The upward call

31 January  2013   

Philippians 3:14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Each person has a specific call in Christ Jesus and each person has a goal to achieve through this call. We do this by keeping our eyes on the goal, and this goal is to reach towards the perfection of Jesus Christ who in His perfection has already reach out to us. Each day is part of reaching that goal, and when we take our eyes off of Jesus we loose focus and so do not attain the goal of our calling in Him.

Everyday we need to see our purpose in that day, we do not move aimlessly, but we move and live with purpose in Christ Jesus. We will on occasion seem to be struggling with our goals, our purpose and the temptations along the way. We then need to stop and remind ourselves of the reason for our salvation, and return our focus to Christ Jesus crucified for us.

Be encouraged today to set a goal as you respond to the upward call of Jesus Christ.

 

David

Point to ponder: You have a goal in Christ Jesus.

Question to consider: Do you understand your upward call?

Be Blessed

30 January  2013   

Lamentations 3:21-24 But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is thy faithfulness. "The LORD is my portion," says my soul, "therefore I will hope in him."

This morning as I was walking to the office, I saw a spiders web so beautifully spun, glistening with morning dew it shone in the sunlight showing each perfect form of the web. The water in the fountain providing a backdrop of sound as it water tumbled into the pond. The roses white pink like a young bride filing the air with sweet perfume, and the birds chattering in the trees; telling all of the delights of a new morning.

How often do we walk paths that we do not see the beauty around us, ears closed to the whispers of God, noses blocked by the strength of the morning coffee, that we miss the beauty of the new day. Each day we have new blessings, a new day, the old is gone and the new is here, and it is in this moment that we have the ability to experience a newness. We need to stop for a moment, catch our breath, and just let ourselves be part of the splendour of what God is doing today.

Be encouraged today to enjoy God’s blessings, no matter how small they may be.

 

David

Point to ponder: God gives new blessings everyday.

Question to consider: Do you enjoy God’s blessings to you?

Some people are blotting paper

29 January  2013   

Titus 3:1-2 Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for any honest work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all men.

Have you ever walked into a room and said ‘good morning’ and the person you greet does not even look up, and just grunts some noise? There are just some people no matter what find nothing to admire, everything is never good enough, and no matter how you try to please them, they just remain their miserable selves. Now this is fine if you could just leave them and allow them to be their miserable selves, the problem is that they are in community with you, either at work or at home.

Sadly depression is contagious, negativity erodes goodwill and despondency kills hope, and if you allow these people to continue in your space before long you grunt just like they do. We all need to take stock of how our behaviour affects others around us, and the effect of our behaviour determines the response that others have towards us. We need to separate ourselves from those that steal our hope and destroy our cheerfulness, for they are like blotting paper and before you know where you are you are dry in the spirit.

Be encouraged to be cheerful and greet one another with the love of Jesus Christ.

 

David

Point to ponder: God loves a cheerful heart .

Question to consider: Are you naturally miserable or are you that for effect?

God will make a way

28 January  2013    

Psalms 106:9-12 He rebuked the Red Sea, and it became dry; and he led them through the deep as through a desert. So he saved them from the hand of the foe, and delivered them from the power of the enemy. And the waters covered their adversaries; not one of them was left. Then they believed his words; they sang his praise.

There is a popular chorus that has the words God will make a way where there seems to be no way, most of us sing this, yet for many it is a lovely tune and the words are great, but sometimes we just miss the point. When we think about God and we consider His words to us in the bible, how many times have these words been true in the past. Think back in your own life, when things were a struggle and you did no know what to do, did God not make a way?

The Israelites faced the wilderness and God led the way, they faced the enemy or the sea, and God made a way, in the desert He gave them water and He gave them food. It was God that led them, and it is God that leads us today. We too need to believe His words and to sing His praise, as God makes a way for us where there seems to be no way.

Be encouraged to allow God to make a way for you through the journey you are on.

David

Point to ponder: Go will make a way..

