Vital Nutrient

"Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight"- 1 Peter 3:3-4 (NIV).

First impressions are so important; so we are told. But the Apostle Peter tells us God sees the outward appearance as less of importance than a gentle and quiet spirit. Who wouldn't want a beauty of "greater worth" in God's sight? As the value of what the world esteems as beautiful fades, Christians seem to bloom inwardly. Their gentle and quiet spirit becomes good soil, in which to nourish the fruits of the spirit which bloom outwardly: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. That's Christian apparel, the unfading beauty recognized as proof of continuing transformation. We should invest much more time on our inward beauty than in our outward beauty; as it is much more valuable for kingdom purposes. Pray and ask the Lord God to help you develop a gentle and quiet spirit. The key is you'll find the transformation happening when you are in His presence. His presence is the Vital Nutrient to condition your soul to bear inward and outward beauty.   

Wonderful Key

"I have heard that the spirit of the gods is in you and that you have insight, intelligence and outstanding wisdom"- Daniel 5:14 (NIV).

King Belshazzar had seen the writing on the wall and needed someone capable of understanding the meaning behind the words. His counselors suggested Daniel, who had a reputation of having the spirit of the gods within him, evidenced by insight. Several translations, of Daniel 5:14, replace "insight" with "illumination."  There's an old Methodist hymn called Open My Eyes, That I May See that goes: "Open my eyes, that I may see...place in my hands the wonderful key that shall unclasp and set me free...Open my eyes, illumine me, Spirit divine!" Wouldn't it stand to reason, following Daniel's explanation, that King Belshazzar and all his counselors would have been earnestly seeking that Spirit which was in Daniel? After all, the message on the wall was a warning. That's where the old saying "You can't read the writing on the wall" came from. Jesus is the Wonder Key that sets people free. Wouldn't it stand to reason that the entire world would be earnestly seeking the Spirit divine to illuminate them or can they just not read the writing on the wall? 

New Creation

"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself for me"- Galatians 2:20 (NIV).

"[A}nd the two will become one flesh. 'So they are no longer two, but one flesh'" (Mark 10:8). Have you heard there is scientific proof that the longer you're married to your spouse the more you resemble each other? The two becoming one flesh is true. That might explain why your Aunt Edna and Uncle Jasper, after 55 years of marriage, are indistinguishable in dim lights. This is applicable Biblically. As Christians, the longer we are exposed to Christ Jesus, the more we will resemble Him, because we are His church; therefore, His bride. Christ lives within us. Our friends and acquaintances should see us acting, looking, more like Jesus as years goes by. A true intimate relationship with Jesus will forever change you: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!" (2 Corinthians 5:17). By the time God is finished with each of us, we will be able to look into the mirror and see His Son looking back at us.     

Have a Busy Day

"For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: "The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat""- 2 Thessalonians 3:10 (NIV).

"If you don't work, you don't eat." Those were words I heard as a child growing up, but at the time didn't realize they were Scriptural. Paul was addressing Christians, in the church in Thessalonica, who were lazy and, due to their idleness, caused trouble, or as Paul called them: busybodies (v.11). They would sit around, cause a lot of unnecessary ruckus, and then belly-up to the dinner table and expect to be fed. Not to overdo old adages, but the one about "an idle mind is the Devil's workshop" is applicable. We've got two precious jewels to meditate on here: earning your keep and keeping the Devil away. Keeping the Devil away is the goal of every Christian: the idle and the workers; those who think they're entitled and those who allow them to become entitled. Paul set up the rule to cover both. Let's encourage all to get busy and stay busy, so they can rightfully come to the table: A busy day keeps the Devil away.    

2017 Plans

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future"- Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV).

New Year's Day ushers in a new beginning. It's refreshing to think we can begin all over again. We make resolutions to improve our lives and then plan how to achieve them. Sadly, many still cling to years gone by, instead of trusting in God's plans for our future. Maybe you feel like God's been absent from your life for a time; that you don't sense any real direction coming from Him. God says, "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?" (Isaiah 43:18-19a). That's God's grace! He fills us with hope and gives us a future of His making. If you're wondering what to do with your new beginning this year, "Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord" (Psalm 27:14). Let go of the past and wait to see God's plans for you this year. They are in the making even as you read these words.