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December 12 Attn: Content Has Moved to WordPressThis message is to inform you that ThinkOnIt Devotions has moved to Lastly, ThinkOnIt Devotions are also available at www.ThinkOnItDevotions.com -where
you'll find daily devotions, bible studies, book reviews and more to draw you closer to God. ThinkOnIt...Lazy or Wise?But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not
according to the tradition which he received from us. 7 For you
yourselves know how you ought to follow us, for we were not disorderly
among you; 8 nor did we eat anyone’s bread free of charge, but worked
with labor and toil night and day, that we might not be a burden to any
of you, 9 not because we do not have authority, but to make ourselves
an example of how you should follow us. 2 Thessalonians 3:6-9 NKJV
Paul was not a burden to anyone. Neither should we be. Everyone must work,
just as Paul worked. We are responsible for ourselves. It’s nobody else’s job.
There’s plenty of NKJV scripture addressing laziness.
Proverbs 14:23 In all labor there is profit, But idle chatter leads only to
poverty.
Proverbs 19:15
Laziness casts one into a deep sleep, And an idle
person will suffer hunger.
Proverbs 13:4The soul of a lazy man desires, and has nothing; But the
soul of the diligent shall be made rich.
Proverbs 15:19The way of the lazy man is like a hedge of thorns, But
the way of the upright is a highway.
We can also apply these scriptures to our spiritual walk. If we become lazy in
our relationship with Christ or rely on other’s to feed us spiritual food, we run
the risk of spiritual poverty and hunger. We must be diligent in our own study
of God’s Word. As mentioned earlier we each are responsible for ourselves.
This applies to our spiritual welfare as well. What does scripture say about being
wise? It says scripture makes simple folks wise and tells us how to be wise if we
listen to it. Look at the next two NKJV scriptures:
Psalm 19:7The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the LORD
is sure, making wise the simple;
Proverbs 8:33
Hear instruction and be wise, And do not disdain it.
Lord, thank you for making us wise through your perfect Word. Help us to avoid
being lazy in any capacity. Enable us to hear your instruction and be wise. Amen.
How are you doing with your walk? Are you relying on someone to feed you spiritual
food? Are you diligent in your quiet times and studying God’s Word? If not, why?
What’s stopping you?
In Christ's Love, Elizabeth Marks  http://feeds.feedburner.com/ThinkonitDevotionsAdd ThinkOnIt Devotions to your personal web page by clicking on one of the following:    Come see www.ThinkOnItDevotions.com - where you'll find daily devotions, bible studies, book reviews and more to draw you closer to God. Join me to save a child from poverty. Ask me how or go to www.worldvision.com December 11 ThinkOnIt...Pain Along the JourneyFinally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly
and be glorified, just as it is with you, 2 and that we may be delivered
from unreasonable and wicked men; for not all have faith. 3 But the
Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one.
4 And we have confidence in the Lord concerning you, both that you do
and will do the things we command you. 5 Now may the Lord direct your
hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ.
2 Thessalonians 3:1-5 NKJV
It’s all about the Lord, isn’t it? Everything is the Lord’s. He rules over it all. He
is the one guiding our hearts toward Him. He gives us our very breathe. He
provides for our every need. He guards us against the evil one. We do none
of this on our own.
God is faithful. He will establish you. This section of scripture reminds me of
1 Peter 5:10: “But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory
by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen,
and settle you.” After you have suffered a while it says. We can conclude
suffering is part of growth journey. There are some things we can never learn
without suffering.
In my own journey, I had to suffer the consequences of poor choices. I had
many expectations in life, none of which came out the way I envisioned. I was
disappointed most of the time. Then, again, I believe most perfectionists are
disappointed constantly. It’s a sad condition to live in. As I became more
critical of others and cynical about life, I resented everyone and I allowed
bitterness to take up residence in my heart. I didn’t handle things well before
and it brought me more pain, than I ever imagined.