Question to consider: Do you believe God will make a way?

Make a plan

25 January  2013   

Luke 14:28-30 For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, 'This man began to build, and was not able to finish.'

There are a few reasons why people are successful in what they do. There are two main reasons for success in every successful programme, the first is planning, the better the plan the more likely a person will succeed, the second is control. The checking and ensuring that the plan is adhered to is very important, and if you have staff always check what they do no matter how good they are at what they do. The reason they are good at what they do is because someone is there to check them; The moment you do not check, something will do wrong.

The same applies in our Christian life, we often do not plan our day, or even our walk with the Lord, we plod along aimlessly and never plan what we are going to do for Jesus. when we do have such a plan, how well do we follow through and who is the person we trust enough to supervise what how we are doing? Most of us have plans at work, at home, but how many of us has a plan on how to please Jesus today?

Be encouraged to be successful at work, at home and most especially in your daily walk with Jesus.

 

David

Point to ponder: God has a plan, be part of that plan.

Question to consider: How good are you in having success in your life?

Joy in work

22 January  2013   

Proverbs 12:14 From the fruit of his words a man is satisfied with good, and the work of a man's hand comes back to him.

Whether you are a lawyer, physician or grass cutter there is very little difference when it comes to being good at what you do. When we see the work of a grass cutter that takes joy in his work, the lines of cut grass are straight and there is little chaff left, when we see the work of a lawyer we see integrity and justice, and the work of the physician brings healing and comfort to the sick and dying. In all of these we see the common thread that a person no matter what the employment is in control of how well they do what they do.

It is in these things that we learn as we grow older that all that we do we do as best we are able, because we do all to please God. It is in this that we as Christians start to actually realise that our true employer is Jesus Himself. So we do all to please Him. So when you see a tidy and neat home, a place of work where things are done properly, we should be mindful of the person. In all you and I do, we do it to please Jesus.

Be encouraged to be joyful in what you do.

 

David

Point to ponder: Be joyful you have work and a place to sleep.

Question to consider: Are you joyful in what you do?

A good bath

21 January  2013   

1 Corinthians 6:11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.

It is interesting to note that when you ask a person that attended church on Sunday what the sermon was about, only those that were touched by the Holy Spirit may remember what they had heard. Even then sometimes that which they heard was not even preached. Going to church is a little like having a bath, we remember we bathed, we may even smell a bit of the bubble bath, but we are clean. So even though we may not remember everything, we have been washed clean by the Word.

So when we live outside of the church and do not hear the Word, it is little like never having a bath, after a period of time we realise we are not as clean as we should be, and in fact we become a bit smelly and not from bubble bath! It is important then for those that do go to church to be mindful that church is about hearing the Word of God, and the obligation of the preacher to preach it.

Be encouraged to bring others to hear the Word of God.

 

David

Point to ponder: God’s Word washes clean.

Question to consider: Have you been washed clean?

Liars

18 January  2013   

Revelation 21:8 But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the polluted, as for murderers, fornicators, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their lot shall be in the lake that burns with fire and sulphur, which is the second death."

People I have noticed either have a tendency to speak the truth or to speak a lie. Those that speak the truth have the truth in them and those that don’t, do not. So when faced with a question a person with integrity will answer in terms of that integrity, and some may protect their integrity by either; not answering, or giving an answer that avoids the question and they may even lie to protect their integrity. Integrity is about the person, the truth is the truth despite the person.

I have seen and heard people who struggle in their relationship with Jesus, and they sincerely want to be in that relationship, yet the truth avoids them, in their speaking, their actions and in their so-called integrity. The father of lies is the devil and the Father of Truth is God, so when we are confronted by lies and untruths we are being confronted by evil. So when asked the question the answer should always from a Christian perspective be truthful. We speak the truth, because the Truth dwells in us. Our relationship with Jesus will never be what it should be while we continue to lie.

Be encouraged to recognise the evil in lies spoken.

