Hopefully we have all experienced a person who amazes us with their exceptional work and performance in their job. For example, the sales person who knows just how to find you exactly what you were looking for without being pushy, the service technician with a bright smile and polite “yes sir” “yes ma’am”, the contractor who proudly strives for perfection, meticulously cleans up, and patiently explains everything to his customer, or the doctor or nurse who, with angelic like compassion and tenderness, cares for the dying patient. These people not only bring great credit on themselves, they make their employers and organizations look good to those who see their service.

In much the same way, Jesus tells us in Matthew 5 that we are the “light of the world,” and to “let your light shine before others, that they will see your good deeds and give glory to your Father in heaven.” When we do good, we are bringing credit (glory) to God, whom we follow.

I have heard it said this way, “You may be the only Jesus some people ever see.” We have an opportunity every day to demonstrate Gods love to those we contact.

Dear Lord, Help us remember that our actions demonstrate what Christians are to people around us. Help us do good and bring glory to you. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Paul writes to the early Christian Church in Colosse, saying in Colossians 2:2-4, “I want them to have complete confidence that they understand God’s mysterious plan, which is Christ himself. In him lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I am telling you this so no one will deceive you with well-crafted arguments.”

It sounds like even early in the life of the Christian church, people were beginning to come up with their rules and their own variants of Christianity, distorting and deceiving people from the simple message of Salvation through Jesus Christ. We see the same type of thing today where people create their own versions of religion that may have started with Christianity, but has turned into the following of rules made up by people.

The message from Paul is clear, that to stay on the right Christian path, we need to go to the source, Jesus Christ, where all wisdom and knowledge originate. We read and meditate on Jesus’ words in the Gospels, and read the other Bible writings to help interpret. When our questions arise, we use the Bible and prayer to help us understand. Though there have been many authors, and teachers who have studied the scriptures and can help us understand, we must remember their writing does not carry the authority of scripture.

Dear Lord, Help us remember that you are the source of all wisdom and knowledge, and we should not be deceived into believing something that contradicts your word. Help us become more familiar with your word so we will be more effective at resisting deception. We thank you in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Have you ever had someone say something to you that just made your day? Someone you respect tells you “you look great,” or “what you are a doing is amazing and is making a great improvement.” On the other side of that coin, you may have heard people say things that seem to ruin your day.

We need to remember that we are often that someone who is making or ruining someone else’s day, by what we say.

There are many references in the Bible about the power and importance of words. James writes in James 3:3-5 “We can make a large horse go wherever we want by means of a small bit in its mouth. And a small rudder makes a huge ship turn wherever the pilot chooses to go, even though the winds are strong. In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches.”

A few of the many references to the power of words in Proverbs are: Proverbs 15:4, “Gentle words are a tree of life; a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit,” 13:3, “Those who control their tongue will have a long life; opening your mouth can ruin everything,” and 12:18, “Some people make cutting remarks, but the words of the wise bring healing.”

What if you had an unlimited amount of money that you could only use to give to others? Wouldn’t you use it to improve their lives? In a way, that is what we have with our words. We have an unlimited account of words which we can give to others and impact their spirit. Let’s use them for good.

Dear Lord, we thank and praise you for the wisdom you provide us in your word. Help us control what we say so that we can be a “tree of life” and “bring healing” with our words. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

It is amazing occasionally to think about the history of Christianity. Through the years many have tried to stamp it out, from the Jewish leaders, Greek, Roman and Ottoman Empires, the Communists, and many others. Today from many other directions Christianity is being attacked. But from the original 12 disciples who followed Jesus, Christianity has grown to over 2 billion people; the largest religion in the world.

We know that those opposing Jesus will never succeed, as Isaiah prophesied and Peter repeated in 1 Peter 1:24,25, “..the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord endures forever.” Until the Lord returns, we know that God’s word will endure.

Dear Lord, thank you for growing your church throughout the world. Help us be a part of spreading your good news. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

As Christians, our ultimate guide to for life is to be like Jesus Christ.

In Matthew 20:28, Jesus says, “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

We also should be focused on serving each other.

Paul writes in Galatians 5:13, “For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.”

Dear Lord, what a blessing it is for us that you came to serve and save us, help us follow this example and serve each other in love. In Jesus’ name. Amen.