Reprogrammed for Righteousness

Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.

Psalm 119:11

A man once said to me, “I’ve come to Christ, but I still have so much garbage in my mind. How do I clean it out?” I answered him, “You’ve been programmed by the world for a long time, so your mind is full of filth. Therefore, it has to be reprogrammed—completely cleansed.”

The only way to reprogram your mind with God’s righteousness is to read, study, and meditate on the Word of God. “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord” (Col 3:16).

If you’re a Christian, and you submit to the Holy Spirit as you study Scripture, you will have a reprogrammed mind that focuses on God’s righteousness and helps you live accordingly (Rom 12:1-2; Phil 4:8).

MacArthur, J. (2001). Truth for today : A daily touch of God's grace (Page 232). Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman.

Lessons Learned: The only way to get sin out of your heart is to replace it with God's word. Scripture has Christ's righteousness and Christ's power behind it and is sufficient to guide us in right living. We must not just empty our hearts and minds of sin, but we must fill the void back up with the truth of God.

Applications: Concentrate on "putting off" the sin in your heart, and work on "putting on" scripture to be conformed to Christ's image (Eph 4:22-24). Work on memorizing scripture and knowing how to apply it to the various situations which arise in your life, so that you will be able to respond biblically to any temptation.

Prayer Subjects: Pray for God's help in temptation. Pray for the Holy Spirit's help in memorizing scripture and for God's word to rule my life and guide my thoughts and my actions.

Listen to this entry

Who Is Your Neighbor?

You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

Matthew 22:39

Jesus answered the Jewish lawyer’s question, “Who is my neighbor?” with the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:30-37). In this familiar story, a Jewish man is beaten and left for dead on the road. A compassionate Samaritan rescues the man, even though Samaritans and Jews normally hated one another.

The point of the story is that your neighbor is whoever comes across your path with a need. Would you have reacted the way the Samaritan did if you had encountered the injured man along the side of the road? Hopefully you would not have passed him by, as the priest and Levite did in the story.

The lesson of the parable is not that you must stop and help everyone who has a flat tire, or that you have to give money to every panhandler you meet. But God wants you to be sensitive to such situations and willing to help if you think your assistance is the only aid the person is likely to receive. In other words, follow the Golden Rule: “‘Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them’” (Mat 7:12).

MacArthur, J. (2001). Truth for today : A daily touch of God's grace (Page 231). Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman.

Lessons Learned: Our definition of "who is our neighbor?" is much narrower than God's definition. We like to think of our neighbors as those we know; family, friends, co-workers. Jesus' parable of the good samaritan teaches us that anyone in need is our neighbor, and we must love them, and minister to them.

Applications: Start thinking about all those who you know who are in need. Think about how you can serve them and in so doing, love them. Love them like you love yourself, treat them as you would want to be treated. Expand your ministry to include anyone, including strangers, whom you can help, especially those who have no one else to help them.

Prayer Subjects: Pray for a heart of compassion to reach out to those in need. Pray that I would not pass by opportunities to serve out of selfishness, or fear. Pray for a deeper understanding of Christ's greatest commandments; to love him completely, and to love our neighbor as ourselves (Mat 22:37-40).

Listen to this entry

Overcoming Evil With Good

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Romans 12:21

Returning good for evil is one of the most difficult obligations a Christian has. Yet from Old Testament times, that has been God’s command to the godly person: “If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; for so you will heap coals of fire on his head, and the Lord will reward you” (Prov 25:21-22).

The expression “heap coals of fire on his head” referred to an ancient Egyptian custom. A person wanting to show public contrition would carry on his head a pan of burning coals to symbolize the burning pain of his shame and guilt. When you love an enemy enough to truly endeavor to meet his needs, you hope to shame him for his hatred toward you.

To avoid being overcome by the evil done to you, you must first not allow it to overwhelm you. Second, you must not allow your own evil responses to overpower you. In either instance, the evil itself must be overcome by what is good.

MacArthur, J. (2001). Truth for today : A daily touch of God's grace (Page 230). Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman.

Lessons Learned: God is good and He is omnipotent. Good always has the power to overcome evil, unless we choose to let evil win. We must not let ourselves give in to evil, nor respond to evil with more evil. Respond with good and let Christ strengthen you to overcome it.

Applications: We must learn to love our enemies. This goes against our human nature and pride, but we must conform to Christ and "do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you" (Luke 6:27-28). Remember to not merely avoid responding to evil with evil, but to return good for evil to overcome it.

Prayer Subjects: Pray for strength to withstand and overcome evil directed against me. Pray for humility, so I would not respond poorly to what I might pridefully percieve as offenses against me.

Listen to this entry

Peaceful Relationships

Live peaceably with all men.

Romans 12:18

By definition, a peaceful relationship cannot be one–sided. You must do your part to make sure that your side of a relationship is right. Your inner desire, with God’s help, should be to live in peace with everyone, even the most sinful, hard-to-get-along–with people.

Short of compromising the Word of God, you ought to extend yourself to great lengths to build peaceful bridges to those who persecute you and hate you. If you set aside any grudge or bitterness and from the heart completely forgive your enemies, you can honestly seek reconciliation with them.

MacArthur, J. (2001). Truth for today : A daily touch of God's grace (Page 229). Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman.

