You may have heard it said, “You become who you run with, and they become you.” I don’t remember being told this when I was younger, but I must have been, because I remember having thoughts in disagreement with that opinion. I thought, “my character is what it is, and who I hang around with will not change it.” As I got older, I realized my view was not realistic. I also recognized that it is very difficult to evaluate one’s own situation, objectively, while in it.

1 Corinthians 15:33-34 says, “Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.” Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning.” The Revised Standard Version translates it, “Bad company ruins good morals.”

It is important to, periodically, evaluate with whom we are spending our time. True, we can be the positive influence on others who need improvement in their behavior, but we should be part of a group that has a high moral standard and the whole group can be the influence on those who need improvement, rather than us, individually, trying to lift up the standards of the rest of the group.

In modern times, it is not just the people we physically spend time with that influence us, it is also the people we follow on twitter, facebook, youtube, TV and radio that are influencers of our character. We need to evaluate these, as well.

Dear Lord, part of the Christian life is choosing those with whom we socialize, and you provide us good guidance in your word. Help us follow our conscience, and avoid the situations and if necessary, the people that erode our good morals and character. in Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Click Here – to Receive These Messages Every Morning In Your Email Box

We celebrate many achievements in our lives, and recognize others when the achieve incredible things.

Luke 10 is the account of Jesus sending 72 disciples out into surrounding towns where Jesus planned to visit. When they returned, they reported with excitement that they had done amazing things and “even the demons obey us when we use your name.”

In modern times we might identify amazing achievements, like solving serious medical conditions, inventing ways to provide clean water in remote areas, or creating ways to provide the internet to the world.

Jesus tells these disciples in Luke 10:19-20, “I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them. Nothing will injure you. But don’t rejoice because evil spirits obey you; rejoice because your names are registered in heaven.”

The message for us in modern times is the same. It is great to accomplish these things, but the thing we should be most joyful about is that we are saved.

Dear Lord, help us remember to be most joyful about the salvation you have provided us. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Click Here – to Receive These Messages Every Morning In Your Email Box

Romans 8:39 Paul says “nothing can separate us from the love of God which is Jesus Christ”. NIV

We do not give those we love everything they want, because we know some things would not be good for them, and sometimes we make them do things that are difficult and frustrating because ultimately those things are good for them. In the same way, God lets us struggle, and doesn’t always give us what we want when we want it, but we can know as Paul said, God is doing these things for our good.

You may be tempted to think, God doesn’t know that I am sitting in traffic, late for an important event, or that I got a flat tire, bombed a math test, argued with my spouse, etc, but you would be wrong to think that. Matthew 10:29-30 says that not a sparrow falls to the ground that is not Gods will, and he knows the number of hairs on your head. So remember even when things are not going well, God knows and He is not neglecting you.

Dear Lord, help us to be strong in the knowledge that with Your unlimited power you love us and are looking out for us. In Jesus name. Amen.

Click Here – to Receive These Messages Every Morning In Your Email Box

Yesterday during our church service, one of our bell choirs played a piece. As I was watching and listening, I thought about how similar the bell choir was to how Paul describes the church.

In a bell choir, there are 10 or 12 people who ring two to four bells each. Each bell is a different note. When the ringers play precisely, in time, it creates beautiful chords and a melody that flows from one ringer to the next. If all we heard was one ringer, the music would be almost meaningless, with a couple notes played, then silence waiting for those notes to occur again in the piece.

Paul writes in Romans 12:4-6, “For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us.”

God has given each of us different interests and talents. When we all use them together for his work, the church comes together like a beautiful musical performance with each of us playing our part in perfect synchrony, bringing glory to God, and serving our neighbors.

Dear Lord, you have created the opportunity for us to do great things as a church, when we work together using the unique gifts you have given each of us. Help us remember to use what you have given us, and when combined with what you have given our fellow members, Your church will do great things. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Click Here – to Receive These Messages Every Morning In Your Email Box

Today is Mother’s Day a day we celebrate and thank our mothers for the love and support they give to us.

What an amazing example God gave us in Jesus’ mother Mary. First the faith expressed when the angel came to her telling her she would be the mother of the Savior Jesus. Expressed in the words of faith in God facing the unknown. Luke 1:38 “Be it unto me as you have said.” Mary also was with Jesus through His persecution and death. How difficult that test of faith must have been for a mother. We can only imagine the strength and comfort she provided for the other followers during that time.

I am incredibly blessed and thankful to God that I have a mother like this that is a strong example of Christian faith; unselfish supporter and comforter of me and her whole family. I am also incredibly blessed by my wife who is a wonderful Christian example for our family. If you also have a mother like this here, or who is now in heaven, be grateful and use that gift to make you all the Christian you can be.

Dear Lord, thank you for the unique and special role You established for mothers. Help them cherish that special role, and help them feel our thanks for all they do and have done for us. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

Click Here – to Receive These Messages Every Morning In Your Email Box