Passage of the Day:
Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. 8 You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near. 9 Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door! 10 Brothers and sisters, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11 As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy. 12 Above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. All you need to say is a simple “Yes” or “No.” Otherwise you will be condemned, James 5:7-12.
Reflection:
The tag line for Nike’s slogan “Just do it” comes from an unusual source. Dan Wieden, the founder of the Wieden+Kennedy agency, credits the inspiration to a death row inmate Gary Gilmore ’s last words: “Let’s do it.” While Phil Knight, the CEO of Nike, is often associated with Just Do It today, Jesus’ earthly brother wrote a similar expression in the middle of the first century. Rather than make a public vow to put God first in your life, it’s more powerful and effective to just do it by living this out daily.
Prayerful Action:
If you make a vow to the Lord your God, do not be slow to pay it, for the Lord your God will certainly demand it of you and you will be guilty of sin, Deuteronomy 23:21.
Building Up Bible Believing Behaviors:
One of the things I told Leanne when we first started dating was that I had been careless in the past of my use of the word love. I had told other girls that I loved them, but my actions didn’t align with the biblical definition of love, 1 Corinthians 13:1-7. In the same way, if you truly want to put God first in your life, the actions, behavior, choices and decisions you make will reflect your desire. This is the meaning of let your yes be yes and no be no. The goal is to please the Lord, not people, Galatians 1:10.
Song of the Day:
The main aspect of keeping any vow is having the will to fulfill what you have declared. This inner desire will be challenged and tested by trials in life. In the end, your actions will determine whether or not you put the Lord first in your life.
by Jay Mankus
ExpressYourself4Him 