Lessons Learned: The body cannot fight against itself, or pain and disease will result. In the same way, christians, who make up the body of Christ cannot fight against each other, or the church is harmed. All christians must reconcile with each other when they come into conflict, or they will not be able to worship God properly. "Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift" (Mat 5:23-24). Also, to protect your testimony before unbelievers, you must be at peace and reconcile with all men, christian and non-christian alike.

Applications: Examine your relationships and see if you are in conflict with anyone. Seek reconciliation, examining yourself for sin first. "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye" (Mat 7:3-5).

Prayer Subjects: Pray for the wisdom and humility to see where I am at fault and causing conflict. Pray that I would correct those faults and seek reconciliation with those I have sinned against and most importantly that I would repent of my sins and seek reconciliation with God. "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God" (Mat 5:9).

Listen to this entry

Respecting What Is Right

Respect what is right in the sight of all men.

Romans 12:17, nasb

If you sincerely respect others, including your enemies, you will be predisposed to do the right thing concerning them. Such respect helps you to discipline and prepare yourself ahead of time to respond in all situations in a manner pleasing to God.

Behaving in a way that respects what is right and demonstrates graciousness and forgiveness toward others, even your enemies, should be a positive testimony to them. It will also “adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things” (Titus 2:10).

MacArthur, J. (2001). Truth for today : A daily touch of God's grace (Page 228). Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman.

Lessons Learned: Right and wrong are defined by God. They are real, absolute truths, and not just relativistic, man-made concepts. Although many choose to try and ignore these truths, all men recognize what is right and what is wrong. Therefore we must live our lives rightly in the sight of all men. This doesn't mean we fear man before we fear God, but our righteous behaviour should glorify God and present a positive witness before unbelievers.

Applications: "So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man" (Acts 24:16). Think about your actions and do what's right, first before God, but also before man. Actions can speak louder than words and non-believers observe our actions. Live your life, respecting what is right, so that non-believers will see that you walk the walk and don't just talk the talk. Then you will have more credibility when you witness to them.

Prayer Subjects: Pray for the love and the fear of God to guide my actions. Pray that I would not be ashamed of my christianity and that my life would present a positive testimony before unbelievers. Pray that I would then have the boldness to approach the lost with the gospel message.

Listen to this entry

No Such Thing As Payback

Repay no one evil for evil.

Romans 12:17

Some people believe the Old Testament law of “eye for eye, tooth for tooth” (Exod 21:24) permits personal revenge. But that’s not what it refers to. It was actually saying that the severity of legal punishment should not exceed the severity of an offense. In other words, if someone put out another person’s eye, he could not be penalized by anything involving more than the forfeiture of his own eye.

The authority to avenge civil and criminal injustices belongs by divine mandate only to governments. God forbids us from exacting personal vengeance. The apostle Peter summarized the principle this way: “Finally, all of you be of one mind…not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing” (1 Pet 3:8-9).

MacArthur, J. (2001). Truth for today : A daily touch of God's grace (Page 227). Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman.

Lessons Learned: There is no room for personal vengence in the gospel. We are not to judge others, but we are to love and bless them. God sovereignly has placed us under the authority of governments who can administer civil and criminal justice on earth. Ultimately, God will judge all the wrongs committed against us, and also, all the wrongs we repayed.

Applications: Do not harbor resentment over sins committed against you. Remember that we ourselves commit sins against God every day, yet he forgives us when we confess and repent. Let God, and his chosen authorities administer justice. Be like Christ; love your neighbor and do not return evil for evil.

Prayer Subjects: Pray that God's will be done. Pray for peace of mind in the midst of personal troubles and hardships, knowing that God is sovereign and in control. Pray for a heart to love and bless others, even when they commit evil against you, for “If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; for so you will heap coals of fire on his head, and the Lord will reward you” (Prov 25:21-22).

Listen to this entry

Humility Should Rule

Do not be conceited.

Romans 12:16, niv

Conceited, self–serving Christians are a serious contradiction. If we would follow Christ we must be submissive to God’s will as contained in His Word. Any confidence you have in yourself, your own wisdom, or your natural talents must be subordinated to the Lord’s commands.

In no way should you be conceited, or in any respect consider yourself better than fellow believers. Instead, God wants you to accept and embrace every member of the body of Christ: “Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others” (Phil 2:4).

MacArthur, J. (2001). Truth for today : A daily touch of God's grace (Page 226). Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman.

Lessons Learned: Conceit implies pride in ones own talents or abilities. We are nothing without Christ and any talents or abilities we possess come from Him. Therefore, it is Him who we should honor and glorify whenever we accomplish anything.

Applications: Avoid the sin of pride. Trust in God and not on your own abilities. Don't become conceited and think you are superior to anyone else. Look to serve the interests of others and to fulfill God's will. As we conform to Christ's image, follow his example; "for even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many" (Mark 10:45).

Prayer Subjects: Pray for humility. Pray for a heart to clothe myself in humility towards others and to avoid selfish ambition or vain conceit.

Listen to this entry

Having A Heart For The Lowly

Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.

Romans 12:16, niv

There is no aristocracy in the church, no place for an ecclesiastical elite that deserves all the attention. But the Bible doesn’t say you should never associate with wealthy or influential people. It’s simply that you should sense more of an obligation to serve the lowly people because they are the more needy.

The Lord Jesus fittingly illustrated this truth, “‘When you give a dinner or a supper, do not ask your friends, your brothers, your relatives, nor rich neighbors, lest they also invite you back, and you be repaid. But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind. And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you; for you shall be repaid at the resurrection of the just’” (Luke 14:12-14).

