Read 2 Peter 3:10-18
Another year can be said with exhaustion or enthusiasm. Which is it for you? I want all of us to realize the blessings we have. God is good - ALL THE TIME. While I can sit here and give you all the reasons 2009 was difficult, painful and emotional (as all of us can do) I'd prefer looking back and being thankful for God's grace and mercy which are new every day.
You see when our attitudes are focused on Him, who He is and what He's doing in our lives we have a different outlook. We have the ability to live with anticipation instead of hesitation. We have the ability to expect God's faithfulness and therefore we can start seeing His faithfulness beginning to appear more and more in our lives.
Friends all I want us to think about as we face another year is this - think about how you've grown in the grace and knowledge of Him. Together let's make this the year when our love and knowledge of Jesus Christ skyrockets. Let's allow God to do His good work in us until the Day of Christ Jesus. And may God get the glory in our lives!
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Advent Devotional - Love
Read 1 John 4:7-11
God's gift of love was given to all when He sent His one and only son into our world. We celebrate the birth of Christ every Christmas season, yet this amazing gift of His love is often missed by us. Think about it, as we check out all the activities and festivities happening around us this time of year do you ever get the sense that we're missing something?
Listen it happens - we get so busy we exchange the gift of God's love for all other sorts and types of celebration. But our focus must return to the love that came when Jesus came into this world. Our focus must return to the excitement and enthusiasm that God loved us so much that He stepped out of heaven and became flesh, lived among mankind and showed all what it really means to love. And since we're called to be ambassadors of Christ we must represent and reflect our Father God's love since He is love.
Too often I think we get caught up in gifts - especially the gifts we receive. But we can also get caught up in the gifts we give. Many of us actually enjoy giving more than receiving. And that's what God is like - He loves giving the right gift at the right time to the right person. The best gift we can ever receive is the gift of His son. It's offered to all and accepted by some. Before we unwrap all our gifts this year and before all the celebration is over, let’s remember the greatest gift we’ve ever been given is that in His love, God the Father sent His son to be the propitiation, the payment for our sins so that we may come into a right relationship with the Father through the giving of His loving Son Jesus Christ.
So as we go to Christmas parties, sing carols, attend church services and give and receive gifts this year remember His love this Advent Season and let's be part of giving the gift of His son's love. That’s what this season and our lives are to be devoted to. Share the gift of Christ – the gift of His Hope, Peace, Joy and Love!!
God's gift of love was given to all when He sent His one and only son into our world. We celebrate the birth of Christ every Christmas season, yet this amazing gift of His love is often missed by us. Think about it, as we check out all the activities and festivities happening around us this time of year do you ever get the sense that we're missing something?
Listen it happens - we get so busy we exchange the gift of God's love for all other sorts and types of celebration. But our focus must return to the love that came when Jesus came into this world. Our focus must return to the excitement and enthusiasm that God loved us so much that He stepped out of heaven and became flesh, lived among mankind and showed all what it really means to love. And since we're called to be ambassadors of Christ we must represent and reflect our Father God's love since He is love.
Too often I think we get caught up in gifts - especially the gifts we receive. But we can also get caught up in the gifts we give. Many of us actually enjoy giving more than receiving. And that's what God is like - He loves giving the right gift at the right time to the right person. The best gift we can ever receive is the gift of His son. It's offered to all and accepted by some. Before we unwrap all our gifts this year and before all the celebration is over, let’s remember the greatest gift we’ve ever been given is that in His love, God the Father sent His son to be the propitiation, the payment for our sins so that we may come into a right relationship with the Father through the giving of His loving Son Jesus Christ.
So as we go to Christmas parties, sing carols, attend church services and give and receive gifts this year remember His love this Advent Season and let's be part of giving the gift of His son's love. That’s what this season and our lives are to be devoted to. Share the gift of Christ – the gift of His Hope, Peace, Joy and Love!!
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Advent Devotional - Joy
Read John 15:9-17
In the Bible, joy is a state of happiness in communion with God, leading to celebration of spirit, gladness, and delight. It's a central characteristic of our faith and it exists because of the understanding and reality we have in the power and presence of God in our lives. Joy can relate to praise and thanksgiving in public worship, or in the quiet confidence that comes when we spend time alone with God.
Jesus spoke about joy in John 15 when talking with His disciples. He said just as the Father loved me I've loved you. And this is what I want from every one of you - that you do the same. That you abide in My love, that you and I love one another. He said I'm telling you these things because I want my JOY to remain in you - this state of happiness in communion and union with God. Jesus wants us no matter the situation to abide in His love because He knows when we follow Him, when we follow His love, His joy will fill us completely.
This time of year can be a terribly difficult time of year for many of us. Many of us have had a tough, tough year. Many of us have lost loved ones; many of us have loved ones who are sick; many of us have circumstances surrounding us we never anticipated; many of us have circumstances surrounding us we knew were coming but we still wrestle with nonetheless. I believe God wants us to be real with these feelings. To bring them to Him and to ask for Him to turn our sorrow into the joy that only comes from our Father in Heaven. No matter what we're facing God wants us to come before Him and experience the joy of the Lord.
The longer I live the more I realize this world is full of substitutes. It attempts to replace what we really need with something that is less than satisfying. Trials and difficulties are simply a part of life and quite honestly, the longer I walk with God the more trials I seem to face. Maybe this is true with you as well. So how should we react when our faith is challenged by these difficulties? James 1:2 says we're to count it all joy! But what could possibly be joyful about difficult situations?
It seems counter intuitive. Yet, somehow we need to find joy in knowing, and even sensing that God is with us in the midst of our problems — in the midst of our trials. He did promise never to leave or forsake us; and as we look over our lives, we find it to be absolutely true…no matter what crazy situation we're in, God is with us.
We all have this decision: either to complain because of the trials we’re enduring…or to prayerfully lift our souls before him (Psalm 25:1)and rejoice in the midst of our troubles — knowing, believing, and even feeling, that God is with us.
Friends, this advent season experience the joy of the Lord; experience the happiness that comes when we're in communion and union with the Living God. And celebrate in your spirit with gladness and delight knowing that the Lord of all creation delights, takes joy in our praise and thanksgiving.
In the Bible, joy is a state of happiness in communion with God, leading to celebration of spirit, gladness, and delight. It's a central characteristic of our faith and it exists because of the understanding and reality we have in the power and presence of God in our lives. Joy can relate to praise and thanksgiving in public worship, or in the quiet confidence that comes when we spend time alone with God.
Jesus spoke about joy in John 15 when talking with His disciples. He said just as the Father loved me I've loved you. And this is what I want from every one of you - that you do the same. That you abide in My love, that you and I love one another. He said I'm telling you these things because I want my JOY to remain in you - this state of happiness in communion and union with God. Jesus wants us no matter the situation to abide in His love because He knows when we follow Him, when we follow His love, His joy will fill us completely.
