Are You Lacking Joy?

 

I’m Duane Matz and welcome to Today’s Living Word.

 

Heb 12:2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

 

Let’s talk about joy today! Joy to the world, the Lord has come, and one of the reasons He came was to give you and I a joyous life. Unfortunately we often seek to find our joy in the material things of this world and we miss the boat!

 

The key to a joyous life is found in this simple line from Hebrews 12:2, “for the joy set before Him.” Jesus had a job to do, it was “set before Him” by the Father, and He did it! That was the key to His joy, and it’s the key to yours and mine as well.

 

Yes, it cost Him the pain and the shame of the cross, but He endured it and is now seated at the right hand of God!

 

As a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, saved by grace through faith, God has set joy fulfilling works for you along the path of your redeemed life as asserted in Eph 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

 

Look for those works today, God gave you the DNA (physical and spiritual) to handle them that you may enter into the same kind of joy that Jesus experienced.

 

As you and I use our giftedness (talent) in the kingdom, we enter into the joy of the Lord, a joy that was promised to the faithful servants in the parable of the talents!

 

It was not just a “well done thy good and faithful servant” “enter into the joy of your lord.'

 

Are you lacking joy in your life. You won’t find it turning inward, but it is yours for the taking as you look outward, for those opportunities to love and serve that God will bring your way today.

 

I’m Duane Matz and that’s Today’s Living Word

No More Face Plants

 

I’m Duane Matz and welcome to Today’s Living Word.

 

Heb 12:1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

 

Having just finished the “faith hall of fame” chapter of the Bible which recounted the exploits of the likes of Abraham, Moses, Rahab, Gideon, David, Samson, and others! People who “out of weakness were made strong.” (Heb 11:34)

 

We are encouraged to follow their example of reliance upon God. It’s not that we have some sort of spiritual cloud of departed saints swarming around us and cheering us on. (They have bigger fish to fry in the presence of the Lord) but rather it is their examples found in scripture that urge us onward to finish the race as they did!

 

So cast off every weight, every burden, toss it onto the broad shoulders of Christ, for He cares for you! (1 Pet 5:7)

Get your feet untangled from those sins that will trip you up. If you’ve ever tripped over a vine and face planted while walking in the woods you know how sneaky sin can be. You get untangled when you give those sins to Jesus! 1Pe 2:24 who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree,

 

Finally, run the race with endurance. Finish! Keep casting off those pesky  burdens, keep untangling your feet and one day you will be with the cloud of witnesses in the presence of the Lord!

 

No more face plants, and burden free!

I’m Duane Matz and that’s Today’s Living Word

Opening the Door To Soul Care

 

I’m Duane Matz and welcome to Today’s Living Word.

 

Most of us are familiar with the parable of the sheep and the goats and there are many lessons to be garnered from this parable, but I want to focus on the aspect of what is expected from us as followers of Jesus. You know the list but let’s go over it again:

 

Mt 25:35 For I was hungry, and you gave me food; I was thirsty, and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger, and you took Me in; 36 I was naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.

 

This is not the complete list of how to serve Jesus, but these admonitions can all be lumped into one category…basic needs of humanity. Food, water, shelter, clothing, and companionship. (It is not good for man to live alone. Gen 2:18

 

Someone has said that the purpose of Christmas was for Jesus to come and care for your soul. Now that you have received Him and His care for your soul,

He wants us to eliminate distractions for others who are in need of soul care. Often consumed by a lack of these physical needs, souls care is put on the back shelf!

 

So, let’s roll up our sleeves and see what we can do to eliminate distractions as we feed, provide water, shelter, clothing and companionship in the name of Jesus, opening the door to the soul care that your neighbor so desperately needs.

 

I’m Duane Matz and that’s Today’s Living Word

The Greatest Is Love

 

I’m Duane Matz and welcome to Today’s Living Word.

 

The greatest proof of the presence of the Holy Spirit in an individual or a congregation is the expression of Holy Spirit directed love. There of course were other manifestations of the Holy Spirit in the individuals at the church in Corinth, but in the rest of the love chapter, we will see that love trumps and outlasts them all!

