LIVING
THE LIFE
BREAD
1 In the
beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the
beginning. 3 Through
him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life
was the light of men. John 1:1-4 (NIV)
39 You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by
them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me,
40 yet you refuse to come to me to have life. John 5:39-40 (NIV)
30 Jesus
did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not
recorded in this book. 31 But
these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of
God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. John 20:30-31 (NIV)
17 For
if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how
much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the
gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ. Romans 5:17 (NIV)
17 This
is what the Lord says-- your
Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: "I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who
directs you in the way you should go. 18 If only you had paid attention to my commands, your
peace would have been like a river, your righteousness like the waves of the
sea. Isaiah 48:17-18 (NIV)
6 Jesus
answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No
one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you
really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him
and have seen him.” John 14:6-7
(NIV)
10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have
come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10 (NIV)
16 This
is what the Lord says: “Stand at
the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is,
and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.” Jeremiah 6:16 (NIV)
17 Command
those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their
hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly
provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 18 Command them to do good, to be
rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 19 In this way they will lay up
treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they
may take hold of the life that is truly life. 20 Timothy, guard what has been
entrusted to your care. 1 Timothy
6:17-20 (NIV)
BUTTER
“Christians’
relationship with the secular world, then, should focus first on having lives
that compel others to want to
consider Jesus. ‘As far as it depends on you,’ Scripture says, ‘live at
peace with all men.’ Instead of ‘taking a stand’ against secular
ethics, then, we should focus on embodying Jesus’ Spirit-filled,
life-giving ethics beautifully and compellingly. Until we become known for
this, no moral platform will be credible to a secular culture. Instead,
the culture will just laugh at us. For those concerned about
the direction culture has taken on sexuality and marriage, the best case for a
return to biblical marriage is to actually have biblical marriages. The
best case for orthodox beliefs and ethics is to live consistently
beautiful, orthodox lives.” Scott Sauls
“Once it was the
blessing, now it is the Lord; once it was the feeling, now it is His Word; once
His gifts I wanted, now the Giver own; once I sought for healing, now himself
alone.” A. B.
Simpson
“Contentment is a learned secret that sadly many fail in
their endeavors to obtain. It is never
found in more, better, bigger, new, marriages, children or whatever that
whatever may be. Oh, it may appear
briefly with these faux gods we seek to enthrone but vanishes quickly after
obtaining. A contentment and peace which
prevails is found only in Christ. He wants
to fill our wants – just ask Him. He
wants to be the desire of our hearts – seek Him. Because He knows it will make us whole so
that we are no longer needy or just plain annoying to be around. God fills completely when we allow Him. He wants to fill us in order to spill us
(which, btw, brings much joy to the soul) so that we leave the aroma of Christ
in our spheres rather than the smell of death.
This is the abundance He came to give us – life to the fullest measure. This is contentment.” BHY
“I’ll never forget being prayed for by Ray, a friend whose
world is one filled with material poverty, homelessness, setbacks and empty
hands. Ray prayed strong and spontaneous – that I, the pastor of the big church
from Nashville, Tennessee who writes books and has a blog and lives in a comfy
house and has never been concerned about missing a meal and has always been
able to pay his bills – would know the security of the Father’s care, the smile
of the Father’s love, the freedom of the Father’s grace, the intimacy of the
Father’s arms, the friendship of the Father’s family, and the abundance of the Father’s provision. Ray prayed as a man who, possessing close to nothing,
possessed all things. He prayed as a man with empty hands but a full heart. He
prayed as a man with abundant gratitude, as if he had a secret treasure stored
up in a world that I had only heard and talked about, but perhaps had not yet
seen. In that moment, I
began to wonder which of us was really living large and which was living in
scarcity. I began to wonder which of us was running with two legs and which of
us was running with one. I began to wonder which of us was carrying the aces
and which of us was carrying an empty hand. As Luther aptly said, ‘We are all
beggars, this is true.’” Scott Sauls
HEART SAVOR
·
Jesus
came to give me life in the fullest measure.
I am the loser if I miss it.
·
Only
in Christ is true life.
·
I am
to guard what is entrusted to my care and prove faithful in my walk with the
Master.
