Matthew 5:14-16 – “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden;  15 nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.  16 “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”  NASU

Some have a problem with it being said of them, “you are the light of the world.”  They resist saying, “Jesus is the light of the world, not me.”  Yet, our Lord declared that those who are followers of Him are “the light of the world.”  We are the light of the world because He is Light and He lives in us, therefore He shines forth from us.  The world does not see Him it sees us.  The world does not often read the Bible it reads us.  The world does not hear God it hears us.  Therefore, we are epistles known and read of me.  We are God’s light in the world through our lives on a daily basis. 

Jesus made it clear that we will not go unnoticed and unobserved therefore we are to ensure that the light we are presenting is one that will glorify God.  We are to live and conduct ourselves in a manner that will cause people to glorify God and recognize God in our lives, words, deeds, and actions. 

If you think you can hide try going out in public to be unnoticed and see how many people see you that you know.  But beyond that, I’ve experienced times when years after an event I would have someone come up to me and tell me about a time they saw me in a place during a situation and tell me how I conducted myself. 

Thankfully on those occasions, I conducted myself in a godly fashion and had a positive impact on those lives.  Yet, if I am honest, I have to admit there have been times when I allowed my flesh to override my spirit and I didn’t respond as godly as I should have.  I know that if anyone observing that situation was to meet me later in a church setting they would have a negative attitude toward me because I demonstrated something other than Christlikeness.  That hurts my heart to even think that there have been times like that.  I rejoice in the lives I have impacted for the good of God and the Kingdom.  I continually ask God to help me make it 100% of the time and He continually puts me in situations where that is tested.

You and I are not islands and we are not invisible. Therefore, as we go through each day we must remember that “We Can’t Hide” people see us and observe our behavior. If anyone knows your testimony for Christ and you fail to present a godly attitude they will take note of it and it will impact them.  We are representations and manifestations of God to this world so let’s let our light shine so as to draw people to Christ like a moth to a flame. 

God be with you as you go through your day!

Romans 15:13 – “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” NASU

Here Paul is using the words of Isaiah the prophet regarding the Gentiles to declare ‘hope’ to those people and instructing the Israelites not to reject the Gentile believers.  Only those Israelites who also believed in Jesus as the Messiah would embrace this truth. Otherwise they would consider the Gentiles outsiders and without hope in God.

I love it when the Bible writers use descriptive words that reflect the nature and character of God such as here – “God of hope.”  He is identifying that God is the source of Hope and outside of God there is Hopelessness!

In this passage, we can infer that when God, who is Hope comes to us He fills us with Joy and Peace in faith.  We Hope in God and in that Hoping we are seeking, as were the patriarchs of old “That city whose builder and maker is God.”  They received the promises but did not see them in their sojourn on earth and we may not see all that we know God has promised but we Hope in God and that Hope fills us with His Joy and His Peace and solidifies our Faith enabling us to have the Resolve to stand firm trusting Him.

Paul tells those listening that as this transpires the God of Hope will cause them to abound in Hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Imagine that, abounding in hope or having Hope overflow in your heart so that you are virtually unable to be depressed or despondent. You become an eternal optimist if you will. 

You have optimism because The God of Hope has filled you with joy and peace, anchoring your faith and cause Hope to abound in your hearts.  You exude Hope and it is infectious.  It may also be irritating to a pessimist who calls him or herself a realist and doesn’t want to hear your optimism but has no fear if you maintain your relationship with God, God will demonstrate His power in your behalf and the pessimist will have to make a choice.  That choice is either to turn to God and allow the God of Hope to infuse Hope into their hearts or cling to their pessimism and cynicism and become even more miserable.  I choose Hope rather than Hopelessness!

Therefore, as you go through your day go in HOPE!  God bless!

Proverbs 17:22 – “A joyful heart is good medicine, But a broken spirit dries up the bones.”  NASU

There are scientifically documented studies regarding laughter and its benefits.  We are told that laughter causes the blood to flow more readily and that enhances the cardiovascular system in a positive fashion.  Good-humored people generally have blood vessels that expand and contract easily and are more elastic.  Laughter increases the heart rate, oxygen consumption, and works the muscles of the face reducing wrinkles. 

