Day #38

Good Morning!  Want to share some things with you today.

I have had some “not so shining moments” so far this week.  All of my moments dealt with me not controlling my mouth. It is important that you know my short comings.  Satan wants you to think that there is some level of Christianity that you meet where you don’t struggle anymore and you can coast along unaffected by life.  But that is a lie.  EVERY Christian must hide themselves in Christ EACH day, or they will surely fall.

There are times in every Christian’s life where they fail.  There are also times when our selfishness takes over and we behave pretty stupidly. 

For several weeks we will be discussing our mouth.  I think we can all learn.

Prayer:  Start off this morning talking with God and listening.  Ask forgiveness for those times this week that you have behaved poorly and selfishly.  Turn away from your sin and ask for God’s help.  The object here is not to just feel GOOD about yourself, but to be right before Holy God.  Are you not feeling the same joy inside you may have had on Day #1?  Ask Him to help you there, but to also endure in your walk with Him.  Smile, God’s forgiveness is real!

Read James 3:1

Teachers were important in the early church.  Here are some background verses to help you understand better.

Please CLICK on the following verses.

Acts 2:42

The early church was VERY devoted to the teachers of Jesus Christ.  Not only did the people of God get together to listen to these teachers, they also got together to share material things to meet each other’s needs, to share in the Lord’s Supper so they could remember Christ and what they were all called to do, to have large meals together, and to pray together.

Romans 12:7-8

Paul is telling us here that Christians should be focusing and giving their energies to the gifts that God has given them.

He focuses on 3 gifts- serving, teaching, and exhortation.

Serving- helping those in need.  This most likely is a material need.  Teaching- teaching God’s Word should always be done patiently. 

Exhortation- lifting people up and encouraging them in the things of God.

           
Paul tells us that in each of the three gifts above, that three attitudes are absolutely necessary…

1.    In whatever you do, do it without getting annoyed.  Never question the need, just give generously to meet the need.  In other words, give more than is necessary.

2.    Those who serve, teach, and exhort A LOT, usually have no one to keep them in check (accountable), so they must always watch out for LAZINESS.

3.    Those who serve, teach, and exhort, must not grow weary (tired), but continue to minister to others with gladness.

1 Corinthians 12:28

This verse seems to be ranking roles in their importance to the church.  Teachers are third on the list. 

I shared all of the above background verses to let you know something important.  Even back in Bible times, people worked hard to achieve teacher status for the wrong reasons.  They wanted to be seen and known for something THEY did. 

However, what they did not realize was that with “teacher” status came greater responsibility and greater expectations by GOD.  With this “greater” stuff, also came greater judgment (strictness) since they were accountable (responsible) for more.

TARGET of the DAY

What about you?  Do you realize that as you are learning each day, that you have responsibility to hide it in your heart and become a doer and sharer of the Word?  You will eventually be given opportunity in your life to share God’s Word.  In this role of encouragement, you will be responsible for what you share.  Hiding yourself in Christ each day is the key.  Never forget this!