 David

Point to ponder: A liar will not enter the Kingdom of God or have eternal life.

Question to consider: Are you a liar?

Corruption

 17 January  2013   

Ecclesiastes 7:7 Surely oppression makes the wise man foolish, and a bribe corrupts the mind.

Most people are naturally corrupt, and it is the nature of a community to place rules and systems in place in order to reduce this natural tendency for the good of others. So a little thing like a diary and someone to make appointments for a driver or learners licence prevents officials using a first come, first pays system to get tested. Those that have money or clout in the community may not have to queue.

Now towns like Bela Bela in Limpopo Province do not believe in appointments, so you will see young people standing outside the Municipal Offices from as early as 4am, waiting to be accepted for a learner licence test. This allows for corruption and brings these learners into the place of expecting to stand in lines and waiting the privilege of a poorly educated official to help them.

Wisdom is necessary to understand that God places systems and rules of living to help us overcome corruption. Corruption creeps in every where when honest men let it.

Be encouraged to make a stand against corruption in any form.

 

David

Point to ponder: God hates corruption.

Question to consider: Do you tolerate corruption?

Woodpile

16 January  2013   

Proverbs 21:16 A man who wanders from the way of understanding will rest in the assembly of the dead.

In a rural community wood is a precious commodity as it used everyday for cooking and in winter for keeping warm. Here at Linga Longa there is plenty wood and especially under the bluegum trees which regularly sheds branches and thick twigs. Now when this has to be cleaned the wood is placed in a pile so that the staff may use this wood. The problem is that this pile is a snake pit if left for too long. So instructions are given to burn the pile, the staff simply do not respond as they believe it is their wood, regardless of the snakes. What should the correct response be?

 In the same way in our lives we too shed problems and we often allow these to accumulate and after time many ‘serpents’ seem to make their home amongst them. God comes along and tells us we must obey Him and destroy the pile. We do not respond because we believe this pile of problems belongs to us. So we all should sweep and clean up the dead wood and problems and allow them to be properly destroyed.

Be encouraged today to allow your problems and the dead past to be properly removed by God

 

 David

Point to ponder: You need to get rid of the pile.

Question to consider: Why look after dead wood?

Repent

15 January  2013    

Matthew 3:2 "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."

Repent the kingdom of God is at hand. This message was the opening words of Jesus Christ, these were the words of John the Baptist, these were the words of the Apostles, and these are the words of the true Church. This consistent message is repeated and repeated and should be repeated into every generation of believers. This message is directed at you, repent the kingdom of God is at hand.

Now like many others people would say I have repented, I have been forgiven, yet when we truly examine our daily motives, our attitudes to others if we still feel we having nothing to repent of, the we are liars and there is no truth in us.

When we listen to how people talk about our father, and we listen to the untruths spoken of him, and we now how he loved us, yet people call him unloving, harsh and vindictive, would you not speak out in his defence, because they do not know him like we do. How much more do we need to speak out in defence of our heavenly Father, who loves us beyond what we could ever comprehend.

Be encouraged today to repent.

 

David

Point to ponder: God loves a repentant heart.

Question to consider: Have you repented today?

Stupidity

14 January  2013   

Matthew 7:24-25 "Every one then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house upon the rock; and the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat upon that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.

There is always a tragedy if stupidity and there are always those that no matter how stupid their arguments they will continue in their stupidity. Now one of the most stupidest things in life are those people who live in such a way as if Jesus Christ is irrelevant to them. They simply believe that there is no consequences to their stupidity and ignore all the warning signs given to them.

Last year the end of the world was supposed to have taken place, and some people thought about the what if’s, but the foolish and stupid people just carry on. The problem is that there are so many stupid people today and it seems to be getting worse, stupid officials, stupid politicians and the stupid people that vote for them. As long as the what can be got out is more than you put in life is a bargain, this stupidity will come to an end when Jesus returns. It is a wise person that does what pleases Jesus Christ, it is a really stupid person that doesn’t. On this scale of wisdom where are you.