This time of year can be a terribly difficult time of year for many of us. Many of us have had a tough, tough year. Many of us have lost loved ones; many of us have loved ones who are sick; many of us have circumstances surrounding us we never anticipated; many of us have circumstances surrounding us we knew were coming but we still wrestle with nonetheless. I believe God wants us to be real with these feelings. To bring them to Him and to ask for Him to turn our sorrow into the joy that only comes from our Father in Heaven. No matter what we're facing God wants us to come before Him and experience the joy of the Lord.
The longer I live the more I realize this world is full of substitutes. It attempts to replace what we really need with something that is less than satisfying. Trials and difficulties are simply a part of life and quite honestly, the longer I walk with God the more trials I seem to face. Maybe this is true with you as well. So how should we react when our faith is challenged by these difficulties? James 1:2 says we're to count it all joy! But what could possibly be joyful about difficult situations?
It seems counter intuitive. Yet, somehow we need to find joy in knowing, and even sensing that God is with us in the midst of our problems — in the midst of our trials. He did promise never to leave or forsake us; and as we look over our lives, we find it to be absolutely true…no matter what crazy situation we're in, God is with us.
We all have this decision: either to complain because of the trials we’re enduring…or to prayerfully lift our souls before him (Psalm 25:1)and rejoice in the midst of our troubles — knowing, believing, and even feeling, that God is with us.
Friends, this advent season experience the joy of the Lord; experience the happiness that comes when we're in communion and union with the Living God. And celebrate in your spirit with gladness and delight knowing that the Lord of all creation delights, takes joy in our praise and thanksgiving.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Advent Devotional - Peace
Read Isaiah 9:6
I love this passage in Isaiah. And as we enter this Christmas season it's a great reminder of God coming into our world in human form. We sing this verse during this season to proclaim the wonderful gift we've been given in Jesus Christ. His name - Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, and Prince of Peace. Take a moment and just reflect on these amazing names of our Lord Jesus.
I love them all, but this last one - Prince of Peace - really stands out as something different than what so many of us experience in life. Peace is elusive. It's difficult to get a hold of because there can be so much conflict we face in our relationships. Yet Jesus is called the Prince of Peace for a reason.
If you read through the gospels and check out Jesus' ministry He often talked about peace. In the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 5:9, Jesus said, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God." In John 14:27 Jesus said to his disciples - "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." And over in Colossians 3:15 the Apostle Paul tells the church - "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful."
We are to represent Christ as His followers. Since He is the Prince of Peace we're called to be ambassadors of His peace in this world. How are we doing with this calling? Are our lives reflecting the peace of God?
Jesus says in John 14:27 that He’s given us His peace; it’s a gift that is ours. And no matter what happens we can experience the peace of God by letting it reign in our lives. When I hear this I can’t help but think we have a choice. We can allow our hearts to be troubled and afraid or we can take the advice Jesus offers and live in peace. But how does this work? How can we let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts? Friends, it begins with knowing Jesus and the gift He is. When we realize this gift of peace, His peace given freely to us it changes our spirit. When our spirit gets up close and personal with God’s Spirit we begin to reflect the character of God Himself. This week take time to reflect on our great Prince of Peace. Take time and just spend time with God - get in His word and talk and listen to Him; and give thanks for the peace we have with God because of Jesus Christ and all that He’s done for us by His life, death and resurrection. Take time to understand the promise of God’s peace every moment of every day is possible when we remember our calling in Christ as members together of one body of believers, the Church of Jesus Christ.
I love this passage in Isaiah. And as we enter this Christmas season it's a great reminder of God coming into our world in human form. We sing this verse during this season to proclaim the wonderful gift we've been given in Jesus Christ. His name - Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, and Prince of Peace. Take a moment and just reflect on these amazing names of our Lord Jesus.
I love them all, but this last one - Prince of Peace - really stands out as something different than what so many of us experience in life. Peace is elusive. It's difficult to get a hold of because there can be so much conflict we face in our relationships. Yet Jesus is called the Prince of Peace for a reason.
If you read through the gospels and check out Jesus' ministry He often talked about peace. In the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 5:9, Jesus said, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God." In John 14:27 Jesus said to his disciples - "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." And over in Colossians 3:15 the Apostle Paul tells the church - "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful."
We are to represent Christ as His followers. Since He is the Prince of Peace we're called to be ambassadors of His peace in this world. How are we doing with this calling? Are our lives reflecting the peace of God?
Jesus says in John 14:27 that He’s given us His peace; it’s a gift that is ours. And no matter what happens we can experience the peace of God by letting it reign in our lives. When I hear this I can’t help but think we have a choice. We can allow our hearts to be troubled and afraid or we can take the advice Jesus offers and live in peace. But how does this work? How can we let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts? Friends, it begins with knowing Jesus and the gift He is. When we realize this gift of peace, His peace given freely to us it changes our spirit. When our spirit gets up close and personal with God’s Spirit we begin to reflect the character of God Himself. This week take time to reflect on our great Prince of Peace. Take time and just spend time with God - get in His word and talk and listen to Him; and give thanks for the peace we have with God because of Jesus Christ and all that He’s done for us by His life, death and resurrection. Take time to understand the promise of God’s peace every moment of every day is possible when we remember our calling in Christ as members together of one body of believers, the Church of Jesus Christ.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Advent Devotional - Hope
Read Colossians 1:1-6
Everyone needs it, everyone should give it and everyone thrives when they have it. What's it? It's hope. The Apostle Paul was a man of hope, a man of encouragement. He wrote letters to the churches in the New Testament and always seems to be writing with an air of hope about him. Always encouraging believers to remember the hope we have and ultimately the future hope we'll all experience with God in eternity.
Paul writes in Colossians 1:4 about the believers faith and hope that spring from the hope that is stored up in heaven and how it's all about the truth of the gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ. He says in 1 Corinthians 15:17-19 that if Christ has not been raised from the dead our faith is futile, we're still in our sins and we have no hope. In other words, if only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.
This advent season it's important for all of us to remember the hope we have that comes from the Good News of the Gospel. Our hope isn't something we wish for, it's what Hebrews 11:1 tells us. Our faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Jesus Christ - poured out His life as a sacrifice for our lives so that we might have eternal hope; so that we might be encouraged in our faith to trust in everything Jesus said and did for us. Hope in the Son of God. Hope in His Sacrifice. Hope in His love. And hope in all of His promises this Advent Season.
Everyone needs it, everyone should give it and everyone thrives when they have it. What's it? It's hope. The Apostle Paul was a man of hope, a man of encouragement. He wrote letters to the churches in the New Testament and always seems to be writing with an air of hope about him. Always encouraging believers to remember the hope we have and ultimately the future hope we'll all experience with God in eternity.
