Psalm 62:8 (NIV) - Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge. Selah

You may be living with unpleasant memories and results from your past.
Surrender them to Christ.
Your present circumstances, either good or bad, might not be what you expected.
Surrender them to Christ.
You may be anxious about your future.
Surrender it to Christ.
Scripture tells us to always trust God.
I believe this includes every phase of our lives.
Trusting God is a decision we must make.
It is also a great replacement for our anxieties.
My prayer for you today is that you have surrendered your past, present, and future to Christ.

Expecting God’s Best,
Bro. Rob

Exodus 19:17 (NIV) - Then Moses led the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain.

Moses was a leader.
He was imperfect but, he was chosen by God to lead the Israelites from Egypt to the Promised Land.
You are also a leader.
God has placed you where you are.
You have influence over others and opportunities to exercise this influence.
It might amaze you to make a list of all the people with whom you have influence. 
You truly are a leader of many people.
Our leadership is not used to glorify self, but to glorify God.
In what ways are you leading others to serve God?
My prayer for you today is that you have surrendered your leadership to God.

Expecting God’s Best,
Bro. Rob

Romans 5:6-8 (NIV) - 6  You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7  Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. 8  But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Today is Memorial Day.
This is the day our nation remembers those who died defending our nation.
Memorial Day helps us remember the high cost of the freedoms we enjoy in the United States of America.
As Christians we also remember the high cost of our spiritual freedom.
Christ died so that, through faith in his finished work, we can live in the spiritual freedom God desires for us.
We had a visible reminder of Christ’s death yesterday when we shared in the Lord’s Supper.
Today and every day, let’s be thankful for those who died so we can live in a free nation.
Also, let’s be thankful for our Savior, who died so that all people would have the opportunity to live in spiritual freedom.

Happy Memorial Day,
Bro. Rob

If we were in a life-or-death situation and someone offered to save us, would we accept their help?

I would like to think so.  

The truth is we ARE in a life-or-death situation.  

Solomon wrote to his son about wisdom and its value.

Though we’ve already looked at it this week, let’s do so again: Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Solomon’s advice to his son is to trust in the Lord, not in himself.

When it comes to eternal life, God offered to save our lives from an eternal life-or-death situation.

Many people believe that if they do good works and never harm anyone then they will go to heaven when they die.

Paul writes in Ephesians 2:8-9, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.”

Being saved from hell is God’s work—he has done everything necessary.

We cannot earn it or work hard to obtain it.  It is the gift of God.

God offers to save us from our life-or-death situation.

If you haven’t, I encourage you to accept His offer!

If you have, I encourage you to tell someone about God’s offer!

In Christ,
Jonathan

Proverbs 3:7-8—Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil.  This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.

“Do not be wise in your own eyes” is an explanation of what it means to lean on one’s own understanding from verse 5.  

It means to regard our wisdom as better and greater than God’s wisdom.

To fear the Lord and depart from evil is the natural result of trusting God.  

As we trust Him, we come to know Him better, leading to natural reverence and awe.

As we trust Him, we are drawn more to God and further from evil.

The resulting promise of fearing the Lord is it “will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.”

A life of surrender and trust in God has real benefits.

It gives a greater sense of peace and strength than we would have apart from God.

Trust and fear the Lord.  He cares for us.

In Christ,
Jonathan

Proverbs 3:5-6—Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.

Solomon advised his son to live a life of trust in God.

He had found that God was worthy to be trusted.

It is our nature to put our trust in something or someone, even if it is our self.

The word translated “trust” in verse 5 means to “lie helpless, facedown.”  

It gives us the picture of a servant waiting for the master’s command in readiness to obey, or a defeated soldier submitting himself to the conquering general.

Our trust in God must be complete.

To put half our trust in God and half our trust in something else is to really fail to trust the Lord at all.

We should give God ALL of our trust in every situation.  

God knows best, and he will direct our paths in the fulfillment of His will.

In Christ,
Jonathan

Proverbs 3:3-4—Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.  Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.

Solomon wisely told his son to keep God’s loyal love and faithfulness (truth) close, so close that it would be as if they were a necklace on him at all times and written “on the tablet of your heart.”

