The Blameless Walk

“For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.  O Lord Almighty, blessed is the man who trusts in you” Psalm 84:11-12, NIV.

The Psalmist mentions just before this that he would rather be a doorkeeper for the Lord than to be in the tent of the wicked.  God is the giver of all things good, and He freely gives to those who truly love and trust Him.  In fact, this text says that He withholds NOTHING from those who are truly obedient to Him, whose walk is blameless.

Team Players – Sermon Summary

1 Corinthians 12:14-27.

Sometimes being a team player means that you will receive little if any recognition.  Some jobs are simply not performed in plain view for everybody else to see.  For example, playing defense as your primary focus on a basketball team doesn’t provide nearly the recognition of those who score most of the points.  This principle applies to the church as well.  Sometimes, this can present some difficult feelings and issues that must be understood.

A Servant’s Motivation

“Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in His ways.  You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours,” Psalm 128:1-2, NIV.

The writer of this Psalm goes on to say that his wife and sons will be a blessing and shares the hope of living long enough to see your children’s children.  Knowing we will be blessed for walking in the Lord’s way is one thing.  Using the potential for being blessed as my motivation for service is something entirely different.

One key in these words to me as I read them today is how we will basically get out of our relationship with God what we put into it.  We will be rewarded but only for that which we deserve an have earned.  I throw the “but” idea in here as a warning and an incentive.  I must not expect God to bless me for no reason and must increase what I put into my relationship with Him.  My ultimate reward is knowing God and the fullness of His love.  What more do I need?

At the same time however, the grace of God is not to be ignored.  God’s grace is favor undeserved.  I do not earn my salvation or spiritual gifts or blessings from above.  God sometimes chooses to bless in incredible ways and that is His prerogative.  I’m not saying that I don’t want to be blessed, but I cannot allow that “want” to be what drives me to serve the Lord I love.

I think the lesson for today is ultimately this – faithfulness and the results thereof.  I must be far more concerned with how I am faithfully following the Lord Jesus Christ than I am in the blessings I’ll receive if I do so.

I think that there is a real danger in expecting God to bless you.  My works do not earn me special merit if they are done for that purpose.  All that I do for Him must have my love for God and my desire to do His will in serving others as my sole motivation.  Anything else is selfish and should not be rewarded.

Lord, why do I serve You?  You know that many times even I forget.  Please help me do everything not only in Your name but for the reason of my love for You.  You alone are my life and my all and You alone are who I choose to serve because of my love for You.

Puzzle Pieces – Sermon Summary

1 Corinthians 12:1-12.

I love “working” a puzzle.  Diane and I will get one started once in a while and it won’t take long for Derek and Doug to join us.  While we may not be the speediest of puzzlists around the world, it is always a fun thing to do.  There is only one time when putting together a puzzle results in frustration and aggravation – when a piece is missing!

God puts the church together much like a puzzle.  There are pieces of various sizes and shapes.  They are mixed and matched and pieced together in such a way that we can see in time precisely how He formulates the portrait known as His church.

Double Vision

“They killed the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes.  Then they put out his eyes, bound him with bronze shackles and took him to Babylon,” 2 Kings 25:7, NIV.

That may not be a passage used in many devotional thoughts, but sometimes reading more helps bring things to light.  This was part of the story about King Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonians overtaking Jerusalem.  What we are also told in 2 Chronicles 36 is that Zedekiah was not a ruler who had followed after God, choosing evil as a lifestyle.  Was this his punishment from the Lord?  Notice the great humiliation of the deed.