Paul writes in Colossians 1:4 about the believers faith and hope that spring from the hope that is stored up in heaven and how it's all about the truth of the gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ. He says in 1 Corinthians 15:17-19 that if Christ has not been raised from the dead our faith is futile, we're still in our sins and we have no hope. In other words, if only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.
This advent season it's important for all of us to remember the hope we have that comes from the Good News of the Gospel. Our hope isn't something we wish for, it's what Hebrews 11:1 tells us. Our faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Jesus Christ - poured out His life as a sacrifice for our lives so that we might have eternal hope; so that we might be encouraged in our faith to trust in everything Jesus said and did for us. Hope in the Son of God. Hope in His Sacrifice. Hope in His love. And hope in all of His promises this Advent Season.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Freedom of Christ
Read Galatians 5:1-15
What did Christ come for and what did He accomplish on the cross? Galatians 5 says He came for freedom.
This freedom Christ came for begs the question, freedom from what? If you read Galatians 5 you'll see quite clearly the answer. Christ came to set us free from legalism, living according to the Old Testament Law (or trying to at least). The Galatians were being told you're not a "true Christian" unless or until you follow the rule of being circumcised. Paul makes it clear we are free from the rule of law. Instead he says we are (v. 4) justified by faith in Christ.
Of everything Paul could say, he said this -- the only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. Faith - trusting God is who He says He is; expressing itself in love. This is the creed Jesus lived by - Love God & Love Others.
How we love others will look different because God's given us different spiritual gifts and different passions. But know this - God expects us to live our lives loving Him and loving those in the family of God and those not yet in the family of God. If you want to experience freedom in this life - ask God to help you live this way. As for me and my house we will serve the Lord and experience the freedom of Christ.
What did Christ come for and what did He accomplish on the cross? Galatians 5 says He came for freedom.
This freedom Christ came for begs the question, freedom from what? If you read Galatians 5 you'll see quite clearly the answer. Christ came to set us free from legalism, living according to the Old Testament Law (or trying to at least). The Galatians were being told you're not a "true Christian" unless or until you follow the rule of being circumcised. Paul makes it clear we are free from the rule of law. Instead he says we are (v. 4) justified by faith in Christ.
Of everything Paul could say, he said this -- the only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. Faith - trusting God is who He says He is; expressing itself in love. This is the creed Jesus lived by - Love God & Love Others.
How we love others will look different because God's given us different spiritual gifts and different passions. But know this - God expects us to live our lives loving Him and loving those in the family of God and those not yet in the family of God. If you want to experience freedom in this life - ask God to help you live this way. As for me and my house we will serve the Lord and experience the freedom of Christ.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Despise Evil
Read Psalm 36
I was reading Psalm 36 this past week and a verse within the Psalm jumped out at me. Let's look at it again, it's at the end of verse four and says "He does not despise evil." David is writing because He sees so much sin going on around him that he writes about the world view of the person (man or woman) who sins and seems to not care one bit.
This passage jumped out at me for a number of reasons but mostly because it's easy for us, I think, to see the evil that others do and despise it. But when we sin more often than not, we don't see it that way. We want to justify our attitudes and actions. I believe God wants us to despise every evil including our own. When we sin, when we do what God tells us is no good for us, we need to acknowledge it for the evil it is. We ALL must get to the point in our faith walk with God that we despise what is evil, what goes against the will of God.
The rest of Psalm 36 from verse 5 to 12 indicates the amazing character of God. What always helps me when I realize the evil that exists in this world, and more than I like to admit in me as well, is all of God's good beats all of this world's evil every single day. I know it doesn't always seem like it, but in God's timing this is absolutely true. So no matter what we're dealing with we should always come back to who God is. When we know God so well, all of His qualities and all of who He is we can walk with confidence that our God is able to get us through anything.
My sense this week is we need to be reminded that our God is the Almighty God; our God is the Forgiving God; our God is the life-giving God; our God is the seer of all that is good and evil; and our God is the One whose lovingkindness extends to the heavens, and faithfulness that reaches to the skies. May our lives LOVE God (all that is good) and despise EVIL (all that is bad).
I was reading Psalm 36 this past week and a verse within the Psalm jumped out at me. Let's look at it again, it's at the end of verse four and says "He does not despise evil." David is writing because He sees so much sin going on around him that he writes about the world view of the person (man or woman) who sins and seems to not care one bit.
This passage jumped out at me for a number of reasons but mostly because it's easy for us, I think, to see the evil that others do and despise it. But when we sin more often than not, we don't see it that way. We want to justify our attitudes and actions. I believe God wants us to despise every evil including our own. When we sin, when we do what God tells us is no good for us, we need to acknowledge it for the evil it is. We ALL must get to the point in our faith walk with God that we despise what is evil, what goes against the will of God.
The rest of Psalm 36 from verse 5 to 12 indicates the amazing character of God. What always helps me when I realize the evil that exists in this world, and more than I like to admit in me as well, is all of God's good beats all of this world's evil every single day. I know it doesn't always seem like it, but in God's timing this is absolutely true. So no matter what we're dealing with we should always come back to who God is. When we know God so well, all of His qualities and all of who He is we can walk with confidence that our God is able to get us through anything.
My sense this week is we need to be reminded that our God is the Almighty God; our God is the Forgiving God; our God is the life-giving God; our God is the seer of all that is good and evil; and our God is the One whose lovingkindness extends to the heavens, and faithfulness that reaches to the skies. May our lives LOVE God (all that is good) and despise EVIL (all that is bad).
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Give It All To You
Read Colossians 3:1-25
Something I've always enjoyed since becoming a follower of Jesus is Christian music. Primarily I enjoy worship music with a contemporary flair to it. Give It All To You is a new single by a group called Yellow Cavalier. As I was thinking the other day of this title it hit me that whatever I'm facing God wants me to give it all to Him.
Colossians 3 is so full of challenges that tell us the Christian life is all about giving it all to God. Our hearts and our minds are to be set on things above, not on earthly things. Paul gives this picture of Christ being seated at the right hand of God and if we don't understand the importance of this image we can miss the power of his challenge. When Christ is seated at the right hand of God we must realize this is showing He was finished accomplishing His purpose on earth; seeing Him seated at the right hand of God shows His victory over death, His victory in securing that He gave everything He had so that we could have a right relationship with God the Father! Jesus seated at God's right hand could rightly say for all eternity I give it all to you.
Friends, Paul goes on and says because Jesus is victoriously seated in heaven with God we now must commit our new lives in Him by ridding ourselves of our old lives. Put to death he says all the things that are out of character for anyone claiming Christ is the leader of their life. And put on or "clothe yourselves" with the character of Christ (vv. 12-14), let the peace of Christ rule your lives as you allow the word of Christ to guide your words and deeds (vv. 15-17).
I love how he wraps this chapter up with probably one of my favorite verses in all of Scripture -
23Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, 24since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
Let's be able to say to God with our lives - Father God I GIVE IT ALL TO YOU!!
