Leap of Freedom

"For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have?"- Romans 8:24 (NIV).

It takes faith to believe in something you cannot see or touch. If we could see it, if we could touch it, then faith would not be required. Faith requires trust. For many, trust is a big issue. Little children trust easily, but as we grow up and the world bursts our bubbles, we become cynical and stiff-necked to anything intangible. Jesus asks us to trust like a child. That sounds like regressive maturity, but the rewards are great; the greatest being freedom. Don't children live freely? And we desire childlike freedom. As we stand on the edge of the diving board, and our Almighty Father urges us to trust Him and jump, let us fling open our arms and leap into His awaiting arms. But consider: Could you do it blindfolded? Trust God; your faith will grow with each successive dive. He will always catch you, even when you cannot see Him. He is always there. That, my friend, is worth the leap. Freedom awaits.

Test

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything"- James 1:2-4 (NIV).

A Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren is a 40-day Bible study that everyone should do and preferably with others. Yesterday's lesson was about your life being a test, which determines your eternity. God tested Abraham (Genesis 22:1). Abraham's response to God's test was faithful obedience. Every action, thought, and word affects your test score (Hebrews 9:27). Think of Gideon, Esther, David, Daniel...all were tested. Life being a test, the Bible is the Resource from which one studies in order to persevere and pass the test. You can't test well without using the Resource. God breathed out His Training Resource to be used for teaching, reproof, correction, and for training in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16). Perseverance will finish its work in preparing you for eternity.

Oh Be Careful What You Say

"He who loves a pure heart and whose speech is gracious will have the King for his friend"- Proverbs 22:11 (NIV).

"Oh be careful little mouth what you say. For the Father up above is looking down with love....so be careful little mouth what you say." Our speech should be used to build up, to give grace to others (Ephesians 4:29). Lord, help us to be people of understanding in this message. James wrote an entire book on the use of speech; that the misuse of the tongue made a person's religion worthless (James 1:26). Jesus said we were defiled, not by what went into our mouths, but by what comes out in our speech (Matthew 15:11). There is also the promise that on the day of Judgment we will be held accountable for every careless word we have spoken (Matthew 12:36). Lord, our King and Friend, like David we pray that You put a guard over our mouths and keep watch over the door of our lips! (Psalm 141:30). Oh be careful...what you say... 

Mighty Children of God

"Their children will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed. Wealth and riches are in their houses, and their righteousness endures forever"- Psalms 112:2-3 (NIV).

God's promise, to parents who respect the Lord and obey Him, is to bless their children. Blessings come in many forms: health, income, relationships, experiences, wisdom. This is God's response to the prayers of believing parents. Let's be thankful for the bowed knees of our parents. Someone probably prayed you along to where you are today. But, for those who are orphans, or children of Godless parents, God does not leave you as such; we are His children. What better parent to uphold you? Almighty God and Father: Who could love you more? This day is a blessing, a gift; you are where you are supposed to be. Your life has meaning; it has purpose! Is it non-discerned? Then trust in this: God is in control and you are the apple of His eye. We love you Abba! 

A Faithful Friend

"Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on"- Mark 2:4 (NIV).

Those men, who carried their friend, really loved him. They were willing to carry his weight both there and up to the roof of the house, faced what seemed like terrible odds for success, worked with bare hands to create the hole in the roof, and, the Bible doesn't say, but I bet they watched through the hole, then ran to the front of the house to receive their healed friend. Did they hug, laugh, cry, dance, skip...run? You bet they did! The healed man could not help his friends, he had to depend on them for each step toward Jesus, in order to encounter Jesus. His friends' blessing was to have their restored friend joyfully kicking up beside them as they went home. Jesus said, "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another" (John 13:34). Like that man on the mat, powerless to heal ourselves, Jesus carries us, makes the way for us, to encounter the Father and we are healed. We can experience the same jubilation as those men did by being faithful and loving to those who can't help themselves. We take them to the feet of Jesus, behold the miracle, and then, together, we will joyfully go home.