2 Corinthians 3:4-5 "We are confident of all this because of our great trust in God through Christ. It is not that we think we are qualified to do anything on our own. Our qualification comes from God."

Our world is full of profiles, positions, and recognitions. We have a tendency to look at someone with a degree by their name or title as someone who should be listened to and respected. While those titles are mostly earned, they don't always carry with them something critical...wisdom.

God is the one who brings the ultimate in qualification and wisdom comes with it. You can't buy wisdom, study it, or get a degree in it, but we seem to know it when we see it in others. Let's continue to grow and trust in Christ so that others will look to us as someone with wisdom so that others will recognize our qualification in God.

Prayer: Lord, even though we may attain degrees, titles, and recognitions, may our qualification be found in you. Help us to be wise so that others will want to listen.

Psalm 66:10 "You have tested us, O God; you have purified us like silver."

If you are not familiar with the process of purifying gold or silver, let me give you a few things that the refiner does in the process. First, they heat up the gold or silver from its solid form. Once it is melted, a thin coating comes to the they continue to skim it. The stuff that comes to the top is called dross.  It contains the impurities within the silver. The more this is skimmed and removed, the more pure the gold or silver becomes.

God puts us through the fire and testing to make us more pure. Scripture is clear that a life that follows after God has times of testing and trial. We cannot escape that. But, the end result is a life that is more beautiful and filled with goodness.

Prayer: Lord, while we may not appreciate going through the trial, may we become more useful to you and appreciate the end result.

This is straight and to the point. Go vote!

We all have a responsibility as a follower of Christ to honor the system he has given us and the opportunity to voice our opinion. Go vote!

Psalm 84:10 "A single day in your courts is better than a thousand anywhere else! I would rather be a gatekeeper in the house of my God than live the good life in the homes of the wicked."

Envy. Jealousy. Sometimes they are easy to see and sometimes they are not. As we get older, we can get better at disguising our envy or jealousy of someone or of what they have. It just sinks deep into our hearts, but our faces can make it appear like all is good.

God's offer is to deny self so that we can find life. The world's offer is to take all we can get and keep it to ourselves. To live where God lives is to be servant of all. To live where the wicked live is to be selfish. There's a distinct difference and a distinct outcome.

To live in God's courts brings fulfillment. The writer knew that to live where God lives is more important that stuff, prestige, or living the good life. The good life, as the writer knew, just doesn't bring...life!

Prayer: Remind me that fulfillment is found only in you. Help me not to envy others that seem to have the good life.

2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 "So we keep on praying for you, asking our God to enable you to live a life worthy of his call. May he give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do. Then the name of our Lord Jesus will be honored because of the way you live, and you will be honored along with him. This is all made possible because of the grace of our God and our Lord Jesus Christ."

I'm not sure if any of you got the same speech I occasionally got, but sometimes my dad would say "Remember who you are." That was code for "our family doesn't do certain things so don't do those things." To live up to the name of our family is one thing, but to live up to being a follower of Christ?  That seems unattainable and even intimidating. Why even try?

The good news is that it is clear that God has given us the power in order to be able to do all of the good things that our "faith prompts you to do." God's grace through Jesus Christ brought us power to do the good things that is in our heart.

It's not just sin avoidance. That kind of thinking will get you nowhere. Instead, it is laying claim to the power of God because of the grace of God. What's underlying here is that God WANTS you and DESIRES for you to do good things. His desire was so great that we could do these good things that He sent Christ to not only die for our sins but also that we would do those good things. So, instead of just trying to avoid sin, let's focus on His grace and His power that He has made available to us to do good.  Remember WHOSE you are

Prayer: Enable me to do the good things as a result of my faith. Thank you for your grace and grant me your power to do and to accomplish the good things you have placed within me.