Written by TWFYT
Saturday September 5
"We have an obligation." Romans 8:12 NIV
Paul wrote: "We have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live" (vv. 12-13 NIV). Obligation: it isn't your favorite word, is it? That's because we interpret it in a negative light. Don't think of it as something you have to do but as something you get to do. Our greatest obligation doubles as our greatest opportunity—surrendering our lives to the lordship of Christ. Can you think of any greater privilege than being used by God to help fulfill His eternal purposes? The word "obligation" means to be legally or morally bound, and the best picture might be marriage. When you say, "I do," at the altar, you are obligating yourself "for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, till death do us part." And when we enter into a covenant relationship with God through the new birth, two things happen. We are legally and morally bound to Him, and He is legally and morally bound to us. The gospel demands that we give all of ourselves to God. But when we do, God gives all of Himself to us. Think of the benefits of such a trade-off! You'll never get a better deal. The trade-off also gives full veto power to the Holy Spirit. But once again, that's a good obligation. Why? Because He will take you places you can't go and do things in and through you that are otherwise impossible.
Saturday September 5
"We have an obligation." Romans 8:12 NIV
Paul wrote: "We have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live" (vv. 12-13 NIV). Obligation: it isn't your favorite word, is it? That's because we interpret it in a negative light. Don't think of it as something you have to do but as something you get to do. Our greatest obligation doubles as our greatest opportunity—surrendering our lives to the lordship of Christ. Can you think of any greater privilege than being used by God to help fulfill His eternal purposes? The word "obligation" means to be legally or morally bound, and the best picture might be marriage. When you say, "I do," at the altar, you are obligating yourself "for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, till death do us part." And when we enter into a covenant relationship with God through the new birth, two things happen. We are legally and morally bound to Him, and He is legally and morally bound to us. The gospel demands that we give all of ourselves to God. But when we do, God gives all of Himself to us. Think of the benefits of such a trade-off! You'll never get a better deal. The trade-off also gives full veto power to the Holy Spirit. But once again, that's a good obligation. Why? Because He will take you places you can't go and do things in and through you that are otherwise impossible.
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January
MAKE PRAYER YOUR FIRST PRIORITYBIBLE READING; THE KEY TO SPIRITUAL GROWTH (1)BIBLE READING; THE KEY TO SPIRITUAL GROWTH (2)BIBLE READING; THEY KEY TO SPIRITUAL GROWTH (3)LIVING IN THE PROMISED LANDWHEN YOUR MATE STRUGGLES WITH INSECURITYKEEP PERSEVERING AND REFUSE TO QUITSHOW YOUR APPRECIATIONCOUNT YOUR BLESSINGSTHE "DOWNSIDE" OF IMMORALITYHAVE YOU BEEN WRONGED? FORGIVE"KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON"BE SENSITIVE TO GOD'S PRESENCEA PRAYER FOR GOD-CONFIDENCELIVE FROM "GLORY TO GLORY"ABOUNDING GRACEPREVAILING PRAYERTHE FIRST BEATITUDETHE SECOND BEATITUDETHE THIRD BEATITUDETHE FOURTH BEATITUDETHE FIFTH BEATITUDETHE SIXTH BEATITUDETHE SEVENTH BEATITUDETHE EIGHTH BEATITUDEBE CONTENTYOU ARE A STEWARDDEMONSTRATING GOD'S KINGDOM WHERE YOU LIVEAVOID COMPARING YOURSELF TO OTHERSHE'S LOOKING FOR LABORERSKNOWING AND ENJOYING YOUR INHERITANCE
February
HOW TO CONQUER YOUR JERICHO (1)HOW TO CONQUER YOUR JERICHO (2)HEALING FOR YOUR MINDHUMBLE YOURSELF, AND TRY TO MAKE IT RIGHTYOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCELIVE ON PURPOSE, FOR A PURPOSEHOW TO "RENEW" YOUR MINDFIGHT FOR YOUR MARRIAGETRUE REPENTANCE BRINGS RESTORATION"I HAVE SET THE LORD ALWAYS BEFORE ME"RESPONSIBILITY AND THE "ABILITY TO RESPOND"MEDITATE AND ASSIMILATECLICK THE SAVE BUTTONBE CONFIDENT OF GOD'S LOVE FOR YOUGOD FORGIVES AND FORGETS (1)GOD FORGIVES AND FORGETS (2)GOD FORGIVES AND FORGETS (3)GOD FORGIVES AND FORGETS (4)PRAYER IS YOUR CONNECTION TO GODHEALING FOR ANXIETYEXPERIENCING GOD'S PEACETHE CHALLENGES AND REWARDS OF LEADERSHIPSTAY TRUE TO THE TRUTH OF GOD'S WORDLEARN TO LISTEN TO GODOVERCOMING ENVYRELY ON GOD, NOT YOURSELFPAID IN FULLTRY FOR RECONCILIATION
March
HAVING A SPIRIT-CONTROLLED TONGUE (1)HAVING A SPIRIT-CONTROLLED TONGUE (2)EMBRACE "THE WHOLE COUNSEL OF GOD"CONFIDANTS, CONSTITUENTS, COMRADESIT CAME TO PASS—NOT STAYLIVE FOR A CAUSE GREATER THAN YOURSELFFREE FROM GUILT AND CONDEMNATIONPRAYER IS YOUR CONNECTION TO GODJUST PLAY YOUR PARTYOU ARE AN AGENT OF RECONCILIATIONLEARN TO LISTEN TO GODWHEN YOU LONG FOR COMPANIONSHIPTHE WHOLE WORLD MUST HEAR GOD'S WORDWILL YOU HEAR CHRIST, OR THE CRISIS?LIVE LIKE YOU BELIEVE IT (1)YOU CAN OUTGROW THE PROBLEMGOD WILL GIVE YOU KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDINGLIVE LIKE YOU BELIEVE IT (2)THE WAY UP IS DOWNTHE WORST FAILURE...IS FAILURE TO TRYARE YOU WASHING YOUR NETS?"OVERNIGHT SUCCES" USUALLY TAKES MANY YEARSYOU HAVE FULL FORGIVENESSKNOW WHO YOU AREHE'S THE GOD OF NEW BEGINNINGSGOD IS "AT WORK IN YOU"OVERCOMING WORKAHOLISMTHE TOUCH OF HIS HANDCHRIST CAN SATISFY YOUR SOULTRY FASTINGGOD IS WORKING IN YOU, WITH YOU, AND THROUGH YOUASK GOD FOR A DREAMTODAY GOD IS "WITH YOU"