BE READY WHEN CALLED UPON

2 Timothy 2:20-21

In a wealthy home some utensils are made of gold and silver, and some are made of wood and clay. The expensive utensils are used for special occasions, and the cheap ones are for everyday use. If you keep yourself pure, you will be a utensil God can use for his purpose. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work.

Every person that receives Jesus in their life through faith in Him becomes servant of God. As a servant, our sins are forgiven. The Bible teaches us in Ephesians 2:10 that, “We neither make nor save ourselves. God does both the making and saving. He creates each of us to join him in the work he does by Christ Jesus, the good work he has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing.” We are cleaned by the blood of Jesus Our Lord so that God the Father can use us for His sovereign purpose. Keep yourself pure and God will definitely use you for His purpose. If you choose, however, to remain in your old sinful nature, you can be certain that His purpose for your life will go unfulfilled.

BEAUTY FROM WITHIN

1 Peter 3:3-4

Don't be concerned about the outward beauty that depends on fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. You should be known for the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God.

It’s amazing to me how much money people spend on clothes and other adornments to look good and impress others. The Bible clearly tells us that what is precious to God isn’t visible to man, but it's what's God can see in your heart – the real you. When we put more effort into our appearance, we focus on a very temporary part of ourselves. The real you is not the physical you, but rather it’s the spiritual you that has been revived in Christ. Ecclesiastes 12:7 teaches us, “For then the dust will return to the earth, and the spirit will return to God who gave it.” Our spiritual life is what is most precious to God. Is your spiritual life what's most precious to you?

EVIL DECEPTION

Revelations 12:9

This great dragon – the ancient serpent called the Devil, or Satan, the one deceiving the whole world – was thrown down to the earth with all his angels.

Have you ever been deceived? Have you ever been led to believe something that you later found out wasn't true? At the core of that deception sits Satan, or one of his fallen angels that manipulates people into lying and deception. They'll even use people's faith in religions to try and implement their devilish schemes. Revelation 13:4 teaches us that, “They worshiped the dragon for giving the beast such power, and they worshiped the beast. ‘Is there anyone as great as the beast?’ they exclaimed. ‘Who is able to fight against him?’” If you’ve come to believe that you have a way into heaven through doing good deeds, through being a member of a church, or through refraining from doing anything bad – then you’ve been deceived. Read the Word of God, you’ll easily find that Jesus is the only way.

HE WHO BEGAN A GOOD WORK IN YOU

Philippians 1:6

And I am sure that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on that day when Christ Jesus comes back again.

Dale Carnegie once said that, “Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all.” As Christians, our hope is in God who promised that whatever He began in us, He would certainly finish. 2 Corinthians 3:18 teaches us, “And all of us have had that veil removed so that we can be mirrors that brightly reflect the glory of the Lord. And as the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like him and reflect his glory even more.” God’s goal for us as He completes and perfects us, is to have us become more and more like Christ.

TOOLS OF WICKEDNESS

Romans 6:13

Do not let any part of your body become a tool of wickedness, to be used for sinning. Instead, give yourselves completely to God since you have been given new life. And use your whole body as a tool to do what is right for the glory of God.

I had the privilege of working with the owner of a motel chain who was saved by the blood of Christ. Prior to knowing Jesus as his Savior, this businessman's motel chain was primarily used for prostitution and other sordid immoral activities. When he received Jesus' gift of salvation, he converted the motel into a God honoring business and banned prostitution. All of his motel signs now read, “For The Glory of God.” Jesus changes lives. Jesus can change your life, if you're willing to accept Him. Are you letting Christ change your life today?

AN ENDLESS STREAM OF SARCASM

Romans 9:20

No, don't say that. Who are you, a mere human being, to criticize God? Should the thing that was created say to the one who made it, "Why have you made me like this?"

How much time do you spend being a critic? Criticism is a regular part of conversation, and critics provide to us an endless stream of sarcasm. I’d once read a story about a teenager who said, “I was thinking about my parents, and how they messed things up and did such a terrible job with the world in their generation. And then it hit me. If they are all that bad, how did I become such a wonderful guy?” I'm sure that we all have a lot of questions and comments about things that are happening in our lives and all around us. However, the wisest thing to do would be to first thank God for all that you have and to get closer to Him so that you'll be able to understand the answers when they're unveiled. Hold your tongue from criticism and let your faith be strong.

BUILD IT UP

Ephesians 4:12

Their responsibility is to equip God's people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.