It has been documented by medical researchers such as Dr. William Fry a psychiatrist and professor emeritus at Stanford University’s School of Medicine who tell us that laughter like physical exercise once it has been engaged in will result in a reduction of the heart rate and blood pressure.  Some fitness experts compare laughter to a mild workout because of the connection to the muscles when one has a good belly laugh. 

Laughter reduces stress, causes endorphins to flow allows the adrenal glands to function at peak levels.  It has been documented that people who laugh often and deeply have an increase in their immune system, higher levels of antibodies and natural killer cells.  One research showed that those levels remained up for up to twelve hours after hearty laughter.  Laughter reduces pain, lowers blood sugar levels improves sleep, relaxation, and breathing.  Laughter is not just good medicine it is powerful medicine.

If you contrast that to the negative health results of a broken, depressed, sad, gloomy, cynical attitude and spirit you will be amazed.  Does that mean that anyone who doesn’t laugh is going to be sick and one who does won’t, NO!  It means that overall you are healthier and certainly happier if you are able to and do laugh and laugh often. 

I love having fun.  I joke a lot but am also very serious.  I find that it is far better to laugh at and during bad times than to allow them to dominate my thinking, ruin my day, and control my life.  I find that when I get a really good belly laugh I am relaxed more than I could be in any other activity.  I’ve laughed loudly in times of utter exhaustion and found that after the laughter subsided I was renewed in my strength and ability to continue one rested as though I had gotten a good nap.

Not only those things but people who are joyful and laugh are much more pleasant to be around that a sourpuss show is always scowling, grumpy, and cynical.  I try to avoid sour people as much as possible because I like to laugh and people who don’t really don’t want me around anyway and their attitude are sometimes infectious and I don’t need that disease. 

I had someone tell me once in a major crisis that they could not believe that I could tell jokes and laugh in the midst of the situation.  However, God gave me a sense of humor and I will see the humorous in many events of life that enable me to get past the direness of it and often find solutions as a result of laughter.  No, I do not make light of everything and do not consider frivolity to be appropriate for every situation, but I do find that being able to laugh is of immeasurable value.

May God help you to laugh, love, and enjoy life today and every day!  BLESSINGS!

2 Corinthians 9:6-9 – “But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.”  NKJV

I’ve known people in my years of Christian service that would be quite generous providing the spotlight was shined squarely upon them, and they were lauded and praised for their generosity.  They wanted the praise of men and would never give anonymously.  I’ve known others who would restrain their giving if it could not be done without fanfare and notice.  Both gave but one gave in a way that God loves and the other gave in a way that they loved. 

In this passage the subject is not just giving but how you give.  The admonition and clear fact scripturally is that if you put little in you get little out.  It’s like the old story that I heard when I first began preaching about a man who had prepared all week to speak at a small country church and when Sunday arrived he took his young son with him to the service.  As they entered the church they noticed a box in the back that was locked and the father took a half-dollar and dropped it through the slot. 

The service began and the man delivered his heart and God moved in a special way.  At the conclusion of the service, the pastor handed him a key and said the box in the foyer is our offering box and whatever is in it is yours for the service.  The man and his son went to the box and he opened it to find only the half-dollar he had dropped in.  His young son looked at him and said, “Well dad, if you had put more in you, would have gotten more out.”  We truly reap what we sow, later than we sow, and more than we sow.  That is a natural and spiritual principle that is timeless and infallible.

The issue of giving was further presented that God’s desire is for, giving to be done “cheerfully.” It is not out of necessity or grudgingly or even for show but cheerfully and the amount is to be what is purposed in the heart.  God will direct each of us the amount He has chosen to give through us.  Paul tells his listeners that as you do that God is not only able but will make All Grace abound toward the cheerful giver so that they will Always have All Sufficiency in All Things and may have an abundance for Every Good Work! That sounds like God is going to “give good measure, shaken down, and running over” to us so that we can Give Cheerfully !

I’ve observed people squeeze their gift so tightly that if it were a pig it would have squealed.  They gave but not cheerfully.  They gave because they had a religious sense that if they did not they would be condemned.  They gave out of fear, not faith.  They gave out of an unwilling heart rather than cheerfully.  They gave because a sense of guilt not because of love and joy to do so. 

