Read Exodus 18:9-27
Why are you doing that? It's a question many of us have been asked and many of us ask of others. It's interesting because this question is asked of Moses by his father-in-law Jethro. Moses is the leader of Israel and each day he took his seat to serve as judge for the people. And he did this from morning til evening.
Jethro speaks up and causes Moses to realize what he's doing isn't good. He will wear himself out while all these others, those who are capable are standing by not participating in any way to help Moses.
The church can be like this - we have lots of capable and godly people who just need to be asked to serve, to step up and lead, much like the leaders who Moses eventually chose to help him serve the people. People will always need to be served but what's also true is the instruction Moses received from Jethro, especially verses 19-23. Take some time and read this passage. Here's Moses' instruction from Jethro:
1. the work is too hard for you (ever feel that way?)
2. teach the people the word of God, the law; show them the way to live and the duties they can help you with
3. select capable men who fear God and are trustworthy, hating dishonest gain
4. have them serve as judges with you while you handle the tougher cases.
Easy enough but necessary to remember when we work together as a body of believers we can accomplish so much more than wearing ourselves out trying to do it all ourselves. Let's remember to invite others to participate with us in ministry all for the glory of God. When we do we'll realize God equips the called, and we are all called to serve our faithful Father.
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Hearing & Doing...
Read James 1:22-25
Messages bombard us everyday. Messages that have importance and messages that have little to no effect on the quality of our lives. And the truth be told, too many of us listen more to these latter messages than the messages that have true importance and impact in our daily lives.
James writes these words in James 1:22 - Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Think about this - so many hear the word of God and 'merely listen.' We ignore doing what it says and James says when we do this we are deceiving ourselves. But how are we deceiving ourselves? Later in verse 26 he writes with using the example of someone who considers himself religious but doesn't keep a tight reign on his tongue, his words. He says the person who does this deceives himself and his religion/faith is worthless.
Never were we intended to merely hear the word of God. We were always intended to hear it and do it - this friends is faith; faith that is belief put into action. May we examine our faith today, this week and reflect on James' words. Ask ourselves, am I deceiving myself? Is my faith worthless?
At the end of verse 25 James says when we do not forget what we hear, but put our faith into action and do what it says we will be "blessed" in what we do. Take this blessing and receive it into your life. Be a person whose faith is hearing and doing for this is what pleases our Father.
Messages bombard us everyday. Messages that have importance and messages that have little to no effect on the quality of our lives. And the truth be told, too many of us listen more to these latter messages than the messages that have true importance and impact in our daily lives.
James writes these words in James 1:22 - Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Think about this - so many hear the word of God and 'merely listen.' We ignore doing what it says and James says when we do this we are deceiving ourselves. But how are we deceiving ourselves? Later in verse 26 he writes with using the example of someone who considers himself religious but doesn't keep a tight reign on his tongue, his words. He says the person who does this deceives himself and his religion/faith is worthless.
Never were we intended to merely hear the word of God. We were always intended to hear it and do it - this friends is faith; faith that is belief put into action. May we examine our faith today, this week and reflect on James' words. Ask ourselves, am I deceiving myself? Is my faith worthless?
At the end of verse 25 James says when we do not forget what we hear, but put our faith into action and do what it says we will be "blessed" in what we do. Take this blessing and receive it into your life. Be a person whose faith is hearing and doing for this is what pleases our Father.
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Better is One Day...
Read Psalm 84
We delight and rejoice in a lot of things. But probably something we neglect to delight in on a daily basis is our future. Specifically where we will spend eternity with God and enjoy His presence in the New Jerusalem.
Psalm 84 speaks about how amazing God's dwelling place is; how it is better to spend one day in His courts than a thousand elsewhere. Think about that, do you anticipate with excitement living with God in eternity? Do you know what that will even be like?
God's word tells us so much about the house of God and where we'll spend eternity. But let's take a moment and focus on Psalm 84:10 - it says "Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere." That's powerful! And I believe it's because the Psalmist is anticipating the presence and holiness of God and being there to experience His great glory.
We're reminded of many things in the Bible - about God and about us. But the messages we're told over and over again about our future are filled with anticipation as we await heaven. Whatever you're facing today, allow this hope and excitement of what one day will be to overshadow these light and momentary trials.
We delight and rejoice in a lot of things. But probably something we neglect to delight in on a daily basis is our future. Specifically where we will spend eternity with God and enjoy His presence in the New Jerusalem.
Psalm 84 speaks about how amazing God's dwelling place is; how it is better to spend one day in His courts than a thousand elsewhere. Think about that, do you anticipate with excitement living with God in eternity? Do you know what that will even be like?
God's word tells us so much about the house of God and where we'll spend eternity. But let's take a moment and focus on Psalm 84:10 - it says "Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere." That's powerful! And I believe it's because the Psalmist is anticipating the presence and holiness of God and being there to experience His great glory.
