Saturday, November 15, 2008
Scripture:
“I know that You can do all things, and that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted.” Job 42:2
Observation:
Job expresses supreme confidence in God. All doubt has been removed and replaced by complete trust. It’s a declaration!
Application:
I am reminded of what A.W. Tozer said, “God is above all things, beneath all things, outside of all things, and inside of all things. Above all things presiding, beneath all things sustaining, outside all things embracing, and inside all things filling. He is above all things, but not pushed up, He is beneath all things, but not pressed down. He is outside all things, but not excluded. He is inside all things, but not confined.” All my confidence and hope need to rest in God alone, not matter how bleak my circumstances may be. He is my hope!
Prayer:
God, You can do whatever You please! You are more powerful than any other! I desire to have a heart and a response like Job. To bless You and Your name in my darkest days. To trust in You and Your ways completely. I know that I am not there yet. Please continue to chip away the illusions of my control and my ability. May my hope rest in You alone and never in any piece of myself or the world around me, however small. Take me to a level of supreme confidence in You!
— Jason Elam, worship pastor
Friday, November 14, 2008
Scripture:
“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 15:58
Observation:
Paul, with confidence, tells the Corinthians here to be steadfast, immovable and to abound in God’s work because there is hope in the fact that Christ defeated death and the grave and they have an eternity to share with Him. Also, their work has value. The work that the believers were doing in the name of the Lord mattered.
Application:
This is an extremely encouraging verse for me. The same truth for the Corinthians is true for me this morning. I have to admit there are many days that I grow weary in the work of the Lord. There are days that I wonder if what I am doing is making an impact for the Kingdom. Paul charges me here to be steadfast in God’s work, to abound in it and know that there is value in it and that it’s not in vain. How that encourages my heart. Encouragement and affirmation are big things to me. I put more value in them than I really want to and I trying to get better at that. I think sometimes I give in to the deception that if somebody doesn’t say something encouraging to me regarding the work that I am doing that I must not be working hard enough or that I am doing a lousy job. What Paul says here blows all that out of the water. He says to keep pressing into the work of the Lord and to KNOW that what is done for the sake and name of Jesus is not done in vain.
Prayer:
Thank you Jesus that my work for Your kingdom is not in vain. That You use my life in ways that I will never know. I trust that. Release me from the need to desire approval for the work of my hands. Help me to press into You alone and may all of my life, every ounce, be for the glory of Your name in all the earth!
— Jason Elam, worship pastor
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Scripture:
“When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things.” I Corinthians 13:11
Observation:
I promise I am going somewhere with this. I am sitting at Cups in Clinton this morning as I do my life journal. It is one of those old houses converted into a coffee shop. I am sitting on what used to be the front porch which now is enclosed, but there are still windows to what used to be the front of the house. I am right by one such window. As I am reading through chapter 13, there is a 8 year old boy on the other side of the glass who is desperately trying to get my attention. He started by peeking his head around the side of the window (I see this in my peripheral), then he progressed to a faint whistle. I was determined to pay him no attention, as I was really trying to read for some understanding. He continued by gently (at first) tapping on the glass. I still would not give him my gaze. This caused him to beat on the glass and begin making some sort of alien like noise at an extremely high decibel that I can’t explain to you in written form, which brought rescue for me in the form of an angry mother. About that time, I read verse 11.
Application:
I am trying to image that same scenario with a grown man substituting for my 8 year old friend. It would look absolutely ridiculous. I expect a child to act in such a way, but not a grown man.
In the same way, it looks childish to others around me when my actions are selfish and love is not the ultimate goal. It says in verse 1, that if I don’t have love, I am just a noisy gong or a clanging symbol. I am just making creating an annoying noise.
Prayer:
“God help me to always act out of love. Not out of a desire to be noticed or praised. I desire continue to grow in love and get further and further away from the areas where I act like a child. Help me to continue to grow into the man that You desire me to be.
— Jason Elam, worship pastor
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Scripture:
“But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired.” 1 Corinthians 12:18
Observation:
Reminded that God is very intentional and purposeful in everything He has done and will do. He is the Master Designer!