During times of suffering, God is there, eager to show himself faithful, loving and
kind. All He asks is for us to turn to Him, trust Him and He will lead us out of the
difficulty, whatever it may be. I can say He was there for me. When I finally could
stand no more of my life, sobbing in the shower one morning, I prayed “Jesus, I’ve
messed up my life! Help me! The bible says You died for my sins and rose again to
give me a new life. Please come into my life and give me a new life. Amen.” I
didn’t know how my life could ever be good again, but a wonderful peace came
over me anyway. He was there waiting for me to turn to Him. He was faithful to
answer my prayer.
Lord, thank you for wanting to come into our lives and heal us from our poor
choices. Thank you for your faithfulness to answer our prayers. Thank you
for dying for our sins and rising again to give us a new life in Christ Jesus.
Amen.
God will perfect, establish, strengthen and settle you. The bible teaches us this, but
the Spirit of God living in us, confirms it in our own lives. He did for me. He will for
you. Are you trusting God today? If not, ask Him to convince you how good He is.
He will not disappoint! In Christ's Love, Elizabeth Marks http://feeds.feedburner.com/ThinkonitDevotionsAdd ThinkOnIt Devotions to your personal web page by clicking on one of the following: Come see www.ThinkOnItDevotions.com - where you'll find daily devotions, bible studies, book reviews and more to draw you closer to God. Join me to save a child from poverty. Ask me how or go to www.worldvision.com December 06 ThinkOnIt...The TuxedoNow may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has
loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, 17
comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work.
2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 NKJV
This amazing God, who loved us while we were yet sinners and died on our behalf
that we might live in Him, not only gives us everlasting consolation and hope by grace,
but He comforts our hearts and established us in every good word and work.
He has taken care of everything that prevents us from a right relationship with Him.
Look at Isaiah 61:10 NKJV: “I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, My soul shall be
joyful in my God; For He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has
covered me with the robe of righteousness, As a bridegroom decks himself with
ornaments, And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.” He made it possible
for imperfect man to stand before perfect God, by clothing us with Jesus Christ’s
righteousness. He loaned us the tuxedo so we could be presentable at the wedding
feast. Only we never have to give the suit back, it’s ours to keep forever. His
generosity knows no bounds.
Lord Jesus, thank you for your righteousness that clothes us. Thank you for
comforting out hearts with an everlasting hope. May we accept your righteousness
as simply as one might put on a suit. Thank you for all you have done for us.
In your name, Jesus. Amen.
Have you accepted His gift of eternal life yet? If not, what’s holding you back? Slip
on Jesus Christ and be confident standing before God in His righteousness.
In Christ's Love, Elizabeth Marks http://feeds.feedburner.com/ThinkonitDevotionsAdd ThinkOnIt Devotions to your personal web page by clicking on one of the following: Come see www.ThinkOnItDevotions.com - where you'll find daily devotions, bible studies, book reviews and more to draw you closer to God. Join me to save a child from poverty. Ask me how or go to www.worldvision.com December 05 ThinkOnIt...How Did You Hear?But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved
by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation
through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, 14 to which He
called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus
Christ. 15 Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you
were taught, whether by word or our epistle. 2 Thessalonians 2:13-15 NKJV
God chose you for salvation. He sanctifies you by the Spirit and belief in truth. He
called you by the gospel. You may have read the gospel on your own, or heard it read
to you, or a friend may have told you. Maybe you stumbled across the gospel over the
internet or found a cassette tape of God’s teaching in your car. However you heard it,
God used it to reach you.
For me, I first heard the gospel in Saddleback Church’s Celebrate Recovery program.
It was a strange idea to me at first – God came to earth in human flesh, died on the cross
to pay for my sins, so I could receive forgiveness and eternal life. It took time to sink in
before I understood the full meaning of it. (Not that you can be fully understood because
God’s love is so immense!) It got me started reading the Bible, but couldn’t understand
why I always cried while reading it. I soon found and began listening to a Christian radio
station that broadcasted Dr. J. Vernon McGee’s program called “The Bible Bus”, which
taught the Word of God. I also started listening to Greg Laurie’s sermons over the internet.
It was here that the conversion of my heart occurred. After hearing this message of forgiven
from many sources, it finally reached my heart!! In February 2000 I gave my heart to Christ.