It’s not wrong to invite friends and relatives to your home for a meal. But it is wrong to do so with selfish motives, with the notion of being rewarded, and with no regard for those who can’t repay you.

MacArthur, J. (2001). Truth for today : A daily touch of God's grace (Page 225). Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman.

Lessons Learned: We should not be opposed to associating with those of "lower" position than ourselves, because we ourselves are of so much lower position than Christ, yet He became a man and came to the earth He created to associate with us. There is no room for pride in comparing ourselves to others because we cannot compare to Christ.

Applications: Associate and fellowship with all of the family of believers. Do not judge other's by appearance or financial means. If we only associate with those who are well off, we are being selfish and not looking out for the needs of others.

Prayer Subjects: Pray for opportunites to fellowship with everyone, both the well off and the needy. Pray for true humbleness and humility, so I would "consider others better than [myself]" (Phil 2:3).

Listen to this entry

No Favoritism Allowed

For there is no partiality with God.

Romans 2:11

It is a sin for a Christian to show favoritism to people. That is, he should not be prejudiced for or against another person simply based on position, wealth, influence, popularity, or appearance.
The clearest, most practical New Testament teaching on impartiality is in James’ letter to believers:

My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality. For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in filthy clothes, and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes…have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?…but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors (Jam 2:1-4, 9).

If God never plays favorites, shouldn’t you strive for the same virtuous character, “doing nothing with partiality” (1 Tim 5:21)?

MacArthur, J. (2001). Truth for today : A daily touch of God's grace (Page 224). Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman.

Lessons Learned: Showing partiality and predjudice is sin. We are all created in God's image, so when we discriminate against another person, we are in effect discriminating against God. We make ourselves judges when we show partiality, but only God is truly fit to judge. Love all your neighbors equally as Christ commanded.

Applications: Remember that we are all guilty and unworthy before God. Do not judge others by showing partiality. Treat all believers as brothers and sisters in Christ, as immediate family members.

Prayer Subjects: Pray for humility, so I would not think of myself as better than others. Pray for a heart to fellowship with all the members of the body of Christ, equally.

Listen to this entry

Sharing Others' Sorrow

Weep with those who weep.

Romans 12:15

God wants you to be sensitive to the sorrows and difficulties of others. That’s compassion, which by definition goes even beyond the duty of empathizing and sympathizing with someone. It means to actually enter into the suffering of others.

God is a compassionate God (Deut 4:31), so much so that Scripture declares “His compassions fail not. They are new every morning” (Lam 3:22-23). The Son of God was genuinely compassionate, displaying the tenderheartedness of the Father as He wept with Mary and Martha at the grave of their brother Lazarus (John 11:35).

If you are a child of God, how can you do any less than reflect your Lord’s compassionate character? “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience” (Col 3:12, niv).

MacArthur, J. (2001). Truth for today : A daily touch of God's grace (Page 223). Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman.

Lessons Learned: We all display aspects of God's communicable attributes. This includes compassion. Just as we are to share in other's joys, we are to share in thier sorrows. We must sympathize with them and comfort them, reminding them of God's promise "that [He] causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose" (Rom 8:28).

Applications: Seek out those who are hurting and commiserate with them. Provide them with companionship and fellowship so they don't have to suffer alone. Study scripture to help counsel them through their hardships biblically.

Prayer Subjects: Pray for a compassionate, kind, humble, gentle, and peaceful spirit, so I can comfort and shepherd those who weep. Pray for the "peace of God" to guard the hearts and minds of those who suffer, so that they will remain secure and content in their love of God (Phil 4:7). Pray that we would remember to thank God for everything, even things that cause us sorrow.

Listen to this entry

Sharing Others' Joy

Rejoice with those who rejoice.

Romans 12:15

At first glance, the concept of sharing someone else’s joy seems easy enough to accept. But when that person’s blessings, honor, and welfare come at your expense or perhaps make your circumstances appear unsatisfying by comparison, you naturally want to be resentful or jealous rather than happy.

However, it is distinctively Christian for you to rejoice in the good circumstances and rewards of others—especially other Christians—no matter what your own situation might be. “If one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it” (1 Cor 12:26).

MacArthur, J. (2001). Truth for today : A daily touch of God's grace (Page 222). Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman.

Lessons Learned: All happiness is a result of God's grace, so we should rejoice in it. Celebrate the happiness of others just as you would your own happiness. No matter what our own personal circumstances, even if someone else's joy comes at our expense, share in their joy, and honor God with your contentment. Remember that Paul learned to be content in every circumstance, because he could do all things through Christ who gave him strength (Phil 4:11, 13).

Applications: Always trust in God and remember that it is His sovereign will which controls all. Remember to be content, and don't be jealous of others good fortune, or upset about your misfortune. Let "the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (Phil 4:7) so that you can share in the joy of others.

Prayer Subjects: "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God" (Phil 4:6). Pray for the "peace of God" to guard my heart and mind, so that I would be truly happy for others and not anxious about how it may affect me. Pray that we would always remember to thank God for everything, whether it brings us joy or sorrow. Pray that God would be praised and glorified by our joy.

Listen to this entry

Love Your Enemies

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.

Romans 12:14

The Bible commands us not only to resist hating and retaliating against those who might harm us, but it tells us to go beyond that and actually bless them. That’s what Jesus instructed to those who heard His Sermon on the Mount: “ ‘But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you’” (Luke 6:27-28).

