A Bitter Poison

Ephesians 4:31-32 31 All bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and slander must be removed from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you. Picture a man hunched over a chemistry set, adding a pinch of this and a dash of that to the unpleasant green fluid before him. He is thinking of someone who harmed him, replaying all the perceived slights and hurts, and is concocting a poison to repay the offender. His work finished, he breathes a sigh of relief and takes the beaker in his hands, marveling at what’s been created. “This will show him,” the man says, and then drinks the bitter brew himself. That’s a surprising twist, to be sure. Yet there is a good chance you’ve essentially done this very thing at one time or another. Bitterness is a poison that we prepare for someone else but then drink ourselves. It is something we often carefully nurture and grow over the years. If someone hurts us—whether intentionally or unintentionally—and we begin to fantasize of a thousand and one ways to get payback, all we are doing is destroying our own heart and mind. Thankfully, our faith presents a better way to live. Rather than nurture hate, we can “turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it” (Ps. 34:14).

The Power of Scriptural Prayer

Colossians 1:9-10 9 For this reason we also, since the day we heard about it, have not ceased praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the [a]knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, [b]to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and [c]increasing in the [d]knowledge of God; One of the greatest things we can do is lift a person up in prayer. And there is no more powerful way to do this than to speak Scripture on his or her behalf.Colossians 1:9-10 is a beautiful example of what to pray as we bring loved ones before God’s throne. The apostle Paul wrote today’s passage to the church at Colossae. From this, we know the specific requests he brought before God concerning his brothers and sisters in the faith. These are applicable to us today as well. Let’s focus on the first two requests today and the remaining four tomorrow. First, Paul asked for the believers to understand God’s plan for their lives. We must remember that the Lord often does not reveal everything at once, but He does give seeking hearts enough information to trust and follow His path. Second, the apostle prayed that the believers in Colossae would conduct themselves in a manner worthy of Christ. Paul longed to see them remain consistent with their identity in the Lord and to produce spiritual fruit (22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Gal. 5:22-23). When you begin to pray as Paul does here, your intercessions will change—and so will you.

House of Mirrors

So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image. 2 Corinthians 3:18, NLT Perhaps you have a small mirror in your purse and a full-length mirror at home. Both reflect the light. It’s like the home and the Church. A godly home should be a miniature version of the Church, and the Church is a larger version of a godly family. In either case, a crack in the mirror mars the image. Broken relationships don’t reflect the Lord’s glory as well as healthy ones.

As much as possible and as far as it depends on us, we should live at peace with everyone (Romans 12:18). At home and in church, that requires sanding off the rougher edges of our responses. Differences don’t have to become difficulties, and unity doesn’t require uniformity. Is there a rough edge to your personality that needs smoothing before it leaves a scratch in the mirror of your home or church? Titus 2:7 says: “Let everything you do reflect the integrity and seriousness of your teaching” (NLT). I have never known the Spirit of God to work where the Lord’s people were divided. D. L. Moody David Jeremiah

