Treasure Wisdom

"Does not wisdom call out?

Does not understanding raise her voice?

At the highest point along the way,

where the paths meet, she takes her stand;

beside the gate leading into the city,

at the entrance, she cries aloud:

'To you, O people, I call out;

I raise my voice to all mankind.

You who are simple, gain prudence;

you who are foolish, set your hearts in it.'"

Proverbs 8:1-5

There is much to value in this world:  An education.  Success.  Wealth.  Popularity.  Meaning.  While it is not popular to treasure godly wisdom, the farsightedness God possesses, His ability to see the big picture; there is a reason to hold as dear such a prize.

True Riches.  It can be tricky to pick out the valuable from the worthless.  My flesh leads me wrong every time, leaning me toward what seems so important like money in the bank, a full social calendar, or a well-respected and enjoyable career.  But will it last?  In the end, when I stand before God, will He count all I invest in as eternally dear?  Or will it be categorized as something that will pass away with the rest of the temporary (2 Peter 3:10, Matthew 6:19-21)?

Godly wisdom is considered as one of the eternally valuable possessions I can treasure.  Seeking advice from godly counsel, humbling myself to joyfully receive the hard words of discipline God often speaks, and desiring God's best for me even when it seems less than desirable at the time are all examples of how I can model my heart's desire to gain prudence and insight for living.  I will never be sorry I went after such treasure.

When I pursue wisdom and recognize it as truly valuable, I'll find when I get to the end of my life that it is worth more than all the gold in the world (Proverbs 8:9-21).

Preliminary.  "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth."  (Genesis 1:1)  If I were to ask, "What was the first thing God created?" most of us would answer with great confidence, "Light." (v 3)  Unfortunately, we would all be wrong.

Wisdom was there first (Proverbs 8:22-31).  It was God's wisdom that created all things, and He first brought it forth into His creation before the first beam of light shone through the darkness.  Therefore, when God made all things, wisdom was already there, waiting to be sought after by man.  With such an important place in the order of all things, I must see that to respect wisdom and hold it as most appreciated among all He made shows I have an understanding of God's value system.

When I pursue wisdom and recognize it as truly valuable, I have shown my comprehension of God's priorities.

Life and Favor.  There are many philosophies which I can follow in life, a variety of viewpoints from which I can see my way through each day.  Some say to pay attention to daily needs and the rest will fall into place.  Others say to live right and it will come back to you threefold.  But only one says to seek after wisdom in order to find life and favor.

While I could simply look for what seems wise to my own eyes, I could also dedicate my days to following Jesus and paying attention to the lead of the indwelling Spirit to highlight what comes from Him.  When I do the latter, I'll find the abundant life Jesus came to give me and the favor of God I need to find His best for me (John 10:10, Psalm 5:12).

When I pursue wisdom and recognize it as truly valuable, I will find the life Jesus died for me to live and His unmerited grace overflowing in my life.

There is so much to value in this world, but as a follower of Jesus Christ my priorities must be different.  For one who is saved by the grace of God through faith in Christ, I can adopt God's value system.  When I do, I'll discover the true wealth that is found in His wisdom, that godly understanding and prudence existed before anything else was created and thus is the foundation of all things, and that the full life and favor of God I need comes from holding His knowledge and insight as dear.  When I treasure godly wisdom, I'll discover God's best for me.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God enough to look for His wisdom throughout each moment.

When do I value worldly treasures more than I do insight for godly living?

How do I scorn biblical understanding as less than important as compared to success or financial security?

Mixed with the World

"They did no destroy the peoples 

as the LORD had commanded them,

but they mingled with the nations

and adopted their customs."

Psalm 106:34-35

God is not a violent God who is bent on ethnic cleansing, holocaust, or holy war.  It may seem like He is dedicated to the destruction of "infidels," those who don't adhere to His ways.  In reality, He is a Father who is jealous for His children.  He knows the way He made things to work best, and life is better when He is the head, the highest priority, the only God.  This is why He set His people apart in times of old, knowing they would easily become just like everyone else and forget Him.  He wanted His people to remember they were the sheep of His pasture (Psalm 100:3).