Remember, love is not a feeling. It is action marked by a willingness to serve others in accordance with the instructions found in God’s Word. What we have been looking at over the past months’ worth of these devos is the attitudes that accompanies Holy Spirit directed loving actions.

These are the same attitudes that marked the love of Christ when He came to serve and give Himself up as a ransom for all. (1 Tim 2:6)

 

God is love. Jesus is God’s love personified in attitude and action and that’s why the love chapter can conclude with this statement. 1Co 13:13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

 

The greatest is love! Yes while we are on this side of heaven, by all means live in faith, and live in hope. Because we hope and live for when the perfect will come….namely love personified, the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

Think about it, there will be no need for faith in heaven and no need for hope, for faith will be our transport and our hope will have been fully realized, but love is another story. It will be the saints permanent eternal state, it’s the ultimate goal for every believer  and that makes it greater than anything else. Now we love in part, but then we will know what it is to love our God fully. No wonder john prayed at the end of the Book of Revelation, “Come Lord Jesus.”

 

 

I’m Duane Matz and that’s Today’s Living Word

Love Never Fails

 

I’m Duane Matz and welcome to Today’s Living Word.

 

It’s been awhile since my last blog, but I’ve been hospitalized with some medical issues, and now I’m back home and ready to go again!  I thank you for your prayers and continued patience.

 

The greatest proof of the presence of the Holy Spirit in an individual or a congregation is the expression of Holy Spirit directed love. But what does this love look like? Today we’ll continue to look at love as found in the love chapter of the Bible….1 Cor 13!

 

We pick it up in verse 8 where love never fails. The idea of failing here is to “drop away, specifically to drive off course.” Love is the north star of the Christian and it keeps us on course.

 

In the same vein, it is never inefficient.  Energy efficiency of our appliances and furnaces are a big deal these days, but as high as their efficiency rating may be, they are never 100%..., love is.

Keep loving, no matter what my brother and sister, it will keep you on course, walking the walk that pleases our heavenly Father and helping you to finish the race set before us without meandering off course.

 

I’m Duane Matz and that’s Today’s Living Word

Love Endures All Things

 

I’m Duane Matz and welcome to Today’s Living Word.

 

The greatest proof of the presence of the Holy Spirit in an individual or a congregation is the expression of Holy Spirit directed love. But what does this love look like? Today we’ll continue to look at love as found in the love chapter of the Bible….1 Cor 13!

 

We pick it up in verse 7 where love endures all things. To endure is to “stay under” Holy Spirit guided love doesn’t look for a way out, rather it strives to stay in. This kind of endurance was spoken of earlier in Paul’s letter to the Corinthians.

1Co 10:13 No temptation (read that, trial) has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted (trialed) beyond what you are able, but with the temptation (trial) will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

 

Please note the later portion of this verse, it is key in “enduring” all things.  A quick reading  might lead one to look for a God-placed door or window of escape, a way out  if you will, but the verse does not remove the trial, it only promises that God will give you what it takes to endure it. In short God’s way of escape is to endure, trusting Him for the results. Love doesn’t say “I’m outa here” rather it says, “I’m going to hang in there trusting God to take me through.” Love “stays under” the crisis, knowing and believing that God has a faith building purpose for it.  

 

 

I’m Duane Matz and that’s Today’s Living Word

Hopes All Things

 

I’m Duane Matz and welcome to Today’s Living Word.

 

The greatest proof of the presence of the Holy Spirit in an individual or a congregation is the expression of Holy Spirit directed love. But what does this love look like? Today we’ll continue to look at love as found in the love chapter of the Bible….1 Cor 13!

 

We pick it up in verse 7 where love hopes all things. Another way of phrasing this might be, “love hangs in there during difficult times.” There is no getting around it, hope is a byproduct of tough times.   

 

Ro 5:3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance;  4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope.

 

Going through a rough time in your relationships with others? Hang in there! It’s what Holy Spirit directed love does! And hang your hat on the truth of Romans 8:28 and ride out the storm! Keep loving! For we know and believe that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

 

I’m Duane Matz and that’s Today’s Living Word