Matthew Poole wrote that “love and faithfulness” could be understood both as God’s love and faithfulness to us and as the love and faithfulness we are to show to others.

Both are important and should never be forsaken.

“Love” and “faithfulness” are joined together frequently in Scripture…this is not an accident.

Psalm 25:10 is a great reminder to us: “All the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful toward those who keep the demands of his covenant.”

These words are familiar possibly because Solomon’s father, David, wrote them!

Solomon emphasizes the result of living in God’s love and faithfulness.

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

May the love and faithfulness of God lead us to show love and faithfulness to others.

In Christ,
Jonathan

Proverbs 3:1—My son, don’t forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commands; for they will bring you many days, a full life, and well-being.

Solomon’s fatherly advice to his son begins with a warning to never forget his teaching or his law.

Solomon didn’t mean “my teaching” in the sense of his own personal decrees, but he was referring to God’s law.

He advises his son to “let your heart keep my commands.”

Learning and keeping God’s teaching is a personal choice, but it is a wise one.

Remembering God’s word is more than just a mental exercise.

It is also connected with a life of obedience.

Our goal in obedience isn’t just to conform to God’s will, but to have a heart that loves and obeys Him.  

My challenge to you today is to begin to learn God’s Word.

Learning God’s Word is a good first step to keeping His commands.

In Christ,
Jonathan

Everyone’s life is surrendered to something.

It could be any number of things such as money, success, popularity, recreation, sports….

The list goes on and on.

Our greatest need is to be surrendered to Christ as our Savior and Lord.

If you have not yet surrendered to Christ as your Savior, my prayer is that you will do so today by:

Admitting you are a sinner
      Romans 3:23 (NIV) – “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”

Believing Christ is the only way to salvation
      Acts 4:12 (NIV) – “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."

Confessing Christ as your Savior
     Romans 10:9-10 (NIV) – “ 9 That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10  For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.”

Expecting God’s Best,
Bro Rob

Acts 15:37-40 (NIV) – “37  Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them,
38  but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work. 39  They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, 40  but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord.”

Conflict is inevitable in life.

Most of us dislike conflict.

We may try to avoid it at all costs.

But our conflicts with others, when surrendered to Christ, are significant steps in our discipleship growth.

Relationship conflict teaches us patience with ourselves and others.

It gives us on the job experience in praying for our “enemies”.

As we approach conflict with a Christ-like attitude we are encouraging others to do the same.

Our interpersonal conflicts also give us the opportunity to practice the discipline of forgiveness.

Our trust in Christ becomes stronger as we hold onto him through our conflicts.

When we honestly evaluate our conflicts with others, Christ will show us areas in which our own lives need to be more surrendered to him.

My prayer for you today is that you will surrender your conflicts to Christ.

Expecting God’s Best,
Bro. Rob

Colossians 3:23 (NIV) – “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.”

We may think that our service to God is limited to church involvement.

Scripture, however, teaches that each aspect of our lives is committed to him.

Our jobs take on new meaning when we work at them for the Lord, not just for people.

We will see work as an opportunity to serve God, grow in our discipleship, and be an influence for Christ.

Your place of work is an important part of your mission field.

Even if you are retired, I’m sure you still work at something.

All our work is done for the Lord.

My prayer for you today is that you will surrender your work to Christ.

Expecting God’s Best,
Bro. Rob

Galatians 2:20 (NIV) – “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

As Christ followers, our former self was crucified with Christ.

Christ now lives in us.

We are yielded to him.

Each Christian now lives under the white flag of surrender to Christ.

F.B. Meyer wrote, “We cannot be possessed by the self-life and the Christ-life at the same moment. Wherever, by God’s grace, we erect the cross and assign our own life to its nails, the Spirit of Christ will breathe life and power.”

If we desire to experience the life and power of Christ, we must daily renew our surrender to him.

My prayer for you today is that your life is surrendered daily to Christ.

Expecting God’s Best,
Bro. Rob

Colossians 3:13 (NIV) – “Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”

Each of us experiences anger at times.

Some of us live in a state of anger.

Living with constant anger damages ourselves and others.

It also hinders our walk with Christ.

Do you need to surrender your anger?