Something I've always enjoyed since becoming a follower of Jesus is Christian music. Primarily I enjoy worship music with a contemporary flair to it. Give It All To You is a new single by a group called Yellow Cavalier. As I was thinking the other day of this title it hit me that whatever I'm facing God wants me to give it all to Him.
Colossians 3 is so full of challenges that tell us the Christian life is all about giving it all to God. Our hearts and our minds are to be set on things above, not on earthly things. Paul gives this picture of Christ being seated at the right hand of God and if we don't understand the importance of this image we can miss the power of his challenge. When Christ is seated at the right hand of God we must realize this is showing He was finished accomplishing His purpose on earth; seeing Him seated at the right hand of God shows His victory over death, His victory in securing that He gave everything He had so that we could have a right relationship with God the Father! Jesus seated at God's right hand could rightly say for all eternity I give it all to you.
Friends, Paul goes on and says because Jesus is victoriously seated in heaven with God we now must commit our new lives in Him by ridding ourselves of our old lives. Put to death he says all the things that are out of character for anyone claiming Christ is the leader of their life. And put on or "clothe yourselves" with the character of Christ (vv. 12-14), let the peace of Christ rule your lives as you allow the word of Christ to guide your words and deeds (vv. 15-17).
I love how he wraps this chapter up with probably one of my favorite verses in all of Scripture -
23Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, 24since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
Let's be able to say to God with our lives - Father God I GIVE IT ALL TO YOU!!
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Serving Leftovers
Read Malachi 1:18
Tim Kizziar once said, "Our greatest fear as individuals and as a church should not be of failure but of succeeding at things in life that don't really matter." When you think about it, so many of us are successful at so many things. But are we successful at what really matters?
The prophet Malachi wrote about people who were serving God their leftovers. And I think if we'll take the time to consider Malachi's words and Kizziar's as well, what it comes down to is am I serving God or am I serving myself. I just have to be honest with you, lately I've been so frustrated with hearing stories of folks who know what God desires but do their own thing anyway. With their lives, they're serving God their leftovers; they're not giving God their very best.
When Malachi says what we offer God is less than our best he says it is evil. We don't think of it this way do we? We think of ways to justify our behaviors and attitudes because let's face it we're busy people. So what we give God we expect Him to be pleased with because in our society something is better than nothing. From the beginning of time, God has been crystal clear. Some offerings are acceptable to Him and others are not. Just ask Cain, whose offering God "did not look with favor" on (Genesis 4:5).
What I want us to do is not get caught up in why God wasn't pleased with Cain's offering. I want us to think for ourselves - is what I'm offering God with my life pleasing to God (every area of my life)? Let's be sure what we offer God is not labeled as evil, less than our best for the One who gave His best to us. Love Him with your life!
Tim Kizziar once said, "Our greatest fear as individuals and as a church should not be of failure but of succeeding at things in life that don't really matter." When you think about it, so many of us are successful at so many things. But are we successful at what really matters?
The prophet Malachi wrote about people who were serving God their leftovers. And I think if we'll take the time to consider Malachi's words and Kizziar's as well, what it comes down to is am I serving God or am I serving myself. I just have to be honest with you, lately I've been so frustrated with hearing stories of folks who know what God desires but do their own thing anyway. With their lives, they're serving God their leftovers; they're not giving God their very best.
When Malachi says what we offer God is less than our best he says it is evil. We don't think of it this way do we? We think of ways to justify our behaviors and attitudes because let's face it we're busy people. So what we give God we expect Him to be pleased with because in our society something is better than nothing. From the beginning of time, God has been crystal clear. Some offerings are acceptable to Him and others are not. Just ask Cain, whose offering God "did not look with favor" on (Genesis 4:5).
What I want us to do is not get caught up in why God wasn't pleased with Cain's offering. I want us to think for ourselves - is what I'm offering God with my life pleasing to God (every area of my life)? Let's be sure what we offer God is not labeled as evil, less than our best for the One who gave His best to us. Love Him with your life!
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Lukewarm
Read Matthew 13:44
It's that time of the year here in the Northeast when the seasons are beginning to change and the overnight chill factor is starting to have it's affects on all of us. And with this change in temperatures and even seasons of life it got me thinking about what the Bible calls and warns Christians about - being lukewarm.
The man in Matthew 13:44 is anything but lukewarm! He's excited about the reality, the treasure of finally understanding and finding the kingdom of heaven, the truth about God. He's so excited about His new life in the kingdom of God that he does a few things. First, he's celebrating. He's filled with this almost unexplainable joy. Next, he goes out and sells everything he owns. Friends, everything means everything. He's so excited that no material things matter any longer to him. He's found something that is invaluable. Finally, he goes and buys the field where he buried this treasure of the kingdom of God. Make no mistake this man would never be described as lukewarm.
How about us? I think if we're honest we'd assent intellectually that we have an amazing treasure in our relationship with God. But I'm not so sure we'd go out and sell everything we owned. Listen, the point is our enthusiasm and our lives are intended to be like this man's. We should be so excited about the truth of God we've found in our lives that it impacts everything.
Here's the deal, we will remain lukewarm in our faith if we are satisfied with being "godly enough" to get ourselves into heaven and see our lives as "good enough". God desires all of us to live lives that are red-hot for Him. Where everything else takes second place. This week I urge all of us to consider what it's going to take for us as individuals, those who claim to follow Christ, to truly live our whole lives fully devoted to Him.
It's that time of the year here in the Northeast when the seasons are beginning to change and the overnight chill factor is starting to have it's affects on all of us. And with this change in temperatures and even seasons of life it got me thinking about what the Bible calls and warns Christians about - being lukewarm.
The man in Matthew 13:44 is anything but lukewarm! He's excited about the reality, the treasure of finally understanding and finding the kingdom of heaven, the truth about God. He's so excited about His new life in the kingdom of God that he does a few things. First, he's celebrating. He's filled with this almost unexplainable joy. Next, he goes out and sells everything he owns. Friends, everything means everything. He's so excited that no material things matter any longer to him. He's found something that is invaluable. Finally, he goes and buys the field where he buried this treasure of the kingdom of God. Make no mistake this man would never be described as lukewarm.
How about us? I think if we're honest we'd assent intellectually that we have an amazing treasure in our relationship with God. But I'm not so sure we'd go out and sell everything we owned. Listen, the point is our enthusiasm and our lives are intended to be like this man's. We should be so excited about the truth of God we've found in our lives that it impacts everything.
Here's the deal, we will remain lukewarm in our faith if we are satisfied with being "godly enough" to get ourselves into heaven and see our lives as "good enough". God desires all of us to live lives that are red-hot for Him. Where everything else takes second place. This week I urge all of us to consider what it's going to take for us as individuals, those who claim to follow Christ, to truly live our whole lives fully devoted to Him.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Everything We Need
Read 2 Peter 1:3-13
Please don't read any further until you've read the suggested reading in 2 Peter 1:3-13.
