Tag Archives: Good

Unknown's avatar Rev. David J. Schreffler 4:44 am on November 23, 2015
Tags: , , Good,   

Release The Gifts — Rev. David J. Schreffler

 

People release lanterns to celebrate the traditional Chinese Lantern Festival in Taipei...People release lanterns to celebrate the traditional Chinese Lantern Festival on the first full moon of Lunar New Year in Taipei county March 4, 2007. The lanterns are released in belief they will bring good luck and blessings. REUTERS/Richard Chung (TAIWAN)

November 23, 2015

“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is — his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:2

“Our self-image is formed early on, based on feedback from parents, teachers and other authority figures—and changing it isn’t easy. It doesn’t come from inspiration (or perspiration), but from letting the Holy Spirit transform you. How? ‘By…renewing…your mind.’ Recalling when his boys were young, one preacher says they were playing with a toy lorry, complete with the sounds of grinding gears and roaring engines.

‘I didn’t pay much attention as I unwound from the day’s stresses. Distractedly, I glanced down and noticed the boys were now running an airplane down an imaginary runway. ‘What happened to the lorry?’ I asked. ‘Daddy, this is a transformer. It can be transformed into whatever we want!’ they explained.

God made the first transformer. He created man in such a way that He could pull a woman out of him. From one creative act God transformed the man into a marriage, the marriage into a family, and the family into a society. He never reached back into the ground again because the power to transform was intrinsically placed in man. All kinds of potential are locked into your spirit. And for the Christian, transformation at its optimum is the outworking of the internal. God placed certain things in you that must come out…and when you’re tired of trying to unlock your own resources, allow Him to release in you the power to become whatever you need to be.’‘ (LCC Daily Devotions, Let God Transform You – October 20, 2015)

“G*d placed certain things inside you that must come out.” We are protective of the gifts G*d has blessed us with. So often there a are people in the church who possess a certain gift, but something prevents them from sharing that gift. Sometimes they are prevented by their own fear of failure. Sometimes they are prevented by other’s fear of their success. And sometimes they are prevented because they do not believe their gifts will be welcomed. Every person has been blessed with their own unique gifts – gifts for ministry, gifts for leadership, gifts for organization, and gifts for just being present. And the gifts do not stop there – yet we hold these gifts inside to either protect them, or to protect ourselves. However, if we are willing to release the gifts to G*d, and put away the need to control our and other’s giftedness, we will find that the gifts of G*d are truly wanted and needed.

Pastor Dave

Unknown's avatar Rev. David J. Schreffler 4:44 am on October 27, 2015
Tags: Good,   

Only the Good Will Stick — Rev. David J. Schreffler

image    October 27, 2015

“If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” No, “if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Romans 12:18-21

“What a powerful, concise exhortation this is! In just a few words, Paul sums up the mission of Christian living. First, be not overcome of evil! There are a thousand different ways in which Satan seeks to tear down our Christian testimony. It may be a temptation to sexual sin, or a tendency toward despair, or a disposition toward anger, or a longing for personal advancement or recognition. But for all the temptations that may come our way, the remedy is the same, simple command: do not allow evil to overcome you. Stand fast in the Lord and in the power of his strength. Do not give in; do not be puffed up; do not allow your pride or lust or pain to overwhelm you. And, second, overcome evil with good. The Christian’s posture is not a defensive one. We are to be over comers, not merely survivors. Not only are we not to give up in fighting sin, we are to counteract the sin in the world by our good lives and conduct. We are to overcome evil.

How can we do that? Not by fighting fire with fire, but rather by overcoming evil with good. There is no other way to successfully battle evil in the world. The goodness of our Savior must be reflected in the good words and works of his people. The more his goodness is displayed, the more sin loses its strength and subtlety. Don’t be overcome by sin; rather, overcome sin with the goodness of God.” (Facing Temptation, BBH devotions, September 22, 2015)

Overcome evil with good. I have faced evil in my day. I have looked into the face of someone who seemed possessed by something evil, and I have found that the only thing that holds back evil is good. We are so quick sometimes to react to evil with evil — but that only gives evil the upper hand — because evil now has you in its grips. But evil does not know what to do with good. Evil hates good. And I have seen it in action. When confronted with good, evil people just seem to implode. But they will come back to strike when they get the chance to regroup.

The question on your mind of course is “How?” What I have found is that when you keep your eyes on the good, the good inside you that emanates from Jesus, then you will find the strength to let the evil words that they throw your way just glance off. All of the accusations, the vitriol, the hate will not stick. And this is what allows you to maintain your cool and not fall into an exchange of evil for evil. Fight the evil with good – and evil will not know what to do. No, it may not happen immediately, but stand firm in the Lord. Let the Holy Spirit lead you – and the Lord will give you the words.

Pastor Dave