This happens through forgiving people and circumstances that have hurt you.

You might even need to forgive yourself.

My prayer for you today is that you will surrender your anger through forgiveness.

Expecting God’s Best,
Bro. Rob

Some people attempt to work their way to eternal life.

According to Scripture, we gain eternal life only when we surrender to Christ.

Christ has already done everything necessary for our eternal life.

We simply surrender, through faith, to his finished work.

If you have surrendered to Christ as your Savior, my prayer is that you are growing in your faith and sharing him with others.

If you have not yet surrendered to Christ as your Savior, my prayer is that you will do so today by:

Admitting you are a sinner
      Romans 3:23 (NIV) – “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”

Believing Christ is the only way to salvation
      Acts 4:12 (NIV) – “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."

Confessing Christ as your Savior
     Romans 10:9-10 (NIV) – “ 9 That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10  For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.”

Expecting God’s Best,
Bro Rob

Ephesians 5:16 (KJV) – “Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”

Many of us struggle with time management.

We continually add more to our schedules thinking that being busy adds to our self-importance.

Our digital devices encourage us in our overcrowded schedules and our twenty-four availability.

A better alternative is to surrender your time to Christ by focusing on his leadership in your life.

In doing this your time will be spent accomplishing his priorities.

You will develop the power to say “no” to things that distract from these priorities.

We are ultimately responsible only to Christ for how we spend our time.

So, while we have the time, let’s surrender it to him.

My prayer for you today is that you will surrender your time to Christ.

Expecting God’s Best,
Bro. Rob

John 8:32 (NIV) – “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Surrender is a discouraging word for most of us.

Just the idea leads to negative images.

For Christians, however, surrender is positive.

According to Scripture we are free only when we surrender to Christ.

We begin our walk with Christ when we surrender to him as our Savior.

Our discipleship continues with a daily surrender to him as our Lord.

As we regularly surrender to Christ, we are more conformed to his image.

In what area(s) of your life do you need to surrender to Christ?

My prayer for you today is that you surrender daily to Christ.

Expecting God’s Best,
Bro. Rob

Matthew 7:12 (NIV) – “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”

Listening is difficult.

It requires placing the needs of the other above your own.

It requires asking clarifying questions.

Listening is an active exercise.

If we are honest, we might admit that many of our conversations are more like swapping stories instead of genuine listening.

If we want others to listen to us, let’s set the example by listening to them.

Genuine listening can be difficult but, it is needed to build strong relationships.

My prayer for you today is that you are an example to others through listening to them.

Expecting God’s Best,
Bro. Rob

John 3:16 (NIV) - "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

Only God offers eternal life through faith in Christ.

We need to listen to and accept this good news.

If you have received Christ as your Savior, my prayer is that you are growing in your faith and sharing him with others.

If you have not received Christ as your Savior, my prayer is that you trust him today by:

Admitting you are a sinner
      Romans 3:23 (NIV) – “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”

Believing Christ is the only way to salvation
      Acts 4:12 (NIV) – “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."

Confessing Christ as your Savior
     Romans 10:9-10 (NIV) – “ 9 That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10  For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.”

Expecting God’s Best,
Bro Rob

Proverbs 25:11 (NIV) – “A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.”

Have you ever taken time to listen to yourself?

This may be a strange question but, what are you saying to yourself?

It is important to speak God’s truth to yourself just as you do to others.

God’s truth will encourage and transform you.

At times you may find yourself dwelling on past criticisms, failures, and others’ negative opinions about you.

This can be a dark road because it detracts us from our loving acceptance in God.

It is tool of Satan.

If you are on this path stop immediately and speak God’s truth to yourself.

When you listen to God’s “apples of gold” you will view yourself from his perspective.

You will find yourself secure, refreshed, and eager to continue serving him.

My prayer for you today is that you are speaking God’s “apples of gold” to yourself.

Expecting God’s Best,
Bro. Rob

Proverbs 19:20 (NIV) – “Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise.”

There have been many people in my life who have given me advice and instruction.

Some in formal ways, others informally.

Honestly, I have listened to some but, not all.

Looking back, I probably should have listened to some people more and others less.

