Standing Strong

Commentary:

Sometimes we reach points in our lives when all seems well. At such times we need to continue to do all we can to rely on God's grace. We are warned that we will face many challenges, but that God is faithful to provide a way out so that we are able to endure.

Verse: I Corinthians 10

¹² If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall. ¹³ The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.

Understanding Intervention

Commentary:

We are instructed to stop before entering an argument, to conserve our anger, and forgive. Many times the easier path leads down the wrong direction. We should try our best to gain a better understanding of how the power of God's love is focused on mercy and forgiveness. We should do our best to emulate the more difficult but more rewarding path.

Verse: Proverbs 17: 9 - 14.

⁹ Love prospers when a fault is forgiven,
      but dwelling on it separates close friends.
 ¹⁰ A single rebuke does more for a person of understanding
      than a hundred lashes on the back of a fool.
 ¹¹ Evil people are eager for rebellion,
      but they will be severely punished.
 ¹² It is safer to meet a bear robbed of her cubs
      than to confront a fool caught in foolishness.
 ¹³ If you repay good with evil,
      evil will never leave your house.
 ¹⁴ Starting a quarrel is like opening a floodgate,
      so stop before a dispute breaks out.

Forgive and Confess...

Commentary: How often do we confess our shortcomings to the Lord and ask for forgiveness? There is no doubt that we often fail to live up to God's standards. We are fortunate that He stands ready to forgive, welcome us, and provide unending mercy.


Verse: Daniel 9:4-9

 ⁴ I prayed to the Lord my God and confessed:
   “O Lord, you are a great and awesome God! You always fulfill your covenant and keep your promises of unfailing love to those who love you and obey your commands. ⁵ But we have sinned and done wrong. We have rebelled against you and scorned your commands and regulations. ⁶ We have refused to listen to your servants the prophets, who spoke on your authority to our kings and princes and ancestors and to all the people of the land.
 ⁷ “Lord, you are in the right; but as you see, our faces are covered with shame. This is true of all of us, including the people of Judah and Jerusalem and all Israel, scattered near and far, wherever you have driven us because of our disloyalty to you. ⁸ O Lord, we and our kings, princes, and ancestors are covered with shame because we have sinned against you. ⁹ But the Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him.

Don't Wither...

Commentary: God promises that we will continue to grow and produce fruit as long as we remain  committed to His promises and His word. Each day we should ask what can we do to remain nourished.


Verse: John 15

“I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. ² He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. ³ You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. ⁴ Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.

 ⁵ “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. ⁶ Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. ⁷ But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! ⁸ When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.

Masterpiece

Commentary: There is nothing we can do to earn salvation on our own. Our best bet is to submit ourselves to the will of God, so that His love can turn our multitude of shortcomings into a masterpiece.

Verse: Ephesians 2:8-10

⁴ But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, ⁵ that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) ⁶ For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. ⁷ So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.

 ⁸ God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. ⁹ Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. ¹⁰ For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.