Posts Tagged ‘Christ’

I humbly declare I am not proud; never have been.

Sunday, February 5th, 2012

Humility, February 5

 … God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world
Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.
…”God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.
 
Galatians 6:14; 5:26, Philippians 4:5, James 4:6; 10, www.solascriptura.com
 
Father, we know that to be like Jesus is our goal and we also know that our lower nature, our flesh, often causes us to act more like a goof ball than a saint. Give us the humility we pray to allow You to overcome that which is present in all of us. You promised to do so if we but ask.

Boasting is such a natural instinct. We all want to do well but we sometimes get carried away in telling others how well we are doing. In the process, we become entrapped in a practice that You have warned us about. We know some of the disciples boasted now and then but we notice that You, Jesus, did not.
 
Jesus, we should ask less and less for forgiveness of sins, such as bragging; it makes us look immature in our Spiritual journey. If we repeatedly make the same mistakes help us examine our hearts and make the changes we need to make. Remind us all that we should not even try to make corrections without the power of the Holy Spirit being our guiding Light. Our strength is in You and if we are inclined to boast, let it be of You and Your leadership in our lives. In Your Holy name we pray, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

The Sola Scriptura Project, P.O. Box 302, Franklin TN 37064

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Suffer patiently? How is that possible…

Monday, January 30th, 2012

Revenge, January 30

For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God.
For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:
”Who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth”;
who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously;
who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.

1 Peter 2:20-24,www.solascriptura.com

Jesus, our objective is to be like You. We will need a lot of help not to return evil for evil. If people are critical of us, to take such criticism without angrily giving it back to them, doubly for some of us, requires Your Spirit in us.

We read that when You suffered, You did not threaten those who were punishing You, unto death. Jesus, we can not relate, easily, to that circumstance. Your patient endurance of undeserved punishment resulted in each of us now being able to not receive the punishment for our transgressions that we truly deserve. Your suffering set the stage for eternal life for all those You have cleansed.
 
You suffered for our sins that we might live righteously. Our flesh wants to retaliate; our spirit wants to be like You. Help us reflect Your countenance and heart as we experience persecution.

In the Holy name of Jesus we pray, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

The Sola Scriptura Project, P.O. Box 302, Franklin TN 37064

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God’s word can never be stamped void. It invades your space

Sunday, January 29th, 2012

Mind of Christ, January 29

Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints,
do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers:
that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him,
the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,
and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power

Ephesians 1:15-19, www.solascriptura.com

Father, the words we have just read are now a part of us. Your word has invaded our hearts, whether by a small amount or in a life changing way. Your word is never able to be stamped void. It is alive and active, giving us discernment and hope or convicting us. We truly respect and treasure Your word.

Father, we thank You for Paul’s ministry. He taught us how to pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ, who he refers to as saints. We do pray for each other, perhaps not as fervently or constantly as we should, but we know that the prayers of a righteous man availeth much. You hear the prayers of those that love You so we never speak in vain when we bring our needs and hopes to You.

We pray, this day, that You will reveal to us Your wisdom, Your insight, into situations where we feel incompetent. Help us know that You know our circumstance, that Your thoughts toward us exceed number. What a wonderful truth. Help us respond, we pray, in Jesus’ name. Amen

Bruce Caldwell

The Sola Scriptura Project, P.O. Box 302, Franklin TN 37064

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