GospeLines Devotionals: 6/27/05 - 7/1/05
June 27, 2005
"Turnaround Strategy"
Dr. Dieter Zetsche, CEO of Auburn Hills, Michigan based Chrysler Group, a division of DaimlerChrysler AG, recently said that his company used a three-part strategy to get out of financial trouble (Chrysler's strategy gets strong results; Detroit Free Press; June 10, 2005). Dr. Zetsche described his "three-get" strategy as: Get over it; Get a plan; and, Get it on.
He further described the strategies as: getting over a defeatist attitude stuck in the past and changing your focus to the future; getting a sound strategy for the future; and, executing the plan - getting it on.
The church today is in somewhat of the same condition as the auto industry. We're under relentless attach from forces bent on taking away our "market share." Many people don't believe we have the right product (They don't think the Bible's answers are for today or that the message is relevant (poor quality). They also think the price of Christianity is too high. Christianity demands submission to Christ and obedience to His Word.
How would Dr. Zetsche's strategy apply?
Step 1: Get over it. The Bible says, "Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge." (1st Timothy 6:20) "Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness." (2nd Timothy 2:19) "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God." (Luke 9:62) "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come." (2nd Corinthians 5:17)
Step 2: Get a plan. Jesus said, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." (Matthew 22:37-40) "If you love me, you will obey what I command." (John 14:15)
Step 3: Get it on. "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize." (1st Corinthians 9:24) "For me to live is Christ [His life in me], and to die is gain [the gain of the glory of eternity]." (Philippians 1:21 - Amplified Bible)
Dr. Zetsche's plan bears striking resemblance to these words from the Holy Scriptures; and, if applied today, like the Chrysler Group, the church will see a tremendous turnaround.
Ron KillenU
"Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus."
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ron@gospelines.com
June 28, 2005
"Daddy's Love"
When I was eight years old, my Mother and Grandmother took me to see my first movie. I was already a Science Fiction fan, so they took me to see "The Thing from Another World" staring James Arness (of Gunsmoke fame) as "The Thing." Mom didn't go to many movies and she had no idea what this one was about except that it was "Sci Fi" and I wanted to see it. Needless to say, it scared me half to death and I wanted her to sleep in my room for the next few days. I suppose it's natural that little boys seek the comfort of their Mothers when they're scared. I know I turned to her on many other occasions as well.
However, there were a few times when the fear reached new heights - that sinister, ominous fear that takes away your voice so that you can't ever scream. In those times, I didn't call for my Mom... I called for Daddy.
Maybe it's because I knew that Dad was stronger and more fearless; or, maybe I knew that Dad would stop at nothing to rescue me - even at the risk of his own life.
Compare the faith of a young boy in his Dad to the faith we have in Christ Jesus.
"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? ...For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:35, 37-39)
Jesus said He would be with us always, even unto the end of the world (Matthew 28:20) so why should we fear? "If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31)
Ron KillenU
"Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus."
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ron@gospelines.com
June 29, 2005
"DETAILS FOR CAMP"
"The steps of the godly are directed by the Lord. He delights in every detail of our lives."
Psalm 37:23 (NLT)
Our eleven year-old granddaughter, Mary Kathryn, leaves in the morning for a church sponsored Christian Athletic Camp. The whole family is excited for her to have the opportunity to work and play and worship with other athletes this week. She has had her schedule and been in the process of getting ready for weeks.
Basketball, tennis, and soccer are the three sports Mary Kathryn has chosen to participate in. Some new clothes and new cleats were setting on the floor ready to be packed.
Mary Kathryn has about the gentlest, sweetest and kindest spirit you will ever know. But organization is another story. So, this afternoon her older sister, Faith, decided she would make a list of everything needed and they would check it off as it was placed in the suitcase. This would never have been Mary Kathryn's way of doing things, but she was happy when they were finished that everything was neat and in order for each day of the week.