Nothing much has changed.  Sure, I don't walk around in sandals and robes, but my heart is no different from the Israelites'.  I am easily swayed, lured away by the fleshly attractions of this world.  But I am called to live in the world but not of it (John 17:16, Romans 12:2).  Still, I am like the world in many ways.  Oh, how this grieves God.  He has set me apart for His purposes, to be salt, to make a difference.  If I lose my saltiness, my unique quality as His own, what influence for Him will I have (Matthew 5:13)?

I must stand firm, then.  Even though it seems impossible, it is not.  I can do it through the strength that comes in my bond with Christ (Philippians 4:13)!

Idol Worship.  Celebrities.  Technology.  Education.  Sex.  Rights and freedoms.  Tolerance.  Political correctness.  There are as many idols in this culture as there are days in a year.  When living in this society, it's easy to start believing the propaganda that is constantly bombarding my senses.  

I walk into the grocery store and the details of the lives of "stars" accost me and I suddenly become drawn into the drama, as if they are somehow different or more important than the ones suffering all around me.  As I shop, I discover flesh leaping out at me from all angles until I am no longer shocked by the cleavage, tiny outfits, and tightly-garbed female forms that are used to sell almost every product.  I notice that many have bought into this way of dressing, exchanging cute and fashionable for sexy and risque.  People are rushing around, hurrying through their lives as they try to fit school into their already busy schedules, thinking that a degree is their great, white hope.  Meanwhile, children are left to raise themselves, their lives devoid of meaningful parental contact.

Jesus died to give me more than this kind of life!  He gave His life so I could live the life I'm meant to, where God is what draws my attention at every moment, where sexuality is meant for a husband and wife, where God is the one who holds the blueprint that gives me hope for my future.  My life works better when I center it around Him and let His truth set me apart from everything else (John 17:17).

To avoid being mixed with the world, I must resist worshiping anything else besides the one true God.

Cheapen Life.  Pornography draws one into addiction, setting up a greater need for new products, pushing people to exploit young women to fill this demand, twisting the minds of the money hungry who find it acceptable to traffic daughters who will never again know the freedom of sitting at her family's dinner table, going to school and sleeping peacefully in her own bed.  Human life has been reduced to a commodity.

There is no doubt life has been cheapened in today's society.  Millions of babies have been killed for the sake of convenience, care giving of our aging population is demeaned as unimportant, the role of mothers in nurturing and raising children is viewed as a side-job, one that is not valuable enough in it's own right.  

As I live in such an atmosphere, it's easy to rationalize my apathy, or to slowly start thinking the same way.  Then I find myself face to face with a homeless man who is clearly suffering, and I look the other way.  Or I callously disregard the holocaust, thinking to myself that women have a right to make decisions regarding their own body.  Or I fail to notice the heroes who selflessly give their time to care for those who can't help themselves, thinking there are other higher profile jobs that are more important.

To avoid being mixed with the world, I must resist cheapening life in every way.

No Mercy.  I look to the government to help those in need.  I assume the welfare state is there to aid the widow and the orphan.  I point the heartbroken woman whose husband left her defenseless, her life in shambles, to public resources forgetting that the Body of Christ is called to care for widows, no matter that she lost her husband to infidelity, not death.  I assume the Department of Social and Health Services is best equipped to handle the children who are displaced by violence and drug abuse.  I don't even think about all the children languishing in orphanages, deprived of the love of a mother and father.

Caring for the least of us, the defenseless, the helpless, those crying out for help, is the kind of religion God sees as real.  Going to church once or twice a week, attending Bible study and giving tithes of time and money are all well and good, but God isn't impressed with my efforts.  Instead, He'd rather that I take the time to tangibly care for those around me, to seek out someone who needs a hand up, to love those who hunger for such a luxury (Isaiah 1:16-17, James 1:27).

