James 1:25

Scripture: James 1:25 

25 But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.

 

Observations: 

The law that gives freedom! I think of laws and I automatically think of restrictions, and rules, and things I CAN'T do. I love that this law is perfect and it gives freedom. When we are obedient to the Lord and abide by the law, we actually experience a freedom that is much better than the false sense of freedom when we disobey.

 

Application: 

 I babysat and it was such a joy to me to see that both boys minded me. I'd tell them something, and more often than not, they just did it. No questions asked. It is logical, since I'm in charge and I know best, that they would mind me. It's frustrating to me, and parents, and anybody who has ever had to watch a child who refuses to listen, and refuses to do as they are told. It's a struggle, when you know it would be so much easier if they would just obey. It's the same with the Lord, and I think it's why we are told to have faith like a child. When they mind and they submit, it's a joy. I want to be a joy to the Lord, and fully experience freedom.

Prayer: 

Lord thank You for giving us freedom and a perfect law to follow. You gave us salvation through Christ, and spared us from being held to this law. Help us to obey You out of love, and seek out Your statutes. Teach us to apply what we hear, so we may be blessed for our obedience. In Christ's name I pray, amen.

Ephesians 6:5-9

Scripture: Ephesians 6:5-9
5 Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ.
6 Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart.
7 Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men,
8 because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free.
9 And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him.
 
Observations:
I love this passage so much. Work consumes so much of my time and effort, and it's so easy to develop a negative, lazy attitude about it! How exciting that there's more to it than a paycheck!!!! GOD in heaven is watching me and He takes note of my work ethic. That makes me that much more motivated to be a light in my workplace, and strive to be a great employee :)
  
Application:
God calls us to be honest, hard-working people! He demands us to be fair. Whether we have a boss or we are the boss, we are supposed to treat people with respect and sincerity. We should be known for how hard we work! And we should take joy in our labor because we're being rewarded so far beyond what this world can offer!!
  
Prayer:
God, let everything we do be for Your glory! Let us have a boost of confidence and energy today as we strive to represent You well! Help us to serve wholeheartedly at whatever tasks we do today! Thank You for your constant presence. We long to do Your will from our hearts, so we ask You to provide the means. In Christ's name I pray, amen!

Ephesians 5:8-14

Scripture: Eph 5:8-14
8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light
9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth)
10 and find out what pleases the Lord.
11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.
12 For it is shameful to even mention what the disobedient do in secret.
13 But everything exposed by the light becomes visible,
14 for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said:
   "Wake up, O sleeper,
   rise from the dead,
  and Christ will shine on you."

Observations:
I was definitely once in darkness! It makes me so sad to think back at the words I've said in anger. How many times has my life not pleased the Lord, yet He still considers me His child. I think one of God's biggest blessings to us as believers is that He does make everything visible. He opens our eyes to these deeds of darkness and encourages us to rise from the dead.

Application:
AND FIND OUT WHAT PLEASES THE LORD!! By reading, praying, and earnestly seeking Him, we can find out what pleases the Lord. He reveals to me new things that do and don't please Him. For example, I was going to see "Bad Teacher" with a friend, and I just got a sinking feeling about it since it's R rated. I texted my friend and said "hey can we please watch Zookeeper instead?" and it's PG. She said okay and we went. The movie was cute and we laughed SO much. It was innocent. I left the theater feeling light, not guilty. I found out yesterday that my choice pleased the Lord :) it's a really good feeling, pleasing the King.
 
Prayer:
Father, we love you so much, and out of love we seek to please You.  I pray you help us to find out what pleases You! With our attitudes, our choices, our words, and how we relate to others. Help us to live as children of light. In Christ's name I pray, Amen!

Ephesians 5:1-7

Scripture: Ephesians 5:1-7
1 Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children
2 and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
3 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people.
4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.
5 For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person--such a man is an idolater--has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient.
7 Therefore do not be partners with them.
 
Observations:
Not even a HINT! I feel like when I go to the movies, I am covering my eyes and some parts of movies just straight-up shock me. Ahh! It scares me how much we tolerate, and we accept a hint here and there. It's sad that even some kids movies now have innuendos thrown in "for the parents"...
 
Application:
How am I allowing hints of immorality to seep through? In high school, I had to throw out all my cds and start over when I became a follower of Christ. I let music be that thing I turned to and ALL of it at the time was just UNGODLY. Angry, coarse, foolish, immoral. I told everyone, even all my friends, that from then on I only listened to christian music. It was a big change. My favorite band prior to this was Disturbed (no need to google it, just trust me, it's disturbing!).

Over college, I was able to branch out a little bit and not be so strict and legalistic with myself (she's gone country), but still, with music that I purchased, I made sure the content was fitting. For a while, also in high school, I wouldn't watch even pg13 movies. I guarded myself a lot back then, and it makes me think that I was really onto something. We develop a thick filter as mature believers and we stop having that "ooooh I'm telling!" reaction to wrong/immoral/impure things. We just take it. Garbage in, garbage out.
 
Wouldn't it be amazing if we could all say "if I'm listening to music, I'm listening to music for the glory of God" and "if I'm watching this movie, I'm watching this movie for the glory of God" and "if I'm having this conversation, I'm having this conversation for the glory of God" and "if I'm spending/storing up this money, I'm spending/storing up this money for the glory of God" .... oh to be in the world but not be of the world.
 
Prayer:
Lord, help us to keep our eyes on You as we make decisions. Help us to recognize when something is out of place for us as believers. Build us up to be holy people, ambassadors of Your grace, discerning and wise, loving to unbelievers but not influenced by them, giving and truly caring for those in need, in full control of our words, submitting our actions to Your approval. We love You and praise You with thankful hearts. In Christ's name, amen.