Ok, now that you've done that, did you get it? God has given us everything we need. And don't miss this everything means everything we need for life and godliness. This is amazing but can be scary at the same time. You know why? Because of this truth, you and I are without excuse. What God calls us to, He equips us to. And He tells us there's not a thing He asks of us that we can not do when we're aligned with our Heavenly Father's plan.
Nothing this world throws at us has any power unless we allow it to have power. God tells us we can escape the corruption in the world that's caused by evil desires by receiving the gift of His promises and His power to abide and live in Him.
But then as a result Peter says add all these things to your faith (goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness and love). And with this command comes another promise - if you and I do this God says to us we will be effective and productive in our knowledge of Jesus Christ. Sounds like a win-win situation for all of us. So let's be open to the commands of God knowing the promises of God are amazingly beneficial.
My challenge for all of us is this - when you read this passage again, place your name in the passage; make it personal. Read it and meditate on it, allowing God to speak His words directly into your heart so that you may live for Him. May God get the glory for giving us everything we need!
Please don't read any further until you've read the suggested reading in 2 Peter 1:3-13.
Ok, now that you've done that, did you get it? God has given us everything we need. And don't miss this everything means everything we need for life and godliness. This is amazing but can be scary at the same time. You know why? Because of this truth, you and I are without excuse. What God calls us to, He equips us to. And He tells us there's not a thing He asks of us that we can not do when we're aligned with our Heavenly Father's plan.
Nothing this world throws at us has any power unless we allow it to have power. God tells us we can escape the corruption in the world that's caused by evil desires by receiving the gift of His promises and His power to abide and live in Him.
But then as a result Peter says add all these things to your faith (goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness and love). And with this command comes another promise - if you and I do this God says to us we will be effective and productive in our knowledge of Jesus Christ. Sounds like a win-win situation for all of us. So let's be open to the commands of God knowing the promises of God are amazingly beneficial.
My challenge for all of us is this - when you read this passage again, place your name in the passage; make it personal. Read it and meditate on it, allowing God to speak His words directly into your heart so that you may live for Him. May God get the glory for giving us everything we need!
Sunday, October 4, 2009
New Life
Read 2 Corinthians 5:17
It’s a simple passage with a simple message – Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! Yet there’s a deep message in this little verse.
I think too much. So when I read a small little passage like this my mind goes in all sorts of different directions. One thing I think about is all the different things that I’ve experienced that have been new in my life and how I reacted when they were new. When I bought my first car, got my first job, lived in my first apartment, first met my wife, first got married, bought our first house, first became a parent, bought our second house – the list goes on and on. But when I think about how I responded to the new things in my life there was a level of excitement and enthusiasm; a level of intrigue and interest that for some reason, over time begins to change. And the newness starts to wear off. Do you notice that in your experience?
The Bible is full of examples where we’re told God is making things new. He’s doing it all the time. And when we come into this right relationship with God, then we need to realize how important it is to keep reminding ourselves we’re supposed to live in the newness of our new lives in Christ because the old has gone.
My point is this – we have new life. Let’s live each day with this in mind. Let’s live each day knowing God has made a change in us that only He could make. And He’s continuing to change us into the image of His son. This is the best life we could ever hope for. Not that we get all the things this world has to offer, but that we get to have a right relationship with the creator of all things! Friends, new life is amazing. It’s amazing because our sins are forgiven and we get to have a relationship with God. That is enough!
If you look around, in the lives of others and sometimes it’s even true in our own lives, too often and sadly this isn’t enough if we’re being honest. God wants us to understand something – new life is the best life this life has to offer. And it’s all possible when we are in Christ. Be in Christ this week. Take time to be with Him and live in relationship with Him. He’s waiting for us everyday to be with Him. To me that is amazing!! May it be amazing to you as well!! God Bless you this week.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Crazy Love
READ Revelation 2:1-7 Psalm 19:1-4
To just read the Bible, attend church, and avoid “big” sins – is this passionate, wholehearted love for God?
Francois Fenelon, The Seeking Heart
This quote begins the preface of Francis Chan’s book Crazy Love. I was challenged by a friend and fellow Hoper to read this book recently. It’s a book that speaks to the heart of our faith and speaks to the heart of the state of the church in America today. What seems to be happening in the church today is a drifting away from our first love.
Ever been in love? Remember the time you spent getting to know your first love? How you couldn’t spend enough time being together, talking on the phone, walking together, and just spending as much time being with one another? And if you couldn’t spend time with one another how you’d be thinking of each other all the time? Remember that? It’s a time we want to bottle up and never forget so we can experience it over and over again.
But time, it’s a funny thing. It changes our priorities and how we enjoy our circumstances. Over time we get familiar with one another and over time we get maybe too comfortable with one another so we start to drift away from loving as we once did.
Have you noticed this can be true in our relationship with God? God wants us to be crazy in love with Him. Enjoying every moment with Him, thinking about Him by just remembering Him as our first love. Revelation 2 speaks about a church that is being warned not to forget their first love. And it’s not just the church in Ephesus this happens with. It happens with us as well.
This week let’s break free from the status quo. Let’s get hungry for a faith that says we’re madly in love with God. Chan writes – “God is calling you to a passionate love relationship with Himself. Because the answer to religious complacency isn’t working harder at a list of do’s and don’ts – it’s falling in love with God. And once you encounter His love, you’ll never be the same. Because when you’re wildly in love with someone, it changes everything.”
To just read the Bible, attend church, and avoid “big” sins – is this passionate, wholehearted love for God?
Francois Fenelon, The Seeking Heart
This quote begins the preface of Francis Chan’s book Crazy Love. I was challenged by a friend and fellow Hoper to read this book recently. It’s a book that speaks to the heart of our faith and speaks to the heart of the state of the church in America today. What seems to be happening in the church today is a drifting away from our first love.
Ever been in love? Remember the time you spent getting to know your first love? How you couldn’t spend enough time being together, talking on the phone, walking together, and just spending as much time being with one another? And if you couldn’t spend time with one another how you’d be thinking of each other all the time? Remember that? It’s a time we want to bottle up and never forget so we can experience it over and over again.
But time, it’s a funny thing. It changes our priorities and how we enjoy our circumstances. Over time we get familiar with one another and over time we get maybe too comfortable with one another so we start to drift away from loving as we once did.
Have you noticed this can be true in our relationship with God? God wants us to be crazy in love with Him. Enjoying every moment with Him, thinking about Him by just remembering Him as our first love. Revelation 2 speaks about a church that is being warned not to forget their first love. And it’s not just the church in Ephesus this happens with. It happens with us as well.