God is not broke so if you cannot give cheerfully you would be as well off in the eyes of God keeping your money it will profit you little.  But, if you realize that everything you have is a direct result of God’s grace and provision and that He has allowed you the privilege of sowing into His field and that God will never fail to provide a harvest on seeds that we sow in the good ground for good purposes with a cheerful heart.  I do not suggest giving to obligate God but give because you love God and are thankful for what He has given you.

May God bless you as you go through your day!

Luke 10:17-20 – “The seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.” 18 And He said to them, “I was watching Satan fall from heaven like lightning.  19 “Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will injure you.  20 “Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven.”  NASU

Now some may wonder about my title and even ask, “Why would I want to know how to become puffed up?”  Hopefully you wouldn’t, but I feel the need to sound a warning that if we focus on the wrong thing, the lesser in importance, or anything that might open the door for the devil to suggest – “You are something” we are in danger of becoming puffed up and that is seriously dangerous.

Jesus had commissioned seventy and sent them out two by two and when they came back they were in awe of the power of God and what they had been able to accomplish.  They said, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your Name.”  If you will grant me a little leeway here I’d say they came back with their chests poked out having experienced the euphoria and adrenaline rush that comes from seeing the power of God move, as I and many of you have. 

They were able to take authority over demonic spirits in the Name of Jesus and saw amazing results.  Jesus, knowing the hearts of men and all things, said, “I was watching Satan fall from heaven…”  As they were ministering He was watching Satan being brought down.  He further said that He had given them authority over all the power of the enemy and that they were afforded divine protection.  They were in a position and condition to do mighty things spiritually in the Kingdom.  But Jesus suggested that was not the most important thing to focus on.

Jesus said in verse 20 – “Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven.”  That keeps it in perspective and helps one to remain humble and yet productive in the battle with demonic forces.  It continually reminds one that it is not we that are doing this but God.  It is not our goodness, strength, spirituality or anything else but GOD through which we exercise this ability and power.  We are more than conquerors through Him that loves us – JESUS!  It is in Jesus Name, Jesus Power, and as a result of Jesus’ sacrifice that we have Authority over the Power of the devil. 

So to help us avoid becoming puffed up and thinking more highly of ourselves than we should but maintaining the authority and power of God to combat the forces of hell we should always keep the focus on the source of our salvation and authority.  As we do that we will humbly stand before God and boldly combat the forces of hell with no fear of falling to a puffed up spirit.

May God be with you as you go through your day!

Mark 14:38 – “Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”  NKJV

In this passage Jesus was in the Garden praying before His time of crucifixion was to take place.  He had asked Peter and others to pray but they succumbed to the flesh and fatigue and fell asleep.  Jesus chastised them for their inability or lack of resolve to join Him in prayer but truthfully I believe that it was God’s design to allow the tremendous message of the above verse to be driven home to them and all future generations.  They could not have stopped the events of the Cross by any amount of intercession but they should have prayed because as this passage reveals it is through prayer that our spirits are strengthened to overcome the flesh.

Thus we have the directive of our Lord to “watch and pray”.  If you think about the events surrounding Jesus’ arrest and trial you will remember that “everyone forsook” Him.  Peter had declared that he would be the exception and even if faced with death would stand firm but he like a reed blown in the wind succumbed to the fear of death and the Jewish hierarchy. 

I believe that Jesus words in this verse were more directed to those events than any thought that had they prayed they might have altered the events of the Cross.  Jesus knew that the Cross was a must but he also knew that the carnality or flesh of His followers would render them sniveling cowards when the time came and He was trying to warn them that only in watching and praying would they gain the heavenly strength to stand.  They would use this after that event and many of them died martyrs deaths ‘standing’ and even when faced with the weakness of their flesh their spirits soared into the heavens and drew strength for God Himself.

You and I sometimes fail to understand the power and importance of watching and praying.  We fail to understand the need to so have our spirit’s strengthened that we can overcome the flesh and that when our spirits say YES our flesh obeys.  Sadly, too often we hear the NO of the flesh and it overrules the YES of our spirits.  It does not have to be that way and we can walk as overcomers but we cannot without watching and praying!

So today find time to watch and pray.  Find time to allow the Holy Spirit to strengthen and embolden your spirit so that when the flesh protests the spirit is strong enough to overrule it and you YES becomes YES both in spirit and flesh.

May God be with you as you go through this day!