Sometimes it just feels like we make it too complicated. We tend to make a mess of the good news that our Lord is calling us to believe, live and share. It's like we have convinced ourselves that the 'good news' can't really be that good.
Luke 18:17 - Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it. (also Mark 10:15)
Today let us un-complicate it, make it simple...
Jesus loves you more than you can fathom.
He doesn't care where you are at, what you have done...HE LOVES YOU!
Today let's love him back by praising him with every breath and glorifying him in our every action and word.
When we make it simple, it's not only "good" news...it's "life changing" news!
Friday, May 27, 2011
Monday, May 23, 2011
Focus on the gospel!
Do you focus too much on you and your performance than you do on Jesus, on the gospel?
I know that I do. I put too much stock in ME and not enough in HIM. I tend to focus on what I am doing, where I am at, what I am failing at, what I am successful at...all in the mindset of earning and not losing what Jesus did for me on the cross.
But when I look back at the successes in my life, those times when I overcame great obstacles, gave up sin in my life, made improvements...it was at a time when I was focusing on what Jesus did, instead of what I've done or am doing. When I focus on what Jesus did for me, when I get a glimpse the pain he endured for me and my sin...that is when I am transformed, that is when I am changed. When I'm focused on Him, He changes me, He transforms me, He makes me a better man.
Colossians 1:13-14 - For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
He has rescued us, brought us into His kingdom...we are redeemed, forgiven, justified and when we focus on the life and work of Jesus...we are transformed from the inside out. When we focus on the life and work of Jesus we are changed not by our actions, our work or our obedience...but by His.
I know that I do. I put too much stock in ME and not enough in HIM. I tend to focus on what I am doing, where I am at, what I am failing at, what I am successful at...all in the mindset of earning and not losing what Jesus did for me on the cross.
But when I look back at the successes in my life, those times when I overcame great obstacles, gave up sin in my life, made improvements...it was at a time when I was focusing on what Jesus did, instead of what I've done or am doing. When I focus on what Jesus did for me, when I get a glimpse the pain he endured for me and my sin...that is when I am transformed, that is when I am changed. When I'm focused on Him, He changes me, He transforms me, He makes me a better man.
Colossians 1:13-14 - For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
He has rescued us, brought us into His kingdom...we are redeemed, forgiven, justified and when we focus on the life and work of Jesus...we are transformed from the inside out. When we focus on the life and work of Jesus we are changed not by our actions, our work or our obedience...but by His.
The other day I heard this quote from Timothy Keller "The gospel is not just the A-B-C’s but the A to Z of Christianity."
The gospel of Jesus Christ our savior is the beginning, middle and ending, it is everything. Focus on what Jesus did for you, and you will be changed.
Focus on what Jesus did for you...and don't stop until you meet him face to face.
Monday, May 9, 2011
Go do it!
Then I heard the Lord asking, "Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?" I said, "Here I am. Send me." - Isaiah 6:8
How many times have you been in church and heard a call to help or serve from the pastor...and decided that it wasn't you who they were looking for, it wasn't your calling, it wasn't what the Lord wanted you to do, or that you just didn't have the time?
If you have spent much time in church you have probably done this many, many times. Something I have heard before and have found to be true is the 80/20 rule as it applies to church. That 20% of the people do 80% of the work (or more). If this is truly the case, that means that a lot more people than not take the stance that it's not them that are being called to help or serve.
Several years ago, I attended my first Warrior at Heart Camp, at the end of that camp the question went out..."if any one would be interested in helping". My hand shot up and I got involved. Getting involved has been one of the best things I have ever done. It has helped me in my walk with the Lord, it has helped me grow spiritually, it has given me confidence and brought out leadership abilities in me...that I never knew I had.
Where is God calling you to serve? Why aren't you doing it yet?
In Matthew 28:19 Jesus says "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."
That's not a question...that is not a request.
In Matthew 28:19 our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ is telling you what he wants you to do.
Now go do it!
How many times have you been in church and heard a call to help or serve from the pastor...and decided that it wasn't you who they were looking for, it wasn't your calling, it wasn't what the Lord wanted you to do, or that you just didn't have the time?
If you have spent much time in church you have probably done this many, many times. Something I have heard before and have found to be true is the 80/20 rule as it applies to church. That 20% of the people do 80% of the work (or more). If this is truly the case, that means that a lot more people than not take the stance that it's not them that are being called to help or serve.
Several years ago, I attended my first Warrior at Heart Camp, at the end of that camp the question went out..."if any one would be interested in helping". My hand shot up and I got involved. Getting involved has been one of the best things I have ever done. It has helped me in my walk with the Lord, it has helped me grow spiritually, it has given me confidence and brought out leadership abilities in me...that I never knew I had.