This week let’s break free from the status quo. Let’s get hungry for a faith that says we’re madly in love with God. Chan writes – “God is calling you to a passionate love relationship with Himself. Because the answer to religious complacency isn’t working harder at a list of do’s and don’ts – it’s falling in love with God. And once you encounter His love, you’ll never be the same. Because when you’re wildly in love with someone, it changes everything.”
Sunday, September 20, 2009
All or nothing
READ Philippians 3:10-11
It’s been said that people are different. No surprise there – right?! There’s all sorts of categories of people but the two I want to mention this week are those who fall into one of two mindsets: those who have an either/or mindset or a both/and mindset.
Either/or’s are about options. They like keeping their options open and don’t prefer the both and approach. The both/and’s are about wanting it all. They really don’t like making choices so instead they go with a both/and approach. All of us have a tendency, a preference toward one or the other. Our tendency may be slight or it may be strong one way or the other. But we all have our preferences when presented with different situations and circumstances.
When I read the Philippians 3:10-11 passage, I think of these two mindsets. Some of us would prefer the either/or approach vs. the both/and. And to be honest I’d much rather the either/or approach to this one verse. However, God doesn’t give us that option. His word isn’t intended to be a pick and choose approach. Pick what you like and choose to dismiss what you don’t like. Instead His word is both/and; it's an all or nothing approach. Here’s how this plays out with this passage.
The apostle Paul says, I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection. So far so good right? I mean we want to know Christ, that's a good thing; and we want to understand the power of His resurrection, another good thing. But then comes the tough part, and the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings. Anybody want that? This is where it gets dicey for us. We don't really want to experience this type of community with Christ where we share in His sufferings, where we experience the rejection and humiliation, pain and suffering like our Lord did. So why did Paul say this? I mean, it is an odd desire don't you think?I'd say it is. However, Paul understood something about knowing Jesus that allowed Him to experience an amazing relationship with His savior. Paul knew he was going to experience suffering for Christ's sake in his life (Acts 9:16). And he learned Jesus' teachings included John 15:20 - they will persecute you because of me. And Matthew 5:10-12 where Jesus said Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. We're told all throughout scripture that suffering is to be expected if we're following Christ.
So why is sharing in His sufferings something Paul desired? I think it's because he also knew the last part of Matthew 5:10-12 where Jesus said, rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Listen, our faith is about following the example of Christ. Living and loving as He lived and loved. When we do this, some people in this world will respond favorably and some will not. So that will result in some suffering. But if it's for His purposes and His plan then we are to live with this attitude toward suffering - bring it on! Because all of us can handle anything that comes our way when God is with us (1 Corinthians 13). May God be our strength, our peace and our hope!!
It’s been said that people are different. No surprise there – right?! There’s all sorts of categories of people but the two I want to mention this week are those who fall into one of two mindsets: those who have an either/or mindset or a both/and mindset.
Either/or’s are about options. They like keeping their options open and don’t prefer the both and approach. The both/and’s are about wanting it all. They really don’t like making choices so instead they go with a both/and approach. All of us have a tendency, a preference toward one or the other. Our tendency may be slight or it may be strong one way or the other. But we all have our preferences when presented with different situations and circumstances.
When I read the Philippians 3:10-11 passage, I think of these two mindsets. Some of us would prefer the either/or approach vs. the both/and. And to be honest I’d much rather the either/or approach to this one verse. However, God doesn’t give us that option. His word isn’t intended to be a pick and choose approach. Pick what you like and choose to dismiss what you don’t like. Instead His word is both/and; it's an all or nothing approach. Here’s how this plays out with this passage.
The apostle Paul says, I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection. So far so good right? I mean we want to know Christ, that's a good thing; and we want to understand the power of His resurrection, another good thing. But then comes the tough part, and the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings. Anybody want that? This is where it gets dicey for us. We don't really want to experience this type of community with Christ where we share in His sufferings, where we experience the rejection and humiliation, pain and suffering like our Lord did. So why did Paul say this? I mean, it is an odd desire don't you think?I'd say it is. However, Paul understood something about knowing Jesus that allowed Him to experience an amazing relationship with His savior. Paul knew he was going to experience suffering for Christ's sake in his life (Acts 9:16). And he learned Jesus' teachings included John 15:20 - they will persecute you because of me. And Matthew 5:10-12 where Jesus said Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. We're told all throughout scripture that suffering is to be expected if we're following Christ.
So why is sharing in His sufferings something Paul desired? I think it's because he also knew the last part of Matthew 5:10-12 where Jesus said, rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Listen, our faith is about following the example of Christ. Living and loving as He lived and loved. When we do this, some people in this world will respond favorably and some will not. So that will result in some suffering. But if it's for His purposes and His plan then we are to live with this attitude toward suffering - bring it on! Because all of us can handle anything that comes our way when God is with us (1 Corinthians 13). May God be our strength, our peace and our hope!!
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Only One
READ Deuteronomy 6
There are Bible verses and musical lyrics that attribute the following truth to God – there’s no one like our God, no one at all. He’s the Only One. Glance through any part of scripture and I dare to say this truth is evident throughout all of God’s inspired word.
Read Deuteronomy 6 and you’ll see that Moses wrote about the Lord our God being the one. He writes that our God is a jealous God and that there’s a choice every one of us has when it comes to understanding who God is and what He wants from us. No where does the Bible tell us that anyone even comes close to comparing to His immeasurable and unconditional love for His children. He’s driven to do whatever it takes to make Himself known as the one and only God.
Yet for many reasons, people still decide to go against wisdom and decide they know better than God. They decide their ways are higher than His ways, so they choose to follow their own path instead of God’s.
As God’s children what are we to do when we see our friends and family making these choices that come with devastating consequences? We’re to love them; love them by praying for them. Take our concerns before the throne of God, to our King of Kings and let Him hear our requests on behalf of our loved ones. We’re to let God know that we want to be used by Him to make a difference in the eternities of those we know and love. And we’re to trust that God will work through us to give everyone we care about an opportunity to come to know this great God of ours.
And in the meantime, may all of us represent the Only One who can save us so that we may spend our eternity with Him in the heavenly realm. May the words of our mouth and the meditation of our heart be pleasing in His sight always!
There are Bible verses and musical lyrics that attribute the following truth to God – there’s no one like our God, no one at all. He’s the Only One. Glance through any part of scripture and I dare to say this truth is evident throughout all of God’s inspired word.
Read Deuteronomy 6 and you’ll see that Moses wrote about the Lord our God being the one. He writes that our God is a jealous God and that there’s a choice every one of us has when it comes to understanding who God is and what He wants from us. No where does the Bible tell us that anyone even comes close to comparing to His immeasurable and unconditional love for His children. He’s driven to do whatever it takes to make Himself known as the one and only God.
Yet for many reasons, people still decide to go against wisdom and decide they know better than God. They decide their ways are higher than His ways, so they choose to follow their own path instead of God’s.
