Tuesday... He gives us great words of advice.

Jude, a brother of James and also an earthly brother of Jesus in his short, one chapter letter starts it off with some great advice. I love the Bible. No matter where you are in it you find something that will make a major difference in our day and in the way we live.

So let me ask you, how are you doing today? Are you facing some insurmountable problem? This Covid is and has been a problem. Russia invading the Ukraine is a problem. Maybe work is a problem or family relationships. Maybe your health.

Jude wrote this letter to some Christians who were facing some real problems. He starts off in verse 1 (MSG) by saying, "I, Jude, am a slave to Jesus Christ and brother to James, writing to those loved by God the Father, called and kept safe by Jesus Christ." Now we can't say we are a brother of James who was also an earthly brother of Jesus but we can say that we are loved and kept safe by Jesus Christ if we have given our lives over to Him. And if we have, the truth is, we are also a part of His family.

He goes on. Verse 2 says, "Relax, everything's going to be all right; rest, everything's coming together; open your hearts, love is on the way." Relax, rest, open your hearts. Rest, relax, open your hearts.

I was going through a time back when I was a young single, youth pastor that was a difficult time. Somewhere I had heard this phrase that seemed to be God speaking directly to me. The phrase was, relax, let me do it. Relax, let me do it. Well I wrote that phrase on paper and put it all over my small apartment so I could see it no matter what room I was in. Relax, let me do it. And that is what Jude is saying here. "Relax, everything's going to be all right; rest, everything's coming together; open up your hearts, love is on the way."

The NLT says it this way, "I am writing to all who have been called by God the Father, who loves you and keeps you safe in the care of Jesus Christ. May God give you more and more mercy, peace and love." And may that be so in your life today.

And he ends this short letter by saying this, verses 24-25 (MSB), "And now to him who can keep you on your feet, standing tall in his bright presence, fresh and celebrating - to our one God, our only Savior, through Jesus Christ, our Master, be glory, majesty, strength. and rule before all time, and now, and to the end of all times." Yes, yes! #todaysbeginning

Comments

Tuesday... It is so worth it. It really is!

Tuesday... It is so worth it. It really is! Look at this, Proverbs 5:21-23 (CEV) says, "The Lord sees everything, and he watches us closely. Sinners are trapped and caught by their own evil deeds. They get lost and die because of their foolishness and lack of self-control." That is true of so many. Now look at this, Luke 15:1-7 says, "Tax collectors and sinners were all crowding around to listen to Jesus. So the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law of Moses started grumbling, 'This man is friendly with sinners. He even eats with them.' Then Jesus told them this story: If any of you has 100 sheep, and one of them gets lost, what will you do? Won't you leave the 99 in the field and go look for the lost sheep until you find it? And when you find it, you will put it on your shoulder and carry it home. Then you will call in your friends and neighbors and say, 'Let's celebrate! I've found my lost sheep.' Jesus said, 'In the same way there is mo...

Friday... Yes, we need them. We really do

Psalm 8:3-4 (NLT), "When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers - the moon and the stars you set in place - what are mere mortals that you should think about them, human beings that you should care for them?" Friday... Yes, we need them. We really do. No, not the fact that I can go out my front door and look out at night at the marvels of the sky. I can do that and it is amazing and it takes my breath away each time I see it. Yes, that is a fact but the reality of who did that and the wisdom and the faith that I have to believe that and to marvel that the one who did that cares about me makes such a difference in how I live my life. Yes, God really does. That is so wonderful for us to believe. And that is why faith and wisdom are so important. Now whatever belief you have at how that marvel happened must also be believed through faith. And the sad thing to me is that more and more people have been taught that there is no God and therefore he did not have a h...

Monday... Three ifs and two thens. They go together!

Monday... Three ifs and two thens. They go together! They really do. And this is what caught my attention this morning as I was reading Proverbs 2. Verse 1 (NRSVUE) says, "My child, if you accept my words and treasure my commands within you." Verse 3 (NIV), "Indeed i f you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, Verse 4, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, Verse 5, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God." And verses 9-11, " Then you will understand what is right and just and fair - every good path. For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul. Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you." There will always be some effort we must do, some ifs for the thens to be realized in our lives. So many of us want to understand without the ifs. But the thens are so worth, so very worth the effort. Verses 5-6 in the Ampli...

Todays Beginning

Search This Blog