Former weightlifting champ, Bob Zuver, became an ordained minister after building Zuver’s Gym and the Muscle Hall of Fame. What’s interesting about this gym is that all of the presentations are physically large. For instance, some of the presentations are a huge fiberglass gorilla, a ten-foot tall superman and a fiberglass elephant lifting a barbell. The main entrance doors weigh two tons and the drinking fountain is a fire hydrant. When Zuver was asked why everything was made large in scale, he said, “To build fitness and strength not only in the physical realm, but also in the mental and the spiritual realms.” Every Christian is part of the body of Christ, and Christians are responsible for strengthening each other and working together to build a huge, fit body of Christ.

CHRIST IS OUR DEFENDER

1 John 2:1

My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense - Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.

To whom are we supposed to confess our sins? To priests? To the government? Maybe to each other? The Bible teaches us that Jesus Christ is the only one to whom we should confess our sins. He is the only righteous one able to bear the load of all of our sins because all other possibilities are filled by sinners. This is why the Word of God teaches us in 1 Timothy 2:5, “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” When we give ourselves over to Jesus, the Son speaks to the Father on our behalf and in our defense. Christ is our defender and when God looks at us, He no longer sees us, but rather the Father sees His Son. Ultimately, there are no priests, governments, institutions or persons that can do that for you. Just Christ alone.

EXAMINE YOUR WAYS

Lamentations 3:40

Instead, let us test and examine our ways. Let us turn again in repentance to the LORD.

Assessment and reassessment are vital parts of successful business management. Regularly assessing and reassessing of performance indicates true vigilance. Paul taught us in 1 Corinthians 16:13 to, “Be on guard. Stand true to what you believe. Be courageous. Be strong.” Whenever you find yourself in sin, immediately ask God for forgiveness, leave that place of failure and run to the center of God’s will. Peter left us Godly advice in 1 Peter 5:8 when he said, “Be careful! Watch out for attacks from the Devil, your great enemy. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for some victim to devour.” Routinely check your ways to assess whether or not you’re doing the right thing. If you do that consistently, you'll find yourself on the right track to success more often than not.

THERE'S A PLANK IN YOUR EYE

1 Timothy 3:2

For an elder must be a man whose life cannot be spoken against. He must be faithful to his wife. He must exhibit self-control, live wisely, and have a good reputation. He must enjoy having guests in his home and must be able to teach.

In the past, I’ve received furious complaints from parents about their newly saved teenagers. Generally, these parents felt that their children had become disobedient after they had become part of a church. By default, the church family became the target of blame for their child’s new “disobedience.” At first, I would become angry about these types of complaints. But after thinking it through, I would begin to feel pity for these parents. You see, whatever these people had come to believe about their child’s behavior was just something that their kids had probably learned from their parents. I've found that the real problem is more likely that parents are just not walking their talk. Jesus asked us in Matthew 7:3, "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?” A parent's life must be filled with integrity for one to successfully teach children. If a reputation of integrity doesn't exist, you can expect failure and that failure is a reflection of the poor spirit of the teacher.

THE AUTHOR OF PEACE

1 Corinthians 14:33

For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, confusion is a state of being disoriented. Being disoriented means that one has lost one’s bearings and is unable to tell what direction is which. The world offers up thoughts and opinions on how to reach God through different religious offerings and at times, all those religions can make things very confusing for people. The Bible tells us very clearly that God is not the author of confusion, which is a key to understanding why He gave us the only way to bridge the gap between us and God, Jesus Christ, as we learn in John 14:6 when Jesus teaches us, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.” When it comes to your eternal salvation, you will never be confused in Jesus because He is the only way – no more, no less.

GREED CAUSES FIGHTING

Proverbs 28:25

Greed causes fighting; trusting the LORD leads to prosperity.

There's a story I'd once read about a powerful lion and a wild donkey that went hunting together. When they had caught their prey, the lion divided it into three shares and said, “I will take the first share because as king I hold the highest rank; and the second share is mine too, as your equal partner. If you want some serious trouble, you can try to take the third share or you can choose to make yourself scarce.” People really aren't all that different. People like to have control, particularly over material goods because of human greed. However, it’s just not worth it in the long run. After all, you can't take it with you beyond the grave. Make sure that you place your trust in the Lord alone because peace and prosperity can only truly come from Him.

LISTEN TO GOOD ADVICE

Proverbs 10:21

The godly give good advice, but fools are destroyed by their lack of common sense.

