Category: Tĩnh nguyện

By Rick Warren – Source: nhulieuthanhkinh.com

“A wise person is cautious and turns away from evil, but a fool is arrogant and careless.”

Proverbs 14:16 (NASB)

It’s common sense that if you don’t want to get stung, stay away from the bees! If you don’t want to get burned, don’t get close to the fire! If you don’t want to fall off the cliff, don’t hang off the ledge!

The goal is not to see how close you can get to temptation but rather how far away from it you can stay.

Proverbs 14:16 says, “A wise person is cautious and turns away from evil, but a fool is arrogant and careless” (NASB). You might think you can handle temptation, but who are you kidding? You need to do a frank assessment. You need to analyze when and where you are most tempted and vulnerable. Then you need to stay away from those situations as much as you can.

The Bible says to run from temptation: “I pondered the direction of my life, and I turned to follow your laws” (Psalm 119:59 NLT). If you have to physically remove yourself, do it! When Potiphar’s wife tempted Joseph, she grabbed his cloak, so he left it behind as he ran out of the house.

The point is, get out of the situation. Run from the temptation. Don’t stick around.

When you’re tempted, change the channel. Turn on music. Go for a walk. Read the Bible. Call a Christian friend. Do something to break the spell.

Here is what won’t work: Don’t ever try to argue with the devil. You’ll lose every time. He’s had thousands of years to think up counter arguments to anything you may say. Don’t rationalize it. Don’t justify it. Don’t argue it. The key is to break the focus.

Don’t stare at the cookies and repeat, “I don’t want them! I don’t want them!” Turn around! The more you try to fight a feeling, the more it grows in intensity.

When temptation calls, don’t try to argue. Just hang up and go do something else.

By Rick Warren – Source: nhulieuthanhkinh.com

“We are tempted when we are drawn away and trapped by our own evil desires. Then our evil desires conceive and give birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.” James 1:14-15 (GNT)

Today we live in an age of irresponsibility, where few people want to admit that their problems are their own fault. We’ve become a victim culture. I’m speaking generally, but it sems like people never think a problem is their fault; somebody else is always to blame.

We blame others. We blame the government and the media. We blame our parents and our DNA. We blame our schools and the environment—everything but ourselves.

The truth is, we bring most of our problems on ourselves. We just need to accept responsibility and quit blaming others. Every time we blame somebody else, we’re not admitting what the real problem is.

If you’re facing temptation right now, you’re never going to find freedom until you stop fixing the blame and start fixing the problem. Stop blaming other people! Even when other people have hurt you, it’s your reaction that’s causing the problem.

It’s amazing to me that some people even try to blame God for the messes in their lives.

One of the most common excuses I’ve heard to justify a multitude of sins is, “God wants me to be happy, and this will make me happy.”

But God’s will never contradicts God’s Word. If God says, “Don’t do that” in the Bible, he will never tell you “yes” through a feeling. I don’t care how good the feeling is—when you listen to your feelings instead of God’s Word, you’re walking straight into a trap.

God wants you to be holy more than he wants you to be happy. He wants you to obey him. And the truth is, you will never be totally happy when you ignore God’s will. In fact, you’re heading for destruction when you do that. The rules and principles in the Bible are not there to make life miserable. They’re there for our own good.

The happiest people in the world are those who hang on to what God says and follow it, regardless of what their feelings are telling them to do.

By Rick Warren – Source: nhulieuthanhkinh.com

“I don’t want your sacrifices—I want your love; I don’t want your offerings—I want you to know me.”  Hosea 6:6 (TLB)

Imagine that your friends throw a birthday party for you. Everyone brings a gift, but instead of giving them to you, they give them to each other! As strange as that sounds, it happens every Christmas. We give gifts to everybody except Jesus.

You may be saying to yourself, “God already has everything! What could I possibly give him?” Or you may think you don’t have anything worth giving.

God doesn’t want things from you. In Hosea 6:6, God says, “I don’t want your sacrifices—I want your love; I don’t want your offerings—I want you to know me” (Hosea 6:6 TLB). Here are several things to give Jesus this Christmas that he can’t get from anyone but you.

Give him your trust. God will never force you to trust him. Faith is always voluntary. You have to give him your trust. And then God will work in your life based on your faith in him. Jesus says, “According to your faith let it be done to you” (Matthew 9:29 NIV). The more you trust him, the more he is able to do through you.

Give him your heart. The Message paraphrase says, “Open up before GOD, keep nothing back; he’ll do whatever needs to be done” (Psalm 37:5). God wants every part of your life. He wants you to say, “God, I’m opening up my life to you—the good, the bad, and the ugly.” When you do that, God promises to help you mature into who he created you to be.

Giving God your heart also means giving him what you love, value, and treasure. In fact, Jesus says, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Luke 12:34 NIV). God isn’t just talking about your money. He doesn’t need your money. He wants what it represents—anything that is more important to you than him.

Bring others to him. God wants everyone in his forever family. It’s the reason he sent Jesus: “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16 NKJV). God wants you to tell others about Jesus. The Bible says: “Go out into the country lanes and behind the hedges and urge anyone you find to come, so that the house will be full” (Luke 14:23 NLT). This Christmas, be a star and a light that guides other people to Jesus.

Jesus wants these gifts, and he can’t get them from anyone but you. But he won’t force you. Despite the rush and activities of the season, stop today to consider what gifts you will bring to Jesus this Christmas.

By Rick Warren – Source: nhulieuthanhkinh.com

“They came to the house where the child was and saw him with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. They opened their gifts and gave him treasures of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” Matthew 2:11 (NCV)

When the wise men went in search of the promised Savior, they intended to give him the best they had—their best tangible gifts along with their gratitude, honor, worship, and love. The wise men came to see Jesus for the right reasons.

Many people today come to God when they need something—but they’re not actually there to love or worship him. They think of God as their genie in a bottle, someone they can summon in prayer and expect to give them whatever they want. The problem with that thinking is this: God does not exist for you; you exist for him.

Here’s what happened when the wise men arrived in Bethlehem: “They came to the house where the child was and saw him with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. They opened their gifts and gave him treasures of gold, frankincense, and myrrh” (Matthew 2:11 NCV).

Not only did they worship him, but they also gave Jesus “treasures”—the best they had. They didn’t give him their leftovers or something worthless. Their gifts were costly and meaningful. The gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh had significant symbolism.

Gold was a gift for kings. In ancient times, if you were granted an audience with a king, you brought a tribute of gold. With this gift, the wise men acknowledged Jesus as King.

Frankincense was for worshipping God.  This incense was used by the Jewish leaders in the temple as part of their worship practices. With this gift, the wise men acknowledged Jesus as the one true God who was worthy of their worship.

Myrrh was used for the dead—a most unusual gift for a baby. This spice was used in ancient times to embalm dead bodies. With this gift, the wise men acknowledged Jesus as the Savior who came to die.

Jesus did not come to earth simply to live. He came to earth to die for your sins so you can be forgiven, live a new life, and go to heaven.

As you seek Jesus this Christmas, learn from the wise men who sought Jesus for the right reasons. Worship him as King of kings, Lord of lords and Savior of the world and give him the best you have. He is worthy of your worship.

By Rick Warren – Source: nhulieuthanhkinh.com

“Where is the baby who was born to be king of the Jews?” Matthew 2:2 (NCV)

Wise people seek the truth. They’re not happy with guesses or speculation when it comes to life, themselves, or God. They’re willing to go to any lengths to find the truth.

The Bible says that, when the wise men arrived in Jerusalem, they asked, “Where is the baby who was born to be king of the Jews?” (Matthew 2:2 NCV). The wise men sought Jesus. Wise women and men still seek him today.

The wise men were seekers. They studied, watched what was happening around them, and saw the star—and they knew a Savior was going to be born. They made an expensive, months-long trip across the scorching desert because they were serious about seeking God. That’s wise.

Seeking God today is still wise. When it comes to the search for truth, there are two kinds of people—speculators and seekers. Speculators just guess about the truth. They wonder and make assumptions. They love to talk about God. They say, “I think God is like this,” or “I like to think of God as that.”

But what you think about God doesn’t really matter. What matters is the truth. What you think about God may be comfortable for you, but it could be wrong. What you need to know is the actual truth about God, not speculation.

Genuine seekers, on the other hand, take the time and the trouble to find the truth. Their minds are open to what they might discover about God or the Bible. When they have doubts, they ask questions and are willing to go to any lengths to find answers. God loves seekers because seeking leads to truth.