To avoid being mixed with the world, I must resist turning a cold shoulder to a world in need.

No wonder God didn't want His people of old to mix in with the nations around them; they were easily swayed by their values, beliefs and ways.  Things are no different now as I've been placed in the midst of a culture that worships idols of all kinds, cheapens life in many ways, and shows no mercy to the helpless.  Against these ways, and more, I must stand firm, refusing to mix in with the world, but remain separate in my thinking while immersed in the way I influence it for Christ.  It's a fine line to walk, but one that I'm enabled to do through Christ.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can love God enough to resist the advances of this world.

How do I look just like the world around me?

Am I sticking out like a sore thumb in my beliefs and actions, or am I more of a chameleon?

Why Life?

"Why is light given to him who is in misery,

and life to the bitter in soul,

who long for death, but it comes not,

and dig for it more than for hidden treasures,

who rejoice exceedingly

and are glad when they find the grave?

Why is light given to a man whose way is hidden,

whom God has hedged in?

For my sighing comes instead of my bread,

and my groanings are poured out like water.

For the thing that I fear comes upon me,

and what I dread befalls me.

I am not at ease, nor am I quiet;

I have no rest, but trouble comes."

Job 3:20-26 ESV

Job was struggling.  He lost everything dear to him, and then the misery extended to his health as sores covered his body, bringing intense physical suffering.  He wondered, What's the point of my life?  Why can't I just die and end this pain?

Why indeed. . .

Purpose.  God is a promise-keeper.  His Word is solid and can be trusted.  He never changes His mind like man often does.  Therefore, when He makes a proclamation of some kind, I can believe without a doubt that He will live up to His Word (Numbers 23:19).

One of God's promises concerns His ability to transform all the ugliness of my life into something beautiful (Isaiah 61:3).  He never allows hard things into my life just for the sake of pain.  No!  As a child of God through faith in Jesus Christ I have the assurance of His purposes being manifested in my life.  Everything, then, that He places His stamp of approval on, will be used to further His plan for my life.  Nothing is random or arbitrary.  On the contrary, it all is deemed as necessary for my development as His child (Romans 8:28).

This means that there is meaning in the suffering.  God could be using it to test my faith to see if it is real.  After all, anyone can profess a confidence in God when everything is going well, but true faith endures through the fire (1 Peter 1:6-7).  The hardships may also be used to grow my faith, strengthening it and driving me closer in relationship with my Father so that I will learn to hang on to Him through any storm (James 1:2-4).  Sometimes, God allows hard times into my life so that He will be glorified through the ugly circumstances (2 Corinthians 12:8-10).  In all, the choice is His to make, not mine (Romans 9:14-16).

God chooses to extend my life through the difficult times because He uses hardships to fulfill His purposes.

Perspective.  Whenever I recover from a cold or the flu, I gain a fresh appreciation for my good health.  Similarly, it's easy for me to get used to the good and fail to appreciate how many ways God has blessed my life.  When I go through trials and tribulation, however, I long for the ordinary which I took for granted.  After the storm, I find myself treasuring every moment as a gift from God.

My perspective is often relative.  For instance, when I compare my life to that of someone I admire, I may feel discontent in contrast.  Or, if I'm used to hot weather and I visit a cooler state, the pleasant summertime temperatures may feel cold in comparison to what I'm used to.  Or, if I usually put hot sauce on my food, it may taste bland without it.

For this reason, I often need a wake-up call of kinds.  I can easily be lulled into a state of apathy, failing to really appreciate all the good I've been given.  Once I make it through hard times, however, my regular life starts to look pretty good.  

God chooses to extend my life through the difficult times because He uses it to give me an appreciation for His goodness woven throughout the ordinary.

