Monday, September 17, 2012
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Thursday, August 23, 2012
Saturday, August 11, 2012
Temporary Highs Everlasting Prize-Shawn Smith
Watching the Summer Olympics lately has really captured our attention to say the least. The dedication and drive to be the best clearly sets these young athletes apart from all the rest. Many of them since childhood have dreamt of one day winning gold for their country. And now we watch today amazed at how well they perform under such intense pressure with the eyes of the whole world watching and with so much at stake. And although for them it seems at the time that nothing's more important than winning gold the truth is there's more to living life as we all know. So much more that God has in store.
In many respects of course the world of athletics is much like the life of the believer in the spiritual realm. And although we're also aiming for gold the truth is seldom in this life is our story ever told. That's because every true believer knows we're striving for success at a much higher level by answering a much higher call. And whatever it takes to achieve our goal will eventually one day be worth it all! It's true that the olympian who wins enjoys a temporary high but the believer competes for an everlasting prize.
Apparently the apostle Paul was also an athlete in his day since here's what he once had to say, "KNOW YE NOT THAT THEY WHICH RUN IN A RACE ALL RUN BUT ONLY ONE RECEIVETH THE PRIZE? SO RUN THAT YE MAY OBTAIN. AND EVERY MAN THAT STRIVETH FOR THE MASTERY IS TEMPERATE IN ALL THINGS. NOW THEY DO IT TO OBTAIN A CORRUPTIBLE CROWN BUT WE AN INCORRUPTIBLE (1 Corinthians 9:24-25)." With so much at stake we need to do whatever it takes to overcome in our personal race. Can you imagine what an impact we'd make on others if we were as dedicated to our spiritual success as the olympic athletes are driven to win?
I believe what it really comes down to is perspective. Eternal perspective. Here's what the apostle also had to say to you and I living today, "FOR WHICH CAUSE WE FAINT NOT. BUT THOUGH OUR OUTWARD MAN PERISH YET THE INWARD MAN IS RENEWED DAY BY DAY. FOR OUR LIGHT AFFLICTION, WHICH IS FOR A MOMENT, WORKETH FOR US A FAR MORE EXCEEDING AND ETERNAL WEIGHT OF GLORY. WHILE WE LOOK NOT AT THE THINGS WHICH ARE SEEN BUT AT THE THINGS WHICH ARE NOT SEEN. FOR THE THINGS WHICH ARE SEEN ARE TEMPORAL BUT THE THINGS WHICH ARE NOT SEEN ARE ETERNAL (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)." If we want to win in the end we must keep our eyes fixed on the prize! The time is short his return is at hand I wonder that day just where will we stand?
In many respects of course the world of athletics is much like the life of the believer in the spiritual realm. And although we're also aiming for gold the truth is seldom in this life is our story ever told. That's because every true believer knows we're striving for success at a much higher level by answering a much higher call. And whatever it takes to achieve our goal will eventually one day be worth it all! It's true that the olympian who wins enjoys a temporary high but the believer competes for an everlasting prize.
Apparently the apostle Paul was also an athlete in his day since here's what he once had to say, "KNOW YE NOT THAT THEY WHICH RUN IN A RACE ALL RUN BUT ONLY ONE RECEIVETH THE PRIZE? SO RUN THAT YE MAY OBTAIN. AND EVERY MAN THAT STRIVETH FOR THE MASTERY IS TEMPERATE IN ALL THINGS. NOW THEY DO IT TO OBTAIN A CORRUPTIBLE CROWN BUT WE AN INCORRUPTIBLE (1 Corinthians 9:24-25)." With so much at stake we need to do whatever it takes to overcome in our personal race. Can you imagine what an impact we'd make on others if we were as dedicated to our spiritual success as the olympic athletes are driven to win?
I believe what it really comes down to is perspective. Eternal perspective. Here's what the apostle also had to say to you and I living today, "FOR WHICH CAUSE WE FAINT NOT. BUT THOUGH OUR OUTWARD MAN PERISH YET THE INWARD MAN IS RENEWED DAY BY DAY. FOR OUR LIGHT AFFLICTION, WHICH IS FOR A MOMENT, WORKETH FOR US A FAR MORE EXCEEDING AND ETERNAL WEIGHT OF GLORY. WHILE WE LOOK NOT AT THE THINGS WHICH ARE SEEN BUT AT THE THINGS WHICH ARE NOT SEEN. FOR THE THINGS WHICH ARE SEEN ARE TEMPORAL BUT THE THINGS WHICH ARE NOT SEEN ARE ETERNAL (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)." If we want to win in the end we must keep our eyes fixed on the prize! The time is short his return is at hand I wonder that day just where will we stand?
Monday, August 6, 2012
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Godly Fear Drawing Near-Shawn Smith
I don't how it feels to you but for me lately time keeps flying by and I just can't seem to stop it no matter how hard I try. Although technology is advancing today at an alarming rate we still continue heading nowhere fast. And though we may think we're quite impressive these days with all our gadgets and toys sadly we've forgotten God in all the traffic and noise. Once long ago as you may recall the prophet Elijah heard God speak to him in a still small voice. A voice it appears we can no longer hear today with so many distractions I fear we're not drawing near. I wonder sometimes if we even care much anyway what God has to say? We're so consumed with all our electronic devices and worldly vices to me there's no doubt we're tuning him out. You may remember that while on earth Jesus once asked what it would profit a man to gain the whole world but lose his own soul? That's right nothing and the apostle Paul said the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God's eyes because he alone is truly wise.
