Quote from Forum Archives on November 27, 2001, 5:04 pm

Posted by: masinick <masinick@...>

Dear friends,

For the past few days, Neil Anderson has been going through the
sixth chapter of Ephesians, discussing the section that talks
about putting on the full armor of God. His message for Monday
writes about preparing our feet with the Gospel of Peace. Neil
makes some important points about this word picture that I think
merit some thought and consideration, particularly for those who
have strong convictions about their faith. I encourage you to
read and pray about what Neil has to say in his message from
Monday.

I've also included the Weekly Verses from Phil Ware following
Neil's message.

Your Brother in Christ,
Brian

If you are looking to feed and challenge your faith, visit
Crosswalk.com's Spiritual Life Channel at:
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-----------
N E I L A N D E R S O N D A I L Y D E V O T I O N A L
from Freedom in Christ Ministries

Having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace
(Ephesians 6:15).

The next piece of armor is the shoes of peace. When you receive
Christ, you are united with the Prince of Peace. You have peace
with God right now (Romans 5:1), but the peace of Christ must
also rule in your heart if you are going to live victoriously,
and that is possible only when you let the Word of Christ richly
dwell in you (Colossians 3:15, 16).

The shoes of peace become protection against the divisive schemes
of the devil when you act as a peacemaker among believers (Romans
14:19). Peacemakers bring people together by promoting
fellowship and reconciliation. "Blessed are the peacemakers, for
they shall be called sons of God" (Matthew 5:9). Anyone can
divide a fellowship, but it takes the grace of God to unite us in
Him.

Too many Christians insist on common doctrine as the basis for
fellowship. They reason that if we don't think the same and
believe the same, there is no basis for peace. But common
doctrine isn't the basis for fellowship; common heritage is.
We're all children of God. If you wait to fellowship with someone
until you agree perfectly on every point of doctrine, you'll be
the loneliest Christian on earth. Instead of insisting on the
unity of the mind, preserve the unity of the Spirit by taking the
initiative to be the peacemaker in your relationships (Ephesians
4:3).

Some people like to play the devil's advocate in their
relationships and churches. I ask, Why? He doesn't need any
help! In His high priestly prayer, Jesus prayed, "I in them, and
Thou in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, that the world
may know that Thou didst send Me" (John 17:23). We have the
promise that "the God of peace will soon crush Satan under your
feet" (Romans 16:20). Ask God to use you to bring unity to your
relationships by making you a peacemaker.

Heavenly Father, use me today to bring unity to Your family.
Enable me to be a peacemaker.

-----------
This daily devotional is published and distributed by
Crosswalk.com. It is written by Neil Anderson at
< www.ficm.org >.

You can purchase "Daily in Christ" and other titles by Neil
Anderson at christianbook.com (Christian Book Distributors -
CBD).
< shopping.crosswalk.com/bye/devo_na >

Additional devotionals are available from Crosswalk.com:
< devotionals.crosswalk.com >.
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Reply-to: Weekly Verses <weeklyverses@lists.crosswalk.com>
Subject: Weekly Verses from Crosswalk.com: 11/26/01
Date: Mon, 26 Nov 2001 14:29:09 -0500

Weekly Verses
from Crosswalk.com
www.crosswalk.com
11/26/01

These verses are taken from TODAY'S VERSE, by Phil Ware
< devotionals.crosswalk.com/TodaysVerse >
~~~~~~~~~
MONDAY

Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the
wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of
mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his
law he meditates day and night.

--Psalm 1:1-2
New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
I get to choose which sources of information I feed my mind.
But this privilege and freedom is also a responsibility. God
longs to bless me, but that blessing remains dormant until my
heart delights in knowing and doing his will.

MY PRAYER...
Wondrous Creator, just as you fashioned such a beautiful
world and put me together in my mother's womb, I also ask that
you create in me a desire to know your truth and an insight
into how to live that truth. I know your Holy Spirit is in me
to help me in this journey, but I want so much to please you
and bless you because of all the ways you have blessed me. In
Jesus name I pray. Amen.

~~~~~~~~~

TUESDAY

Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to
the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with
thanksgiving and extol him with music and song.

--Psalm 95:1-2
New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
Joy knows no better explanation than laughter and song. We
sing to the Lord because we are joyful! Our music is not
inhibited or held back, but exuberant and as full of sound as
it is of heart. Thanksgiving brings us into the Father's
presence and it is our joy at being saved that leads us to
sing.