Have you noticed that common sense is not really all that common? There’s a story I'd once heard about a man who went to see a doctor because he was experiencing pain on his left foot. After a thorough examination, the doctor concluded that he has Buerger’s disease. He was advised to give up smoking. He returned to the doctor 2 years later and admitted he had not entirely given up smoking. To make matters worse, his foot pain was even more severe than when he had last visited. Another year later on his third visit, there were no changes to his condition and he was now in serious danger of having his foot amputated. For several years after, the man made no appearances at his doctor’s office. From the fear, the man had finally chosen to stop smoking. He was healthy again with clear pulsating arteries and a normal blood flow. The man had been cured without surgery or medication, but his lack of common sense to heed to wise advice had almost been his doom. Do you find yourself receptive to good advice or do you succumb to your sinful habits? Your answer just might unveil your level of common sense.

BE AN ENCOURAGER

1 Thessalonians 5:11

So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.

Horatio Alger, Jr. was a 19th-century American author who wrote "rags to riches" stories about how people that are down-and-out might be able to achieve their dreams through hard work, courage, determination, and concern for others. Alger had no idea that his writings would be the inspiration for a 15-year old admitted to Columbia University who would later go on to receive his Master’s at 19, and at 21 would pass the New York State Bar exam with high honors. Later, as an established figure, Justice Benjamin Cardozo would share his inspiration openly by saying, "My preparation for college was the work of Horatio Alger." In the same Christ-like way of inspiring that Alger became famous for, Christians need to encourage people to achieve great things. In doing so, you'll see the lives of many people blessed. Best of all, for those that are truly down-and-out, they'll get to be a part of the changes that will catapult them on to a blessed and more fulfilling life.

CHASING THE WIND

Ecclesiastes 4:4

Then I observed that most people are motivated to success by their envy of their neighbors. But this, too, is meaningless, like chasing the wind.

People appear to be mesmerized by new sports cars and beautiful homes. And truth be told, there’s really nothing wrong with that kind of stuff - except for when it becomes your key motivating factor to achieve success. Once our material desires are fulfilled, we commonly find ourselves dissatisfied with our achievements. Chasing these types of desires, however, will leaves you feeling like you’re chasing the wind. That feeling of never being fully satisfied or accomplished is a very common tale for those that pursue material gain. Solomon also wrote in Ecclesiastes 5:16 that, "This, too, is a very serious problem. As people come into this world, so they depart. All their hard work is for nothing. They have been working for the wind, and everything will be swept away." Choose to live your life with God at the center of everything and your life will be meaningful well beyond your living days.

SEDUCED BY WEALTH

Job 36:18

But watch out, or you may be seduced with wealth. Don't let yourself be bribed into sin.

It isn't wrong to be wealthy, and wealth isn't a bad thing. After all, God promised His people wealth and blessings. However, there are only two ways by which we can derive wealth: 1. through God’s provision; and 2. through the ways of man. God’s way brings joy to the blessed, while man’s ways leads to pride in the hearts of men. David asked in Psalm 49:5-6, “Why should I fear in times of trouble, when the iniquity of those who cheat me surrounds me, those who trust in their wealth and boast of their great riches?” James 4:6 tells us, “But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’” In the pursuit of wealth, pride should be relinquished because God will oppose our boastful actions. More properly, become wealthy by letting God be the source of your riches. Have the foresight to avoid seductive riches by the thought that you could ever really be a self-made man suffering no consequences for your actions.

NAGGERS, COMPLAINERS AND PUSHY PEOPLE

Romans 12:19

Dear friends, never avenge yourselves. Leave that to God. For it is written, "I will take vengeance; I will repay those who deserve it," says the Lord.

A natural reaction to being wronged is to desire to "get even", to fight tooth for tooth, and evil for evil. I'm reminded of a story about a nagging wife and her husband. The nagging wife had become so annoying that her husband moved into the family tree house in their backyard. The nag wrote a letter to a local advice columnist saying, "My husband is living in the family tree house and he’s such an annoyance because he swings in a hammock on his porch, merrily chatting with passersby." The columnist responded with, “Quit being a nag.” Things never really work out when you try to accomplish something in your own strength, rather than God's strength. This isn't just for naggers, but also for complainers and pushy people. Sometimes the struggles will even continue to linger on "tit for tat". Just take a deep breath and give it to God. His strength and timing are perfect, and He can handle difficult people much better than you.

