DISCIPLINE = TRAINING?
Hebrews 12:7-137 Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? 8 If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. 9 Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! 10 Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness.11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. 12 Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. 13 "Make level paths for your feet,"so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.
Quite recently, the compulsory National Service (NS) training was launched for the pioneer group of 85,000 youths in Malaysia. These 18-year-olds have to undergo a 3-month stint comprising the physical, nation-building, character-building, and social service modules. Many of the NS trainees commented that they have learned to be more disciplined after the completion of the NS program.
No doubt, discipline can be born through hard work and inconveniences, and it can go a long way toward developing strong and resilient character.
I wonder if we, as followers of Jesus, see the importance of developing self-discipline as a part of our lives. The apostle Paulin 2 Timothy 1:7 said, "God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love, and of self-discipline." Are wedisciplined enough in doing our devotions, studying the Scriptures,praying, fasting, giving, or even being punctual for worship services?
Even so, discipline should not be turned into legalism. Discipline is not an end in itself; it's a means to an end. The whole purposeof spiritual disciplines is to experience and enjoy God more in our lives. They help us to become stronger and healthier disciples of Jesus.
The NS trainees need to undergo a period of training to go "back to basics." Jesus' disciples spent 3 years of special training with Him. As we go through our training (it may be in the form of "wilderness experiences" or difficult circumstances), we will beg into grasp the significance of the spiritual disciplines.
Hebrews 12:7-13 suggests that discipline is training. Let's allow Jesus to push us to our limits, train us, and help us live a disciplined Christian life. --Timothy Chew, Malaysia.
Written by a fellow Soul Journey reader
DESTINATION POINTS
* Do I regard myself as a disciplined person?
* How can I makespiritual disciplines a vital part of my life?
bottom line: True disciples of Jesus seek spiritual disciplines.
soul journey
Sunday, October 31, 2004
Saturday, October 30, 2004
THE CURE FOR IGNORANCE
John 14:23-2723 If anyone loves Me, he will obey My teaching. My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. 24 He who does not love Me will not obey My teaching. These words you hear are not My own; they belong to the Father who sent Me. 25 All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Counselor, the HolySpirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
One word that really seems to bother people today is obey. Those who live in democratic societies in particular are turned off by obedience. It smacks of slavery or the rule of some superior over one who is considered less important--perhaps even expendable, like the famous "light brigade" immortalized by the poet Tennyson.
They were a hapless military unit ordered by mistake into the range of heavy artillery. His words speak of their truly care-less obedience: "Theirs not to reason why, Theirs but to do and die.
" Freedom to act for oneself is the keystone of democracy. But it's also one of liberty's great limitations: Being free to act while being ignorant of the best way to act is risky. Often it's even fatal.
That's why biblical obedience is a different thing. From the Bible--and from experience--we know how truly ignorant we are of many harsh realities that are beyond our grasp. We're like children who are kept safe by obedience to their parents. Toddlers keep away from fire and stay out of the street, not because they understand the inherent dangers but because they obey their parents. They trust their parents to look out for them and for their interests.
While knowledge is a remedy for some types of ignorance, obedience is the remedy for much spiritual ignorance. We simply cannot know what God knows, and because He has our interests at heart we know we're best served through obedience to His commands.
For children, health and survival is the reward of obedience. But listen to what the Bible says about the reward of our obedience to God: "If anyone loves Me, he will obey My teaching. My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him" (John 14:23).
That's good motivation to obey! --Dean Ohlman
DESTINATION POINTS
* Do I feel a rebellious twinge when I'm told I should "obey"? Doesthat rise more out of my sin nature or out of righteous indignation?
* Why does the Bible so often tell me to obey?
bottom line: Godly obedience overcomes spiritual ignorance.
soul journey
John 14:23-2723 If anyone loves Me, he will obey My teaching. My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. 24 He who does not love Me will not obey My teaching. These words you hear are not My own; they belong to the Father who sent Me. 25 All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Counselor, the HolySpirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
One word that really seems to bother people today is obey. Those who live in democratic societies in particular are turned off by obedience. It smacks of slavery or the rule of some superior over one who is considered less important--perhaps even expendable, like the famous "light brigade" immortalized by the poet Tennyson.
They were a hapless military unit ordered by mistake into the range of heavy artillery. His words speak of their truly care-less obedience: "Theirs not to reason why, Theirs but to do and die.
" Freedom to act for oneself is the keystone of democracy. But it's also one of liberty's great limitations: Being free to act while being ignorant of the best way to act is risky. Often it's even fatal.
That's why biblical obedience is a different thing. From the Bible--and from experience--we know how truly ignorant we are of many harsh realities that are beyond our grasp. We're like children who are kept safe by obedience to their parents. Toddlers keep away from fire and stay out of the street, not because they understand the inherent dangers but because they obey their parents. They trust their parents to look out for them and for their interests.
While knowledge is a remedy for some types of ignorance, obedience is the remedy for much spiritual ignorance. We simply cannot know what God knows, and because He has our interests at heart we know we're best served through obedience to His commands.
For children, health and survival is the reward of obedience. But listen to what the Bible says about the reward of our obedience to God: "If anyone loves Me, he will obey My teaching. My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him" (John 14:23).
That's good motivation to obey! --Dean Ohlman
DESTINATION POINTS
* Do I feel a rebellious twinge when I'm told I should "obey"? Doesthat rise more out of my sin nature or out of righteous indignation?
* Why does the Bible so often tell me to obey?
bottom line: Godly obedience overcomes spiritual ignorance.
soul journey
Thursday, October 28, 2004
The Mummy's Return
Lynn Lusby Pratt
Here Lies Joseph, the boy slave who ruled Egypt.
Joseph was wrapped from head to toe.
In integrity.
Integrity means having the rules of right and wrong clearly in your head -- and living by them, no matter what. (On the vocab test, the synonym is rectitude and the antonym is turpitude.)
People without integrity try to excuse their bad behavior by saying they've had a rough life. Give me a break. Look what happened to Joseph.
When he was 17 his brothers sold him. Sold him!
He was taken to Egypt. That was a foreign country to him. Foreign language. People worshipping foreign gods. His integrity got him a position of honor in the house of the captain of Pharaoh's guard, Potiphar. His integrity made him say no when Potiphar's wife came on to him.
She had him thrown in prison.
Joseph's integrity got him put in charge of the prison, second to the warden. His integrity made him help another prisoner. "Hey," Joseph told him, "when you get out, put in a good word for me too ..."
But he forgot.
Integrity caused Joseph to help Pharaoh by interpreting his dream. And he gave God credit when he could have used his knowledge to bargain his way out of prison.
That integrity gave Joseph freedom and command of Pharaoh's palace. And it was Joseph who saved the whole land of Egypt when famine came.
Were the difficult times worth it? Absolutely.
Was Joseph's life easy? Absolutely not.
There was always a hole in Joseph's heart. He never really got over what his brothers had done. How could he? And he missed his dad. How could he not? Joseph was a normal guy.
When he finally met his brothers again, the pain came rushing back. Joseph was over 40 by that time -- but he cried so loudly he could be heard all over the place.
You can read the whole story in Genesis 37, 39-50.
I think the Lord had a soft spot for Joseph. He granted Joseph's last request. Joseph wanted to go home. Oh, he knew he'd die in Egypt but he wanted to be buried at home. That's another clue about his heartache, isn't it? He had missed home all those years. But God had given Joseph a very special and exciting life. Joseph died and was embalmed Egyptian style. Then ... 400 years later, when all the people were led out of Egypt, headed for home, Moses "took the bones of Joseph with him" (Exodus 13:19, NIV).
Joseph's integrity is what makes him memorable. If you read his story once, you won't forget it. God didn't forget Joseph, even 400 years after he had died.
Gotta have the newest CD?
Gotta have the latest style sweater?
You might manage without them.
But integrity? Now there's something you've really gotta have.
In Memory of Joseph
He told his brothers, "You meant to hurt me. But God turned your evil into good ... to save the lives of many people." Genesis 50:20, ICB
cbn
Lynn Lusby Pratt
Here Lies Joseph, the boy slave who ruled Egypt.
Joseph was wrapped from head to toe.
In integrity.
Integrity means having the rules of right and wrong clearly in your head -- and living by them, no matter what. (On the vocab test, the synonym is rectitude and the antonym is turpitude.)
People without integrity try to excuse their bad behavior by saying they've had a rough life. Give me a break. Look what happened to Joseph.
When he was 17 his brothers sold him. Sold him!
He was taken to Egypt. That was a foreign country to him. Foreign language. People worshipping foreign gods. His integrity got him a position of honor in the house of the captain of Pharaoh's guard, Potiphar. His integrity made him say no when Potiphar's wife came on to him.
She had him thrown in prison.
Joseph's integrity got him put in charge of the prison, second to the warden. His integrity made him help another prisoner. "Hey," Joseph told him, "when you get out, put in a good word for me too ..."
But he forgot.
Integrity caused Joseph to help Pharaoh by interpreting his dream. And he gave God credit when he could have used his knowledge to bargain his way out of prison.
That integrity gave Joseph freedom and command of Pharaoh's palace. And it was Joseph who saved the whole land of Egypt when famine came.
Were the difficult times worth it? Absolutely.
Was Joseph's life easy? Absolutely not.
There was always a hole in Joseph's heart. He never really got over what his brothers had done. How could he? And he missed his dad. How could he not? Joseph was a normal guy.
When he finally met his brothers again, the pain came rushing back. Joseph was over 40 by that time -- but he cried so loudly he could be heard all over the place.
You can read the whole story in Genesis 37, 39-50.
I think the Lord had a soft spot for Joseph. He granted Joseph's last request. Joseph wanted to go home. Oh, he knew he'd die in Egypt but he wanted to be buried at home. That's another clue about his heartache, isn't it? He had missed home all those years. But God had given Joseph a very special and exciting life. Joseph died and was embalmed Egyptian style. Then ... 400 years later, when all the people were led out of Egypt, headed for home, Moses "took the bones of Joseph with him" (Exodus 13:19, NIV).
Joseph's integrity is what makes him memorable. If you read his story once, you won't forget it. God didn't forget Joseph, even 400 years after he had died.
Gotta have the newest CD?
Gotta have the latest style sweater?
You might manage without them.
But integrity? Now there's something you've really gotta have.
In Memory of Joseph
He told his brothers, "You meant to hurt me. But God turned your evil into good ... to save the lives of many people." Genesis 50:20, ICB
cbn
Wednesday, October 27, 2004
The Mystery of Madam X
Lynn Lusby Pratt
Here Lies Lot’s wife, the unnamed wife of Abraham’s nephew.
Tornado!
Dorothy saw it coming. She should have run straight for the cellar. But she couldn’t leave Toto behind. Once she had him in tow, she searched for Auntie Em. She kept spinning around, calling out. By the time she reached the cellar, the door was already shut. Too late. So Dorothy and Toto ended up in the land of Oz – and we ended up with a great story.
It didn’t work out that well for Lot’s wife.
She and her family lived in Sin City – Sodom. God said he wouldn’t have saved the city if there had been even ten righteous people there. But the residents of Sodom “were wicked and were sinning greatly” (Genesis 13:13, NIV). We know that at least part of the trouble was homosexual behavior (Genesis 19:5).
God personally sent an angel escort to get Lot and his family out.
“Hurry!” said the angel to Lot (v. 15). But Lot hesitated. The angel had to take his hand!
“Don’t look back,” said the angel (v. 17). Then … all Heaven broke loose! Perhaps lightning struck a petroleum field and grass seeping up from the ground ignited into massive explosions. Perhaps there was also miraculous fire dropping from the sky … with a few earthquakes thrown in. Burning sulfur began to rain down. Lot’s wife should have kept running. But she paused to look back.
Dorothy hesitated because of Toto and Auntie Em. They were important to her. What in Sodom was so important to Lot’s wife? What was she thinking?
Well … maybe they had a really good mall. Or maybe there weren’t any decent restaurants once you left the city. Their pro baseball team could’ve been about to win the championship – and Lot’s wife just looooooooved hot dogs!
You know … important stuff.
The actions of Lot’s wife cost her dearly. The Bible says she “became a pillar of salt” (v. 26). Archaeologists believe the location of the now-buried city is a the south end of the Dead Sea. All kinds of strange salt formations dot the area. And somewhere in all of that … are the remains of Lot’s wife.
All because she couldn’t tear herself away from a very bad place. Could anything have been that important? Remember, God could not even find a handful of people to save. The place was rotten. Couldn’t Lot’s wife see that?
Hmmm. Have you ever watched a really bad movie just to see the one or two good parts? Have you ever bought one great thing at a store that sold mostly nasty stuff?
“Well,” you told yourself, “I know it’s kinda bad, but I really like ...”
I’m afraid that’s what Lot’s wife did. To her, 95 percent bad was still OK.
But to God, it wasn’t.
Think about it.
In Memory of Lot’s wife“No one who … looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.” – Luke 9:62, NIV
cbn
Lynn Lusby Pratt
Here Lies Lot’s wife, the unnamed wife of Abraham’s nephew.
Tornado!
Dorothy saw it coming. She should have run straight for the cellar. But she couldn’t leave Toto behind. Once she had him in tow, she searched for Auntie Em. She kept spinning around, calling out. By the time she reached the cellar, the door was already shut. Too late. So Dorothy and Toto ended up in the land of Oz – and we ended up with a great story.
