Tip of the Day 4/2/12

As we are in the midst of what we know as Holy Week, from Palm Sunday leading up to Good Friday and Resurrection Day, we can learn something from the Israelites. As they prepared for the Passover celebration each year they spent days sweeping and cleaning their house to make sure there was not even a trace of leaven (yeast) in the house. This represented getting rid of any influence of the world before they celebrated the gift of the Passover which symbolized when they were saved from death. We would do well to follow their example and take time to clear out of our homes anything that pulls us down, keeps us from being all God has called us to be. We may need to get rid of books, or movies, or language, or behavior. What in your house (life) is keeping you from living the life God has promised you? Clean it out today.

Word for Today, Jealousy: This is such an ugly word when applied to our actions toward others. It is hard to think of it as a good word, but their is a good use of this emotion and it is demonstrated by our Heavenly Father. God has a right to be jealous when we, His creation, worship anything or anyone above Him. We are told not to have any god beside Him, we are told not to worship any man made image, our praise belongs only to Him. Anything we place above our worship and serving the one true living God is an idol. It can be a person, a place, a thing, a behavior or anything that comes between following His desires for how we are to live. Is there anything in your life that is standing between you wholly following Jesus? "You shall worship no other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God."