Our Savior Understands

Hebrews 4:14-16
14.Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
15.For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
16. Let us therefore come boldily unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

We do not have a Savior who's isolated in heaven with no idea what it feels like to have human struggles. No, our Lord left the glories of heaven behind and added humanity to His deity. He temporarily gave up the use of some of His attributes, applying them only as the Father directed Him.

Jesus understands precisely how we feel because He went through the same types of situations we do.  Though details of our lives may not match His, the experiences and feelings are alike. Let's look at several examples of how He identifies with us:

~Misunderstanding: People constantly misunderstood His claims to be the Son of God.
~Rejection: He was unappreciated by the ones He came to love and die for.
~Pressure: Crowds surrounded Him, begging for help and demanding His attention.
~Exhaustion: He experienced all the weakness of humanity.
~Loneliness: At Gethsemane, when He needed human companionship the most, His closest friends fell asleep.
~Temptation: Satan hit Him with every imaginable type of attack and temptation.
~Hatred: Religious leaders despised Him.
~Injustice: Though Jesus lived a sinless life, He died a criminal's death.
~Pain: He suffered the excruciating pain of scourging and crucifixion.

Whatever you're going through right now, remember that Jesus knows how you feel and sympathizes with your pain and weakness. He may not remove the anguish or change your situation, but He'll always give you the grace to resist temptation, endure suffering, and grow in spiritual maturity.

He's Got the Whole World in His Hands

 Daniel 2:20-22

How many of us have listened to the global or national news and wondered, What in the world is going on?  Without a firm foundation of biblical truth, we can easily be overcome with fear and despair.  Despite the upheavel in political and financial realms, Chrisitians can find peace in the knowledge that our God is sovereign over every nation and ruler on earth.

Though the future of a nation appears to be in the hands of its rulers and lawmakers, an omnipotent hand is orchestrating a good and glorious plan:  the Lord is the one who "removes kings and establishes kings" (vs. 20).  Ultimately, every governmental leader is put into office, not by voters, political campaigns, or personal abilities, but the the hand of God.

Nothing that the Lord does is carried out in isolation.  He's working all things according to His divine plan.  We tend to think that a ruler has to be righteous for God to use Him, but Proverbs 21:1 tells us that the Lord can direct the heart of any national leader wherever He wishes.  In fact, He describes two pagan kings- Nebuchadnezzar and Cyrus- as "My Servant" (Jer. 25:9) and "My Shepherd" (Isa. 44:28). Unbeknownst to them, God guided their paths to fulfill His purposes  for Israel.

When the news threatens to dislodge your peace or cause despair, remember who holds the nations in His Hand.  God's plans for this world are moving along according to His divine purposes, and no uprighteous ruler can thwart Him.  Just keep saying,
"He's got the whole world in His hands."  :)

Jesus Loves the Little Children

Childhood experiences help shape our character, yet once we are grown, their significance is often forgotten.  Since childish matters seem so trivial when compared with adult-sized problems and responsibilites, we tend to discount them as unimportant.  But by marginalizing children and their concerns, we miss the opportunity to invest in their lives and learn valuable spiritual lessons from them.  Children hold a special place in Christ's heart.  When the disciples saw the young as a nuisance and hindrance to ministry, the Lord sharply rebuked them.  In stark contrast to the culture's value system, He granted little ones honor and respect.  To understand Jesus' perspective, we must view them through His eyes.

Their value:
The kingdom of heaven belongs to "such as these" Matt. 19:13-15
Jesus gives a stern warning to anyone who causes one of them to stumble. Matt. 18:5-7
Their anges continually see the face of God. Matt. 18:10
The Father is not willing that any of these little ones perish.  Matt. 18:14

Their example:
We are called to emulate their childlike humility. Matt. 18:1-4
They show us that greatness comes by being "last of all and servant of all" Mark 9:33-37
Children are an example of the kind of people God chooses and uses 1 Cor. 1:26-29

Their Contribution:
Unencumbered by adult dignity, they praise Jesus with wholehearted abandon Matt. 21:15-16
A child's gift is never small when placed in Jesus' hands John 6:5-13
Even the very young can serve the Lord 1 Sam. 3:1-19


Our Responsibilty:
Bring your little ones to Jesus.  Mark 10:13-16
Teach them scriptural truth.  Deut. 6:5-9; Eph. 6:4
Pass on a spiritual heritage by living in obedience.  Ex. 20:5-6;  2 Tim. 3:14-15

Things to think about:
1. How have your childhood experiences shaped you?  What can you do to value and influence a child in your life?
2. Jesus tells us to become like children, yet they aren't always humble, selfless, and obedient.  What is the difference between childlikeness and childishness?
3. Considering your example and words, what kind of spiritual heritage are you passing down to your children?

I recently done this study and Pray you get a blessing from it as much as I did. :)
Study by: Charles Stanley

What is Worship?

What is Worship? 
Releasing Our Preconceptions and Learning to Exalt the Lord

One of the most controversial issues in the church today is worship.  Sadly, the phrase, "worship wars" is used to describe the conflict between various music and service styles.  Maybe it's time to open our minds, drop our preferences, and learn what the Lord says.  In the Scriptures, the word worship means to bow oneself down in humble respect to a superior being.
The goal is to meet and exalt the Lord in such a way that we come away transformed.  Like Abraham, we humble ourselves and honor God by believing Him, obeying His commands, and withholding nothing from Him (Gen. 22:1-18; Heb. 11:17-19).
The Old Testament gave very specific regulations for worship, but when Christ came, He changed the way we approach God (Heb. 9:1-15; 10:19-23). 
Now Jesus tells us that the only way to worship the Lord is in spirit and truth (John 4:23-24).  Since the Holy Spirit lives within each believer, our meeting place with God is no longer an external temple but the internal spirit of man (Phil. 3:3), and the sacrifice we offer is ourselves (Rom. 12:1-2).  Because the New Testament records only general guidelines for churches to follow (Acts 2:42), each culture and era has been allowed the freedom to determine the specific elements of their meetings.  However, the spirit of our gatherings should match that described by Paul in Colossians 3:12-16. 
Although detailed practices and methods are not prescribed for the church, Psalm 96 lists timeless ways to praise and exalt the Lord.  But sometimes we don't glorify the Lord when we meet with Him.  In Mark 7:6-13, Jesus warned that it is useless to honor God with our lips while our hearts are far from Him.  If our attitudes are divisive, argumentative, or selfish, we have failed to worship the Lord (1 Cor. 11:17-22). 
Questions to think about:
1.  Where is your focus during church- on yourself, others, your preferences, or the Lord?  What hinders you from concentrating on God?  What do you need to surrender to Him?
2.  Private, personal worship shapes your mind, emotions, and will-and prepares you to give God genuine Honor through corporate expression.  How can you exalt the Lord each day with your thoughts, attitudes, words, and actions?