If Fish Could Talk

Suppose you’re a fish and see a juicy floating worm. Just before you can eat it another fish quickly swims and takes the bait. You’re stunned because the fish immediately shoots straight up out of the water and doesn’t come back!

A few minutes later, you spot another worm. Again, another fish grabs it before you can get there. Up it goes and never returns. This happens three more times. Since you’re a talking fish, you warn the others, “I’ve figured out something bad happens whenever I see a floating worm. I don’t understand why but every time a fish bites a worm it’s immediately jerked out of the water.”

Some fish ridicule you. “You’re not going to tell us what to do. If we see a worm we'll eat it!” Later you don’t notice them around anymore. You only see the other fish who listened to your advice. (If only people would listen)

James 1:14 says, “But each person is tempted when (WHEN?) they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed.” The Greek word for “enticed” means “to bait a hook.” The fisherman uses bait to attract the fish and hides a hook inside to conceal the consequences. It takes two things to catch it—a hungry fish and enticing bait. 

Your mind is the pond where Satan goes fishing. Instead of dropping a worm into your mind he drops in a lying thought, “You can have this and nothing bad will happen to you.” You can’t see the hook, but if you’re wise you’ll swim away. Bait always includes consequences.

The fish that took the bait never dreamed it would end up in a frying pan. The alcoholic never thought he would end up in the street gutter when he took his first drink. The adulterer never dreamed he’d lose his family for yielding for one fleeting moment.

What's the bait that's tempting you? Remember a hook is always hidden inside. Avoid the bait and you won’t suffer the consequences.  www.makinglifecount.net

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BIBLE STUDY: “Overcoming Temptation”  

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Making Life Count Ministries

P.O. Box 680174

Prattville, Alabama 36068-0174

www.makinglifecount.net  Twitter: @KentCrockett

www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com

Death is Like Falling Asleep and Waking Up

Passing through death’s door can be a terrifying thought if we don’t believe what Jesus said about it. What will it be like? The Bible says death for the Christian is like sleeping. When Lazarus died, Jesus compared it to sleep (John 11:13). Paul also referred to a believer's death as sleep (1 Cor. 15:51). It doesn't hurt when you go to sleep, does it? No. In fact, many people look forward to sleeping.

A little boy asked his mother what death was like. She said, "Do you remember when you fell asleep in the living room? Your father picked you up and carried you to your bedroom. When you woke up, you found yourself in another room. Death for a Christian is like that. You go to sleep in one room and wake up in another room. You fall asleep on earth and wake up in heaven."

Jesus took the sting out of death for those who love Him, so you don’t need to be afraid of it (1 Cor. 15:55, Heb. 2:15). Our body stays behind awaiting resurrection but our spirit immediately goes to be with the Lord. To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord (2 Cor. 5:8). Click here to find out how you can find peace with God.   www.makinglifecount.net

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Receive these devotionals (free) by email: You can subscribe in the box on the right at www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com (Your email will not be given out. You’ll receive an email when the new devotional is posted)

Making Life Count Ministries

P.O. Box 680174

Prattville, Alabama 36068-0174

www.makinglifecount.net  Twitter: @KentCrockett

www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com

Getting the Buttons in the Right Order

As you start the New Year, it would be wise to evaluate your priorities, which are the things that are most important to you. We all have things that are more important to us than other things. Here are four ways to identify your priorities.

1. What you have a passion for.

2. How much time you spend with it.

3. How much money you spend on it.

4. What you choose it over. 

The buttons on a shirt represent priorities. If you get the top button of a shirt buttoned wrong, all of the other buttons will be out of order. If I take the bottom button of the shirt and put it in the top hole, the shirt will get messed up. Let’s just say the bottom button is golf. There’s nothing wrong with golf but it’s a bottom button in life. To get the buttons in the right order, it starts with God being the top priority.

Button #1: God. Jesus said the top button is to love God with all your heart, soul, and mind (Matt. 22:37). Seek first God’s kingdom and His righteousness (Matt. 6:33). Read some of God’s Word every day and talk to Him throughout the day.

Button #2: Your spouse. If you’re married, that means your spouse is your number two priority. You made a vow to God at your wedding to honor your spouse and forsake all others.

Button #3: Your children. Love them and teach them about God. Take care of their spiritual needs before you enroll them in sports or dance classes. Many kids grow up with the wrong values because their parents instilled the wrong priorities in them.

Button #4: Your job. You can serve God at your job by doing excellent work. “Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve” (Col. 3:23-24).

Button #5: Your ministry. I know a pastor who put his ministry as his highest priority—until he almost lost his family. He said, “I gave my life away to strangers and neglected my own household.” You can have an effective ministry and still have a healthy family life.  

Button #6: Your hobbies. God wants you to rest. Recreation is like therapy, so it’s good to have a hobby that you enjoy doing. But it’s a bottom button. Don’t put it in the top hole. www.makinglifecount.net

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Receive these devotionals (free) by email: You can subscribe in the box on the right at www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com (Your email will not be given out. You’ll receive an email when the new devotional is posted)

Making Life Count Ministries

P.O. Box 680174

Prattville, Alabama 36068-0174

www.makinglifecount.net  Twitter: @KentCrockett

www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com