To truly love your enemies, you must treat them as if they were your friends.

MacArthur, J. (2001). Truth for today : A daily touch of God's grace (Page 221). Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman.

Lessons Learned: This goes totally against human nature, but it is entirely within God's nature. "But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Rom 5:8). Just as He loved us even while we were sinners and His enemies, we are to love our enemies.

Applications: Look for opportunities to love and serve your enemies. Not only that, seek to be reconciled with them, so that you might win them over with your love. Use the opportunity to present the gospel to unbelievers.

Prayer Subjects: Pray for meekness when dealing with opposition. Pray that I would remain calm and not entertain the sin of anger. Pray for reconciliation when possible and always a loving, sharing, serving attituted towards all people.

Listen to this entry

Biblical Hospitality

Given to hospitality.

Romans 12:13

True followers of Christ should not only meet the needs of believers and unbelievers whom they encounter, but they should also look for opportunities to help those they don’t know. That is the scriptural definition of hospitality. Hebrews 13:2 instructs us, “Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels.”

You should view any opportunity to demonstrate hospitality as a happy privilege, not a drudging duty (1 Pet 4:9). Gaius undoubtedly had that sort of righteous attitude in his hospitality toward itinerant teachers, because the apostle John commended him: “Beloved, you do faithfully whatever you do for the brethren and for strangers, who have borne witness of your love before the church. If you send them forward on their journey in a manner worthy of God, you will do well” (3 John 5-6).

MacArthur, J. (2001). Truth for today : A daily touch of God's grace (Page 220). Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman.

Lessons Learned: Hospitality is defined as the "Cordial and generous reception of or disposition toward guests". Biblical hospitality expands the definition to include strangers as well as guests. This is a genuine opportunity to bear witness to the love of Christ and honor the gospel message.

Applications: Look for opportunities to help out strangers. Do it willingly and cheerfully, knowing that God has presented you with an opportunity to share the gospel and to love as He loves us.

Prayer Subjects: Pray for opportunities to show hospitality to friends and strangers. Pray for an attitute of service and love in helping them. Pray for boldness in presenting the gospel to those who are not yet saved.

Listen to this entry

The Spirit Of Sharing

Share with God’s people who are in need.

Romans 12:13, niv

Society says we each have a claim on certain possessions, but God says we own nothing. You are simply a steward of whatever He has blessed you with. And part of that stewardship responsibility is to occasionally share your personal resources with fellow Christians who have needs.

The spirit of sharing was immediately evident in the early church as believers after Pentecost “continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers…. [and] all who believed were together, and had all things in common” (Acts 2:42, 44; see also 1 Tim 6:17-18). Ask the Lord to help you demonstrate that same spirit of sharing.

MacArthur, J. (2001). Truth for today : A daily touch of God's grace (Page 219). Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman.

Lessons Learned: As mere stewards of God's resources, we must not become overly attached to worldly possessions. These earthly treasures will mean nothing in heaven. Just as family members should be willing to help out their siblings, sons, daughters, mothers, fathers, aunts, uncles, cousins, we must be willing to help our brothers and sisters in Christ. God's resources are meant to be shared with the family of believers.

Applications: Trust God to provide for all my real needs, and be generous in helping other Christians, financially and otherwise. Tithing should only be a minimum guideline. Give cheerfully, as much as God inspires me to give.

Prayer Subjects: Pray for God's guidance and inspiration in where to give and how much to give. Pray for contentment with eternal treasures, not worldly ones. Pray for opportunities to demonstrate a spirit of sharing.

Listen to this entry

Genuine Prayer

Continuing steadfastly in prayer.

Romans 12:12

For dedicated Christians, steadfast prayer will be as continual in their spiritual life as breathing is in their physical life. That was true of early believers and how they worshiped, both before and after the arrival of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (Acts 1:14; Acts 2:42). The church first appointed deacons so the apostles could devote themselves “continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word” (Acts 6:4).

God wants you to pray “with the spirit, and…with the understanding” (1 Cor 14:15) and “without ceasing” (1 Thes 5:17). That’s why Paul encouraged Timothy to have “the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands” (1 Tim 2:8).

MacArthur, J. (2001). Truth for today : A daily touch of God's grace (Page 218). Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman.

Lessons Learned: A commitment to steadfast prayer must be an integral part of our lives. We communicate with God through prayer, so once we are adopted into His family, we should speak to our Father continually; thanking Him, praising Him, confessing our sins to Him, and presenting our requests to Him. Continuous, genuine prayer needs to become a natural and normal part of our lives.

Applications: Take time out to pray more often, especially in the morning and evening. Remember to pray in a God pleasing way, according to "ACTS" (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication). Make and use prayer lists to pray about specific needs for myself and others.

Prayer Subjects: Pray for God's will to be done and for me to be content with whatever God's will is. Pray that I would not pray improperly, demanding from God, or requesting selfish desires, or praying only when I am in need.

Listen to this entry

True Service

Serving the Lord.

Romans 12:11

Everything you do in the Christian life should be consistent with God’s Word and truly in His service and to His glory. In Romans 12:11, the word Paul used to describe Christian service refers to the service of a bond–slave, whose sole duty was to carry out his master’s will. That is how you ought to serve God—as a bond servant of Jesus Christ.
But you can’t serve the Lord in your own power any more than you could come to Him by your own power or will. The power to serve Christ comes from God. “To this end I also labor,” Paul testified, “striving according to His working which works in me mightily” (Col 1:29).

