Firefighting Gear

ALL – Psalm 127:1-5
ALL – Proverbs 29:15-17
OT – Hosea 10:1-14:9
NT – Jude 1:1-25

Interesting passage for the day: Save some by snatching them as from the very flames of hell itself. And as for others, help them to find the Lord by being kind to them, but be careful that you yourselves aren’t pulled along into their sins. Hate every trace of their sin while being merciful to them as sinners. – Jude 1:23, The Living Bible

Thought: Just as I was drifting off to sleep two nights ago, I had a horrible dream/imagination: flames had broken out in Emma’s and Michael’s room and they were trapped. They needed help. Fast.

I imagined myself diving, unprotected, through the flames in the doorway to snatch my screaming children out of their room. None of us made it out unhurt. All of us were scorched by the flames.

When we Christians go on our search and rescue missions to turn parents, neighbors, co-workers and children from the flames fueled by their sins to the life given us by Jesus, we can and should be more prepared than I was. We should be more like firefighters and less like desperate parents working to save children from flames. Both parents and firefighters are vulnerable to the very flames they’re fighting. The difference between them isn’t an inherent flame resistance. The difference is their readiness and protection.

As Christians battling to save other people from their sins, we too are vulnerable. It’s important that we protect ourselves from falling into other people’s sins. None of us is strong enough to walk through the flames of sin on our own without being burnt. We need Jesus for every step of the mission. We need to be depending on His salvation ourselves. We need to commit our minds and hearts into His hands to keep us holy, staying within the limits of His protection by obeying what He tells us to do. We need to belong fully to Jesus, who protects His children.

Question: Have you found that sometimes when you’re trying to pull people out of their sins, you end up falling into some kind of sin yourself? What kinds of sin do you usually fall into? When we fall into sins, we’ve reached beyond the limits of Jesus’ protective commands. Where do you find yourself stepping outside of Jesus’ commands in your efforts to save others?

To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.

Vulnerable Indestructibility

ALL – Psalm 113:1-114:8
ALL – Proverbs 27:18-20
OT – Ezekiel 31:1-32:32
NT – Hebrews 12:14-29

Interesting passage for the day: Since we have a Kingdom nothing can destroy, let us please God by serving him with thankful hearts, and with holy fear and awe. For our God is a consuming fire. – Hebrews 12:28-29, The Living Bible

Thought: If you made yourself indestructible, you’d probably be proud. But if someone gave you a way to be indestructible, wouldn’t you be thankful?

God’s done that for us. He’s the only truly indestructible one ever—and forever. But He’s created an indestructible kingdom, and He’s made those who believe in Him into a new, indestructible creation. So as far as earth’s challenges are concerned, we’re indestructible. Oh, it might look like we’ve been destroyed, but we’ll be back.

On the other hand, our God is a consuming fire. He is still quite capable of destroying us. He fully intends for us to live our indestructible lives for Him.

Between gratitude for His gift of an indestructible life and fear of His consuming wrath, don’t we have some good reasons for service and obedience?

Question: What motivates you to serve God more? Looking forward to the fulfillment of His promises when you become indestructible? Or looking back at the fire of His wrath and trying to move as far from His fury as possible?

To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.

Weekly Sermons in Swanton: Don’t Think You’re Invincible

The message, preached on September 26th, 2010, covered 1 Corinthians 10:1-13, and it can be heard via streaming audio at http://www.swantonalliance.org. Sometimes we need a little warning, and even strong Christians can fool themselves into thinking they’re stronger than they are. Paul urges believers not to fool themselves, but to look to the history of God’s people, to guard their hearts, and to look to the Lord Jesus for help each day. Note: Past sermons can be accessed through the resources page.