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October 8

Scripture for today: Jeremiah 10:1-11:23; Colossians 3:18-4:18; Psalm 78:56-72; Proverbs 24:28-29

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“I know, Lord, that our lives are not our own. We are not able to plan our own course” (Jeremiah 10:23 NLT).

From: October 8, 2019

ARE YOU TRYING TO BE THE OWNER AND CONTROLLER OF YOUR LIFE?

British poet, William Ernest Henley, concluded his poem “Invictus” with these words: “I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul.” His words capture the essence of what sin is. For sin, at its core, is an attitude of rebellion against God’s lordship. Sin puts self in the place of God. It calls itself, master.
 
Yet, the prophet Jeremiah rightly understood our human situation, declaring that “our lives are not our own.” For our independence is an illusion. We say that we can do what we want, yet apart from God, our desires our enslaved by sin. We make our plans for tomorrow, but cannot determine whether tomorrow ever comes.
 
But we can pray to the Lord as Jeremiah did, asking Him to be gentle as we confess our sins to Him. We can place our faith in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior and be set free from sin’s bondage, offering ourselves as servants of God. For slavery to God is true freedom. Recognizing the Lord as the owner and controller of our souls, we embrace the plans He has for us and we receive the peace and eternal life that He promises.
 
PRAYER: Dear Father, we gladly call You, Lord. For you have made us and You have bought us out of sin’s slavery by grace through faith. You have called us your children and counted us righteous. We want what You want for us today. We surrender our desires to Your plans for us. For we know that You love us and cause all things to work together for good for us. We are Your servants, in Jesus name, amen.

“Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone” (Colossians 4:6 NLT).

From: October 8, 2018

DOES YOUR CONDUCT AND CONVERSATION LINE UP WITH YOUR FAITH?
In the context of the previous verse, in which Paul told the Colossians to conduct themselves wisely around unbelievers, he went in on this verse to give them instructions concerning their conversation around unbelievers as well. He taught them that their conduct and conversation should line up with their faith, so that those who are not believers might be moved to ask about the hope that they have.
 
Paul gave two attributes and one goal for our conversation when unbelievers are present:
 
Two Attributes:
1) Let your conversation be gracious. Our words should carry the beauty and blessing that comes with the favor God has shown us.
2) Let your conversation be attractive. Literally, “seasoned with salt.” Salt is something we add to our food for added flavor. What would make our words taste better, so that they are attractive? Blessing people with the “salty” truths of God’s Word.
 
One Goal:
Be prepared to give the right response concerning the hope you have in Christ. When our conversation is gracious and attractive and our conduct is wise, unbelievers want to know why. This is the opportunity for gospel sharing. As the apostle Peter wrote, “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect” (1 Pet. 3:15).

“Cursed is the man who does not obey the words of this covenant which I commanded your fathers in the day I brought them out of the land of Egypt” (Jeremiah 11:3-4 NKJV).

From: October 8, 2017

The Lord reminded Jeremiah that the Mosaic Covenant was conditional. It contained both blessing and curse that was conditional upon their obedience to the law. Obeying the law, they were under its blessing. Disobeying the law, they came under its curse. Israel was unable to obey the law, so they fell under the curse of the law.
 
However, the Abrahamic Covenant was unconditional. God gave it freely by His grace. It was based on God’s promise, not God’s law. The promise preceded the law and was given for salvation, but the law was given “because of transgressions” (Gal. 3:19). This covenantal promise was given to Abraham that in his “Seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed” (Gen. 22:18). The apostle Paul said that this “Seed” is Christ (Gal. 3:16).
 
A promise must be believed to be received, but a law must be obeyed. Yet, both the promise and the law were fulfilled in Christ Jesus. For He who knew no sin, became sin for us and has “redeemed us from the curse of the law” by becoming accursed Himself (Gal. 3:13). Christ has taken our curse that we might receive His blessing.
 
The promise reveals God’s GRACE, but the law reveals our GUILT. So, let us rejoice and be glad that the blessing of salvation depends on God’s PROMISE, not our PERFORMANCE!

“Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time” (Colossians 4:5 ESV)

From: October 8, 2016

Live with godly wisdom toward those who are outside the faith. Let them see Christ in you. Remember that you were once an “outsider” too, but Christ has brought you near. Be alert for the opportune time to share your faith in Christ with them. There are two Greek words in the Bible for time. One is “chronos,” which refers to chronological or sequential time. The other, which is the word found in our verse today, is “kairos,” which refers to a right moment when things come to a head, an opportune or suitable time. So, live wisely with unbelievers, looking for the “kairos” moment to join God in His redemptive work.

“So he shepherded them according to the integrity of his heart, And guided them by the skillfulness of his hands” (Psalm 78:72 NKJV)

From: October 8, 2015

The psalmist spoke of how God chose a young shepherd boy named David to be king over Israel. What was God looking for in a leader that He would choose such a one as David? God was looking for someone with “integrity” of heart. The dictionary gives several synonyms for the word Integrity: “honest, moral, decent, righteous, undivided, good, ethical, having good character.” This was God’s criteria for a leader. And in David, God found one with both character and competency (“skillfulness”). Yet, even David was only a foreshadowing of the true King, who will one day rule all of creation with such integrity and skill that His kingdom will endure throughout the ages.

“I know, Lord, that our lives are not our own. We are not able to plan our own course” (Jeremiah 10:23 NLT)

From: October 8, 2014

Our independence is an illusion, our mortality always before us. We make our plans for tomorrow, but cannot determine whether tomorrow ever comes. Admitting our dependence, our mortality, our tiny limited perspective, we come before God in prayer as Jeremiah did. We approach Him as the only truly independent, self-sufficient, immortal, omnipotent, omniscient One. We pray, “You are God and I am not. Here I am. Use me.”

“See that you fulfill the ministry that you have received in the Lord” (Colossians 4:17)

From: October 8, 2013

These are among Paul’s final instructions to the church at Colossae to a man named Archippus (“Master of the horse”). He also mentions this man in his letter to Philemon. Apparently, Archippus was a fellow minister who needed encouragement to continue the ministry God had given him. Paul called him out on this. If Paul were writing to our church today, would he call you out to “fulfill the ministry” that the Lord has given you?

“Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people” (Colossians 3:23)

From: October 8, 2012

Your true employer is Jesus Christ. Don’t worry about layoffs, mergers or economic slow-downs. God is your provider. With this in mind, work with all your hearts for Him, as if you were signing Christ’s name to your work. People take note of one who works wholeheartedly like this. It not only attracts them to your work, it causes them to want to hear about the One you claim to work for.