Read John 13:34-35
For us there's nothing new about Jesus' command in John 13:34-35 and there's nothing confusing about it, it's easy to understand. So why is it so difficult to follow?
Two reasons come to mind. First we try to do this on our own. God wants us living Spirit-led lives, not self-led. But too often we insist on our way instead of God's. Second reason is we aren't as committed as we think we are.
Verses 34-35 say, A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.
Our biggest obstacle with this command is ourselves. We live as if this passage said, Love yourself. But Jesus tells us to love others and that's the true test of discipleship. Are we loving with the words and wisdom of Christ so that we offer this world a verbal and visual witness to Jesus Christ.
Let's submit to the power of the Holy Spirit who will empower us to live for Christ so the whole world will know we are His.
Friday, August 27, 2010
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Are You a Firefighter?
Read 1 Thessalonians 5:12-28
As a kid I often remember being asked - what do you want to be when you grow up? And I'd hear other kids answers - doctor, police officer, and some would say a firefighter. All noble and good professions but this last one is something Christians are told in scripture not to be; not professionally, but spiritually.
Read 1 Thessalonians 5:12-28 and you'll see we're told not to put out the fire of the Holy Spirit in our lives. In other words, as believers and followers of Christ we have the Holy Spirit living in us. So we have this power to do amazing things for God because we have Christ's resurrection power indwelling us. Paul writes this warning to help us remember we have this amazing power but we also have the power to put out the Spirit's fire.
How do we do this? By living a self-led vs. a Spirit-led life. Jesus tells us the Holy Spirit will come into our lives, be our Comforter and our Helper, and enable us to live powerfully for the Kingdom of God. The ultimate question becomes are we going to live on God's Holy Spirit power or try and do life living on our own limited power.
Let's not try to just get by in life, instead let's live in such a way that when others see our lives they'll be like the prophets of Baal when they encountered the Most High God in the life of Elijah and the prophets of God who said: Your Lord, He is God! This is only possible when we're not fighting the fire of God that's inside every believer of Jesus Christ. Friends, make a decision today to be Holy Spirit led in every part of your life.
As a kid I often remember being asked - what do you want to be when you grow up? And I'd hear other kids answers - doctor, police officer, and some would say a firefighter. All noble and good professions but this last one is something Christians are told in scripture not to be; not professionally, but spiritually.
Read 1 Thessalonians 5:12-28 and you'll see we're told not to put out the fire of the Holy Spirit in our lives. In other words, as believers and followers of Christ we have the Holy Spirit living in us. So we have this power to do amazing things for God because we have Christ's resurrection power indwelling us. Paul writes this warning to help us remember we have this amazing power but we also have the power to put out the Spirit's fire.
How do we do this? By living a self-led vs. a Spirit-led life. Jesus tells us the Holy Spirit will come into our lives, be our Comforter and our Helper, and enable us to live powerfully for the Kingdom of God. The ultimate question becomes are we going to live on God's Holy Spirit power or try and do life living on our own limited power.
Let's not try to just get by in life, instead let's live in such a way that when others see our lives they'll be like the prophets of Baal when they encountered the Most High God in the life of Elijah and the prophets of God who said: Your Lord, He is God! This is only possible when we're not fighting the fire of God that's inside every believer of Jesus Christ. Friends, make a decision today to be Holy Spirit led in every part of your life.
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Following Wholeheartedly
Read Joshua 14:1-15
Admittedly, some times reading the Old Testament can be difficult. But there's always something we can take from the Old Testament because God's word is given to inform and inspire us in our faith relationship with God. Joshua 14 is an example of this.
Reading through the book I came across chapter 14 and saw these verses speaking about Caleb - I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadesh Barnea to explore the land. And I brought him back a report according to my convictions, but my brothers who went up with me made the hearts of the people melt with fear. I, however, followed the LORD my God wholeheartedly.
The question is, can we say this about our relationship with God? That we follow Him wholeheartedly? I think too often we want Him to follow us and incorporate Himself into our lives. But the fact is, God calls us to follow Him; not the other way around.
The challenge this week is to try and answer this question honestly. And if we're not following God wholeheartedly lets allow God to help us understand why we're not trusting Him the way we're called to trust.
Admittedly, some times reading the Old Testament can be difficult. But there's always something we can take from the Old Testament because God's word is given to inform and inspire us in our faith relationship with God. Joshua 14 is an example of this.
Reading through the book I came across chapter 14 and saw these verses speaking about Caleb - I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadesh Barnea to explore the land. And I brought him back a report according to my convictions, but my brothers who went up with me made the hearts of the people melt with fear. I, however, followed the LORD my God wholeheartedly.
The question is, can we say this about our relationship with God? That we follow Him wholeheartedly? I think too often we want Him to follow us and incorporate Himself into our lives. But the fact is, God calls us to follow Him; not the other way around.
