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Ministry Update – Books

Mathare Library 1

Thank you so much for your support of the Food Basket project. Two weeks ago I asks for enough donations to support 150 food baskets at $30 each. You provided all the necessary funds for this project. We will be distributing food to families and staff the week before Christmas. What a blessing!!

During December I will send out several messages concerning other needs of our school and overall ministry. If you are new to this ministry, you can read much more about the growth of our school and ministry at:

http://gdwm.org/category/update-message/

In this first message, I want to highlight the need for books. Over the last several years, we have transitioned from schooling a handful of kids in some back rooms to an official school for 250 kids from pre-school to grade 7. This has been exciting but also very challenging. This year has two specific challenges for books.

First, the Ministry of Education has determined the textbooks for Grade 4 must all be updated. We have 32 kids in Grade 4 and they will each need at least 3 new text books. Second, we will be adding Grade 7 to our school when the students return after Christmas break – grade promotions occur in January in the Kenyan system. This will require new textbooks: 23 students, 3 textbooks each.

In addition to the required textbooks, I would really like to add to our library. We started this project this year and have been able to place about 25 books in the library. These have been a combination of reference books and general reading books. The nice thing about building a good library is that the books will not need to be updated or replaced – at least not for many years or after much use.

If you are especially motivated to place books in the hands of kids, please consider making an end of year donation to this project. You can click on the Donate Now button at the bottom of any message, or send a check to:

God’s Daily Word Ministries
PO Box 12441
Jackson, TN 38308

Have a Christ Centered Day!

Steve Troxel
God’s Daily Word Ministries

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The Privileged Gift of Holiness

The_Privileged_Gift_of_Holiness

In the message “Put On The New Self” we saw how we become a “new creation” when we place our faith in Jesus Christ. When we are brought into a right relationship with God through the transforming power of the Holy Spirit, we begin a process of learning what it means to “put on the new self” (Ephesians 4:24a) and live a life of “true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:24b). But many still struggle with the idea of holiness.

Some view holiness as an unnecessary set of rules and cling to “there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). Others simply don’t give holy living any thought. They take Jesus to church on Sunday morning but then return Him to the shelf for the rest of their “normal” week. In either case, the point of true freedom and a loving relationship with the eternal God has been sadly missed.

Romans 6:2-4
“We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.”

Salvation involves death and new life! When we truly believe in Jesus, we become united with Him in His death; “our old self was crucified with Him” (Romans 6:6). But we also become united with Him in His life; “count yourself dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus” (Romans 6:11).

A child of God is no longer controlled by the sinful nature; “But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life” (Romans 6:22). The result of being set free is eternal life but the benefit is holiness. How often do we recognize holiness as a benefit – a gift to all who believe?

Holiness is a wonderful privilege (not a burden or obligation) and can only be accomplished by living a new life in Christ. When Jesus truly resides in our heart, His thoughts become our thoughts and His desires become our desires. Without Christ, a holy life is not even possible. When Jesus said “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10), He was talking about the blessings in this present life which come through a life of commitment and trust. Following Jesus in all things is truly living life to the fullest!

Jesus Christ is the Creator Who gave His life so we can be restored. Let’s walk with Him every moment of every day. Let’s begin to truly live the new life in Christ and gratefully receive the privileged gift of holiness.

Have a Christ Centered Day!

Steve Troxel
God’s Daily Word Ministries

**** Reading Plan ****

Dec 3 Daniel 11:1-34; 1 John 3:7-24; Psalm 122:1-9; Proverbs 29:1

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El Privilegiado Regalo de Santidad

The_Privileged_Gift_of_Holiness

En el mensaje “Vestido del Nuevo Hombre” vimos como debemos llegar a ser “nuevas creaturas” cuando pongamos nuestra fe en Jesucristo. Cuando entramos a una relación correcta con Dios a través del poder transformador del Espíritu Santo, comenzamos a aprender lo que significa “vestíos del nuevo hombre” (Efesios 4:24a) y vivir una vida de “justicia y santidad de la verdad” (Efesios 4:24b). Pero todavia muchos luchan con la idea de santidad.

