Genesis 3:1-10
I find myself seeking to know more. It's one of my habits I guess. Sometimes its a great thing and sometimes it causes more problems than it solves. It's a desire to know and be informed and a belief that by knowing more I can make better decisions, know people better, be a better person, be a better Christian. I want to know more about myself, about people in general, about God, about life, and more recently why people are walking away from and sometimes running away from the church. Or if they aren't running why they won't truly buy-in to the Church.
But that right there is the real problem I think...we talk about the church as if it is a thing. We speak of the church as a destination, as a building, as a place, as a club that we are members of. But the truth is that church is actually none of those things. The church is a living breathing organism. The church was intended to be a very fluid, portable, adaptable gathering. This multifaceted question that keeps coming back to me lately is, "What if knowledge isn't what matters? What if 'doing' church wasn't even a part of God's great plan? What if 'Church' wasn't meant to be a thing we 'do', rather an 'existence' we become a part of? What would that look like?"
That kind of community would be all about RELATIONSHIPS. It would be about doing life together. It wouldn't be about rules; "don't do this and don't do that". It would be about loving one another with no limits or reasons except only that Jesus loved us first and he calls us to "Remain in His love"; to exist within that love so that it becomes a part of all that we think, speak, and do. A community that takes that seriously won't need the rules, they will simply need more people to love because they have so much overflowing love that their current numbers aren't enough.
Showing posts with label Love. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Love. Show all posts
Friday, June 19, 2015
Saturday, August 31, 2013
What are you saying from your platform?
I
recently shared a video on Facebook of an interview with Jase Robertson, who is
one of the stars from the A&E TV reality show “Duck Dynasty.” During this interview Jase said something to
the affect of “What you do is the
platform for your faith.” This was a
simple yet profound statement describing how everything we do in life is a
statement about what we believe. ALL of
our thoughts, speech, and actions say something about what we believe about
God, his son Jesus, and the Holy Spirit or anything else that we hold beliefs about.
They speak to our belief in the salvation offered by Jesus’ death on the
Cross and His victory over death through the resurrection on the 3rd
day.
This
comment by Jase reminded me of a couple passages from the Bible: the first is
James 2:14-17
What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no
deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without
clothes and daily food. If one of you
says to him, ‘Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,’ but does nothing
about his physical needs, WHAT GOOD IS IT?
In the same way, FAITH by itself, if it is NOT accompanied by ACTION, is
DEAD.
Love one
another. As I have loved you, so you
must love one another. By this ALL MEN
will know that you are MY disciples, if you LOVE ONE ANOTHER.
My
point is this; if “what you do is a platform for your faith”, then what exactly
are you saying from your platform? Are
you saying, “Jesus is the King of my life”?
Or are you saying, “I’m the King and what I say goes”? I can guarantee that you say one of these two
things by your actions everyday. Your
words might claim Jesus as Lord, but what do your actions claim? What are you preaching from your platform with your actions?
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Day 4: John 4 - Jesus, healer to all people
Please forgive me for my hiatus over the last week. There have been some things happen that didn't really permit me the time I need to write these daily blogs for study. So, for the current time being I will do my best to catch us up and do as many of these studies as I can per day till we are back on track. Hopefully you have been reading as planned (1 chapter in John per day) and you can simply read these studies and review what you've read as I write and post them. Once again I'm sorry for getting so behind.
JOHN 4: (read the chapter here)
This is a long chapter, 54 verses in all, and as is with most chapters in John it is loaded. I will try and keep the content of this post as short and to the point as possible so it isn't a massive undertaking to read.
The Samaritan Woman (verses 1-26, 39-42):
Jesus was creating quite a stir in Judea and not wanting to do this yet, he and his apostles left the area and headed back to Galilee. To do this from Judea they had to go through Samaria which is where the Samaritans lived. Samaritans where like the Jew's reject cousins. They were all related way back in the family tree, but they hated each other. And this point is important to remember going forward. Jesus stops at a well in Sychar (a town in Samaria) at about the 6th hour (that would be Noon/12pm) and a woman comes to the well while he is there. This is BIG...woman in this day typically went to the wells for water in the morning; partially because it was cool, but it was also like their social hour. It was a time for the woman of the town to meet, chat, gossip, etc. This woman apparently was not welcome at the well in the morning, we'll find out why in the next few verses.
