Saturday 8/27/2005
John 7.1-24-Don’t judge by appearances. Judge by what is right.
1 Chronicles 27-28-Be confident, and never be afraid of anything or get discouraged.
Zechariah 12-the LORD All-Powerful is my God and source of strength
Romans 12.9-21-Let love be genuine
1 Corinthians 15.53-57-Death has been swallowed up in victory
Psalm 13-I trust in your steadfast love
"Just send the whole team after #5."- A little running back from the opposing team at the football game Friday evening. He was only 5’7"—in some strange way it made me think of the passage from John- Don’t judge by appearances – and also- be confident- don’t get discouraged—He didn’t start out all that well in the first quarter—buy by the second quarter he was cookin!- He knew where his source of strength came from I guess—I think I need to remember this – when life offers chances to judge others- watch out- don’t go by what’s on the surface – look a little deeper- look closer to the soul- look closer to what God would have me look at- look at the beauty throughout and within- look at the source of that beauty- look at God at work within the person- look at the love within the person- and see the light of Christ trying to shine through- Jesus brings a passion of love in so many ways- a passion so deep he was willing to give his life to love me- to forgive me- to free me to take that love into the world- to have confidence in what he did- it’s not about what I can do or about what I do – it has to be about what Jesus does in and through me- I must give myself over to him- to be willing to trust in his steadfast love – to be willing to venture into areas that seem out of bounds- maybe even to run off the field – down the sidelines for a touchdown –and call that a touchdown from now on- when Jesus came into this world he changed it all- he spun the rules upside down and inside out- the law that people were used to obeying to keep themselves righteous with God was thrown out with Jesus- he told them that only he could make them righteous with God- not by obeying all the rules- look at the game a little differently and declare some new guidelines—and the guideline that Jesus showed the world was about love- to let love be genuine- to let love come from the heart in a joyous thankfulness to God for all that’s been done for us- to really care for each other in all our needs and to love one another – "Just send the whole team after #5." – Wonder if Jesus felt that the entire world was pursuing him- to take him out- to destroy his progress- they were – they did – but it didn’t work- cause when Jesus suffered and died on that cross and rose again he changed all the rules. And for that I give all my thanks and praise. I think I'll look at a few things differently now.
Prayer- Lord, you changed it all- change me- show me how to love others- show me how to serve others- show me how to be steadfast in you. Use me in your kingdom this day. -- Amen
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