No One Is Too Far Gone

Acts 9:1-31 Now Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest, 2 and asked for letters from him to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them in shackles to Jerusalem. 3 Now as he was traveling, it happened that he was approaching Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him; 4 and he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” 5 And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” And He said, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting, 6 but get up and enter the city, and it will be told to you what you must do.” 7 The men who traveled with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. 8 Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing; and leading him by the hand, they brought him into Damascus. 9 And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank. 10 Now there was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias; and the Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” 11 And the Lord said to him, “Get up and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying, 12 and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him, so that he might regain his sight.” 13 But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many people about this man, how much harm he did to Your saints in Jerusalem; 14 and here he has authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on Your name.” 15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel; 16 for I will show him how much he must suffer in behalf of My name.” 17 So Ananias departed and entered the house, and after laying his hands on him said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road by which you were coming, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 And immediately something like fish scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight, and he got up and was baptized; 19 and he took food and was strengthened. Now for several days he was with the disciples who were in Damascus, 20 and immediately he began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.” 21 All those hearing him continued to be amazed, and were saying, “Is this not the one who in Jerusalem destroyed those who called on this name, and had come here for the purpose of bringing them bound before the chief priests?” 22 But Saul kept increasing in strength and confounding Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that this Jesus is the Christ. 23 When many days had elapsed, the Jews plotted together to do away with him, 24 but their plot became known to Saul. They were also closely watching the gates day and night so that they might put him to death; 25 but his disciples took him at night and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a large basket. 26 When he came to Jerusalem, he tried repeatedly to associate with the disciples; and yet they were all afraid of him, as they did not believe that he was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took hold of him and brought him to the apostles and described to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had talked to him, and how he had spoken out boldly in the name of Jesus at Damascus. 28 And he was with them, moving about freely in Jerusalem, speaking out boldly in the name of the Lord. 29 And he was talking and arguing with the Hellenistic Jews; but they were attempting to put him to death. 30 Now when the brothers learned of it, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him away to Tarsus. 31 So the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria enjoyed peace, as it was being built up; and as it continued in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it kept increasing.   Imagine what the apostle Paul must have felt at the time of his conversion. Before then, he was known as Saul, a notorious persecutor of the Christian church. Saul even went so far as to track down believers and approve their execution! Do you think people trusted him immediately after his experience with Jesus? What must the reaction have been from the believers who knew him only as a murderer? Surely Paul was forced to suffer their harsh stares and questions. And yet God moved in a mighty way through this former persecutor. Despite Paul’s past, God had a specific plan for him, and in the power of the Holy Spirit, the apostle was used mightily to spread the gospel. Perhaps you know someone who is hostile to the faith. Can you “preach” to him or her through kind and loving actions? Perhaps the Lord is planning to use you as He once did Ananias. Or perhaps you’re the one who’s hesitating, thinking you’re too far gone to save. Beloved, there is no one beyond God’s loving grace. Ask Him to speak to your heart today, and follow Him. You’ll be so glad you did.

Difficulties Produce Depth

Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus. Hebrews 3:1 Frederick A. Tatford was a prolific twentieth-century pastor and writer who was born in 1901 and ministered among the Plymouth Brethren. His pastoral heart was tender toward those who faced troubles in life. He wrote, “The shadows of life have their purpose as well as the bright sunlight, and the dark hours of sorrow bring their own rich satisfaction. The one who has passed through trouble is equipped by his own experience to sympathize with others who pass that way. Our Great High Priest sympathizes with His brethren because of His own experience on earth.”

Although they are difficult and painful, times of trial cause growth in our life. We look to Jesus and draw comfort from Him, and He equips us to encourage others with the same comfort we’ve received. Among our items of gratitude, remember to thank God for this—He uses difficulty to develop us into disciples. Those who know the trials and difficulties of life’s road can enter into the feelings of others who are tired and can provide strength and encouragement for the weak and weary. Frederick A. Tatford

A Fruitful Surrender

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? 20 For you have been bought for a price: therefore glorify God in your body. As we read yesterday, God wants us to surrender our life to Him—to become a living and holy sacrifice. This is no small task. All our plans and desires must be subject to His leadership and will. Have you ever wondered why God would make this big ask of us? It turns out that surrender is in our best interest. Scripture promises again and again that following our Father leads to hope and an established future: • David observed that goodness is abundant for anyone who defers to God(How great is Your goodness, Which You have stored up for those who fear You, Which You have performed for those who take refuge in You, Before the sons of mankind! Ps. 31:19). • To Jeremiah, the Lord promised that prosperity, hope, and a future are a byproduct of seeking Him wholeheartedly (11 For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for prosperity and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. Jer. 29:11-12).  • Solomon noticed our paths are straight when we trust the Lord completely(5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight. Prov. 3:5-6). So, while God demands our whole life, He promises the sacrifice will be worth it. What’s more, He pledges to care for us, provide for us, and accompany us always. Jesus’ way is best, and it offers hope, joy, and peace. While we may not like everything He chooses, He promises to work all things for good. Do you want to try handing God the reins today? If you’re not sure, take a moment to tell Him that now. He loves you unconditionally and will meet you where you are.