It didn’t work out that well for Lot’s wife.
She and her family lived in Sin City – Sodom. God said he wouldn’t have saved the city if there had been even ten righteous people there. But the residents of Sodom “were wicked and were sinning greatly” (Genesis 13:13, NIV). We know that at least part of the trouble was homosexual behavior (Genesis 19:5).
God personally sent an angel escort to get Lot and his family out.
“Hurry!” said the angel to Lot (v. 15). But Lot hesitated. The angel had to take his hand!
“Don’t look back,” said the angel (v. 17). Then … all Heaven broke loose! Perhaps lightning struck a petroleum field and grass seeping up from the ground ignited into massive explosions. Perhaps there was also miraculous fire dropping from the sky … with a few earthquakes thrown in. Burning sulfur began to rain down. Lot’s wife should have kept running. But she paused to look back.
Dorothy hesitated because of Toto and Auntie Em. They were important to her. What in Sodom was so important to Lot’s wife? What was she thinking?
Well … maybe they had a really good mall. Or maybe there weren’t any decent restaurants once you left the city. Their pro baseball team could’ve been about to win the championship – and Lot’s wife just looooooooved hot dogs!
You know … important stuff.
The actions of Lot’s wife cost her dearly. The Bible says she “became a pillar of salt” (v. 26). Archaeologists believe the location of the now-buried city is a the south end of the Dead Sea. All kinds of strange salt formations dot the area. And somewhere in all of that … are the remains of Lot’s wife.
All because she couldn’t tear herself away from a very bad place. Could anything have been that important? Remember, God could not even find a handful of people to save. The place was rotten. Couldn’t Lot’s wife see that?
Hmmm. Have you ever watched a really bad movie just to see the one or two good parts? Have you ever bought one great thing at a store that sold mostly nasty stuff?
“Well,” you told yourself, “I know it’s kinda bad, but I really like ...”
I’m afraid that’s what Lot’s wife did. To her, 95 percent bad was still OK.
But to God, it wasn’t.
Think about it.
In Memory of Lot’s wife“No one who … looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.” – Luke 9:62, NIV
cbn
Tuesday, October 26, 2004
When Time Runs Out
Lynn Lusby Pratt
Here Lies Methuselah, the oldest man who ever lived.
I once saw a silly watch. The numbers, instead of being neatly spaced around the edges of the circle, were all jumbled together in the 7:00 area – as if they’d come unglued and slipped down. In the middle of the watch face was one word: Whatever! I guess you give a watch like that to someone who is always late or has a very casual view of time.
Methuselah could afford to have a casual view of time. He had all the time in the world. He lived to be 969 years old.
That is not going to happen to you.
All things being equal, you can expect to live to be 70 or 80 years old. But all things are not equal. People in their 30s die. Toddlers die. Teenagers die.
In some cases, teenagers are very aware of time. A year is very important if you don’t make the cut in tryouts and have to wait a whole year for the next chance. A month is important if your boyfriend is out of town that long. One minute is important when you’re holding your boarding pass – and watching the plane taxi away. Even a fraction of a second is important if you happen to be a sprinter.
But you may not think much about the daily tick-tock, tick-tock. You may not be very concerned about how you spend an average day.
Guess what? Other people are after your time. There are over 24,000 movie rental stores urging you to spend time watching one of their movies. There are 700 amusement parks saying, “Spend the day with us.” There are over 50,000 commercial sports events wanting you to come and spend several hours cheering the team.
It’s interesting that we use the word spend when referring to time. We spend money. We spend time. The difference is that we also have the option of saving money. We can’t save time. We talk about saving time, but we really can’t do that. Snap your fingers. That second is gone. And that one. And that one. You can’t save the seconds. They’re gone and they’re not coming back. All you can do with time is spend it.
Methuselah was really just like you as far as time is concerned. He lived to be 969, but he didn’t know how long he was going to live. Every morning he only had today. You don’t know how long you will live. Every morning you only have today.
What would happened if you began every morning with “God thoughts” about today?
“Today we know that the Lord is with us” (Joshua 22:31, NIV).
“Today listen to what [God] says” (Psalm 95:7, ICB)
“Today I will give the carcasses … “ (OK, maybe we don’t need that one, but it’s 1 Samual 17:46, NIV).
“O Lord, … give me success today” (Genesis 24:12, NIV).
“I thank the Lord today!” (1 Kings 5:7, ICB).
God will give us important things to do if we give our “todays” to him. Let’s get our numbers glued back in place. Let’s erase the word Whatever! From our faces.
It’s time.
In Memory of Methuselah
“The time has come for my departure.” 2 Timothy 4:6, NIV
cbn
Lynn Lusby Pratt
Here Lies Methuselah, the oldest man who ever lived.
I once saw a silly watch. The numbers, instead of being neatly spaced around the edges of the circle, were all jumbled together in the 7:00 area – as if they’d come unglued and slipped down. In the middle of the watch face was one word: Whatever! I guess you give a watch like that to someone who is always late or has a very casual view of time.
Methuselah could afford to have a casual view of time. He had all the time in the world. He lived to be 969 years old.
That is not going to happen to you.
All things being equal, you can expect to live to be 70 or 80 years old. But all things are not equal. People in their 30s die. Toddlers die. Teenagers die.
In some cases, teenagers are very aware of time. A year is very important if you don’t make the cut in tryouts and have to wait a whole year for the next chance. A month is important if your boyfriend is out of town that long. One minute is important when you’re holding your boarding pass – and watching the plane taxi away. Even a fraction of a second is important if you happen to be a sprinter.
But you may not think much about the daily tick-tock, tick-tock. You may not be very concerned about how you spend an average day.
Guess what? Other people are after your time. There are over 24,000 movie rental stores urging you to spend time watching one of their movies. There are 700 amusement parks saying, “Spend the day with us.” There are over 50,000 commercial sports events wanting you to come and spend several hours cheering the team.
It’s interesting that we use the word spend when referring to time. We spend money. We spend time. The difference is that we also have the option of saving money. We can’t save time. We talk about saving time, but we really can’t do that. Snap your fingers. That second is gone. And that one. And that one. You can’t save the seconds. They’re gone and they’re not coming back. All you can do with time is spend it.
Methuselah was really just like you as far as time is concerned. He lived to be 969, but he didn’t know how long he was going to live. Every morning he only had today. You don’t know how long you will live. Every morning you only have today.
What would happened if you began every morning with “God thoughts” about today?
“Today we know that the Lord is with us” (Joshua 22:31, NIV).
“Today listen to what [God] says” (Psalm 95:7, ICB)
“Today I will give the carcasses … “ (OK, maybe we don’t need that one, but it’s 1 Samual 17:46, NIV).
“O Lord, … give me success today” (Genesis 24:12, NIV).
“I thank the Lord today!” (1 Kings 5:7, ICB).
God will give us important things to do if we give our “todays” to him. Let’s get our numbers glued back in place. Let’s erase the word Whatever! From our faces.
It’s time.
In Memory of Methuselah
“The time has come for my departure.” 2 Timothy 4:6, NIV
cbn
Monday, October 25, 2004
"MASS-PRODUCED OR HANDMADE?"
Matthew 16:13-18
13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?" 14 They replied,"Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets." 15 "But what about you?" He asked."Who do you say I am?" 16 Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." 17 Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by My Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.
Always remember you are unique--just like everyone else." I have identified with this saying on many occasions, and you know what? I've thought of it most often in relation to my Christian life. Don't get me wrong, the Bible's statements about our "in Jesus"identity are so transforming. For instance:
* You and I were once guilty, broken, and dirty (1 Corinthians 6:9-10). Now we're holy, restored, and clean (v.11; Colossians 1:22).
* We were once dead in sin. Now we're dead to sin and alive in Christ (Romans 6:11; Colossians 2:13).
* We were once alienated from God (Colossians 1:21). Now we're relatives of God (1 John 3:1) and strangers in the world (1 Peter 2:11).
Great stuff. Still, there have been times when I've thought, But that's true of every Christian. Doesn't anything make me truly unique? Does God mass-produce or handmake His followers?
In Matthew 16:13-18, Jesus asked the disciples who they believed He was. "You're the Christ, the Son of the living God," Simon Peter answered. Jesus affirmed his answer by saying, "This was not revealed to you by man, but by My Father in heaven." Then Jesus delivered a personal touch and told Peter that he would be a leader among the apostles in the early church.
Notice what happened? In discovering Jesus' identity, Peter discovered his own purpose. Our identity is the complete set of answers to the "Who am I?" question, the total package of beliefs we hold about our personality, abilities, relationships, background, and values. When we come to Jesus, He transforms us into new people. Yes, there are some essential characteristics that all Christians share. But to each of us He extends a personal touch. We are given unique gifts, callings, passions, and temperaments--each crafted by God from the earliest moments of our creation (Psalm 139:13-16), and, like Peter, from our personal encounters with Jesus.
No doubt about it, we're handmade. But we really discover who we are when we discover who He is. --Sheridan Voysey
DESTINATION POINTS
* How would I have felt standing in Simon Peter's sandals the dayJesus revealed his special identity?
* We discover who we are (and who we are not) as we discover more about Jesus. How well do I know Him?
* What aspect of His person and character do I long to know more? What Bible-study goal can I set to meet this need?
LINKS:
What Does It Mean To Be Friends With Jesus? http://www.christianitytoday.com/music/interviews/2003/michaelcard-0503.html
bottom line: In Jesus we find our true identity.
soul journey
Matthew 16:13-18
13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?" 14 They replied,"Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets." 15 "But what about you?" He asked."Who do you say I am?" 16 Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." 17 Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by My Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.
Always remember you are unique--just like everyone else." I have identified with this saying on many occasions, and you know what? I've thought of it most often in relation to my Christian life. Don't get me wrong, the Bible's statements about our "in Jesus"identity are so transforming. For instance:
* You and I were once guilty, broken, and dirty (1 Corinthians 6:9-10). Now we're holy, restored, and clean (v.11; Colossians 1:22).
* We were once dead in sin. Now we're dead to sin and alive in Christ (Romans 6:11; Colossians 2:13).
* We were once alienated from God (Colossians 1:21). Now we're relatives of God (1 John 3:1) and strangers in the world (1 Peter 2:11).
Great stuff. Still, there have been times when I've thought, But that's true of every Christian. Doesn't anything make me truly unique? Does God mass-produce or handmake His followers?
In Matthew 16:13-18, Jesus asked the disciples who they believed He was. "You're the Christ, the Son of the living God," Simon Peter answered. Jesus affirmed his answer by saying, "This was not revealed to you by man, but by My Father in heaven." Then Jesus delivered a personal touch and told Peter that he would be a leader among the apostles in the early church.
Notice what happened? In discovering Jesus' identity, Peter discovered his own purpose. Our identity is the complete set of answers to the "Who am I?" question, the total package of beliefs we hold about our personality, abilities, relationships, background, and values. When we come to Jesus, He transforms us into new people. Yes, there are some essential characteristics that all Christians share. But to each of us He extends a personal touch. We are given unique gifts, callings, passions, and temperaments--each crafted by God from the earliest moments of our creation (Psalm 139:13-16), and, like Peter, from our personal encounters with Jesus.
No doubt about it, we're handmade. But we really discover who we are when we discover who He is. --Sheridan Voysey
DESTINATION POINTS
* How would I have felt standing in Simon Peter's sandals the dayJesus revealed his special identity?
* We discover who we are (and who we are not) as we discover more about Jesus. How well do I know Him?
* What aspect of His person and character do I long to know more? What Bible-study goal can I set to meet this need?
LINKS:
What Does It Mean To Be Friends With Jesus? http://www.christianitytoday.com/music/interviews/2003/michaelcard-0503.html
bottom line: In Jesus we find our true identity.
soul journey
But Lord...
John Fischer
“What do you have there in your hand?” (Exodus 4:2 NLT)
Anyone familiar with the calling of Moses by God to be the one to free his people from Egypt knows that calling took place amidst a long litany of excuses and objections on Moses’ part. It is such a human story full of insecurity, fear and trepidation.
“But who am I to appear before Pharaoh?” (3:11)
“How do you expect me to lead the Israelites out of Egypt?” (3:11)
“They won’t believe me.” (3:13; 4:1)
“O Lord… I’m clumsy with my words.” (4:10)
“Lord, please! Send someone else.” (4:13)
Any of these sound familiar? It’s hard to believe that with this beginning, God turned Moses into one of his greatest leaders. It just goes to show that serving God doesn’t depend on great things from us; it depends on our availability to a great God.
This has been God’s strategy from the beginning—to pick ordinary, fallible people like you and me, and do great things through them by faith. I don’t know how we miss this so often, but we do. The Old Testament is riddled with people like this. We often make excuses for ourselves based on other people God is using mightily—that we could never be like them—without realizing they feel just as insecure as we do, the only difference being, they showed up. Greatness, in God’s book, is not a measure of our natural abilities as much as it is a measure of our faith.
Still, God will use what we offer of our natural abilities, but only after we give them over to Him. I believe that is what the shepherd’s staff Moses carried around represented. God asked him to throw it on the ground and when he did, it immediately turned into a serpent; then he told him to pick it up again (that would have been the hardest part!) and it turned back into a staff. (Later, God would use this little trick against Pharaoh and his magicians.)
When we give up what we have in our hand—the few things we do have that we have come to trust—then God can turn even these things into something greater. When we turn from reliance on our natural abilities to a reliance on God, He makes even more of our abilities.
