412: Stuff as I see it

Love As Jesus Did

TODAY'S VERSE
But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, offer the other cheek also. If someone demands your coat, offer your shirt also. Give to anyone who asks; and when things are taken away from you, don't try to get them back. Do to others as you would like them to do to you.
Luke 6:27-31 (NLT)

TODAY'S THOUGHT
In today's passage, Jesus set a whole new standard for moral behavior. That is why He starts this part of His sermon on the Mount by saying, "If you are willing to listen." Our Lord knows how hard it is to follow what He is suggesting. But what makes this teaching even more impressive is that Jesus did not just teach this; He lived it! This was not a political speech with moral platitudes given in order to win our votes. Jesus' teaching was a mandate for those He was calling to follow Him in His lifestyle. If we are to follow Jesus, we must love the way He taught us. When Jesus taught about love, He went much further than the Shema, which commanded the Israelites to "love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind." He went much further than "loving your neighbor as yourself"'. In today's passage, He said to bless those who curse us, to pray for those who hurt us, and to turn the other cheek when hit. These are ways to truly love others. Today, let us love others the way Jesus has commanded us to.

TODAY'S PRAYER
Father, help me love with Your love. Help me see others with Your eyes. Help me be filled with Your compassion, guided by Your Holy Spirit, and used as an instrument of Your peace. In Jesus' name.
AMEN

Ron Ovitt

Love The Giver More Than The Gifts

TODAY’S VERSE
Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, you want to be with me because I fed you, not because you understood the miraculous signs.” - At this point many of his disciples turned away and deserted him. Then Jesus turned to the Twelve and asked, “Are you also going to leave?”
John 6:26, 66-67 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
Sometimes we don’t get it. Our priorities get all mixed up. Like many who followed Jesus, we follow Him for the food and miracles. We want His blessings. We have the offer of a deep relationship with God, but instead, we seek the blessings. But what happens when blessings don’t come? What happens when the job we wanted doesn’t pan out, sickness interrupts our plans, and our children don’t act as we think they should? When our eyes are on our circumstances and not our creator, it is easy to get discouraged. We can lose hope and become bitter. Why? Because we have worshipped the gifts and not the giver, the blessings, and not the blesser. Today, we need to renew our love for God. Knowing Him is the real blessing. We need to love God, who alone is the source of our joy. No matter what circumstances come our way, we will find true peace and joy as we develop a relationship with God and truly love Him.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, help me love You today more than ever. Help me seek You more than Your blessings. Help me understand Your love for me and the incredible joy that is mine when I follow You.
AMEN

Ron Ovitt

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“Lord, too often I am problem focused, not victory focused. Teach me to look beyond my dead-end situations to see You at work in my life.”

Talk With God

My heart has heard you say, ‘Come and talk with me.’ And my heart responds, ‘Lord, I am coming.
Psalms 27:8 (NIV)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
What a glorious invitation! There are two elements to an invitation that can make it special: who is inviting you and what you are invited to do. In both cases, this invitation is extraordinary! First, it is God who is inviting. David said that his heart heard God’s invitation. Have you? Have you sensed that call of the Holy Spirit to come and fellowship with God? He bids you come to Him. God desires your fellowship, but you must come. Second, we see that God has invited you to talk with Him! So many times, we talk “to” God, not “with” Him. What kind of friendship would you have with someone if you did all the talking? That is not fellowship, it is not a relationship. God Almighty has asked you to talk with Him. You can share your innermost thoughts and then wait and listen to what He has to say. God wants to commune with your heart if you will let Him. Today, God has invited you to come talk with Him. Stop now and start a conversation. Talk with Him, listen, and let it begin a lifelong dialogue.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, thank You for inviting me to come and talk with you. Today, I come to share my thoughts and situation and listen. Talk to me, God; I want to hear from You. In Jesus’ name, I pray.
AMEN

Ron Ovitt

@faith_amplified

My Purpose On Purpose

TODAY’S VERSE

I cry out to God Most High, to God who will fulfill his purpose for me.
Psalms 57:2 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
I can understand God’s purpose for Michael the Archangel. I understand when God chooses a Moses, Abraham, or David to do His will. I can comprehend Jesus picking twelve disciples to follow Him and God choosing Paul to be a great missionary. What completely mystifies me, however, is that God has a purpose for me! Not only does God have a purpose for me, His purpose is to fulfill that purpose. Now you try. Read today’s passage and put yourself in the picture. God will fulfill His purpose for you! Can you get a sense of what that means? Perhaps you are thinking, “I’m nobody special.” Sorry, but God thinks you are! “I don’t have special skills.” You have exactly what God wants you to have. “I have done too many wrong things.” God’s grace is greater than all your wrongdoing. “I can’t do anything out of the ordinary.” All God asks you to do is show up and be willing to live for Him. He will do the rest. Stop and hear God saying to you, “I am so glad I created you! I am so excited about you living out your purpose.” Today, surrender yourself to Him. Purpose in your heart to live out the purpose He has for you.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, I surrender my life to You. Use me, live through me. Guide me and help me fulfill Your purpose for my life.
AMEN

Ron Ovitt