Every athlete exercises self- control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable
a good athlete does not sit around on the couch eating chips while he has the time to be training, he takes all the time that he has to become better prepared for the time ahead! he has to do this to have control over his body! he has to do this to know his limits and be able to push past them! now he does all this for a earthly prize! he gives up his time to try and achieve this prize! now we are athletes as well! we train ourselves by reading the word and through prayer! the race is our lives and in our lives we have many challenges that when we have self-control through training! we can overcome and succeed! now for my brilliant illustration! now think of a athlete that is going to the Olympics! now he gives up everything to train for that event and to achieve that prize! now the prize... is a 1989 VW bug with three wheels, no engine and it has three and a half squirrels living in the drivers seat! that's the equivalent to what he's trying to receive! and he trains all his life for that! but for us! imagine the newest Lamborghini... the top of the line! and better yet! every year they come out with a new one... they replace the old one! so it just keeps getting better and better! you never have to worry about it breaking down or growing old! now our ACTUAL reward in heaven... is FAR better then what I used in my illustration! so if a athlete is training that hard for a prize that means absolutely nothing... then we/I should be training even harder!
application
this week I will memorize all of the verses that I haven't memorized from the past weekly memory verses
Monday, March 25, 2013
1 Corinthians 9:24
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it
for this verse it took me awhile to begin to come up with anything to write! it seems pretty simple! I mean to me it looks like Paul is just saying to run hard so that we can win the prize in heaven! but I decided to look up what the word "run" actually means! and this is what it says "moving at a speed faster then a walk, never having both feet on the ground" having both feet of the ground leads to better balance and better stability! but it also leads to a slower pace and less ground covered. walking is a more comfortable thing to do! running pushes ourselves and causes us to work more! when we run in a race, when (I know for myself) when I get to the end with any energy left, I feel like it was in vain because I didn't get the prize and I still had more in me! but when I run a race with everything I have and I finish with nothing left in me... I feel great! because I know I gave it my all! how often do I settle on a nice slow pace when I could be pushing myself to cover more ground! to me this has nothing to do with a race, it has to do with how I'm pushing myself to further the ground of God's kingdom or why I'm settling for a slow easy walk that doesn't cover nearly the ground! when I walk... it leaves me with the thought of "what more could I have done?" but when I run! it leaves me with "I've done my best! I've pushed myself and completed it in the best possible way!" I don't really know if any of this made sense, but to me this verse is a challenge to push myself for Christ and to run with everything I have! no more walking
application
tonight I will memorize Colossians 3:2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth
for this verse it took me awhile to begin to come up with anything to write! it seems pretty simple! I mean to me it looks like Paul is just saying to run hard so that we can win the prize in heaven! but I decided to look up what the word "run" actually means! and this is what it says "moving at a speed faster then a walk, never having both feet on the ground" having both feet of the ground leads to better balance and better stability! but it also leads to a slower pace and less ground covered. walking is a more comfortable thing to do! running pushes ourselves and causes us to work more! when we run in a race, when (I know for myself) when I get to the end with any energy left, I feel like it was in vain because I didn't get the prize and I still had more in me! but when I run a race with everything I have and I finish with nothing left in me... I feel great! because I know I gave it my all! how often do I settle on a nice slow pace when I could be pushing myself to cover more ground! to me this has nothing to do with a race, it has to do with how I'm pushing myself to further the ground of God's kingdom or why I'm settling for a slow easy walk that doesn't cover nearly the ground! when I walk... it leaves me with the thought of "what more could I have done?" but when I run! it leaves me with "I've done my best! I've pushed myself and completed it in the best possible way!" I don't really know if any of this made sense, but to me this verse is a challenge to push myself for Christ and to run with everything I have! no more walking
application
tonight I will memorize Colossians 3:2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth
1 Corinthians 9:22b-23
I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some, now this I do for the gospel's sake, that I may be partaker of it with you
what if we didn't tell anybody about christ? we read our bible, prayed, had a great relationship with Jesus and kept everything entirely to ourselves? never said a word to anybody about the beauty of Christ and of all the many blessings of having that relationship with God? nobody ever said anything. how would anybody know? how would the person that puts on a face every time they leave the house because deep down they are hurting beyond what they think anybody could comprehend... how would they hear about the joy and salvation that changes lives that we have freely been given? how would the person that just lost their best friend... how would would they be comforted? who would they go to? who would they pray to? how could they get back up? those are only two examples, but there are so many more! but the main point is that the people of this world have no hope in anything that is going to stand! we walk in this world, but we are not of this world! we have hope in somebody which will never fail us! so back to the people of this world. we don't always know everything that is going on in their lives, but we can have an impact in their lives just by our actions! what if we just asked how the (cashier, waitress, store clerk... etc) was doing? addressed them by name and be polite and ask if there's anything we can pray for them for?! those are just a few things that we could do! we are called to go and make disciples, but how can we do that if we go around in our own world? we don't have to do the things they do for us to be a friend to them! why not just show love towards them? it's easy and we're called to do it!