Jesus asks the woman for a drink of water...STOP...a big deal here; Jesus, a JEW, asks a SAMARITAN (most Jews hate Samaritans)...WOMAN (men did not chat with woman they weren't married to, it was even considered by some to be stooping below yourself to look a woman in the eye that wasn't your wife)...for a drink of water. This was a massive NO-NO for a Jewish man, and the woman knows it and calls him out on it in verse 9. But Jesus had a reason (as he always does), he tells here she should actually be the one asking him for a drink, because the water he has gives everlasting life and she will never go thirsty again. She thinks he is still actually talking about literal water and asks him for this water so she'll never be thirsty again and have to come to the well everyday.
Before "giving her" this water; Jesus needs to address a problem, rather a sin in her life. So he tells her to go get her husband, which he knows she has none. He tells her she has in fact had five husbands and currently is living with a man who is not her husband (now we see why she isn't welcome at the well in the mornings). She is shocked at his knowledge and understanding he is someone who is very close to God (she says a "prophet") she asks him a religious question about the appropriate places to worship God. Jesus' response is that soon there will not be a need for a place to worship properly, because true worship will take place through the Spirit (referring to the Holy Spirit). The woman responds, acknowledging that she knows about the coming Messiah and that when he comes he will make all things clear and understandable to all people; Jesus says: "he's here, and I am he!!"
In verse 27-30 Jesus' Disciples return and the woman runs off and tells everyone she knows about Jesus; then jumping ahead to verse 39-42 we see that because of the woman's testimony about Jesus many people come to meet him, hear him speak and believe in his teachings and who he says he is. In fact, they ask him to stay as their guests for more time and he stays for 2 more days.
Teaching the Disciples (verses 27-38):
Back to verses 27-38; Jesus' disciples return and the woman runs off to tell everyone about her encounter with Jesus. The disciples are somewhat stunned at Jesus for having this private conversation with a Woman...a Samaritan Woman (as we often are today, the disciples were often caught up in keeping a certain public profile and reputation that they thought would appeal to "everyone"). Despite their surprise no one dare call Jesus out on this because they knew better.
After the woman ran off the disciples tried to get Jesus to eat and he says, I don't need food because I have food that you know nothing about. Jesus says, I survive on the nourishment of doing the will of my father who sent me. Then in verse 35-38 he says something that has puzzled me as to what he is actually talking about. 1) On one level I think he is trying to get it through his followers heads that now, here, in Samaria is a time to love people and bring them to my father, because he wants all people to be his followers, not just Jews. Jesus is showing his followers that he is not here just for Jews, he is here to bring salvation to the entire world. 2) But on another level, I think he may simply be trying to tell them that many people participate in the work of God. Some people do the sewing of the gospel seed into the hearts of the world and other people do the watering and still others may actually get to see the fruit of all that work come to bear. 3) But he also makes it pretty clear in verse 38 that the hard work is done for us...the hard work of the teaching the Law (Moses and the Rabbis), preaching repentance (the Prophets of the OT and John the Baptist), and even more so the hard work of Jesus dying on the Cross and Rising from the dead wiping all sins of the earth away.
***Like I said, this chapter is loaded***
Healing an Official's Son (verses 43-54)
Here Jesus returns to his home region of Galilee, specifically Cana (which was basically home, very near Nazareth). While there an Official, a royal official (meaning, again probably not a JEW), comes to Jesus and asks him, in fact begs him to come heal his son in Capernum (a major city in Galilee). Something of note to mention here, this royal official heard Jesus was in Cana, and came out from the big city to find him in the country region of Cana to BEG him to come heal his son. Jesus tells the people near him, I think maybe with some frustration in his heart, that unless they see him do miracles they will not believe.
So what does Jesus do...he tells the guy go home your son will be healed and on the way home a servant meets the official to tell him his son is well and they discover that it was actually at the same time Jesus told him his son would be healed that was healed all the way over in Capernum. This healing is interesting to because Jesus tells the people that they need to see miracles in order to believe in him, but the then he does a miracle they can't see, so they and the official have to take him at his word that he does what he says he is doing.
Jesus cares for, has compassion on, heals, and saves those that we (his followers) think he should have no business even talking to. This is the "upside-down Gospel", Jesus upside-down way of doing things. It's upside-down to us, but we are actually the ones who need to change our point of view.
