It’s Friday everyone. We are in a great place today and everyday. We have a chance to witness for our savior. The question becomes, are you or will you do it?
Today’s Prayer
Father, Christianity is not blindly following a list of rules, but rather building a relationship with You. To know You as a friend and Jesus as our Lord and savior. We must spend time with You, study Your Word, know Your plan for our lives, experience Your love, recognize Your joys and Your sorrows, and share ours with You. Relationships require nurturing, don’t they? Help us to do our part, to study Your Word and to understand Your rules. Only then will we understand that You want the best for us, and why You have called some actions sin. In Jesus’ holy name we pray. Amen.
Let’s eat.
Does everyone owe you something?
And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death-even death on a cross! – Philippians 2:8
Society today has duped many of us into believing that the world owes us. It owes us a good living, a loving spouse, good health throughout our whole life, sexual pleasure when we want it, and paid vacations the rest of our lives. The world has told us if we work hard and do right, we are entitled to these things. This is the Esau perspective on life. For a mere meal, he sold his own birthright for a simple pleasure to which he felt entitled.
Society, and even the Church, is more pleasure-focused than ever before. George Barna, the Christian researcher, cites, we are not a society that simply enjoys its time off. Our leisure appetites drive us. It is increasingly common to hear people turning down job offers because the hours or other responsibilities would interfere with their hobbies, fitness regimens and other free time activities. Even our spending habits show that playing has become a major priority. The average household spends more money on entertainment than it does clothing, health care, furniture or gasoline. Recreational activities have jumped more than 10 percent in the amount of time given to them. [George Barna, Frog In The Kettle (Ventura, California: Regal Books, 1990), 82.]
What are the motives for our work life? Is it only to gain increased pleasure and leisure time? Jesus said He came only to do the work of the Father. I am sure that Jesus had times of refreshment in His life that allowed Him to get recharged for the mission God called Him to. However, He understood the balance of maintaining mission and play. When we view life with an attitude of entitlements, we are susceptible to becoming disappointed, resentful, and even bitter when our expectations go unmet. Ask the Lord if you need to relinquish any rights that may be hindering your freedom to experience His love and grace.
Quote of the Day
How many Christians are there who pray every Sunday in church, “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done!” without ever realizing the spiritual implications of such intercession! What are we praying for? Should we edit that prayer so that it becomes a confrontation: “My kingdom go, Lord; let Thy kingdom come!” Certainly His kingdom can never be realized in my life until my own selfish kingdom is deposed. It is when I resign, when I am no longer king of my domain that Jesus Christ will become king of my life.
A. W. Tozer
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REV. ELDER G E STERRETT
FOUNDER
GCKRS HELPING HAND FOUNDATION – THE RELATIONSHIP FACTORY
James H. Taylor Sr. – Kankakee City News has published my Daily meal message for a decade.