Saturday, February 27, 2010

Providence, Protection and Provision

When we choose to participate in activities that don't glorify God, we must realize that we are opening ourselves up to needless dangers. The book of Ruth in the Bible talks of the city of Moab. For me, Moab is a picture of the world. When Naomi left Bethlehem and went off to Moab with her family, her husband and two sons died. I look at that and think how we can lose our loved ones and ourselves to the "world". When we are in God's will there is providence, protection and provision. When we choose to stray the outcome is usually poverty, perplexity and pain. God's will sounds much more appealing doesn't it?

Let us not participate in the deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. We will will blessed if we do!




Romans 12:1-2
- Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.



Ephesians 5:11 - Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.


Read the story of Ruth

Saturday, February 6, 2010

Your Sphere of Influence

I read an article a while back about how the Good Samaritans Law came to be. A woman in New York City was attacked and pursued for miles by a man who was trying to kill her and ultimately did. The most disturbing part of this story was that 39 people witnessed it. 39 people!! When asked why they didn't respond to her cries for help, call the police, or do anything for that matter, was because there were 38 other witnesses.

Everyone thought that someone else would do something, effectively paralyzing themselves into watching a woman get pulled to her death. As horrible as that is, we as Christians, do the same thing everyday. We assume that we don't have to share the way of salvation to our neighbor, our coworker, fill in the blank... because someone else will.

Dear Lord,
Help us to err on the side of caution and assume that everyone you put in our path is our responsibility. What an awesome privilege. Help us to be Your mouthpiece, Your hands and feet.