Think about this. Bethlehem, where Jesus was born, was six miles from Jerusalem. All of the Jewish religious leaders of that day were in Jerusalem, and yet not one of them sought Jesus. The wise men traveled for months to find what was in the Jewish leaders’ backyard!

You can have Jesus right in your midst and miss him if you’re not looking for him. But if you are genuinely serious about knowing the truth, you won’t be able to miss it. Why? Because God won’t let you miss it.

The Bible says, “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13 NIV). If you’re seeking Jesus, don’t stop your search until you meet him face to face.

By Rick Warren – Source: nhulieuthanhkinh.com

“She gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.” Luke 2:7 (NASB)

Consider this: The fact that the innkeeper didn’t make room for Jesus did not stop Jesus from being born. History is his story. When the innkeeper said, “No room,” it didn’t hurt God. But the innkeeper missed what would have been the biggest blessing of his life. He missed the privilege of housing the Son of God.

Luke 2:7 says, “She gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn” (NASB).

You don’t change God’s plans when you don’t make room for him—but you miss out! Jesus wants to give you purpose, peace, and power. But for him to do that, you have to make room for him in your heart.

First, Jesus wants to give you purpose. Do you ever feel something is missing in your life? It’s because you were made for purpose and significance, not just money or success. Success is not enough; it doesn’t satisfy.

The Message paraphrase of 2 Corinthians 6:12-13 says, “The smallness you feel comes from within you. Your lives aren’t small, but you’re living them in a small way . . . Open up your lives. Live openly and expansively!” The antidote to unfulfillment is to make room for Jesus and what really matters! Don’t shut him out.

Next, Jesus can give you the kind of peace the Bible calls “the peace . . . which surpasses all understanding” (Philippians 4:7 ESV). That means you can have unexplainable peace even when everything around you is in chaos. That kind of peace comes only from Jesus, the Prince of Peace.

Finally, Jesus wants to give you power too—the kind of power that allows you to have self-control. It’s interesting that the more control you give to Christ, the more self-control he gives you.

You’ve probably found that sometimes your best efforts aren’t enough; you don’t have enough willpower to overcome your hurts, habits, and hang-ups. You need the Spirit of Christ who gives you the power to have self-control

Do you want the purpose, peace, and power that only God can provide? You need to make room in your heart for Jesus!

By Rick Warren – Source: nhulieuthanhkinh.com

“Before anything else existed, there was Christ, with God. He has always been alive and is himself God. He created everything there is—nothing exists that he didn’t make. Eternal life is in him, and this life gives light to all mankind.” John 1:1-4 (TLB)

Jesus came to earth as a baby at Christmas so that we could get to know him. While there are many titles for God, here are two ways he wants you to know him.

Know him as Creator. God made you to love you and to know you, and he wants you to love him and know him too! That’s one of the reasons he gave us the Bible. When you don’t understand how something works, the best place to find out is in the owner’s manual. The Bible is like an owner’s manual for life. Your Creator gave it to you to help you understand him, his love for you, and his purpose for your life.

In fact, because God created you, he’s the only one who can show you the purpose of your life. The Bible explains it like this: “Before anything else existed, there was Christ, with God. He has always been alive and is himself God. He created everything there is—nothing exists that he didn’t make. Eternal life is in him, and this life gives light to all mankind” John 1:1-4 (TLB).

Know him as Savior. God didn’t just create you; he also saves you. Jesus came at Christmas so he eventually could die for all your sins. If someone is willing to die for you, they’re worth getting to know!

Have you ever thought about why we need saving? Follow me in this. Heaven is a perfect place—no sorrow, no sadness, no sickness. It’s incredible. Heaven is perfect, but none of us are perfect. If God lets imperfect people into heaven with all of our faults and sins, it’s not going to be a perfect place anymore and would be no better than earth.

So God came up with a plan. John 1:11-12 says, “He came to His own, and His own people did not receive Him. But to all who did receive Him, He gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in His name” (HCSB).

Many people think God is the Father of everybody. He is not. God created everybody; God loves everybody; God has a purpose for everybody. But God is only the Father of those who choose to become a part of his family by meeting the one family requirement: Believe in his Son Jesus he sent at Christmas. That’s the one and only condition.

Will this be the Christmas when you say yes to Jesus, get to know him as your Creator and Savior, and settle the issue—with certainty—of where you will spend eternity?

