Tag: purpose

Daily Bread

Title: What Would Jesus Do?

Text:

Luke 5:1-5 (HCSB)
1 As the crowd was pressing in on Jesus to hear God’s word, He was standing by Lake Gennesaret.
2 He saw two boats at the edge of the lake; the fishermen had left them and were washing their nets.
3 He got into one of the boats, which belonged to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from the land. Then He sat down and was teaching the crowds from the boat.
4 When He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, “Put out into deep water and let down your nets for a catch.”
5 “Master,” Simon replied, “we’ve worked hard all night long and caught nothing! But at Your word, I’ll let down the nets.”
Luke 5:16 (HCSB)
16 Yet He often withdrew to deserted places and prayed.

Observation:

The book of Luke is one that I go to when I want to align my heart with the heart of Jesus; it is where I find the answer to the question, “What would Jesus do?” Jesus did many things, but His focus was always on the main things.

There are two main things that I see Jesus doing; they are teaching the word of God, and prayer. In doing the main things He did not neglect other things.

Jesus taught the word of God to the people, who were hungry and thirsty to hear the word. Also, Jesus was never too busy to take time from the ministry to withdraw to a private place and pray.

Finally, Jesus taught the crowd, but He also taught Simon an important lesson. There is a time to teach the crowd, and there is a time to teach one. That’s what Jesus would do; so that is what I will do. What will you do?

Prayer:

Father God, my dear Father, I am so glad that the two things that Jesus did then are two things that I can do today and every day. Father, help me to not forget the one in seeking to reach the many.  Amen.

Daily Bread

Title: You Were Born for a Purpose, and God Has a Plan for Your Life

Text:

Jeremiah 1:5 (ESV)
5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”

Jeremiah 29:11 (ESV)
11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Observation:

God made you, and his promise is one that we can rely upon; you were born to be a winner. If you focus on your circumstances, you may doubt this. However, if you rely on the promises of God, you can be the person God made you to be.

Life will present its obstacles. However, we should remember that God has a plan. Sometimes God’s plan for us requires patience on our part.

Jeremiah 29:10 (ESV)
10 “For thus says the LORD: When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will visit you, and I will fulfill to you my promise and bring you back to this place.

Things in this fallen world can get messy and untidy. Life can become very uncomfortable and difficult as you wait on God. Remember that God surrounds his children all the days of that life with two angels; goodness and mercy. When the going gets tough don’t look down; you will get discouraged. Rather, look up, and be encouraged. And, don’t forget those two angels; they are God’s agents to guard you and guide you.

Psalm 23:6 (ESV)
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

Prayer:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I am so thankful that I can go to bed every night, and wake up every morning knowing that my life is in good hands. Father, I thank you that I can sleep in peace, and walk in victory because my life is in your hands.

Father God, I pray that you will keep me close to Thee; when I faint and falter, help me to remember to look to Calvary; the place where my Savior died to pay my sin debt, and to give me the gift of eternal life with you. What a future, and what a friend I have in Jesus.

Father, help my family and my friends to keep the faith, and to keep their eyes upon Jesus. When life gets hard; I pray that they will remember to take the upward look. In Jesus name, Amen.