A FEW THOUGHTS ON TODAYS READING...
Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 9:16, "For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel!" When God opens an opportunity we can either choose to be disobedient and plod along our own path which offers no peace, or respond to His prompting and do what we are to do, and do so with enthusiasm. Reaching someone for Christ is so much more important than most anything else we could be doing. When Jeremiah, the prophet, was continually rejected and often persecuted, he became quiet, to which we read what happened next in Jeremiah 20:9, "Then I said, "I will not make mention of Him, Nor speak anymore in His name." But His word was in my heart like a burning fire Shut up in my bones; I was weary of holding it back, And I could not." Paul goes on in 1 Corinthians 10:23-24, to say, "All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify. Let no one seek his own, but each other's well-being." He went on in 10:33, "just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved."
We are all presented with these God given opportunities on a daily basis. Truth be told, we miss many of them as we continue along our distracted and preordained courses that we have set for ourselves. But when God call us to reach out to someone with the gospel message, there really should be no choice in us but to move forward and preach this message. It is so easy to forget this in our busy lives, but we were created for Him, not ourselves. The purpose of our existence is to live for His glory. It is so easy to lose our way daily. We read in 2 Timothy 2:15, "Be diligent to present yourself approved of God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." These opportunities will be missed unless we are abiding in Him throughout the day: in His word, in prayer, in worship. May we cast off all those things which hinder us from that which is greater, reaching those who don't know of Him with the gospel truth.
THIS WEEKS MEMORY VERSE
Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. ~1 Corinthians 13:4-7

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK
"Let God’s promises shine on your problems.” - Corrie Ten Boom








"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths." Proverbs 3:5-6
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