He’s filled me with His Spirit and led my heart out of captivity!
The point of telling you all this, is simple. You never know what will reach a lost soul. It could
be when you put your arm around a friend to comfort them. Or maybe when you read stories
to the elderly in a nursing or when you told someone about a radio program that teaches God’s
Word. The medium or vehicle used is not what’s important – it’s the message! In
1 Corinthians 3:6 NKJV Paul said, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.”
We don’t cause people to believe in Christ, God does. However, God does use our activities
to bring them closer so He can change their hearts.
Lord, thank you for leaving heaven to walk the earth as a human, so we could relate to you.
Thank you for dying for our sins. Thank you for setting us free with your forgiveness.
Please give us the courage to share your message of grace and hope with others today.
In Jesus’ name Amen.
God wants to use you and me to reach the lost. We can do that in many ways. Are you sharing
God’s message with others? If not, why? In Christ's Love, Elizabeth Marks http://feeds.feedburner.com/ThinkonitDevotionsAdd ThinkOnIt Devotions to your personal web page by clicking on one of the following: Come see www.ThinkOnItDevotions.com - where you'll find daily devotions, bible studies, book reviews and more to draw you closer to God. Join me to save a child from poverty. Ask me how or go to www.worldvision.com December 04 ThinkOnIt...The Great RestrainerDo you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things?
6 And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own
time. 7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now
restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. 8 And then the lawless
one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His
mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. 9 The coming of the
lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and
lying wonders, 10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish,
because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should
believe the lie, 12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the
truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. 2 Thessalonians 2:5-12 NKJV
The Holy Spirit is around everywhere and not just inside a believer. He is present in
our world around us. He holds things together. Without the Holy Spirit we would
live in sheer chaos. But God is good and sent His Holy Spirit to convict people of
their sins, convince people of His truth and to lead the believer in all truth.
Even Jesus reassured us of the Holy Spirit’s coming in John 16:7-15 NKJV:
“Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not
go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. 8 And
when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
9 of sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10 of righteousness, because I go to My Father
and you see Me no more; 11 of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.12 “I still
have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. 14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. 15 All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.”
Have you ever thought about how the Holy Spirit restrains? “He will convict the world of sin”,
Jesus said. That conviction is a form of restraining evil. Every time you’re convicted of sin in
your life, praise God for the Holy Spirit is restraining evil!
When I look back at my past life before I came to Christ, I now see evidence of the Holy Spirit
in my life. He was there convicting me of sinful things, which lead me not to do them. He was
guiding me towards a better path. I was completely unaware of Him at the time, but now I know
He was there. God is so good! If the Holy Spirit works like that in a non-believer’s life, just
imagine the power He has in a believer’s life.
Lord Jesus, thank you for sending your Holy Spirit to convict the world of sin, of
righteousness and of judgment. Thank you for working in our lives to restrain evil
and lead us back to the right path. Teach us to depend on You with each breath we
take. In Your name, Jesus we ask these things. Amen.
Do you recognize the Holy Spirit’s work in your life? What about around you? As you watch
circumstances unfold in the world around, know the Holy Spirit is there doing His job restraining
evil and praise God! In Christ's Love, Elizabeth Marks http://feeds.feedburner.com/ThinkonitDevotionsAdd ThinkOnIt Devotions to your personal web page by clicking on one of the following: Come see www.ThinkOnItDevotions.com - where you'll find daily devotions, bible studies, book reviews and more to draw you closer to God. Join me to save a child from poverty. Ask me how or go to www.worldvision.com December 03 ThinkOnit...We Are Not Easily ShakenNow, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our
gathering together to Him, we ask you, 2 not to be soon shaken in mind
or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though
the day of Christ had come. 3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for
that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of
sin is revealed, the son of perdition, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above
all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple
of God, showing himself that he is God. 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4 NKJV
We are not easily shaken. We have a solid foundation of Christ that cannot be removed.
We are sealed in Him forever. Therefore, let no one deceive you. Many will try to
deceive you. Don’t worry, you have God’s Holy Spirit in you, to guide you into all truth.
How can I be sure I won’t be deceived?
