Don’t Drop the Ball!

Posted on January 7, 2015 by jesustrek
Terrell Suggs makes a remarkable interception

Terrell Suggs makes a remarkable interception

The Baltimore Ravens recently defeated their bitter rivals, the Pittsburgh Steelers, in the wild card round of the NFL playoffs. After the victory, Ravens coach John Harbaugh was distributing game balls to players who had excelled on the field. Linebacker Terrell Suggs was one of the players chosen for this honor. Suggs had made a remarkable, between the legs interception that helped seal the victory for his team.

Harbaugh said: “We just gave him the game ball for the greatest catch in the history of football. I toss it to him. What happened, do you think? He dropped it. He caught the one that mattered.”

We “drop the ball” quite often in life. Far from perfect, we often sin and fall short of God’s glory. However, we mustn’t drop the ball when it comes to the critical issue of holding on to our faith in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.

“If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”—1 John 1:8-9.

 

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Not to Worry

Posted on January 5, 2015 by jesustrek

worrySomeone recently posted a request on social media about a prayer concern. The person asked for “prayer worriers”. I’m sure that was a typo. She certainly meant to say “prayer warriors”.

Prayer and worry do not go together. In fact, worry often keeps us from praying.

Philippians 4:6 says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

Let’s worry less and pray more.

 

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Greed Kills

Posted on January 2, 2015 by jesustrek

greedAt least 36 people were killed in a stampede during a New Year’s celebration that took place in downtown Shanghai. Dozens of others were injured in the tragic chaos that occurred about a half hour before midnight.

The exact cause of the stampede was not immediately clear, but there were some reports that some fliers resembling $100 bills were released from the top of a building. There was speculation that many people rushed to collect these bills, causing the stampede.

If this is found to be the true cause of this senseless loss of human life, it can be blamed on the sin of greed. Perhaps some lost their own lives because of their desire to have something that wasn’t theirs. Or perhaps some greedy people survived, but their selfish actions led to the death or injury of another person.

Let this be a reminder that the Bible continually warns against the sin of greed. Jesus has this to say about the subject—“Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” (Luke 12:15).

 

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Resolutions

Posted on December 31, 2014 by jesustrek

resolutionsIf you haven’t made your New Year’s resolutions for 2015 yet, you really have waited until the last minute!

Many people make resolutions every year, promising themselves to do better in at least one area of their life. Most resolutions are related to something physical, such as: losing weight, improving eating habits or increasing exercise.

Some resolutions, however, involve spiritual matters. People often make promises to be more devoted to God. If you haven’t made such a resolution yet, here are some suggestions.

  1. Read through the Bible this year. If this seems like too daunting a task, at least read through the New Testament. It won’t take nearly as long as you think.
  2. Strengthen your prayer time. Pray longer. Pray less selfishly. Pray about kingdom issues. Just pray!
  3. Encourage someone every day. Send an uplifting text or email. Write a note to someone you appreciate. Give someone a compliment or praise.
  4. Memorize Scripture. Commit key verses to memory so that you can meditate on God’s Word.
  5. Try to attend a worship service every single Sunday.
  6. Every Sunday, do your best to make someone glad they came to worship that day.

These are only a few suggestions for spiritual New Year’s resolutions. Do you have a different one to share?

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Let Us Pray

Posted on December 30, 2014 by jesustrek
Max Lucado

Max Lucado

Max Lucado shares these words of wisdom concerning prayer:

“Do you want to know how to deepen your prayer life? Pray. Don’t prepare to pray. Just pray. Don’t read about prayer. Just pray. Don’t attend a lecture on prayer or engage in discussion about prayer. Just pray.

Posture, tone, and place are personal matters. Select the form that works for you. But don’t think about it too much. Don’t be so concerned about wrapping the gift that you never give it. Better to pray awkwardly than not at all.

And if you feel you should only pray when inspired, that’s okay. Just see to it that you are inspired every day.”

Well said, Max!

