Shine It Up Good

Elbow grease is the best polish. – English Proverb

Paul held the Macedonian church up as an example not so much for the money they gave, but because they gave themselves. Hmm!

A beautifully waxed car is a sight to behold. The polished chrome reflecting like a mirror and the paint gleaming like it’s almost wet. And just as important as the wax you select is the amount of effort you put into applying and ‘rubbing out’ the wax. If you want the shine you‘ve got to give the effort. The life we live for Christ is the same, for us to appear like Christ requires that we give the effort to become like Christ. God does not wave a magic wand over us and all of a sudden we’re completely changed. It takes effort to “put off the old man and his sinful desires” and walk in the newness of life. To “put on Christ” actually takes effort. To walk like him, talk like him, love like him takes great effort, but if we want to be a light and shine for him we’ve got to use a little ‘elbow grease.’ Are you game?

Until Monday………

Pastor Botts

“….continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.” – Philippians 2:12-13

Reaping Investments

Don’t anticipate your ship coming in to port if you’ve never sent one out. – Anon

Joseph told Pharaoh he needed to prepare for the future for severe famine was on the way. With Joseph in charge the Egyptians never faced want. Wow!

It’s amazing how often people think things will magically work out. They often hold out for the day their ‘luck’ will change and everything will fall into line when ‘their ship’ comes in. But just as we would never go to a bank to withdraw money when we’ve never deposited any or expect a paycheck for a job we’ve never worked, it’s just as foolish to expect our life to be changed by an event that cannot happen because we’ve done nothing to cause it to happen. It’s amazing how we often expect our lives to become more godly and Christ like when we don’t do the things to cause it to happen. To reap the rewards of an investment you must invest. Today is another opportunity God has given us to prepare.

Until tomorrow….

Pastor Botts

“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” – II Chronicles 7:14