First, put your trust in Jesus Christ, trusting Him as your personal Lord and Savior.
Recognize that “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:32 NKJV)
and the “wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus”
(Romans 6:23 NKJV). Pray a simple prayer like: Lord, I believe your Word, I am a
sinner and need your forgiveness. Please come into my life and save me. Amen. If you
prayed and really mean it, then welcome to the family of God. You are now a child of God,
saved by grace extended through Jesus Christ’s death on the cross. You now have a new
life which comes from being raised again, just as Christ was raised to live on the third day
after His death. 2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV says “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a
new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” And,
that means you are new!
Second, read God’s Word regularly to understand what God has revealed to us.
Psalm 119:9-10 NKJV says “How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed
according to Your word. 10 With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not
wander from Your commandments!” See what God has already said in His Word, then
apply it in your life. For God has said he loves obedience more than sacrifice.
Third, pray for wisdom and discernment in all things. James 1:5 NKJV says “If any of you
lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will
be given to him.” God honors your decisions. When you decide to trust Him, putting faith in
Him, and asking Him to provide for you, He will answer your prayer.
Lord, thank you for saving me and making me a new creation in Christ. Thank you for
guiding us with your Word and Your Holy Spirit. Thank you that we are not deceived
because we trust You. In Jesus name, Amen.
God’s Word says people will try to deceive us, but we don’t need to worry as long as we’ve
given our lives to Christ, study God’s Word and pray for His wisdom. Have you given your
life to Him yet? What are you waiting for? Trust Him and you won’t be disappointed. In Christ's Love, Elizabeth Marks http://feeds.feedburner.com/ThinkonitDevotionsAdd ThinkOnIt Devotions to your personal web page by clicking on one of the following: Come see www.ThinkOnItDevotions.com - where you'll find daily devotions, bible studies, book reviews and more to draw you closer to God. Join me to save a child from poverty. Ask me how or go to www.worldvision.com December 01 ThinkOnIt...A Worthy ServantTherefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy
of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work
of faith with power, 12 that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified
in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus
Christ. 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 NKJV
How do we know God will count us worthy of our calling? Since I don’t think he’s
referring to our salvation here, it may be directed more at how we use choose to our
gifts, talents and resources.
Let’s read the story of the talents in Matthew 25:14-29 NKJV:
““For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his
own servants and delivered his goods to them. 15 And to one he gave five talents, to
another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately
he went on a journey. 16 Then he who had received the five talents went and traded
with them, and made another five talents. 17 And likewise he who had received two
gained two more also. 18 But he who had received one went and dug in the ground,
and hid his lord’s money. 19 After a long time the lord of those servants came and
settled accounts with them.20 “So he who had received five talents came and brought
five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five
more talents besides them.’ 21 His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant;
you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the
joy of your lord.’ 22 He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you
delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’ 23 His
lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few
things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ 24 “Then
he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man,
reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25
And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what
is yours.’ 26 “But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you
knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. 27
So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would
have received back my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him, and give it to
him who has ten talents. 29 ‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have
abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away.”
We each are given certain gifts, talents, abilities, resources, etc and we are expected to put
those to good use. God wants us to use those things to further His kingdom. No matter we’ve
been given, it should be applied to kingdom building purposes. We certainly don’t want to be
found like the lazy servant in the story!
Dear gracious Lord, thank you for giving us special abilities, talents and resources to be
used for your kingdom. Lead us this day how we may expand your kingdom and use our
resources for your purposes instead of for selfish gain. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
How are you using your talents for God’s glory? Are you using it wisely and bearing godly fruit?
Or are you hiding your talents out of fear? If you’re not using them, ask God to reveal it and heal
your wounds so you can start building God’s Kingdom. In Christ's Love, Elizabeth Marks http://feeds.feedburner.com/ThinkonitDevotionsAdd ThinkOnIt Devotions to your personal web page by clicking on one of the following: Come see www.ThinkOnItDevotions.com - where you'll find daily devotions, bible studies, book reviews and more to draw you closer to God. Join me to save a child from poverty. Ask me how or go to www.worldvision.com |
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