JOB ONE

READING: MATTHEW 22:34-40

Verse 37: “Jesus said to him ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind’”

The statement made by the Lord Jesus in this verse gives perfect clarity to our priorities. We are being told that loving God is the primary response for Believers to carry out. Much happens to add quality to our lives when we love the Lord. Love of God is the ingredient that provides fullness of meaning to Christian living. Here is an example: Sam is roasting a turkey. He uses fresh meat of good quality. He carefully spices and marinates it, and thoroughly tenderizes it. The meat is perfectly prepared. However, unless the heat of the oven is applied, the turkey will not be even slightly appetizing. Heat is necessary for the turkey to become food. In a similar manner, no matter how well prepared, educated or equipped a person may become; it takes love for God to complete a Christian. What the oven heat does for the turkey, this love does for our ability to serve. Much can then follow to produce godliness, but love for the Father is job one. That’s a thought – about God’s Word.

RESPONSE

1. Why do you believe the Lord requires our love?

2. What would it take to add strength to you love for the Lord?

BLESSINGS

READING: EPHESIANS 1:3-14

Verse 3: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,”

An outstanding theme of Christianity is God’s goodness toward His people. The Lord’s word expresses His will that we receive His blessings. We clearly see that stated in the verse above. The highest form of this blessing and goodness is that He has provided for us to be sons daughters of God. Any sincere examination of the Lord’s word reveals that the full extent of His goodness is far beyond human conception. It fully exceeds our greatest expectations! The Bible describes these realities with the following phrases and others like them: “...exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think...”, “... peace of God which surpasses all understanding...” and “...love of Christ which passes  knowledge...”. We are deeply blessed that the Lord has not left us to determine the limits of our wellbeing. If that were so, we would settle for far less than He provides. We must give thanks to our God who, instead, causes us to abound in His extravagance. That’s a thought – about God’s Word. 

RESPONSE 

1. What do you say in describing the goodness of the Lord?

2. What scripture is most encouraging to you on the topic of God’s goodness?

HEROES

READING: 2 SAMUEL 23:13-17

Verse 15: “And David said with longing, ‘Oh that someone would give me a drink of the water from the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!’”

This passage of scripture relates one of the exploits of the mighty men of King David. Three of these men heard their king express a desire of his heart; and then risked their lives to please him. The following characteristics applied to these mighty men:
1. They were close enough to the king to hear him.
2. They were alert and ready to respond.
3. They accepted the king’s desire as their mission.
4. They were willing to risk for the king.
We can use the example set by David’s mighty men for our lives as Christians. We can be mighty for our God who is our King if we:
1. Stay close to the Lord.
2. Are alert and ready to respond to God’s will.
3. Take the will of the Lord as our mission.
4. Are willing to risk for the Lord.
David’s men were mighty for their king. We too can be mighty for ours! That’s a thought – about God’s Word.

RESPONSE

1. What can you say about your nearness to the Lord?

2. What additional lessons do you see in the response of the mighty men?

PLUS OR MINUS

READING: 1 CORINTHIANS 5:9-13

Verse 13: “But those who are outside God judges. Therefore ‘put away from yourselves the evil person’”

In addition to the command quoted above, we are warned in Proverbs 1:15 to not walk in the way  with sinners, and cautioned in 2 Corinthians 6:14 to not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. In many ways the Bible clearly informs us that inappropriate relationships are harmful. It is true, however, that the opposite also applies. Our associations are also able to have positive effects on our lives. A good way to succeed is to hang out with the successful. As examples we have Joshua with Moses, Elisha with Elijah and Timothy with Paul. These are only a few of many illustrations that indicate the validity of this thought. Therefore, that brings about a tip for those who want to powerfully serve Jesus: It definitely helps to connect and relate with those who are already powerfully serving Him. That’s a thought – about God’s Word.

RESPONSE

1. Do you have a relationship(s) that serves you as an empowerment to godliness?

2. Will you pray specifically for a Christian who unequally yoked, or in general for many who are?

BATTLE ORDERS

READING: 1 TIMOTHY 1:12-20

Verse 18: “This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophesies made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare.”

Paul’s charge committed to Timothy is valid instruction for every Christian. We all should wage the good warfare. We can learn some principles of good spiritual warfare from established military principles. For example, military strategy does not require that every enemy position be overcome by combat. In the history of military science, the best victories have occurred when the enemy has been forced to  surrender without any fighting actually taking place. This comes about when wise leadership commands the occupation of certain strategic positions, causing the enemy to be isolated. Then, the enemy’s only choices are surrender or annihilation. Battles that could have been costly are avoided. That’s good warfare and it results from wise leadership. In a like manner, good spiritual warfare is that which appointed by our God. He is the ultimately wise leader! When we faithfully follow the Lord in His strategy and selection of our spiritual battles, we are waging the good warfare. Under His command, we become more than conquerors. That’s a thought – about God’s Word.

RESPONSE

1. Do you consider yourself to be a trained and disciplined spiritual warrior?

2. What are your strongest impressions about spiritual warfare?

MIND MATTERS

READING: ACTS 1:4-11

Verse 11: ”who also said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven’”

Have you seen comedy where one person looking into the sky gets a whole group involved in doing the same thing? That didn’t happen with the angels in this verse. In fact they called the disciples to task for doing so. It seems they were guilty of what could be described as “being too heavenly  minded to be of any earthly good.” The reality is that true heavenly mindedness is a great gift, but unfortunately not all who present themselves as heavenly minded are truly so. It is disturbing when, as the result of the concern about being too heavenly minded, Christians fearfully retreat from true heavenly mindedness. Being truly heavenly minded is scripturally defined. Some examples are where the Bible tells us to seek first the kingdom of God, to keep our minds stayed on Him, and to acknowledge Him in all our ways. Those responses are true heavenly mindedness in operation. They indicate to us that it is only by being truly heavenly minded that we can ever be of any earthly good! That’s a thought – about God’s Word.

RESPONSE

1. What is a good test to detect true heavenly mindedness?

2. What can you learn from observing the most heavenly minded person you know?

ALL THE WAY

READING: GENESIS 5:18-24

Verse 24: “And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.”

In the verse above we learn that Enoch didn’t die, but that he passed directly into eternity with God. Upon digesting that, a person might say “What a way to go!” However, here is what a little girl was heard to say. She remarked that Enoch walked so far with God, that he could no longer find his way back. That little girl’s statement provides us with a worthy aspiration. As we engage in our individual walks with God, how far do we go? Maybe we should adopt the goal of getting to a point of no return. We can seek to arrive at relationships with the Lord Jesus that completely leave former things behind. The windshield of a car is a great deal larger than the rear view mirror. This fact can be said to represent the higher priority of what is before us, and our need to focus in that direction. However, our challenge doesn’t end with that. Upon obtaining that forward directed focus, how far are we willing to go? Will we be motivated and shaped by Enoch’s example? Are we willing to ask the Lord to take us all the way? That’s a thought - about God’s Word

RESPONSE

1. What comes to your mind along with the thought of “going all the way?”

2. How far “along the way” are you today?
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