When personalized license plates were introduced in Illinois, the Department of Motor Vehicles received over 1,000 requests for the number “1”. The state official whose job it was to approve requests said, “I am not about to assign it to someone and disappoint a thousand people.” What was his solution? He assigned the number to himself.

A little boy and a little girl were riding a mechanical horse in a shopping mall. The little boy, who was riding in front, turned to the little girl and said, “If one of us would get off, there would be more room for me.”

Nowhere is man’s creativity more apparent than in his ability to discover new and original ways to commit the original sin. It all began in the Garden of Eden when the devil convinced Adam and Eve that he had found a way for them to move God over and become “Number 1.” And the beat goes on-and we keep looking for ways to succeed where Adam and Eve failed. We look for ways to be first on everyone else’s priority list. We look for ways to be first in line. We look for ways to be first at the checkout counter. We look for ways to be the first ones getting out of the parking lot. We look for ways to win in the game of “first come, first served.” But these are mere symptoms of the real transgression. In the case of Christians, our creativity as original sinners is revealed most clearly when we look for ways to be known as disciples of Christ without following His example.

“We are Number 1! We are Number 1!” All well and good, perhaps, to hear the chant ringing out from football fans, but when we hear it ringing out from our hearts, it is all pride and imagination. Remember, therefore, “He hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts” (Luke 1:51).

————–From A Treasury of Bible Illustrations

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

Philippians 4:8

So live that you wouldn’t be ashamed to sell the family parrot to the town gossip. -Will Rogers.

Yiddish folklore offers a telling tale about gossip-makers. One such man had told so many malicious untruths about the local rabbi that, overcome by remorse, he begged the rabbi to forgive him. “And, Rabbi, tell me how I can make amends.” The rabbi sighed, “Take two pillows, go to the public square and there cut the pillows open. Wave them in the air. Then come back.” The rumormonger quickly went home, got two pillows and a knife, hastened to the square, cut the pillows open, waved them in the air and hastened back to the rabbi’s chambers. “I did just what you said, Rabbi!” “Good.” The rabbi smiled. “Now, to realize how much harm is done by gossip, go back to the square…” “And?” “And collect all your feathers.”

Hurtful speech of any kind cannot be undone once it is spoken. As Christians, we should never be known as someone who uses our tongue to hurt others. Our reputation shouldn’t be one that tells of gossip, malicious speech, or idle stories. God desires our speech to be pure, holy, and uplifting.

Our verse today gives us the pattern for the things we should talk about. We are to honor the Lord in everything we do or say! Many times we speak before we think about what we are going to say. It is at those times that we regret what we have said. Before we speak, we must think about what we are going to say and consider if it will honor the Lord.

I once saw this acrostic for how we can think on our speech before we say it:

T-Is it true?
H-Is it helpful?
I-Is it inspiring?
N-Is it necessary?
K-Is it kind?

I wonder what would happen if we all ran our speech through the filter of THINK. We would be less condescending, hurtful, and careless with our words, and more uplifting and encouraging in our speech.

Time and again in His Word, God warns against the power of the tongue. The tongue is a mighty tool in our body that can be used for good or bad. Why not take advantage of God’s gift of speech and honor Him with it?

How are you using your speech? Do you think before you speak? Ask God to help your words honor Him. Determine to be a person that encourages those around you with your speech. Remember to THINK before you say anything that could be harmful or unkind today.(By Paul Chappell)

“Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.”

1 Peter 4:16

Oswald Chambers once wrote, “Suffering is the heritage of the bad, of the penitent, and of the Son of God. Each one ends at the Cross. The bad thief is crucified, the penitent thief is crucified, and the Son of God is crucified. By these signs we know the widespread heritage of suffering.”

If there is a common thread running through the human race it is the thread of suffering. Every person has trials and challenges that are unexpected. This was especially true for the Christians in the first century.

These Christians put their faith in the resurrected Christ in the midst of a Roman culture that didn’t allow anyone to give obeisance to a god other than Caesar. The Roman government ruled with an iron fist, and the emperor Nero persecuted anyone who gave allegiance to Jesus Christ.

History records that during this time the games of the Coliseum were popular. Many times, Christians were imprisoned and sent to battle lions or gladiators in the Coliseum as sport for the Roman citizens to watch. Truly, if any Christians have known suffering, the first century Christians went through incredible persecution and suffering for the faith.

