Heb 10:25: Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.


The God we serve is in a constant state of meeting

The trinity exists through their commitment to celebrate the relationship that is between them

So much so they are one

Giving up on meeting together is giving up on the reason God created us

Giving up on being together in one place at one time is giving up
on an essential defining factor of what the church is all about

Let this time of meeting be a time of encouragement

Let us not give up...for that Day is approaching

+jk

2 Tim 1:7: For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.

It is important to know what God hasn’t given us

It is easy to focus on what He has given us and forget that he also hasn’t given us certain things

Confusion and doubt live in the abundance of fear

He is the Way out of fear

This Way is only journeyed as we realize what he hasn’t given us and what he has given us

Are you filled with doubt and fear?

God did not give you that

Are filled with faith?

God gave you that

This following Christ is done by what His spirit gives us, power, love and self-discipline

+jk

“You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.”- Galatians 5:13

Why are we free?

What makes us different to those that are not yet free that they would so desire our freedom?

Our use of God’s freedom manifests itself ironically in becoming a slave to the love that set us free

True freedom is slavery

True freedom is self-giving to others

Jesus exampled this great pattern of exchange

Not using his freedom for his own gain but for the gain of others

Now we have the chance to imitate Him

Why are you free?

+jk

Psalm 116:6
The LORD protects the simplehearted; when I was in great need, he saved me.

It is the proud who God resists.

If our hearts are complicated we may find that we are trying to figure life out without God.

When we rely on God life becomes simple...not easy...simple.

True salvation occurs at the point of humility.

Then we continue to be saved as we stay simplehearted.

Is your heart feeling complicated today?

Check out the surrounding passages to verse 6...

 ⁵ The LORD is gracious and righteous;
       our God is full of compassion.

 ⁷ Be at rest once more, O my soul,
       for the LORD has been good to you.

Because God is gracious and righteous and full of compassion,
we don't have to save ourselves and he will fulfill our great need!

Now we can rest for He protects us and He has been so so good to us.

David loved the Lord for he knew God heard his cry and his need.

I love the Lord...He is so good to me.

Prayer:
Simplify my heart today Lord, for I need you more than anything in this world.

amen.

+jk

Many times he delivered them, but they were bent on rebellion and they wasted away in their sin.
Psalm 106:43

We have been given a set amount of time on earth.

God has delivered us from evil for a purpose.

Each day we must be focused on Jesus as our flesh is bent on rebellion towards God.

We will find ourselves wasting valuable time and wasting God's purpose for our lives if we are not in a constant position of submission to His will.

I watched today the Boston Celtics win a 1 point victory over the Orlando Magic, with under a second to go the Celtics focused and made the winning shot.  They took full advantage of that 1 second.

Time is not wasted when we focus. 

Take full advantage of the deliverance that God has given you.

Let us not waste away in our mistakes or rebellion but let us be those who cry out to God and act on the sound of His voice.

To see a city won for Him.


+jk