THE MOTHER OF INVENTION!

Tuesday, March 31, 2020

THE MOTHER OF INVENTION!

Jer 18:4-6

4 And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.

5 Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying,

6 O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the Lord.

           Surely you’ve noticed that things are not normal around here – or anywhere, for that matter. So many things we had taken for granted are either gone or in short supply. Many of the “tools” of life have gone away and we have had to “invent” other tools and procedures. We adjust! We improvise!

           God made us flawless, but sin marred us in His mighty hands. The vessel he imagined for us was ruined and worthless but the clay with which He began was still usable, so He began to make us again. The first thing He had to do was to deal with sin. He did that by sacrificing His own Son.

           The clay was now resistant to the potter’s hands, but He is a master at His art, and worked with the yielded parts. Necessity had become the mother of invention!

           Has sin marred your life and ruined God’s original plans for you? Do you feel you will never measure up to God’s design? Well, yield all that you can to God. Let Him have as much of you as you are able to give. He is a master of His craft and will take your ruined life and make something beautiful of it.

Dear Lord, we are just clay but you are the potter. Take our ruined and shapeless mass and make it into something useful and beautiful. AMEN

CAREFREE?

Monday, March 30, 2020

CAREFREE?

1 Cor 12:25-26

25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.

26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.

Luke 10:33-35

33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,

34 And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.

35 And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.

           What would it be like to be truly care free? What would it be like to have no anxiety about anything or anyone? Our first response, I think, is always wrong for we think it would be heavenly. Upon further contemplation, however, we would discover that we love no one but ourselves and that all our pleasant things no longer satisfy us. God built into each one of us the capacity to care. The first man – even before Eve – was given the task of naming all the animals and “taking care” of the perfectly formed garden. Man without a care is not so care free after all.

           The word and concept of “care” is different in our two portions this morning. The word used in Corinthians which talks about mutual care of each other is the Greek word merimnao and means “to be anxious about or to take thought.” The idea is that someone is on my mind and that I desire them to be happy, healthy and well looked after. Now, imagine that there is nothing or nobody in your heart that causes you to care! It is hard to wrap your mind around the concept, isn’t it? We care for our spouses, our children, our friends and a host of others. It means that we have the capacity to love someone other than ourselves. Thank God for that!

           In the story of the Good Samaritan the word care is the Greek word epimeleomai and means “to minister to someone physically or practically.” This is when concern springs into action. It is always costly! The Samaritan cared because he had compassion. He felt the pain of another. He allowed himself to be inconvenienced and to suffer a financial loss. It was not an investment – it was a gift!

           God gave us the capacity to care and the energy to do something about that concern. He knows that when we minister to others it costs us something physically, psychologically and often financially. However he does not want us to be burdened down with care. 1 Peter 5:7 invites us to “Cast all our care upon him; for he cares for us.” In this verse the idea of care is that we are distracted. When it gets too heavy give it to Him.

           Is someone heavily on your mind? Pray for them! Do they have a need? Minister to them in a practical way! Is it so heavy it is driving you to distraction? Give it to Jesus!

Dear Lord, I care for many of my friends and loved ones this morning. When possible, let me minister to them in a practical way. When the burden gets too heavy please lift my load. Thank you. AMEN

THE DOOR NO MAN CAN SHUT!

Sunday, March 29, 2020

THE DOOR NO MAN CAN SHUT!

1 Cor 16:5-9

5 Now I will come unto you, when I shall pass through Macedonia: for I do pass through Macedonia.

6 And it may be that I will abide, yea, and winter with you, that ye may bring me on my journey whithersoever I go.

7 For I will not see you now by the way; but I trust to tarry a while with you, if the Lord permit.

8 But I will tarry at Ephesus until Pentecost.

9 For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries.

Rev 3:7

7 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;

           At the end of what seemed to be Paul’s travel plan, he mentions that a great (megas) door (thura or portal) and effectual (energized) was now open before him. Clearly, he is seeing opportunities presented by the hand of God.

           Today is Sunday but church doors are closed. That which we have taken so long for granted has been denied us. But the door of opportunity has been opened wide once again. People who have stared blankly at the needs of others now see their responsibility to be personal and not corporal. Before we expected “the church” to respond. Now we know that we are the church.

           Jesus reminded the church at Philadelphia that the keeper of the door is Jesus. When He opens, nobody can shut the door. When he closes, no man can open. Let us look carefully and see the many opportunities before us. Let us walk through those doors before they close.

Dear Lord, today, those who have had a casual approach to church, now have been given a hunger and a thirst for corporate worship. Satisfy those hungry hearts. Let us enter your gates, whatever those gates may be, with thanksgiving. AMEN