March 13, 2006

Reflections on Scripture
(from the Living Bible – Paraphrased 1971)

Matthew 10:39 - “If you cling to your life, you will lose it, but if you give it up for Me, you will save it.”
Life is like a game of tennis ... you can't win without serving well!

Mark 6:38 - “How much food do we have?” He asked. “Go and find out.” They came back to report that there were five loaves of bread and two fish.
Sure fed a lot of people.

John 4:6 – Jesus was tired from the long walk in the hot sun, and sat wearily beside the well.
Do you know why? Was it just because it was hot and there was water?

Romans 14:8-9 – Living or dying, we follow the Lord. Either way we are His. Christ died and rose again for this very purpose, so that He can be our Lord, both while we live and when we die.
A retired Air Force Colonel was on our 1967 staff at YMCA Camp. He shared this verse on one of the canoe trips in our devotional time together.

1 Corinthians 9:24 – In a race, everyone runs, but only one person gets first prize, so run your race to win.
We all can't always win, but we can give our best.

2 Corinthians 9:7 – Everyone must make up his own mind as to how much he should give. Don't force anyone to give more than he really wants to, for cheerful givers are the ones God prizes.
Wonder what the Finance Committee thinks of this verse?

Galatians 5:14 – For the whole law can be summed up in this one command:
“Love others as you love yourself.”
Wow!

Ephesians 6:1-2 – Children, obey your parents; this is the right thing to do, because God has placed them in authority over you.
This is the first of God's Ten Commandments that ends with a promise.
Sometimes this is a tough one, Dad & Mom.

Bob Kiess