The important point is that listening to godly advice and instruction makes us wise.

The wise person is one who can discern God’s best in each situation.

Each of us needs wisdom.

My prayer for you today is that you are becoming wise through listening to others.

Expecting God’s Best,
Bro. Rob

Psalm 85:8 (NIV) – “I will listen to what God the LORD will say; he promises peace to his people, his saints-- but let them not return to folly.”

Many people want us to listen to them.

Listening to God, however, is our top priority.

Sometimes listening to others satisfies us.

At other times we are simply left confused.

Only God promises peace when we listen to him.

We listen to God through Scripture, prayer, circumstances, and godly counsel.

My prayer for you today is that you are listening to God and experiencing his peace.

Expecting God’s Best,
Bro. Rob

Paul came to the church in Corinth “in weakness, in fear, and much trembling.”  

Paul said that he didn’t come with fancy speech and persuasive words of wisdom.

Instead, he came as a demonstration of the Spirit’s power.

Paul came to Corinth for one reason: “to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2).  

Paul’s message was simple: Don’t place your faith in human wisdom, but only on God’s power.

God has demonstrated his power repeatedly throughout history, and he still does.

Perhaps his greatest and most important moment of power was raising Jesus from the dead.

Jesus’ resurrection not only demonstrated his great power, but also his great love.

If you’ve never experienced God’s love before, please consider this: “God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

Jesus died on that cross for our sin.  Because of his love for us, God raised his son from the dead, giving us the opportunity for life.

Human wisdom can’t explain that.  

Trust in him today, and experience his life-giving, life-changing love.

In Christ,
Jonathan

I have often thought, “How can God want to use someone like me?”  

Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 1:16, “Brothers and sisters, consider your calling: Not many were wise from a human perspective, not many powerful, not many of noble birth.”

In other words, there was nothing special about them.

Looking back in Matthew and Luke at the genealogies of Jesus, there are a few big names, but mostly just common ordinary people.

Yet God chose to call them and to use them for His glory and for His purposes.

They were not called to make themselves famous; God doesn’t like that.  Remember the Tower of Babel?

Instead, God has called us to make HIM known.

He has called us to proclaim the gospel to the lost!

Jesus was born to seemingly insignificant people in a seemingly insignificant place.

Isaiah 53:3 says of the Messiah, “He was despised and rejected by men…He was like someone people turned away from; he was despised, and we didn’t value him.”

God chose despised ones (that’s us)—those who embrace the foolishness of the cross—so that we cannot boast on ourselves, but we boast in the Lord.

In Christ,
Jonathan

For the Jews ask for signs and the Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles. —1 Corinthians 1:22-23.

Paul had been brought up with a Jewish education, so he knew the history of the Jews.

The Jews always sought miracles and signs from the Lord.

The Greeks were constantly seeking wisdom and discussing philosophy.

Paul believed and taught that the simple preaching of a crucified and resurrected Jesus was more powerful than any other sign or philosophy.

People may seek enlightenment, but those who receive the gospel are enlightened by the Spirit of God.

Those who believe the gospel see and experience more wisdom and power in the gospel than anything that the world offers.

The gospel will always be foolishness to all who do not believe.

The world may consider us foolish, but we must stay true to proclaiming the gospel’s power.

“Heavenly Father, when others shame or dismiss me for Christ’s sake, help me rest in Your validation and acceptance, in Jesus’ name, Amen” —Boyd Bailey

Who is the Lord leading you to boldly tell the story of Jesus?

In Christ,
Jonathan

For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but it is the power of God to us who are being saved. —1 Corinthians 1:18

The message of Christ’s death for sins sounds foolish to those who don’t believe.

I’ll admit, it does sound rather absurd.

However, Paul explains that God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom…meaning our wisdom cannot compare in any way to God’s wisdom.

God knew exactly what humanity needed.  We needed saving from our sins.

God knew exactly how it had to happen…through his sinless Son, Jesus.

Paul encourages me in Romans 1:16: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek.”

God’s plan of salvation may seem like foolishness to the world, bu it seems like LOVE to those who believe.

We should never be ashamed of the gospel.  

We should proclaim it to a lost world!

In Christ,
Jonathan