Tag: Servant

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Be Like Moses

Scripture: Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth. Numbers 12:3 NIV

Observation: Miriam and Aaron began complaining about Moses as the only one that God would communicate through.

Application: Moses was once a son of Pharoah; a ruler of Egypt. He was called by God to lead the Israelite nation out of slavery. This was a man destined for greatness in Egypt and yet when called by God he said, “O Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.” Exodus 4:10 NIV Moses was such a great man God told Miriam and Aaron after they were caught grumbling against him, “…When a prophet of the Lord is among you, I reveal myself to him in visions, I speak to him in dreams. But this is not true of my servant Moses; he is faithful in all my house. With him I speak face to face,clearly and not in riddles…” Numbers 12:6-8a NIV We should make an effort to humble ourselves and be like Moses. That humility just may make a difference to someone to whom we are sharing Christ.

Prayer: Father, help me to be humble in all that I do so that people see you when they look at me. Amen

Doug

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Daily Priority

The following blog entry is compliments of Pastor Leon Hiebert, Community Care Pastor of Generations Church, Andover, KS

Scripture: Numbers 28:23 Prepare these in addition to the regular morning burnt offering.

Observation: Nothing could replace the regular morning burnt offering. Those offerings offered on the special days were always in addition to the daily burnt offering. This verse is speaking of the Passover offerings. And as is repeated over and over in this chapter, the offerings for each special day were not to take the place of the daily offering.
How we need to understand that success lies in our daily habits. It is the daily routine that sets the priorities and pattern for our live. The special event should support the daily pattern, not take its place. Too often the opposite is true. We fashion our daily lives to support the special event rather than vice versa.

Application: I do not believe I can survive by eating only one meal each week; neither should I think I can get by on what I get on Sunday in church. It is being faithful in my daily prayer and Bible reading that brings growth and strength in my spiritual walk. I make time to feed my physical body each day, how much more should I make time to feed my spirit.

Prayer: Lord, Thank You for allowing me to live in a time and country in which the Bible is so readily available. Forgive me for the days I ignored You and Your Word. Amen.

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Judgmental? Not Me…

Scripture: Indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, the synagogue ruler said to the people, “There are six days for work. So come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath.”   The Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Doesn’t each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or donkey from the stall and lead it out to give it water?  Then should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?  Luke 13:14-16 NIV

Observation: The Church leaders, Pharisees, and people in the temple that day were quick to accuse Jesus of “breaking rules” or  not doing things acoording to what they thought was right.

Application: This really saddens me.  This truth is still one of the biggest stumbling blocks for the church and believers today.  We spend way too much time being critical of what other Christians are doing.  The way is narrow and scripture tells us that many will be left behind, read Luke 13.  Only the Father has the authority to judge and correct us.  Therefore set your sights on knowing and sharing all about our Savior;  let the Father do the judging.

Prayer: Heavenly father look within me and show me the areas of my life where I am judgmental instead of encouraging.  Lord teach me how I can affect your kingdom by loving and encouraging others to seek and know you.  Amen

Laurie

 

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The Teacher

The following blog entry is compliments of Pastor Leon Hiebert, Community Care Pastor of Generations Church, Andover, KS

Scripture: Mark: 4:1 Again Jesus began to teach by the lake. …
2 He taught them many things by parables, and in his teaching said:…
38 …The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”

Observation: In this chapter of Mark we see the teaching ministry of Jesus emphasized. Jesus was a teacher. He helped people understand. He answered questions. He asked questions. He gave examples. He gave object lessons. He had his students/disciples participate in ministry while he watched. He sent them out and had them report back. Teaching was His way of laying a foundation for their ministry after he was gone.

Application: Having been taught, and still being taught by Jesus and His ministers, prepares me to teach also. He wants to use me to help others understand.

Prayer: Lord, you bless us to be a blessing. And You teach us to enable us to teach others. Show us the opportunities around us to pass along what you have planted in our hearts. Amen.

