Loving God Means To Obey Him
Scripture: Ephesians 2: 8-9
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.
Lesson Objective: To understand that we cannot be good enough so we cannot judge others as being not worthy.
I find myself comparing myself to others. It can be when I am exercising and determining if I can do more sit-ups than another or taking a test and seeing if I can finish first and make the highest grade on the test. Society teaches us that we are always comparing ourselves to others and that there are always winners and losers. Unfortunately this mindset can creep into the lives of Christians. They begin to think that if I pray longer or louder or say more amen more times, that will demonstrate how good of a Christian I am and get me closer to heaven. Nothing can be further from the truth. We are saved by the Grace of God and we can never work our way to heaven.
Thought for today: The minute that you think that you are good enough, a big puddle of mud is splashed up and you just have to start again.
Scripture: Philippians 4:8
Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things.
Lesson Objective: To understand that we should meditate daily with the Lord God.
Our thoughts rule our lives daily. Before we do anything it usually comes as a thought and then becomes a deed or action. The question is how do we keep from thinking negative thoughts to those thoughts that are noble, just and pure? It must come from the heart. We must seek a heart that is pure and just. We must strive to eliminate those “bad” thoughts before they linger in our heart and turn into actions. One way is to work to think good of everyone and every thing that may happen in our lives. Fill our minds with good thoughts so that there is not room for anything else.
Thought for today: The next time someone says something negative make it into a positive statement and see what happens in your mind.
Scripture: Colossians 3: 9-10
Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him.
Lesson Objective: To understand that when we accept Christ in our lives that we must change.
I find it interesting that people misuse the term change. I have heard people say that he or she has made a 360 degree change. This is incorrect. A 360 degree change just means that one has come full circle back to where they started. The correct term is that one has made a 180 degree change which means that they are now going into the exact opposite direction from which they first were headed. This should be for all of us. We should strive for a complete change that will results in us making different decisions, surrounding ourselves with a different group of people and not continuing to make the same mistakes as before.