Application:
Paul is speaking here about the human body to help give understanding to the church body. I am reminded this morning that there is not one part of the body that is more important than any other. Every part has a specific purpose and each part needs to be in a healthy state. I think about when my back pain flares up. It affects my entire body. I get tired, I get cranky because of the pain cause by one out of whack vertebra. When I get it adjusted, and everything goes back in line and performs its function as it is created to do then life is much smoother. The same applies to the church. God has placed every member, with their unique gifts, where He wants them so to fulfill the purpose He has created them for.
Prayer:
I praise You this morning God for Your great design. When I think about how You orchestrate everything all at the same time it blows my mind. You truly do hold everything together! Everything You have designed is beautiful and awe-inspiring.
— Jason Elam, worship pastor
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Scripture:
“No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide a way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13
Observation:
1. There are others who are facing or have faced my same temptations — they are common to man. 2. The temptation that comes my way from Satan and the things of this world are filtered through God who won’t allow more to come my way than I can handle. 3. There is always an escape route!
Application:
For a long time, I was ashamed and embarrassed to talk with others about the temptations that I faced. I believed the accusations of Satan that I was the only one who had the problems that I did. Praise God that is not the truth. This Scripture reminds me even now that I am not alone in my temptation. Satan is no respecter of persons. He attacks and schemes against all. He desires to steal, kill and destroy everyone. I take courage in the fact that God is faithful, and that others have gone before me and through the strength and grace of God have overcome the same temptations that are common to man and common to me. Praise God also for the truth here that says he limits what comes my way. There are times when I feel completely overwhelmed with the temptation coming at me, but it is only what God allows. Just another reminder how God is a shield about me! Psalm 84:11 says, “For the Lord God is a sun and shield!” Not only is He a shield for me, but He is the sun — who shines light on an escape route in the midst of dark temptation. It is up to me to make the decision to run out of the darkness and into the light. He won’t force me to choose, but He is always faithful to show the way. Awesome!
Prayer:
“My heart is filled with gratitude this morning as I think about how You have been faithful to me even in all of my unfaithfulness. You have never closed off the escape route. You have beckoned me to run to You and to find my delight in You. May my heart, mind and eyes be on You alone — always! When temptation attacks violently or subtly, may I have a holy awareness and eyes to see the escape route. Use me as a testimony to others who face the same temptations. Use my failures and my victories to speak truth into their lives. Remind me of this verse when temptation comes. Remind me of Galatians 4:9 — let my ask that question of myself in that moment. Thank you for the truth of Your word and the power of it! I rest in You today.
— Jason Elam, worship pastor
Monday, November 10, 2008
Scripture:
“We know that we all possess knowledge. Knowledge puffs us, but love builds up.” I Corinthians 8:1
Observation:
It’s interesting to me that both knowledge and love cause growth. The difference is one is healthy and the other is not.
Application:
This reminds me when people say they have stopped growing up (vertically) and have started growing out (horizontally). One is healthy, the other can cause all kinds of problems and ultimately kill. I don’t think the scripture is saying that knowledge is a bad thing. I understand this to say that gorging myself full of knowledge will cause me to become prideful and swollen with myself, but growing in love will counter and balance out the other growth.
Prayer:
God, I desire for my life to be characterized by love. I don’t want to be a person who is swollen with pride about how much knowledge I possess, but one that serves and considers the interests of other as more important than those of myself. That’s a hard thing. Help me Jesus!
— Jason Elam, worship pastor
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Scripture:
“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God with your body." 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
Observation:
The emphasis of this passage is dealing with sexual immorality, but I hear the Spirit speaking to me about another area as well when I read this verse. How I spend my time — do I use it wisely for the glory of God, or do I squander it away living selfishly.
Application:
I AM NOT MY OWN! I forget that a lot of times, and need to be reminded. What a great thought to start everyday with. I need to start everyday with that declaration – I AM YOURS — BE GLORIFIED IN ME TODAY!