"Give me you eyes for just one second; Give me your eyes so I can see everything that I've keep missing. Give me your LOVE for Humanity." -Brandon Heath-
JOHN 4: (read the chapter here)
This is a long chapter, 54 verses in all, and as is with most chapters in John it is loaded. I will try and keep the content of this post as short and to the point as possible so it isn't a massive undertaking to read.
The Samaritan Woman (verses 1-26, 39-42):
Jesus was creating quite a stir in Judea and not wanting to do this yet, he and his apostles left the area and headed back to Galilee. To do this from Judea they had to go through Samaria which is where the Samaritans lived. Samaritans where like the Jew's reject cousins. They were all related way back in the family tree, but they hated each other. And this point is important to remember going forward. Jesus stops at a well in Sychar (a town in Samaria) at about the 6th hour (that would be Noon/12pm) and a woman comes to the well while he is there. This is BIG...woman in this day typically went to the wells for water in the morning; partially because it was cool, but it was also like their social hour. It was a time for the woman of the town to meet, chat, gossip, etc. This woman apparently was not welcome at the well in the morning, we'll find out why in the next few verses.
Jesus asks the woman for a drink of water...STOP...a big deal here; Jesus, a JEW, asks a SAMARITAN (most Jews hate Samaritans)...WOMAN (men did not chat with woman they weren't married to, it was even considered by some to be stooping below yourself to look a woman in the eye that wasn't your wife)...for a drink of water. This was a massive NO-NO for a Jewish man, and the woman knows it and calls him out on it in verse 9. But Jesus had a reason (as he always does), he tells here she should actually be the one asking him for a drink, because the water he has gives everlasting life and she will never go thirsty again. She thinks he is still actually talking about literal water and asks him for this water so she'll never be thirsty again and have to come to the well everyday.
Before "giving her" this water; Jesus needs to address a problem, rather a sin in her life. So he tells her to go get her husband, which he knows she has none. He tells her she has in fact had five husbands and currently is living with a man who is not her husband (now we see why she isn't welcome at the well in the mornings). She is shocked at his knowledge and understanding he is someone who is very close to God (she says a "prophet") she asks him a religious question about the appropriate places to worship God. Jesus' response is that soon there will not be a need for a place to worship properly, because true worship will take place through the Spirit (referring to the Holy Spirit). The woman responds, acknowledging that she knows about the coming Messiah and that when he comes he will make all things clear and understandable to all people; Jesus says: "he's here, and I am he!!"
In verse 27-30 Jesus' Disciples return and the woman runs off and tells everyone she knows about Jesus; then jumping ahead to verse 39-42 we see that because of the woman's testimony about Jesus many people come to meet him, hear him speak and believe in his teachings and who he says he is. In fact, they ask him to stay as their guests for more time and he stays for 2 more days.
Teaching the Disciples (verses 27-38):
Back to verses 27-38; Jesus' disciples return and the woman runs off to tell everyone about her encounter with Jesus. The disciples are somewhat stunned at Jesus for having this private conversation with a Woman...a Samaritan Woman (as we often are today, the disciples were often caught up in keeping a certain public profile and reputation that they thought would appeal to "everyone"). Despite their surprise no one dare call Jesus out on this because they knew better.
After the woman ran off the disciples tried to get Jesus to eat and he says, I don't need food because I have food that you know nothing about. Jesus says, I survive on the nourishment of doing the will of my father who sent me. Then in verse 35-38 he says something that has puzzled me as to what he is actually talking about. 1) On one level I think he is trying to get it through his followers heads that now, here, in Samaria is a time to love people and bring them to my father, because he wants all people to be his followers, not just Jews. Jesus is showing his followers that he is not here just for Jews, he is here to bring salvation to the entire world. 2) But on another level, I think he may simply be trying to tell them that many people participate in the work of God. Some people do the sewing of the gospel seed into the hearts of the world and other people do the watering and still others may actually get to see the fruit of all that work come to bear. 3) But he also makes it pretty clear in verse 38 that the hard work is done for us...the hard work of the teaching the Law (Moses and the Rabbis), preaching repentance (the Prophets of the OT and John the Baptist), and even more so the hard work of Jesus dying on the Cross and Rising from the dead wiping all sins of the earth away.
