Today was a beautiful day where I live; A great day for a run, walk, ride or other workout. Most of us have considered diet plans, workout plans, and vitamins at some point in our lives, Why do we do these things? To look better, to feel better, to live longer? All of which are good reasons.

One other reason we should include is written by Paul in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, where he writes, “Haven’t you yet learned that your body is the home of the Holy Spirit God gave you, and that he lives within you? Your own body does not belong to you. For God has bought you with a great price. So use every part of your body to give glory back to God because he owns it.” TLB

So when we are thinking about what we do with our bodies, we should remember that our body is God’s body, and we should treat it with that in mind.

Dear Lord, thank you that we live in a time where we have so much opportunity to keep our bodies fit and healthy. Help use to use our bodies in ways that bring honor and glory to you. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Have you noticed that sometimes when we are facing a difficult decision something occurs that makes it very clear how God wants us decide. A comment in the sermon on Sunday, a simple verse you come across in the bible. Often, however, it is not clear to us what God’s wants is to do. Try asking for a sign.

In Genesis 24 the bible tells the story of Abraham’s servant who was sent to find a wife for Abraham’s son Isaac. The servant had no idea how to determine which woman to approach, so he prayed for a sign. First he asked God for success in his task, then he asked that the right woman would answer his request for water from the well, and offer water for his camels. God gave him the sign and success, and Rebekah was found and became Isaac’s wife.

We should take a lesson from this story, and use prayer and our relationship with God and ask for signs that help us successfully do His will.

Dear Lord, like Abraham’s servant, we pray for success in our tasks and signs to help us know your will for us. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

One of the keys to the success of the Industrial Revolution a little over 100 years ago, was the idea of “division of labor,” where by people specialized in separate parts of creating a product or service, rather that the craftsman or artisan method where one person handled all the activities in creating and delivering the product or service.

I think one of the first places this idea may have been introduced was in the early church. As the early church grew, the apostles found they could not do everything the church needed, so the divided up the responsibilities. Acts 6:2-4, says, “So the Twelve called a meeting of all the believers. They said, “We apostles should spend our time teaching the word of God, not running a food program. And so, brothers, select seven men who are well respected and are full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will give them this responsibility. Then we apostles can spend our time in prayer and teaching the word.”

Many skills are needed in running our churches, and our pastors cannot do them all. There is a calling for each of us to support our Christian brothers and sisters, and support the operation of our congregations. All are important and bring glory to our Lord.

Dear Lord, help us all find the role by which we can serve your church and glorify you. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

One of the difficult instructions we have as Christians is to love our enemies, and particularly, we are not to seek revenge. It is difficult not to look for an opportunity to get back at someone who made a joke at our expense, cut us off in traffic, or got the promotion we were hoping for.

Jesus tells us in Matthew 5:44, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” As difficult as it is, we need to be kind to those who do us wrong, that is our part of the arrangement. Taking care of the offender is God’s part of the arrangement. Paul tells us in Romans 12:19, “for it is written: “Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord” KJV in verse 21 he says, “Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.” NLT When we sink to revenge and vengeance, we are damaging our own character and bringing ourselves down to the level of our offender.

Dear Lord, Help us to stay above the evil around us, be kind and gracious to those who offend us, and pray for them. By being kind, we may be the tool you are using to bring that person to you. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

How easy it is for us to jump on the bandwagon and join in when we hear people criticizing someone we don’t particularly like, or gossiping about someone’s bad behavior.

Paul writes to the Ephesians in chapter 4:29 “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” NIV

It is important not only that we don’t join in, but we should try to take the opportunity to diffuse the gossip and criticism; not only for the benefit of the person subject to the gossip and criticism, but also for the benefit of those criticizing and gossiping. We may never know if our actions may positively affect the character of those listening.

Dear Lord, help us resist the temptation to criticize and gossip. Give us the wisdom to build up everyone rather than tearing them down. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.