Algunos ven la santidad como unas reglas innecesarias y aferran a “ya no hay ninguna condenación para los que están unidos a Cristo Jesús” (Romanos 8:1). Otros simplemente no piensan en la santidad. Solamente llevan a Jesús a la iglesia en la mañana el domingo y después le regresan al librero por el resto de su semana “normal.” En cualquier caso, el punto clave de una libertad verdadera y una relación amorosa con el Dios eterno ha sido tristemente perdido.

Romanos 6:2-4
“Nosotros, que hemos muerto al pecado, ¿cómo podemos seguir viviendo en él? ¿Acaso no saben ustedes que todos los que fuimos bautizados para unirnos con Cristo Jesús, en realidad fuimos bautizados para participar en su muerte? Por tanto, mediante el bautismo fuimos sepultados con él en su muerte, a fin de que, así como Cristo resucitó por el poder del Padre, también nosotros llevemos una vida nueva.”

La salvación involucra muerte y nueva vida! Cuando verdaderamente creemos en Jesús llegamos a ser unidos con El en Su muerte; “lo que antes éramos fue crucificado con él” (Romanos 6:6), y llegamos a ser unidos con El en Su vida; “también ustedes considérense muertos al pecado, pero vivos para Dios en Cristo Jesús” (Romanos 6:11).

Un hijo de Dios ahora no es controlado por la naturaleza pecaminosa; “Pero ahora que han sido liberados del pecado y se han puesto al servicio de Dios, cosechan la santidad que conduce a la vida eterna” (Romanos 6:22). El resultado de ser liberado es la vida eterna pero el beneficio es la santidad. ¿Con que frecuencia reconocemos que la santidad es un beneficio – un regalo bendito que es dado a todos los que creen?

La santidad es un privilegio maravilloso (no una carga u obligación) y solamente puede ser logrado a través de vivir una vida nueva en Cristo. Cuando Jesús mora verdaderamente en nuestro corazón, Sus pensamientos llegan a ser nuestros pensamientos y Sus deseos convierten en nuestros deseos. Sin Cristo, una vida santa ni es posible. Cuando dijo Jesús “yo he venido para que tengan vida, y la tengan en abundancia” (Juan 10:10), El estaba hablando acerca de las bendiciones en esta presente vida que vienen a través de una vida de completa dedicación. Seguir a Jesús en todas las cosas es verdaderamente vivir la vida en abundancia!

Jesucristo es el Creador quien dió Su vida para que pudiéramos ser restaurados. Caminemos con El cada momento de cada día. Empecemos a vivir verdaderamente la vida nueva en Cristo y recibamos con gratitud el privilegiado regalo de santidad.

Tenga un Dia Centrado en Cristo!

Steve Troxel
Ministerios La Palabra Diaria de Dios

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Put On The New Self

Put_On_The_New_Self

How does (or should) a Christian live? We might say a Christian is “made” by grace through faith in Jesus Christ; and we might define a Christian as a child of God who will spend eternity in His presence. And while these are true statements, it still seems there ought to be something about a Christian which makes him different from the rest of the unbelieving world; “if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

The moment we truly believe in Jesus Christ and accept the forgiveness offered through His sacrifice, we are transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit and become a “new creation.” But at the very instant of what we call our new birth, there is little recognizable difference between the old creation and the new. The transformation is done on our heart when we receive His Spirit, but there still remains a long process of maturing and allowing this transformation to consume every area of our life.

Much of the letters written by Paul were devoted to this same subject. He spent most of his ministry preaching the good news of Salvation through faith in Jesus; but most of his writing was to Christians, instructing them on how they should live.

Ephesians 4:22-24
“You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”

These verses are part of a three chapter passage (Ephesians 4-6) which begins with “I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received” (Ephesians 4:1) and includes teaching about unity, love, humility, anger, purity, husbands, wives, parents, children, slaves, masters, and the full armor of God – all teaching about what is meant by the new self! Some find it hard to understand that a Christian must be taught and urged how to live, but Paul understood. In fact, it’s clear in the original language that Paul is saying to put on the new self…and to KEEP putting it on!!

This is perhaps the most important, yet also the most neglected, teaching of the church today. We seem to have lost the understanding that the Christian life is designed to be a radical transformation which lasts all the rest of our days. The call to “come as you are” is also a call to prepare for, and expect, change.

The new life we have been given is not like the old; it is “created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” Let’s rise up every day and be determined to put away the old and live according to the new. Let’s show the world that our walk is different, that we walk hand in hand with Jesus, and that we have and will continue to put on the new self.

Have a Christ Centered Day!

Steve Troxel
God’s Daily Word Ministries

**** Reading Plan ****

Dec 2 Daniel 9:1-10:21; 1 John 2:18-3:6; Psalm 121:1-8; Proverbs 28:27-28

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Vestido del Nuevo Hombre

Put_On_The_New_Self

¿Como vive (o debe vivir) un Cristiano? Podríamos decir que un Cristiano se “hace” por gracia a través de la fe en Jesucristo, y podríamos definir un Cristiano como un hijo de Dios quien pasará la eternidad en Su presencia. Y mientras estas observaciones son verdaderas, todavía parece que debe haber algo acerca de un Cristiano que lo hace diferente del resto del mundo incrédulo; “De modo que si alguno está en Cristo, nueva criatura es; las cosas viejas pasaron; he aquí todas son hechas nuevas” (2 Corintios 5:17).

En el momento que genuinamente creemos en Cristo Jesús y aceptamos el perdón ofrecido por el sacrificio de Su muerte, somos transformados por el poder del Espíritu Santo y llegamos a ser una “nueva creación”. Pero en el mismo instante de lo que llamamos nuestro nacimiento nuevo, hay pocas diferencias visibles entre la creación vieja y la nueva. La transformación se hace en nuestro corazón y recibimos Su Espíritu, pero se necesita un proceso en el cual maduramos y permitimos que esta transformación consuma cada área de nuestra vida.

Muchas de las cartas escritas por Pablo eran dedicadas al mismo tema. El pasó la mayor parte de su ministerio predicando las buenas nuevas de la Salvación a través de fe en Jesús; pero la mayor parte de lo que escribió era dirigido hacia los Cristianos, instruyendolos en como deben vivir.

Efesios 4:22-24
“En cuanto a la pasada manera de vivir, despojaos del viejo hombre, que está viciado conforme a los deseos engañosos, y renovaos en el espíritu de vuestra mente, y vestíos del nuevo hombre, creado según Dios en la justicia y santidad de la verdad.”

Estos versículos son parte de un pasaje de tres capítulos (Efesios 4-6) que comienza con “os ruego que andéis como es digno de la vocación con que fuisteis llamados” (Efesios 4:1) e incluye enseñanzas acerca de unidad, amor, humildad, enojo, pureza, esposos, esposas, padres, hijos, esclavos, amos y la armadura completa de Dios – todos enseñando lo que significa el nuevo hombre! Algunos encuentran difícil entender que un Cristiano tiene que ser enseñado y motivado a como vivir, pero Pablo entendió. De hecho, en el lenguaje original, el esta diciendo poner el nuevo hombre – y SEGUIR poniendolo!!

Esto es posiblemente lo mas importante, y aún la mas descuidada, enseñanza de la iglesia hoy en día. Parece que hemos perdido el entendimiento que la vida Cristiana es diseñada a ser una transformación radical que dura por el resto de nuestros días. El llamado por “venir como eres” es también un llamado a prepararse por y esperar cambiar.

La nueva vida que nos ha sido dado no es como la vieja – es “creado a ser como Dios en verdadera rectitud y santidad.” Levantémonos cada día y determinemos a deshacernos del viejo y vivir según el nuevo. Mostremos al mundo que nuestro caminar es diferente – que nosotros caminamos mano a mano con Jesús – y que verdaderamente nos hemos vestido y continuaremos vistiendo del nuevo hombre.

Tenga un Dia Centrado en Cristo!

Steve Troxel
Ministerios La Palabra Diaria de Dios

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Dance of Thanksgiving

Dance_of_Thanksgiving

[Note: I sent this message out on Thanksgiving, 2013. WOW! Has it really been six years? Please remember this as you read this message – the message does not reference our current situation. Thanksgiving is probably my favorite holiday because I’m usually surrounded by my family and reminded that I have so much to be thankful for!]

Today is Thanksgiving in the United States. I know this isn’t a global holiday, but perhaps you will forgive me if I use this day to write a special Thanksgiving message.

This has been a difficult year for our family. In fact, the first five months were the most difficult of my life. Many of you walked through this struggle with us and prayed as we endured the diagnosis and treatment of our youngest daughter’s cancer. You were a wonderful Family during this time and we are deeply in your debt. For those new to this ministry, you can read more about this season in a series of messages at:

http://gdwm.org/index.php/category/kaylee-cancer/

In several of these messages I shared my personal struggle with how we, as believers in the All-Powerful, Loving, and Saving God of the Universe, are to relate to our trials. At the heart of this struggle was the well known passage in James.

James 1:2-4
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

I never once became mad at God, because I rejected the teaching which said God was responsible for sending these trials. God was not the author of this pain, so how could I find fault in Him? And yet, I promise, there was no joy in this trial!

But now as I see our entire family on the other side of this particular trial, I can finally say there is great joy and thanksgiving. Our faith was indeed tested, but I am now able see a wonderful increase in perseverance and maturity. And, not surprisingly, the greatest increase has come in our youngest daughter who faced the greatest portion of the trial.

This week we had to travel back to the hospital for Kaylee’s six month test to see if she has remained cancer free. The night before we were to travel, I asked her if she was fearful or anxious about the test. She said she had been listening to music, and a line in a particular song helped her to put things in perspective. The line of music said, “The God of second chance, He picked her up and He let her dance.” She told me that no matter what happens, no matter the level of pain, God is still going to be there to dance.

Did I mention our daughter is only thirteen years old? Yes, trials bring an increased level of maturity! The test results are back and Kaylee remains cancer free!! The dance continues.

A dance is a good metaphor for our Christian life. The dance begins as we join God, through faith in His Son, and continues as we are transformed, being empowered by His Spirit. He dances with us through our trials as we learn of His love and how to share the dance with others. Perhaps one of the main purposes of the dance is to teach us how to truly be thankful.

God has indeed invited us to join Him in a dance. No matter what trials we are currently needing to endure, even trials which are completely overwhelming, God is there to dance with us as we navigate through all the twists and turns. Time and time again He is there to pick us up; and whenever this current song ends, He will take us by the hand and lead us into the eternal dance of thanksgiving.

Have a Christ Centered Day!

Steve Troxel
God’s Daily Word Ministries

**** Reading Plan ****

Nov 28 Daniel 5:1-31; 2 Peter 2:1-22; Psalm 119:113-131; Proverbs 28:19-20
Nov 29 Daniel 6:1-28; 2 Peter 3:1-18; Psalm 119:132-155; Proverbs 28:21-22
Nov 30 Daniel 7:1-28; 1 John 1:1-10; Psalm 119:156-176; Proverbs 28:23-24
Dec 1 Daniel 8:1-27; 1 John 2:1-17; Psalm 120:1-7; Proverbs 28:25-26

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His Work of Art

His_Work_of_Art

Do you ever wake up and wonder if you are where God wants you? Do you ever wonder if you are really following God’s plan for your life? These are normal questions and ought to be asked by every true believer in Jesus Christ. We should desire to follow His plan; and the only way to know is to ask, listen for direction, and obediently follow.

The most important part of God’s plan is that we trust in Jesus for the forgiveness of sin; “He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). God wants us all to repent, turn to Jesus, and receive His gift of Salvation. He wants us to step from eternal death to eternal life through faith in His one and only Son!

But many people receive His gift and then continue life with no real change, no new direction. This should not be! When we receive God’s gift of Salvation, something wonderful occurs; “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17). When we place our life in His hands, He wipes away the ugliness of our sin and begins to grow and mature us into the likeness of His Son (Romans 8:29). This process of maturing growth IS His plan!

Ephesians 2:10
“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

When we become a new creation in Christ, we become God’s workmanship. The Greek word for workmanship is “poiema” – it’s where we get the word poem. And though it might be difficult to think of our life as a poem, the idea being presented is that God is creating something beautiful, something almost poetic which touches His heart.

It might be easier to switch analogies and think of God as the Master Painter. When we give Him our life, we hand Him our old canvas covered with the grotesque ugliness of sin. But by grace, the canvas is wiped clean, and the Artist begins to paint a work of art with Jesus as the model. Every stroke of His brush is to make our canvas look more and more like Christ.

Are we where God wants us? Are we following His plan? To help find the answer we should ask: Is the likeness of Christ beginning to form, or is my canvas still filled with ugliness and confusion? Am I allowing Him to paint, or am I trying to take the brush at every opportunity?

God really is the Master Painter, and He really does know what He is doing. If we will allow Him to finish His work, the end result will be better than anything we can imagine!! Let’s give Him our canvas and allow Him to paint. Let’s follow His plan and allow our life to become His work of art.

Have a Christ Centered Day!

Steve Troxel
God’s Daily Word Ministries

**** Reading Plan ****

Nov 27 Daniel 4:1-37; 2 Peter 1:1-21; Psalm 119:96-112; Proverbs 28:17-18

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Su Obra de Arte

His_Work_of_Art

¿Alguna vez se ha levantado y preguntado si está en donde Dios lo quiere tener? ¿Alguna vez se ha preguntado si está siguiendo el plan de Dios para su vida? Estas son preguntas normales y deben ser cuestionadas por cada creyente verdadero en Jesucristo. Deberíamos querer seguir Su plan; y la única forma de saber es preguntar, escuchar por guianza, y seguir en obediencia.

Lo mas importante en el plan de Dios es que confiemos en Jesús para el perdón de los pecados; “sino que es paciente para con nosotros, no queriendo que ninguno perezca, sino que todos procedan al arrepentimiento” (2 Pedro 3:9). Dios quiere que todos nos arrepintamos, nos volvamos a Jesús y recibamos Su regalo de Salvación. El quiere que pasemos de muerte eterna a vida eterna a través de la fe en Su Hijo unigenito!

Pero mucha gente recibe Su regalo y luego continúan su vida sin ningún cambio real, sin una nueva dirección. Esto no debería ser! Cuando recibimos el regalo de Salvación de Dios, algo maravilloso ocurre; “De modo que si alguno está en Cristo, nueva criatura es; las cosas viejas pasaron; he aquí todas son hechas nuevas” (2 Corintios 5:17). Cuando ponemos nuestra vida en Sus Manos, El quita toda la fealdad de nuestro pecado y comienza a crecer y madurarnos a la semejanza de Su Hijo (Romanos 8:29). Este proceso de crecimiento y maduración ES Su plan!

Efesios 2:10
“Porque somos hechura suya, creados en Cristo Jesús para buenas obras, las cuales Dios preparó de antemano para que anduviésemos en ellas.”

Cuando nos volvemos nueva creación en Cristo, nos volvemos la obra o “hechura” de Dios. La palabra griega para obra es “poiema” – es de aquí que viene la palabra poema. Y aún cuando puede ser difícil pensar en nuestra vida como un poema, la idea es que Dios está creando algo hermoso, algo casi poetico que toca el corazón de Dios.

Podría ser mas fácil cambiar analogías y pensar en Dios como el Maestro Pintor. Cuando le entregamos nuestra vida, le entregamos el viejo canvas cubierto con la fea suciedad del pecado. Pero por gracia, El limpia el canvas y comienza a pintar una obra de arte con Jesús como Su modelo. Cada brochazo es para hacer el canvas mas y mas parecido a Cristo.

¿Estamos donde Dios nos quiere? ¿Estamos siguiendo Su plan? Para encontrar la respuesta, debemos preguntar: ¿Está la semejanza de Cristo comenzando a formarse o está mi canvas aún lleno con fealdad y confusión? ¿Le estoy permitiendo a El pintar o estoy tratando de quitarle la brocha en cada oportunidad?

Dios es realmente el Maestro Pintor y El sabe realmente lo que esta haciendo. Si le vamos a permitir que termine Su trabajo, el resultado final será mejor que cualquier cosa de pudieramos imaginar!! Demosle nuestro canvas y permitamos que lo pinte. Sigamos Su plan y permitamos que nuestra vida se convierta en Su obra de arte.

Tenga un Dia Centrado en Cristo!

Steve Troxel
Ministerios La Palabra Diaria de Dios

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True Love of Christ

True_Love_of_Christ

In the last hours of His earthly ministry, Jesus spoke with His disciples and gave a command which was considered new: “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another” (John 13:34).

Should this command really have been new? Shouldn’t the disciples have known they were to love one another? Or is it possible to spend three years with a Master Teacher and yet not understand that learning must translate to action, and that we teach truth by first being an example of truth? If we desire to teach love, we must first be loving; to teach the concept of grace, we must first be gracious; and in order to “make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19), we must begin by first being a true disciple!

As I continue to study and learn the wonderful truths of God’s Word, and as I diligently try to teach these truths to others, I never want to stop at simply being better educated: “Do not merely listen to the Word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says” (James 1:22). I’ll be the first to admit that I fall short in many ways, but I sincerely strive to make His Word real and apply it in all areas of my life.

Our spiritual growth must never be measured by how much we know, but by how much we are transformed – by how much the Word penetrates to the innermost part of our heart. We have all been blessed by God’s love far more than we deserve. We must now better understand this love and then learn how to become His expression of love to others.

Ephesians 3:17-19
“I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge.”

The ultimate expression of love was that God gave His Son to an undeserving world so “that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). This is a love we will never fully understand.

Paul had such a deep appreciation for the love contained in God’s plan of Salvation through the sacrificial gift of Jesus, that he was often completely overwhelmed; “When I think of the wisdom and scope of God’s plan, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father” (Ephesians 3:14 NLT). When we begin to truly grasp His love, all we can do is say, Thank You!

Let’s pray for a greater understanding of His love and then return His love through a devoted life of worship. Let’s make His love real by demonstrating love to those He places in our path. Let’s begin to grasp, and then give back and share, the true love of Christ.

Have a Christ Centered Day!

Steve Troxel
God’s Daily Word Ministries

**** Reading Plan ****

Nov 26 Daniel 2:24-3:30; 1 Peter 4:7-5:14; Psalm 119:81-95; Proverbs 28:15-16

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Verdadero Amor de Cristo

True_Love_of_Christ

En las últimas horas de Su ministerio terrenal, Jesús habló con Sus discípulos y les dio un mandamiento que se consideraba como nuevo: “Un mandamiento nuevo os doy: Que os améis unos a otros; como yo os he amado, que también os améis unos a otros” (Juan 13:34).

¿Realmente debería haber sido nuevo este mandamiento? ¿No deberían haber sabido los discípulos que tenían que amar uno al otro? ¿O es posible pasar tres años con el Maestro y todavía no entender que el aprender tiene que convertirse en acción y que nosotros enseñamos primeramente a través de nuestro ejemplo de la verdad? Si deseamos enseñar el amor, primeramente tenemos que ser amorosos; para enseñar el concepto de la gracia, primeramente tenemos que ser graciosos, y para hacer “discípulos a todas las naciones” (Mateo 28:19), primeramente tenemos que ser un verdadero discípulo!

