Serving Free For a Clear Cause

[S] 1 Corinthians 9:19 (ESV) --

For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them.


[O] Paul was clear on his objectives -- to win more souls for Christ.  He was willing to serve for free and become the servant to all if he was able to achieve this end-goal for Christ's sake.  This statement displays the complete transformation of Paul from before and after he had met Christ and his life turned around.

[A] As I claim that my life had turned around after meeting Christ, I am not as clear or bold as Paul is and this is one area God has been building me up.  I need to continue working in this area of winning more (or as many as I could) souls for Christ.

[P] Dear Jesus, forgive me for lacking in this area.  As we enter the Passion Week, I want to approach a family to come to East Service with us this Sunday.  Please allow me to serve them and invite them.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.

Floating Higher by the Spirit

[S] Galatians 5:18 --
But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.

[O] Just like a plane when it loses its thrust by default will fall to the ground, unless I am led by the Spirit, I will by default be led by the Law.  There is no in-between and I must figure out what my spiritual thrust is so that I will continue to "fly" by the Spirit.

[A] Recently, God's been leading me through His Spirit through my personal prayer times.  I need to balance this with my continued meditation and study of the Book of Genesis through BSF so that not only through my chatting time with God but He will uplift me as I gain the strength from His word.

[P] Dear Father, I want to defy the gravity of this world's law which is nothing more than trying to live on my own will power.  Please continue to shower down Your blessings as I spend my personal times with you.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.

Revelation Beyond Intellectual

[S] Galatians 1:12 --
For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.

[O] Paul describes that the gospel that was preached to him was from God Himself because the revelation came from Jesus Christ directly (through the Holy Spirit).  It is not a teaching of another man even though God may have used others to send him the message, the actual revelation came from Jesus Christ.

[A] It is important the note here that the intellectual teaching itself is not enough to know the heart of our Father because it has to be revealed by Jesus Christ for me to fully understand the meaning which in turn should bring transformation causing a greater commitment toward God's vision.  As I study God's word I must not forget to ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the truth and the heart of my Father to convict me.

[P] Dear Father, please continue to surround my heart with Your Spirit so that Your vision, purpose, and heart may be revealed in my heart to follow You each day without missing any mark.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.

Look Back and See Who's Got Your Back

[S] Deuteronomy 6:10-12 -- (boldface and font color added)
10 "Then it shall come about when the Lord your God brings you into the land which He swore to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to give you, great and splendid cities which you did not build, 11 and houses full of all good things which you did not fill, and hewn cisterns which you did not dig, vineyards and olive trees which you did not plant, and you eat and are satisfied, 12 then watch yourself, that you do not forget the Lord who brought you from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. 

[O] The key operand here is "I don't deserve" what God blesses me with because none of them are what I earn for but instead are provided for me simply because I commit my heart set apart to follow God by remembering His message of love for me.  All these blessings are what this society is pursuing after (umm, including myself) on our own efforts, stomping each other to get ahead.  This passage is followed by the Ten Commandments.

[A] I took a moment of silence after reading this passage as I meditated on how awesomely great my God is for me.  I've been learning about "surrendering" who/what I am in order to be "lifted up" in His timing and ways and this passage hit home about how He's got my back for good.  I must continue to surrender areas of my life so that I will only reflect His image without smearing it with my own.  Just like how God warned His people not to forget (in pink color), I must not forget His awesomeness.

[P] Dear Father, I want to learn to let go of the things I hold on to so I would decrease and You would increase.  Thank You for providing all I need as I surrender these things while remembering what You did for Your people throughout history.  May my faith increase such that I would rise above the culture of pride and selfishness for Your sake.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.