Food For The Soul And Spirit

Good Morning!☀

With him is wisdom and strength, he hath counsel and understanding. Job 12:13

There is a song whose chorus includes the line "Looking for love in all the wrong places." Many Christians are looking for wisdom in all the wrong places. It is amazing how many will read the horoscope before they will pray. They will consult with their friends or even their pastor but not pray and ask God for guidance.  We would do well to remember James' advice:

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. James 1:5-6

The wisdom we need is easily available to us. All we need to do is ask God for it. He is the source of true wisdom. We can trust his guidance.

Good Afternoon!☀

His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. [26]His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. Matthew 25:23,26-27

All of us have abilities of one kind of another. Even a child is noted for what he or she can do. Some have extraordinary abilities far above the norm. All are given by God to be used for the good of all and to glorify him.

Like any who invests, God expects a return on his investment in us and holds us accountable for what we do with the abilities he gives us. Whether we have many or few, we are expected to improve on and increase what we have. Diligence and consistency with fruitfulness will be rewarded. Laziness and idleness with a negative attitude will be punished.

As you read the parable (Matthew 25:14-30), please note the warning in verse 29:

For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.

Created for God's Pleasure

Good Afternoon!☀️

Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. Revelation 4:11

When we look in the mirror, we expect to see an image of ourselves.  We would think it odd if we looked in the mirror and saw someone else!

We are made in the image of God. We were created for his glory. That being so, others should be able to see the resemblance between God and us. We should be even as a mirror, reflecting the image of God to the world. Our conversation and actions should be for his glory, reflecting who he is and his love for the world.

We are not our own. We did not make ourselves. We were bought with a price:

For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. 1 Corinthians 6:20

Not being our own means we are to shine for him:

  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Matthew 5:16

Good Morning!☀

But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace, [16]To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood: Galatians 1:15-16

You are not a mistake. You are not an afterthought in the mind of God. You are not just one of billions, unnoticed, unloved, unwanted. By no means!

God knew you before your parents knew you were on the way. He had a plan for you while you were yet a gleam in your parents' eyes. There is nothing about you he did not know was going to be.

Furthermore, he wants you. He loves you. You are the apple of his eye. So much so that he gave his best for you. Yes, he believes in you. He is not as interested in your start as he is in your finish!

Good Morning!☀️

A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. Ezekiel 36:26 KJV

Israel had not only forsaken God while in their own land, they were worshipping the gods of the nation that held them captive. God let them know through Ezekiel that he would not allow his name to be profaned among the heathen because of their behavior. God declared he would put his spirit in them so that each would obey and honor him. He would give them a soft heart and take away the stony heart they had.

Good Afternoon,☀️

For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints. 1 Corinthians 14:33

It had come to Paul's attention that there were some issues that needed to be addressed in the Corinthian church. One of these issues was disorder during the services. Those who spoke in tongues would not wait their turn but began to speak while others were still speaking. They would speak when there was not anyone with the gift of interpretation of tongues available to bring understanding to the assembly.

Good Morning!☀

I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. Psalms 34:4

In Psalms 34, David tells of God's responses to his cry. While there are things God does for us without our asking, there are times we are to seek the Lord for what we need.  Listen to these words:

This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. Psalms 34:6

The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles. Psalms 34:17

Good Afternoon!☀

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Philippians 4:8

Ours is a world suffering from information overload.  More information is being thrown at us from all directions and through various channels. The mental noise can become deafening!

Today's verse tells us exactly how and where to focus our thoughts. We have to turn from negative, sensationalistic news to that which uplifts and empowers. There is still much good in the world. There are still good policemen, politicians, and preachers. In fact they outnumber the bad.  No where are the words of Jesus "Seek and ye shall find" ( Matthew 7)  more true than when it comes to what we focus on.

Good Afternoon! ☀️

And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: 2 Corinthians 9:8

The apostle Paul had been addressing the issue of giving with the Corinthian church. He urged them to have ready their offering to support the church in Jerusalem, each giving as they have purposed in their heart to give. They were to give with joy and freely, not complaining or grumbling:

Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:7

Using the analogy of a farmer, he let them know that in proportion to their giving so they could expect to receive:

But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. 2 Corinthians 9:6

He then let them (and us) know that giving freely and as abundantly as you can would be honored by God. As you give continually, he continually supplies all you need and desire. He who supplied the seed for the sower is he who also supplies bread for eating and multiplies seed sown:

Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;) 2 Corinthians 9:10