Here's what Paul also once had to say about wisdom in his day, "LET NO MAN DECEIVE HIMSELF. IF ANY MAN AMONG YOU SEEMS TO BE WISE IN THIS WORLD LET HIM BECOME A FOOL SO THAT HE MAY BE WISE FOR THE WISDOM OF THIS WORLD IS FOOLISHNESS WITH GOD. FOR IT IS WRITTEN HE TAKES THE WISE IN THEIR OWN CRAFTINESS. AND AGAIN, THE LORD KNOWS THE THOUGHTS OF THE WISE THAT THEY ARE VAIN (1 Corinthians 3:18-20)." What's that Paul did you say to become a fool so that we can become wise? That's not exactly conventional wisdom but still it's the way especially for us living in the last days. It's really no surprise though that the world keeps falling for lies since they don't see things from God's perspective by looking through his eyes.
In his day King Solomon was the wisest man on earth. You'd think we'd learn from him as well and apply his wisdom to our lives amidst all the chaos today. But why when afterall we've got a wealth of information at our fingertips so who really needs it? But here's what Solomon once said about true wisdom, "THE FEAR OF THE LORD IS THE BEGINNING OF WISDOM AND THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE HOLY ONE IS UNDERSTANDING (Proverbs 9:10)." I once heard it said that the fear of the Lord is a wholesome dread of displeasing him. Now that says it all to me it's healthy and it heals. Solomon said the fear of the Lord is the 'beginning' of wisdom. There's so much to learn about God but sadly we seem content today with doing things our own way.
With so much turmoil in the world already and the great tribulation looming you'd think we'd truly listen to what God has to say. Here's what he once spoke to his servant Daniel concerning the end of this age and what we're all facing very soon one day, "AT THAT TIME MICHAEL THE GREAT PRINCE WHO PROTECTS YOUR PEOPLE WILL ARISE. THERE WILL BE A TIME OF DISTRESS SUCH AS HAS NOT HAPPENED SINCE THE BEGINNING OF NATIONS. BUT AT THAT TIME YOUR PEOPLE, EVERYONE WHOSE NAME IS WRITTEN IN THE BOOK, WILL BE DELIVERED (Daniel 12:1)." And again, "BUT YOU DANIEL CLOSE UP AND SEAL THE WORDS OF THE SCROLL UNTIL THE TIME OF THE END. MANY WILL RUN TO AND FRO AND KNOWLEDGE SHALL INCREASE (Daniel 12:4)." Knowledge today is definitely on the rise but in God's eyes are we really all that wise?
Here's what Paul also once had to say about wisdom in his day, "LET NO MAN DECEIVE HIMSELF. IF ANY MAN AMONG YOU SEEMS TO BE WISE IN THIS WORLD LET HIM BECOME A FOOL SO THAT HE MAY BE WISE FOR THE WISDOM OF THIS WORLD IS FOOLISHNESS WITH GOD. FOR IT IS WRITTEN HE TAKES THE WISE IN THEIR OWN CRAFTINESS. AND AGAIN, THE LORD KNOWS THE THOUGHTS OF THE WISE THAT THEY ARE VAIN (1 Corinthians 3:18-20)." What's that Paul did you say to become a fool so that we can become wise? That's not exactly conventional wisdom but still it's the way especially for us living in the last days. It's really no surprise though that the world keeps falling for lies since they don't see things from God's perspective by looking through his eyes.
In his day King Solomon was the wisest man on earth. You'd think we'd learn from him as well and apply his wisdom to our lives amidst all the chaos today. But why when afterall we've got a wealth of information at our fingertips so who really needs it? But here's what Solomon once said about true wisdom, "THE FEAR OF THE LORD IS THE BEGINNING OF WISDOM AND THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE HOLY ONE IS UNDERSTANDING (Proverbs 9:10)." I once heard it said that the fear of the Lord is a wholesome dread of displeasing him. Now that says it all to me it's healthy and it heals. Solomon said the fear of the Lord is the 'beginning' of wisdom. There's so much to learn about God but sadly we seem content today with doing things our own way.
With so much turmoil in the world already and the great tribulation looming you'd think we'd truly listen to what God has to say. Here's what he once spoke to his servant Daniel concerning the end of this age and what we're all facing very soon one day, "AT THAT TIME MICHAEL THE GREAT PRINCE WHO PROTECTS YOUR PEOPLE WILL ARISE. THERE WILL BE A TIME OF DISTRESS SUCH AS HAS NOT HAPPENED SINCE THE BEGINNING OF NATIONS. BUT AT THAT TIME YOUR PEOPLE, EVERYONE WHOSE NAME IS WRITTEN IN THE BOOK, WILL BE DELIVERED (Daniel 12:1)." And again, "BUT YOU DANIEL CLOSE UP AND SEAL THE WORDS OF THE SCROLL UNTIL THE TIME OF THE END. MANY WILL RUN TO AND FRO AND KNOWLEDGE SHALL INCREASE (Daniel 12:4)." Knowledge today is definitely on the rise but in God's eyes are we really all that wise?
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
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