Power.  Life hums along according to my plan.  I set a goal then work hard to reach it.  I'm forward-focused, constantly following my strategy for my life.  I feel empowered, like there's nothing I cannot achieve.

Then the unexpected happens.  Out of nowhere, I'm hit with a crisis, then another, until I find myself on my knees in desperation.  Help me, God!  Why is this happening?

It's easy for me to think I've got everything under control, that my life is mine to direct, that there's nothing I can't do if I put my mind to it. I can believe that until I come face-to-face with God and His sovereignty.  I forget that He is the one in control and only He knows the plan he has for my life.  Furthermore, nothing happens apart from His approval.  In other words, I've been lulled into a false sense of power.

There's nothing like a crisis to set things into the proper balance, teaching me how little power I have and how much I need God.  I am helpless without Him.  I can't even take a breathe apart from Him!  I live in the world He created and He is the One who keeps it all humming along.  Therefore, the reality is that I am completely dependent upon Him, whether I realize it or not.

God chooses to extend my life through the difficult times because He uses it to show me my great need for Him.

Life can be hard.  When the difficult times come, it's easy to want to give up, thinking there is no longer a reason to continue living.  God, however, has His reasons for keeping me around a little while longer.  He wants to use the suffering for His purposes, to give me a new appreciation for the life I often take for granted, or to show me how much I need Him.  I have not been placed on this earth to experience a comfortable, pleasant life.  Instead, I've been put here to live in relationship with God, which is where I will experience abundance beyond my wildest imaginations (John 10:10b, Ephesians 3:20)!  

Why am I still here even though I suffer so?  God has His reasons. . . and I can trust Him through it all.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can treasure the life God has given to me, even if it's not turning out the way I want it.

How do I have my own expectations for my life that have nothing to do with God's plan?

When am I failing to depend on God for His power to endure?      

This is the Lord's Day

"This is the day that LORD has made.

We will rejoice and be glad in it."

Psalm 118:24 NLT

I was the poster child for Murphy's Law.  Everything that could go wrong that morning, did go wrong.  The coffee maker broke.  I tore a hole in my favorite pair of socks.  In my haste, I busted my shoelaces.  The gas gauge was on empty.  Traffic was unusually heavy, causing me to be late.  My morning was not off to a good start.

On days like this, it is easy to focus on the negative, letting all that is going wrong bring me down.  God, however, has a different intention for me.  Instead of thinking about all that is bad, He would rather I focus on all that is good. (Philippians 4:8) There is much in which to rejoice and be glad this day; it just might take a little effort to find the blessings that are mixed in with the struggles.

Life.  Every breathe I take is a gift from the One who graciously gave me life in the first place.  (Psalm 139:13-18)  Sometimes, however, just the fact that I am still alive and kicking does not seem like a reason to rejoice.  After all, I may have a wicked day before me or the pain, heartache and struggle may give me cause to wonder as to the purpose for such a dismal existence.

Even though my life may not feel so much like a gift right now, of this I can be sure: Jesus came so that He could deliver not a mediocre life where I barely survive, but an abundant life which brings me great joy.  (John 10:10)  Such richness and meaning is not based on material wealth, worldly success or even popularity. In fact, it's not based on my circumstances at all. Instead, it is found in the joy of intimately knowing the One who made me.  

I was made for relationship with Him.  When I enter into such a meaningful relationship with the God of heaven and earth through faith in Jesus Christ, I will find my life to take on a new perspective.  The things that used to make me happy now seem meaningless. (Philippians 3:7-9) Now, in tandem with the One who loves me perfectly, I can weather any storm, walk through any difficulty, or withstand any trial.  (Philippians 4:13)

Through Jesus Christ, life can give me great joy!

Provision.  Every good thing I have ever enjoyed, or even those I took for granted, are gifts from the Father of heavenly lights.  (James 1:17)  He never fails to give me exactly what I need when I need it.  The problem is, my faulty line of thinking gives me the wrong perspective, causing me to look for what I don't really need and desire things that seem good but are really quite destructive.