MacArthur, J. (2001). Truth for today : A daily touch of God's grace (Page 217). Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman.

Lessons Learned: Service is the demonstration of Love. If we are to truly "love the Lord [our] God with all [our] hearts, and with all [our] souls, and with all [our] minds" (Mat 22:37), then we must be willing to serve Him as a bond-slave would. We must serve Him with all our hearts, with all our souls, with all our minds and seek to fulfill His will.

Applications: Remember that the Bible is God's instruction book for Christian Living and that everything that we need to make God honoring and God pleasing decision is contained in it. Therefore, every decision that I make must be approached biblically, so that I may serve God and fulfill His will.

Prayer Subjects: Pray that I would remember The Greatest Commandment and love God with all my being. Pray that I would demonstrate this love for Him through service and obedience as a true bond-slave to Christ.

Listen to this entry

The Enthusiastic Attitude

Fervent in spirit.

Romans 12:11

One of humanity’s most chronic shortcomings is the lack of individual enthusiasm. Often our failures to achieve what we ought result directly from apathy and lack of commitment. But that should not be true if you’re a Christian.

Enthusiasm requires Spirit–assisted resolve and persistence, not just human–guided good intentions. Henry Martyn, the tireless missionary to India, conducted his ministry with scriptural enthusiasm and fervency. It was his desire to “burn out for God.” And the apostle Paul admonishes us to “not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart” (Gal 6:9).

MacArthur, J. (2001). Truth for today : A daily touch of God's grace (Page 216). Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman.

Lessons Learned: We are to live the Christian life diligently and with enthusiasm. A desire to please God should burn within us like a fire ignited by the Holy Spirit. We shouldn't just try to impress others with an outward appearance of righteousness, nor should we modify our behavior only out of a sense of obligation. If we have a right heart, the Holy Spirit will enables us to grow spiritually with passion and fervent desire, and not to grow lazy or complacent.

Applications: Remain diligent in living the Christian life and remain faithful in following spiritual disciplines. Pray with passion for the Holy Spirit to energize me with a desire to live my life in a God pleasing manner. Guard against maintaining disciplines only out of pride, or habit, or duty.

Prayer Subjects: Pray for the Holy Spirit's help and strength to not grow weary, but remain steadfast and passionate about Christ. Pray for renewal and revival each and every day as God teaches me new and exciting lessons from His Word.

Listen to this entry

No Room For Lethargy

Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might.

Ecclesiastes 9:10, nasb

There’s no room for lethargy in the Christian life. Such a posture not only prevents you from doing good, but it sometimes means that you’ve actually allowed evil to prosper. For weeds to flourish, the gardener need only leave the garden alone.

The author of Hebrews alluded to the reward God has for those who serve Him diligently, “For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister” (Heb 6:10).

MacArthur, J. (2001). Truth for today : A daily touch of God's grace (Page 215). Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman.

Lessons Learned: Stay productive. We are just asking for trouble when we are idle. We waste so much time on unproductive pastimes. Even worse, sometime having too much time on our hands can actually lead us into temptation where we may succumb to vices and sin. We need to rest, but we should never let our guard down. When we have free time, we should keep doing good during that time, while still enjoying ourselves. Work hard and play hard, but do it all for God's glory.

Applications: Spend less time on unproductive pastimes like watching TV and surfing the internet. Use my free time to read Scripture and other Christian books. Spend leisure time fellowshipping with Christian brothers and sisters, so we can edify and encourage one another while we have fun. Make my spare time as productive toward living the Christian life as the rest of my time.

Prayer Subjects: Pray to have strength to resist the temptations of "wasting time". Pray for a closer relationship with other Christians, so that we would want to fellowship together.

Listen to this entry

Show Diligence

Not lagging in diligence.

Romans 12:11

Diligence applies to whatever you do in your Christian life. Anything done in the Lord’s service is worth doing with enthusiasm and care.

Jesus knew His time of earthly ministry was limited and that He needed to make the most of every opportunity to serve His heavenly Father. We also “must work…while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work” (John 9:4). And other Christians will certainly appreciate our diligent good works, as Paul urged, “Let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith” (Gal 6:10).

MacArthur, J. (2001). Truth for today : A daily touch of God's grace (Page 214). Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman.

Lessons Learned: All our work is done for our ultimate master, Christ. We must strive to be excellent, because we know that our labors for Him are not in vain. Our work, as a visible part of how we live, is a testimony of our beliefs and convictions, so we must honor Christ for all to see. Also, do not procrastinate, for no one knows when the "night is coming when no one can work".

Applications: Do not think of work as a distasteful chore that you do only out of necessity. Remember that "whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men" (Col 3:23).

Prayer Subjects: Pray to remember that our work is ultimately for God's approval. Pray that all my work will be honoring to Him and that I can remain diligent even when it becomes difficult or boring.

Listen to this entry

Honoring One Another

In honor giving preference to one another.

Romans 12:10

If you are devoted to brotherly love, it goes without saying that you’ll give preference to other believers. That means you’ll have genuine humility and will not “think of [yourself] more highly than [you] ought to think” (Rom 12:3; see also Phil 2:3). It also means you will give honor to fellow Christians and take the initiative to put them first.

You will not flatter another believer merely in the hope of having the compliment returned or to gain favor with them. Instead, you’ll express to them real appreciation, respect, and love as a fellow member of the family of God.

