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Genesis 2:1-2 – Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.
After creating the heavens and the earth, God ended his work and rested on the seventh day. He blessed the seventh day and sanctified it for He rested all all His work.
Typically, when we speak of resting on the seventh day, many automatically go to the Sabbath in the Law of Moses and take a side for or against (as we are no longer under the Law of Moses). However, if we read Genesis, God sanctified the seventh day of rest long before the giving of His commandments to the people of Israel. The blessing of the seventh day was incorporated in the beginning.
Food is fuel for the body.
A car needs fuel to run. You can’t put any type of fuel in it. It has to be the one specifically made for the car. If you put the wrong fuel into it or any other foreign substance (i.e. sugar), the car will cease to run properly or stop running altogether.
Just as a car needs fuel to run properly, we do as well. Our bodies are made to run efficiently, but without the right nutrients, we will not function the way we were designed and will not perform well. Sadly, within America and some places around the world, people eat for taste, not for fuel.
We often eat foods for taste and don’t consider the nutrition level, and when we do, we’ll get a diet version or a low-calorie portion.
Think about some of your favorite foods. Do you eat them because they are good for you or because they taste good?
Many of us grew up learning eating habits based on the way things taste and not how good they are/are not for our bodies and our performance.
- Ice cream tastes good, but what nutritional value is in it?
- Chips and dip taste good, but what nutritional value is in it?
- Candy tastes good, but what nutritional value is in it?
- Pizza tastes good, but what nutritional value is in it? Sure, some people want a veggie pizza (to clear their conscious), but what about the sauce and bread? Have you considered that?!
- Soda – tastes good, but not good for us.
- Fast food – most of it has no nutritional value. It’s only a filler and soothes taste buds.
We live for the taste. We have been inundated with foods that are not healthy, but guess what, people that sell these items only care about your money, not your health.
May each of us be challenged and convicted to change our eating habits in order to feed our bodies only what is necessary to keep it running smooth and efficient. The next time you eat, ask yourself if that (thing) benefits or harms your health.
1 Corinthians 10:31 – Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
How can you glorify God in your eating and drinking?
Photo courtesy of CreationSwap/StephenHay
The Importance of Prayer – Dr. Young Hoon Lee (Yoido Full Gospel Church):
Prayer is ABSOLUTELY important to the life of a disciple!
Prayer is the conduit that we commune with the Lord. Through prayer we intercede for others and ask for the Lord’s will to be accomplished upon the earth.
Prayer is not something we should only do before eating, going to bed, or starting a church service. Prayer should be our life and breath before God – where our eyes are opened and our hearts are torn and mended in His presence.
Matthew 9:35-38 – And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.
As Jesus went through the cities and villages teaching, preaching, and healing, he saw the multitudes. He was moved with compassion for the multitudes of people had fainted and were scattered. He noted to His disciples that the harvest is plenteous, but there are few laborers to work the harvest. Jesus told them to pray to the Lord of the harvest to send laborers into His harvest.
Many times we see the multitudes of people in need. We see them in our churches, schools, communities, and abroad. We see the people with so many needs and so few resources. They are without Jesus and the help and support to sustain themselves from day to day. We see a bountiful harvest of souls.
Hebrews 12:6-13 – For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.
Not too many people like to be punished. As children, we dreaded the punishment that would come after getting into trouble. Sometimes the wait was long and it added to our anxiety. We didn’t want to be punished and didn’t like it before or after, but there was a definite purpose behind it. Our parents punished us because they acknowledged what we did was wrong and they were not going to allow our behavior to continue – only to get worse. They loved us.
The Lord chastises everyone He loves. He chastises us to correct our sinful behavior. He displines us and places us in situations that will allow us to grow in righteousness. He loves you.
Why do we wait to take a leap of faith?
There are many things God places within our hearts (and tells us to do), yet we won’t move out on it. We sit, stand, and hide in silence unwilling to step out on what God has called us to because of fear. Under the banner of fear, we don’t step out because of:
1. Fear of the Unknown. The unknown is that…unknown. The hows, whys, whens, etc. Many times these questions are not answered until your first few steps of faith are taken.
2. Fear of Failure. What if I don’t succeed? I’ll look foolish in front of others, lose money, time, etc. But if God’s Word does not return void (Isaiah 55:9-11), how can you fail?
3. Fear of Being Alone. You don’t want to move until others come along side of you.
We were made for the Lord’s glory and to show forth His praise upon the earth (see Isaiah 43:7, 21). In discipleship, we are pupils and learners of Jesus, obedient to His commands (Matthew 28:18-20). Disciples reflect the example of Jesus they have purposefully studied.
God conforms us into the His Son in word and deed (Romans 8:29). Disciples will think and act like Jesus, and even accomplish greater works (John 14:12). This fact is evident throughout Acts as the disciples healed, taught, and proclaimed Christ. When before the many leaders at Jerusalem in Acts 4, they understood Peter and John to be unlearned and ignorant, but they knew they had been with Jesus (Acts 4:13). They were like Jesus, sharing in His sufferings, in order to bring glory to the Father.
After repentance, you often go through a season of strength and dedication. It’s a time when you must engage in proper ‘exercise:’
1 Timothy 4:7 – Exercise thyself rather unto godliness.
Exercising yourself unto godliness brings you closer to God’s character and less like the world’s (or your own sinful nature). If you see professional bodybuilders in the gym, you would realize that they did not grow large muscles overnight. It came with practice, concentration, dedication, commitment, and discipline. In the same manner, it will take the discipline our minds, words, and deeds in order to keep maintain a godly state.
Through the power and grace of God, you can live beyond the revolving sin that seeks to return to your life. You can be free. Trust in the Lord…pray…and commit your ways unto Him.
Photo courtesy of freeimages.com/Nathaniel Dodson
Proverbs 18:16 – A man’s gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.
As Solomon describes in Proverbs, it is the gift that makes room for a man, not the other way around. We are to bring glory to the Lord through our good works (Matthew 5:14-16; 1 Corinthians 12) – the gifts are HIS, used for HIS purpose, and bring HIM glory upon the earth.
A disciple is a person that is conformed into the image of Jesus through careful study and obedience to His life example, commands, and guidance through the Spirit.
Jesus outlines what one must do to be a disciple, how a disciple is identified, and how they are to live. Below is a listing of scriptural references that further outline the preceding sentence. Disciples:
1. Are not forced to follow Jesus (John 6:43-71).
2. Are drawn by the Father (John 6:44).
3. Must hate their father, mother, wife, children, and their own life (Matthew 10:32-39; Luke 14:26-33).
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