LIVING BY THE RULES 3

LIVE WITH ENTHUSIASM

II Timothy 2:1-5 Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. (2) And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. (3) Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. (4) No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. (5) And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.


It is good to be zealous and enthusiastic if you participate in sports. It also helps if you try to live your life with enthusiasm.

I feel really blessed in the fact that even though I am 61 years old I still have many things in life I can be enthusiastic about. I look forward to writing and posting the devotionals each day and I am especially thrilled when I get a comment or email from someone who has been helped or encouraged by them. There are other things in my life that I am enthusiastic about. I look forward to each day with anticipation and excitement and also with the expectation that I will somehow receive a blessing.

Each of us as a Christian should be like the anxious player sitting on the bench hoping that he will finally get in the game. The great thing is that in God's work we don't have to sit on the bench. We should really be excited that there is plenty of room for all of us on the playing field.

Please feel free to contact me by email at shilohkosciusko@gmail.com with questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.

If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know. Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus. I do appreciate you taking the time to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.

LIVING BY THE RULES 2

ABIDE BY THE RULES

II Timothy 2:1-5 Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. (2) And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. (3) Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. (4) No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. (5) And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.

Athletes have their rules to play by. Christians have the Bible and God's principles to guide and direct them.

Rules in sports are there for a reason. They are there for fairness. While nowhere in the Bible does it state that life is fair it certainly is much better if there are some rules to follow. God's commandments teach us that we are to treat people fairly and that everyone should have a chance. Many today do not want fairness but they would rather have preference. Be careful when you say, "life is not fair". The fact could be that you may not be taking advantage of the opportunities that God has given you.

Rules are in place in sporting events for the purpose of safety. We are much safer in our Christian life if we follow such rules as avoiding temptation. There are many more but you get the general idea.

Rules are in place for the enjoyment of athletes. If the game is played by the rules you get much more enjoyment out of it. The rules and principles that God has given us are in place for our benefit. Sin is not forbidden just because it is sin. It is forbidden because it is harmful. God wants you to live a joy filled life conforming to the image of Jesus.

Please feel free to contact me by email at shilohkosciusko@gmail.com with questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.

If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know. Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus. I do appreciate you taking the time to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.

LIVING BY THE RULES 1

II Timothy 2:1-5 Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. (2) And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. (3) Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. (4) No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. (5) And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.


Paul used many common place things and events to show forth the principles of Christian living. In these verses he compares the Christian life to a soldier and an athlete. I will be using the comparison of Christians to athletes in the next few devotionals. Some of the same elements that lead to the success of an athlete are true for living a successful Christian life also.

To live a good Christian life you have to abide by the rules and you can hardly abide by rules you don't know. The best way to learn them is to study your Bible with a desire to grow closer to our Lord.

I hope you can gain something out of this series of devotionals. Please feel free to contact me by email at
shilohkosciusko@gmail.com with questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.

If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know. Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus. I do appreciate you taking the time to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.

SAINTS IN BAD PLACES 5

A MISERABLE DISCIPLE -Peter after Denying Christ

Luke 22:55 And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and were set down together, Peter sat down among them.

Can you imagine the feeling Peter had after he had denied Christ 3 times on the night of his trial? Now here he was to face the disciples. I can imagine that he felt that everyone of them knew what he had done and that they would all be looking at him in disgust. Actually it probably took all the courage he could muster to gather together with the other followers of Jesus. We know that Jesus forgave him and later Peter did great work for the Lord.

We sometimes find it hard to believe that someone so close to Jesus could deny Him but actually we should be more aware of standing up for Jesus than Peter was. Peter did not know that Jesus would overcome death and sin for all of us and he was afraid. If we believe what we say we believe we have no reason to fear.

You might be thinking that you would never deny Christ but we do it often. When we go to places Christians should not go, when we do things we should not do, and even when we remain silent when we should speak up for the cause of Christ it is a form of denial.

Jesus used Peter in a great way. He will use you to if you will let Him.

Running from God is a bad place for a Christian to be.

Please feel free to contact me by email at shilohkosciusko@gmail.com with questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.


If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know. Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus. I do appreciate you taking the time to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.

SAINTS IN BAD PLACES 4

A DISOBEDIENT SERVANT-Jonah in the whale's belly

Jonah 2:1 Then Jonah prayed unto the LORD his God out of the fish's belly,

God had told Jonah to go and preach to Nineveh. Jonah ran from God because he was afraid that the Ninevites would heed God's message and be spared. Jonah wanted to see God's vengeance on Nineveh.