Mientras continuo estudiando y aprendiendo las maravillosas verdades de la Palabra de Dios – y mientras que intento con diligencia enseñar estas verdades a otros – Yo nunca quiero parar con sencillamente ser educado mejor: “Sed hacedores de la palabra y no tan solamente oidores” (Santiago 1:22). Seré el primero de admitir que fallo en muchas maneras, pero sinceramente peleo para hacer Su Palabra real y aplicarla en todas las áreas de mi vida.

Nuestro crecimiento Espiritual nunca debe ser medido por cuanto sabemos, sino por cuanto hemos sido transformados – por cuanto la Palabra ha penetrado a lo mas profundo de nuestro corazón. Todos hemos sido bendecido por el amor de Dios mucho mas alla de lo que merezcamos. Ahora tenemos que entender mejor este amor y después aprender como ser Su expresión de amor a los demás.

Efesios 3:17-19
“Para que habite Cristo por la fe en vuestros corazones, a fin de que, arraigados y cimentados en amor, seáis plenamente capaces de comprender con todos los santos cuál sea la anchura, la longitud, la profundidad y la altura, y de conocer el amor de Cristo, que excede a todo conocimiento.”

La última expresión del amor fue que Dios dio Su Hijo a un mundo que no lo merece para que “todo el que cree en él no se pierda, sino que tenga vida eterna” (Juan 3:16). Este es un amor que nunca entenderemos completamente.

Pablo tenía un aprecio tan profundo por el amor contenido en el plan de Salvación de Dios a través del regalo de Su Hijo, que a menudo era abrumador; “Por esta causa doblo mis rodillas ante el Padre de nuestro Señor Jesucristo” (Efesios 3:14). Cuando comenzamos a comprender Su amor, todo lo que podemos hacer es decir Gracias!

Oremos por un mayor entendimiento de Su amor y dediquemos cada momento de nuestra vida a devolver Su amor a través de la adoración. Hagamos real Su amor demostrando amor a aquellos que El pone en nuestro camino. Comencemos a comprender, y luego a devolver y compartir el verdadero amor de Cristo.

Tenga un Dia Centrado en Cristo!

Steve Troxel
Ministerios La Palabra Diaria de Dios

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Contend For The Faith

Contend_For_The_Faith

In the message “Never Let Them Forget” we were challenged to continually share God’s miraculous gift with those He places in our path. We considered this mainly from the aspect of sharing what God has done in our life, and continues to do, as we walk with Him. But we are also responsible to share the absolute truth about God and His unchanging plan of forgiveness, grace, faith, and love.

Jude wrote only one short letter (25 verses) of the Bible. He began the letter with a desire to encourage believers with the joy of Salvation; but as he sat down to write, he realized God was directing him to write a different message.

Jude 3
“Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints.”

There is great joy in our Salvation; a joy which must be shared. But we have been entrusted with the truth of the gospel message, and this truth is often under attack!

As we draw closer to God and begin to understand His perfect holiness, we are also made aware of the utter sinfulness of man and our hopelessness without Jesus. Each of us is born with a sin nature, and if left to ourselves we would become “filled with every kind of wickedness” (Romans 1:29). It’s not surprising how much evil abounds in the world. To a large degree, the world has rejected the Light of Christ and is living in an empty and confusing darkness.

The church is definitely not immune to the darkness of the world. We are attacked from those who are openly outside the church, but we are also under attack from those who have “secretly slipped in among you” (Jude 4a). These are people who claim to be called by God, but live an immoral life and “deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord” (Jude 4b). They seek to cause division and “follow their own ungodly desires” (Jude 18). We are told to fight this form of attack by strengthening our faith; “build yourself up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit” (Jude 20).

