CARE AND PRAY

1 Cor 10:9 (GW):  “We shouldn’t put the Lord to the test as some of them did….”

There is a story of an Arab who said at night, "I will loose my camel and trust in God to find it."

But a wiser one said, "Tie your camel and trust in God."

Prayer and care should go together.

- Christian Safeguard (moreillustrations.com)

“Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God.” - Ronald Reagan.

                                                                   

GOSSIP

During World War II, the US government became concerned that a number of German spies were operating in America, sending information back to Germany regarding Allied war plans & specific troop & ship movements.

To keep them from impacting the war effort, the Office of War Information launched a national campaign around the slogan “Loose Lips Sink Ships.”

 It was a solemn warning to people not to repeat information that might be damaging or even deadly if it fell into the wrong hands.

In the same way, the Word of God warns us of the dangers of gossip. Repeating stories has a way of dividing the body of Christ. Gossip is even able to separate the closest of friends.

One of the seven sins on the list of particular abominations to God is “he that soweth discord among brethren” (Pro 6:19).

- (ministry127.com)

“Whoever gossips to you will gossip about you.” - Author Unknown.

DESTRUCTIVE CRAVING

A man once saw an eagle soaring in circles. The circles began to tighten & the man looked over to see a weasel.

Suddenly the eagle dropped out of the sky like a jet & caught the weasel in its talons. Amazingly, as the eagle began to fly away the weasel began to eat away at the breast of that eagle.

The man watched as the weasel tore away at that eagle, snapping bones & chewing flesh. He watched the eagle fold up & crash & the weasel went on with his day.

Getting what you want does not always work out the way you think it will. Sometimes the things we want will ruin us.

- (ministry127.com)         

Pro 14:12 (NIV): “There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.”

“Safest place in all the world is in the will of God, and the safest protection in all the world is the name of God.” - Warren Wiersbe.

 “In all things seek to know God's will and when known, obey at any cost.” - Jonathan Goforth.

OUR ADEQUACY IS FROM GOD

John Wesley was about 21 years of age when he went to Oxford University. He came from a Christian home & he was gifted with a keen mind & good looks. In those days, he was a bit snobbish & sarcastic.

One night, however, something happened that set in motion a change in Wesley’s heart.

While speaking with a porter, he discovered that the poor fellow had only one coat & lived in such impoverished conditions that he didn’t even have a bed. Yet, he was an unusually happy person, filled with gratitude to God.

Wesley, being immature, thoughtlessly joked about the man’s misfortunes. “And what else do you thank God for?” he said with a touch of sarcasm.

The porter smiled & in the spirit of meekness replied with joy, “I thank Him that He has given me a life & a heart to love Him & above all, a constant desire to serve Him!”

Deeply moved, Wesley recognized that this man knew the meaning of true thankfulness.

- (ministry127.com)

2 Cor 3:5 (NET): “Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as if it were coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God.”

“In faith, there is enough light for those who want to believe and enough shadows to blind those who don't.” - Blaise Pascal.

THE FEAR OF MAN

One of the most gifted speakers in church history was John Chrysostom - the name comes from a Greek word meaning ‘golden tongued.’

John was sent from Antioch to what was then Constantinople where he preached fearlessly in the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire.

His denunciation of the lavish extravagance of the rich & ruling class & his condemnation of excess infuriated many, including Empress Eudoxia who arranged for him to be exiled.

When he was told of his fate, Chrysostom responded: “What can I fear?

Will it be death? But you know that Christ is my life & that I shall gain by death.

Will it be exile? But the earth & all its fullness is the Lord’s.

Will it be the loss of wealth? But we brought nothing into the world & can carry nothing out.

Thus all the terrors of the world are contemptible in my eyes & I smile at all its good things. Poverty, I do not fear. Riches, I do not sigh for. Death, I do not shrink from.”

Far too many today are more worried about what people think than about what God thinks. The desire not to offend others (which is not a bad thing in itself) is often elevated to be the most important thing. As a result, many shrink from speaking the truth.

Pro 29:25 (NLT):  “Fearing people is a dangerous trap, but trusting the LORD means safety.”

-From ‘New Testament Illustrations’ by William Jones. (ministry127.com)

ENTICED BY HIS OWN DESIRE

A co-worker asked a friend why he got donuts if he is trying to diet. He said, “Well, I came around the corner where the donut shop was. I told God, if He wanted me to buy some donuts to have a parking spot in the front of the shop. On the eighth time around, there it was!”

- (ministry127.com)

Js 1:14 (CEB): “Everyone is tempted by their own cravings; they are lured away and enticed by them.”

“The most likely man to go to hell is the man who has nothing to do on earth. Idle people tempt the devil to tempt them.” -  Charles Spurgeon.

“Temptation usually comes in through a door that has deliberately been left open.” -  Assorted Authors.

PROVIDENCE

At 32 years of age William Cowper passed through a great crisis in his life. He tried to end his life by taking laudanum. Then he hired a coach & was driven to the Thames, intending to throw himself into the river; but some power seemed to restrain him.

The next morning he fell upon a knife, but the blade broke & his life was saved. He then tried to hang himself & was cut down unconscious but still alive.

Then one morning, in a moment of strange cheerfulness, he took up his Bible & read a verse in the Letter to the Romans. In a moment he received strength to believe & rejoiced in the forgiving power of God.

Some years later, after he had passed through a rich spiritual experience & had written many beautiful hymns, Cowper sat down one day & summed up his faith in God's dealings with him, & with other men, in the great hymn on divine providence:

God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform;
He plants His footsteps in the sea,
And rides upon the storm.

Deep in unfathomable mines
Of never-failing skill,
He treasures up His bright designs,
And works His sovereign will.

- (moreillustrations.com)

Eph 3:20 (CEB): “Glory to God, who is able to do far beyond all that we could ask or imagine by his power at work within us.”