MacArthur, J. (2001). Truth for today : A daily touch of God's grace (Page 213). Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman.

Lessons Learned: Loving your neighbor as yourself involves wanting to serve them. It involves putting their needs and interests before your own. We are to "look not only to your own interest, but also to the interests of others" (Phil 2:4). Then we will be reflecting the kind of loving servanthood that Jesus demonstrated.

Applications: Try not to be self-centered and think about my wants and needs. I must trust God to provide all that I truly need. If I don't spend time thinking about myself, it will free me up to think about how to help and serve others.

Prayer Subjects: Pray for contentment in my life, so that I can focus on loving God and loving others as Christ commanded. Spend time thinking about the needs of others and work to serve those needs and pray for those needs as well.

Listen to this entry

Brotherly Love

Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love.

Romans 12:10

Brotherly love reflects the nature of Christians. That's why Paul doesn't hesitate to remind believers to practice that virtue, "Concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another" (1 Thes 4:9).

The true disciple of Jesus knows intuitively he should love his brothers and sisters in Christ. Because they have the same heavenly Father, love among believers is as normal as the affection between members of a family. If you are a true disciple, such love will be true of you.

MacArthur, J. (2001). Truth for today : A daily touch of God's grace (Page 212). Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman.

Lessons Learned: All believers are the adopted children of God. We are unworthy of His love, but through Christ, our Brother, God has shown us Grace and Mercy and Love. We must show this same kind of love to Him and to one another. It is this giving, serving, sacrificial love which sets us apart as His disciples. He demonstrated the ultimate example of this kind of love by dying on the cross for us. To be Christ-like we must demonstrate that same kind of love.

Applications: Look for opportunities to fellowship with and to serve those in the family of believers. Take time to discover their needs and concerns so that I can pray for them with specific intercessory requests.

Prayer Subjects: Pray for all my brothers and sisters at church. Use the monthly prayer list and also just remember each and every one of them by using the church directory. Pray for all my other brothers and sisters throughout the world who belong to the family of believers.

Listen to this entry

Holding On To What's Good

Cling to what is good.

Romans 12:9

As a servant of Jesus Christ, God wants you to bind yourself to everything good, to whatever is inherently right and worthy. That task requires the use of discernment. With the help of God and His Word, you must carefully evaluate everything and thoughtfully decide what to reject and what to cling to (1 Thes 5:21-22).

As you separate yourself from worldly things and saturate yourself with Scripture, that which is good will increasingly replace that which is evil. Then, you will fulfill Paul’s message to the Romans: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Rom 12:2).

MacArthur, J. (2001). Truth for today : A daily touch of God's grace (Page 211). Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman.

Lessons Learned: Our whole sense of right and wrong stems from a knowledge of God. As disciples of Christ, we are to seek out what is good and grasp hold of it tightly. This requires wisdom and discernment which starts with the fear of God from whom all goodness flows. By studying God's Word we can test and approve what is good and to reject what is evil. We must separate ourselves from worldly things and worldly thinking and replace those thoughts with the goodness of Scripture. We must conform and cling to Christ who is good, not to this fallen, sinful world.

Applications: Study the bible diligently. You don't need to study what is evil; study what is right, then you will easily recognize what is wrong. Devote time to reading, studying and meditating on the Word.

Prayer Subjects: Pray for wisdom and discernment in my everyday choices at work, while driving, while playing, while relaxing. Pray for repentence from my sins and to replace those sins with Scripture, hidden in my heart.

Listen to this entry

Refusing To Be Enticed

Abstain from every form of evil.

1 Thessalonians 5:22

Hatred of evil leads to avoidance of it. You can’t dabble with sin and avoid falling into it. Refusing to be enticed by temptation, the righteous person’s “delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night” (Ps 1:2).

You can’t pursue righteousness and at the same time tolerate evil. That’s why Paul counseled Timothy and all believers with this message: “Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart” (2 Tim 2:22).

MacArthur, J. (2001). Truth for today : A daily touch of God's grace (Page 210). Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman.

Lessons Learned: Indulging in even a little sin will stain us to the point of being unacceptable to God. We must avoid all evil, in fact it is best if we avoid temptation. God is good, so to seek God, you must avoid evil. You cannot allow both to exist in your life.

Applications: Sin separates us from God, so we must avoid sin. The best way to avoid sin is to avoid temptations which lead us to commit sin. Avoid sinful cravings and pursue righteousness instead. Memorize scripture to guard your hearts and minds against temptation.

Prayer Subjects: Pray for protection from evil. Pray for strength and guidance in avoiding temptation. Pray for the help of the Holy Spirit in memorizing scripture for the purpose of guarding my heart and mind against temptation.

Listen to this entry

Believers Hate Evil

Hate what is evil.

Romans 12:9, niv

Evil is the antithesis of holiness and therefore the antithesis of godliness. So the child of God hates evil because God hates evil (paraphrase of Prov 8:13).

If you truly love God you will fervently hate every form of evil. Because he loved God so much, David resolved that “a perverse heart shall depart from me; I will know no evil” (Ps 101:4, nasb). The faithful Christian should never compromise with evil.

MacArthur, J. (2001). Truth for today : A daily touch of God's grace (Page 209). Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman.

Lessons Learned: God is holy and he calls us to be holy. If we love God and want to please Him and glorify Him, we must be holy. We cannot tolerate evil and must despise it. Evil must not have any room in our lives.

