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² Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything you do. Try to please them all the time, not just when they are watching you. Serve them sincerely because of your reverent fear of the Lord. ²³ Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. ²⁴ Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ.^[a]

It is interesting that Paul’s emphasis here is not on slaves gaining their freedom, but on slaves living as slaves in a way that honors God.  Ultimately, they are to work as if God is their Master.  While no one reading this is a literally a slave, we are all workers.  And some may feel like as if their work situations make them like slaves.  What then?  We honor God by the way we carry out our work.  We allow His light to shine through us, because He is ultimately our boss.  And we are to perform our tasks with excellence consistently, and not only when the eyes of human bosses are upon us.  For the eyes of our heavenly Master are always watching.

Here is the rest of today’s Bible reading:  Jeremiah 10:1-11:23; Colossians 3:18-4:18; Psalm 78:56-72; Proverbs 24:28-29.

Proverbs 24:26 (NIV)
An honest answer
is like a kiss on the lips.

Sadly, we live in a culture where speaking the truth is like a kick in the gut.  Either we are overly sensitive in receiving the truth, or we are careless and insensitive in how we express the truth.  Both are wrong.  The church is to be filled with relationships where we are able to speak the truth in love to each other and have that be as sweet as a kiss on the lips.  We thank God for brothers and sisters who are willing to speak truth to us, even when it may be something we don’t want to hear.  Do you tend to be overly sensitive in receiving the truth, or careless and insensitive in speaking the truth?

Here is today’s Bible reading:  Jeremiah 6:16-8:7; Colossians 2:8-23; Psalm 78:1-31; Proverbs 24:26.

Are you content?  Few of us are.  We are constantly chasing after that “next thing” that we are sure will result in our peace–that next relationship, job, achievement, possession, hobby, etc.  We get caught in that trap of “if only…”  If only I had…a little more money, a little more time, a little more this, a little more that–then I would be content.

One of the things I greatly admire about the Apostle Paul is his contentment:

Philip. 4:12 (NIV)
I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.

The “secret” he speaks of is intimacy with Jesus Christ.  There is no contentment apart from this.

Here is the rest of today’s Bible reading:  Jeremiah 1:1-2:30; Philippians 4:2-23; Psalm 75:1-10; Proverbs 24:17-20.

What time is it?  Not on your clock, but on God’s?  No one really knows exactly.  If they claim to, they contradict the Bible, which clearly states otherwise.  But God has given us certain signs that point to the fact that it is very late on God’s prophetic clock.

Isaiah 66:8 (NIV)
Who has ever heard of such a thing?
Who has ever seen such things?
Can a country be born in a day
or a nation be brought forth in a moment?
Yet no sooner is Zion in labor
than she gives birth to her children.

Can a nation be born in a day?  The answer is “yes”.  May 14, 1948 to be precise.  This was the day that against all odds, the nation of Israel was reconstituted.  This is a prophetic “super sign” as the Bible foretells that Israel will have a key role to play in the events of the end times.  So, what time is it?  I don’t know for sure, but I do believe it is later than most of us believe.  That should inspire us to live each day with a sense of sober urgency.

Here is the rest of today’s Bible reading:  Isaiah 66:1-24; Philippians 3:4b-4:1;
Psalm 74:1-23; Proverbs 24:15-16.

I am always humbled when people ask how to pray for me.  I definitely need it.  I can think of no prayer better than this…

Ephes. 6:19-20 (NIV)
Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, [20] … Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

Here is the rest of today’s Bible reading:  Isaiah 54:1-57:13; Ephesians 6:1-24; Psalm 70:1-5; Proverbs 24:8-9.

You can tell a lot about the spiritual maturity of an individual by the way they drive a car. This is not good news for me. My pet peeve is the careless driver who pulls out in front of me without looking (an  all too common occurrence on Ojai Avenue). My response: I refuse to slow my pace, even if it means coming within inches of colliding with the offending party.  Ridiculous. And of course, Christy is quick to tell me so. Clearly I have yet to master the words of Ephesians 4:2 which say,

Ephes. 4:2 (NIV)
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.

Here is the rest of today’s Bible reading:  Isaiah 45:11-48:11; Ephesians 4:1-16; Psalm 68:19-35; Proverbs 24:3-4.

2012 National League Central Champions

I am a saint!  Now, most of you who know me will seriously question that.  Sadly, there are far too many times in my life when I have not acted “saintly.”  If I have disappointed you in the past with my behavior, I sincerely apologize.  I have wronged and hurt many of you.  For that I am truly sorry.  But the truth is that when Jesus Christ came into my life, his righteousness was imputed (credited) to me.  Now, when God the Father sees me, He sees a saint, because He sees Christ.  What a marvelous mystery.  This is why the Apostle Paul begins the book of Ephesians by saying in Ephes. 1:1 (NIV)  “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,  To the saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus:”  Now the challenge is to live up to the title I have been given through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Here is the rest of today’s Bible reading:  Isaiah 38:1-41:16; Ephesians 1:1-23; Psalm 66:1-20; Proverbs 23:25-28.

You are such a burden to me–and that is exactly what I need.  I need your burden to take my focus off of me.  I need your burden to give my life purpose beyond myself.  I need your burden to allow Christ to work through me.  I need your burden to demonstrate the compassion of our God.  I need your burden.  And you need mine.  This is part of the genius of the Church.  Is it messy?  Yes.  Is it inconvenient and draining.  Yes.  But it is exactly what I need.  Thanks for sharing your burden with me.

Galatians 6:2 (NIV)
Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

Here is the rest of today’s Bible reading:  Isaiah 36:1-37:38; Galatians 6:1-18; Psalm 65:1-13; Proverbs 23:24.