I just wanted to talk about this for a moment, I know that very few of you out there will probably read everything I write, but I do ask that you at least skim over it.
We have to remember this, there are things in our day to day lives that influence us without our knowledge. Television shows, commercials, friends, family, musical lyrics, etc. There are various ways that these things influence us.
For example, a television show may appear funny and "clean" but if you really evaluate it, yet again you'll see it demonstrates worldly values and principles. No, i'm not telling you that TV is the devil and therefore should be banned, all I'm saying is, watch your back. What goes in your mind never leaves, it pops up when you're lower than low and refuses to go away. Pictures, words, statements, etc. All of these will show up when you least expect them, and when you aren't prepared to defend yourself from them. That's called the devil.
Commercials influence us, how many times have you seen a commercial, and wanted whatever it was advertising? For most of us, commercials are unavoidable, but don't catch yourself falling victim to the materialistic side of life. Don't fall into that trap where you add value to yourself by trying to purchase more and more things that eventually will fade.
Friends can be some of the worst influencers in our lives. They add more peer pressure than just the normal crowd. Friends are people you never want to dissappoint, and it's okay to do something with your friends, isn't it? Sure is, as long as it doesn't diminish your faith! Don't go to the dark places if you're light isn't going to shine bright enough. Sometimes with friends, the best way is to just say no. NOW, you're closest circle of friends should ALWAYS be christians, after all, how much can you have in common with a nonbeliever? You need a tight circle of friends who will stand around you, build you up, and keep you going. If I didn't have friends like that, I wouldn't be where I am today.
Family are also key influencers in our lives, mostly because you can pick your friends, but family you're stuck with. What if your family is full of pagans? What if your family isn't? Either way, your family is unavoidable. Number one with family is HONOR THEM. Trust me, God specifically says for us to "honor our fathers and our mothers". That means following directions given by them, whether they are Christ-followers or not. God didn't say "Follow your christian parents". He said "honor your father and your mother." So do it. It's hard at times, doing everything your parents say when they say it, but imagine it this way. God is our authority, right? We try to follow him, right? Well, God's placed our parents as a direct authority over us during our life here on earth, shouldn't we at least give them respect?
Finally, I'd just like to say this. Watch your back, brothers. There are influences you aren't even aware of that are lurking about. Satan will use them to break you down when you're at your weakest. Words will slip out, tempers will flare, respect will diminish, and we cannot let it happen! We must support each other now and keep Satan behind us.
It Means Just What it Says
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Philippians Devotional 2
Philippians 1
Verses 12-22
This section really stands out. Besides the fact that Paul has just about every reason in the book to be angry and upset, he still finds peace and comfort in the knowledge that whatever happens to him is "really served for the advancement of the Gospel..." (v.12) Paul, despite his imprisonment and his desperate state is the first to encourage others, and praise God. Paul even realizes that his imprisonment has caused his brothers in Christ to become more bold in their faith. Now you tell me, what would his brothers in Christ have done had Paul chosen to be angry, upset, and frustrated? They wouldn't have grown in their faith, and Paul wouldn't have gotten any closer to getting out of jail. So in his situation, it didn't help him to mope around, and it actually did help others for him to be positive, and pleasent.
Paul is facing several difficult situations in this section. He's facing trial, where he could possibly be killed, not to mention there are followers of the Faith that are teaching "out of rivalry". In other words, they were standing agaisnt Paul even though he clearly couldn't defend himself while imprisoned. Despite this fact, Paul still rejoices because there are some out there who are on his side, and expressing the good news. "Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice." (v.18)
How would you feel if you were trapped somewhere, unable to get out, and your friends who usually stand by you choose to betray you? Oh, and all the while, there's a possibility of you being killed and/or prosecuted. Would you be pleasent, and even rejoicing like Paul was? I'll tell you the truth, I wouldn't be.
So how do we get to that point? How do we find ourselves in a place where all we want is Christ to be lifted up, and we don't really care what happens to us?
"Yes, and I will rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and the help of hte Spirit of Jesus Christ, this will turn out for my deliverance..." (v. 18-19) Paul isn't saying "I know I'm going to get out of jail." Paul is saying, I know that no matter if this means death or life, I'll be delivered. Either to the hands of God, or back into my mission field. Paul also says "to live is Christ, to die is gain." (v. 21) Meaning, Paul knows that if he lives, he lives for Christ, and if he dies, he's going straight to heaven to be with Christ. Either way is a win-win situation for Paul.
We have to understand that fact for ourselves! Either way is a win win situation for us as well! We serve the same God as Paul did, and our God loves us just as much as he loved Paul! Sometimes we forget that God loves us this much because we all think of Paul as some kind of "superchristian" Paul is no different than any of us could be if we tried. So let's follow his example and do our best to stay positive, and in all times give God the glory!
Verses 12-22
This section really stands out. Besides the fact that Paul has just about every reason in the book to be angry and upset, he still finds peace and comfort in the knowledge that whatever happens to him is "really served for the advancement of the Gospel..." (v.12) Paul, despite his imprisonment and his desperate state is the first to encourage others, and praise God. Paul even realizes that his imprisonment has caused his brothers in Christ to become more bold in their faith. Now you tell me, what would his brothers in Christ have done had Paul chosen to be angry, upset, and frustrated? They wouldn't have grown in their faith, and Paul wouldn't have gotten any closer to getting out of jail. So in his situation, it didn't help him to mope around, and it actually did help others for him to be positive, and pleasent.
