Monthly Archives: February 2013

Do the Right Thing

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url-1You can do what you want to do. Really. You are free. No one can make you do anything. You have freedom and you have a choice.

Us that wisely. Today, as you do what you want to do, do the right thing. Do the good thing. Do thing that you want to do.

You have freedom.

Now, do the right thing. What does mean?

Listen to what Paul says in Galatians 5:13-15:

For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.

You are called to freedom. Jesus came to set you free. But, you are to use that freedom for what is right. What is that?

Seve one another through love. You shall love your neighbor as yourself. That’s your calling and that’s what you were set from sin for. To love.

Love God, love each other.

That’s what freedom is for.

So, what if we don’t use our freedom in that way? What if we use it for ourselves, our desires, and what we want?

Then Paul says this – if you bite and devour one another be careful you are not consumed by each other.

Today, do the right thing. Love. Love each other. Take care of each other. Look out for each other.

Today, we have freedom. We have the chance to do what we want. Make sure we choose to love God. Love each other. Take care of each other.

Be salt and light. Love as God has loved us.

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones.

Why Do Love Our Enemies?

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Jesus tells us a lot of things that we like to hear. Things about forgiveness. Things about mercy. Things about grace and compassion and joy. Things we like.

But, Jesus also says some things that are tough to hear. Some things that are challenging. Some things that we don’t understand and really, may not even like.

Like what we read today.

Listen to what Jesus says to us in Luke 6:27-30:

“But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back.

urlMan. We we look at that, I don’t like that. I don’t want to have to forgive my enemies. I don’t want to have to have to do those things.

They’ve wronged me. They’ve hurt me. They are my “enemy” for a reason.

Why? Why do I have to do that? Why does Jesus tell us to do that?

First, prayer can change them. Really. I can. Prayer can change you enemies. It can. It can change their hearts. Soften them. Make them a new person, a different person. Prayer can really change your enemies make them a different person.

Pray for them. It will change things.

But, even if it doesn’t change them, it can change us. They may stay the same. They may not be different.

But, prayer will change us. It will change our heart. Our patience. Our ability to deal with them.

Prayer will change things.

It will change who they are. And, if now, it will change who we are.

The best thing you can do for you enemies is pray for them. The best thing you can do for you is to pray for them.

I know it doesn’t make sense. But it’s true. Today, may we pray for everyone. And pray for those that are our enemies.

And God will do great things.

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones.

Satisfied

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We are never satisfied. It seems like today, we are always searching. Never happy. Always longing. Always looking.

Looking for more.

Looking for different.

Looking for something else.

We are never satisfied.

Why is that? Why are we not satisfied? I think sometimes we aren’t satisfied because we aren’t looking to the right things.

Look at what happened today in Mark 8:6-8:

And he directed the crowd to sit down on the ground. And he took the seven loaves, and having given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to set before the people; and they set them before the crowd. And they had a few small fish. And having blessed them, he said that these also should be set before them. And they ate and were satisfied. And they took up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full.

urlThis the tail end of the feeding fo the 4000 in Mark’s Gospel. Lot’s of things we could talk about here. The amount of people who Jesus feed.

The meager amount of food that Jesus used to do it.

The lack of faith that the disciples showed in not trusting.

But, to me, it’s a simple phrase found in verse 8. “They ate and were satisfied.”

I think in life we are not satisfied because we are looking to the wrong things. We are seeking life in work. Or hobbies. Or success. Or any of the things.

And we find ourselves, well. Empty.

We aren’t satisfied.

And in truth, none of these things will ever do it. None of these things will ever satisfy us.

Only Jesus will. And today, they ate until they were. He provided that for them.

And He will provide that for you today. Today, in Jesus, in Him, you will be satisfied.

You will find what you are looking for.

Today, may we find that life, hope and peace. May we be satisfied. And may we find that the only place possible.

In Jesus.

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones.

God is for You

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urlToday, God is for you. God is on your side. God is with you.

God is your biggest fan, your biggest ally, your strongest strength, your greatest hope, your rock and salvation.

God is for you. Today.

No matter what you are going through, God is for you.

Now, this is not an “everything is perfect and easy and smooth” message. There will be tough times. There will be trials. There will be tears.

Listen to Psalm 56:8-11:

You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book? Then my enemies will turn back in the day when I call. This I know, that God is for me. In God, whose word I praise, in the Lord, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me?

God keeps a record of our tears. God is aware. God knows our hurts, records them, keeps them.

But, God is for you. God is with us. We shall not be afraid. What can man do to us? What can this world do to us? What can there trials do to us?

For if God is for us, who can be against us?

Today, know, God is for you. No matter what is going on in your life, God is for you. God is with you. God will not leave you.

No matter what.

Today, God is for you.

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones.