Day of Praise

Mon, 09/19/16, "Day of Praise"

[And Samuel said to the people,] "Yet do not turn aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart. And do not turn aside after empty things that cannot profit or deliver, for they are empty." - 1 Samuel 12:20b-21

Amanda and I have our anniversary quickly approaching. One of my reminders is the box her wedding ring was in. The box is in our clothes closet, right as you walk in. 

The ring box with "Diamonds Direct" clearly printed on the top is there for all the world to see. Well, not all the world is coming into our clothes closet, but oftentimes I think how sad it would be if a burglar got in our house and made off with the ring box. I think how sad that would be because of what's actually in the box. 

Namely, nothing. 

There's nothing in the box. Oh sure, it's a nice enough box, and it says "Diamonds Direct" on the outside, but there's absolutely nothing on the inside.

The nice box is empty. 

Just like a lot of stuff that people chase in this world.

Today is a workday. What are you chasing after with your work today? In today's Bible verses, God clearly says through Samuel, "And do not turn aside after empty things that cannot profit or deliver, for they are empty." (1 Samuel 12:21 (ESV))

So what should we chase after with our work? God gives that answer too in today's Bible verses, "Serve the Lord with all your heart."

Passage after passage in the Holy Bible says that if we'll just trust God at the center of all things (Genesis 2), love God above all things (Matthew 22), and seek God first before all things (Matthew 6), then we'll be given everything else that we need and more!

So, have a great day with Jesus!

And remember to "not turn aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart. And do not turn aside after empty things that cannot profit or deliver, for they are empty." (1 Samuel 12:20b-21 - ESV)

Praise God!

Pastor Chris 
"The gospel is the story of Jesus [what God's only Son has done for us that we can't do for ourselves], spoken as a promise." - Robert Jenson

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