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The Priority of Service

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.”
Galatians 5:13–15

I read a story written by a doctor in which he described having to give a man a terminal diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. It was his last appointment of the day, and after the patient left, the doctor prepared to go home. When he reached the parking lot, he saw an elderly man with the hood of his car raised. As he got closer the doctor realized someone was on the ground underneath the car working on the engine. In a moment he realized it was his patient. When the car started and the elderly man drove away, the doctor asked what the patient had been doing. “Helping out,” the answer came. “My cancer didn’t say I couldn’t help someone who needed it.”
There are always excuses we can find to avoid serving and helping others. There are always other priorities to which we could devote our time and attention. But if we are to live as Jesus lived and follow in His footsteps, then we must be willing to make the sacrifices necessary to serve. Again and again Jesus gave up time and strength for the sake of others. Though He was God, healing others took a toll on Jesus—a toll He thought worth paying. “And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes?” (Mark 5:30). If we see others as Jesus did, as precious people with great needs, we will be more willing to humble ourselves and serve them.
 

Today’s Growth Principle: 

We have no higher calling than to be humble servants of others just as Jesus was.

Day 22 - Jesus paid it all

I Quote

 

“God’s chosen people in the Bible were once sinners too. NOT perfect, but human. NOT fictitious people but real one. NOT God, NOT also aiming to become one of the gods. Chosen people are NOT deceiving people. They would die for what they believe is true. They will NOT die for what they know is a lie.”

                                           Meg, 28 January 2018

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Chosen People and God’s Promises

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth. The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people: But because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.”
Deuteronomy 7:6–8

We often speak of the Israelites as God’s chosen people because that is the way that He referred to them. Long before there was a nation at all, God called Abraham to leave his home and country and journey to a new land. It would be hundreds of years before Israel could truly be called a nation, but God was faithful to keep that promise. When He chooses a people, He follows through with His promises to them.
But the nation of Israel is not the only chosen people referred to in Scripture. The New Testament uses the same language to describe Christians. We are not a random group, but rather a specific and identified body of followers of Jesus Christ. “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light” (1 Peter 2:9). Like the Israelites, there is much we have been promised that we have not yet received. But every promise of God is faithful and true, and we can count on it coming to pass, no matter how long it may take.
 

Today’s Growth Principle: 

Remember the promises God has made in His Word, and confidently believe that He will fulfill them.

Day 21 - Let the peace of God reign

Father of life draw me closer
Lord, my heart is set on you
Let me run the race of time
With you life unfolding mine
And let the peace of God
Let it reign

Oh Holy Spirit you're my comfort
Strengthen me hold my head up high
And I stand upon your truth
Bringing glory unto you
And let the peace of God
Let it reign

Oh Lord I hunger for more of you
Rise up within me let me know your truth
Oh Holy Spirit, saturate my soul
And let the life of God
Fill me now
Let your healing power
Breathe life and make me whole
And the peace of God
Let it reign

What happened after Jesus Crucifixion?

Stretch-out Arms

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CURRENT RADIO SERIES Lifeworks   CURRENT TV SERIES Angels

… “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” --James 4:6 The single biggest obstacle between people and God is pride. So you and I must be diligent to always remain humble before the Lord – intellectually, socially, and spiritually. Intellectual pride is when people trust what they know, rather than living by faith. But Jesus told us to come to him like little children. It’s his desire that we be teachable, transparent, and open with him and with others. Social pride is when people want to feel important and try to surround themselves with the “in” crowd. But think about who Jesus’ friends were. They were sinners… people who were rejected by the religious system of their day. Spiritual pride is when people think they can somehow earn salvation. But they can’t! Instead, grace demands that we humble ourselves before the Lord. Today’s verse says it so clearly: “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” Please don’t let pride or any of its subtle forms keep you from knowing and following Jesus!   WE MUST BE DILIGENT TO ALWAYS REMAIN HUMBLE BEFORE THE LORD –INTELLECTUALLY, SOCIALLY, AND SPIRITUALLY. Angels by Jack Graham Walk through Scripture,  to reveal the truth about angels and what they offer us. Focusing on practical application, Dr. Graham separates fact from fiction and demonstrates that the main role of angels isn't to draw attention to themselves, but to point us toward Christ.

Stretched Out Arms

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee: Thou shewest lovingkindness unto thousands, and recompensest the iniquity of the fathers into the bosom of their children after them: the Great, the Mighty God, the LORD of hosts, is his name, Great in counsel, and mighty in work: for thine eyes are open upon all the ways of the sons of men: to give every one according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings:”
Jeremiah 32:17–19

The first and most visible evidence of the power of God that any of us experience is His creation. Despite the efforts of scientists and educators to convince people otherwise, there is proof of God everywhere we look in our world. The precise distance of the earth from the sun and the precise angle of the earth’s tilt on its axis are both required for life to exist. Change either by a tiny amount, and we would either burn up or freeze and there would be no life. Yet we are told to believe that it is all a matter of random chance over the passing of billions of years. How foolish! Jeremiah described creation as the result of God’s “stretched out arm.”
Recently as I was thinking on this passage from Jeremiah, I was reminded of another place where God’s arms were stretched out—in the death of Jesus on the cross. The nails could not have held the Son of God. A single word from the lips of the One who created everything by speaking it into existence would have freed Him. Yet that word never came. “He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth” (Isaiah 53:7).
 

Today’s Growth Principle: 

The amazing love God has for us is measured by the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.