By Bread Alone

Matthew 4:4 - Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.

This verse is such a beautiful promise for us. The word of God sustains our souls as bread does our bodies. Whether we are in need of encouragement, direction, understanding, comfort, hope or anything else the word of God will always have the answer. If we eat from it daily it will make us strongly spiritually.

Often times we put things into our natural bodies that we shouldn't eat; we call it junk food. The word of God does not contain junk food. Every bite we take will be good for us. Sometimes it may taste like candy and other times like medicine but it is always healthy.

Take a bite today. It will be the best thing you eat today. But be forewarned. It is addictive. Once you start eating from the Lord's table nothing else will satisfy.

Spanish Pastor Jones

Overcome Evil by Good

Do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil by good. Romans 12:21

No one would deny that there is much evil in our world. One can hardly read the paper or turn on the news without hearing of another heinous crime. In fact, it seems like the more we try to do good, the more evil there is. The Apostle Paul must have felt the same way. (Romans 7:21). Is the situation hopeless then? Is there nothing we can do?

The above verse in Proverbs tells us what to do. We are to overcome evil by doing good. It almost sounds like a cliché doesn't it? Yet is truly isn't? You see, the world and its system doesn't know what to do with someone who responds to evil with good. When someone is ugly to us they expect us to be ugly back. They are disarmed when we respond with love and forgiveness.People who lie constantly believe that everyone else does the same. When they learn that someone will not lie to them they are amazed, yet they respect that person more.

You see the pattern? The only way to truly conquer evil is to not give in to it. The nature of evil (and it's father, the devil) is such that it wants to draw everyone of us into its power. When we do not give way to the temptation the evil has lost, at least in our personal lives.

Right about now you might be thinking, "But, Bro. Sullivan, that sounds way too hard." "I am not superhuman." No, none of us are superhuman. But we do have a superhuman God that lives inside of us. He would not have given us a command that we could not obey. And the truth is, this verse is not just a command. It is a secret weapon against the enemy. I can frustrate his plans for my day but not giving in to the evil around me. I can overcome evil with good.

Respectfully Yours,

Spanish Pastor Jones 

Servant-hood

Psalm 84:10 - For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.

There has been some speculation over what David meant when he used the word "doorkeeper" in the above verse. One thing is certain, however we look at it, a doorkeeper was not a lofty position; It was a position of servant-hood. A doorkeeper was not in a position to give orders but to take them. 

No doubt David knew what it was to take orders. He had been ordered around his whole life. He had seven older brothers to tell him what to do in addition to his parents. He was the one who was sent to the fields to keep the sheep. In that culture he wasn't even considered a son because he was number eight. He may as well to have been born a servant. I can just imagine him wondering what it must be like to "dwell in the tents" with the rest of his family rather than to be out in the field like a servant. 

It may have seemed like an unlikely place from which to choose a king but God knew what he was doing. The previous king, Saul, had decided that he could rule Israel himself without the help of God. Because of this God took him from the throne and promoted David. God wanted a man on the throne who knew what it was like to take orders. You see, God was Israel's real king and He wasn't going to let anyone forget it. 

All of us can find a parallel with David's life. Whether we are in the field or the palace we must remember that God put us there. Are we waiting on a promotion? We must serve diligently where we are and learn what we need to learn in our present state. Have we already been promoted? We must always remember that it was God who gave us everything that we have and He can take it away again. 

The concept of servant-hood is certainly not popular in today's world, especially as Americans. We are all very proud of the concept of freedom from tyrants and taskmasters. Yet we must all remember that we are called to be servants. Each of us is a servant of the Lord God Almighty and by extension a servant to our fellow man. Although it doesn't fit our comfort zones, there is no higher calling than to be a servant of God, willing to do whatever he asks us to do. And many times that service takes the form of helping another human being. 

Whatever God asks me to do, I want to be willing. When we are submitted to God we have a peace that nothing else can bring. David surely knew this peace. For only a God given peace can cause a man to say thus: I would rather be a servant and know my conscience is right with God than to be a wealthy man that has attained all he has through unrighteous means. 

Contentedness is of one of life's greatest blessings. Lord, help me to be content with where you have placed me and help me to take every opportunity I can to be of service to my fellow humans. For I know that in doing so I am serving you. Amen!