Let us pray!

“Pray continually.”–1 Thessalonians 5:17.

 

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Living in the Light

Posted on December 29, 2014 by jesustrek

street lightThere was once a neighborhood that had no street lights. The residents thought nothing of it because that’s how it had always been for them. To have darkened streets at night was the only reality they knew.

Then things changed. Street lights were installed, and people in the neighborhood soon became accustomed to having their streets lit up at night. People began to feel safer and had an overall sense of wellbeing.

One day, however, a problem developed with the street lights. Night fell, and darkness enveloped the neighborhood. This caused many of the residents to feel uneasy, vulnerable and unsafe. What was once tolerated was now unacceptable because they had become accustomed to living in the light.

Once you become accustomed to living in the light of Jesus, no other way of living seems right. There is safety and comfort that comes only from being in Christ.

“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.”—1 John 1:7.

 

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Encouraging Word

Posted on December 26, 2014 by jesustrek
Coach Bill Snyder

Coach Bill Snyder

Kansas State football coach Bill Snyder often sends notes of encouragement to players from the opposing team. The notes usually arrive shortly after the game has been played. Coach Snyder finds some way to express admiration or encouragement. Sometimes the recipient of the note has had an outstanding game. In other cases, the player might have been injured, and Snyder sends his wishes for a speedy recovery.

This is a nice gesture, especially considering the quick, easy and informal means of communication that are available today. The hand-written notes are a thoughtful and much-appreciated source of encouragement.

Encouragement is…well…encouraged, I guess, in the Bible. Paul and his travelling companions were once urged, “…Brothers, if you have a message of encouragement for the people, please speak.” (Acts 13:15).

It has been said that discouragement is the devil’s greatest tool. There certainly are a lot of discouraged people in the world today. You and I could help them out with just a little encouragement. Let’s find a way to encourage someone today.

 

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The Interview

Posted on December 24, 2014 by jesustrek
Larry King

Larry King

Talk show host Larry King was once asked, “If you could select any one person across all of history to interview, who would it be?”

King responded that he would like to interview Jesus Christ. When the questioner followed with, “And what would you like to ask him?” King replied, “I would like to ask him if he was indeed virgin-born. The answer to that question would define history for me.”

Jesus Christ, God’s one and only Son, the Savior of the world, certainly does define history. In addition to that, he determines our eternity. He says that no one can come to the Father except through him (John 14:6).

I doubt that Larry King will get that interview that he wants. Jesus has given us all the evidence we need to believe in his existence, his identity and his purpose.

We can expect an interview with Jesus someday, but he will be the one asking the question—“Did you believe in me?”

“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.”—Isaiah 7:14.

 

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God’s Visit

Posted on December 23, 2014 by jesustrek

earthI once saw a cartoon that showed two angels looking down upon the earth. One angel asked the other, “I wonder why God favors that planet over all the others?” The second angel replied, “I suppose it’s because he visited there once.”

We should never cease to be amazed that God loves us so much that he chose to come down here to live among us and to die for us! Let us respond appropriately by giving our worship and service to him!

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”—John 1:1,14.

 

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Clear Message

Posted on December 20, 2014 by jesustrek

answering machineTime after time I listen patiently to a message someone has left on my answering machine. They want me to return their call to talk about something that is very important to them. Then, when they leave the number I am to call to get in touch with them, they mumble the number so quickly that I can’t get it on the first try. Or the second. Sometimes the third. Occasionally I never get it. When you get to the most important part of the message, this is the time to slow down and speak more clearly, not do the opposite!

I suppose no one else has ever had this problem.

Anyway, it’s just a reminder to be thankful that God doesn’t mumble. His Word is clear and distinct.

Mark Twain supposedly once remarked, “It’s not the parts on the Bible I don’t understand that bother me; it’s the parts that I do understand!”

The Bible makes it quite plain how God wants us to live. It couldn’t be any clearer.

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.”—Psalm 119:105.

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