What’s your staff? What have you been leaning on all these years? Is it a natural ability? Is it a drug? Is it something you’re good at? Or is it something that makes you think you’re good, but is really lying to you? Throw it down, and see what God can make of it.
PDL
John Fischer
“What do you have there in your hand?” (Exodus 4:2 NLT)
Anyone familiar with the calling of Moses by God to be the one to free his people from Egypt knows that calling took place amidst a long litany of excuses and objections on Moses’ part. It is such a human story full of insecurity, fear and trepidation.
“But who am I to appear before Pharaoh?” (3:11)
“How do you expect me to lead the Israelites out of Egypt?” (3:11)
“They won’t believe me.” (3:13; 4:1)
“O Lord… I’m clumsy with my words.” (4:10)
“Lord, please! Send someone else.” (4:13)
Any of these sound familiar? It’s hard to believe that with this beginning, God turned Moses into one of his greatest leaders. It just goes to show that serving God doesn’t depend on great things from us; it depends on our availability to a great God.
This has been God’s strategy from the beginning—to pick ordinary, fallible people like you and me, and do great things through them by faith. I don’t know how we miss this so often, but we do. The Old Testament is riddled with people like this. We often make excuses for ourselves based on other people God is using mightily—that we could never be like them—without realizing they feel just as insecure as we do, the only difference being, they showed up. Greatness, in God’s book, is not a measure of our natural abilities as much as it is a measure of our faith.
Still, God will use what we offer of our natural abilities, but only after we give them over to Him. I believe that is what the shepherd’s staff Moses carried around represented. God asked him to throw it on the ground and when he did, it immediately turned into a serpent; then he told him to pick it up again (that would have been the hardest part!) and it turned back into a staff. (Later, God would use this little trick against Pharaoh and his magicians.)
When we give up what we have in our hand—the few things we do have that we have come to trust—then God can turn even these things into something greater. When we turn from reliance on our natural abilities to a reliance on God, He makes even more of our abilities.
What’s your staff? What have you been leaning on all these years? Is it a natural ability? Is it a drug? Is it something you’re good at? Or is it something that makes you think you’re good, but is really lying to you? Throw it down, and see what God can make of it.
PDL
Saturday, October 23, 2004
Take Time to Find God
Martha Noebel
Will you allow God to show up and surprise you with His presence?
God desires to be a part of our everyday lives. He longs to show His love for us in special ways. If we will take the time, He will surprise us with special gifts of His love throughout our day.
This happened to a friend of mine who took the time to find God. No, she didn't just get up early in the morning and go outside to sit under a large, budding oak tree. She didn't just stop and smell the fresh spring breeze and listen to the birds singing their songs of praise to God. She didn't meditate all day while the warmth of the sun caressed her smiling face. No, she began her day as she always did: she spent time in the Word and then allowed God to show up in any part of her day that He chose.
The Scripture she read that morning was from the Song of Solomon. It was a precious Scripture that she treasured in her heart. That day, as she entered the building where she works, she saw something on the table in the lobby. She decided to throw the small object away, because she wanted to keep things looking nice, but to her surprise, it was a small flower.
Now you say, "What's the big deal?" Well, here is the Scripture that God gave her that morning: "For the winter is past, and the rain is over and gone. The flowers are springing up, and the time of singing birds has come, even the cooing of turtledoves" (Song of Solomon 2:11-12, The Book).
It meant so much to her that she giggled and said "Thank you Papa" (as she always does when she speaks to her heavenly Father) and kept right on walking. God was speaking to her heart about His great love for her. He was sharing with her that just as in the natural realm spring was beginning, in the spiritual realm she was starting into her own springtime. And as we all know, flowers are a sign of spring.
God had allowed someone to leave a special little flower on that table so that she would discover it and feel His great love for her. Her heart was greatly touched by this incident and I felt so blessed to be a part of it.
I had been right behind her when she walked into the building that morning. As I thought of how special that moment seemed to her (not knowing about the Scripture God had given her), I knew something very wonderful was happening. As I stepped into the elevator God spoke to my heart and said, "She took the time to find ME." She had taken the time to find God. She was continuing the day as we all have to do, working, taking care of family, and yet this moment did not escape her.
"Oh, that we might know the LORD! Let us press on to know him! Then he will respond to us as surely as the arrival of dawn or the coming of rains in early spring" (Hosea 6:3, New Living Translation).
Needless to say, I took the rest of the day to look for God. I made sure I gave eye contact to everyone I met and shared a kind word and a smile. I wanted to find God in my day, and I wanted to be God's love to someone who might need to see Him in a tangible way.
We can find God. We can feel His love in wonderful ways. He is not millions of miles away and too busy to care about our special needs each day.
Take time to find God.
cbn
Martha Noebel
Will you allow God to show up and surprise you with His presence?
God desires to be a part of our everyday lives. He longs to show His love for us in special ways. If we will take the time, He will surprise us with special gifts of His love throughout our day.
This happened to a friend of mine who took the time to find God. No, she didn't just get up early in the morning and go outside to sit under a large, budding oak tree. She didn't just stop and smell the fresh spring breeze and listen to the birds singing their songs of praise to God. She didn't meditate all day while the warmth of the sun caressed her smiling face. No, she began her day as she always did: she spent time in the Word and then allowed God to show up in any part of her day that He chose.
The Scripture she read that morning was from the Song of Solomon. It was a precious Scripture that she treasured in her heart. That day, as she entered the building where she works, she saw something on the table in the lobby. She decided to throw the small object away, because she wanted to keep things looking nice, but to her surprise, it was a small flower.
Now you say, "What's the big deal?" Well, here is the Scripture that God gave her that morning: "For the winter is past, and the rain is over and gone. The flowers are springing up, and the time of singing birds has come, even the cooing of turtledoves" (Song of Solomon 2:11-12, The Book).
It meant so much to her that she giggled and said "Thank you Papa" (as she always does when she speaks to her heavenly Father) and kept right on walking. God was speaking to her heart about His great love for her. He was sharing with her that just as in the natural realm spring was beginning, in the spiritual realm she was starting into her own springtime. And as we all know, flowers are a sign of spring.
God had allowed someone to leave a special little flower on that table so that she would discover it and feel His great love for her. Her heart was greatly touched by this incident and I felt so blessed to be a part of it.
I had been right behind her when she walked into the building that morning. As I thought of how special that moment seemed to her (not knowing about the Scripture God had given her), I knew something very wonderful was happening. As I stepped into the elevator God spoke to my heart and said, "She took the time to find ME." She had taken the time to find God. She was continuing the day as we all have to do, working, taking care of family, and yet this moment did not escape her.
"Oh, that we might know the LORD! Let us press on to know him! Then he will respond to us as surely as the arrival of dawn or the coming of rains in early spring" (Hosea 6:3, New Living Translation).
Needless to say, I took the rest of the day to look for God. I made sure I gave eye contact to everyone I met and shared a kind word and a smile. I wanted to find God in my day, and I wanted to be God's love to someone who might need to see Him in a tangible way.
We can find God. We can feel His love in wonderful ways. He is not millions of miles away and too busy to care about our special needs each day.
Take time to find God.
cbn
Thursday, October 21, 2004
Impulsiveness or Discipleship?
But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith . . . —Jude 20
There was nothing of the nature of impulsive or thoughtless action about our Lord, but only a calm strength that never got into a panic. Most of us develop our Christianity along the lines of our own nature, not along the lines of God’s nature. Impulsiveness is a trait of the natural life, and our Lord always ignores it, because it hinders the development of the life of a disciple. Watch how the Spirit of God gives a sense of restraint to impulsiveness, suddenly bringing us a feeling of self-conscious foolishness, which makes us instantly want to vindicate ourselves. Impulsiveness is all right in a child, but is disastrous in a man or woman—an impulsive adult is always a spoiled person. Impulsiveness needs to be trained into intuition through discipline.
Discipleship is built entirely on the supernatural grace of God. Walking on water is easy to someone with impulsive boldness, but walking on dry land as a disciple of Jesus Christ is something altogether different. Peter walked on the water to go to Jesus, but he "followed Him at a distance" on dry land ( Mark 14:54 ). We do not need the grace of God to withstand crises—human nature and pride are sufficient for us to face the stress and strain magnificently. But it does require the supernatural grace of God to live twenty-four hours of every day as a saint, going through drudgery, and living an ordinary, unnoticed, and ignored existence as a disciple of Jesus. It is ingrained in us that we have to do exceptional things for God—but we do not. We have to be exceptional in the ordinary things of life, and holy on the ordinary streets, among ordinary people—and this is not learned in five minutes.
my utmost for His highest
But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith . . . —Jude 20
There was nothing of the nature of impulsive or thoughtless action about our Lord, but only a calm strength that never got into a panic. Most of us develop our Christianity along the lines of our own nature, not along the lines of God’s nature. Impulsiveness is a trait of the natural life, and our Lord always ignores it, because it hinders the development of the life of a disciple. Watch how the Spirit of God gives a sense of restraint to impulsiveness, suddenly bringing us a feeling of self-conscious foolishness, which makes us instantly want to vindicate ourselves. Impulsiveness is all right in a child, but is disastrous in a man or woman—an impulsive adult is always a spoiled person. Impulsiveness needs to be trained into intuition through discipline.
Discipleship is built entirely on the supernatural grace of God. Walking on water is easy to someone with impulsive boldness, but walking on dry land as a disciple of Jesus Christ is something altogether different. Peter walked on the water to go to Jesus, but he "followed Him at a distance" on dry land ( Mark 14:54 ). We do not need the grace of God to withstand crises—human nature and pride are sufficient for us to face the stress and strain magnificently. But it does require the supernatural grace of God to live twenty-four hours of every day as a saint, going through drudgery, and living an ordinary, unnoticed, and ignored existence as a disciple of Jesus. It is ingrained in us that we have to do exceptional things for God—but we do not. We have to be exceptional in the ordinary things of life, and holy on the ordinary streets, among ordinary people—and this is not learned in five minutes.
my utmost for His highest
Wednesday, October 20, 2004
In Front of Heaven
John Fischer
Shout with joy to the Lord, O earth! Worship the Lord with gladness. Come before Him singing with joy. (Psalms 100:1-2)
A business associate of mine recently shared with a number of colleagues how these verses and the rest of this familiar Psalm had helped him turn what seemed like a wasted day into a memorable event. He was on a turnaround two-hour flight that provided him with six hours of consulting time at an airport, but because of weather delays, the flight didn’t get in until just before time to board the return flight home. Obviously his meeting had to be cancelled and the validity of a whole day was put in question.
You can imagine his frustration and the ensuing frustration of his fellow passengers, all of whom were in similar predicaments. In the midst of his anger and stress, my friend related that he thought about Psalm 100 and started to meditate on its truth. What he received through this was an entirely different perspective. He was not a victim of his circumstances; he was not trapped, unless he chose to see it that way. He could just as easily see this situation as a divine appointment. It was all up to him. And as soon as he chose joy, things began to change in his little corner of the airplane. Conversations began to take place; people began to open up; a kind of musical chairs was instituted among some of his fellow passengers, and my friend was right in the middle of it, not only able to experience some of the gladness the psalmist, David, was speaking about, but able to share it as well with others. This kind of gladness of heart is infectious.
He went on to share another story where this same passage had provided comfort for him in the face of losing a close friend to a tragic fatal accident. For this insight, he imagined his friend declaring the words of Psalm 100 in front of heaven, and how that perspective brought new light to its message of truth, and to the comfort it could afford my friend in his loss.
I immediately began to reflect on how other messages that fill our days would stack up “in front of heaven.” It’s a good way to check the validity of so much of what we hear and fill our minds with in contemporary society. Funny how a ball game, or a corporate slogan, or a self-help mantra sounds quite different in light of eternity.
Fill your mind with God’s truth. It will stand not only the test of time, but the test of our human predicaments as well. How well does what you think about hold up in front of heaven?
PDL
John Fischer
Shout with joy to the Lord, O earth! Worship the Lord with gladness. Come before Him singing with joy. (Psalms 100:1-2)
A business associate of mine recently shared with a number of colleagues how these verses and the rest of this familiar Psalm had helped him turn what seemed like a wasted day into a memorable event. He was on a turnaround two-hour flight that provided him with six hours of consulting time at an airport, but because of weather delays, the flight didn’t get in until just before time to board the return flight home. Obviously his meeting had to be cancelled and the validity of a whole day was put in question.
You can imagine his frustration and the ensuing frustration of his fellow passengers, all of whom were in similar predicaments. In the midst of his anger and stress, my friend related that he thought about Psalm 100 and started to meditate on its truth. What he received through this was an entirely different perspective. He was not a victim of his circumstances; he was not trapped, unless he chose to see it that way. He could just as easily see this situation as a divine appointment. It was all up to him. And as soon as he chose joy, things began to change in his little corner of the airplane. Conversations began to take place; people began to open up; a kind of musical chairs was instituted among some of his fellow passengers, and my friend was right in the middle of it, not only able to experience some of the gladness the psalmist, David, was speaking about, but able to share it as well with others. This kind of gladness of heart is infectious.
He went on to share another story where this same passage had provided comfort for him in the face of losing a close friend to a tragic fatal accident. For this insight, he imagined his friend declaring the words of Psalm 100 in front of heaven, and how that perspective brought new light to its message of truth, and to the comfort it could afford my friend in his loss.