Memorizing Scripture is for Every Christian

https://www.spiritualtheology.net/memorizing-scripture/?ref=spiritual-theology-newsletter

Serving God with Our Gifts

Matthew 25:14-30 14 “For it is just like a man about to go on a journey, who called his own slaves and entrusted his possessions to them. 15 To one he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he went on his journey. 16 The one who had received the five talents immediately went and did business with them, and earned five more talents. 17 In the same way the one who had received the two talents earned two more. 18 But he who received the one talent went away and dug a hole in the ground, and hid his master’s money. 19 “Now after a long time the master of those slaves *came and *settled accounts with them. 20 The one who had received the five talents came up and brought five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you entrusted five talents to me. See, I have earned five more talents.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter the joy of your master.’ 22 “Also the one who had received the two talents came up and said, ‘Master, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have earned two more talents.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter the joy of your master.’ 24 “Now the one who had received the one talent also came up and said, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed. 25 And I was afraid, so I went away and hid your talent in the ground. See, you still have what is yours.’ 26 “But his master answered and said to him, ‘You worthless, lazy slave! Did you know that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I did not scatter seed? 27 Then you ought to have put my money in the bank, and on my arrival I would have received my money back with interest. 28 Therefore: take the talent away from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents.’ 29 “For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away. 30 And throw the worthless slave into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.   Have you ever tried to do something you haven’t done for a while, such as ride a bike, play the piano, or speak French? You may have been surprised to find yourself stumbling a little. When we don’t regularly practice a skill, we can start to lose proficiency. Similarly, if we don’t exercise regularly, we lose muscle strength. Some machines start to rust and break down without regular use. Food and medication have a limited shelf life. You know what they say: Use it or lose it. It’s not enough to identify our spiritual gifts—we have to use and be good stewards of them. God gave us our gifts for a purpose. The Parable of the Talents clearly shows us what happens when we “bury” what He’s given us: We not only dishonor Him; we also miss out on the joy of fulfilling our purpose and experiencing the abundant life Jesus promised. ( The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came so that they would have life, and have it abundantly. John 10:10). Parents take pride in seeing their children grow in mind and body through the years. In a similar way, our Father in heaven delights to see a humble heart that is ready to serve Him (22 Slaves, obey those who are your human masters in everything, not with eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. 23 Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord and not for people, Col. 3:22-23). Don’t miss this moment with Him—how will you use your gifts to serve His kingdom today?

Spiritual Gifts

1 Peter 4:10-11 10 As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the multifaceted grace of God. 11 Whoever speaks is to do so as one who is speaking actual words of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. If someone asked what your gifts are, what would you say? We may struggle with such questions because we either aren’t sure or don’t want to seem conceited. And sometimes it’s hard to know if something is a gift or a talent. How can we tell the difference? Generally speaking, a talent is something that you’re naturally good at—such as sports or art or science—and can excel at through training, practice, and experience. It can be a combination of innate ability and skill. A gift, biblically speaking, is something the Lord has deliberately given you, based on His purpose for your life. If you’re a believer, then He’s given you a gift. It might be teaching, preaching, exhortation, giving, or hospitality. It might be something else. Believers have different gifts, and that’s the beauty of the body of Christ: Our differences can work together in unity just as the parts of a human body with different functions all work together (4 For just as we have many parts in one body and all the body’s parts do not have the same function, 5 so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually parts of one another. 6 However, since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to use them properly: if prophecy, in proportion to one’s faith; 7 if service, in the act of serving; or the one who teaches, in the act of teaching; 8 or the one who exhorts, in the work of exhortation; the one who gives, with generosity; the one who is in leadership, with diligence; the one who shows mercy, with cheerfulness. Rom. 12:4-8). Also, consider that it’s possible for our gifts and talents to work together. In fact, that’s exactly what God wants for us—to lead whole, integrated lives and to be completely ourselves wherever we go. What do you think your spiritual gifts are? How might God be calling you to use them in a fuller way?

Difficulties Produce Depth

Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus. Hebrews 3:1 Frederick A. Tatford was a prolific twentieth-century pastor and writer who was born in 1901 and ministered among the Plymouth Brethren. His pastoral heart was tender toward those who faced troubles in life. He wrote, “The shadows of life have their purpose as well as the bright sunlight, and the dark hours of sorrow bring their own rich satisfaction. The one who has passed through trouble is equipped by his own experience to sympathize with others who pass that way. Our Great High Priest sympathizes with His brethren because of His own experience on earth.”

Although they are difficult and painful, times of trial cause growth in our life. We look to Jesus and draw comfort from Him, and He equips us to encourage others with the same comfort we’ve received. Among our items of gratitude, remember to thank God for this—He uses difficulty to develop us into disciples. Those who know the trials and difficulties of life’s road can enter into the feelings of others who are tired and can provide strength and encouragement for the weak and weary. Frederick A. Tatford   David Jeremiah