Paul is facing several difficult situations in this section. He's facing trial, where he could possibly be killed, not to mention there are followers of the Faith that are teaching "out of rivalry". In other words, they were standing agaisnt Paul even though he clearly couldn't defend himself while imprisoned. Despite this fact, Paul still rejoices because there are some out there who are on his side, and expressing the good news. "Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice." (v.18)
How would you feel if you were trapped somewhere, unable to get out, and your friends who usually stand by you choose to betray you? Oh, and all the while, there's a possibility of you being killed and/or prosecuted. Would you be pleasent, and even rejoicing like Paul was? I'll tell you the truth, I wouldn't be.
So how do we get to that point? How do we find ourselves in a place where all we want is Christ to be lifted up, and we don't really care what happens to us?
"Yes, and I will rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and the help of hte Spirit of Jesus Christ, this will turn out for my deliverance..." (v. 18-19) Paul isn't saying "I know I'm going to get out of jail." Paul is saying, I know that no matter if this means death or life, I'll be delivered. Either to the hands of God, or back into my mission field. Paul also says "to live is Christ, to die is gain." (v. 21) Meaning, Paul knows that if he lives, he lives for Christ, and if he dies, he's going straight to heaven to be with Christ. Either way is a win-win situation for Paul.
We have to understand that fact for ourselves! Either way is a win win situation for us as well! We serve the same God as Paul did, and our God loves us just as much as he loved Paul! Sometimes we forget that God loves us this much because we all think of Paul as some kind of "superchristian" Paul is no different than any of us could be if we tried. So let's follow his example and do our best to stay positive, and in all times give God the glory!
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Philippians Devotional 1
Philippians 1
Verses 3-11:
This section's main focus is fellowship with our brothers and sisters in Christ. As Christ followers, we should yearn to fellowship with one another just as Paul did. "For God is my witness, how I yearn for you with all the affection of Christ Jesus." (v.8) So how do we get to that point where we yearn desperately for our fellow believers? Paul gives us a clear answer in verses 3 and 4. "I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy." Prayer strengthens bonds.
Think of it this way, if you found that one person you absolutely can't stand, and you commit to wholeheartedly pray for them, you would find it impossible to continue despising them. Now, if that is true for people we can't stand, imagine how much enabling power we have access to if we were to pray for those we love?
It is important for us to understand that we have a "partnership in the gospel..." (v.5) Every believer, young or old, is charged with the same mission objective.
Do you remember what it is?
"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. and behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."
Talk about a mission! If that's our calling as believers, how can we possibly even think of accomplishing that without fellowship? We can't fathom the completion of our objective without pledging our support - and more importantly - our prayers! The benefit of our partnership is that when all are taking it seriously, we are guarded by the prayers of others, and encouraged by our fellowship with them!
So what can we do to achieve fellowship and a yearning for our partners in Christ?
-We can lift each other up in prayer at all times.
-We can also be encouraged by the fact that we do not labor alone!
I encourage you, as your sister and partner in Christ to begin praying today for your friends and loved ones in the Faith. Encourage them to do so as well. We can't be an awesome Christ-following team if we never congregate together and pray for one another!
Verses 3-11:
This section's main focus is fellowship with our brothers and sisters in Christ. As Christ followers, we should yearn to fellowship with one another just as Paul did. "For God is my witness, how I yearn for you with all the affection of Christ Jesus." (v.8) So how do we get to that point where we yearn desperately for our fellow believers? Paul gives us a clear answer in verses 3 and 4. "I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy." Prayer strengthens bonds.
Think of it this way, if you found that one person you absolutely can't stand, and you commit to wholeheartedly pray for them, you would find it impossible to continue despising them. Now, if that is true for people we can't stand, imagine how much enabling power we have access to if we were to pray for those we love?
It is important for us to understand that we have a "partnership in the gospel..." (v.5) Every believer, young or old, is charged with the same mission objective.
Do you remember what it is?
"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. and behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."
Talk about a mission! If that's our calling as believers, how can we possibly even think of accomplishing that without fellowship? We can't fathom the completion of our objective without pledging our support - and more importantly - our prayers! The benefit of our partnership is that when all are taking it seriously, we are guarded by the prayers of others, and encouraged by our fellowship with them!
So what can we do to achieve fellowship and a yearning for our partners in Christ?
-We can lift each other up in prayer at all times.
-We can also be encouraged by the fact that we do not labor alone!
I encourage you, as your sister and partner in Christ to begin praying today for your friends and loved ones in the Faith. Encourage them to do so as well. We can't be an awesome Christ-following team if we never congregate together and pray for one another!
A Little Bit of Background...
This is a blog dedicated to my thoughts, feelings, and a few devotionals. Feel free to read this, or not, it wont bother me. Also, the title 'It Means Just What it Says' is from a song that I absolutely love. I'll post the lyrics up later.
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