As God’s children what are we to do when we see our friends and family making these choices that come with devastating consequences? We’re to love them; love them by praying for them. Take our concerns before the throne of God, to our King of Kings and let Him hear our requests on behalf of our loved ones. We’re to let God know that we want to be used by Him to make a difference in the eternities of those we know and love. And we’re to trust that God will work through us to give everyone we care about an opportunity to come to know this great God of ours.
And in the meantime, may all of us represent the Only One who can save us so that we may spend our eternity with Him in the heavenly realm. May the words of our mouth and the meditation of our heart be pleasing in His sight always!
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Shortcuts?
READ Mark 12:29-31
Someone used this analogy and I liked it – in High School CliffsNotes were an ever-present reality. These notes were supposed to be a tool, a study guide to help students with reading a novel or play. While it’s true these helps could actually be beneficial in understanding difficult passages, nothing could replace a firsthand reading of the complete work. To read the CliffsNotes in lieu of reading the book or play would be like reading a recipe for apple pie instead of tasting the real thing. Shortcuts leave us shortchanged.
The same is true in our spiritual walk. We can try all the shortcuts but our results will leave us with nothing but a bunch of frustrations and disappointments. Listen, it’s easy to think of a whole list of other examples where shortcuts don’t work. So what’s the solution? Doing what’s necessary, doing the preparation needed to be ready when life storms come our way. I’m not going to give a long list of what to do so we can be sure we’re not left shortchanged. But what I will say is what’s important is we must always remember our priorities. Jesus said when asked about the greatest commandment, was that life’s all about love: Loving God and Loving Others, there is no commandment greater. Our capacity to love is aided when we realize it’s the power of the Holy Spirit living in us and through us that allows us to overflow with the love God has given us. We love because He first loved us. Understand these truths, live these truths and the rest is history as they say. May God’s love flow through you so that you’ll never again be shortchanged.
Someone used this analogy and I liked it – in High School CliffsNotes were an ever-present reality. These notes were supposed to be a tool, a study guide to help students with reading a novel or play. While it’s true these helps could actually be beneficial in understanding difficult passages, nothing could replace a firsthand reading of the complete work. To read the CliffsNotes in lieu of reading the book or play would be like reading a recipe for apple pie instead of tasting the real thing. Shortcuts leave us shortchanged.
The same is true in our spiritual walk. We can try all the shortcuts but our results will leave us with nothing but a bunch of frustrations and disappointments. Listen, it’s easy to think of a whole list of other examples where shortcuts don’t work. So what’s the solution? Doing what’s necessary, doing the preparation needed to be ready when life storms come our way. I’m not going to give a long list of what to do so we can be sure we’re not left shortchanged. But what I will say is what’s important is we must always remember our priorities. Jesus said when asked about the greatest commandment, was that life’s all about love: Loving God and Loving Others, there is no commandment greater. Our capacity to love is aided when we realize it’s the power of the Holy Spirit living in us and through us that allows us to overflow with the love God has given us. We love because He first loved us. Understand these truths, live these truths and the rest is history as they say. May God’s love flow through you so that you’ll never again be shortchanged.
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Transforming Cost
READ Luke 9:23-27
Jesus tells us transformation is possible but it comes at a cost. The cost is self-denial and followership. Luke 9:23-27 records Jesus’ words and speaks clearly about the importance of the cost of discipleship. He says we must lose ourselves for His sake. What He’s talking about is our own agenda must be the same as His agenda. All throughout the gospels He’s talking about the importance of the kingdom of God. So it’s necessary for us to know that we’re to be about building His kingdom and not our own. Whatever we find ourselves doing and wherever we are our God-given purpose is to allow God to work in us and through us for the benefit of our one on one relationship with God and our relationship with this broken world.
Friends don’t miss the importance of knowing that this world is in fact broken. What we see is only the beginning of difficulty and struggle and only when we align our lives with God’s purpose – that being to draw all men unto Him – will we remain steadfast and strong in our allegiance to living lives that matter in the coming kingdom of God.
Is there a cost for the transformation that’s necessary for all to be committed disciples of Jesus? Absolutely. Is it worth the price? No doubt. Will it be easy? No way. While we are free from the penalty of sin in our lives, the presence of sin is still among us. And we’re often tripped up by this presence of sin. It’s going to take God’s people working together, praying together and supporting one another together that the transforming cost will be worth the effort we make to live Holy Spirit filled lives. May all of us experience the blessings of God as we consider the cost each moment of each day that we make to live and love God. And may He always get the glory!
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Mourning & Faith
READ | Hebrews 11:1-40
We all face this in life and we all need to come to terms with it – the death of a loved one. As I sit here thinking about this next Living Hope Devotional I can’t help but think about the death of my mom’s mom this past week. Death is never easy. But when it gets personal, it’s really hard. I can’t imagine the grief and the sadness throughout the world every day when a loved one passes away. My grandmother was probably the sweetest and kindest woman I’ve ever known. She was exactly what a Grandma is supposed to be. I’ll always remember her love for her family and how at every family get together she never sat down but was always running around serving people. What a beautiful and wonderful Grandma. I will miss her dearly.
Friends, I share only a piece of some of my memories but as I write I think of the title of this weekly devotional – Living Hope. And all I want to say this week is do you have it? Do you have a Living Hope that death is not the end but just the beginning of a different and new kind of relationship with our heavenly Father?
You know there are a lot of people who question people of faith as being without evidence that there is anything beyond the grave. I’m sad for them. They haven’t met our Jesus. Jesus provided ample evidence that we have a living hope beyond the grave because He was able to conquer death. No matter what you think about death and the grave remember this – Jesus conquered both. And history proves what Christians believe.
Though we mourn we do not mourn as people without hope. May God give you His grace and His mercy and His peace without limit this week.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Our House
READ | 2 Chronicles 7:11-22
There's a phrase that's repeated over and over again in the world of college basketball by the home team fans - Our House! It's a statement of authority and a statement of attitude. What it means is if you're coming in to our house you better believer we're going to defend our home court advantage. And if you've ever been to an NCAA college basketball game you can attest to this fact that when home team fans start chanting Our House the game is all decided with the home team coming out on top as the victor.
Friends, our passage this week is 2 Chronicles 7:11-22. But what I really want to focus on is 2 Chronicles 7:14 which says - if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. You know, very often I hear this passage quoted in a way where the church should be praying to heal this wicked nation. And I can't help but see that God is saying to Israel, my people should pray and humble themselves and turn from their wicked ways. What I want us to focus on this week is God's call to His people; His call for us to be the church, His gathering of people who represent Him well in our generation. It was His desire for Israel and it's His desire for all of His children.
Spend time this week doing these few things: humble yourself before God; pray to God the Father; turn from our wicked ways. And the promise is this - God will hear us from heaven; forgive us of our sins and then maybe what He promised Israel will happen for us as well, our land will be healed. To God be the glory!