Be encouraged today to live a life relevant to Jesus

 

David

Point to ponder: Stupid people gain little.

Question to consider: Has your life relevance to Jesus?

Comfort Zones

11 January  2013   

Matthew 10:8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying, give without pay.

Jesus sent out His disciples to the local towns with the instruction to say, ‘repent the Kingdom of God is at hand’ then to heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers and cast out demons. Now what is interesting is that Jesus in none of the Gospels explains how to do this. He simply expected the disciples who followed Him to go and do it. The only logical explanation is that they had observed Jesus, so they followed His example. We also know that they laid hands on people and anointed them with oil.

So when we follow Jesus and we claim to be His disciple, then no matter how we may feel about moving out of our comfort zone, we just simply go and do it. The truth is that the same Jesus is returning and He will expect  to find us doing what He told us to. Many of us are very good at attending church and bible studies, even good at preaching and liturgy but this becomes useless to Jesus unless we trust and have faith in Him and go and do what He has asked us to do. To reach out to the lost, confused and sinful world and bring to all that will listen the hope of Christ. We cannot always hide behind the gifts we claim, without recognising the Master’s wishes.

Be encouraged today to go and do what Jesus has asked you to do.

 

David

Point to ponder: Obedience validates our call in Christ.

Question to consider: Will you move out of your comfort zone for Jesus?

Jesus Lord of all

10 January  2013   

Philippians 2:9-11 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

The name that is above every name is that of Jesus, and whether we like it or not or accept it or not this will not change. Each and every person ever to have lived will be required to acknowledge this and will bow down to Him and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. All creation in heaven and on earth will do this to the glory of God the Father. Nothing ever created will be exempt.

As we look upon the world today and even within our own lives we need to ask that question, is Jesus Lord of all we are? Is He Lord of our bodies, our thinking, our feelings? For where we find those places within us that have not yet submitted to His Lordship, we find a rebellion against His will for us. It is in obedience that we find submission and the more we submit to His will, the more we are able to confess His Lordship within us. When He is truly Lord, then we live to please Him and Him alone.

Be encouraged today to live a life where Jesus is truly Lord of all.

 

David

Point to ponder: Jesus Christ is Lord of all.

Question to consider: Is Jesus Christ truly Lord of your all?

Conceited

9 January  2013     

Philippians 2:3 Do nothing from selfishness or conceit, but in humility count others better than yourselves.

Some of us that has a long memory will possibly remember the hit song “Its hard to be humble” and although this was written and sung sort of tongue in cheek, there is a lot of truth in it. There are those of that have fasted for forty days, those that pray and get up and spend hours in prayer, they let everyone know what they are doing, and it makes others feel like second rate Christians. We have to so aware to examine our motives with regard to why we do things, is it from selfishness is it because we are conceited?

The older one gets the more one realises that all the people we meet are better Christians than we are. So each person we see, we see the potential of Christ in them. This stops us from being conceited and selfish, simply because we should also be reflecting the image of Christ as well. So no matter how important our position in life, our how grand we may be, we need to recognise the importance of others around us. Sometimes we find it very hard to be humble.

Be encouraged today to stop being selfish and conceited, you are really not that good.

 David

Point to ponder: There is always someone better than you.

Question to consider: Do you believe you are the best of the best?

Be mindful

8 January  2013     

Philippians 2:1-2 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any incentive of love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.

For those of you that have been attentive to this text one will note that there are so many facets about it that it may be used over and over again. I suppose when  Paul placed these words into this letter his intention was relatively simple, yet in it’s simplicity it has a depth of meaning. This again goes to show that all Scripture is God breathed.

In all of this text, this is a text that leads  in a way a key to Christian living, and how to live a Christian life. It is in the steady process of living a life acceptable to Jesus Christ and allowing all that we do to be scrutinised by the Holy Spirit before we do it. For we must seek to be united with Christ, before we seek unity with others; so often we have this the other way around. Yet in the same way we need to be mindful of others, when are sick we do not use this as a lever to get our way, when we are hurting we do not use our hurt to hurt others, we become what we fill our lives with. If we fill it with money, money becomes our issue, if we fill it with peace, we become peace.

