Pocket Thoughts - 10/11/24
God * opens the eyes of the blind and unstops the ears of the deaf * places everlasting crowns of joy on the heads of His children * will bring justice to the nations.
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What did the mission of Jesus look like? It looked like attending a wedding celebration and sharing in a beautiful life event with family and friends. Jesus saved the world by being a part of it! Ministry happens in every moment – from the ordinary to the amazing. Like Jesus, keep your mind and heart open to opportunities God gives you to love, serve, and enjoy others as you go about your day. And keep your mind and heart open to opportunities to share God Himself with those He brings across your path. - TV
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Nicodemus was intellectually gifted, but his intelligence initially stood in the way of being able to trust Jesus. While he knew the Scriptures, he didn’t have a relationship with the God of the Scriptures. Come to God with humility and an open mind. If you’re willing to learn of Him, know Him, and allow Him to change you, He’ll gladly reveal Himself to you! - TV
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The consistency of your speech should reflect the change God has made in your heart. You are made in God’s image. Your speech should reflect His character. A watching world is rightly confused when words of both cursing and blessing come from the same mouth. Ask God to help your words to be consistent with the new nature you have in Christ. Speak life, truth, and grace found in Him – always. After all, those were the things that saved you. - TV
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Pharaoh’s pride caused the people of his nation to suffer greatly. They saw the powerlessness of their “gods” to save them from the plagues God had sent, and they pleaded with Pharaoh to give the Hebrews their freedom. Pharaoh refused to humble himself, doing all that he knew to do to maintain the illusion that he was in control. Clearly, he was not. Everyone but Pharaoh saw and accepted that the God of the Hebrews was the living, true, all-powerful God. Pharaoh alone stood against the Lord, and the cost to his nation was horrendous. Leadership matters. - TV
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“The way Jesus explains the kingdom of God (and He talks about it more than anything else in the gospels), it works very differently from the rest of the world. The weak are made strong. The last are first. The humble are exalted. The proud are brought low. The widow, the alien, and the orphan are valued highly. The unfairly treated are defended. The seemingly insignificant go to the head of the class. The lost are found. And the broken are healed. Imagine men like you and me taking whatever strength we are given to defend and expand that kingdom rather than our own temporary, throwaway, little ones that will never last.” – Brant Hansen
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“…My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for He has been mindful of the humble estate of His servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me – holy is His name. His mercy extends to those who fear Him, from generation to generation. He has performed mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. He has helped His servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, even as He said to our fathers.” – Luke 1:46b-55
