by Don Ruhl

Read First Thessalonians Chapter 4

Why do we live? Hear Paul in First Thessalonians 4:1,

1 Finally, brothers, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more (1 The. 4:1, NIV).

The point of my life is to please God. Pay attention to yourself carefully today, watching your desires, the words you speak, the criticisms you make, the decisions you render and so on, and discover how much of your life you have built on what pleases you. This is frightening, because I believe that I am living to please God, yet, when I do examine myself in this manner, I realize that I am not so God-oriented as I thought that I was. See what happens with you today.

by Don Ruhl

Read Isaiah 47-49

What God can do is beyond all human comprehension. We cannot create the smallest object out of nothing, but watch what our God does with just one hand and with the simple command of His voice.

13 Indeed My hand has laid the foundation of the earth, And My right hand has stretched out the heavens; When I call to them, They stand up together. (Isa. 48:13, NKJV).

All I can say is Wow! Awesome! Yet, those words are not strong enough because sometimes I use them to describe something that man has done.

If we could bring together all the wisdom and knowledge of all humanity, from the beginning of time to the end of time, we still could not create one atom or one cell out of nothing. Our awesome God, with one hand tied behind His back, can lay the foundation of the earth. See Him wave His right hand and suddenly we have the infinite heavens before us. Then all He has to do is call to them and they stand up together.

Meditate on this day what your God can do so easily. Watch what happens to your spirit.

by Don Ruhl

Read Isaiah 43 and 44

Isaiah announces that the Lord has something to say. Before Isaiah reveals it, he identifies God, saying that He is the One who made a way through the sea, a path through the mighty waters, referring to Israel's deliverance through the Red Sea (Isa. 43:16, 17). Then the prophet announces the Lord's declaration,

18 Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. 19 See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland. (Isa. 43:18, 19, NIV).

Just because God delivered Israel by parting the waters of the Red Sea, does not mean that now He is restricted to saving them in that way alone. No, He prophesies here of doing the opposite. In the first instance, He parted water making it dry, but now He promises to make a dry place with water!

It is dangerous to think that God can only work in the ways that He worked in the past. This was the mistake of Moses. He hit the rock to bring water for the Israelites, so, when they needed water again, God said speak to the rock, but Moses hit it. That cost him entrance into the Promised Land.

How has God helped you in the past? He may decide to do it differently next time. He is the Helper and we are the recipients. Remember the saying, Beggars cannot be choosers.

by Don Ruhl

Read First Thessalonians Chapter 2

I have heard and read many things on Church Growth. However, there is an item that I do not recall the experts giving as an ingredient. If it has been, it is so rare that it does not ring a bell. When you read the passage below, think of what you know of the entire New Testament, of how the church operated in the Book of Acts, and of how all the writers of the New Testament books express themselves to their readers.

8 We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us (1 The. 2:8, NIV).

Church Growth material usually speaks of various programs that the church can do, and many of those things are very good, but I never see or hear the truth above stated, that is, that we give our lives for the people we are seeking to convert. Yes, give them the gospel, and give them other things they may need, but sometimes we may give those things in exchange for giving ourselves, and people can detect that. Find someone, other than a family member or good friend, to whom you can give your life, and see what happens.

by Don Ruhl

Read Isaiah 41 and 42

Does the world beat you up, so that you are a bruised reed? Has your fire for life gone out, so that you are nothing more than smoking flax? Have you been living in truth, but someone has slandered you, so that you wonder if you will see justice? How will Jesus treat you in such conditions? Isaiah 42:3 prophesies of His treatment of people like you and me,

3 A bruised reed He will not break, And smoking flax He will not quench; He will bring forth justice for truth. (Isa. 42:3, NKJV).

He will not break you, but He will rebuild you. He will not quench you, but He will fire you up again. He will not let justice fail you, but He will render judgment on your behalf. Remember that, regardless of what happens to you, the Father and the Son love you.