Asides

February 22
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Uncategorized Aside

“Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.” (Psalm 100:2, KJV)

Most of us take note when we’ve been attended to by a waiter in a restaurant, or a clerk in a retail store, who rendered service with gladness.  It arrests our attention; it lifts our spirit; it transforms the ordinary into the extraordinary.  

Is there gladness in your service?

As you approach your tasks today — working as for the Lord — will you bring gladness to the task?

Will your interaction with others today — serving each as you would Jesus — transform the ordinary into the extraordinary because of your attitude?  – Luther

REMINDER: Daily Encouragement will be on its customary Sunday break tomorrow.  Lord willing, see you again on Monday!

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February 21
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“But exhort [encourage] one another daily, while it is called Today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.” (Hebrews 3:13, KJV)

Do not underestimate the power of personal example.

Sin is deceitful (e. g. tricky) because it always promises much and delivers little. Fellow disciples who are immature, inexperienced, or ignorant of God’s word are prime candidates for sin’s deceit. 

Sin blunts the power of God’s spirit within us because it causes our heart to become less receptive (e. g. hardened) to both the Spirit’s guidance, and the Spirit’s gifts. The farther we are from God, the smaller God seems.  The antidote to this kind of atrophy is the disciples’ “exercise” of growing ever closer to our heavenly Father. 

We can be of immeasurable help to others at risk of sin’s deceit and insensitivity to the Holy Spirit’s guidance and gifts by using every opportunity — daily — to testify (e. g. give voice) to the active presence and the loving care of our heavenly Father in our personal example of what we do and what we say.  – Luther 

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February 20
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“’Who are my mother and my brothers?’ he asked. Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.’” (Mark 3:33-35, NIV)

Some people are brothers and sisters by birth.  Some people are brothers and sisters by law. Jesus says that it is obedience to the will of God that makes us His brothers and sisters. 

The beauty of the family of God is that it is at once inclusive — as in everyone can be a member — but it is only by our choice to be obedient to the will of God that we may become its members.

Whether in the evaluation of success, failure, or the estimation of people; resist the temptation to measure the things of God and the gifts of heaven with the same “yardstick” we use to measure common things.  – Luther

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