A TRADITION OF SHARING

Psalm 33:12

What joy for the nation whose God is the LORD, whose people he has chosen for his own.

If you've made the Lord Jesus your Savior, and then shared that Good News with others, and then those people that you shared the Gospel with went ahead and shared with even more people, it's undeniable that blessings would come to your entire nation. Daniel Webster said, "Only if we abide by the principles taught in the Bible, will our country go on prospering!" George Washington said, "It is impossible to rightly govern without God and the Bible." The challenge to Christians of every generation historically has been daunting. First century Christians did their painful part, and today we enjoy the fruit of their difficult work. We ought to continue on in the tradition of sharing the Word and likewise bless our nation. Ask yourself this question: what am I personally doing to share the gospel with those around me? Your answer will tell you quite a bit about who you are as a Christian.

POWER TO BE BECOME RICH

Deuteronomy 8:18

Always remember that it is the LORD your God who gives you power to become rich, and he does it to fulfill the covenant he made with your ancestors.

There are many ways to become rich, but the riches that come from God are the kind of thing that you can’t take credit for because you’d essentially be claiming that things were done through your own power and will, thus taking credit away from God. Job became very rich, but he clearly understood that those blessings came from God. Solomon became the richest person ever, but he also clearly recognized that those blessings came from God. Solomon tells us in Ecclesiastes 5:19, “And it is a good thing to receive wealth from God and the good health to enjoy it. To enjoy your work and accept your lot in life—that is indeed a gift from God.” As you pursue great things, thank God for the power to gain riches and become wealthy.

A FULLER MORE FERVENT LIFE

Acts 19:18

Many who became believers confessed their sinful practices.

The most common way to hide sin is through lying. In John 8:44, Jesus taught us about Satan, the father of lies when he said, “You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” The way to be free from the bondage of sin is to know and obey the Jesus, the Truth. Confess your sins to Christ and you will be free from the bondage that keeps you from experiencing a fuller more fervent life.

STORE UP TREASURES

Luke 12:42

And the Lord replied, "I'm talking to any faithful, sensible servant to whom the master gives the responsibility of managing his household and feeding his family.

The task mentioned in this verse reveals the highest paying job in the world. To qualify one must display faithfulness and sensitivity to His children. The verses just prior taught about an applicant that left because he wouldn’t let go of his possessions. Jesus said, "Sell what you have and give to those in need. This will store up treasure for you in heaven! And the purses of heaven have no holes in them. Your treasure will be safe – no thief can steal it and no moth can destroy it. Wherever your treasure is, there your heart and thoughts will also be." You can't manage God’s treasures and yours at the same time because there will be a conflict of interest, so you have to give up one. Regardless, because He is fair and just, God will always pay the exact and appropriate wages to His managers.

TO THE VERY END

Matthew 28:19-20

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Disobeying God's instruction is the reason that Adam and Eve fell into sin and lost all their blessings. It’s through simple obedience that we can return to the original state of creation and experience the blessings of God. Romans 5:19 teaches us that, "For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man (Jesus) the many will be made righteous." Philippians 2:8 teaches us about Jesus, “Being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” Obey the instructions of God and you’ll move closer to experiencing His blessings.

EXACTLY WHAT YOU NEED

James 1:14-15 

But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

Craig Brian Larson gave an illustration saying that, “Ocean water contains seven times more salt than the human body can safely ingest. Drinking it, a person dehydrates because the kidneys demand extra water to flush the overload of salt. The more salt water someone drinks, the thirstier he gets. He actually dies of thirst. When we lust, we become like this man. We thirst desperately for something that looks like what we want. We don’t realize, however, that it is precisely the opposite of what we really need. In fact, it can kill us.” Be content with what you have and in the process of life, delight yourself in the sight of the Lord because He will give you the desires of your heart. Don't lust after what appears to be desirable because lust just might the death of you.

WOVEN TOGETHER IN THE DARK

Galatians 1:15-16

But then something happened! For it pleased God in his kindness to choose me and call me, even before I was born! What undeserved mercy! Then he revealed his Son to me so that I could proclaim the Good News about Jesus to the Gentiles. When all this happened to me, I did not rush out to consult with anyone else.

