MONDAY MORNING

What are we doing with the Word of God?

"Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on His law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yield its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers." -- Psalm 1:1-3 (NIV)


A lot in these verses we could talk about. I want to concentrate on, "What are we doing with the word of God? James 1:22 -- "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says." (NIV)

Are we reading His Word? Are we delighting in His Word? Are we allowing His Word to penetrate us? Are our hearts meditating on His Word? Are we allowing His Word to nourish us? Add to us? Make us stronger in Him?

His Holy Word is not just for apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. (Ephesians 4:11). His Word is for all of us. We all -- every man and every woman -- have a responsibility to His Word.

Bottom Line:  May we delight in His Word. May we meditate on His Word. May His Word be planted and watered in us. May His Word yield the fullness of its fruit in every season of our lives. May we continually prosper in the midst of His Word.  And, may we  be doers of His Word. Amen? Amen!
 

Monday Morning

"... unwholesome talk ..."

"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." -- Ephesians 4:29

"unwholesome", the KJV Bible translate as "corrupt". 
Webster's definition of unwholesome: detrimental (tending to cause harm) to physical, mental, or moral well-being; corrupt (rotten, decaying, worthless, dirty, foul)

So, what does "unwholesome talk" cover? It covers things said that cause harm -- can we add gossip and  slander? It covers things said that are foul and dirty -- can we add off color jokes and foul language? It covers things said that are worthless -- can we add opinions that really do not matter? It covers things said that are detrimental -- can we add things said to intend hurt towards others and just plain rudeness?

This scripture tells us that what comes out of our mouths should be helpful for building up because people are listening.  We encourage -- we do not discourage. We lift-up -- we do not put-down. We do not gossip -- and we put a stop to it when it is trying to be passed on. We choose not to express ourselves with foul or dirty language. We choose not to be rude. We choose not to say hurtful things. We choose to keep some opinions unspoken.

I will also add: This applies to your thoughts, too. Words come to us by our thought processes. We think them before we speak them.  Now I will say that some are pretty fast on the draw and you may wonder if they ever put those words through a thought process.  Have you ever said to yourself, "Wish I had never said that."? Then you know what I am talking about.

Bottom Line: May the words of your mouth, the talk that comes out -- be wholesome and clean and uplifting and encouraging. And, may we remember these words from David: "May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer." Psalm 19:14  -- Amen? Amen.
 

Monday Morning
"Where are you?"

Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as He was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden. But the LORD God called out to the man, "Where are you?" -- Genesis 3:8-9

Have you ever heard God call out to you? "Morris, where are you?" "Frank, Craig, Willie, Sylvia, where are you?" "Johnny, Jimmy, Amy, Tom, where are you?"

Why was God calling out to Adam? Let me take a few liberties here of what I envision: To me it is kind of obvious that this was a daily routine, if you will, between God and Adam and Eve. For them to hear the sound of God as He was walking in Eden. And I envision Adam and Eve seeking God out and saying, "There You are, glad to see You today." And they would fellowship.

But this day was different. Adam and Eve heard but did not seek God out -- They hid from God. Yet, yet --- God called out, "Where are you?"

I believe God enjoys our fellowship. That is part of why He called out to Adam and Eve. He enjoys being among what He created.

Is God having to call out to you or do you hear and sense His everyday presence and  seek Him out on your own? As husband and wife, do you seek Him out?

Bottom Line: May we know that God enjoys our fellowship. And, may we seek Him out everyday! Amen? Amen.

MONDAY MORNING

  Christ as Lord

"But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord." -- I Peter 3:15a

"...Christ as Lord." --- So many times we refer to Jesus, as our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. And rightly so because He is! But if most of us are honest, we dwell mainly on Him as Savior.  He saved me from my sins, from the wretched life I had before.

How much do we actually dwell on Him being "our Lord". Because that means -- He is in charge and we are submitted to Him and His authority in and over our lives. Paul, in Romans 1:1 and in Titus 1:1 refers to himself as "a bond-servant of Christ Jesus" (NAS). Meaning that whatever Jesus said, or directed, or instructed or commanded  of Paul -- he was willing to do because in his heart he had set apart Christ as Lord.

Bottom Line: Who is the Lord of your heart? Who is directing your heart? Who are you allowing to instruct your heart? Who are you giving command over your heart? May we all "set apart Christ as Lord" in our hearts.  Amen? Amen.