I have wondered many times what it was like in that whales' belly. I am sure it was dark, damp and extremely smelly. If a place like that won't get your attention I don't know what would. I have never been in a whale's belly but I have found myself in some situations that were really dark and uncomfortable. It usually got better when I realized that I was there because I had been running from the Lord.

I ran from the call to preach for years and those were some of the darkest years of my life. It wasn't until I also prayed and told God that I would do anything, "Even preach", that I began to see some light.

Running from God is a bad place for a Christian to be.

Please feel free to contact me by email at shilohkosciusko@gmail.com with questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.


If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know. Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus. I do appreciate you taking the time to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.

SAINTS IN BAD PLACES 3

A DISCOURAGED WORKER -Elijah under the juniper tree.

1 Kings 19:4 But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I not better than my fathers.

We all become discouraged from time to time. It is hard not to become discouraged when we know what great things our God can do and yet people still fail to believe. This was Elijah's situation. He had just been victorious over the prophets of baal and yet Jezebel still vowed to kill him. That would be discouraging. Even the proof that the God of the Bible is the true and living God fails to convince those whose hearts have been hardened against Him.

Many times there will be a great spiritual awakening in an area and shortly thereafter when problems arise you will find many people just like Elijah. They become discouraged.

To be sitting and having a pity party is a bad place for a Christian to be. Sometimes we must go through the valleys to reach the next mountain top. What we have to do is keep our focus on the One we are serving and not on the circumstances we find ourselves in. Keep focused on Jesus and you will not find yourself in a place of discouragement.

Please feel free to contact me by email at shilohkosciusko@gmail.com with questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.


If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know. Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus. I do appreciate you taking the time to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.

SAINTS IN BAD PLACES 2

A SILENCED WITNESS - Lot in Sodom

Genesis 14:12 And they took Lot, Abram's brother's son, who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed.

God had instructed Abraham to leave his home and go to a land that God would show him. Abraham was supposed to take only his immediate family, servants, and possessions but he chose to take his nephew Lot. During the long journey Abraham's servants and Lot's servants began to squabble. They finally had to separate.

The Bible tells us that Lot pitched his tent toward Sodom and we know from the scriptures that he finally wound up living in the midst of that sinful town. Abraham asked the Angel of the Lord to spare Sodom if he could find 10 righteous people living there. The truth is that if Lot had reached his own family it would have numbered at least ten. If he had reached others around him Sodom could have been spared.

How sad it is to be a silent witness in a place that is much in need of the knowledge of God.

Please feel free to contact me by email at shilohkosciusko@gmail.com with questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.


If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know. Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus. I do appreciate you taking the time to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.

SAINTS IN BAD PLACES 1

A BACKSLIDING BELIEVER- Abraham in Egypt

Genesis 12:10 And there was a famine in the land: and Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there; for the famine was> grievous in the land.

We are used to thinking of Abraham as a great believer but when we study his life we find that there were times when he made decisions that were contrary to God's promises. While he was in Egypt he found himself in trouble several times and even denied that Sarah was his wife because he was afraid of the king.

God promised Abraham an heir and he was promised that it would be his and Sarah's son. Abraham took matters into his own hands and had a son by one of Sarah's servants. Today the descendants of Abraham still have problems. It was later in life that Abraham truly came to realize that he had to trust God in all things and not take matters into his own hands.

You might be asking,"What has this got to do with backsliding?" That is basically what backsliding is. When we fail to put our trust in God's promises and begin to trust in our own reasoning we begin to slide backward away from God. Being in a backslidden condition is a bad place for a believer to be.

Please feel free to contact me by email at shilohkosciusko@gmail.com with questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.


If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know. Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus. I do appreciate you taking the time to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.

BEING THE LIGHT 2

Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

A CITY SET ON A HILL

Our good works should be seen by others. I don't mean that we should do them just to be seen but if we do them out of love for Jesus the world will surely notice.

I have always read billboards as I drive along the highway. They are informative and sometimes even entertaining. I especially like the new digital billboards. They really attract your attention. We should be attractive, and informative to others so that we might lead them to Christ.

A light can lead you to safety, and a light can warn you of danger. We should be like the lighthouse on the reef that warns ships of the dangerous rocks and steers them to safety. Many are headed to the dangers of sin and we are the lighthouse that can guide them to Jesus.