God was involved in your life while you were still being formed in the womb as we learn from Psalm 139:15, "You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb." In Jeremiah 1:5, God tells the prophet Jeremiah, "I knew you before I formed you in your mother's womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my spokesman to the world." Every person was created for a purpose and to find your purpose you've got to surrender your life to God. You've got to make Him the Lord of your life by giving your life over to Him. Only then will your path and purpose, which was determined before you were born, be made clear.

REALIZE THE VALUE OF HIS PROMISE

Romans 9:16

So receiving God's promise is not up to us. We can't get it by choosing it or working hard for it. God will show mercy to anyone he chooses.

Romans 9:16 can be a major eye opener for people. Paul said that we can’t get God’s promise by choosing it or working hard for it, but rather He will deliver the promise according to His will. History teaches us that the great chief of the Blackfoot confederacy in southern Alberta gave the Canadian Pacific Railway permission to cross the Blackfoot land. In return, the chief was given a lifetime Canadian Pacific Railway pass to travel anywhere he chose. He carried it around his neck for the rest of his life, never using it to travel and never realizing its actual value. If you choose to have God come into your life and make Him as your Lord and savior, you have with you everything that His promise can give – that is, if you realize the value of what has been given to you.

GOD'S WRITTEN INSTRUCTION MANUAL

Romans 6:18

Now you are free from sin, your old master, and you have become slaves to your new master, righteousness.

This world has only two masters, the Righteous One and the sinful master. Paul taught us in Romans 6:16, “Don't you realize that whatever you choose to obey becomes your master? You can choose sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God and receive his approval.” The Righteous One is God, and the Bible is God's written instruction manual. Obey those instructions regardless of your own thoughts and flesh, and you’ll live a righteous and blessed life under the Righteous One.

PRAYER IS YOUR WEAPON

2 Corinthians 10:4

We use God's mighty weapons, not mere worldly weapons, to knock down the Devil's strongholds.

There is a spiritual battle going on all around us at this very moment. This battle is the main reason that Jesus taught His disciples about the power of prayer. Paul told us in Ephesians 6:11 to, “Put on all of God's armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies and tricks of the Devil.” The armor that Paul is writing about will protect you during spiritual attacks, but Paul also teaches about what you can use to attack in Ephesians 6:18 when he tells us, “Pray at all times and on every occasion in the power of the Holy Spirit. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all Christians everywhere.” James told us in James 5:16 that people need to, “Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and wonderful results.” The mighty weapon of God is prayer. Use this weapon and you'll score the victory over the spiritual enemies at hand that would gladly see you consumed.

BLESSED TO BE A BLESSING

2 Corinthians 9:11

Yes, you will be enriched so that you can give even more generously. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will break out in thanksgiving to God.

I’d about read about a preacher who was just about to baptize someone who suddenly said, “Wait! I forgot my wallet in the dressing room, I want you to baptize it with me!” Sound strange or a little odd? Well, this person understood the very serious financial responsibility of God’s work. God’s promise is that you’ll be enriched so that you can give more generously so that the beneficiaries of your generosity will break out in praise and thanksgiving to God. Are you giving generously to the point where you can see the blessings upon those around you?

ABLE TO SAVE EVERYONE

Hebrews 7:25

Therefore he is able, once and forever, to save everyone who comes to God through him. He lives forever to plead with God on their behalf.

History teaches us that in ancient Israel, six cities were founded as "cities of refuge". Anyone that had taken the life of another without malice or premeditation could take refuge in one of these cities. Once that person was inside those city walls that person could not be touched for vengeance or judgment. Once a year, rabbis would have the roads leading to these cities repaired and cleared, so that men fleeing for their lives would have a clear path to their safe haven. It's in this very same way that we run to Jesus Christ for refuge and salvation. It is Christ that pleads to God the Father on our behalf, clearing our way to His forgiveness. Always remember that even though you're covered in sin, Jesus Christ is your Bridge to the Father where you might find peace, rest and refuge. He is your Safe Haven.

BEHAVE WITH INTEGRITY

Ecclesiastes 5:4

So when you make a promise to God, don't delay in following through, for God takes no pleasure in fools. Keep all the promises you make to him.

Have you ever promised God anything? Was there ever a time when you prayed for something and tried to bargain with God? Well, if you ever did and have forgotten that moment, I assure you that God has not forgotten that moment. God created us in His image and likeness so you should behave with integrity and keep your promises. Hebrews 6:18 teaches us, “So God has given us both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can take new courage, for we can hold on to his promise with confidence.” Put some effort into fulfilling all your promises and you’ll soon realize the value of His promises made to you.