I immediately began to reflect on how other messages that fill our days would stack up “in front of heaven.” It’s a good way to check the validity of so much of what we hear and fill our minds with in contemporary society. Funny how a ball game, or a corporate slogan, or a self-help mantra sounds quite different in light of eternity.
Fill your mind with God’s truth. It will stand not only the test of time, but the test of our human predicaments as well. How well does what you think about hold up in front of heaven?
PDL
Tuesday, October 19, 2004
A Good Day To Die?
Read: 1 Kings 19:1-18
It is enough! Now, Lord, take my life! —1 Kings 19:4
Bible In One Year: Isaiah 56-58; 2 Thessalonians 2
Hopelessness and anger combined to bring death to a young man in my neighborhood. Someone had beaten him up for something he said. To retaliate, he came back with a gun. The police were called. When they arrived he ran, shooting at them. To protect everyone, they shot him. He lost his life at age 21. Later it was reported that he had told a family member that morning: "Today would be a good day to die." I wonder what brought him to such despair.
There was a day when the prophet Elijah felt hopeless and wanted to die. He had just experienced a great victory over the prophets of Baal, but now his life was being threatened by the king's wife Jezebel. In fear, he ran into the wilderness (1 Kings 19:4). There he "prayed that he might die, and said, 'It is enough! Now, Lord, take my life!'"
We may think that Elijah was overreacting, but hopeless feelings are real. He wisely went to the right source for help—he cried out to God. The Lord knew Elijah needed restoration, so He provided for his needs (vv.5-7). He revealed Himself to him (vv.9-13) and renewed Elijah's sense of purpose by giving him work to do (vv.15-17). God brought him hope by reminding him that he was not alone (v.18).
Look to God. He is your source of hope. —Anne Cetas
Lord, give us grace to trust You
whenLife's burdens seem too much to bear;
Dispel the darkness with new hope
And help us rise above despair. —Sper
No one is hopeless whose hope is in God.
daily bread
Read: 1 Kings 19:1-18
It is enough! Now, Lord, take my life! —1 Kings 19:4
Bible In One Year: Isaiah 56-58; 2 Thessalonians 2
Hopelessness and anger combined to bring death to a young man in my neighborhood. Someone had beaten him up for something he said. To retaliate, he came back with a gun. The police were called. When they arrived he ran, shooting at them. To protect everyone, they shot him. He lost his life at age 21. Later it was reported that he had told a family member that morning: "Today would be a good day to die." I wonder what brought him to such despair.
There was a day when the prophet Elijah felt hopeless and wanted to die. He had just experienced a great victory over the prophets of Baal, but now his life was being threatened by the king's wife Jezebel. In fear, he ran into the wilderness (1 Kings 19:4). There he "prayed that he might die, and said, 'It is enough! Now, Lord, take my life!'"
We may think that Elijah was overreacting, but hopeless feelings are real. He wisely went to the right source for help—he cried out to God. The Lord knew Elijah needed restoration, so He provided for his needs (vv.5-7). He revealed Himself to him (vv.9-13) and renewed Elijah's sense of purpose by giving him work to do (vv.15-17). God brought him hope by reminding him that he was not alone (v.18).
Look to God. He is your source of hope. —Anne Cetas
Lord, give us grace to trust You
whenLife's burdens seem too much to bear;
Dispel the darkness with new hope
And help us rise above despair. —Sper
No one is hopeless whose hope is in God.
daily bread
Monday, October 18, 2004
God Waves
John Fischer
The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. (Psalms 19:1-4)
Wow. That’s a lot of noise. Imagine if you could hear all that speech and all those voices all the time. You would probably go nuts. As it is, people who are really tuned into God run the risk of being locked up.
Think of the traditional hymn, “This Is My Father’s World.” It has a line in it: “This is my Father’s world; He shines in all that’s fair. In the rustling grass I hear Him pass; He speaks to me everywhere.” Now think about it: this guy is either a nut case or he is so aware of God that he hears him everywhere—even in the wind that ripples through the grass.
I think a good analogy here would be the invisible presence of radio waves in the air. Imagine what we would hear if suddenly our ears were tuned into frequencies shared by AM and FM radio. Imagine the noise of hearing all those stations all at the same time. We would walk around mad, covering our ears all the time, and pleading for the noise to stop. It’s a little like this for the psalmist, David, when he tunes into God in the universe. He is deafened by the sound of God speaking in the heavens—through space and time, past stars and worlds beyond. What he’s hearing is a display of God’s creative handiwork that pours out continual truth about the presence and the nature of the God who created it. And if we could hear all that all at once, we would be overwhelmed. So we can’t. Our hearing is limited to a very narrow frequency band so as to allow us to function day by day in the world.
But that’s where worship comes in. Worship is tuning into the sound of God if even for a moment, to remind us of His presence and power. The important thing about this is that the sound, like radio waves, is always going out. It’s there all the time. We just don’t hear it because we haven’t trained our ears to hear it.
You don’t have to go anywhere to hear God today; just tune in. But beware. You might want to cover your ears, because the sound is deafening.
PDL
John Fischer
The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. (Psalms 19:1-4)
Wow. That’s a lot of noise. Imagine if you could hear all that speech and all those voices all the time. You would probably go nuts. As it is, people who are really tuned into God run the risk of being locked up.
Think of the traditional hymn, “This Is My Father’s World.” It has a line in it: “This is my Father’s world; He shines in all that’s fair. In the rustling grass I hear Him pass; He speaks to me everywhere.” Now think about it: this guy is either a nut case or he is so aware of God that he hears him everywhere—even in the wind that ripples through the grass.
I think a good analogy here would be the invisible presence of radio waves in the air. Imagine what we would hear if suddenly our ears were tuned into frequencies shared by AM and FM radio. Imagine the noise of hearing all those stations all at the same time. We would walk around mad, covering our ears all the time, and pleading for the noise to stop. It’s a little like this for the psalmist, David, when he tunes into God in the universe. He is deafened by the sound of God speaking in the heavens—through space and time, past stars and worlds beyond. What he’s hearing is a display of God’s creative handiwork that pours out continual truth about the presence and the nature of the God who created it. And if we could hear all that all at once, we would be overwhelmed. So we can’t. Our hearing is limited to a very narrow frequency band so as to allow us to function day by day in the world.
But that’s where worship comes in. Worship is tuning into the sound of God if even for a moment, to remind us of His presence and power. The important thing about this is that the sound, like radio waves, is always going out. It’s there all the time. We just don’t hear it because we haven’t trained our ears to hear it.
You don’t have to go anywhere to hear God today; just tune in. But beware. You might want to cover your ears, because the sound is deafening.
PDL
Sunday, October 17, 2004
Heed the Warning Signs
Scott Presson
As Christians we have to take stock every day of our relationship with God. We can’t allow roots of bitterness to grow--even bitterness against God.
When I was a young adult and newly married, my wife and I bought the house directly behind my grandparent’s house. My grandmother had lived through the lean years of the Great Depression, and every year she planted a huge garden. She wanted to be ready “just in case” it ever happened again. She knew how it felt to go hungry.
Her garden was beautiful. She pulled any weed she saw, and most evenings she watered. I wanted to learn about gardening, and she was more than willing to teach me.
One summer evening while we were quietly pulling weeds she looked up at me very intently. She began to talk to me as an adult--not as her grandson. She told me God had given her a dream about me. I was intrigued and a little scared. My grandmother talked about the Lord all the time but not about dreams. She told me she saw a tremendous storm come and sweep me up into it. I was taken from my family, and I would never be with them again. The dream frightened me because I was in a huge storm! Satan had targeted me with an assault on my family. My grandmother didn’t know what was happening in my life, and I was afraid to tell her--or anyone. Especially other Christians. I was sure they would judge me.
That dream came true. In a matter of months I had lost my family, my home, my job, and nearly my life. I became angry and self-destructive. I hated God. I hated God out-loud, not just in my thoughts. I told Him to leave me alone. I no longer desired to live for Him. I couldn’t figure out how a God that gave me fair warning about an approaching disaster would also allow all the mess to happen in the first place.
Was it God’s will that I lose everything dear to me? Was it God’s will that I spent months in anger and denial? Was it God’s will for me to be hateful, resentful, and even murderous? Of course not! I made the initial wrong choices and then through lack of spiritual attentiveness I allowed my relationship with God to falter. I began to look at things with my natural eyes instead of my spiritual eyes. I fell out of daily Bible reading. Instead of attempting to “pray without ceasing,” I prayed sporadically, then not at all.
I now know that God was warning me to reevaluate my walk with Him and make things right. I realize he was calling me to repentance.
Our relationship with Christ should be like a well-tended garden. We have to maintain a daily regiment of weeding and watering in that garden. The Bible talks about how a man’s heart rages against God for his own mistakes. As Christians we have to take stock every day of our relationship with God. We can’t allow roots of bitterness to grow--even bitterness against God. We have to keep short accounts with God. We have to confess our wrongdoings quickly. God sees everything we do anyway, so don’t act like it will go away if we ignore it.
I know some Christians that are angry with other Christians over real and imagined issues. We wouldn’t want to judged by the same standard we’ve applied to others. Forgiveness is freely given and freely received. Who are we and what does it say about us as Christians when we can’t even offer the free gift of forgiveness to others! We got it free from God and we CANNOT put a price on it to others. That is not our right. If fact when we do that, it nullifies what Jesus did for us. Why? Because by our actions we are saying God’s Word is not relevant. We have judged and declared our will above God’s. The Bible commands us to love one another. The Bible says Love holds no record of wrongs or disappointments.
Throughout the years, I’ve had several gardens and one thing I’ve learned is, without regular watering and weeding all gardens will die. God wants us to reevaluate our lives with Him today. We need to take stock and see if our relationship with Him is vibrant and healthy. Some days I still struggle with getting up and entering in with God, but I remember a time so desolate that I never want to go back there. Don’t be swept up in the storms of life. Heed the warning signs. Take your spiritual temperature. Don’t allow the weeds of life to choke out what God is doing for you! Don’t judge others. Encourage those around you who are struggling. Forgive everyone. Forgive yourself. Repent of EVERYTHING that separates you from God,and be refreshed by the living waters that only a relationship with Jesus can offer.
cbn
Scott Presson
As Christians we have to take stock every day of our relationship with God. We can’t allow roots of bitterness to grow--even bitterness against God.
When I was a young adult and newly married, my wife and I bought the house directly behind my grandparent’s house. My grandmother had lived through the lean years of the Great Depression, and every year she planted a huge garden. She wanted to be ready “just in case” it ever happened again. She knew how it felt to go hungry.
Her garden was beautiful. She pulled any weed she saw, and most evenings she watered. I wanted to learn about gardening, and she was more than willing to teach me.
One summer evening while we were quietly pulling weeds she looked up at me very intently. She began to talk to me as an adult--not as her grandson. She told me God had given her a dream about me. I was intrigued and a little scared. My grandmother talked about the Lord all the time but not about dreams. She told me she saw a tremendous storm come and sweep me up into it. I was taken from my family, and I would never be with them again. The dream frightened me because I was in a huge storm! Satan had targeted me with an assault on my family. My grandmother didn’t know what was happening in my life, and I was afraid to tell her--or anyone. Especially other Christians. I was sure they would judge me.
That dream came true. In a matter of months I had lost my family, my home, my job, and nearly my life. I became angry and self-destructive. I hated God. I hated God out-loud, not just in my thoughts. I told Him to leave me alone. I no longer desired to live for Him. I couldn’t figure out how a God that gave me fair warning about an approaching disaster would also allow all the mess to happen in the first place.
Was it God’s will that I lose everything dear to me? Was it God’s will that I spent months in anger and denial? Was it God’s will for me to be hateful, resentful, and even murderous? Of course not! I made the initial wrong choices and then through lack of spiritual attentiveness I allowed my relationship with God to falter. I began to look at things with my natural eyes instead of my spiritual eyes. I fell out of daily Bible reading. Instead of attempting to “pray without ceasing,” I prayed sporadically, then not at all.
I now know that God was warning me to reevaluate my walk with Him and make things right. I realize he was calling me to repentance.
Our relationship with Christ should be like a well-tended garden. We have to maintain a daily regiment of weeding and watering in that garden. The Bible talks about how a man’s heart rages against God for his own mistakes. As Christians we have to take stock every day of our relationship with God. We can’t allow roots of bitterness to grow--even bitterness against God. We have to keep short accounts with God. We have to confess our wrongdoings quickly. God sees everything we do anyway, so don’t act like it will go away if we ignore it.
I know some Christians that are angry with other Christians over real and imagined issues. We wouldn’t want to judged by the same standard we’ve applied to others. Forgiveness is freely given and freely received. Who are we and what does it say about us as Christians when we can’t even offer the free gift of forgiveness to others! We got it free from God and we CANNOT put a price on it to others. That is not our right. If fact when we do that, it nullifies what Jesus did for us. Why? Because by our actions we are saying God’s Word is not relevant. We have judged and declared our will above God’s. The Bible commands us to love one another. The Bible says Love holds no record of wrongs or disappointments.
Throughout the years, I’ve had several gardens and one thing I’ve learned is, without regular watering and weeding all gardens will die. God wants us to reevaluate our lives with Him today. We need to take stock and see if our relationship with Him is vibrant and healthy. Some days I still struggle with getting up and entering in with God, but I remember a time so desolate that I never want to go back there. Don’t be swept up in the storms of life. Heed the warning signs. Take your spiritual temperature. Don’t allow the weeds of life to choke out what God is doing for you! Don’t judge others. Encourage those around you who are struggling. Forgive everyone. Forgive yourself. Repent of EVERYTHING that separates you from God,and be refreshed by the living waters that only a relationship with Jesus can offer.
cbn
Saturday, October 16, 2004
Growing Younger
John Fischer
Last week I discussed physical therapy as an illustration of spiritual growth. Even while I was writing that, I was also thinking about another aspect of faith that sometimes works the other way. It’s good to grow older in some ways, but it’s also good to grow younger in others.
Sometimes, we are bolder when we are younger in faith because we don’t know any better. We simply believe God like a child and venture out trusting He is with us. And you know what? He is.
When my wife first became a Christian, she was a flight attendant for a major airline. She and another fellow-believer would bid flights together for support and encouragement, but they would also bravely ask God for two things on each flight: one person to introduce to Jesus, and another believer who would, in turn, encourage them. They would purposely bid the shortest flights (usually the least desirable legs so they were easy to get), because they could get more of them in (as many as five in a day) thus giving God more of an opportunity to work through them. As she tells the story, God took them up on the challenge and fulfilled their request every time, sometimes in miraculous ways. (One time they were walking off a flight somewhat disappointed having not found a fellow-believer to encourage them, when who should they run into in the jetway, boarding early for the next flight, but Billy Graham!) I can’t help but think this all made God smile.
Then I think of all the bold things I did, and expected God to do, over 30 years ago during the Jesus movement when we could gather a crowd anywhere on the streets by singing about Jesus. What’s the deal now? Have I gotten too “old” to expect these things?
Growing in Christ never means you stop being a child. If you’ve ever been around a new believer, or you are one yourself, you will know what I mean. And this kind of childlike faith should never be over. Actually, it should be on the rise. Sure we will grow older in the faith, but we should also think about how we can grow younger as well.
Where do you need to trust God today? Was your faith stronger in some ways when you were a younger Christian? Where do you need to “grow younger” now?
PDL
John Fischer
Last week I discussed physical therapy as an illustration of spiritual growth. Even while I was writing that, I was also thinking about another aspect of faith that sometimes works the other way. It’s good to grow older in some ways, but it’s also good to grow younger in others.
Sometimes, we are bolder when we are younger in faith because we don’t know any better. We simply believe God like a child and venture out trusting He is with us. And you know what? He is.
When my wife first became a Christian, she was a flight attendant for a major airline. She and another fellow-believer would bid flights together for support and encouragement, but they would also bravely ask God for two things on each flight: one person to introduce to Jesus, and another believer who would, in turn, encourage them. They would purposely bid the shortest flights (usually the least desirable legs so they were easy to get), because they could get more of them in (as many as five in a day) thus giving God more of an opportunity to work through them. As she tells the story, God took them up on the challenge and fulfilled their request every time, sometimes in miraculous ways. (One time they were walking off a flight somewhat disappointed having not found a fellow-believer to encourage them, when who should they run into in the jetway, boarding early for the next flight, but Billy Graham!) I can’t help but think this all made God smile.
Then I think of all the bold things I did, and expected God to do, over 30 years ago during the Jesus movement when we could gather a crowd anywhere on the streets by singing about Jesus. What’s the deal now? Have I gotten too “old” to expect these things?
Growing in Christ never means you stop being a child. If you’ve ever been around a new believer, or you are one yourself, you will know what I mean. And this kind of childlike faith should never be over. Actually, it should be on the rise. Sure we will grow older in the faith, but we should also think about how we can grow younger as well.
Where do you need to trust God today? Was your faith stronger in some ways when you were a younger Christian? Where do you need to “grow younger” now?
PDL
Thursday, October 14, 2004
MISS GOOD DEEDS
Ephesians 2:8-10
8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
My 5-year-old daughter came home from kindergarten one day without her coat. The weather was cold and wet that day, and all I could envision was my little girl out at a 30-minute, mandatory recess with only a sweatshirt to keep her warm in the 35-degree weather. It's disturbing to a mother when she thinks her child is out in the cold without any protection.
I was just about to deliver my best speech about how important it is to wear a coat and that she needs to be more responsible and not lose it, and so on, when Aleigha quietly said, "My friend doesn't have a warm coat, so I gave her mine." From now on, she decided, she needed to bring two coats to school with her every day--just in case a friend didn't have one.
My big lecture was instantly replaced with a sense of pride in my daughter--and humility as I wondered if I would have done the same thing. Her act of self-sacrifice stopped me and made me think about my life and my attitude toward giving.
Aleigha's generosity and self-sacrifice for her friend reflects what Jesus came to teach us: We serve God by serving one another. He said, "If someone . . . wants to take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. . . . Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you" (Matthew 5:40,42).We were created for this kind of stuff (Ephesians 2:10). Good deeds.Random acts of kindness. Helping others. It's in our nature, our new nature, to give and do good things. It's who we are.
I'm amazed by what Jesus sacrificed for me. Because of what He's done, I can show my gratitude by giving to others, even if it means I have to give up something I need--even a winter coat. --Allison Stevens
DESTINATION POINTS
* What's the connection between who I am in Jesus and the way I live my life?
* What keeps me from doing more good deeds for others?
* What can I do this week to help someone in need?
LINKS:
Patsy Clairmont: Are You Hospital-Able?
http://www.christianitytoday.com/tcw/8w5/8w5018.html
bottom line: Giving springs from a heart of gratitude.
soul journey
Ephesians 2:8-10
8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
My 5-year-old daughter came home from kindergarten one day without her coat. The weather was cold and wet that day, and all I could envision was my little girl out at a 30-minute, mandatory recess with only a sweatshirt to keep her warm in the 35-degree weather. It's disturbing to a mother when she thinks her child is out in the cold without any protection.
I was just about to deliver my best speech about how important it is to wear a coat and that she needs to be more responsible and not lose it, and so on, when Aleigha quietly said, "My friend doesn't have a warm coat, so I gave her mine." From now on, she decided, she needed to bring two coats to school with her every day--just in case a friend didn't have one.
My big lecture was instantly replaced with a sense of pride in my daughter--and humility as I wondered if I would have done the same thing. Her act of self-sacrifice stopped me and made me think about my life and my attitude toward giving.
Aleigha's generosity and self-sacrifice for her friend reflects what Jesus came to teach us: We serve God by serving one another. He said, "If someone . . . wants to take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. . . . Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you" (Matthew 5:40,42).We were created for this kind of stuff (Ephesians 2:10). Good deeds.Random acts of kindness. Helping others. It's in our nature, our new nature, to give and do good things. It's who we are.
I'm amazed by what Jesus sacrificed for me. Because of what He's done, I can show my gratitude by giving to others, even if it means I have to give up something I need--even a winter coat. --Allison Stevens
DESTINATION POINTS
* What's the connection between who I am in Jesus and the way I live my life?
* What keeps me from doing more good deeds for others?
* What can I do this week to help someone in need?
LINKS:
Patsy Clairmont: Are You Hospital-Able?
http://www.christianitytoday.com/tcw/8w5/8w5018.html
bottom line: Giving springs from a heart of gratitude.
soul journey
Wednesday, October 13, 2004
God Doesn't Forget a Single Bird
Scott Presson
On my way into work this morning, a bird darted in front of me. I heard it bounce off of my truck and in my rear view mirror; I saw it as it fell to the side of the road. The Lord immediately spoke to me about that little bird. He impressed it upon my heart that He had seen what happened and He was totally aware of it. My mind jumped to this verse:
What is the price of five sparrows? A couple of pennies? Yet God does not forget a single one of them. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are more valuable to him than a whole flock of sparrows. (Luke 12:6)
God doesn't forget a single bird. God's creation is valuable to Him. As a part of His creation, He is concerned with you and me. In fact we are His chosen vessels to complete His will on earth.
Sometimes we all feel as if we've been "left out in the cold". We feel like God must have His attention elsewhere and He didn't see that problem that came up or realize we needed a quick resolution. Just like that bird that darted in front of me, we often ask why God doesn't intervene in our lives, why didn't God make him zig instead of zag?
But of course God does intervene as we yield to Him.
God really does care about us. God really does see all the problems. God really is on the job, hearing our prayers and taking care of what we need.
We have to stay focused. We hear a variation of that all the time. The world says, "Just stay focused", as if that will make our entire decision making process okay. Or they say, "Work through it," as if all the poor choices we've made can be corrected by force of will. God wants us to focus on Him:
And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and gone tomorrow, won't he more surely care for you? You have so little faith! And don't worry about food - what to eat and drink. Don't worry whether God will provide it for you. These things dominate the thoughts of most people, but your Father already knows your needs. He will give you all you need from day to day if you make the Kingdom of God your primary concern. (Luke 12:28)
He will give us everything we need if we make His kingdom our focus. We have to learn to rely on Him to take care of the issues in our lives. How many times have you tried to interject yourself in a situation fully intending on doing the right thing and yet it turns out so wrong. We always want to do things our way and yet half the time that's the very reason we're in that position in the first place. Our free will is not free reign to wreak havoc. In fact, that's what God is trying to get us to see, Yield To Him And He Will Take Care Of You. Look at this verse:
If you make the Lord your refuge, if you make the Most High your shelter, no evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your dwelling. For he orders his angels to protect you wherever you go. They will hold you with their hands to keep you from striking your foot on a stone. You will trample down lions and poisonous snakes; you will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet! The Lord says, "I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name. When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue them and honor them. I will satisfy them with a long life and give them my salvation. (Psalms 91:9)
He will protect you, rescue you, be with you, answer you, honor you, satisfy you, give you long life and His salvation. If you make God your refuge and your shelter! We just have to trust in Him and he gives us all that. What a bargain!
Don't fret. God sees all the little birds that fall by the wayside and He sees all you are struggling with today. He wants you to know that He loves you with His everlasting Love. He wants you to know that He alone knows all about you and every hope and dream you hold so dear. He alone knows the issues in your life. He alone knows the way it will all turn out, But You Must Yield To Him. God's plan is the best plan. His plan will make you skillful at His calling. His plan for you will enable you to go forward with confidence. His plan will prevail.
God wants to bless you right now. He is giving you strength for this day and hope for the future. He is giving you peace. Just receive all that He has for you! Rest in the fact that He is looking upon you with graciousness and favor. You are His beloved.
The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace. (Numbers 6: 24)
cbn
Scott Presson
On my way into work this morning, a bird darted in front of me. I heard it bounce off of my truck and in my rear view mirror; I saw it as it fell to the side of the road. The Lord immediately spoke to me about that little bird. He impressed it upon my heart that He had seen what happened and He was totally aware of it. My mind jumped to this verse:
What is the price of five sparrows? A couple of pennies? Yet God does not forget a single one of them. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are more valuable to him than a whole flock of sparrows. (Luke 12:6)
God doesn't forget a single bird. God's creation is valuable to Him. As a part of His creation, He is concerned with you and me. In fact we are His chosen vessels to complete His will on earth.
Sometimes we all feel as if we've been "left out in the cold". We feel like God must have His attention elsewhere and He didn't see that problem that came up or realize we needed a quick resolution. Just like that bird that darted in front of me, we often ask why God doesn't intervene in our lives, why didn't God make him zig instead of zag?
But of course God does intervene as we yield to Him.
God really does care about us. God really does see all the problems. God really is on the job, hearing our prayers and taking care of what we need.
We have to stay focused. We hear a variation of that all the time. The world says, "Just stay focused", as if that will make our entire decision making process okay. Or they say, "Work through it," as if all the poor choices we've made can be corrected by force of will. God wants us to focus on Him:
And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and gone tomorrow, won't he more surely care for you? You have so little faith! And don't worry about food - what to eat and drink. Don't worry whether God will provide it for you. These things dominate the thoughts of most people, but your Father already knows your needs. He will give you all you need from day to day if you make the Kingdom of God your primary concern. (Luke 12:28)
He will give us everything we need if we make His kingdom our focus. We have to learn to rely on Him to take care of the issues in our lives. How many times have you tried to interject yourself in a situation fully intending on doing the right thing and yet it turns out so wrong. We always want to do things our way and yet half the time that's the very reason we're in that position in the first place. Our free will is not free reign to wreak havoc. In fact, that's what God is trying to get us to see, Yield To Him And He Will Take Care Of You. Look at this verse:
If you make the Lord your refuge, if you make the Most High your shelter, no evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your dwelling. For he orders his angels to protect you wherever you go. They will hold you with their hands to keep you from striking your foot on a stone. You will trample down lions and poisonous snakes; you will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet! The Lord says, "I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name. When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue them and honor them. I will satisfy them with a long life and give them my salvation. (Psalms 91:9)
He will protect you, rescue you, be with you, answer you, honor you, satisfy you, give you long life and His salvation. If you make God your refuge and your shelter! We just have to trust in Him and he gives us all that. What a bargain!
Don't fret. God sees all the little birds that fall by the wayside and He sees all you are struggling with today. He wants you to know that He loves you with His everlasting Love. He wants you to know that He alone knows all about you and every hope and dream you hold so dear. He alone knows the issues in your life. He alone knows the way it will all turn out, But You Must Yield To Him. God's plan is the best plan. His plan will make you skillful at His calling. His plan for you will enable you to go forward with confidence. His plan will prevail.