Be encouraged today to  be mindful that the only Christian others will meet is you.

David

Point to ponder: You represent Jesus Christ.

Question to consider: Do others recognise that you are a Christian by the way you act?

One mind

7 January  2013  

  

Philippians 2:1-2 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any incentive of love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.

There are those people who because of various reasons need to dominate others and be in control, usually as a result of past insecurities and failures. They find that when they are insecure, afraid and unsure they take it out on those that are under their authority or perceived authority. What often happens the spouse is bullied into submission so that the other controls the situation.

As a Christian we need to first recognise the behaviour within ourselves before we start to find fault with others. When love is the dominant emotion and not fear and insecurity one becomes able to allow the other to be who they are without needing to control them. The natural flow of this love is being of the same mind and slowly being in full accord with each other.

Be encouraged today to recognise when you are starting to bully someone else.

David

Point to ponder: Love is more important than getting your own way.

Question to consider: Are you a bully?

Facing tomorrow

4 January  2013   

Philippians 2:1-2 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any incentive of love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.

Every one is not in the same situation and we all face the future from different points of view, some with concern and doubts, some with fear and disappointment, others with hope and encouragement. As we look ahead we are sometimes able to see those things that will most likely happen, a dying child that will not be here next Christmas, retirement from work and the consequences of a future with reduced income. For some the joy of pregnancy and the expectation of new life, each of us have a future.

It is in these situations of life that we most need the encouragement in Christ no matter what the future holds. As we look on life we need to consider whether or incentive towards others is love. We are able to face many difficulties but they are made far worse when we lack love. Every one of us will be in a situation where we are able to encourage someone else this year and may our incentive always be love. To love others as we are loved by Christ.

Be encouraged today to have the incentive of love.

 David

Point to ponder: Be encouraged in Christ.

Question to consider: Is your incentive in life, love?

Tenderly Care

3 January  2013     

Philippians 2:1-2 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any incentive of love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.

Sometimes it is interesting to note the choices that translators use when translating a text from one language to another. The challenge is in understanding what the author had in mind when he wrote what he did. Now the word affection is some translations is replaced with the word tenderness and sympathy with that of compassion, both are similar but are not the same.

Tenderness is feeling the pain of someone you love, it is more than affection, it is like that stabbing twinge in the belly when you see a persons suffering and you feel the tenderness for them. Compassion is trying to do something to make it better, these are not abstract emotions but emotion driven to action. Jesus loves us tenderly, He feels our pain, our loneliness, our fear not only does He feel this, but He has compassion on us and He wants to take from us those things that cause our hurt. We so often choose to observe rather than participate, where Jesus chooses rather to participate in our lives.

Be encouraged today to be tender to others and to have compassion on them.

David

Point to ponder: Jesus loves you tenderly, love others likewise.

Question to consider: Are you tender hearted and filled with compassion for others?

A New Year

2 January  2013     

1 Corinthians 5:7 Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened.

In order for this to be a New Year we need to have new thoughts and a newness about ourselves, the Old Year is gone and the New Year has begun. For some this is a time of resolutions and decisions, some that work and some that fail, the real issue is not the resolution or the idea, but attitude. What is your attitude to life, yourself and to others?

The problem with time is that our yesterdays impact on our today and our today influences our tomorrows, and when we have a moment in time where we are able to stop and start again we should take it. A New Year is not a man thing but a God thing, even in the Old Testament on the Lunar Calendar the year ended and a new year began. What you do with the new is up to you, but God has promised that He has begun a new work in you, is it not now the time for it to be seen in you?

Be encouraged today to start afresh.

 

David

Point to ponder: God has begun a new work in you.

Question to consider: Will you allow the new to be seen in you?