The Hello Bar is a simple web toolbar that engages users and communicates a call to action. Life | Simply Him
Thoughts on christian faith, worship & life.

I am not waiting for tomorrow

Posted: March 3rd, 2011 | Author: | Filed under: Weekly Devotional | Tags: , , | No Comments »
0saves
Save

Today’s reading is -

Matthew 24: 44 – “You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.“ (NLT)

Extended reading: Matthew 24: 45 – 51

If there is anything that scares me more, it is the thought that Christ will come when I am most comfortable. Comfortable in my routines, in my daily grind. Because it is when I am most comfortable, I don’t think of Jesus’ coming or His call. After all, I am living my life and seem to be enjoying it.

It is one of Satan’s greatest tricks – to make us comfortable in our lifestyles. We don’t like the intrusions and enjoy our time of peace. The whole process of schooling, education and the rat race is to bring comfort to our everyday lives. To bring food to the table, clothe our bodies, bring that roof over our head. Sometimes, even have another room over it. We live lives comfort to comfort. Once we have achieved a level of comfort, we strive for the next. Bigger cars. Bigger house. Fatter paychecks. We go around looking for the next best thing.

What are we called for? Jesus, before His ascension to heaven, came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matt. 28: 18 – 20)

Jesus didn’t tell us to get comfortable. He didn’t say, “Settle down in your lives and you will get your crown!”.

When He addresses the churches in Revelation, listen to His words:
To the church in Ephesus: “I know all the things you do. I have seen your hard work and your patient endurance.” (Revelation 2: 2)
To the church in Smyrna: “I know about your suffering and your poverty—but you are rich! I know the blasphemy of those opposing you.” (Revelation 2: 9)
To the church in Pergamum: “I know that you live in the city where Satan has his throne, yet you have remained loyal to me. You refused to deny me even when Antipas, my faithful witness, was martyred among you there in Satan’s city.” (Revelation 2: 13)
To the church in Thyatira: “I know all the things you do. I have seen your love, your faith, your service, and your patient endurance. And I can see your constant improvement in all these things.” (Revelation 2: 19)

None of those churches were commended because they led comfortable lives. What makes us think we can get away with it?

We are not called to simply wait for tomorrow. We are to get ready for it!

What do I pray?

Lord, move me. Move this world through me. Open my eyes so I can see Your majesty. I accept Your will in my life and bow down to Your plans for me. Use me for Your glory. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

(If this thought has blessed you, won’t you let us know? Comment here or send us an email to feedback [at] simplyhim [dot] com)

Did you read the Bible today? Click here to read (This plan is a yearly plan where you can read the full Bible in a single year.)

This thought was part of the Weekly Devotional at SimplyHim.com

Week 33: The secret to success

Posted: August 18th, 2010 | Author: | Filed under: Weekly Devotional | Tags: , , | 1 Comment »
0saves
Save
Today’s reading:
Revelation 19:1

“After this, I heard what sounded like a vast crowd in heaven shouting,   “Praise the Lord!
Salvation and glory and power belong to our God.” (NLT)

Extended reading: 2 Samuel 5:17-25

There is a small difference in the King James Version. It reads, “And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God”. It adds the word honor there. The four things mentioned here:

* Salvation
* Glory
* Honor
* Power

Really belong to God. But look at what we do with these. Look at how we get things done everyday. We take pride in the fact that we have power. We take glory for all the work that we do. We revel in the limelight of our greatest inventions and discoveries. Breakthroughs and findings are named after the scientists who found them. We crouch under the people who have power and rule proudly over whom we have power.

We are offended if we are not given the honor we deserve (or not deserve). We misuse authority. We seek the very things that is supposed to belong to somebody else, in this case, God. We take what is rightfully His and give Him little credit for what we have.

If you haven’t read this week’s extended reading yet, I recommend you do – click here. You see how David handled a situation. A situation which required leadership, authority and power. David was surrounded by his enemies – the Philistines. He was king and he had an army but he does not make his decision on his own. He enquires with God. God says, “Yes, go ahead. I will certainly hand them over to you.”

David goes out against the Philistines and beats their pants off (vs. 20). Look at the very next verse. It starts, “The Lord did it!” David exclaimed. “He burst through my enemies like a raging flood!” (vs. 21). Can you believe that? David had just won against the very people who wanted to destroy him right after he took the throne. This was his opportunity at a major PR showcase. It would definitely help increase the people’s faith in the new king. But before anyone got any ideas, David proclaims, “The Lord did it!”.

The passage gets interesting because the Philistines come back for their idols. Sincerely, you think David would just take off and beat their pants off again. C’mon, he did it the first time. I am sure the Lord would do it for him the second time too. But David asks the Lord again and this time God had a different strategy. It worked and David won. Again.

Verse 25 reads “So David did what the Lord commanded, and he struck down the Philistines all the way from Gibeon to Gezer.”

David gave full credit to God. He didn’t keep anything for himself. All power, honor and glory to God.

Pontius Pilate once tried to convince Jesus saying, “Don’t you realize that I have the power to release you or crucify you?” Then Jesus said, “You would have no power over me at all unless it were given to you from above. (John 19: 10, 11)

It is true. This world tells you that you are in control. That you can have all the control. That is a lie.

Give credit where it is due. God deserves all glory, honor and power. And only He can save us all. He is our true source of success.

What do I pray?
All glory, power and honor belong to You. I trust You to live my life for your glory. I depend on You for guidance for my daily walk in this world. I know victory is mine if I walk with You. In Jesus’ name.

(If this thought has blessed you, won’t you let us know? Comment here or send us an email to feedback [at] simplyhim [dot] com)

Did you read the Bible today? Click here to read (This plan is a yearly plan where you can read the full Bible in a single year.)

Can you imagine yourself being dangerous? Jesus was.

Posted: July 3rd, 2007 | Author: | Filed under: Thoughts, Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , | No Comments »
0saves
Save

Leonard Lee has a post back at Monday Morning Insight about Christians being dangerous. And that idea is proposed from the fact that our Lord, Jesus was dangerous himself. But not dangerous as we all know it these days.

Let me quote from Leonard’s article itself:

“You see, Jesus was very dangerous. So dangerous in fact he actually had an assassination attempt on his life before he could do much more than play peek-a-boo and form simple sentences. So dangerous was Jesus that at the beginning of his ministry Satan himself showed up and tried to derail him with a series of vicious temptations. Jesus was dangerous enough that as an adult he became the subject of meetings whose sole purpose was to get rid of him.” Click here for full article

It is incredible how we all get so absorbed in our daily routines and chores and totally lose focus of what we are sent here to do – His will. His commission.

We are called to be dangerous people because we have the power to pull people away from the clutches of the devil, to heal the sick in soul and body, to unite broken families and so much more. We are called to be so dangerous that we love even our enemies. :)

It is time we get out of our comfort zones and do the wonderful things that God wants us to do. To live as a dangerous generation.