The Ultimate Tatoo -- Hebews 8:10b

The Ultimate Tatoo

S.  Hebrews 8:10b “...I will put my laws in their minds and I will write them on their hearts…”

O. God will bless His people with the New Covenant. One way that He will do this is that He will fill our minds with His Word and He will write His word on our hearts.

I think of inscribing words on flesh - tatoos. Tatoos are images or words that communicate a message displayed on flesh for others to see.  I’ve never had a tatoo but I gotta believe that the process of having those things inscribed / burned onto flesh is painful.  Yet, I think that this is a powerful image presented in this passage.

God’s word will be inscribed into/onto the hearts of His people. Sometimes the intake of God’s word can be painful… either in developing the discipline of doing this on a regular basis, or the pain in responding obediently to His Word and direction in our life. Yet when we do, it is written upon our hearts (our emotions, our deep seeded affections) and will be forever displayed, at least to God and felt by us of our commitment to Him.

A. Every day I will continue to read and meditate upon God’s word and allow it to go deep down, penetrating my heart in such a way that is ‘stamped” as an image on my affections / feelings and that it guides my deepest emotions.

P. Thank you Father for this wonderful gift.. Your word filling my mind and “stamped” as an image upon my heart.. But more than an image, penetrating and guiding my affections and that my affections and my thinking are in balance.

Aging With Clarity -- Titus 2:2

S.  Titus 2:2 "Teach the older men to exercise self-control, to be worthy of respect, and to live wisely. They must have sound faith and be filled with love and self-control."

O. Titus is to teach older men (elders, aged) to exercise self-control (to be sober, clear minded and free from negative influences). They are also to be dignified (honorable and worthy of respect), balanced and biblically moderate, possessing a sound (healthy, free from debilitation) _ faith and love.

A. Older men need to be taught (perhaps reminded) to live a life that is clear minded - that is free from distraction. Additionally, a clear minded life will bring respect because decisions will reflect wisdom that arises from faith and love that are sound (balanced and healthy).  I will therefore ask God to help me nurture my faith and love for Him that I may have clarity and lead a life of example, influence and significance.

P. Father, grant me this... that the Holy Spirit would empower me, fill me with a faith and love that are healthy and balanced which will keep me free from distraction (clarity) and that I will be an example and encouragement to others.

How To Live A Life of Overflowing Thankfulness

S. Colossians 2:6-7

“And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow Him. Let your roots grow down into Him, and let your lives be built on Him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.”

O. We accepted Christ by faith and so it is in faith that we should follow Him. as we depend upon Him, our faith grows and our spiritual roots deepen and our lives are overflowing with thankfulness.

A. I want thankfulness for all that the Lord is to me, to overflow in my life. A thankful life is the outcome of a life lived in faith in Christ with spiritual roots that are deep.

P. Father, thank you for all that you are and for all you have done for me. Today, I want to deepen my spiritual roots and continue to live by faith. I pray that thankfulness will flow from my heart toward you and toward others.