***Like I said, this chapter is loaded***
Healing an Official's Son (verses 43-54)
Here Jesus returns to his home region of Galilee, specifically Cana (which was basically home, very near Nazareth). While there an Official, a royal official (meaning, again probably not a JEW), comes to Jesus and asks him, in fact begs him to come heal his son in Capernum (a major city in Galilee). Something of note to mention here, this royal official heard Jesus was in Cana, and came out from the big city to find him in the country region of Cana to BEG him to come heal his son. Jesus tells the people near him, I think maybe with some frustration in his heart, that unless they see him do miracles they will not believe.
So what does Jesus do...he tells the guy go home your son will be healed and on the way home a servant meets the official to tell him his son is well and they discover that it was actually at the same time Jesus told him his son would be healed that was healed all the way over in Capernum. This healing is interesting to because Jesus tells the people that they need to see miracles in order to believe in him, but the then he does a miracle they can't see, so they and the official have to take him at his word that he does what he says he is doing.
Jesus cares for, has compassion on, heals, and saves those that we (his followers) think he should have no business even talking to. This is the "upside-down Gospel", Jesus upside-down way of doing things. It's upside-down to us, but we are actually the ones who need to change our point of view.
"Give me you eyes for just one second; Give me your eyes so I can see everything that I've keep missing. Give me your LOVE for Humanity." -Brandon Heath-
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Day 3 - John 3: Water & Spirit
So, after driving the 10 or so hours from Cincinnati back to Elberton yesterday, unloading from the trip and winding down from the drive I was not able to get the December 3rd study on John 3 done yesterday. SO, today is a double dose. They will be separate blog posts, but I intend to drop both today. For those of you that are doing better than I am and did read yesterday and have been waiting patiently, thanks for bearing with me while I was on vacation. Here we go with John 3
Today's Reading is from John 3. The first section covers verses 1-21:
This first section contains in it probably the most famous and most quoted scripture worldwide. And we'll get to it soon, but I don't want to jump to it first like a kid in a candy store, I want to work towards it like an art lover in a museum, appreciating all the great art surrounding it and making it what it is. This section begins with Nicodemus who is a Jewish religious leader; he is a Pharisee; he is someone who knew the Jewish Law backwards and forwards and probably would have had his own followers and disciples like Jesus. But he comes to Jesus in secret, at night, so he won't be seen by his pharisee buddies belittling himself by going to Jesus the "Rebel Rabbi" for teaching.
First, he admits that the pharisees know that Jesus comes by the power of God (this is the first step of salvation by the way, believing Jesus is who he says he is); next Jesus seems to interrupt him and tell him that you have to be "born again" in order to see the Kingdom of God. Nicodemus is confused because he assumes Jesus is speaking literally, meaning physically being born again. But Jesus is speaking of a spiritual birth; he says, "no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and Spirit." Now some people have read this and assumed Jesus is speaking about being baptized then being filled with the Holy Spirit; but Jesus is literally talking about being born of water, (actual child-birth includes a lot of water) that is the first birth. Then being born of the Spirit, the Holy Spirit, upon acceptance of Jesus as Savior, makes us brand new beings, cleansed of our sins upon faith in Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says we are "new creations" upon our acceptance of Jesus as Savior. This is what Jesus means by birth of Water & Spirit.
Then Jesus goes on to tell us how this new birth is made possible in the most well-known verse in the Bible, John 3:16. One final thing I want to comment on before moving to the next section is a verse that is often overlooked, but honestly just as powerful and it happens to be John 3:17. But you need to read both 16 & 17 together to get the full effect (Go ahead and read them now).
So often the Church as a whole is misunderstood by the world and seen as a giant finger pointing out the wrongs and the misbehaviors of the world, but verse 17 shows us that the purpose of the church is exactly the same as the purpose of Jesus, "not to condemn the world, but to bring it to salvation" THROUGH CHRIST!!! And how do we accomplish this...by getting people to a place where they can meet Jesus, namely CHURCH. Not by forcing it down there throats, rather by loving them, caring for them, having a strong friendship with them. People don't care about what or how much you know until they know how much you care. You will never debate or argue someone into a relationship with Jesus, (in the words of Taylor Swift) you will NEVER EVER, EVER, EVER get them and Jesus together by arguing. It is love that opens the door, and not just love for those who don't know Jesus yet, but also unfailing love for fellow believers, Jesus said in John 13:34-35 in order for the world to know you are my followers you have got to show love to one another. I think the world has gotten tired of watching the church as a whole fighting in and amongst itself; that one issue alone, and the resulting problems it creates, is probably the biggest reason why so many people want nothing to do with the church once they've experienced the so-called "Love" of church members.
