You Need To Let Go. Proverbs 3:1-8

There is something about following the Lord, and trusting his path, that releases us from fear, worry and stress. You don't have to know where you're going in order to be free of worry. You just have to be with someone that does know where you're going. If we follow the Lord, trust his direction and lean on him, we'll always be going in the right direction and always arrive at the right location.

Proverbs 3:1-8
1 My son, do not forget my teaching,
but keep my commands in your heart,
2 for they will prolong your life many years
and bring you prosperity.

3 Let love and faithfulness never leave you;
bind them around your neck,
write them on the tablet of your heart.

4 Then you will win favor and a good name
in the sight of God and man.

5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;

6 in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight.

7 Do not be wise in your own eyes;
fear the LORD and shun evil.

8 This will bring health to your body
and nourishment to your bones.

Questions
1. Why do you think God wants us to trust him?
2. When do you find it most difficult to trust God?
3. What does reading the Bible have to do with trusting God?
4. What did you like most about this passage?

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Soak It In. Psalm 8

I want to encourage you to take a minute today and allow yourself to be consumed with the goodness of our God. Try to set the concerns of the day aside and take a look at the creation; the work of His hands. Breathe, eat and drink today in recognition that it is God who provides air, food and water. Our God is a good God!

Psalm 8
1 O LORD, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory
above the heavens.
2 From the lips of children and infants
you have ordained praise
because of your enemies,
to silence the foe and the avenger.

3 When I consider your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which you have set in place,

4 what is man that you are mindful of him,
the son of man that you care for him?

5 You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings
and crowned him with glory and honor.

6 You made him ruler over the works of your hands;
you put everything under his feet:

7 all flocks and herds,
and the beasts of the field,

8 the birds of the air,
and the fish of the sea,
all that swim the paths of the seas.

9 O LORD, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Questions
1. Why do you think God created us?
2. What's the most amazing thing you've seen in God's creation?
3. What will you take with you today from this passage?

2+2=5 Romans 16:17-19; 25-27

Have you ever heard anything that just didn't sound right? There are all kinds of people teaching all kinds of things, and some that even teach in the name of Christianity. I'm sorry to say that some of the things being taught are just flat wrong.

The challenge from this passage to to guard ourselves from deception and to hold on tightly to the teaching we know to be true. If you're saying to yourself, "How do I know what is true," the answer is simple. Does the teaching of scripture confirm it? Is it based off of the word of God or what people might want to hear? This is why it's so important to know the word of God, because this is how we protect ourselves from "smooth talk and flattery."

Romans 16:17-19;25-27
17I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. 18For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people. 19Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I am full of joy over you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil...

25Now to him who is able to establish you by my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past, 26but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God, so that all nations might believe and obey him— 27to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen.

Questions
1. What do you do when someone teaches from a scripture, but what they're saying still sounds wrong?
2. What are some other ways knowing scripture helps?
3. Can you think of any teaching you've heard that sounds more like "smooth talk"?
4. What's encouraging about this passage?
5. What will stick with you today from this passage?

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Are You Worried? Luke 12:22-31

Have you ever found yourself worrying about money, clothes or your future? I caught myself worrying about money today and was reminded of this passage. It's embarrassing to catch yourself in those situations because our God promises supply all our needs. And he is able to do it.

It's tempting to get caught up in the concerns that this world would like to put on our backs. Is social security going to be around in 30 years? Are you going to get into the right school? Will you get the right job? Jesus says, "That's none of your business, let me worry about that." Seek him and he'll take care of you. That's a promise.

Luke 12:22-31
22Then Jesus said to his disciples: "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. 23Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. 24Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! 25Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life[b]? 26Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?

27"Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 28If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! 29And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. 30For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.

Questions
1. What do you worry about most?
2. What are some practical benefits of trusting God?
3. How is worrying connected to faith?
4. Have you ever had a need that was not provided?
5. What will stick with you about this passage?

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Is It Worth It? 2 Corinthians 6:3-10

As a follower of Christ this is such an encouraging passage. We follow the same God as the apostle Paul did. The God we follow is worth every imprisonment and beating that one may face. It's worth losing your life to know Jesus Christ as Lord.

In the middle of the passage is the phrase "In the Holy Spirit and in sincere love." This is the power and motivation that we have to have behind everything we do. We cannot function without them. How do we face severe trials? By the power of the Holy Spirit. Why do we face severe trials? Because of the sincere love we have for God and people.

2 Corinthians 6:3-10
3We put no stumbling block in anyone's path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. 4Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; 5in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; 6in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; 7in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; 8through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; 9known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; 10sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything!

Questions
1. Do you think you could withstand any of the things on this list?
2. Do you fear anything in life? What?
3. How do you think knowing God helps remove fears?
4. What does it mean to be a servant of God?
5. What part of this passage will stick with you today?

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Could You Spare Some Love? Romans 13:8-14

Sometimes we make things more complicated than they have to be. A previous post talked about throwing away the rules; some of that applies here. Paul explains that the only thing we should owe to one another is love. All the commandments are summed up in the one - love one another.

The spirit behind all the laws is one of love. In fact to live by the Spirit is to walk in love. If you are refraining from stealing because you want to be good, you've missed the point. We should not steal because we love the person from whom we would be stealing.

Romans 13:8-14
8Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. 9The commandments, "Do not commit adultery," "Do not murder," "Do not steal," "Do not covet,"[a] and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: "Love your neighbor as yourself."[b] 10Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

11And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. 14Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.[c]

Questions
1. What is your motivation for not breaking the law (like stealing)?
2. Does life ever feel like a battle?
3. What do you think it means to "clothe yourself with..Jesus"?
4. How well do you do at paying off your debt of love?
5. What part of this passage made the strongest impact on you today?

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Have Mercy. James 2:1-13

The man (or woman) that understands how much mercy has been shown to him (or her) will not hesitate to show mercy to others. If you have a hard time being gracious, forgiving or merciful to others pray that God would open your eyes to how gracious he's been to you.

Favortism is one area where this lack of appreciation rears its head. It's nothing short of evil to treat a person better because of the way s/he is dressed. I wonder how attractive we were to God, all covered up in sin. I'm glad he didn't ignore us because we were filthy.

James 2:1-13
1My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don't show favoritism. 2Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. 3If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, "Here's a good seat for you," but say to the poor man, "You stand there" or "Sit on the floor by my feet," 4have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?

5Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? 6But you have insulted the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? 7Are they not the ones who are slandering the noble name of him to whom you belong?

8If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, "Love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing right. 9But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. 10For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. 11For he who said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not murder." If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.

12Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, 13because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!

Questions
1. Havy you ever treated someone poorly because of how they looked?
2. How does that make you feel in light of how Jesus treated us?
3. What are some ways you show favortism?
4. Would you want God to be as merciful to you as you are to others?
5. What part of this passage will stick with you today?

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