application
this weekend I will find a way to download the language videos on the internet onto my computer, so I'll be more equipped to become a Ugandan
what if we didn't tell anybody about christ? we read our bible, prayed, had a great relationship with Jesus and kept everything entirely to ourselves? never said a word to anybody about the beauty of Christ and of all the many blessings of having that relationship with God? nobody ever said anything. how would anybody know? how would the person that puts on a face every time they leave the house because deep down they are hurting beyond what they think anybody could comprehend... how would they hear about the joy and salvation that changes lives that we have freely been given? how would the person that just lost their best friend... how would would they be comforted? who would they go to? who would they pray to? how could they get back up? those are only two examples, but there are so many more! but the main point is that the people of this world have no hope in anything that is going to stand! we walk in this world, but we are not of this world! we have hope in somebody which will never fail us! so back to the people of this world. we don't always know everything that is going on in their lives, but we can have an impact in their lives just by our actions! what if we just asked how the (cashier, waitress, store clerk... etc) was doing? addressed them by name and be polite and ask if there's anything we can pray for them for?! those are just a few things that we could do! we are called to go and make disciples, but how can we do that if we go around in our own world? we don't have to do the things they do for us to be a friend to them! why not just show love towards them? it's easy and we're called to do it!
application
this weekend I will find a way to download the language videos on the internet onto my computer, so I'll be more equipped to become a Ugandan
Philippians 3:12
Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own
I don't really know if this has a lot to do with this verse, but during my time trying to figure out this verse... this is what came to me. how often do I dwell in the right here, right now emotions/feelings? how often do I walk around with a look of sickness or tiredness on my face? sure I may not be feeling the best, but what is that to stop me from rejoicing in the fact that Jesus has made me his own?!?!?! and often times I dwell in the fact that I'm not perfect or ANYWHERE near it, but you know what?! Jesus died for me knowing EXACTLY who I was and what I did! he didn't die for me in hopes that I'd become perfect! he died for me because he loves me for the broken down vessel that often times hold very very little water, but who is to say that when that broken vessel overflows because it can't hold much, that it might help fill another vessel in the same way he filled me?!?! so who am I to walk around with any expression on my face and any attitude other then joy that my heavenly father loves me enough to give up his ONLY son (knowing perfectly well that I am not perfect and that I never will be!) to die for me! gee willikers! and to read here that Jesus has called me his own! do you go up to the kid that spits in your face, mocks you, beats you to the point where you don't even look human and wants nothing to do with you and then take all of the blame for ALL of his wrong doings and failures and then call him your own?! as I kinda see it... it's like you calling him your brother or something like that! so would you do that? well guess what... Jesus did. enough said. no more doom and gloom because I didn't get my jolly rancher after lunch!
application
from now on if somebody sees me walking around with a sad/grumpy look on my face and it doesn't have VERY good motives for it... rebuke me! because I have no right to show my emotions in any other form then that of rejoicing because my savior has died for me and he calls me his own! (keep this in context though! don't go and rebuke me because I don't have a huge smile on my face! but if you see my negative emotions getting ahold of me, tell me!)
I don't really know if this has a lot to do with this verse, but during my time trying to figure out this verse... this is what came to me. how often do I dwell in the right here, right now emotions/feelings? how often do I walk around with a look of sickness or tiredness on my face? sure I may not be feeling the best, but what is that to stop me from rejoicing in the fact that Jesus has made me his own?!?!?! and often times I dwell in the fact that I'm not perfect or ANYWHERE near it, but you know what?! Jesus died for me knowing EXACTLY who I was and what I did! he didn't die for me in hopes that I'd become perfect! he died for me because he loves me for the broken down vessel that often times hold very very little water, but who is to say that when that broken vessel overflows because it can't hold much, that it might help fill another vessel in the same way he filled me?!?! so who am I to walk around with any expression on my face and any attitude other then joy that my heavenly father loves me enough to give up his ONLY son (knowing perfectly well that I am not perfect and that I never will be!) to die for me! gee willikers! and to read here that Jesus has called me his own! do you go up to the kid that spits in your face, mocks you, beats you to the point where you don't even look human and wants nothing to do with you and then take all of the blame for ALL of his wrong doings and failures and then call him your own?! as I kinda see it... it's like you calling him your brother or something like that! so would you do that? well guess what... Jesus did. enough said. no more doom and gloom because I didn't get my jolly rancher after lunch!
