daily prayer

Good morning! End of this week, how are you faithing? Serving two masters. Jesus spoke of this and it has confused some folks I've met. An example is the business man who is ruthless and does whatever it takes, honest or dishonest, to succeed and then goes home as if none of the things done really effect his faith, "it's just business". What a trap that is. Everything we do is a witness of our faith, whether it is giving to the needy or stepping on someone to get ahead, it all shows where our faith lies. One is after God's heart and the other is after man's approval. When it was asked of Jesus what the greatest command was he said,"Love the Lord God with everything you are and have" and secondly, "do unto others like you want others to do to you", that being the golden rule. We should be applying these two principles to absolutely everything we do and if we are not, work needs to be done on our part. Boy, sometimes it is so hard. We are involved in conversations at work that we know is wrong but to keep from looking "pious" we say nothing and even join in. This is so hard to overcome out of fear and our naturalness. Our own basic nature is corrupt. Boy that statement may elicit some responses! By no means is that a judgemental statement, it is just fact. If it were not so, a savior would have never been needed because we could be sinless on our own. So what is your choice? Do you want to serve the world or the Lord? Look at the world. I saw a program yesterday on animal planet that made me so mad and frustrated and also left me in disbelief at how someone could treat a dog the way they did. That is an animal, look at what has been done to people. History is full of it. Point is that those 2 rules mentioned are our guide and without Jesus we have no hope of ever coming close to applying them consistently. So you say what? Think about this.

Luke 16:13
"No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money."
NIV

Gal 5:19-26
The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
NIV

1 John 2:15-17
Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world-the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does-comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.
NIV

remember Thomas Allan...remember Diane...

Heavenly Father,
Thank you for your Word that speaks truth. Help us accept and believe. Lord, we want to act right but we have a tough time with this life. Reveal to us when we need to stand foe righteousness and turn from evil. Lord, help us be wise to the snares of the world. Help us be steadfast in our beliefs and the confidence without fear to do what you teach. We ask for wisdom and a spirit of holiness so we can minister when we are needed. We ask for a clear mind and the energy needed to serve. in Jesus name amen