People that do “good,” or that strive to do what they understand is God’s direction for them typically are not doing that because they expect some reward. However, it is interesting what Paul writes in Galatians 6:9, “So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.”

I think there are two messages for us in this verse. First, we will receive blessings for doing good. Second, the blessings will come at the right time for us. We may hope and pray for certain things, but they may not be good for us now. If we keep striving to do what the Bible teaches, and not give up as Paul says, God will give us the blessings we need at the “right time” for each of us.

Dear Lord, we know you are watching each of us, and know our needs and desires. Help us keep doing your will, being blessings to others. Thank you for blessing us in your time. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

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I have heard it said that your life is like an echo, what you send out comes back to you, or like a mirror, a reflection of you.

Paul writes in his letter to Titus 1:15, “A person who is pure of heart sees goodness and purity in everything; but a person whose own heart is evil and untrusting finds evil in everything, for his dirty mind and rebellious heart color all he sees and hears.”

I imagine you have met both kinds of people, those that look for the best in everything, and have good positive attitudes, and those that see the negative and problems in every experience. How interesting that they both can be looking at the same situation and see such different pictures. The verse above from Paul’s letter to Titus tells us that the way people look at a situation is an indication of what is in their own heart and mind. How they look at things is as much a statement on themselves as it is a statement on the people or things about which they are commenting.

We all should do a quick evaluation of ourselves periodically to make sure we are sending out the right message, and also use this guidance to take a look at the people with whom we are spending our time.

Dear Lord, help us be people of pure hearts and find the goodness and purity you have put in our world. Help us also be a positive influence on those with evil and untrusting hearts, that they might see your love through us and desire to change. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

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One of the amazing blessings we have living in modern times in the developed world is how little time it really takes working to provide for our basic needs. Prior to the industrial revolution, most people spent long hours 6 days per week just to have shelter and enough food. In modern times, full time work is 40 of the 168 hours we have in each week. Removing 8 hours per day, for sleeping, leaves 72 hours to do what we want, or an average of over 10 hours per day.

In the democratic world, we have very few limitations on what we do with this time. This is a wonderful situation for people that control themselves, but as is written in the Living Bible version of Proverbs 16:27, “Idle hands are the devil’s workshop;” We must put our freedom to good use.

Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 10:23, “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but not everything is constructive.”

Just because something is our right, or is legal in the eyes of men, really doesn’t have any significance with God. We need to look for God’s will, and fill our free time with activities that Glorify God, show love to our neighbor, and make us more effective Christians. If we don’t, we will be at risk of being pulled into things that may be our right, but are not “beneficial” or “constructive” as Paul puts it.

Dear Lord, we thank you for the incredible possibilities that exist in our lives. You have put us in an amazing time with access to things even Kings and Queens of the past could not have dreamed. Help us and remind us to use these blessings for your glory. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

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Does your life look like what is described here in Galatians 5:22, “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”

If so, Praise the Lord! Take on the mission to spread this fruit of the Spirit with others.

For the rest of us, Luke 11:13 tells us to ask for God’s spirit, “.. how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.”

Dear Lord, When we look for that missing thing that will make us happy, help us remember that it is You. Give us your spirit so that we may experience lives of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control. And use these gifts to spread your Good News and glorify you. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

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Do you get a little nervous going through security at the airport, when you receive a letter from the IRS, or when you see a highway patrol vehicle parked monitoring traffic speeds on the road? I think it is a rather natural reaction to the significant power these people and organizations have to affect our lives.

God has the most power to affect our lives and he is always watching us. When we think about the significance of that, we can start to feel very guilty and at risk of God’s anger. However, Paul tells us in Romans 5:1, “Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.”

Like strolling through security with no concern, or waiving at the patrol car knowing we are not speeding, we can have peace that God has no reason to punish us, because we have faith in Jesus Christ, who already took the punishment for us.

Dear Lord, What peace and joy we have through our faith in Jesus. Help us live our lives in with this peace on display, so that others can see the beauty of life that you bring to those who have faith and trust in you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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