By Rick Warren – Source: nhulieuthanhkinh.com

“There is great gain in godliness combined with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world, so that we can take nothing out of it.” 1 Timothy 6:6-7 (NRSV)

God is more interested in your character than your comfort. He’s not going to give you things if you haven’t learned the principle of contentment first.

Contentment is not a lack of ambition. It’s not a lack of goals. Contentment means your happiness doesn’t depend on your circumstances.

How do you eliminate discontentment? For one thing, stop comparing. We compare everything—clothes, houses, cars, intelligence, even husbands and wives.

Whenever you compare, you’re going to feel discontentment. And so you’ve got to learn to stop comparing yourself to others.

Paul says in Philippians 4:12, “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation” (NIV). Contentment does not come naturally; it is something we have to learn. If we do this, God promises to meet all our financial needs.

The Bible also says, “There is great gain in godliness combined with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world, so that we can take nothing out of it” (1 Timothy 6:6-7 NRSV).

One of the greatest secrets in learning to be content is to realize that you don’t really own anything. It’s all on loan to you for a few decades! You didn’t bring a single thing into this world, and you’re not going to carry anything out of it, either. You just get to use it while you’re here on earth.

The Bible calls that stewardship. You are the manager or steward of what God allows you to have while you’re here, but it’s not actually yours. When you understand that you’re just a manager of the blessings God allows in your life and you hold them with an open hand, you won’t be uptight about losing them.

So what if you lose things? God can turn off one faucet and turn on another just as easily. Learn to be content because things don’t last. God is more interested in your character than your comfort.

By Rick Warren – Source: nhulieuthanhkinh.com

“Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.” 1 Timothy 6:17 (NIV)

The only thing in all of creation that worries is a human being. Plants don’t worry. Animals don’t worry. Only human beings act as if we don’t have a heavenly Father. When you worry about your finances, you’re basically saying, “I think God is a liar. I don’t really think he will meet my needs.” But God will if you meet the conditions.

When I was a kid, I’d go to my dad and say, “Dad, I need some money.” Not once when I was growing up did I ever wonder, “Where is he going to get it?” I never worried about it.

Worry is really a form of atheism. Every time you worry, you’re basically saying, “I don’t believe there’s a God who is going to take care of me.” If you’re a Christian and you worry, you’re acting like an orphan. You’re acting like you don’t have a heavenly Father who has already promised over and over again in Scripture that he will meet your needs if you obey him and do what he tells you to do.

Worry is a warning light. Every time we worry about our finances, it’s a warning that we doubt God loves us and will take care of us. We always get into trouble when we doubt God’s love. Always.

Matthew 6:33 says, “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need” (NLT).

As long as you love anything more than God, that thing is going to be a source of anxiety because that thing can always be lost.

Your bank account is not your security, no matter how big it gets. The Bible says in 1 Timothy 6:17, “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment” (NIV).

Put your hope in God, because he will assume responsibility for your needs if you’ll trust him.

By Rick Warren – Source: nhulieuthanhkinh.com

“It is better to be poor and honest than to be foolish and tell lies.” Proverbs 19:1 (NCV)

God does not bless dishonesty. Proverbs 16:11 says, “The Lord demands fairness in every business deal” (TLB). That includes wages, salaries, and taxes. If you want God’s blessing on your finances, you must be honest about them.

The Bible also says, “It is better to be poor and honest than to be foolish and tell lies” (Proverbs 19:1 NCV).

Why is this an important principle? When you’re going through a season of financial stress, the temptation is enormous to toss out your integrity and to cheat in order to make ends meet. It may mean you shade the truth on a sale or exaggerate or deflate the value of something. It may mean you claim a false deduction on your taxes. It may mean you agree to receive your paycheck under the table.

You always lose when you make those kinds of choices. You always lose in the long run when you lose your integrity. And that’s what you are taking to heaven: your character, not your money.

Profit that is made dishonestly brings trouble with it. Why? If you rip off people, other people are going to rip you off. If you cheat others, you’re going to get cheated in life. The Bible says, “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows” (Galatians 6:7 NIV).

This decision to be honest about your finances is not something you make once and for all. It’s a daily decision. You’re going to be tempted to lie. Sometimes honesty costs you. Have you learned that? Sometimes it costs to tell the truth on a form. If nobody’s going to see the box you mark, does it really matter?

But God says that if you’re faithful to him in the way you handle money, you’ll never have to worry about your financial needs.