Therefore, when I don't receive the things my heart is set on, I can trust God that He is protecting me from what may be harmful, what could draw me away from Him, or what could suck me into a downward spiral.  He can be trusted to choose what is best for me. (Philippians 4:19) If I wait on Him and His timing, I will never be disappointed.  (Isaiah 40:31)

As a child of God through faith in Christ, I no longer need to run after the things I think I need in order to live.  Instead, I can busy myself with doing what my Father has called me to do and let Him supply my needs. (Matthew 6:31-33) This means my life will look much different from the lives of those around me who are focused on going after what they want.

Through Jesus Christ, my needs are perfectly met!

This is the day the Lord has made.  Is there anything in which I can rejoice?  Yes!  I have not just life and breathe, but the gift of a rich and meaningful life as well the promise of being well-cared for by the God with endless resources.  Yes, I do have much in which to rejoice if I would only look in the right place.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can look for the good God is doing all around me.

When do I let the cares of this world bring me down?

How am I tossed around like a ship in the sea instead of standing firm on the Solid Rock? 

Triumphal Procession

"But thank God!  He has made us his captives

and continues to lead us along in

Christ's triumphal procession.

Now he uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume.

Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God.

But this fragrance is perceived differently

by those who are being saved

and by those who are perishing.

To those who are perishing,

we are a dreadful smell of death and doom.

But to those who are being saved,

we are a life-giving perfume.

And who is adequate for such a task as this?

You see, we are not like many hucksters

who preach for personal profit.

We preach the word of God with sincerity 

and with Christ's authority,

knowing that God is watching us."

2 Corinthians 2:14-17 NLT

I always knew when she had been there, working out at the gym.  The overpowering scent of her perfume lingered in the air long after she had left the room.  While some may have enjoyed the aroma her fragrance left, my sensitivity to perfume left me gasping for fresh air.  

As a follower of Christ, I leave a similar fragrance behind as I make my way through this world.  This particular aroma, however, is one that brings with it the knowledge of Christ, not just a physical smell.  

My life, then, and all the decisions I make, the places I travel and the activities in which I participate are for a specific purpose: to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Death

His agony was so excruciating that even a drop of water upon his tongue would have felt heavenly.  He pleaded for the man on the other side to have mercy on him, bringing him even the slightest bit of comfort.  Unfortunately for him, it was too late for the condemned man to receive the grace and mercy always available to him.  Now, he existed on the other side of a great chasm that separated him from the Source of all good things. (Luke 16:19-31)

Instead of spending his life living for God, this foolish man spent it turning his nose up at the stench of death that lay outside his gate.  Lazarus, the poor, sickly man who begged for help outside his home, was an opportunity for this well-to-do man to look beyond himself and see God.  Instead, what he saw disgusted him. 

For those who go through life living for Christ, He will leave tell-tale signs of His presence.  For those who are bent on living for self, however, His followers are simply a reminder of how shallow and empty their own lives are without the God of love.  Coming into the presence of such compassion will only make the sinfulness of those who are headed on the path that leads to destruction more painfully clear.

There are times when I run into rude, cruel and difficult people who seem to be out to get me.  Even though I let the love of God flow to them, it seems their tough exterior grows even more harsh in my presence.  I am tempted to wonder why they hate me.  In these instances, I may need to consider that the love of Christ is coming across as a stench to their nostrils.

If my life seems foolish to those around me, I can take that as a cue to pray for their salvation.  (1 Corinthians 1:18)

Life

The Shepherd led the flock toward the lush, green pastures, allowing them to graze until their bellies were satisfied.  He kept constant watch, looking out for their best interest and protecting them from the attacks of the predators.  When He sensed their heartbeats rising in anxiety, He led them beside the tranquil waters of the hidden spring, calming their nerves and giving them peace.  The aim of this Shepherd was to provide an abundant, full life to His flock.  (Psalm 23, John 10:10)

Jesus is the life-giver.  When He sacrificed His own perfect life in order to take on the punishment my sins earned me, He became my Savior, saving me from an eternal death.  (Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23)  In this way, He is giver of life eternal. (John 3:16)

For those who are saved by Christ, my life gives off the fragrance of life, pleasant and agreeable, drawing delight and joy.  