God wants to bless you right now. He is giving you strength for this day and hope for the future. He is giving you peace. Just receive all that He has for you! Rest in the fact that He is looking upon you with graciousness and favor. You are His beloved.
The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace. (Numbers 6: 24)
cbn
Tuesday, October 12, 2004
DOG THOUGHTS
Luke 6:44-49
44 Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. 45 The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks. 46 "Why do you call Me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say? 47 I will show you what he is like who comes to Me and hears My words and puts them into practice. 48 He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built.49 But the one who hears My words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete."
Just when you thought you'd never figure out what your dog is thinking, "Bow Lingual--The Dog Translator" has come to the rescue. This device, invented in Japan, uses a radio microphone attached toa dog's collar, and a hand-held receiver that translates the barks into 200 different phrases. It claims to sense your dog's mood and emotion at the time of barking. In Japan, 250,000 people paid $120 each for "Bow Lingual" before it went on sale in the United States.
Craig Wilson, writing in USA Today, says that even though he's sorry he didn't invent The Dog Translator so he could enjoy the profits, he's never had any problem figuring out what his dog is thinking. A bark around 6 p.m. means that dinner hasn't been served, while constant barking at midday announces the arrival of the mailman. "Just the cock of her head will often do it," Wilson says. "Translation: Surely you're taking me with you." Craig Wilson's dog reveals her thoughts through what she says and does.
So do we.
Jesus used an everyday picture when He said that a tree is recognized by its fruit. What's inside the tree appears on its branches. He made it clear that our words and actions flow from deep inside us: "The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart" (Luke 6:45). What we're thinking emerges in our words and actions.
Jesus again showed the importance of our inner life in His illustration of the wise and foolish builders. The person who heard Jesus' words but didn't obey was like a man building on sand, while the one who put them into practice built on solid rock. The storm that destroyed one house couldn't shake the other. When we acknowledge Jesus as Lord and obey His words, He is our sure foundation.
Since what's inside us is what others see, it's essential to make sure we're barking up the right tree. That translates to a life well-lived. --Dave McCasland
DESTINATION POINTS
* What do people learn by watching and listening to me?
* Since my inner life never remains hidden, why do I so often try to act secretly, thinking no one will know?
* What act of obedience will help me establish a solid foundation on Jesus today?
bottom line: Our words and actions reveal our heart.
soul journey
Luke 6:44-49
44 Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. 45 The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks. 46 "Why do you call Me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say? 47 I will show you what he is like who comes to Me and hears My words and puts them into practice. 48 He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built.49 But the one who hears My words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete."
Just when you thought you'd never figure out what your dog is thinking, "Bow Lingual--The Dog Translator" has come to the rescue. This device, invented in Japan, uses a radio microphone attached toa dog's collar, and a hand-held receiver that translates the barks into 200 different phrases. It claims to sense your dog's mood and emotion at the time of barking. In Japan, 250,000 people paid $120 each for "Bow Lingual" before it went on sale in the United States.
Craig Wilson, writing in USA Today, says that even though he's sorry he didn't invent The Dog Translator so he could enjoy the profits, he's never had any problem figuring out what his dog is thinking. A bark around 6 p.m. means that dinner hasn't been served, while constant barking at midday announces the arrival of the mailman. "Just the cock of her head will often do it," Wilson says. "Translation: Surely you're taking me with you." Craig Wilson's dog reveals her thoughts through what she says and does.
So do we.
Jesus used an everyday picture when He said that a tree is recognized by its fruit. What's inside the tree appears on its branches. He made it clear that our words and actions flow from deep inside us: "The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart" (Luke 6:45). What we're thinking emerges in our words and actions.
Jesus again showed the importance of our inner life in His illustration of the wise and foolish builders. The person who heard Jesus' words but didn't obey was like a man building on sand, while the one who put them into practice built on solid rock. The storm that destroyed one house couldn't shake the other. When we acknowledge Jesus as Lord and obey His words, He is our sure foundation.
Since what's inside us is what others see, it's essential to make sure we're barking up the right tree. That translates to a life well-lived. --Dave McCasland
DESTINATION POINTS
* What do people learn by watching and listening to me?
* Since my inner life never remains hidden, why do I so often try to act secretly, thinking no one will know?
* What act of obedience will help me establish a solid foundation on Jesus today?
bottom line: Our words and actions reveal our heart.
soul journey
Monday, October 11, 2004
Called and Sent
John Fischer
You are where you are for a reason. Your vocation, your neighbors, your community and your many associations are a world you inhabit to which you were sent. Every one of us has a sphere of influence that touches many lives and that involvement makes our relationships eternally significant.
If you ever heard about God sending people to the mission field and assumed that if you didn’t go you are somehow without a mission, this is simply not true. There is absolutely no difference between you and me and a missionary heading out to some dark corner of the world. We are all sent. (Besides, dark corners are every where.)
Wherever you go you represent Christ because you know Him, and your mission is to introduce Him to people who haven’t met Him yet. The opportunity to do this is generated by respect. As we walk through our communities and workplaces, we can generate an interest in Christ by extending the same respect for others that Christ has extended to us. We do this regardless of whether we like someone or not, or whether they have been mean or unfair to us. Respect is something every human being deserves, regardless, because everyone is made in the image of God and as such reflects something of the Creator’s likeness. Peter wrote to us about always being ready to explain our hope, but to do it “with gentleness and respect” (1 Peter 3:16 NIV).
And if it is hard to respect someone, remember Christ initiated a relationship with us while we were dead set against Him, and still in our sin (Romans 5:6-8). None of us started off this relationship very well, in other words, and yet someone reached out to us through Christ’s love; we can do the same. And we do this—each of us—in the context of the particular cluster of people we know and operate in. No one else has your exact circle of influence. That is an influence all your own—like your own entire mission field.
So never think lightly, or negatively, of your position or your place in life. We’ve all been called and we’ve all been placed right where we are for a reason. And the people around us are that reason. May God open our eyes to the importance of our place in the world, and the importance and great value of everyone we encounter today.
PDL
John Fischer
You are where you are for a reason. Your vocation, your neighbors, your community and your many associations are a world you inhabit to which you were sent. Every one of us has a sphere of influence that touches many lives and that involvement makes our relationships eternally significant.
If you ever heard about God sending people to the mission field and assumed that if you didn’t go you are somehow without a mission, this is simply not true. There is absolutely no difference between you and me and a missionary heading out to some dark corner of the world. We are all sent. (Besides, dark corners are every where.)
Wherever you go you represent Christ because you know Him, and your mission is to introduce Him to people who haven’t met Him yet. The opportunity to do this is generated by respect. As we walk through our communities and workplaces, we can generate an interest in Christ by extending the same respect for others that Christ has extended to us. We do this regardless of whether we like someone or not, or whether they have been mean or unfair to us. Respect is something every human being deserves, regardless, because everyone is made in the image of God and as such reflects something of the Creator’s likeness. Peter wrote to us about always being ready to explain our hope, but to do it “with gentleness and respect” (1 Peter 3:16 NIV).
And if it is hard to respect someone, remember Christ initiated a relationship with us while we were dead set against Him, and still in our sin (Romans 5:6-8). None of us started off this relationship very well, in other words, and yet someone reached out to us through Christ’s love; we can do the same. And we do this—each of us—in the context of the particular cluster of people we know and operate in. No one else has your exact circle of influence. That is an influence all your own—like your own entire mission field.
So never think lightly, or negatively, of your position or your place in life. We’ve all been called and we’ve all been placed right where we are for a reason. And the people around us are that reason. May God open our eyes to the importance of our place in the world, and the importance and great value of everyone we encounter today.
PDL
Sunday, October 10, 2004
GOD OF THE SECOND CHANCE
1 Peter 5:6-136 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that He maylift you up in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you. 8 Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. 10 And the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while,will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm, and steadfast.11 To Him be the power for ever and ever. Amen. 12 With the help of Silas, whom I regard as a faithful brother, I have written to youbriefly, encouraging you and testifying that this is the true graceof God. Stand fast in it. 13 She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you her greetings, and so does my son Mark.
Tucked away at the end of Peter's first letter are three men with very different track records (1 Peter 5:12-13). The reference to Peter, Mark, and Silas is almost an afterthought and might be easily by passed. Let's slow down for a brief background check of these three men.
Peter preached with power on the day when the Holy Spirit was given to the church (Acts 2:1-47). He entered the home of Cornelius and gave a gospel message that opened the door to Gentiles (Acts 10:1-48). But he also carried some heavy guilt. Earlier in his life after insisting he would die with his Lord, he had denied Him three times (Matthew 26:30-35; 69-75).
Mark is called Peter's "dear son" in the faith. At that time Mark had become valuable to both Peter and Paul (1 Peter 5:13; 2 Timothy 4:11). Yet in Mark's background there was an embarrassing failure. He had become a "dropout" on the first missionary journey with Paul and Barnabas. Then when Barnabas tried to include him on the second missionary journey, a heated argument arose because of Mark's past failure. As a result, Paul chose Silas and sailed in a different direction than the route taken by Barnabas and Mark (Acts 15:37-41).
Silas replaced Barnabas as Paul's ministry partner on the second missionary journey (Acts 15:36-40). He was beaten and imprisoned with Paul (Acts 16:12-40), and later he became a personal secretary to Peter when he wrote his first epistle (1 Peter 5:12). His record appears to be sterling, but more than likely his failures just aren't recorded in Scripture.
Just as God gave second chances to people in biblical times, He gives us second chances too. By His grace, past failures evaporate. Like early believers, each of us can say, "You are forgiven, I amforgiven, and we are forgiven. " Let's keep serving Jesus together. --Dennis Fisher
DESTINATION POINTS
* Do I feel unworthy to serve Jesus? How have I found fault withothers for past failures?
* How have I experienced God's grace bygetting a second chance?
LINKS:
To Keep Your Faith Growing and Growing and . . .
http://www.christianitytoday.com/cl/7c4/7c4008.html
bottom line: Forgiveness frees the church to function.
soul journey
1 Peter 5:6-136 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that He maylift you up in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you. 8 Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. 10 And the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while,will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm, and steadfast.11 To Him be the power for ever and ever. Amen. 12 With the help of Silas, whom I regard as a faithful brother, I have written to youbriefly, encouraging you and testifying that this is the true graceof God. Stand fast in it. 13 She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you her greetings, and so does my son Mark.
Tucked away at the end of Peter's first letter are three men with very different track records (1 Peter 5:12-13). The reference to Peter, Mark, and Silas is almost an afterthought and might be easily by passed. Let's slow down for a brief background check of these three men.
Peter preached with power on the day when the Holy Spirit was given to the church (Acts 2:1-47). He entered the home of Cornelius and gave a gospel message that opened the door to Gentiles (Acts 10:1-48). But he also carried some heavy guilt. Earlier in his life after insisting he would die with his Lord, he had denied Him three times (Matthew 26:30-35; 69-75).
Mark is called Peter's "dear son" in the faith. At that time Mark had become valuable to both Peter and Paul (1 Peter 5:13; 2 Timothy 4:11). Yet in Mark's background there was an embarrassing failure. He had become a "dropout" on the first missionary journey with Paul and Barnabas. Then when Barnabas tried to include him on the second missionary journey, a heated argument arose because of Mark's past failure. As a result, Paul chose Silas and sailed in a different direction than the route taken by Barnabas and Mark (Acts 15:37-41).
Silas replaced Barnabas as Paul's ministry partner on the second missionary journey (Acts 15:36-40). He was beaten and imprisoned with Paul (Acts 16:12-40), and later he became a personal secretary to Peter when he wrote his first epistle (1 Peter 5:12). His record appears to be sterling, but more than likely his failures just aren't recorded in Scripture.
Just as God gave second chances to people in biblical times, He gives us second chances too. By His grace, past failures evaporate. Like early believers, each of us can say, "You are forgiven, I amforgiven, and we are forgiven. " Let's keep serving Jesus together. --Dennis Fisher
DESTINATION POINTS
* Do I feel unworthy to serve Jesus? How have I found fault withothers for past failures?
* How have I experienced God's grace bygetting a second chance?
LINKS:
To Keep Your Faith Growing and Growing and . . .
http://www.christianitytoday.com/cl/7c4/7c4008.html
bottom line: Forgiveness frees the church to function.
soul journey
Saturday, October 09, 2004
Not Alone
John Fischer
There is hardly a human need stronger than the need to belong. We were created this way. Every one of us came out of a womb screaming for warmth, companionship, and someone else’s heartbeat. We were rudely ripped out of that idyllic existence and thrust into a cold, impersonal, lonely world. (No wonder babies cry.) And the rest of our lives are spent trying to find that intimacy again. Everyone knows this feeling because everyone has had the same experience once—being so close that our mother’s heartbeat was a constant presence—and everyone knows that reuniting with others is somehow a part of our common purpose in life. No man is an island.
Is it any wonder Jesus prayed, “My prayer for all of them [His disciples and us] is that they will be one, just as you and I are one, Father—that just as you are in me and I am in you, so they will be in us, and the world will believe you sent me.” John 17:21 NLT
We were made to be together. We often think only in terms of our own spiritual lives and forget the fact that God is saving a people to come together for His glory. Salvation is not just an individual matter; it’s a corporate thing—it plugs us into everyone else in the Body of Christ. It is when the church functions as a whole that we give evidence to who we really are. We are the Body of Christ, not the Individual of Christ. No one of us can reflect, alone, what that body is. His will is expressed in all of us together.