Okay I need to move on...verses 22-36 is a quick look into an argument that John the Baptist had to be brought in on to settle. And it was basically over the growing popularity of Jesus and the waning(lessening) popularity of John. The key thing I want to mention here is what John says about how he views the popularity he once had...in verse 30; he says "He (Jesus) must become greater; I must become less." This single verse could be and truly should THE life verse for every person who claims to be a Christian, who claims to follow Jesus. Our entire society is built around making myself greater; really, its about making myself the only priority. John tells us the opposite should be true. We must become less; in fact, we need to live as if we have nothing that we need. Our needs should simply be the needs of Jesus. When we see with his eyes, think with his mind, and love with his heart then nothing else matters except everyone else and their needs. That's exactly how Jesus lived his life. Check out what Jesus says in Matthew 6:19-34 for more on this subject. Selfless love is what we are called to; "He must become Greater; I must become Less." This is a verse to live by, give it an honest shot and I guarantee you will never lack for what you really truly need.
I think that's plenty for now. But I'll catch you later today in my post on John 4. So read it and be ready for more of what God has to say to us today!!!
Today's Reading is from John 3. The first section covers verses 1-21:
This first section contains in it probably the most famous and most quoted scripture worldwide. And we'll get to it soon, but I don't want to jump to it first like a kid in a candy store, I want to work towards it like an art lover in a museum, appreciating all the great art surrounding it and making it what it is. This section begins with Nicodemus who is a Jewish religious leader; he is a Pharisee; he is someone who knew the Jewish Law backwards and forwards and probably would have had his own followers and disciples like Jesus. But he comes to Jesus in secret, at night, so he won't be seen by his pharisee buddies belittling himself by going to Jesus the "Rebel Rabbi" for teaching.
First, he admits that the pharisees know that Jesus comes by the power of God (this is the first step of salvation by the way, believing Jesus is who he says he is); next Jesus seems to interrupt him and tell him that you have to be "born again" in order to see the Kingdom of God. Nicodemus is confused because he assumes Jesus is speaking literally, meaning physically being born again. But Jesus is speaking of a spiritual birth; he says, "no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and Spirit." Now some people have read this and assumed Jesus is speaking about being baptized then being filled with the Holy Spirit; but Jesus is literally talking about being born of water, (actual child-birth includes a lot of water) that is the first birth. Then being born of the Spirit, the Holy Spirit, upon acceptance of Jesus as Savior, makes us brand new beings, cleansed of our sins upon faith in Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says we are "new creations" upon our acceptance of Jesus as Savior. This is what Jesus means by birth of Water & Spirit.
Then Jesus goes on to tell us how this new birth is made possible in the most well-known verse in the Bible, John 3:16. One final thing I want to comment on before moving to the next section is a verse that is often overlooked, but honestly just as powerful and it happens to be John 3:17. But you need to read both 16 & 17 together to get the full effect (Go ahead and read them now).
So often the Church as a whole is misunderstood by the world and seen as a giant finger pointing out the wrongs and the misbehaviors of the world, but verse 17 shows us that the purpose of the church is exactly the same as the purpose of Jesus, "not to condemn the world, but to bring it to salvation" THROUGH CHRIST!!! And how do we accomplish this...by getting people to a place where they can meet Jesus, namely CHURCH. Not by forcing it down there throats, rather by loving them, caring for them, having a strong friendship with them. People don't care about what or how much you know until they know how much you care. You will never debate or argue someone into a relationship with Jesus, (in the words of Taylor Swift) you will NEVER EVER, EVER, EVER get them and Jesus together by arguing. It is love that opens the door, and not just love for those who don't know Jesus yet, but also unfailing love for fellow believers, Jesus said in John 13:34-35 in order for the world to know you are my followers you have got to show love to one another. I think the world has gotten tired of watching the church as a whole fighting in and amongst itself; that one issue alone, and the resulting problems it creates, is probably the biggest reason why so many people want nothing to do with the church once they've experienced the so-called "Love" of church members.