application
from now on if somebody sees me walking around with a sad/grumpy look on my face and it doesn't have VERY good motives for it... rebuke me! because I have no right to show my emotions in any other form then that of rejoicing because my savior has died for me and he calls me his own! (keep this in context though! don't go and rebuke me because I don't have a huge smile on my face! but if you see my negative emotions getting ahold of me, tell me!)
Philippians 3:10
that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being conformed to his death
fellowship of his suffering? what does that mean and how could that in any way be desirable or good?!?! see there's a major part to that and that is "fellowship"! we often think about sitting around a dinner table and fellow-shipping in that way, but that only goes so far in the relationship there! now think of the fellowship you have with somebody when you go through major trials! the two don't even compare! when you suffer with somebody the two of you can relate to each other in ways that others can't, because you went through that together and you know how the other person feels! there is a relationship there that comforts! it's an amazing relationship that won't break! we have that same relationship with Christ! even though he went through things that even my worst nightmares couldn't hold, when we go through trials... he knows how it feels! and when we lose ourself (like we've been talking about in the last two verses) we find ourself being less and him being more! when we empty ourselves, we can be filled with more of him! the more we have of Christ, the more of that comfort we have from him! yeah, when we're filled with Christ we often go through persecution just like he did (of course in our day persecution (at least in my life) isn't nearly as hard as it was for him) that's where we have fellowship in his sufferings! we can't have a one way relationship
For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too
2 corinthians 1:5
application
I will memorize luke 22:42 and 2 corinthians 1:5 by friday
fellowship of his suffering? what does that mean and how could that in any way be desirable or good?!?! see there's a major part to that and that is "fellowship"! we often think about sitting around a dinner table and fellow-shipping in that way, but that only goes so far in the relationship there! now think of the fellowship you have with somebody when you go through major trials! the two don't even compare! when you suffer with somebody the two of you can relate to each other in ways that others can't, because you went through that together and you know how the other person feels! there is a relationship there that comforts! it's an amazing relationship that won't break! we have that same relationship with Christ! even though he went through things that even my worst nightmares couldn't hold, when we go through trials... he knows how it feels! and when we lose ourself (like we've been talking about in the last two verses) we find ourself being less and him being more! when we empty ourselves, we can be filled with more of him! the more we have of Christ, the more of that comfort we have from him! yeah, when we're filled with Christ we often go through persecution just like he did (of course in our day persecution (at least in my life) isn't nearly as hard as it was for him) that's where we have fellowship in his sufferings! we can't have a one way relationship
For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too
2 corinthians 1:5
application
I will memorize luke 22:42 and 2 corinthians 1:5 by friday
Philippians 3:9
and be found in him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith
at times I find myself trying to achieve righteousness through other means, but although that may equal a small amount of righteousness (a very small amount) it doesn't even compare to when I gain righteousness through God by faith! I can be as good as humanly possible! I can do everything right! (well, pretty close to it) but if that's all I do, it's still counted as loss! the righteousness that I've achieved means nothing! the righteousness that I need comes through faith that Christ has all righteousness! I have no righteousness aside from him.
application
for the rest of the weekdays I have here I will wake up at 5 knowing that he will give me the energy to get through the days
at times I find myself trying to achieve righteousness through other means, but although that may equal a small amount of righteousness (a very small amount) it doesn't even compare to when I gain righteousness through God by faith! I can be as good as humanly possible! I can do everything right! (well, pretty close to it) but if that's all I do, it's still counted as loss! the righteousness that I've achieved means nothing! the righteousness that I need comes through faith that Christ has all righteousness! I have no righteousness aside from him.
application
for the rest of the weekdays I have here I will wake up at 5 knowing that he will give me the energy to get through the days
Philippians 3:8
yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ
everything that we gain, every position that we achieve means nothing when we don't use it to further the truth of Jesus Christ! so often I can get caught up in things that I want to achieve or own, but how do those things further the kingdom? that's what I have to take into account or else they will parish just like everything else! and that's how my attitude should be, an attitude of desiring to further the kingdom of God and just wanting to serve him. does a servant get caught up or distracted by possessions or positions? the answer is no, he's just focused on doing what he's told to do. also all the things that I have gained, they mean nothing if they keep me from Christ. ALL I need... is Christ!