Where is God calling you to serve? Why aren't you doing it yet?
In Matthew 28:19 Jesus says "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."
That's not a question...that is not a request.
In Matthew 28:19 our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ is telling you what he wants you to do.
Now go do it!
Friday, May 6, 2011
The importance of decisions...
Each day we are faced with many decisions. Some minor, some major. Some are important to make, some might not need to be made. But we are making them constantly.
Should I do this or that? How should I do this or that?
One of my favorite quotes (and I can't remember where I first saw it) is "Life is a series of decisions and then living with the consequences of each."
We will make wrong decisions and we will make right decisions. The question is...will we learn from the decisions we make, both right and wrong?
Many decisions we make are far more important than we give them credit. Some of our decisions set a mental precedent or pattern in our decision making which affects our future decisions. Some little decisions start a snow ball down a hill and result in us making the wrong decision on a very important matter. The decision to give into something just once, starts a pattern. It makes the next decision to give in easier. The next decision is even easier, and comes quicker. Before we know it we are down a road we didn't want to go.
The decisions we make are important. In Exodus 28 the Lord has them fashion a breastpeice for making decisions. This breast-piece was made with precious stones, gold and had the names of the sons of Israel engraved on it.
Exodus 28:29 - "Whenever Aaron enters the Holy Place, he will bear the names of the sons of Israel over his heart on the breast-piece of decision as a continuing memorial before the Lord."
While our decisions don't carry the same weight of Aaron's, what names would be engraved on your breast-piece of decision? Your spouse, your children, your mother, father, extended family? What is the weight of your decisions on you and those around you. What precedents, what habits have you fallen into that are affecting your legacy, the future generations of your family?
Should I do this or that? How should I do this or that?
One of my favorite quotes (and I can't remember where I first saw it) is "Life is a series of decisions and then living with the consequences of each."
We will make wrong decisions and we will make right decisions. The question is...will we learn from the decisions we make, both right and wrong?
Many decisions we make are far more important than we give them credit. Some of our decisions set a mental precedent or pattern in our decision making which affects our future decisions. Some little decisions start a snow ball down a hill and result in us making the wrong decision on a very important matter. The decision to give into something just once, starts a pattern. It makes the next decision to give in easier. The next decision is even easier, and comes quicker. Before we know it we are down a road we didn't want to go.
The decisions we make are important. In Exodus 28 the Lord has them fashion a breastpeice for making decisions. This breast-piece was made with precious stones, gold and had the names of the sons of Israel engraved on it.
Exodus 28:29 - "Whenever Aaron enters the Holy Place, he will bear the names of the sons of Israel over his heart on the breast-piece of decision as a continuing memorial before the Lord."
While our decisions don't carry the same weight of Aaron's, what names would be engraved on your breast-piece of decision? Your spouse, your children, your mother, father, extended family? What is the weight of your decisions on you and those around you. What precedents, what habits have you fallen into that are affecting your legacy, the future generations of your family?
Monday, May 2, 2011
Do what it says...
What habits have you established that helps you in your walk with the Lord?
Prayer, silence and solitude?
Reading, listening and memorizing scriptures from the Word?
Journaling?
Participating in community? (Church attendance, small groups, meetings)
Listening to sermons online or through podcasts?
Reading books about or related to your Christian walk?
There are so many things we can be doing to help us walk a better walk.
And while all these things are helpful, they are not the most important part...
James 1:22 - Do not merely listen to the word, and deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
We can do all that I listed above, we can come to to have a great knowledge about the Word...but if we do not do what it says...does it even matter?
All of the knowledge in the world is useless in the hands of a person who will not use it.
2 Corinthians 6:3 - We put no obstacle in anyone's way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry.
When we who claim to be Christians do not apply the Word of God to our lives, when we don't live our lives different...we become a stumbling block, an obstacle to others. We are not perfect, we are all broken and sinful and we will mess up; but when we apply the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ in the context of a life changed by it...others are changed by it.
Lord I pray that you would reveal to us areas where we know the truth, but are not applying that truth to our lives. I pray that we would be a people who not only knows about You, but intimately knows You and shows that by living a life that is changed by You. Amen.
All of the knowledge in the world is useless in the hands of a person who will not use it.
2 Corinthians 6:3 - We put no obstacle in anyone's way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry.
When we who claim to be Christians do not apply the Word of God to our lives, when we don't live our lives different...we become a stumbling block, an obstacle to others. We are not perfect, we are all broken and sinful and we will mess up; but when we apply the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ in the context of a life changed by it...others are changed by it.
Lord I pray that you would reveal to us areas where we know the truth, but are not applying that truth to our lives. I pray that we would be a people who not only knows about You, but intimately knows You and shows that by living a life that is changed by You. Amen.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)