I have always loved the verse in the song that says, "If it wasn't for the lighthouse, where would this ship be."

Shine your light like a City Set on a Hill.
Please feel free to contact me by email at

shilohkosciusko@gmail.com with questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.


If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know. Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus. I do appreciate you taking the time to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.

BEING THE LIGHT 1

Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

WE ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD

As Christians we are responsible to be the light of the world. We are not to hide our light under a bushel but to light the way for others. We are supposed to expose evil and reveal sin and it's dangers. I am surprised to see how many people are on the road to destruction and do not even realize they are in danger.

There was a trial once where a train hit a car. It was in the old days when a switch man would use a lantern to warn oncoming cars of an approaching train. The switch man swore under oath that he was furiously waving the lantern but the car failed to stop. The railroad was found not to be at fault in the accident. After the trial the switch man told a friend, "I am sure glad no one asked me if the lantern was lit."

When we wave the lantern to warn others of coming Judgement we need to make sure our lantern is lit by the eternal light of Jesus.
Please feel free to contact me by email at

shilohkosciusko@gmail.com with questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.


If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know. Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus. I do appreciate you taking the time to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.

SALTY CHRISTIANS

Matthew 5:13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.

SALT CAUSES THIRST

There is an old saying, "You can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink." That is not entirely true. You can make him drink if you feed him enough salt. I have heard people say the same thing about Christianity. They say, "You can tell them about Jesus but you can't make them accept Him." That statement is certainly true.

What we have to do is live our lives in such a way that people want to know what it is that makes the difference in our life. We can then tell them that it is not a what but a "Who". Jesus makes the difference in our life and we should be making them thirst after "the living water".

Then they would never thirst again for the springs of eternal life. Are you making people thirsty for Jesus?


Please feel free to contact me by email at

shilohkosciusko@gmail.com with questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.


If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know. Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus. I do appreciate you taking the time to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.

SALTY CHRISTIANS

Matthew 5:13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.

SALT SEASONS

Just as salt adds flavor to food a Christian should make the quality of life better for those they come into contact with. Someone once said that when a person becomes a Christian even the family dog should notice a difference in him.

Does your Christian attitude add to the quality of life of those you come in contact with. I once knew a lady who was always complaining about what others in the church should be doing. Every time I would run into her she would jump on me about what someone else did or didn't do. Needless to say, I didn't want to come in contact with her very often.

Someone once said, "Everyone makes people happy. Some make them happy when they arrive, some make them happy when they leave."

A Christian should always do their best to make any gathering more pleasant. Are people glad to see you coming, or tickled to see you going? Be a Salty Christian and make life better for those you come in contact with.

Please feel free to contact me by email at

shilohkosciusko@gmail.com with questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.


If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know. Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus. I do appreciate you taking the time to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.

SALTY CHRISTIANS

Matthew 5:13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.

SALT PRESERVES

Matthew 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
(The Rock is Jesus and the Fact that He is The Christ)

If we are to preserve our Christian heritage and our Christian way of life it is important that we continue to build the Church that Jesus wants built. Jesus is the very foundation. Many false churches are crumbling today because they have strayed from their very foundation.

I guess one of my favorite sayings is, "It's not about me." I learned long ago that it is not about me. It is all about Jesus and what He did for us to redeem us. If we are to preserve our Christian way of life we must build on that foundation... It is all about Jesus.

Please feel free to contact me by email at

shilohkosciusko@gmail.com with questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.


If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know. Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus. I do appreciate you taking the time to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.

OUR CHRISTIAN BANNER 4

Psalms 20:5 We will rejoice in thy salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners: the LORD fulfil all thy petitions

WE SHOULD RAISE OUR BANNER AND NOT BE ASHAMED

Romans 1:16 For I am not ASHAMED of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

We should never be ashamed to be associated with Jesus. He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords and we should be glad to speak about Him with anyone.

As I sit writing this the news is full of stories about a visit from the royal couple from England. Actually today as I write this it is July 4th, and as they showed a story about their visit I mentioned to my wife, if it hadn't been for what happened in 1776 this visit might actually mean something. We would be subjects of England and they would be our royal couple.

If the world can be so excited about people who have no effect or influence over thier lives how much more should they not be ashamed to proclaim the Lordship of Jesus Christ.




Please feel free to contact me by email at

shilohkosciusko@gmail.com with questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.


If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know. Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus. I do appreciate you taking the time to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.