application
for the next three days I will wake up an hour earlier then normal (5) so I'll have more time to do my devotions
everything that we gain, every position that we achieve means nothing when we don't use it to further the truth of Jesus Christ! so often I can get caught up in things that I want to achieve or own, but how do those things further the kingdom? that's what I have to take into account or else they will parish just like everything else! and that's how my attitude should be, an attitude of desiring to further the kingdom of God and just wanting to serve him. does a servant get caught up or distracted by possessions or positions? the answer is no, he's just focused on doing what he's told to do. also all the things that I have gained, they mean nothing if they keep me from Christ. ALL I need... is Christ!
application
for the next three days I will wake up an hour earlier then normal (5) so I'll have more time to do my devotions
Sunday, March 3, 2013
Luke 17:10
so likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, "we are unprofitable servants. we have done what was our duty to do."
often times I find myself expecting to be thanked after I complete a task, but so does the world (the people of the world) we are told to walk in the world, but not of it! when we do a task, all we're doing is what was told to us! that's it! nothing special! it's not like "wow! check out all I just did for you! what are you going to do to return the favor/thank me?!" we are told here that we need to have the attitude of "I've done what you told me to do and it's nothing more then that" in the book that I'm reading now "10 power principles for christian service" there's a great quote in it that says "the service of God and the service of the least of the brethren were one" that's what we need to realize! we're here to serve and we're not doing it for thanks from this life... we're here to serve for God. main thing... we only did what we were commanded to do, so don't expect any thanks
application
next week I will help others with their chores
often times I find myself expecting to be thanked after I complete a task, but so does the world (the people of the world) we are told to walk in the world, but not of it! when we do a task, all we're doing is what was told to us! that's it! nothing special! it's not like "wow! check out all I just did for you! what are you going to do to return the favor/thank me?!" we are told here that we need to have the attitude of "I've done what you told me to do and it's nothing more then that" in the book that I'm reading now "10 power principles for christian service" there's a great quote in it that says "the service of God and the service of the least of the brethren were one" that's what we need to realize! we're here to serve and we're not doing it for thanks from this life... we're here to serve for God. main thing... we only did what we were commanded to do, so don't expect any thanks
application
next week I will help others with their chores
Luke 17:9
Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I think not.
the tasks we are given throughout our life our tasks that have been given specifically to us by God! before we were even born, God had a plan for us and he created us specifically for the tasks that he has for us! and we are commanded to do them. the tasks that we have are tasks that we are told to do, so why do we often (speaking because I do this a lot) think that we are doing something out of our way or special for somebody and therefore expect a "thank you"? we are told to do theses tasks and that's all.
application
today I will do the tasks that are given to me with a smile on my face and try to do everything I can to go out of my way for others
the tasks we are given throughout our life our tasks that have been given specifically to us by God! before we were even born, God had a plan for us and he created us specifically for the tasks that he has for us! and we are commanded to do them. the tasks that we have are tasks that we are told to do, so why do we often (speaking because I do this a lot) think that we are doing something out of our way or special for somebody and therefore expect a "thank you"? we are told to do theses tasks and that's all.
application
today I will do the tasks that are given to me with a smile on my face and try to do everything I can to go out of my way for others
Luke 17:8
but will he not rather say to him, 'prepare something for my supper, and gird yourself and serve me till I have eaten and drunk, and afterward you will eat and drink'?
our job is never done, this is a perfect example of it! even when I finnish one job, there's another one that comes up! and that is just as much my job as the first one! I don't know every job that I will end up having in my lifetime, but I know that I'm here to work! but you know the best part of this verse? the last part! "and afterward you will eat and drink" that doesn't just mean I get food like has to happen in order for me to continue to work! but that I get to sit down and enjoy what the master ate! in this world I am meant to work and I am not to expect anything for my wages, BUT after I'm done with my work (I die) I'm going to sit at the table with Jesus! I get to spend eternity in heaven with my master/father/Lord/savior/friend and that is far greater then I could ever deserve!
application
tonight I will spend one hour practicing Luganda in preparation to be able to do my work that has been placed before me, better
our job is never done, this is a perfect example of it! even when I finnish one job, there's another one that comes up! and that is just as much my job as the first one! I don't know every job that I will end up having in my lifetime, but I know that I'm here to work! but you know the best part of this verse? the last part! "and afterward you will eat and drink" that doesn't just mean I get food like has to happen in order for me to continue to work! but that I get to sit down and enjoy what the master ate! in this world I am meant to work and I am not to expect anything for my wages, BUT after I'm done with my work (I die) I'm going to sit at the table with Jesus! I get to spend eternity in heaven with my master/father/Lord/savior/friend and that is far greater then I could ever deserve!