Sincerity

"Gather 'round, I have a few words to say to you before you begin your journey.  You are headed into enemy territory.  Many will not accept the message you are giving.  No matter, because many will receive it with joy.  Focus on those who accept the truth of the Gospel, pouring into their lives the love I give to you.  It is as if I were sending you out into the field to harvest a crop.  There is much work to be done, and not enough workers, but go forth as one on a mission.  Ask, and our Father will send backup help."  (paraphrase of Luke 10:1-3)

Jesus knew the task that lay before the 72 disciples, but he also knew the joy of seeing the bountiful fruit about to be harvested.  Recognizing that the knowledge of Christ emanating around me will draw a varied response, I must take that as a call to speak of God whenever possible despite the reaction I receive.  God is sending me out into the mission field, just as Jesus sent the disciples of old.  

My harvest field is located all around me; in my community, my place of work, and where I recreate and do business.  Some will accept the Gospel, others will reject it.  However its received, my only duty is in telling others the Good News as if God were watching me.  He has saved me and placed me specifically in this location for His purposes.  My mission is to speak through words given by His Spirit, actions driven by His love, and choices made to please God.  

Since my life is a living demonstration of the love of God, it speaks volumes about the Gospel of Christ.

No matter what my intent, my life is a testimony to whom I live.  If I live for me, it will reek of sin.  If I live for Christ, however, it will leave His fragrance wherever I go.  To those who reject the Truth, His scent will only remind them of their own inadequacies and their impending doom, but to those who are saved by Christ, His fragrance is the bouquet of life.  My only mission is to follow God's lead as He gives me the words and deeds to speak boldly for Christ, making my life a victorious demonstration of His love that brings glory to God.     

Strong Foundation

"By the grace God has given me, 

I laid a foundation as an expert builder,

and someone else is building on it.

But each one should be careful how he builds.

For no on can lay any foundation

other than the one already laid,

which is Jesus Christ.

If any man builds on this foundation using gold,

silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw,

his work will be shown for what it is,

because the Day will bring it to light.

It will be revealed with fire,

 and the fire will test the quality of each man's work.

If what he has built survives,

he will receive his reward.

If it is burned up,

he will suffer loss;

he himself will be saved,

but only as one escaping through the flames."

1 Corinthians 3:10-15

The three were sent out into the world to make a life for themselves.  One chose the quick and easy route, taking the first job that came along and using his first paycheck to lease an apartment.  The second son decided to reach a little higher than his brother and sought a management position while saving up for a down-payment on a mortgage for his very own house.  The third son was the most ambitious and determined of them all, developing his own business from the ground up.  Soon, he amassed enough of a fortune to build a brick home.  

As my version of the story goes, the big bad stock market crashed, leaving the economy in bad shape.  The first son lost everything as his job was the first to be cut, leaving him out on the street.  The second was down-sized to a lower-paying job and he foreclosed on the home he bought on a whim.  The third son felt the impact of the downturn, but with his strong credit rating and business plan, he was able to weather the storm without much of a loss.

While life is not always like a fairy-tale, there is a lesson to be learned from every story.  Whatever I build my life upon will determine it's quality in the eyes of the Lord.  If I base my beliefs on what Oprah, Dr Phil, or even Pastor Paul says, I'm building on a weak foundation.  The only strong base for a life of meaning and purpose is to lay the groundwork starting with Jesus Christ.  Anything else will not survive the fire of God's judgment.  