OUR CHRISTIAN BANNER 3

Psalms 20:5 We will rejoice in thy salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners: the LORD fulfil all thy petitions

Our banner should be a boldness to witness to others of what Christ has done in our lives.

Acts 4:13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had BEEN WITH JESUS.

Sometimes we forget what being a witness means. It is just telling someone else about your personal experience. What has Jesus done for you?
How has He changed your life? What difference does knowing Him make in your everyday life?

You don't have to be a Bible scholar to witness. You just have to know Jesus and be able to share your true experiences with others. Raise your banner and witness boldly.


Please feel free to contact me by email at

shilohkosciusko@gmail.com with questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.


If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know. Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus. I do appreciate you taking the time to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.

OUR CHRISTIAN BANNER 2

Psalms 20:5 We will rejoice in thy salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners: the LORD fulfil all thy petitions

Our banner should be our Christian Conduct.

A policeman arrested a women and threw her in jail for driving a stolen vehicle. He released her later and apologized. He said the reason he figured it wasn't her car was because he had seen her roll her window down and use foul language toward another driver that had angered her.

When he saw her What Would Jesus Do bumper sticker he figured the car was stolen.

It amazes me when I see people proclaiming one minute to be such a strong christian and the next minute they are involved in behavior that is completely contrary to the teachings of the Bible.

Sometimes when I see people demonstrating against a church because the church wants to take a biblical stand on something it makes me wonder, if you don't believe the Bible anyway why do you want to be a part of a church that does believe it. There are plenty of false churches they can join without trying to make trouble for Bible believing churches.

Please feel free to contact me by email at shilohkosciusko@gmail.com with questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.


If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know. Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus. I do appreciate you taking the time to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.

OUR CHRISTIAN BANNER 1

Psalms 20:5 We will rejoice in thy salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners: the LORD fulfil all thy petitions

Introduction: A banner is something that is used to identify a group, a product, or an organization etc.

The Military is known for using banners to identify certain special groups. The special forces of the army are known for the Green Berets they wear, the Airborne patches identify the elite paratroops.

Sport teams have banners for their fans to wave at games to identify the fans with the teams they support. According to this psalm it looks like banners are not something that is new. David said, "we will set up our banners..."

We as Christians should not be afraid to be identified with Jesus and with Christianity, but we should be careful that we try to conform to His standards when we do.

Please feel free to contact me by email at

shilohkosciusko@gmail.com with questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.


If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know. Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus. I do appreciate you taking the time to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.

A PATTERN FOR PRAYER 7

Psalm 17:15 As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.

Longing

"When I awake". This makes me realize that David had a longing for the resurrection.

I believe a strong prayer life will cause us to look forward to the return of Jesus. The more we communicate with on Heavenly Father, the more prepared we will be to go Home to be with Him.

If your started these devotionals in the middle I encourage you to go back to the beginning of this series and read them all in order. It might even help you if you print them out and glance at them from time to time during the day. Our nation is in Crisis! Prayer is the only hope we have and we all need to get better at it.

Please feel free to contact me by email at

shilohkosciusko@gmail.com with questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.


If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know. Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus. I do appreciate you taking the time to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.

A PATTERN FOR PRAYER 6

Psalm 17:15 As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.

Satisfaction

When we follow the right paths to a fruitful prayer life we will certainly find satisfaction. We hear a lot about the Bible being food for the soul. I agree that it is. It satisfies a hunger that only the Word of God can fill.

If the Bible is like food to the soul, then prayer is like oxygen. Many people are suffocating spiritually because they do not have a strong prayer life.

Increase your prayer life. When you do you will certainly find more satisfaction.

Please feel free to contact me by email at

shilohkosciusko@gmail.com with questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.


If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know. Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus. I do appreciate you taking the time to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.

A PATTERN FOR PRAYER 5

Psalm 17:15 As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.

Expectation

We should pray with great Expectation. In the beginning of these devotionals I mentioned God's awesomeness. to me one of the most wonderful things about God is that even though He is all powerful and His greatness exceeds anything we can even in aging, He still cares for me enough to hear my prayers.

God's attention is not diminished one bit by the number of people praying. He still listens as if are were the only one talking to Him. We should pray with expectation, and anticipation knowing that wen though we talk to Him in prayer now, some day we will meet Him face to face.

Pray with expectation. God wants to bless you.


Please feel free to contact me by email at

shilohkosciusko@gmail.com with questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.


If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know. Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus. I do appreciate you taking the time to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.