application
tonight I will spend one hour practicing Luganda in preparation to be able to do my work that has been placed before me, better
Luke 17:7
and which of you, having a servant plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, 'come at once and sit down to eat'?
plowing the fields or tending the sheep are hard working jobs... but just because they have that job does not change their place/position. they are still a slave. even when they go away from that job that doesn't mean that they get a higher position because they did those jobs, or they get a special treatment! they did the job they were told to do and that's that! they don't expect anything special, they only did the job they were told to do. I am a bond-servant to Christ. I am nothing special for doing something that I am commanded to do, I am just a slave (I am also a child of God! but none the less... a slave) I do not get to place myself in a greater position because I have done a hard job or anything like that, I need to merely be glad that I get to do a task for my Master.
P.S after writing this and reading it over, I've realized that I've been using the wrong word. I've been using the word slave, but the real word should be Bond-Servant! God does not force me to do his work! he allows me to! he is such in incredible master that I want to serve him! a servant implies that he has to do something and it's not out of his desire! God paid a price for me, but he set me free! doing his deeds is no chore, it is something that I've been allowed to do! but none the less, I have no higher standing. just a servant that wants to serve a master that is gracious, merciful, powerful, full of love, beautiful... well you get the idea. serving my master is better then being free
application
all this week I will look for opportunities to die to self and also look up one or two stories of christian slaves (to try to get a idea of what it really means to be a slave)
plowing the fields or tending the sheep are hard working jobs... but just because they have that job does not change their place/position. they are still a slave. even when they go away from that job that doesn't mean that they get a higher position because they did those jobs, or they get a special treatment! they did the job they were told to do and that's that! they don't expect anything special, they only did the job they were told to do. I am a bond-servant to Christ. I am nothing special for doing something that I am commanded to do, I am just a slave (I am also a child of God! but none the less... a slave) I do not get to place myself in a greater position because I have done a hard job or anything like that, I need to merely be glad that I get to do a task for my Master.
P.S after writing this and reading it over, I've realized that I've been using the wrong word. I've been using the word slave, but the real word should be Bond-Servant! God does not force me to do his work! he allows me to! he is such in incredible master that I want to serve him! a servant implies that he has to do something and it's not out of his desire! God paid a price for me, but he set me free! doing his deeds is no chore, it is something that I've been allowed to do! but none the less, I have no higher standing. just a servant that wants to serve a master that is gracious, merciful, powerful, full of love, beautiful... well you get the idea. serving my master is better then being free
application
all this week I will look for opportunities to die to self and also look up one or two stories of christian slaves (to try to get a idea of what it really means to be a slave)
Luke 17:6
So the Lord said, “If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.
it's not talking about the actual size of the faith that you have (for a mustard seed is basically nothing), but that you have faith in God! we serve a God that has power over everything! it's a matter of knowing that he can do something and that if it's in his will he will do it!
it's so incredible to see this verse! because it just shows kinda how powerful our God is and that we need very little faith to be used by him! it's amazing what happens when we stop having doubt in God and just KNOWING that if it's in his will... he will accomplish it! there's countless stories of people that had faith in God and he came through! like a story of an orphanage that had no food or any money and they sat down for a meal (not having the food to eat) prayed for the food that they did not have (BUT knew that God would provide it) and then God provided food by two different people that didn't even plan on giving them that food! (this was something that happened to George Müller, but there's tons of stories just like this of people that had faith in God and he came through)
application
tomorrow morning I will find three verses talking about faith and to memorize them
it's not talking about the actual size of the faith that you have (for a mustard seed is basically nothing), but that you have faith in God! we serve a God that has power over everything! it's a matter of knowing that he can do something and that if it's in his will he will do it!
it's so incredible to see this verse! because it just shows kinda how powerful our God is and that we need very little faith to be used by him! it's amazing what happens when we stop having doubt in God and just KNOWING that if it's in his will... he will accomplish it! there's countless stories of people that had faith in God and he came through! like a story of an orphanage that had no food or any money and they sat down for a meal (not having the food to eat) prayed for the food that they did not have (BUT knew that God would provide it) and then God provided food by two different people that didn't even plan on giving them that food! (this was something that happened to George Müller, but there's tons of stories just like this of people that had faith in God and he came through)
application
tomorrow morning I will find three verses talking about faith and to memorize them
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