Okay I need to move on...verses 22-36 is a quick look into an argument that John the Baptist had to be brought in on to settle. And it was basically over the growing popularity of Jesus and the waning(lessening) popularity of John. The key thing I want to mention here is what John says about how he views the popularity he once had...in verse 30; he says "He (Jesus) must become greater; I must become less." This single verse could be and truly should THE life verse for every person who claims to be a Christian, who claims to follow Jesus. Our entire society is built around making myself greater; really, its about making myself the only priority. John tells us the opposite should be true. We must become less; in fact, we need to live as if we have nothing that we need. Our needs should simply be the needs of Jesus. When we see with his eyes, think with his mind, and love with his heart then nothing else matters except everyone else and their needs. That's exactly how Jesus lived his life. Check out what Jesus says in Matthew 6:19-34 for more on this subject. Selfless love is what we are called to; "He must become Greater; I must become Less." This is a verse to live by, give it an honest shot and I guarantee you will never lack for what you really truly need.
I think that's plenty for now. But I'll catch you later today in my post on John 4. So read it and be ready for more of what God has to say to us today!!!
Thursday, August 30, 2012
The Kingdom of Heaven
“The Kingdom of Heaven” starring Orlando Bloom, Eva Green,
Jeremy Irons, Liam Neeson and a few more that I can’t remember is one of my
favorite movies. As the title implies it
is loosely referring to the ancient city of Jerusalem. The movie is set during the time of the
Crusades when there was constant warring over who had control of the Holy City
of David. The sad thing is that all the
fighting, battles, blood shed, and lives lost were for control of LAND. It was the ground, the walls, and the literal
location that the city existed upon that was important to the warring
parties. But it was Orlando Bloom’s
character, Balian, who was one of the few who understood that it wasn’t the City,
the walls, or the dirt that was important; rather it was the lives...the souls...the people that lived within the city that were of most importance. In the end Balian surrenders Jerusalem to the invading Muslim army with
the promise of sparing every single life contained within the city walls.
In the movie, the real “Kingdom of Heaven”
was an idea of existence in peace, protecting the lives of those who couldn’t
protect themselves. Loving and caring
for all people no matter their race, creed, orientation, social status, or
economic status. And there were but a
few who actually understood this passion, one of whom being Balian. It’s interesting to me how similar this idea
sounds to the teachings of one Jesus Christ.
If you notice in the Bible, Jesus’ love showed ZERO preference no matter
who he was around. But, when his actions
seemed to show preference, it was usually towards the down and out, the
rejected by Jewish society. Throughout
the Bible we see a prominent theme and that is to love those who are unloved,
to have compassion on the persecuted, to care for the sick and undeserving, to
LOVE ALL especially the least of all.
Jesus’ followers believed that he came to establish a new Kingdom on earth where he would reign as King, “the
New David”, and that this kingdom (“The Kingdom of Heaven”) of which Jesus
talked about so often would last forever here on earth. The problem was that Jesus’ followers assumed
he was here to establish an earthly Kingdom, but ALL earthly Kingdoms have
expiration dates. Rather, Jesus came to
establish an eternal Kingdom one that wasn’t about land, territory, cities,
walls, power, or any of the other highly esteemed values of Kings and nobles.
Jesus’ Kingdom of
Heaven is focused on the
people. Jesus said things like: “the Kingdom of God belongs to [the
children]” Mark 10; “the last shall
be first” Mark 10; “Love your enemies
and pray for them” Matthew 5; “Love
your neighbor (meaning ‘all others’) as yourself” Matthew 19; “Greater love has no one than this, that he
lay down his life for his friends” John 15.
Jesus’ focus was on people; Jesus came for the lives, for the souls, and
for the eternity of God’s creation. On
our own, because of our sin, we were the enemies of God, but God sent Jesus to
die for the sins of HIS enemies. That
has nothing to do with the pleasures and pursuits of the world and everything
to do with LOVE. The Kingdom of Heaven
is about lives, not land; people, not power; eternity, not empires. And because this is what the King is about,
it is what we, his people should be about.
Thursday, August 23, 2012
We were made to Love
The love for equals is a human
thing–of friend for friend, brother for brother. It is to love what is loving and
lovely. The world smiles. The love for the less fortunate is a beautiful
thing–the love for those who suffer, for those who are poor, the sick, the
failures, the unlovely. This is compassion, and it touches the heart of the
world. The love for the more fortunate is a rare thing–to love those who
succeed where we fail, to rejoice without envy with those who rejoice, the love
of the poor for the rich, of the black man for the white man. The world is
always bewildered by its saints. And
then there is the love for the enemy–love for the one who does not love you but
mocks, threatens, and inflicts pain. The tortured’s love for the torturer. This
is God’s love. It conquers the world.
