Memorize Monday – free coloring page – Psalm 1:6 “For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.”
Month: September 2021
Serving Size:1
Galatians 5:13 – “You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.”
How do you serve others? We need only serve one person at a time and in doing that the blessings from that service can bless others. By being obedient to God we are serving Him. Just the opportunity to serve God, a serving of one, can bless multitudes.
We are free to to serve others, but we must examine our hearts. Are we serving with the right heart attitude? Are we doing it out of obligation? Are we doing it so that others will see us? Are we willing to serve without obligation, without expecting anything in return? We have received so much from God. His Son’s blood, His salvation – He has freely given to us and knows we can’t ever pay Him back. Jesus freely sacrificed Himself knowing that nothing we can do could ever come close to paying Him back.
Our faith does not require works. Our service and obedience to God are a result of our faith. Paul writes in James 2:20 -“… You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless.” It is because of our faith in God and what He done for us that we are free to serve others out of love and not obligation. Just as God has provided salvation for us.
Think about a time when you received something completely out of love, no strings attached. Did you not feel loved? How can you use your freedom to show others how much Jesus loves them?
When we use our freedom to serve others we are serving God, one person. When we serve out of obedience God will bless us and those around us. John 5: 1-11, v.3 “Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, he asked him to put out a little from the land.” Simon was obedient to Jesus. In verse 6, a miracle happens, – “ And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking. 7 They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink.”
Jesus blessed those around Simon. James and John were close by fishing with Simon and Jesus blessed them as well. There were people on the shore Jesus was speaking to and I am sure they were blessed through witnessing this miracle. So when we are obedient to God He can bless others around us! Just by serving one person, God. It may look like we are serving a neighbor, a friend, or a family member but ultimately we are serving the one, true God.
Evaluate how you have served in the past, was it out of obligation? Pause and ask God how you can improve in serving others. Ask God to place someone on your heart and to open your eyes to those around you, to open your eyes to opportunities to those who may be in need of something, maybe it’s just an encouraging word.
What is your next step in obedience to God to serve Him?
September 20, 2021 – Philippians 2:13
Memorize Monday – free coloring page – Philippians 2:13 “For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.”
God can work through us, through the desires He gives us. If we ask Him to align our desires and hearts with Him He will lead us. We need to sensitive to His leading and His voice and be courageous to follow that leading. Joshua 1:9 “Be strong and courageous…” Happy coloring!
September 13, 2021 – Isaiah 54:10
Memorize Monday – free coloring page – Isaiah 54:10 “Though the mountains be shaken
and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the Lord, who has compassion on you.
Green Pastures
“The Lord is my Shepherd, I lack nothing, He makes me lie down in green pastures, …” – Psalm 23.
A good shepherd looks out for his sheep. The sheep know and follow his voice. A good shepherd goes after the one that looses its way, he leaves the 99 and searches until he finds that one lost sheep and returns to the fold. A good shepherd looks for the green pasture, the tuft of grass like the one pictured above, for the sheep to graze upon.
Back in David’s day, the green pastures aren’t the lush green pastures we think of. David was in the desert of Israel, green was far and few between. So the shepherds had to look and lead the sheep to the green pastures, the tufts of grass in the desert.
So it is with Jesus. He is our good Shepherd. He is going before us each day clearing the path for us and leading us to green pastures. He has cleared the path to the greenest pasture, Heaven.
1 Timothy 2:4 – “who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” God desires that all men be saved, to come to know Him, Truth. And so He made a way. He created us to have a relationship with Him but sin entered the world and that relationship was broken. So God sent His Son Jesus to pay sin’s penalty. It was Jesus sacrificing His life for us that paves our way to Heaven. Not our works, not our deeds, nothing of ourselves can get us into Heaven but accepting the blood of Jesus. We must choose. We must choose to hear His voice, we must choose to follow HIs voice, we must choose Him to enter our hearts.
John 10: 2 – ” The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep.” John 10:9 – ““I am the Gate for the sheep,”
So even today this very moment, Jesus has not only paved the way to Heaven, which we could never do ourselves, each day He is leading us to green pastures. You may be in a difficult situation and wondering where that green pasture is. It’s there, it may not be what you think it should look like. In our own personal deserts there are green pastures. It may not be the lush green grassy field you are thinking of. It could something small and simple, unexpected. Maybe it’s just a verse from God’s word for you to cling to. Or perhaps it is a song in your heart. Maybe it’s just a text from a friend saying they are thinking of you. Maybe it’s a happy memory God gives to carry you through the day. Maybe it’s just ten minutes to savor between appointments. God gives us what we need. Its not always what we think we need. It can be hard to recognize the green pastures. Listen for his voice, follow Him.
For further reading: John 10:1-8, 1 Timothy 2:1-6
More resources: Israelu.org, Dave Adamson
September 6, 2021 – Colossians 3:23
Like a Thief in the Night
“… the Lord will come like a thief in the night.”
1 Thessalonians 5:1-11
“Like a thief in the night,” unseen, quiet, unsuspecting. There are people who do steal in broad daylight but they are most likely to get caught. During the night the thief is quiet, it’s dark, less likely to be seen and most likely the victim is unsuspecting. Well maybe not so much these days.
How will Jesus return, in the night like a thief? Is that how we will meet Him in the clouds? The Bible say we don’t know the hour or the day – Matthew 24:36-44. No one knows but the Father. Jesus, His Son doesn’t know, not even the angels. Here in the book of Matthew it describes daytime activity. Like with Noah in verse 37, “They didn’t know until the flood came and swept them all away.” (CSB) Verse 40, “two men will be in the field” and verse 41, two women will be grinding grain.” Verse 42, “Therefore be alert, since you don’t know what day your Lord is coming.” (emphasis mine)
Even at night we can prepare for a possible threat to our homes. We have alarms to wake us, we have a plan of attack should someone enter home, maybe a weapon, security cameras and alarms that are connected to the police department. We are prepared.
So how do we prepare for Christ’s return? By staying alert. By staying anchored in His word daily, reading His word daily. The book of Revelation is packed full of signs of the days proceeding Jesus’ return. We see some of those signs today; what’s right is wrong, what’s wrong is right. You may be saying to yourself,” that’s been happening since the beginning of time. Well yes, it has. And when Jesus said He’d be returning soon (Revelation 22-12), according to His timeline it could be any day. “With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day” 2 Peter 3:8.
But if Jesus were to return during the day, imagine the chaos. God is not the author of chaos; 1 Corinthians 14:33. So would He allow chaos to ensue? But what a testimony for all to see. Of course the media and the experts will try and say it was aliens. Or will Jesus come in the quiet of the night? I don’t know. I know this it will be like a blink of your eye, 1 Corinthians 15:52, “It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed.”
I know this too, Jesus is coming back! We all need to be ready. Are you ready? Are you prepared? Are you looking for signs?
The Kedge Anchor 
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