If I'm serious about making Jesus the basis for my life, I can start with what He said about Himself in John 14:6a when He said, "I am the way and the truth and the life."  Then, I will be able to weather any storm and can live with the assurance that my life will have an eternal impact.

Way

"There are many ways to get to God."  This common belief came from the mouth of one who grew up in the Catholic Church.  Lately, he had drifted from his roots and tried another religion.

While there may be many belief-systems designed with the goal of getting closer to God, only one leads to a true relationship with God the Father.  As a sinner who lives in a state of defiance against God's standard (Romans 3:23), I am doomed to destruction when I stand before God based on my own merit. (Romans 6:23a)  The only solution to my sin problem is for someone to take the punishment meant for my sins, giving me a chance to live instead of facing the death penalty.

Jesus Christ did this when He died on the cross, making a way for me to live eternally in the presence of a Holy God and experience His love in this life on a daily basis.  No other religion provides a remedy for the rift my sin creates between me and God.

Basing my life on the fact that Jesus is the only way will keep me on the narrow path that leads to life.  I may not have all the trappings those around me enjoy as they travel the wide path, but I will have peace they can never experience apart from Jesus. (Matthew 7:13-14)

The only strong foundation for my life is to believe that Jesus is the only way to God.

Truth

Most people today believe that truth is whatever is good for them.  What works for me may not work for you, but the understanding goes that there is no universal truth.

Building my life on this fallacy will lead to many pitfalls.  If I think lying is okay as long as it doesn't hurt anyone, I will soon find that deceit will always bring pain and suffering.  If it is my neighbor's belief that God doesn't mind how we live as long as we've accepted Jesus as our Savior, I will soon witness the fallout of living a life to please the flesh.  If my friend doesn't accept the teaching on forgiveness, our relationship will suffer as she holds a grudge against me.

Rejecting the idea of truth goes further than creating a life of chaos and misery.  In turning away from what is right I am turning away from Jesus Christ who is the Truth.  In Him is found the wisdom of God and the fulfillment of prophecies.  He is more than a Savior, He is also the source of all that I ever need to know about anything.

Basing my life on what Jesus teaches me will lead to a life that will stand under intense scrutiny.    No matter how hard someone tries to find some dirt, none will be found.  Accusations will fall flat and legal claims will come to nothing.  The result will be glory for God as others see all the good He is doing in my life.  (1 Peter 2:12)

The only strong foundation for my life is to believe that Jesus is the source of Truth.

Life

The daily grind: I wake up to the annoying sound of the alarm, shuffle to the kitchen for a cup of coffee, turn on the news to hear the depressing onslaught of tragedy, scandal and corruption for the day, and begin another day in a meaningless string of equally-as-insignificant days.  What kind of life is this?

Jesus addressed this tendency for humans to settle for a shallow existence.  He said He is the gate to the kingdom of God who gives those who follow Him a full life filled with meaning and purpose.  Satan, however, only desires to use men for his own purposes, leaving a feeling of emptiness and discontent.  (John 10:7-10)

As I accept the abundant life Jesus offers, I will find my motivation for work that came from a desire for self-promotion and wealth turn into a passion for the humble ministry to which He has called.  In the place of looking for ways to please myself and fill my own tank of happiness, I find a desire to cater to the needs of others.  While I once found great pleasure in talking about the difficulties other's face, coming up with wonderful solutions for their problems, I now discover a love for lifting them up in prayer.

Where once existed an empty, self-centered life, now has been replaced with an abundant life overflowing with the love and goodness of God.  (Psalm 23:5)

I can base my life on many things, whether it be materialism, the teachings of wise men, or the search for self-fulfillment.  Whatever I decide to make as the foundation for my life, I will one day stand before God.  Only a life lived for Christ as the Way, the Truth and the Life, will be able to withstand the test.  I desire to build on the Strong Foundation!

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I will choose to live as Jesus is leading me to live.

When do I get caught up in following teachings that don't line up with what Jesus taught?

In what ways is my life empty and meaningless?