Prayer:
I want to live this one life You have given to me for Your glory. I want to use the days that You have ordained for me to make as much of You as possible. I know that You don’t need me to exalt Your name, but I am grateful that I belong to You and that you give me the chance to glorify You with my life. Help me to not waste anymore time, but to make the most of every moment to share about who You are and what You have done in my life. Place within me a great urgency for the lost. Be glorified in me!
— Jason Elam, worship pastor
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Scripture:
“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God with your body.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
Observation:
The emphasis of this passage is dealing with sexual immorality, but I hear the Spirit speaking to me about another area as well when I read this verse. How I spend my time — do I use it wisely for the glory of God, or do I squander it away living selfishly.
Application:
I AM NOT MY OWN! I forget that a lot of times, and need to be reminded. What a great thought to start everyday with. I need to start everyday with that declaration — I AM YOURS — BE GLORIFIED IN ME TODAY!
Prayer:
I want to live this one life You have given to me for Your glory. I want to use the days that You have ordained for me to make as much of You as possible. I know that You don’t need me to exalt Your name, but I am grateful that I belong to You and that you give me the chance to glorify You with my life. Help me to not waste anymore time, but to make the most of every moment to share about who You are and what You have done in my life. Place within me a great urgency for the lost. Be glorified in me!
— Jason Elam, worship pastor
Friday, November 7, 2008
Scripture:
“For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” Galatians 5:14
Observation:
After 30 years, I am still trying to figure out what this verse means. I think it means love your neighbor as yourself. But surely it can’t mean just that, otherwise it would be a lot easier than I make it out to be. Our whole life we are creating boundaries so that not just any neighbor can cross — only the ones we see fit. From high school and college affiliations, from democrat to republican, from state and country borders, and even in religious and denomination affiliations — we find a way to only associate with the neighbors that are just like us. The verse doesn’t say, “love your neighbors that you have everything in common with.”
Application:
Why did Jesus and then Paul repeat this command over and over? Did they recognize the struggle between Jews and Gentiles and know that it would be the same world wide and for generations to come? Did they know that in Flowood, MS we would have trouble loving our neighbor? Next weekend we are helping put together a neighborhood cookout so we can get to know our neighbors. Just in putting the word out we’ve had the opportunity to meet more neighbors in two nights than in nine months. But I still find myself thinking, “Note to self — keep a safe distance from him/her at the cookout.” What is that all about? Even in trying to do something good, my flesh tells me that I can’t love people that aren’t like me. I’ve got a long way to go.
Prayer:
Father God, You couldn’t have said it more simply or more clear, but I still struggle with loving others. People that you love just as much as me. People that Jesus died for just like me. Father, strip away my pride so that I see others the way you see them. Help me to see you in them and how you want to accomplish your purpose in their life and in mine. And maybe how you want to use each of us to help the other in that process. Help me to love my neighbor, no matter if they live across the street, across town or across the world.
— Jared Yates, small group and single adult pastor
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Scripture:
“Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?” Galatians 3:3
Observation:
Paul is rebuking new believers who, understood it was faith in Christ that saved them, but still practiced Old Testament rites or tried to force other new believers to abide by them. He is reminding them that the law didn’t save them and therefore they no longer have to subject themselves to its rules. The law was in place for them to live under, but now Christ was there for them to live in Him and the freedom that He gives.
Application:
Do we sometimes struggle with things that we think we need to do in order to be saved? We’ve already accepted the grace of Christ, but do we continue trying to work toward pleasing God with our human efforts? Things that we know don’t save us, but we feel a certain pressure to do them to be more spiritual. That’s what was happening in Galatia — Paul was telling the Gentiles that they didn’t need to be circumcised like the Jewish believers because that didn’t make them any more holy in God’s eyes. Doing “churchy” things doesn’t make us more holy in God’s eyes — we are holy only because of Christ’s blood. But we do things out of our love and devotion to Him and we see the example that Christ was when He came to serve, not to be served.
Prayer:
Father, I am guilty of doing things that I think will grant me more favor with you. Good things, but with wrong motivations. Help me to accept the freedom Christ gives and recognize that you love me unconditionally. Christ paid it all. There is nothing else that needs to be done. It’s his blood that covers me, not my own. Thank you for a love so great.
— Jared Yates, small groups and single adults pastor