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Guide My Steps

Scripture: Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother or sister to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause them to fall. 1Corinthians 8:13NIV

Observation: We have an obligation to those around us to not do anything that may cause them to sin. If our behavior causes another to fall we need to reconsider our behavior.

Application: We must defy our flesh and allow the Spirit to guide our behavior.

Prayer: Holy Spirit, guide my steps. I ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen

Doug

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Jesus

Scripture: For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with wisdom and eloquence, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. 1 Corinthians 1:17 NIV

Observation: Paul was charged with sharing the truth of Christ. I believe that he may not have been a well-spoken man. A stutter or slow speech may have been the thorn in his flesh. 2 Corinthians 12:7 says, “…or because of these surpassingly great revelations, [Paul’s revelations]. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, [and taking the focus off of Christ], I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.” Paul was highly educated and well versed in the scriptures. I believe that he had exceeding wisdom and with that wisdom he knew that if he excelled verbally in preaching and teaching he could become the focus–not Jesus. So that he would not be the object of worship I believe God may have given him his “thorn.” Paul had one ministry and that was to preach the gospel of Christ and he excelled at doing that in his writings. Of course, this is just my opinion but given today’s scripture it makes perfect sense to me.

Application: When we share Christ we need to be certain that he remains the focus–not us!

Prayer: Father, help me to share Christ and make sure that he is the object of worship. I ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen

Doug

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Even if…

Scripture: “Do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews?” asked Pilate, knowing it was out of self-interest that the chief priests had handed Jesus over to him.  Mark 15:9&10 NIV

Observation: Pilate asked the mob if they want Jesus released, they did not.  Even if the mob had called for Jesus’ release it would have only been a short respite.  Jesus came to earth for the very purpose of being sacrificed for us.

Application:  Jesus paid my admission into heaven.  I don’t want to take it for granted.

Prayer: Father, thank you for Jesus.

Doug

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God’s Chosen

Scripture: If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, do not consider yourself to be superior to those other branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you. Romans 11:17&18 NIV

Observation: Paul is teaching the Gentiles that they, through the Jews, are part of God’s kingdom. Paul reminds the Gentiles and us that without God’s Chosen, Christianity wouldn’t be possible. The Jews are the root onto which we are grafted. We aren’t Christians without them. We aren’t better than them, we are just saved through Christ. We need to love the Jewish people. We need to protect them and we need to share Christ with them.

Application: We must pray for the Jewish people and we must share Christ with them.

Prayer: Father, please help me to be a good steward of your blessings. The Jews are special to you and they are responsible for my Christianity. Don’t ever let me take them for granted. When given the opportunity allow me to witness of Christ’s sacrifice. I ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen

Doug

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…the Egyptians too!

The following blog entry is compliments of Pastor Leon Hiebert, Community Care Pastor of Generations Church, Andover, KS

Scripture:  Exodus 14:4 And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will pursue them. But I will gain glory for myself through Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD.”  (also verse 18)

Observation:   2 Peter 3:9 tells us that God is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.  In the verse above, we see that God had the same desire in the Old Testament.

Instead of wanting to help the Israelites accomplish God’s will, the Egyptians were set on keeping them in slavery.  They were working against God.  Yet God wanted them to know Him.  We know God loved the Israelites, but the truth is—God loved the Egyptians too!

Application:    When people stand against me and what I believe God wants to do in my life, it is easy to write them off my list of friends.  That may be my way, but it is not God’s way.  He loves them too!  He wants me to love them too.

Prayer:   Lord, You love my enemies and You tell me to love them too, to bless them that curse me and to do good to them that hate me and pray for them who spitefully use and persecute me. (Mt 5:44) To do this, Lord, I need your help.  Amen.

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Be Child-like

Scripture: Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18:4 NIV

Observation: Jesus teaches the truth of humility in God’s kingdom.

Application: God not only wants to be our daddy, he wants us to be meek, child-like, and humble. I believe that when we have those attributes we are more willing to be led and more able to learn.

Prayer: Father, help me to be child-like. Teach me as I marvel and learn. I ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen

Doug