BBD 04.18.05 Showing Off
Posted by: wrather <wrather@...>
a part of a great ministry. More than 400 wonderful people make up this
group. To join send an email to: BBPG-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Please sign the GuestMap at The Burning Bush website. You can plant your
country's flag on the map and leave a message. You can find it on the front
page at http://www.theburningbush.org
For some great links visit the link page at the Burning Bush website at
pub21.bravenet.com/freelink/show.php?usernum=1760592298&cpv=1
The Burning Bush Devotional
(Over 13,000 subscribers in 75 countries)
04.18.05
Showing Off
And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing
that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you
serve the Lord Christ. But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has
done, and there is no partiality. - Colossians 3:22-25.
In Sydney, Australia, a 15-year-old stole a tram taking it for a 30-minute
joyride. During his joyride, he stopped to pick up passengers but it all
ended 19 miles later when the electrical current to the tram was cut by
police. Endangering the lives of passengers is one of the nine criminal
charges faced by the 15-year-old. Police Constable Barry Hills said, "He's a
nice lad, he's a good lad ... I think his obsession just got the better of
him. It appears ... that this young lad has been traveling around on the
trams for some time and has been observing the drivers and observing the
operating procedures." However, Constable Hills believes that the boy could
grow up to be a real tram driver some day if he stays on the "straight and
narrow."
It might be enlightening to talk to the boy and find out what his real
reasons were for stealing the tram. Perhaps it was not an obsession with
trams but instead risky behavior engaged in to impress other young people?
An interesting survey has been released by researchers at the University of
Maine. In the survey of 100 men and women, it was found, according to New
Scientist Magazine, that "women are not impressed by bungee jumping and
other risky types of behavior but actually prefer men who take fewer
chances. Men thought women would be impressed by pointless gambles, but
women in fact preferred cautious men." Now they tell us!
The Bible gives us some excellent and very well founded advice when it comes
to a reason for doing something. In Colossians, we are told, "And whatever
you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men.." If you are
contemplating some action or activity, it would be well to pause and ask
yourself whether that action or activity will bring glory to God. If not,
obviously, then the action or activity should not be pursued. If we are
planning to do something just on the basis of gaining attention for
ourselves from others whether from the opposite sex or just from whomever we
can - this can never be construed as being done "as to the Lord". Because
the Lord will not be the One receiving the glory from the action or activity
if you are just "showing off".
So, before you steal the tram or drive your car in excess of the speed limit
or whatever it may be - consider who you are trying to glorify. Yourself, or
the Lord?
Copyright © 2005. Ed Wrather. Permission is given for use of the devotionals
on a non-profit basis with source credited. The Burning Bush website has
been online since January 31, 1998. On June 8, 1998 the email version of the
Burning Bush Devotional was first sent.
The Crossmap Christian Search and Portal is a wonderful resource. I would
like to encourage you to visit this great site at http://www.crossmap.com. Crossmap
has recently added the Burning Bush Devotionals to their site. You may visit
Crossmap's sister website, the online version of the Christian Post at
http://www.christianpost.com.
If you have a Christian website you are invited to add the link to my free
links at the Burning Bush website. The Bravenet free links is near the
bottom of the front page http://www.theburningbush.org.
If you enjoy the devotional please recommend it to your friends. They may
subscribe by sending a blank email to
burningbushdevo-subscribe@welovegod.org
Streaming Videos of our services including my sermons are posted at:
http://www.theburningbush.org/fbcswvideo.html
There is now a webpage available at associate.com where the devotionals are
archived associate.com/groups/burningbushdevo. There is a complete
archive at the Burning Bush website and the address for the archive is
http://www.theburningbush.org/33.html.
You may subscribe to the pure text group by sending a blank email to
burningbushdevo-subscribe@welovegod.org and you can unsubscribe by sending a
blank email to burningbushdevo-unsubscribe@welovegod.org
You may subscribe to the html text group by sending a blank email to
burningbushhtml-subscribe@welovegod.org and you may unsubscribe by sending a
blank email to burningbushhtml-unsubscribe@welovegod.org
Subscribe to the Burning Bush Prayer Group. Send and receive prayer requests
to over 400 members. Send a blank email to: BBPG-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Subscribe to the Burning Bush Inspirational Group. Send and receive
inspirational material to over 100 members. Send a blank email to:
bbinspire-subscribe@welovegod.org
Subscribe to the Burning Bush Restoration and Recovery Group for those with
addictions or recovering from addictions. Receive devotionals and
inspirational material directed toward those with addictions. Send and
receive prayer requests. Over 200 members. Send a blank email to:
tbbrr-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Subscribe to the Intercede Life Group and pray for and help in practical
ways those who need help. To subscribe send a blank email to
interclife-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. A closely related website is
Peoplefaces which seeks to help those in need
peoplefaces.ohzone.net/index2.htm