Together we are the Bride of Christ. (My grammar checker doesn’t like that last sentence because this concept challenges even our language. Since when is “bride” plural?) I am not the Bride; you are not the Bride. We are only the Bride in completion with all other believers in history and in the world. This is all part of God’s plan to bring us back together where we can hear each other’s heartbeat and experience the oneness that Jesus has with the Father and desires to have with us. Jesus prayed that we would be all wrapped together in oneness with Him—us in Christ, and Christ in the Father.
So what does this mean for you and me today? It means we are not alone. We know where we belong. We need to give priority to our relationships with other believers because who we are depends on it. Check your calendar; arrange some lunches. Time put into people is time committed to God and His purposes.
PDL
John Fischer
There is hardly a human need stronger than the need to belong. We were created this way. Every one of us came out of a womb screaming for warmth, companionship, and someone else’s heartbeat. We were rudely ripped out of that idyllic existence and thrust into a cold, impersonal, lonely world. (No wonder babies cry.) And the rest of our lives are spent trying to find that intimacy again. Everyone knows this feeling because everyone has had the same experience once—being so close that our mother’s heartbeat was a constant presence—and everyone knows that reuniting with others is somehow a part of our common purpose in life. No man is an island.
Is it any wonder Jesus prayed, “My prayer for all of them [His disciples and us] is that they will be one, just as you and I are one, Father—that just as you are in me and I am in you, so they will be in us, and the world will believe you sent me.” John 17:21 NLT
We were made to be together. We often think only in terms of our own spiritual lives and forget the fact that God is saving a people to come together for His glory. Salvation is not just an individual matter; it’s a corporate thing—it plugs us into everyone else in the Body of Christ. It is when the church functions as a whole that we give evidence to who we really are. We are the Body of Christ, not the Individual of Christ. No one of us can reflect, alone, what that body is. His will is expressed in all of us together.
Together we are the Bride of Christ. (My grammar checker doesn’t like that last sentence because this concept challenges even our language. Since when is “bride” plural?) I am not the Bride; you are not the Bride. We are only the Bride in completion with all other believers in history and in the world. This is all part of God’s plan to bring us back together where we can hear each other’s heartbeat and experience the oneness that Jesus has with the Father and desires to have with us. Jesus prayed that we would be all wrapped together in oneness with Him—us in Christ, and Christ in the Father.
So what does this mean for you and me today? It means we are not alone. We know where we belong. We need to give priority to our relationships with other believers because who we are depends on it. Check your calendar; arrange some lunches. Time put into people is time committed to God and His purposes.
PDL
Thursday, October 07, 2004
Light Your World
Martha Noebel
Don't waste what God has given to you. Put it to good use for His glory!
Look at all the ideas we have wasted. These brightly-lit light bulbs are all the good ideas we have thrown into the wastebasket. They are gifts, talents, articles never written, creative suggestions that were never implemented, … you've got the idea.
Remember the story of the servants and the talents as mentioned in Matthew 25:14-28? Each one received talents (coins) from the master according to their abilities. Then the master went away on a journey. The three servants thought about what would be the best thing to do with this treasure. Two of them invested the coins, thus putting them to good use. The third servant just dug a hole and buried his gift. He did not use it. When the master returned every one was proud of how they had taken care of the coins. The problem was the master was not happy with all of them. He had expected that all of the talents would be used in a productive manner.
The first two servants heard things like, "Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!" Wow, I know they were happy! Good job, the master was saying. Now the third servant heard, "You wicked, lazy servant! … Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so when I returned I would have received it back with interest. Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents." Bummer. That is something I would not want to hear.
When we stand before God on that day, we want to hear the first comment. We want to be good and faithful servants having used what God has given us. What gifts and talents do we have that are buried or lying dormant? We should be using all God has given us, no excuses. When we look at the basket of light bulbs, we can see what we are doing. We are taking all those bright ideas, gifts, and talents and tossing them away. Oh, how sad. Let us take all the light bulbs and plug them into the current of the power of God. We can be bright lights in this world.
Let's dust off "the things we can do for God"; things we have tossed out as not important. We need to put them to use. We can trust Him with the results. Let's make a difference. Let's go "light our world" for Christ.
cbn
Martha Noebel
Don't waste what God has given to you. Put it to good use for His glory!
Look at all the ideas we have wasted. These brightly-lit light bulbs are all the good ideas we have thrown into the wastebasket. They are gifts, talents, articles never written, creative suggestions that were never implemented, … you've got the idea.
Remember the story of the servants and the talents as mentioned in Matthew 25:14-28? Each one received talents (coins) from the master according to their abilities. Then the master went away on a journey. The three servants thought about what would be the best thing to do with this treasure. Two of them invested the coins, thus putting them to good use. The third servant just dug a hole and buried his gift. He did not use it. When the master returned every one was proud of how they had taken care of the coins. The problem was the master was not happy with all of them. He had expected that all of the talents would be used in a productive manner.
The first two servants heard things like, "Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!" Wow, I know they were happy! Good job, the master was saying. Now the third servant heard, "You wicked, lazy servant! … Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so when I returned I would have received it back with interest. Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents." Bummer. That is something I would not want to hear.
When we stand before God on that day, we want to hear the first comment. We want to be good and faithful servants having used what God has given us. What gifts and talents do we have that are buried or lying dormant? We should be using all God has given us, no excuses. When we look at the basket of light bulbs, we can see what we are doing. We are taking all those bright ideas, gifts, and talents and tossing them away. Oh, how sad. Let us take all the light bulbs and plug them into the current of the power of God. We can be bright lights in this world.
Let's dust off "the things we can do for God"; things we have tossed out as not important. We need to put them to use. We can trust Him with the results. Let's make a difference. Let's go "light our world" for Christ.
cbn
Wednesday, October 06, 2004
The Buck Stops Here
John Fischer
There is a time for the buck to stop here and a time for it not to. The buck stops here when it relates to responsibility, but it stops somewhere else when it relates to gifts. With gifts, the buck just keeps on going. Things that are given are meant to be passed on. “Freely you have received,” said Jesus, “freely give.” Matthew 10:8 This is the one time it’s okay to “pass the buck.”
What does that mean except that what God gives us is ultimately for someone else. This is certainly true of all of His spiritual gifts, which are for the common good of us all. God’s gifts by their very nature are designed to help others. For instance, if I have received the gift of wisdom, the purpose of the gift is not to make me wise, but to aid me in helping someone else who needs wisdom or insight for a particular decision or a situation over which they are confused. Or if I have received the gift of knowledge, it is not to fill my head with information, but to be useful in helping others to understand the vastness of God’s truth and increase their faith as a result.
Actually, when it comes to spiritual gifts, most people are very poor at applying their gift to their own lives. I have a friend who has the gift of discernment and can nail the truth about someone else’s life but be completely blind to her own. I also know someone who is always encouraging others but often is privately discouraged, and in need of encouragement herself. I think God does this purposely so we don’t get arrogant about our gifts, and so we are, ourselves, in need of the very thing we give out.
It’s a great way to begin to figure out how God wants you to serve the Body of Christ. Think of what you are gifted in, and then think of who needs it, and what you can do for them. This way you can be more deliberate about serving those around you. What do you have in your hand and what can you do with it? Who might it be for?
And in light of what we just discussed regarding using your gifts on yourself, it might be good to realize you may need help from others in the very areas you are strong. You might even want to ask for it. If God’s gifts are always for someone else, then God has someone uniquely prepared to serve you as well. Remember: The buck stops there.
PDL
John Fischer
There is a time for the buck to stop here and a time for it not to. The buck stops here when it relates to responsibility, but it stops somewhere else when it relates to gifts. With gifts, the buck just keeps on going. Things that are given are meant to be passed on. “Freely you have received,” said Jesus, “freely give.” Matthew 10:8 This is the one time it’s okay to “pass the buck.”
What does that mean except that what God gives us is ultimately for someone else. This is certainly true of all of His spiritual gifts, which are for the common good of us all. God’s gifts by their very nature are designed to help others. For instance, if I have received the gift of wisdom, the purpose of the gift is not to make me wise, but to aid me in helping someone else who needs wisdom or insight for a particular decision or a situation over which they are confused. Or if I have received the gift of knowledge, it is not to fill my head with information, but to be useful in helping others to understand the vastness of God’s truth and increase their faith as a result.
Actually, when it comes to spiritual gifts, most people are very poor at applying their gift to their own lives. I have a friend who has the gift of discernment and can nail the truth about someone else’s life but be completely blind to her own. I also know someone who is always encouraging others but often is privately discouraged, and in need of encouragement herself. I think God does this purposely so we don’t get arrogant about our gifts, and so we are, ourselves, in need of the very thing we give out.
It’s a great way to begin to figure out how God wants you to serve the Body of Christ. Think of what you are gifted in, and then think of who needs it, and what you can do for them. This way you can be more deliberate about serving those around you. What do you have in your hand and what can you do with it? Who might it be for?
And in light of what we just discussed regarding using your gifts on yourself, it might be good to realize you may need help from others in the very areas you are strong. You might even want to ask for it. If God’s gifts are always for someone else, then God has someone uniquely prepared to serve you as well. Remember: The buck stops there.
PDL
Tuesday, October 05, 2004
What Kind of Christian Are You?
Scott Presson
Are you a "Seeker"? Are you running hard after God? Or are you nursing a grudge? Are you holding onto past hurts, or anger and unforgiveness? How about disappointments and heartache? We tend to dress up a lot of things as Christianity when in reality it’s just us barely hanging on and doing our thing in the natural.
We call it a "walk" when really we’re sitting on a fence hoping we don’t get pulled into anymore than we can handle.
Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while He is near. (Isaiah 55:6)
God is commanding us to seek Him! I like a command.
There’s no ambiguity there. God spells it out in any Bible translation the same way: seek Him. We have to be seekers in every area of our walk with God. David was a seeker and he even asked God to help him not to wander.
I have tried my best to find you – don't let me wander from your commands. (Psalms 119:10)
There are some great benefits to being a seeker, but God requires some things of us as His followers. He wants is to have clean hands and a pure heart, and not to worship idols and tell lies. If we do the right thing here’s what we get:
Who may climb the mountain of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place? Only those whose hands and hearts are pure, who do not worship idols and never tell lies. They will receive the Lord’s blessing and have right standing with God their savior. Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek your face, O God of Jacob. (Psalms 24:3-5)
We get the Lord’s blessing and we will be in right standing with Him. In righteous simplicity, Jesus spelled out the answer to the cry of a seekers heart.
For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. (Luke 11:10)
We will receive, we will find Him and He will respond to our knock. Seeking hard after God is not an exercise in futility, it’s the will of God. It’s His command. It’s His way to bless us. It’s the way we receive righteousness more abundantly.
Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the LORD, until he comes and showers righteousness on you. (Hosea 10:12)
God says NOW is the time to be a seeker after Him. God wants us to sow right standing with Him and we will reap what we all really want –the unfailing love of God! A seeker is running hard after God, and looking for Him. A seeker wants to witness. A seeker wants to pray. A seeker wants to do God’s will. A seeker is looking at every opportunity to pour out what God has given them that day. Whether it’s a song, or a word of encouragement or just a listening ear, God wants us to step in the gap for each other every day. We don’t all get "full" of God every morning but when we’re on empty, He can still use us and only He gets the glory for it!
God is not far from us. In fact the Word says, "He’s the friend that sticks closer than a brother". No matter how far you feel from God today take the chance and sow right standing with Him – He will shower you with righteousness. As, you sow an upright walk and as the Word says- we reap what we sow – so you will get more righteousness. That all leads to fulfilling your place in the Kingdom. As you fulfill your call that God has placed upon you it will help you equip others to fulfill theirs and all of the sudden the Church is doing what it’s supposed to do! You see – we actually carry part of the responsibility as Christians to fulfill God’s destiny on the earth! We don’t think we actually have a part, but we do! And it all starts with the desire to seek after God and to do His will.
Relinquish your past, drop that burden of past sins in the sea of forgetfulness and move forward into your future as a Seeker after God!
cbn
Scott Presson
Are you a "Seeker"? Are you running hard after God? Or are you nursing a grudge? Are you holding onto past hurts, or anger and unforgiveness? How about disappointments and heartache? We tend to dress up a lot of things as Christianity when in reality it’s just us barely hanging on and doing our thing in the natural.
We call it a "walk" when really we’re sitting on a fence hoping we don’t get pulled into anymore than we can handle.
Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while He is near. (Isaiah 55:6)
God is commanding us to seek Him! I like a command.
There’s no ambiguity there. God spells it out in any Bible translation the same way: seek Him. We have to be seekers in every area of our walk with God. David was a seeker and he even asked God to help him not to wander.
I have tried my best to find you – don't let me wander from your commands. (Psalms 119:10)
There are some great benefits to being a seeker, but God requires some things of us as His followers. He wants is to have clean hands and a pure heart, and not to worship idols and tell lies. If we do the right thing here’s what we get:
Who may climb the mountain of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place? Only those whose hands and hearts are pure, who do not worship idols and never tell lies. They will receive the Lord’s blessing and have right standing with God their savior. Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek your face, O God of Jacob. (Psalms 24:3-5)
We get the Lord’s blessing and we will be in right standing with Him. In righteous simplicity, Jesus spelled out the answer to the cry of a seekers heart.