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Highs and Lows
READ | 1 Kings 18:1-19:3
The Old Testament is filled with stories that tell us about the day to day activities of our brothers and sisters in faith. Their highs and lows are recorded for our benefit, that we might learn how to rightly relate to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. First Kings 18:1-19:2 is no exception.
Read the story and you’ll see what I mean. The prophet Elijah had many conversations with God where God would use him for His good purposes. But at this time Israel had a king, King Ahab who considered it “trivial to commit the sins of Jeroboam.” In addition, he served and worshipped Baal which provoked the LORD to anger more than all the kings of Israel before him. That’s no small feat!
Elijah’s ministry was full of challenges. God called him to approach this evil king to confront his false idol worship. Ahab easily could have killed Elijah simply by saying the word. But God protected Him because His purposes were greater than this king’s. So the challenge was set – both would allow their God to answer their prayer to see who the real God was. With the two bulls cut into pieces and placed on the wood Elijah said to the prophets of Baal (there were four-hundred and fifty) to call on their god to bring down fire on the bulls. And you know what happened? Nothing. Their gods were impotent, powerless to do anything. So Elijah steps in and has gallons and gallons of water poured on the bulls and the wood. As he prays the fire of the Lord comes down and licked up every ounce of the bull sacrifice, wood and water. The people were amazed and were heard crying out – “The LORD, he is God! The LORD, he is God!” Amen.
But moments later, after this great victory we see Elijah cowering in fear because of the threat coming his way from the kings wife Jezebel. Friends, ministry is often like this. After the great highs of ministry can come great lows, where we doubt. Let’s remember that what changed in Elijah’s circumstance seems to be simply his trust and his perspective. When he listened and trusted God’s word, success. When he listened to Jezebel’s threats and believed them, fear. Never allow your circumstances to control your faith, but allow your faith to control your circumstances.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
You're Invited!
READ | Matthew 22:1-14
As spring wrestles to break free from the cold weather we’ve been experiencing in the northeast and the temperatures start to rise with flowers blooming and the sun shining, we’re beginning to head into what I like to call wedding season. With all the activities surrounding the planning of any wedding one of the main responsibilities is getting the wedding invitations out in a timely fashion. But that first necessitates making your guest list.
Now for those who are being invited – you have a decision to make. Am I going to accept or decline the invitation? This brings us to the passage for the week – Matthew 22:1-14. Jesus in explaining what the kingdom of heaven is like and He expresses it in a parable of the wedding banquet. Read the parable and notice some interesting aspects to what God’s kingdom is really like.
Notice the kingdom comes with an invitation. You’re invited, I’m invited, and in fact everybody’s invited. But not everyone accepts this invitation. Matthew 22:5 tells us that those first invited “paid no attention” to the invitation. They went about their own business while the rest took the fathers servants and killed them. Some are indifferent, some are indignant. Biblical scholars will contend that this first group of invited guests represents the Jews of Jesus’ day who missed it – they didn’t get that their Messiah had come. So the king in this parable, representing our heavenly Father, extends another invitation. He invites (Matthew 22:9) “anyone you find.” This would represent the Gentiles, or everyone else as the parable expresses.
What’s interesting to understand is God doesn’t discriminate, He invites everyone. And He’s a respecter of our will. He doesn’t force anyone to come. What’s also interesting though is the peoples’ response. Some ignore the king’s invitation while others appear insulted by the king’s invitation – indicated by their murdering of the king’s servants.
This reveals a few things. First, God offers an open invitation to everyone to join the party, to join His kingdom. Second, not everyone cares about God’s kingdom party. And third, there are consequences to what people do with the King’s invitation. Friends, if you’ve already accepted His invitation, you’re responsible as His servants to invite people into the kingdom celebration. If you haven’t already accepted His invitation, God wants you to know there are consequences that come with our choices. So what’s it gonna be? Celebration or consequences? I’ll choose celebration everyday!!
If you have questions about accepting the kingdom invitation, talk to a close friend who’s already accepted God’s invite or call the Hope offices. We’d love to talk with you – God Bless!!
Psst...Pass it on
READ | 2 Timothy 2:1-2,Matthew 28:19-20
As I’ve gotten older one of the things I enjoy most about mornings is waking up and having a nice cup of coffee with my wife as we chat at the breakfast table. We talk about all sorts of things but many of our best conversations center on our faith. Recently we were talking and had a nice conversation that focused on a question of faith that is relevant for all of us – what are we doing with our faith?
The answer to that question was never intended to be a secret; rather, the right answer is we’re to pass it on. A quick reading of 2 Timothy 2:1-2 shows the Apostle Paul writing to a young pastor named Timothy and advising him what he should do with his faith. In this passage he says, what you’ve heard me say about the grace of God pass it on to reliable men who will also be able to pass it on to others.
Friends, this is OUR RESPONSIBILITY. Think about it – what did Jesus say in Matthew 28:19-20? He said His followers are to go and make disciples, helping them to be identified with Christ (through baptism) and teaching them to obey everything Jesus commanded.
My question and challenge this week is this – who are you passing your faith onto? And will you pray with me that God would show you how He wants you living out this command in your life?
May God get the glory as we learn to love and obey Him!
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Where Hope is Found...
READ | Acts 12:5,Romans 5:1-5
Studying the book of Acts we come upon a story that seems filled with hopelessness. James had recently been killed by Herod. Peter was in prison, and was held there so that he could be brought “before the people” after Passover. He was guarded by 16 soldiers, and chained to two of them. Was Peter’s situation hopeless?
The church was praying fervently for Peter. It was the middle of the night, but a group was gathered to pray. Peter had been in prison for several days, but they were still praying. Maybe it was because Peter was to be tried the next day. Were they praying with hope that God would answer, or because the situation was hopeless?
Peter had been in prison before, and was miraculously freed by an angel. When Peter was taken to the prison, did he lose hope, or did he think, “Hey, I’ve been here before”?
The reason to have hope is separate from our situation. We do not have hope because we see a glimmer of light, or because we know that our friends are working to save us. We do not have hope because positive thinking will solve our problem. We do not have hope in our ability to think of a way out of a bad situation.
Paul tells us we have hope because we have Jesus. And even if we have trials, they still give us hope. We have hope totally without regard for our situation. We have hope because the love of God is poured out in our hearts.
This is one of the truly funny stories in the Bible. An angel frees Peter (again) and he comes to the house where they were praying for him. They did not believe that it was him! They left him out in the street, where he was in danger of being discovered and returned to prison. The very thing they were praying for had been provided, and they almost missed it. Pray with hope in the One who has poured out His love upon us. He hears your prayers. And He answers.
Written by Scott Sibley, Member of Hope Community Church and Short-Term Missionary to Ghana
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