Yes, we must know the truth, protect the truth, and share the truth. If we are to become a light which leads others to the saving grace of Jesus, we must not allow the gospel which has been entrusted into our care to become distorted for personal gain or diluted for greater acceptance. We can personally fight this battle on a daily basis by drawing closer to the presence of God and knowing Him better through study and prayer. And we can fight as groups of believers as we encourage one another to live without compromise. Let’s test all teaching against His Word. Let’s share the absolute truth of our Lord and Savior and be prepared to stand as we contend for the faith.

Have a Christ Centered Day!

Steve Troxel
God’s Daily Word Ministries

**** Reading Plan ****

Nov 25 Daniel 1:1-2:23; 1 Peter 3:10-4:6; Psalm 119:71-80; Proverbs 28:14

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Batallemos por la Fe

Contend_For_The_Faith

En el mensaje “Nunca Permitan que lo Olviden” fuimos retados a compartir continuamente el regalo milagroso de Dios con aquellos que El pone en nuestro camino. Lo considerábamos principalmente desde la perspectiva de compartir lo que Dios ha hecho en nuestra vida y lo que continua haciendo mientras caminamos con El. Pero también somos responsables para compartir la verdad absoluta acerca de Dios y Su inmutable plan de perdón, gracia, fé y amor.

Judas escribió solamente una breve carta (25 versículos) de la Biblia. Empezó la carta con un deseo de motivar sus hermanos creyentes con el gozo de la Salvación; pero al solo comenzar, el realizó que Dios le estaba dirigiendo a escribir un mensaje diferente.

Judas 3
“Queridos hermanos, he deseado intensamente escribirles acerca de la salvación que tenemos en común, y ahora siento la necesidad de hacerlo para rogarles que sigan luchando vigorosamente por la fe encomendada una vez por todas a los santos.”

Hay gran gozo en nuestra Salvación – un gozo que es necesario compartir. Pero hemos sido encomendados con la verdad del mensaje del evangelio, y esta verdad es frecuentemente bajo ataque.

De la manera que nos acercamos a Dios y comenzamos a entender Su perfecta santidad, se nos hace mas claro también la pecaminosidad total del hombre y que está perdido sin Jesús. Cada uno de nosotros nacemos con una naturaleza de pecado; y nosotros sin supervisión, llegaríamos a ser “llenado de toda clase de maldad” (Romanos 1:29). No es una sorpresa la cantidad del mal que abunda en el mundo. En una gran medida, el mundo ha rechazado la Luz de Cristo y esta viviendo en una vacía y confusa oscuridad.

La iglesia definitivamente no es inmune a la oscuridad del mundo. Somos atacados por aquellos que están abiertamente afuera de la iglesia; pero también estamos bajo ataque por aquellos que “han infiltrado entre ustedes” (Judas 4). Estos son personas que sostienen ser llamados por Dios, pero que viven una vida inmoral y “niegan a Jesucristo, nuestro único Soberano y Señor” (Judas 4). Buscan causar divisiones y viven “según sus propias pasiones impías” (Judas 18). Nos dicen que peleemos contra esta forma de ataque fortaleciendo nuestra fe; “edificándose sobre la base de su santísima fe y orando en el Espíritu Santo” (Judas 20).

Si, tenemos que saber la verdad; proteger la verdad; y compartir la verdad. Si vamos a ser una luz que dirige a otros hacia la gracia salvadora de Jesús, no debemos permitir que el evangelio, que a nuestro cuido ha sido encomendado, llegue a ser distorsionado para ganancia personal o diluido para mayor aceptación. Podemos pelear esta batalla diariamente acercandonos a la presencia de Dios y conociendolo a El mejor a través del estudio y oración; y podemos pelear como grupos de creyentes de la manera que animamos unos a otros a vivir sin compromiso. Probemos toda enseñanza contra Su Palabra. Compartamos la absoluta verdad de nuestro Señor y Salvador y estemos preparados a mantenernos firmes mientras batallamos por la fe.

Tenga un Dia Centrado en Cristo!

Steve Troxel
Ministerios La Palabra Diaria de Dios

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