For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. (Luke 11:10)
We will receive, we will find Him and He will respond to our knock. Seeking hard after God is not an exercise in futility, it’s the will of God. It’s His command. It’s His way to bless us. It’s the way we receive righteousness more abundantly.
Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the LORD, until he comes and showers righteousness on you. (Hosea 10:12)
God says NOW is the time to be a seeker after Him. God wants us to sow right standing with Him and we will reap what we all really want –the unfailing love of God! A seeker is running hard after God, and looking for Him. A seeker wants to witness. A seeker wants to pray. A seeker wants to do God’s will. A seeker is looking at every opportunity to pour out what God has given them that day. Whether it’s a song, or a word of encouragement or just a listening ear, God wants us to step in the gap for each other every day. We don’t all get "full" of God every morning but when we’re on empty, He can still use us and only He gets the glory for it!
God is not far from us. In fact the Word says, "He’s the friend that sticks closer than a brother". No matter how far you feel from God today take the chance and sow right standing with Him – He will shower you with righteousness. As, you sow an upright walk and as the Word says- we reap what we sow – so you will get more righteousness. That all leads to fulfilling your place in the Kingdom. As you fulfill your call that God has placed upon you it will help you equip others to fulfill theirs and all of the sudden the Church is doing what it’s supposed to do! You see – we actually carry part of the responsibility as Christians to fulfill God’s destiny on the earth! We don’t think we actually have a part, but we do! And it all starts with the desire to seek after God and to do His will.
Relinquish your past, drop that burden of past sins in the sea of forgetfulness and move forward into your future as a Seeker after God!
cbn
Monday, October 04, 2004
On Parade
John Fischer
Did you know that one of the most significant aspects of our mission in the world is simply being there? Paul talks about this in 2 Corinthians 2:14-16
But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life. (NIV)
Part of our mission is consciously telling people about Christ. Another part of it is unconsciously telling people about Christ. This is the unconscious part Paul is talking about here. This is the part of our mission that goes on all the time, and it is one of the reasons God wants us out in the world and not isolated or only associating with believers.
God has us on parade.
That’s what is meant by this “triumphal procession.” The Corinthian believers would have had an immediate picture in their minds of Roman soldiers marching through the streets of Corinth returning from a military engagement somewhere in the empire. It was a public display, and Paul says we are always being lead in one of these things.
Now some of you are already saying, “Wait a minute… I’m not returning from battle, I don’t think I’ve been very victorious lately, and what’s more, I don’t like parades, much less being in one!”
Well hold your horses because this is not that kind of parade. This is not you marching through your office leading the worship band. This is a thing between you and God, with Christ being the source. It’s Christ in you carrying on a relationship with God through your life and affecting everyone around you as a result. It’s you and I living our lives of faith out in the world where it will have an effect on those who come into contact with us. This is not putting on airs: this is being who we are as people of faith.
Did you know that living your life out in the world, loving God and following Christ as best as you can is a very powerful thing? It is. That’s why you can have a sense of mission about what you do in the world. You are not just getting by. You are, at whatever stage of faith that you find yourself, putting Christ on display, and people will react to you based on what they see of Him.
So whatever you’re about to do today, be conscious about your relationship with God, and you will unconsciously be on parade.
PDL
John Fischer
Did you know that one of the most significant aspects of our mission in the world is simply being there? Paul talks about this in 2 Corinthians 2:14-16
But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life. (NIV)
Part of our mission is consciously telling people about Christ. Another part of it is unconsciously telling people about Christ. This is the unconscious part Paul is talking about here. This is the part of our mission that goes on all the time, and it is one of the reasons God wants us out in the world and not isolated or only associating with believers.
God has us on parade.
That’s what is meant by this “triumphal procession.” The Corinthian believers would have had an immediate picture in their minds of Roman soldiers marching through the streets of Corinth returning from a military engagement somewhere in the empire. It was a public display, and Paul says we are always being lead in one of these things.
Now some of you are already saying, “Wait a minute… I’m not returning from battle, I don’t think I’ve been very victorious lately, and what’s more, I don’t like parades, much less being in one!”
Well hold your horses because this is not that kind of parade. This is not you marching through your office leading the worship band. This is a thing between you and God, with Christ being the source. It’s Christ in you carrying on a relationship with God through your life and affecting everyone around you as a result. It’s you and I living our lives of faith out in the world where it will have an effect on those who come into contact with us. This is not putting on airs: this is being who we are as people of faith.
Did you know that living your life out in the world, loving God and following Christ as best as you can is a very powerful thing? It is. That’s why you can have a sense of mission about what you do in the world. You are not just getting by. You are, at whatever stage of faith that you find yourself, putting Christ on display, and people will react to you based on what they see of Him.
So whatever you’re about to do today, be conscious about your relationship with God, and you will unconsciously be on parade.
PDL
Sunday, October 03, 2004
Let God Set Your Agenda
Joyce Meyer
This devotion is taken from Joyce Meyer's book, Starting Your Day Right.
Let God Set Your Agenda
But this thing I did command them: Listen to and obey My voice, and I will be your God and you will be My people; and walk in the whole way that I command you, that it may be well with you (Jeremiah 7:23).
Remember, you made your schedule, and you can change it. Pray about your day, your week, and your life goals to find out what God wants you to do, and what He doesn't want you to do.
If you don't do what God is telling you to do, you may let people control and manipulate you to do what they want you to do. You may end up doing things for which you are not anointed. If you do what God tells you to do, He will bless you with joy, peace, rest, and wonderful relationships.
Get Rid of Distractions
That which is desired in a man is loyalty and kindness [and his glory and delight are his giving] (Proverbs 19:22).
Sometimes you may just need to clear away the clutter so you can clearly see what is worthwhile. Here is a simple suggestion: Don't keep more than you can take care of. If you have so much junk in your home that it takes you hours to dust it, get rid of something.
Find a big carton and write "Blessing Box" on the side of it. Start putting extra things into it until cleaning is more manageable. Find someone who doesn't have much and bless them. You will be amazed at how easy it is to start your day right when you are no longer distracted by things you don't need.
Get Up and Work
And let the beauty and delightfulness and favor of the Lord our God be upon us; confirm and establish the work of our hands-yes, the work of our hands, confirm and establish it (Psalm 90:17).
It is obvious we are supposed to work more than rest. Some people just lie on the couch, eating junk food and watching television all day, and then they wonder why their lives are a wreck.
Once rested, get up and work. You can't take authority over your life if you don't have authority over a sink full of dirty dishes or a messy garage. If you want to grow in ministry to others, the Word says you must get your own house in order first (see 1 Timothy 3:5). Stay home and clean if you need to; but win the battle of getting your life in order before tackling the whole world.
Ministry Is Fulfilling Work
For you shall eat [the fruit] of the labor of your hands; happy (blessed, fortunate, enviable) shall you be, and it shall be well with you (Psalm 128:2).
There is nothing more fulfilling than being rested and ready for the work that God has called us to do. God puts the desire in us to minister to people through whatever work we do. But ministry is work that requires physical, emotional, and spiritual strength.
Hard work is rewarding when you follow God's way and minister to other people through "the labor of your hands." That is why it is so important to start your day with God. His presence will build you up emotionally, His words will strengthen you spiritually, and the time of rest that He calls you to enjoy will make you physically able to handle whatever may come your way.
cbn
Joyce Meyer
This devotion is taken from Joyce Meyer's book, Starting Your Day Right.
Let God Set Your Agenda
But this thing I did command them: Listen to and obey My voice, and I will be your God and you will be My people; and walk in the whole way that I command you, that it may be well with you (Jeremiah 7:23).
Remember, you made your schedule, and you can change it. Pray about your day, your week, and your life goals to find out what God wants you to do, and what He doesn't want you to do.
If you don't do what God is telling you to do, you may let people control and manipulate you to do what they want you to do. You may end up doing things for which you are not anointed. If you do what God tells you to do, He will bless you with joy, peace, rest, and wonderful relationships.
Get Rid of Distractions
That which is desired in a man is loyalty and kindness [and his glory and delight are his giving] (Proverbs 19:22).
Sometimes you may just need to clear away the clutter so you can clearly see what is worthwhile. Here is a simple suggestion: Don't keep more than you can take care of. If you have so much junk in your home that it takes you hours to dust it, get rid of something.
Find a big carton and write "Blessing Box" on the side of it. Start putting extra things into it until cleaning is more manageable. Find someone who doesn't have much and bless them. You will be amazed at how easy it is to start your day right when you are no longer distracted by things you don't need.
Get Up and Work
And let the beauty and delightfulness and favor of the Lord our God be upon us; confirm and establish the work of our hands-yes, the work of our hands, confirm and establish it (Psalm 90:17).
It is obvious we are supposed to work more than rest. Some people just lie on the couch, eating junk food and watching television all day, and then they wonder why their lives are a wreck.
Once rested, get up and work. You can't take authority over your life if you don't have authority over a sink full of dirty dishes or a messy garage. If you want to grow in ministry to others, the Word says you must get your own house in order first (see 1 Timothy 3:5). Stay home and clean if you need to; but win the battle of getting your life in order before tackling the whole world.
Ministry Is Fulfilling Work
For you shall eat [the fruit] of the labor of your hands; happy (blessed, fortunate, enviable) shall you be, and it shall be well with you (Psalm 128:2).
There is nothing more fulfilling than being rested and ready for the work that God has called us to do. God puts the desire in us to minister to people through whatever work we do. But ministry is work that requires physical, emotional, and spiritual strength.
Hard work is rewarding when you follow God's way and minister to other people through "the labor of your hands." That is why it is so important to start your day with God. His presence will build you up emotionally, His words will strengthen you spiritually, and the time of rest that He calls you to enjoy will make you physically able to handle whatever may come your way.
cbn
Saturday, October 02, 2004
Marbles and Toes
John Fischer
My daughter broke her ankle five hours after arriving on her university campus to begin her final year of college. This is after being out of school for a year and a half and signing up for a massive load of difficult courses in order to finish by June. I dropped her off and five hours later, already in between flights home, I’m talking to her on a cell phone and she is hysterical with pain on her way to the hospital.
That was in August. Now with permanent pins and a plate for an ankle, she is wired to set off metal detector alarms in airports for the rest of her life. A few days ago she told me how excited she was to get her first instructions in physical therapy. Being the physical person that she is, she was envisioning bulking up on special exercising machines, starting major work on building back her leg and ankle. The therapy she was all excited about turned out to be picking up marbles with her toes. “And guess what?” she told me, “I can’t do it yet.” For someone of limited patience like my daughter, this is going to be quite a test.
Spiritual growth is a lot like physical therapy. Faith needs to be exercised in order to grow, and sometimes it seems we can’t even pick up marbles with our fingers, much less our toes. But the more we work at it, the stronger we become. Faith is like a muscle; nourish it and exercise it, and it will grow. Each time you step out in faith, it becomes easier to step into greater things. You believe God more because of what He has done for you in the past. Each new step creates more confidence.
Just keep in mind, however, that spiritual supermen don’t exist. The minute you get strong in one area, God shows you something else for which you need to trust Him. And Galatians 6:1 reminds us that even the strongest are not exempt from a fall. So this applies to everyone, new believer to old: Faith needs to be exercised to be healthy. Somewhere in your life and mine, we’re just learning to pick up marbles with our toes.
What is your next step of faith? Mine is not running away from problems I can’t solve, but learning to face into them and trust God to help me find the answers as I do. Tell you what: I’ll pray for you in regards to your next step of faith if you’ll pray for me. (Something tells me I’m getting the better end of this deal!)
PDL
John Fischer
My daughter broke her ankle five hours after arriving on her university campus to begin her final year of college. This is after being out of school for a year and a half and signing up for a massive load of difficult courses in order to finish by June. I dropped her off and five hours later, already in between flights home, I’m talking to her on a cell phone and she is hysterical with pain on her way to the hospital.
That was in August. Now with permanent pins and a plate for an ankle, she is wired to set off metal detector alarms in airports for the rest of her life. A few days ago she told me how excited she was to get her first instructions in physical therapy. Being the physical person that she is, she was envisioning bulking up on special exercising machines, starting major work on building back her leg and ankle. The therapy she was all excited about turned out to be picking up marbles with her toes. “And guess what?” she told me, “I can’t do it yet.” For someone of limited patience like my daughter, this is going to be quite a test.
Spiritual growth is a lot like physical therapy. Faith needs to be exercised in order to grow, and sometimes it seems we can’t even pick up marbles with our fingers, much less our toes. But the more we work at it, the stronger we become. Faith is like a muscle; nourish it and exercise it, and it will grow. Each time you step out in faith, it becomes easier to step into greater things. You believe God more because of what He has done for you in the past. Each new step creates more confidence.
Just keep in mind, however, that spiritual supermen don’t exist. The minute you get strong in one area, God shows you something else for which you need to trust Him. And Galatians 6:1 reminds us that even the strongest are not exempt from a fall. So this applies to everyone, new believer to old: Faith needs to be exercised to be healthy. Somewhere in your life and mine, we’re just learning to pick up marbles with our toes.
What is your next step of faith? Mine is not running away from problems I can’t solve, but learning to face into them and trust God to help me find the answers as I do. Tell you what: I’ll pray for you in regards to your next step of faith if you’ll pray for me. (Something tells me I’m getting the better end of this deal!)
PDL