The challenge this week is to try and answer this question honestly. And if we're not following God wholeheartedly lets allow God to help us understand why we're not trusting Him the way we're called to trust.
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Living By the Power
Read Job 1:1-5
Job lived by the power of God. We know this because this book begins with a description of Job's life - In the land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job. This man was blameless and upright, he feared God and shunned evil.
We tend to believe if we're living like Job that life is going to run smoothly for us. But even if we just skimmed the pages of Job's story we find this isn't the case with Job. And experience tells us this isn't the case for us either. The truth is we're called to be blameless and upright, to fear God and to shun evil no matter what situation we find ourselves in. Now none of this is possible if we're not living by the power of God.
Jesus promised us something better was coming. He said it was good for us, followers of Christ, that He go back to heaven because then the Holy Spirit would come, live inside us and empower us to live with the power of God. Friends, make no mistake about it - we are not immune from difficulties simply because we are followers of Christ. In fact, we're told just the opposite. In this life we will face trouble but fear not because Jesus has overcome the world.
We can be overcomers so long as we rely on living by the power of the Holy Spirit who indwells every believer. The question we need to consider is are we going to live by the power of the Spirit or the power of self. Everyone is going to face trouble, that's a guarantee. How we're going to face that trouble is up to us. Are we going to face it trusting the power of the Holy Spirit or are we going to face it with our own power.
As for me and my house, we're going to trust the Lord with all our heart, soul, strength and mind no matter what comes our way.
Job lived by the power of God. We know this because this book begins with a description of Job's life - In the land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job. This man was blameless and upright, he feared God and shunned evil.
We tend to believe if we're living like Job that life is going to run smoothly for us. But even if we just skimmed the pages of Job's story we find this isn't the case with Job. And experience tells us this isn't the case for us either. The truth is we're called to be blameless and upright, to fear God and to shun evil no matter what situation we find ourselves in. Now none of this is possible if we're not living by the power of God.
Jesus promised us something better was coming. He said it was good for us, followers of Christ, that He go back to heaven because then the Holy Spirit would come, live inside us and empower us to live with the power of God. Friends, make no mistake about it - we are not immune from difficulties simply because we are followers of Christ. In fact, we're told just the opposite. In this life we will face trouble but fear not because Jesus has overcome the world.
We can be overcomers so long as we rely on living by the power of the Holy Spirit who indwells every believer. The question we need to consider is are we going to live by the power of the Spirit or the power of self. Everyone is going to face trouble, that's a guarantee. How we're going to face that trouble is up to us. Are we going to face it trusting the power of the Holy Spirit or are we going to face it with our own power.
As for me and my house, we're going to trust the Lord with all our heart, soul, strength and mind no matter what comes our way.
Sunday, August 1, 2010
True Worshipers
Read John 4:21-23
What the Father wants is worshipers who will worship Him in spirit and truth. What a great desire. Is it a desire in our lives? To worship God in spirit and truth?
Listen so often people say they love God, people say He is the most important thing in their lives but at the end of the day it's just what a lot of people say. Maybe it's something they say because it's what they want to be true in their lives but they don't understand what it takes to make it true. Allow me to encourage with a few words of what it takes.
First it takes understanding. Some are unaware what God wants. So it's the responsibility of Christ followers to help younger brothers and sisters to understand what God desires. Talk with your friends, listen to them and ask questions so you know what they understand and what they don't. Then ask permission. Ask if they would be willing to have you help them walk with Christ so that God would see them as worshipers who worship in spirit and truth. Finally, inspire them to learn. Encourage them to know how they best relate to God and help motivate them to connect with God according to their personal learning style. Some of us learn best by connecting with God in thought, others in passion and still others through action. So whether your faith is a faith of the mind, heart or hands press on toward becoming a true worshiper of our amazing God.
What the Father wants is worshipers who will worship Him in spirit and truth. What a great desire. Is it a desire in our lives? To worship God in spirit and truth?
Listen so often people say they love God, people say He is the most important thing in their lives but at the end of the day it's just what a lot of people say. Maybe it's something they say because it's what they want to be true in their lives but they don't understand what it takes to make it true. Allow me to encourage with a few words of what it takes.
First it takes understanding. Some are unaware what God wants. So it's the responsibility of Christ followers to help younger brothers and sisters to understand what God desires. Talk with your friends, listen to them and ask questions so you know what they understand and what they don't. Then ask permission. Ask if they would be willing to have you help them walk with Christ so that God would see them as worshipers who worship in spirit and truth. Finally, inspire them to learn. Encourage them to know how they best relate to God and help motivate them to connect with God according to their personal learning style. Some of us learn best by connecting with God in thought, others in passion and still others through action. So whether your faith is a faith of the mind, heart or hands press on toward becoming a true worshiper of our amazing God.
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