Applications: Those who love God will hate evil. God is good, He is the opposite of evil. Concentrate on loving God, serving God, pleasing Him, obeying Him, and glorifying Him. Then you will be unable to have room for evil in your life.

Prayer Subjects: Pray for a real love for God. Pray for a desire to trust and obey Him. Pray for a mind to hate evil because God hates evil and to love God and please Him instead.

Listen to this entry

The Most Important Gift

And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

1 Corinthians 13:13

If you’re a Christian, love is more important than any spiritual gift you may have. It is therefore not surprising that Scripture says that the first “fruit of the Spirit is love” (Gal 5:22). And it makes sense that by our love for other Christians “‘all will know that you are My disciples’” (John 13:35).

Genuine love is so integral to the Christian life that if you claim to follow Jesus, you must demonstrate such love in order for your profession of faith to be valid (1 John 3:14).

MacArthur, J. (2001). Truth for today : A daily touch of God's grace (Page 208). Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman.

Lessons Learned: The three greatest spiritual virtues are faith, hope, and love. But among the three, only love is eternal. Only love is a communicable attribute of God. "God is Love" (1 John 4:8). When we reach heaven, we will no longer have any need for faith or hope, but our love for God and His love for us will be limitless. We must practice love on earth in preparation for expressing love in heaven.

Applications: Practice all the spiritual virtues, but practice love most of all. Practice a love which is patient, kind, does not envy, does not boast, is not proud. Practice a love which is not rude, not self-seeking, is not easily angered, and keeps no record of wrongs. Practice a love which does not delight in evil, but rejoices in truth, always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres (1 Cor 13:4-7). This is the genuine kind of love which Christ modelled for us, a love which never fails.

Prayer Subjects: Pray for a heart to love genuinely. A heart which remembers all that love is, and is willing to sacrifice and serve and obey and submit in order to practice true, living love.

Listen to this entry

The Greatest Virtue

He who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.

1 John 4:16

The greatest virtue of the Christian life is love. The New Testament proclaims agape love as the supreme virtue under which all others must line up. It centers on the needs and welfare of the one loved and pays the price necessary to meet those needs and foster that welfare.

Jesus clearly stated that the Bible’s two greatest commandments are: “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself’” (Mat 22:37-39).

Is this greatest of all scriptural virtues in your life?

MacArthur, J. (2001). Truth for today : A daily touch of God's grace (Page 207). Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman.

Lessons Learned: Christ commanded His disciples to love one another as He loved them and this is how others would recognize them as His disciples (John 13:34-35). The greatest commandments both involve love. Those who love in the manner in which we are commanded are obeying God's will. "If you obey My commands, you will remain in My love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in His love" (John 15:10). Loving is an integral part of walking with Christ.

Applications: Learn to love properly. Do not love selfishly, but love sacrificially. Love God by serving and obeying Him. Love others by serving them and looking to their interests. Do all these things to please and glorify God, not for any other selfish, sinful motive.

Prayer Subjects: Pray for a heart to love others. Pray for a desire to serve their needs and promote their welfare. Focus on God's glory as the ultimate goal of your actions and not on any self-serving agenda.

Listen to this entry

A Supernatural Life

For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.

Philippians 2:13

The obedient, productive Christian life is directed and empowered by the Holy Spirit. Therefore it is a supernatural life. It is foreign to the unregenerate person’s thinking, and he can’t attain such a life.

Supernatural living is conforming your outer life to your inner life, and living out the new nature you have in Jesus Christ. But it is not a mystical, undefined life based on abstract philosophical concepts. It is practical living derived from conscious obedience to God’s commands. It is thinking, speaking, and acting in daily conformity to His Word and will.

MacArthur, J. (2001). Truth for today : A daily touch of God's grace (Page 206). Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman.

Lessons Learned: Although we are responsible for putting in the work to grow spiritually and to live the christian life, we can achieve nothing without the Holy Spirit's power. He energizes us to both desire and accomplish deeds which glorify God.

Applications: Work at changing from the inside out. Let your heart be softened so that you will submit to God's will and conform to Christ's image. Let the Holy Spirit work in you to bring out a desire to grow spiritually and to submit and obey.

Prayer Subjects: Pray for the Holy Spirit's power to work in my life. Pray for a desire to learn about God's will and faithfulness to follow it.

Listen to this entry

An Accountable Life

Therefore we make it our aim…
to be well pleasing to Him.

2 Corinthians 5:9

It is unthinkable to believe that you can live a faithful, fruitful Christian life merely on good intentions and warm feelings. The Christian life is an accountable life, based on specific principles and standards. It is founded on divinely revealed values and beliefs to which God holds each of us.

A young man once asked me, “How can you know if you are truly a Christian? How can you know if your decision for Christ wasn’t just an emotional experience?” I replied, “The only way to know if we have experienced justification, if we have been made right with Him and brought into His family, is by looking at our hearts and our lives. If Christ is our Savior and Lord, the deepest desire of our hearts will be to serve and to please Him, and that desire will be expressed in a longing for holiness and a pattern of righteous living.”

MacArthur, J. (2001). Truth for today : A daily touch of God's grace (Page 205). Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman.

Lessons Learned: What is our purpose in life? As christians our purpose is to glorify God, to please Him. What is it that pleases God most? It is our obedience, our desire to become like His son, Jesus Christ. We must strive to become like Christ, the "perfect son". We must strive to be holy because He is holy. We must study His commands and obey them. God desires obedience above worship.

