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God desires our obedience, and if we love God, we want to do what he says. In this 3 minute audio devotional, I describe a devotional plan I use to help me discern what God is saying so that I can do it. Find a regular way of connecting with God so that you can hear from him and obey what he is telling you.
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In carpentry, the phrase "measure twice, cut once" is used to encourage people to slow down, focus on what's important, and be careful. Our faith is the same: instead of getting caught up in division and other people's power-plays, we need to "measure twice" by focusing on our own spiritual growth and then the spiritual growth of others. Some of the men in the church here are going through a leadership training class by Lynn Anderson called They Smell Like Sheep. The idea is, using the biblical metaphor of shepherding, that leaders (shepherds) are so entwined with people's lives (their "sheep") that they "smell" like sheep. It's a good book, and a good course. In lesson one, Anderson includes an article about praying the psalms. I've read about this before and have some experience in praying the psalms, but was reminded in this reading of this great habit that I've neglected. He challenges those taking the course to pray through the entire book of Psalms in one month (5 psalms each day) and then to continue praying one each day. I took up his challenge but modified it. I'm going to begin praying one psalm each day. Today, of course, I prayed Psalm 1. Thinking about the psalm, I was reminded of the two ways to approach God. One way ends in life and righteousness, the other in perishing. The key to walking in the life-ending and life-affirming way is to meditate on the law (scripture; the words of God) day and night. This was critical for me. Over the last 6 months or so, I have probably read more of the Bible than at any other time of my life. But I haven't meditated on it. (There is a difference.) Through praying Psalm 1, God challenged me to meditate on his word, not just in the morning when I do my Bible reading, but also in the evening. I've been brainstorming ways to do this. It is through meditation that we grow in strength of faith to be like the great tree planted by a stream that yields its fruit in season. This is what we want to be--giants in faith. But we only get there through meditation on God's word, which allows his word to seep into the cracks and crevices of our souls, take root, and blossom. Below is an audio devotional I made awhile back on Psalm 1. I think it's appropriate to repost it. When Jesus says "Wisdom is justified by all her children" (Luke 7:35, ESV), he means that those who follow his way will be vindicated, even though some will disparage them as messengers. If some tried to discredit even John the Baptist and Jesus himself, things will be no different for us. But if we stick with it, we'll see it all come together in the end.
Paul exhorts us to practice our faith (Philippians 4:4-9), and he provides several examples of how to do so. (3 minute audio) The aim of real bible study is action. We are called to "learn" how to do good deeds for others. Bible studies that focus mainly on knowledge acquisition, arguments, and superiority to others are wrong. People who have 100 opinions on the text of the bible but go into silent mode when service and good deeds are discussed have missed the point. In this 6 minute audio, I explain Neil Cole's concept of Life Transformation Groups and why you need to be part of one! What did Jesus mean when he said God desires "mercy, not sacrifice"? Do you find bible reading difficult and challenging? In this 6 minute audio, I offer a few simple suggestions that will help you read the bible to grow spiritually. In this 6 minute audio reflection, I look at passages in Deuteronomy and Acts to show that God has always wanted his people to be neighborly towards each other: serving, working together, and taking care of the needy among them. |
This blog is for articles and book reviews. I post my sermons at my Sermons page, where you can listen to sermons online or download them in MP3 format.
Although I work for the Otisville Church of Christ in Otisville, Michigan, this blog represents my own thoughts and does not necessarily correspond to the views and workings of the Otisville Church of Christ. Categories
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