Reading: Hebrews 12
My Verse: "Exercise foresight and be on the watch to look [after one another], to see that no one falls back from and fails to secure God's grace, in order that no root of resentment shoots forth and causes trouble and bitter torment, and the many become contaminated and defiled by it _" (12:15).
Lord God, as I read this verse I try to visualize how this is to look in my life. How do I "exercise foresight?" How am I to "be on watch to look [after one another]"? This seems like such a very large expectation! I know elsewhere in the Bible we are told, "Be alert and of sober mind." (I Peter 5:8)
I am to live a life of purposeful watchfulness.
The first thing I am to watch out for is that others do not "fall short of the grace of God."
I have always understood that I am to try to win others to You, Lord God. This just seems so much more urgent somehow. In other words I am to do all that I can to help others see You, Lord God. Oh, I pray for wisdom as I live my life day by day. I pray that others see Your light in me. That in seeing Your light in me they would want You.
" . . . let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father Who is in heaven" (Matthew 5:16 ESV).
Secondly, I am be be watchful "in order that no root of resentment shoots forth and causes trouble and bitter torment . . ." Initially I am overwhelmed as I think on this. I look at all the horrendous things happening in the world. I cringe whenever I hear Christians saying caustic things that only cause more rancor and trouble! My heart is saddened when I see disagreement coming between people, causing "trouble and bitter torment". I feel so helpless. What is my part in this, Lord? I ask for discernment. I ask You to help me to keep my eyes on only what I can affect. I ask You to put a guard over my tongue and my actions.
"Set a guard over my mouth, O LORD, keep watch over the door of my lips" (Psalm 141:3, NIV).
"Establish my steps and direct them by [means of] Your word; let not any iniquity have dominion over me" (Psalm 119:133)
Lord, I pray that today I live with purposeful watchfulness.
"Let us therefore, receiving a kingdom that is firm and stable and cannot be shaken, offer to God pleasing service and acceptable worship, with modesty and pious care and godly fear and awe; For our God [is indeed] a consuming fire" (12:28,29).
I have many loved ones that I do not want to know or experience that "consuming fire!"
Ditat Deus - God Enriches!
My Verse: "Exercise foresight and be on the watch to look [after one another], to see that no one falls back from and fails to secure God's grace, in order that no root of resentment shoots forth and causes trouble and bitter torment, and the many become contaminated and defiled by it _" (12:15).
Lord God, as I read this verse I try to visualize how this is to look in my life. How do I "exercise foresight?" How am I to "be on watch to look [after one another]"? This seems like such a very large expectation! I know elsewhere in the Bible we are told, "Be alert and of sober mind." (I Peter 5:8)
I am to live a life of purposeful watchfulness.
The first thing I am to watch out for is that others do not "fall short of the grace of God."
I have always understood that I am to try to win others to You, Lord God. This just seems so much more urgent somehow. In other words I am to do all that I can to help others see You, Lord God. Oh, I pray for wisdom as I live my life day by day. I pray that others see Your light in me. That in seeing Your light in me they would want You.
" . . . let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father Who is in heaven" (Matthew 5:16 ESV).
Secondly, I am be be watchful "in order that no root of resentment shoots forth and causes trouble and bitter torment . . ." Initially I am overwhelmed as I think on this. I look at all the horrendous things happening in the world. I cringe whenever I hear Christians saying caustic things that only cause more rancor and trouble! My heart is saddened when I see disagreement coming between people, causing "trouble and bitter torment". I feel so helpless. What is my part in this, Lord? I ask for discernment. I ask You to help me to keep my eyes on only what I can affect. I ask You to put a guard over my tongue and my actions.
"Set a guard over my mouth, O LORD, keep watch over the door of my lips" (Psalm 141:3, NIV).
"Establish my steps and direct them by [means of] Your word; let not any iniquity have dominion over me" (Psalm 119:133)
Lord, I pray that today I live with purposeful watchfulness.
"Let us therefore, receiving a kingdom that is firm and stable and cannot be shaken, offer to God pleasing service and acceptable worship, with modesty and pious care and godly fear and awe; For our God [is indeed] a consuming fire" (12:28,29).
I have many loved ones that I do not want to know or experience that "consuming fire!"
Ditat Deus - God Enriches!
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