Applications: Lead a life that is focused on God, not yourself. Your purpose in life is not about you. It is about pleasing God and that thing which pleases God most is our obedience. Study God's word, keep it in your heart, and live according to it. The true christian will want to serve and glorify God by living a righteous life of submission and obedience to His will.

Prayer Subjects: Pray for the desire to be conformed to the image of Christ. Pray for the work of sanctification to be visible and manifest in my life. Pray that I would faithfully obey and submit to God's will.

Listen to this entry

Being Self-Disiciplined

To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily.

Colossians 1:29

As a Christian, learn to cultivate self–discipline. Here are some practical ways to reach that objective:

Start small. In your home, for example, begin the housekeeping in the main bedroom. When that discipline is established, extend it to the rest of your home.
Be punctual. Make it a habit to be on time.
Deal with difficult tasks first. If you do the hardest jobs first, you will not leave them undone.
Be organized. Instead of merely reacting to circumstances, plan your day and your week.
Be grateful for correction. Don’t shun constructive criticism; welcome it as a means for self–improvement.
Practice self–denial. This can begin in simple ways—substitute a healthy snack for junk food. Discipline in the physical realm carries over to the spiritual realm.
Take on responsibilities. Welcoming a new opportunity forces you to be organized.

These may seem insignificant, but they can be good practice in becoming a better servant of Christ.

MacArthur, J. (2001). Truth for today : A daily touch of God's grace (Page 204). Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman.

Lessons Learned: The goal of sanctification is not easy. It first requires the enabling power of the Holy Spirit. It also requires much effort on our part to practice the spiritual disciplines which will help us to grow spiritually. But it is an achievable goal if we make a plan and stick to it. We know that all our "labor in the Lord is not in vain" (1 Cor 15:58) and that we can do all things through Christ who gives us strength (Phil 4:13).

Applications: Develop an action plan, an OAT (Objective, Activity, Timetable) for accomplishing self-discipline goals. Organizing and writing down your plan will help you to stay focused on it. Put a high priority on spiritual disciplines above any worldly objectives.

Prayer Subjects: Pray for the power of the Holy Spirit to help me in achieving the goal of sanctification. Pray for wisdom in developing an action plan and pray for faithfulness and diligence in following that plan.

Listen to this entry

Why Be Self-Disiciplined

Be diligent to present yourself approved to God.

2 Timothy 2:15

Concerning disciplined living, Richard Shelley Taylor writes, “Disciplined character belongs to the person who achieves balance by bringing all his faculties and powers under control…. He resolutely faces his duty. He is governed by a sense of responsibility. He has inward resources and personal reserves which are the wonder of weaker souls. He brings adversity under tribute, and compels it to serve him.”

The Lord uses only the disciplined mind to think clearly, understand His Word, and present its truth effectively to the world. Only the disciplined mind consistently discerns truth from error. And only the disciplined Christian is a good testimony, within the church and before the world.
Simply stated, self–discipline is obedience to God’s Word and willingness to submit everything in life to His will, for His ultimate glory.

MacArthur, J. (2001). Truth for today : A daily touch of God's grace (Page 203). Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman.

Lessons Learned: How can you please God? How can you present yourself worthy of His approval? By being faithful in obeying his commands. God desires obedience above all things from us. And in order to obey his commands, we must study and understand them. This requires diligent self-discipline in practicing spiritual disciplines for our spiritual growth.

Applications: Set up schedules for your spiritual disciplines. Set aside specific times for quiet time devotional study, for scripture memorization, for group fellowship and bible study. Set goals and timetables for progressing through and accomplishing these tasks. Be faithful and accountable to maintain these disciplines so that you can discern God's truth and glorify Him with your obedience.

Prayer Subjects: Pray for diligence in studying Gods commands. Pray for strength and perseverance to maintain spiritual disciplines as a high priority in my life.

Listen to this entry

The Value Of Self-Discipline

Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty.

1 Corinthians 9:26

Today’s culture is obsessed with entertainment, sports, materialism, and emotional gratification. In fact, those excessive preoccupations have become the marks of our shallow, amoral, and often immoral society.

A century ago President Theodore Roosevelt essentially predicted those results when he said that prosperity at any price, peace at any price, safety first instead of duty first, the love of soft living, and the get–rich theory of life would eventually destroy America.

One sure antidote to such a lifestyle is the self–discipline evidenced in the genuine Christian life. Your spiritual guidance and power come from the Lord, but you need self–discipline if He is to work effectively through you.

Paul wrote to Timothy, “For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come” (1 Tim 4:8). Ask God to make that true for you.

MacArthur, J. (2001). Truth for today : A daily touch of God's grace (Page 202). Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman.

Lessons Learned: We must excercise our spirit, our faith, just as we excercise our bodies. In order to grow spiritually, we must practice spiritual disciplines which challenge and strengthen us. We must focus ourselves, with certainty, towards the goal of sanctification through spiritual growth.

Applications: Practice spiritual disciplines to excercise your faith and grow spiritually. Study the bible, both individually during quiet times, and in fellowship with others in small groups. Memorize scripture and keep It in your heart, so that you can draw upon It's power throughout the day. Practice self-discipline and be faithful maintaining these practices. Remain accountable to yourself and before God.

Prayer Subjects: Pray for the help of the Holy Spirit in practicing spiritual disciplines. Pray for diligence and faithfulness in maintaining these practices. Pray for a proper understanding of scripture, that I can apply It's power to my life.

Listen to this entry