MY PRAYER...
O most wonderful and glorious God, thank you so much for
saving me from sin, death, law, and futility. Thank you for
saving me and giving me the assurance, through your Holy
Spirit, that I can come before you with exuberant and
overflowing joy. Your love and grace have not only given me
hope but have made me your child. Hear my heart and be blessed
by my songs of praise. Through Jesus I pray and because of
Jesus I will shout your praise forever and ever. Amen.

~~~~~~~~~

WEDNESDAY

I always thank God for you because of his grace given you in
Christ Jesus. For in him you have been enriched in every way -
in all your speaking and in all your knowledge.

--1 Corinthians 1:4-5
New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
The apostle Paul was amazing. He is writing one of the most
problematic churches and yet finds reasons to give thanks for
them. First, he is thankful for them because Jesus died for
them. When God extends his grace to others, how can we not do
the same? Second, he recognizes the areas of their abuse are
also a reason to give thanks - they may have distorted it, but
when reined in to honor God, these gifts could bless their
church. Even though he has tough words to follow, Paul's
example reminds us that a child of God is something to be
cherished, even if they have problems.

MY PRAYER...
Gracious Father, give me the heart to see reasons to be
thankful for all of your children. I confess that it is often
so easy for me to view others based on how they view me, share
my theological opinions, or how much trouble they cause me.
Forgive me, for I know if you had done the same with me, I
would have never been one of your children. Please help me
rejoice in your children. Through Jesus I pray. Amen.

~~~~~~~~~

THURSDAY

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members
of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

--Colossians 3:15
New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
Peace - that illusive state of grace that incorporates all
of life's well-being. Because of Jesus, we have true shalom -
wellness in body, soul, and spirit. His relationships with
others, his victory over sin, death and the grave insures that
we can have peace, too! So as we receive the Spirit of Christ
into our hearts, we can live with our brothers and sisters, no
matter how flawed, in a state of peace. Besides, as Paul
changes metaphors on us, we are the Body of Christ and of
course a body does not want to be at war with itself. So live
in peace with others, and do so with thanksgiving.

MY PRAYER...
Blessed Father of all believers, please give me a heart to
love your people. I know as the character of Jesus permeates
my life, I will appreciate the preciousness of each of your
children more and will come to see those difficult family
members as the grit out of which you will fashion my pearl. I
pray you give me grace till my heart matches my commitment to
love all of your children. Through Jesus I pray. Amen.

~~~~~~~~~

FRIDAY

Enter [the Lord's] gates with thanksgiving and his courts with
praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord
is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness
continues through all generations.

--Psalm 100:4-5
New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
Worship is always about entering - entering into grace,
entering with thanksgiving, entering to share with others, but
most of all entering into the Lord's presence in a special way.
But our entering is not the basis of worship. Instead,
worship is about the Lord's faithfulness, goodness, and
enduring grace. We come to God like so many before us, who are
waiting with God for us. We come to praise him for all he has
been, all he is, and all he will be. We come to enter and
worship.

MY PRAYER...
Faithful God, the Almighty Rock of Israel, the God on whom
the generations trusted, you alone, LORD, are God. I praise
you for your enduring grace and mercy. I praise you because I
want my heart tuned to your will. I praise you, because I want
to prepare for my longest lifetime, the one in your presence.
I praise you in Jesus' name. Amen.

~~~~~~~~~

SATURDAY

Just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in
him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as
you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

--Colossians 2:6-7
New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
Some things you don't change, swap, or update. In an age
when computer processors make major leaps every few months and
software companies release new upgrades every year, we get
programmed into looking for the new and improved version of
everything. The simple but profound truth is that Jesus is
Lord. No update needed. No rival worthy. No change necessary.
In fact, if we stray from this as the basis of our life, we
put all we hold dear at risk. But if we continue, if we grow,
if we root ourselves in this truth and make it the undergirding
reality of our lives, then our future is secure and our victory
assured!

MY PRAYER...
Holy God, I thank you for the simple, challenging and
enduring truth of Jesus' Lordship. Through your Spirit, I pray
that you will conform my life to more closely reflect his
lordship in my work, my family, and daily influence. Through
the Lord Jesus I pray. Amen.

~~~~~~~~~
SUNDAY

Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name
of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

--Colossians 3:17
New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
Everything! All! No matter what we say, no matter what we
do, it is to be offered as a gift of thanks to God with Jesus'
name, power, and honor attached! This makes all of life our
worship and thanksgiving to God. There's no such thing as
going to worship; if we live, if we talk, if we act it's
worship. So how has your worship been lately?

MY PRAYER...
Almighty and Most Holy God, I want all of my life to be
lived out to your glory, a living testament of thanks to you
for the grace you have given me in Jesus. While I do not
always do this as well as I would like, I lovingly offer you my
words, my actions, my heart and my mind to bring you glory by
doing your will. Please, use your Spirit to remove the areas
of self-deception from my life so that weakness and hypocrisy
will not rob my discipleship of its intended worship of your
majesty. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

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=====
--
Brian Masinick, "The Mas", mailto:masinick@yahoo.com
Home page: www.geocities.com/masinick/

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