a desire to satisfy that deep longing in our hearts, we go for the dry bone of sin. Whatever form of sin we personally crave, it just doesn't ultimately deliver. Yet, if someone confronts us and tells us we need to give it up, we may attack. "How dare you judge me! You have no right to do that. After all, you're a sinner, too!" We like that dry bone and we aren't giving it up!

Try to take the bone away and you could have a fight on your hands. How can this be accomplished so much easier (and safer)? Simply show that there is something better. Put a piece of meat beside the dry bone.

When we realize that God has saved us not simply to keep us out of Hell but to enjoy Him, and when we experience that powerful truth, our mouths will lose their taste for sin. When we realize that following Jesus not only satisfies that deep down longing in our souls but also guarantees us unbroken fellowship with Him in Heaven, sin will lose its grip on us because we realize that He satisfies us more.

Hebrews 11:25-26 (New Living Translation)
"He (Moses) chose to share the oppression of God’s people instead of enjoying the fleeting pleasures of sin. He thought it was better to suffer for the sake of Christ than to own the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his great reward."

Have you "tasted and seen that the Lord is good" (Psalm 34:8)? If/when you do, you will struggle with sin less because you desire Him more!