Adversity comes and goes in all our lives. It’s like taking a rock in your hand, walking to a perfectly still pond, throwing the rock into the middle of the pond and seeing the sudden disturbance of the water. The ripples made by that rock in the water stretch out and affect the entire pond. When adversity comes into our lives, the ripple effect of that trial may last a week, a month, or an entire lifetime. No matter the amount of time, adversity does affect our lives.

In our verses today, Peter was writing to the Christians who were scattered throughout what is modern-day Turkey. He was assuring them that God had a reason and a purpose for the trials that had entered their lives.

While it may not be physical persecution or the possibility of death, suffering for the cause of Christ still happens to many Christians. Whether it’s ridicule at work or rejection by others, many Christians still face adversity today.

So how can we experience victory during times of adversity? What caused the first century Christians who were persecuted for their faith to have joy and peace during times of suffering? When adversity or suffering enters your life, seek refuge in the promises of God’s Word. The peace that many early Christians felt came from quoting Scripture, singing spiritual songs, and meditating on God’s promises.

Are you facing adversity? Spend time with God now. Meditate on His Word and let Him fill you with His peace. Claim Philippians 4:7 as you go about your day today, “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (By Paul Chappell)

“And I will establish my covenant with you,——Read Genesis 9:11-14

You can’t break God’s promises by leaning on them.

Have you ever had someone break a promise to you? The phrase “I promise” has sadly become little more than a catchphrase or a phrase meant to prove someone’s sincerity. Breaking a promise is taken lightly in our society. Yet in the early years of our country, people highly valued a promise. Business was done, goods were sold, and transactions were made, many times, on nothing more than a promise and a handshake. People’s word meant something. Yet today promises seem to be made to be broken.

But let’s notice someone who never has and never will break a promise-God. When God promises something, you can be sure He will follow through on it. Notice the promise He gives Noah in our verses today, “And I will establish my covenant with you, neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by the waters of a flood; neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth” (vs 9). God had just destroyed the earth by flood, then promised Noah that He would never again use a flood to destroy the earth. Has God kept that promise? Yes!

Look at some other promises God has made throughout Scriptures:

“I will never leave thee.” (Hebrews 13:5)
“I am thy shield.” (Genesis 15:1)
“I will strengthen thee.” (Isaiah 41:10)
“I will help thee.” (Isaiah 41:10)
“I will go before thee.” (John 10:4)
“I think of you.” (Jeremiah 20:11)
“I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)
“I will forgive you.” (1 John 1:9)
“I will bless you.” (Psalm 84:11)
“I will not forsake you.” (1 Samuel 12:22)
“I will guide you.” (Psalm 25:9)
“I will work everything out.” (Romans 8:28)

God’s promises are found in every book and chapter of His Word. As a Christian, God has promised to provide for you, protect you, be near you, forgive you, etc. He loves you so much that He promises to work everything out for good through His infinite plan.

Yet in the heat of a situation, many Christians forget God’s promises. They worry, fear, wander, and sometimes turn from God. Never forget that God has everything under control, no matter what is happening in your life. He loves you and has promised to be with you.

Have you forgotten God’s promises? Are His words a distant memory to you? Take time today or over the next few days to read the references listed above. Reflect on God’s promises and apply them personally to your life. Never forget that God’s promises are meant for you to claim; apply them to your life and live with the knowledge that your Heavenly Father is watching out for you.—-    By Paul Chappell

Deuteronomy 15:6, Read Romans 4:19-22

 

Some days are harder than others, and perhaps this is one of them for you. Life is full of frustrations, and we can grow mighty weary with financial pressures, family problems, church misunderstandings, and workplace conflicts. It sometimes seems like we’re losing our minds.

 

But God is not losing His! Remember that nothing revokes His faithfulness. His promises to us are irreversible, unalterable, firm, and fixed. There are conditions to be met, of course; but outer circumstances must bend, in His time, to the purposes and promises of God for our lives.

 

Dietrich Bonhoeffer once said, “God does not give us everything we want, but He does fulfill His promises… leading us along the best and straightest paths to Himself.” The Lord your God will bless you just as He has promised in His Word.

 

His promises are sure, His blessings are great, His grace is sufficient, His presence is near, His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations. Cheer up! It’s not as bad as it seems.(Turning Point)

 

Let God’s promises shine on your problems.

Corrie ten Boom