Faith, in her meticulous way, loved helping her younger sister prepare for her first week-long journey away from home. It was important that every detail be accounted for and checked off the list. And it will make for a much more pleasant week at camp for Mary Kathryn.
God, too, delights in watching over the details of our lives. He loves it when we trust Him and seek to do His will. Search the Bible and spend time in prayer pursuing His advice. Then step out in obedience and God will direct your way.
Melva Cooper
www.melvacooper.com
June 30, 2005
"PURE WATER"
"Who can say, "I have cleansed my heart, I am pure and free from sin?"
Proverbs 20:9 (NLT)
Seven year-old Brooke spent the night at Grandma and Granddaddy's during the summer break from school. Since she only has an older brother, Brooke enjoys coming here where our other granddaughters have their Barbies and CD players.
We had all stayed up late the night before but Brooke was up early the next morning. As I walked down the hall I heard sweet sounds coming from her closed bedroom door. Gently I knocked on the door and peeped in to see what Brooke was singing.
There she sat in the middle of the bed with the earphones on. Her face was alive with the music and I could hear her singing about pure water flowing around. About pure water so deep that it made her soul at ease. I knew these were some of the words from a Christian CD. Brooke smiled at me and didn't miss a beat as she sang about the storms of life that wouldn’t pull her down. It pleased this grandmother that my seven year-old granddaughter was singing about being made free by the pure water of life in Jesus Christ.
Her young mind did not understand the troubles that rise upon the left and right she was singing about. I knew though that those words would have to be reinforced many times as she grew into adulthood.
No one is without sin. And often as we confess our sins and repent, those thoughts and actions want to creep back in again. But, because of the pure flowing river of life, Jesus Christ, that young Brooke was singing about, there can be an ongoing cleansing in our lives.
Thank you, Lord, for providing forgiveness by your mercy when we ask for it. It is my prayer that Brooke will always, moment by moment, all of her life, make confession and repentance a regular part of her life with God.
Melva Cooper
www.melvacooper.com
July 1, 2005
"Make some noise!"
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind..." (Luke 10:27)
Have you ever thought about what Jesus was saying with these words? He didn't just say, "Love the Lord your God." He told us to love Him in four different ways.
If you insert the complete definitions of the Greek words from which we translate heart, soul, strength and mind, you'll get something like this:
"Love the Lord your God with all your vigor and sense of physical life; with all your thoughts, passions, desires, appetites, affections, purposes and endeavors. Love Him with the vital force which animates the body and shows itself in breathing; the seat of the feelings, desires, affections and aversions. Love Him with all your ability, force, strength and might. And, love Him with all your understanding, imagination, feeling, desiring, your way of thinking and feeling and with your thoughts..." Jesus was telling us to let our love show; to show some emotion and be passionate. Searching the scriptures, we also find these verses.
"David, wearing a linen ephod, danced before the Lord with all his might, while he and the entire house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouts and the sound of trumpets." (2nd Samuel 6:14-15)
When David's wife Michal rebuked him for dancing in public, David said, "It was before the Lord, who chose me rather than your father or anyone from his house when He appointed me ruler over the Lord's people Israel - I will celebrate before the Lord. I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes..." (2nd Samuel 6:21-23) God didn't seem to be too happy with Michal's rebuke of David. The next verse states that Michal had no children to the day of her death.
We also read, "They shouted for joy and fell facedown." (Leviticus 9:24) "And all the people gave a great shout of praise to the Lord." (Ezra 3:11) "At his tabernacle will I sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the Lord." (Psalm 27:6)
"For hands were lifted up to the throne of the Lord." (Exodus 17:16) "I will praise You as long as I live, and in Your name I will lift up my hands." (Psalm 63:4) "Again you will take up your tambourines and go out to dance with the joyful." (Jeremiah 31:3-5) "O come, let us sing unto the Lord: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation." (Psalm 95:1)
Are you getting the idea? Jesus didn't just command us to love the Lord, but to love Him publicly and with emotion. So, come on people, let's make some noise!
Ron KillenU
"Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus."
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ron@gospelines.com
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