Josh Kreger

For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. Galatians 5:13 There is two way to look at liberty; one is to see it as a chance to go off and do whatever they want to and the other is to see it as a chance to have the freedom to serve others. Here Paul is telling us to to choose the latter. we are called to be higher and called to live a life of sacrifice and laying down our freedoms. However, if we don't have liberty then we wouldn't have anything to lay down. At the moment I am going through the Gospels and i can't help but see how often Jesus lays down His freedoms so that he can minister to the needy or the lowly. For instance when Christ went to the woman at the well He could have used His freedom not to talk to a disgusting gentile woman and not done so, however he chose to and in doing that was able to redeem her and show the Love of God to the whole town. //\\Applica

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Ephesians 6:1 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Colossians 3:20 Both of these passages have pretty much the same context and that is an encouragement to the family of how they should treat each other. So there's not much to add in that. But when it comes to obeying one's parents there's a bunch there. While growing up I wouldn't say that I was a very disobedient kid, but I did however look for every way that I could to get around the rule that my parents gave me. That not to say that I didn't disobey, but more than this I was deceptive. Which might be worse because when it comes done to it I was disobeying lying to myself saying that I wasn't disobeying. Any ways I was a kid who would do the right thing while my parents were looking but as soon as they looked away I would be sinning. This happened until I was almost 15 when I decided to give my life to Chri

2 Corinthians 10:5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, I really enjoy to looking into different arguments and opinions. I think that it is ironic how there is no good argument for the inexistence of God. Yet everyone of the arguments against God (which are crummy at best) are clung to by so many who do want to admit the existence of God. Paul says that in Christ they destroy ALL of the arguments and opinions that others hold that are against the knowledge of God, I think that it us important to see how Paul didn't say that he destroys all the arguments and opinions that others hold period. But he made sure to put that “against the knowledge of God” part so that we would know that Paul wasn't just going around trying to argue with everyone that steps up to him, but when someone would come to him wanting to disprove God he then defends the existence of God. //\\APPLICATION//\\

Hebrews 5:7 In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. It's sad to think about how pathetic and faithless our prayers actually are. I mean most the time when I pray I am very methodical and use terms like “Dear Lord” and for some reason think that I am ending my communication with God when I say the word “amen.” Not that I am trying to be legalistic and say that no one should say these certain word, but rather the opposite! I think that the Bible proclaims that we need to call out to God with desperation and sincerity. I don't think there are words that we shouldn't use in prayer, but I think whatever words we choose to use our heart behind them should be one of love, need, and desire to know the one you are talking to more deeply. //\\Application//\\ This week I will take a few moments before praying to mentally realize tha

1 Timothy 6:6 But godliness with contentment is great gain, 7 for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world We as Christians should be able to be completely content with just having Christ, however more often than not this isn’t the case. I look at my life and how often I am driven with un-contentment and the desire for more, but this shouldn’t be so. There are however other times in my life where I have been able to just rest in the Lord and when I am doing that He completely meets every want that I have. Not to say that He gave my everything that I wanted, but rather that me gave me complete satisfaction in Him. It’s a sobering thought that “we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world” so often people goo all their lives just chasing after more stuff hoping that they will be fulfilled, yet they aren’t. they key to not running through life hunting for the next thing to fulfill you for just that season of your

Revelation 1:9 I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. I want to start this by reading a little bit from form the book of Luke. Luke 21:12‭-‬17 ESV But before all this they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name's sake.  This will be your opportunity to bear witness.  Settle it therefore in your minds not to meditate beforehand how to answer,  for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict.  You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and some of you they will put to death.  You will be hated by all for my name's sake. I imagine when John was writing this letter Revelation, he was thinking b

Luke 21:19 By your endurance you will gain your lives. In this verse Jesus has just finished up talking about the tribulation that the Church is going to go through before He comes back for His it. This is important because only if we know what we are enduring through can we have endurance. Earlier on in chapter twenty-one Jesus lists off some pretty terrible things and says that we will go through them all for His name's sake. Why? Because following Christ is completely contrary to darkness and the world and when the darkness sees light growing it wants to push back. Darkness can't grow, it only increases when light decreases. So if the darkness could tire out the light then it would be gaining ground. Which is why the world is attacking followers of Christ so much and is why we as followers of Christ need to have endurance in Him. //\\APPLICATION//\\ I will pray that God will show me at least one way to push back darkness for Him today.

Hebrews 6:12 so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. ” Do not be Sluggish” this is obviously the objective in this verse and in that imitating the men and women of faith who have gone before us. I think about all the spiritual mentors that I have had in life and am so thankful that I was able to follow their example and in doing so chase after the prize which is Christ. When I first started my walk with God there was no one that I could follow in my life and I spent many nights calling out to God that He would give me someone that could mentor me. Then soon after my Youth Pastor started investing into my life and from then on I have always had someone to go to with anything that I was going through as well as someone that I could imitate. //\\Application//\\ This week I will try to be a someone that my team mates can go to with struggles that they are going through.

Ephesians 5:15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. When I examine my days I often look at how much time I spent doing absolutely nothing, or at least nothing that is beneficial. Paul is telling us that this shouldn’t be so. Paul says be wise and don’t waste your time because these days are short. We need to live a life that resinizes that there are people dying without Christ every day. And we need to do something about it, not in our own strength, but rather in the strength that comes through His wisdom. We shouldn’t live conformed to the world and foolish, but rather transformed walking in the wisdom of the Lord so that we can know what the will of the Lord is (Rom 12:10). So often I find myself asking what God’s will for my life is in this instance or that one, but what we as Christians need to do is dig into scriptur