Two men were enjoying the annual church golf tournament. While waiting for their turn, one said to the other, "There are times when I would like to ask God why He allows hunger and poverty, when if He is all powerful, He could do something about it."
"Well," asked his friend, "why don't you ask Him?”
"Because," he answered, "I'm afraid He might ask me the same question."
Many believe that we only sin when we do what we know is wrong by not following the Word of God. Not so, writes James.
He tells us that sin is also not doing what we know to be the right thing to do. We would all agree that it is a sin to speak evil of someone and harm their reputation. But it is also a sin if someone speaks evil of a brother or sister and we remain silent and do not speak up on their behalf. God expects us to do kind acts, serve others, guard carefully the reputation and protect the relationships He provides us.
Someday we will be judged by our standard of life not our standard of living.
Prayer: Help us, Lord, to do what we know is right, to avoid what we know is wrong, and always be honest. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Scripture: James 4:17 Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.
Showing posts with label Galatians 6:1-2 sin. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Galatians 6:1-2 sin. Show all posts
Friday, May 6, 2011
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
A Call For Help
A small third grader was fighting the school bully. Calling on strength that was far beyond his size, he was winning the battle. Suddenly, he began to call for help.
“Why?” shouted a friend.
“I can feel him getting up and I don’t want to lose the battle,” he said.
So it is with our fight against temptation and sin. We constantly need to call for God’s help if we are to overcome evil and the evil one.
We must never lose sight of the fact that the temptation to sin is Satan’s main activity in our lives. In Genesis we read, “The tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious.” Eve was tempted by something that was attractive – but against God’s teachings. Satan appeals to what we find attractive, but destructive.
In the fight against sin, we constantly need God’s help. Memorizing Scripture and quoting it when we are tempted is a sure way to overcome Satan. We can expect to be tempted, but we do not need to expect to sin. The God who saves us is the same God who can deliver us. The choice is ours.
Prayer: Father, we know that we will be tempted. But Your Word reminds us that no temptation is more than we can stand. Help us to be victorious in recognizing and resisting the temptations of Satan: in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Scripture for Today: 1 Corinthians 10:13
“Why?” shouted a friend.
“I can feel him getting up and I don’t want to lose the battle,” he said.
So it is with our fight against temptation and sin. We constantly need to call for God’s help if we are to overcome evil and the evil one.
We must never lose sight of the fact that the temptation to sin is Satan’s main activity in our lives. In Genesis we read, “The tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious.” Eve was tempted by something that was attractive – but against God’s teachings. Satan appeals to what we find attractive, but destructive.
In the fight against sin, we constantly need God’s help. Memorizing Scripture and quoting it when we are tempted is a sure way to overcome Satan. We can expect to be tempted, but we do not need to expect to sin. The God who saves us is the same God who can deliver us. The choice is ours.
Prayer: Father, we know that we will be tempted. But Your Word reminds us that no temptation is more than we can stand. Help us to be victorious in recognizing and resisting the temptations of Satan: in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Scripture for Today: 1 Corinthians 10:13
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Right From Wrong
Read James 1:1-15
Two bosses were talking. One said of an attractive girl that worked in their office, “Poor thing, she doesn’t know right from wrong.”
“You teach her what’s right,” said the other, “and I’ll teach her what’s wrong.”
The worst thing you can do is to teach a person to sin. The next worst thing is to sell out to sin.
You can’t sell out in the game of love and win. To compare it with cards, once you’ve played your ace – given your self – the game’s over.
If you play again, you’ll play with a worn deck, but with a new partner. If your “king” turns out to be a “joker” you go deeper in your guilt and grief.
Don’t sell out! Give yourself to the Lord who loves you and who’ll lift you.
Prayer: Keep me, Father, from eyes which see nothing but faults, from the mind which always thinks the worst, and from a tale-bearing tongue. Keep me from all sin, both small and large: through Christ. Amen.
“You teach her what’s right,” said the other, “and I’ll teach her what’s wrong.”
The worst thing you can do is to teach a person to sin. The next worst thing is to sell out to sin.
You can’t sell out in the game of love and win. To compare it with cards, once you’ve played your ace – given your self – the game’s over.
If you play again, you’ll play with a worn deck, but with a new partner. If your “king” turns out to be a “joker” you go deeper in your guilt and grief.
Don’t sell out! Give yourself to the Lord who loves you and who’ll lift you.
Prayer: Keep me, Father, from eyes which see nothing but faults, from the mind which always thinks the worst, and from a tale-bearing tongue. Keep me from all sin, both small and large: through Christ. Amen.
Today's video devotional: "Do A Kind Deed Today"
Monday, November 2, 2009
Oh, No!
Read Galatians 6:1-2 NIV
Disappointed with life, a fellow decided to drink his troubles away. Stumbling out of a bar, he came face to face with his minister.
“Pastor,” he cried, “I hate for you to see me like this!”
“But God sees you,” replied the man of God.
“Yeah,” admitted the fellow, “but He keeps it to Himself.”
When someone is overcome by sin, don’t prey on him. Pray for him. It’s not condemnation he needs, but compassion and a cure.
St. Paul said, “If someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens.”
Prayer: Father, expand our hearts and our minds with the deepest concern for the blessedness of others. Help us to act in love and to speak with kindness this day. Constrain us to pray for others: through Christ. Amen.
Disappointed with life, a fellow decided to drink his troubles away. Stumbling out of a bar, he came face to face with his minister.
“Pastor,” he cried, “I hate for you to see me like this!”
“But God sees you,” replied the man of God.
“Yeah,” admitted the fellow, “but He keeps it to Himself.”
When someone is overcome by sin, don’t prey on him. Pray for him. It’s not condemnation he needs, but compassion and a cure.
St. Paul said, “If someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens.”
Prayer: Father, expand our hearts and our minds with the deepest concern for the blessedness of others. Help us to act in love and to speak with kindness this day. Constrain us to pray for others: through Christ. Amen.
Today's video devotional, filmed in Guido Gardens:
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