From The Magnificent Defeat
by Frederick Buechner
God has a specific purpose that he
wants all of us to seek and strive for.
In 1 Corinthians 12:4-7 Paul writes:
“There are different kinds of gifts, but the same
Spirit. There are different kinds of
service, but the same Lord. There are
different kinds of working, but the Same God works all of them in all men. Now to each one the manifestation of the
Spirit is given for the common good.”
God has
given us all very specific gifts for the purpose of doing what he has called each
of us to specifically do for His Kingdom. That fact has always been present in my life
and it has been the number one thing I have always wanted to do and
fulfill.
However, over the last few years if there is anything I
have learned: I have learned that I was made for love. I am much more
aware now than ever before that the FIRST & MOST important calling that God has placed upon ALL
our lives is to LOVE and love unconditionally. Jesus tells us in Matthew
22:37-40 that the greatest commandment of all is “Love the Lord with ALL your
heart, soul, and mind. And the second is
love your neighbors as much as and more than you love yourself” (my
paraphrase). To love God and love others
(meaning ALL people) IS the greatest calling we have as Christians,
period. It’s not about denominations, programming,
style of music, traditions, income, hopes, dreams, or anything else that WE
think is important. Life is about loving
God and loving all people: rich, poor, fortunate, unfortunate, ally, enemy, etc;
it makes no difference. Love God and
Love Others; THAT is why we do what we do, because that is the action that will
truly change the world, or as Buechner puts it “conquer the world.”
Monday, August 20, 2012
The Ministry of Your Heart
I wrote this back in June 2008...I really enjoy looking back and reading what I wrote and comparing that to where I am now. I hope you enjoy this as well.
-1 Thessalonians 2:19-20-
For
what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence
of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it
not you? Indeed, you are our glory and
joy.
I believe that God has planted
within each and every one of us a passion and a love. There are many things we desire to do in life,
but there is something that simply tugs at the heart of a child of God. For some people it is the ministry of
compassion, for others it is the ministry of teaching, and still others simply
love to serve without being seen. We all
have a ministry that we will take part in no matter how much or little free
time we have to give. My point here is simply
to pose a couple questions:
First, what is the ministry of your heart?
The ministry of Paul’s heart was the spread of the gospel and the souls
of those he came into contact with. What
is that one thing you cannot say “No” to; not because of who is asking, but
because of what is being asked of you? It
is possible that you may not know yet and that is okay. It can take time to understand what really
“fuels your fire.” Take some time to
think about this question: what is the ministry of your heart? To help you understand maybe you need to ask
these questions: What stirs your emotions faster and bigger than anything
else? Where do your passions lie? What gets you really excited? What is the one thing you would do to better
this world if money and resources were non-issues? These and other questions like these may help
you to find the “ministry of your heart”.
Pray that God would reveal this to you in the days to come.
Second, what are you doing about that ministry? Many times in church we get comfortable
enjoying the food we are fed in the Worship Service, in Sunday School, in Small
Group, etc; we enjoy the fellowship that we have with others during those times
as well. The problem is we often forget
about the hours of service that goes into making those times of Worship,
Learning, and Fellowship happen. If you
have a cause or a purpose tugging at your heart, if you feel the Holy Spirit
prodding you to join a ministry; don’t hesitate!! If there is a ministry you want to serve, please
find someone in that ministry and make that desire known. If you simply want to serve, but don’t know
where God has called you to; make that desire known to your church
leadership. They can try to help you
find your place of service.
There is always room for more
servants in the church, where will you serve; who or what will be your glory
when Jesus returns? Find a place to
serve, jump in with all your heart, and God will reward you much more richly
than you could ever imagine.
Saturday, June 2, 2012
A Sign for YOU...
Today I was reading in Exodus 12 and I was struck by something. Verse 13 said, "The blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you live; and when I see the blood I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt." The thing that struck me was the part that said "the blood shall be a sign FOR YOU." That part had never really hit me before. Maybe I'm slow and never picked up on it, but I just always thought that the blood that the Israelite people spread over the frames of their doors was so that God would know the people in those houses were his followers and he shouldn't kill them. It's amazing house small we make God out to be. It's amazing how we bring him down to human-sized intelligence and power for no real reason. I immediately wrote a note down that says this:
"The blood wasn't used because God needed help knowing who lived in that house. Rather, it was a measure of obedience, a sign of belief that God was who he said he was and that he would do what he said he would do."
