From: September 30, 2015
Isaiah prophesied to Israel of a coming “anointed” one who would be the Messiah (“Messiah” is Hebrew for “Anointed One,” or “Christ” which is Greek for the same). Around 700 years later the first part of the prophecy was fulfilled. The Messiah, who was Jesus the Christ, had come. After Jesus was baptized and spent 40 days in the wilderness being tempted, he returned to His hometown of Nazareth where He attended the local synagogue as was His custom. As He stood up in the synagogue, He was handed the scroll of Isaiah to read. Turning to the verse above, He read it aloud and then declared, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing” (Luke 4:21). Most of the people of His hometown rejected Him, yet many in Israel believed. And to those who believed, He brought “good tidings, healing and liberty.” Jesus has fulfilled the first verse of Isaiah 61, soon He will return to fulfill the rest.
From: September 30, 2014
Paul taught the Philippians that they should live as “citizens of heaven,” remembering the gospel in their conduct. When we live as worldly, our message has no consistency and our gospel comes across hypocritical. Our lives should be consistent with the good news we believe. Our lifestyle should in fact cause people to ask about our faith, so that the gospel comes out easily. One cannot be excluded from the other. We are called to both live and share the Good News.
From: September 30, 2013
We are born with muscles that God created for us to have. Yet, it is up to us to work them out. Spiritually, when we receive salvation, God begins a new work in us, so that we are born again. In this new birth we yield to God’s work in us by working it out. We can depend on God’s power not only to help us work it out, but even to give us the willpower (or “won’t-power”) to act. Are you working out what God is working in?
From: September 30, 2012
Since God (has done/is doing/will do) a work in us, we must work out what He is working in. God gives us a physical muscle, but we must work it out. In the same way, when we believe, God does a work in us that gives us both the “desire and the power to do what pleases Him.” Now, it is up to us to work out of that which He has worked in us. We can exercise our faith and yield to the Spirit, so that God’s work in us becomes obvious to all. Start flexing your spiritual muscles!
From: September 30, 2011
What attitude is this? It is the mindset of a servant that considers others before self. Will you stop your self-edifying and allow God to lift you up? How do we gain this mindset? Ask for the Spirit’s filling and appropriate His power for living. Then, look for feet that need washing.