One of the primary tools of any magician or pickpocket is to get our attention focused on an object, and then use that object to draw our attention away from what is really happening.

A similar deception happened on occasion over the 2000 years of Christianity. Teachers begin with the message of the good news of Jesus Christ, but then they would focus on some peripheral idea and drift the emphasis away. Pretty soon the doctrine they were teaching did not resemble the Good News of Salvation from the Bible, at all.

Paul writes in Colossians 2:8, “Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ.”

There is an incredible amount of wisdom in the Bible, and we should be regularly reading, studying and meditating on the messages, but at the same time always remembering that the one message that is above all others is, as Paul wrote in Romans 3:22, “We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ.”

Dear Lord, We know that we cannot make ourselves right with you. Our hope and salvation come from confessing our failure, and putting our faith in Jesus Christ, son of God, who takes away our sins and makes us right with God. Help us remember that all other messages should lead us back to this good news. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Have you noticed people who seem to have everything they could ever want, but they can’t seem to be happy? If they really want to find happiness and joy, they need to realize that it does not come from outside themselves getting more and more. It comes from inside, by having a state of peace that then allows us to be happy in any circumstance.

Psalm 128:1,2 says, “How joyful are those who fear the Lord— all who follow his ways! You will enjoy the fruit of your labor. How joyful and prosperous you will be!”

Dear Lord, we cannot truly find peace and joy until we have you in our hearts, and follow your ways. Help each of us to recognize this so we can experience the joyful prosperous life you promise. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

In Paul’s opening to his letter to the Philippians 1:3-4, he writes, “Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy.”

What joy to have friends like this. I hope like me you do. Friends you have known since childhood, and friends you may have met recently, who teach you, inspire you, bring you joy, challenge you to be better, bring you closer to Jesus, and who need you to help them get closer to Jesus.

What a beautiful work the Lord does to bring us these friends.

Dear Lord, Thank you for the friends you have given us. Help us strengthen them and grow in faith with them. To your glory. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

In Hebrews 12:1 Paul writes, “Therefore since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down especially the sin that so easily trips us up, and run with endurance the race God has set before us.”

If you are a runner, I am sure you can relate to the burden that an few extra pounds have on the effort required to run, particularly those first few runs after adding some weight over the winter or time away from exercise. If you are not a runner, have you ever had to run through the airport with a suitcase or dufflebag trying to catch a flight, or running into school with a backpack trying to make the bell. That is the example Paul uses to describe the burden sin has on the race we are running daily as Christians. Getting rid of that sin we are carrying, makes it so much easier to pursue those things we hear God calling us to do.

If we confess and repent of those sins, we can throw off the weight they have on our lives and follow our call more easily.

Dear Lord, we confess today the sins we have in our lives, we are humbly sorry for doing those things we know are against your will. Thank you for your forgiveness. Help us move forward running our race without these burdens in the future. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

I think I heard this from an elementary school teacher a long time ago, you may also have heard this said “God gave you two ears and one mouth, use them in that proportion?”

James says in James 1:9, “My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen and slow to speak, and slow to become angry.”

This is particularly true in witnessing. People tend to be most open to letting the Holy Spirit in, when they are troubled by some difficulty, tragedy, or fear. Simply listening to people and asking whether they know that God is there with hope and comfort, may be what they need at the difficult time. Psalm 86:5 says, “for you Lord are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to you.”

Dear Lord, help us take Paul’s guidance and listen to others so that we might understand them and share your love with them. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.