The blood wasn't to HELP GOD, why would the all-knowing God need help? He knew who was in those houses and whether or not they were his followers. He didn't need the blood to know whether or not the first-born in that house should die. The blood was so the people could be reminded that they were making a commitment to God. They were staking their very livelihood and future on the promises of God. The blood is a sign FOR YOU. The people were the ones who needed the blood.
It's very scary how the Bible in the most odd and obscure occurrences in the history of time tells us what will happen down the road. The blood painted on the door frames of those slaves homes in Egypt was FOR YOU. The blood was "A measure of Obedience" for them to state that they believed in God. Do you know what that passage ultimately reminded me as I have been reminded so many other times in scripture and just brushed it off...The BLOOD WAS FOR ME!!!
The blood splattered and dripping down the wooden roman cross is FOR ME. It is a Sign of Obedience, Christ's Obedience to HIS FATHER, that God is who he says he is (MY SAVIOR) and that he will do what he says he will do (LOVE ME). The Blood is FOR ME and FOR YOU.
Now, OUR Sign of Obedience is to seek God First. Everything we think, speak, and do should be...MUST BE about HIM. Because the Blood of Christ has spared our lives. Jesus has absorbed the Wrath of God, shielding us from the Father, from the punishment that is due us, from the death that we so deserve. And now OUR SIGN OF OBEDIENCE requires death to ourselves, death to our selfish ways, death to our self-centered pursuits, death to what we call important. We must, "by the mercies of God, present our bodies living and holy sacrifices, acceptable to God, this is our spiritual service/act of worship." Romans 12:1. THIS IS OUR SIGN OF OBEDIENCE: lives fully committed to the will of God which means "LOVE God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself." Luke 10:27
God Loved us First and that was proven through the blood on the cross, therefore in response to that love; we love him with all that we have and love all people with all that we have, which in itself is another way to Love God. So, our sign of obedience is to EXIST FULLY IN LOVE.
"The blood wasn't used because God needed help knowing who lived in that house. Rather, it was a measure of obedience, a sign of belief that God was who he said he was and that he would do what he said he would do."
The blood wasn't to HELP GOD, why would the all-knowing God need help? He knew who was in those houses and whether or not they were his followers. He didn't need the blood to know whether or not the first-born in that house should die. The blood was so the people could be reminded that they were making a commitment to God. They were staking their very livelihood and future on the promises of God. The blood is a sign FOR YOU. The people were the ones who needed the blood.
It's very scary how the Bible in the most odd and obscure occurrences in the history of time tells us what will happen down the road. The blood painted on the door frames of those slaves homes in Egypt was FOR YOU. The blood was "A measure of Obedience" for them to state that they believed in God. Do you know what that passage ultimately reminded me as I have been reminded so many other times in scripture and just brushed it off...The BLOOD WAS FOR ME!!!
The blood splattered and dripping down the wooden roman cross is FOR ME. It is a Sign of Obedience, Christ's Obedience to HIS FATHER, that God is who he says he is (MY SAVIOR) and that he will do what he says he will do (LOVE ME). The Blood is FOR ME and FOR YOU.
Now, OUR Sign of Obedience is to seek God First. Everything we think, speak, and do should be...MUST BE about HIM. Because the Blood of Christ has spared our lives. Jesus has absorbed the Wrath of God, shielding us from the Father, from the punishment that is due us, from the death that we so deserve. And now OUR SIGN OF OBEDIENCE requires death to ourselves, death to our selfish ways, death to our self-centered pursuits, death to what we call important. We must, "by the mercies of God, present our bodies living and holy sacrifices, acceptable to God, this is our spiritual service/act of worship." Romans 12:1. THIS IS OUR SIGN OF OBEDIENCE: lives fully committed to the will of God which means "LOVE God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself." Luke 10:27
God Loved us First and that was proven through the blood on the cross, therefore in response to that love; we love him with all that we have and love all people with all that we have, which in itself is another way to Love God. So, our sign of obedience is to EXIST FULLY IN LOVE.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)