We're reminded of many things in the Bible - about God and about us. But the messages we're told over and over again about our future are filled with anticipation as we await heaven. Whatever you're facing today, allow this hope and excitement of what one day will be to overshadow these light and momentary trials.
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Warnings...
Read 2 Peter 2
Scripture warns us about things. Warns us about the choices we make, deciding if we're going to live and honor Him with our lives. Warns us about falling back into sinful patterns of behavior. And warns us about the consequences to ourselves and others when we disobey the warnings of God. But probably the most important warning that's repeated in Scripture is all the warnings against false teachers.
2 Peter 2 speaks about the false prophets of the past as well as the false teachings of the present for the believers in Peter's day. Peter warns of their secretely introduced heresies and their destructive ways that many will follow. Question - why do so many follow these false teachings?
I believe it's because we simply don't know the word of God. Peter offers examples in 2 Peter 2:4-11 (examples like the angels who sinned and were cast into hell; the ancient world of the ungodly brought into the flood during the days of Noah; the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah turned into ashes as an example to those who afterward would live ungodly; the deliverance of Lot who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked).
These examples are intended to teach and help us not get caught up with the "many" who follow false teachings. Listen, false teachers exist. When they teach will you know they are teaching what is false? Or will you know the truth of God because you're in the word of God?
When in doubt always remember our foundation is in the truth of who God is and He tells us all about Himself and what He expects from us in the Bible. Let's learn from Him and always be prepared to know the truth and live it out.
Scripture warns us about things. Warns us about the choices we make, deciding if we're going to live and honor Him with our lives. Warns us about falling back into sinful patterns of behavior. And warns us about the consequences to ourselves and others when we disobey the warnings of God. But probably the most important warning that's repeated in Scripture is all the warnings against false teachers.
2 Peter 2 speaks about the false prophets of the past as well as the false teachings of the present for the believers in Peter's day. Peter warns of their secretely introduced heresies and their destructive ways that many will follow. Question - why do so many follow these false teachings?
I believe it's because we simply don't know the word of God. Peter offers examples in 2 Peter 2:4-11 (examples like the angels who sinned and were cast into hell; the ancient world of the ungodly brought into the flood during the days of Noah; the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah turned into ashes as an example to those who afterward would live ungodly; the deliverance of Lot who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked).
These examples are intended to teach and help us not get caught up with the "many" who follow false teachings. Listen, false teachers exist. When they teach will you know they are teaching what is false? Or will you know the truth of God because you're in the word of God?
When in doubt always remember our foundation is in the truth of who God is and He tells us all about Himself and what He expects from us in the Bible. Let's learn from Him and always be prepared to know the truth and live it out.
Sunday, July 3, 2011
God's Will...
Read 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Writing to the Thessalonians Paul offers three choices for believers to make no matter what's happening in their lives. He says - be joyful always, pray continually and give thanks in all circumstances. Any one of these challenges us as we think about our day to day lives. Being joyful always is a challenge because we're being called to express joy always. How is this possible?
Next he says to pray continually which is like saying no matter what let your thoughts go right into conversation with God with everything you're dealing with. Again, how is this possible?
Lastly Paul says to give thanks in all circumstances. Really Paul, in all circumstances? Seems quite impossible to accomplish doesn't it? Even selecting just one of these commands and attempting to live it out appears unreasonable.
However, Paul ends this verse by saying "for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." I know what you're thinking - great, I've wanted to know God's will for my life and now here it is. Always be joyful, pray without ceasing and be thankful in all situations. Now I don't know about you but I've been through some pretty tough times in my life, so when I read this passage it really catches my attention. Maybe it's caught your attention too.
But I believe God calls us to this way of living for Him for two reasons. First, it really is God's will for our lives. And second, He doesn't expect us to be able to accomplish this on our own. We're given the Holy Spirit, the third person of the trinity, that empowers us to focus our lives on the joy we have in Christ because of His sacrifice for us; empowers us to talk with God at all times about everything that's happening in our lives; and empowers us to realize, even when we don't understand, that God will use all our circumstances for His glory.
So let's submit to God's will for our lives and realize nothing is impossible with God. Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. Amen.
Writing to the Thessalonians Paul offers three choices for believers to make no matter what's happening in their lives. He says - be joyful always, pray continually and give thanks in all circumstances. Any one of these challenges us as we think about our day to day lives. Being joyful always is a challenge because we're being called to express joy always. How is this possible?
Next he says to pray continually which is like saying no matter what let your thoughts go right into conversation with God with everything you're dealing with. Again, how is this possible?
Lastly Paul says to give thanks in all circumstances. Really Paul, in all circumstances? Seems quite impossible to accomplish doesn't it? Even selecting just one of these commands and attempting to live it out appears unreasonable.
However, Paul ends this verse by saying "for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." I know what you're thinking - great, I've wanted to know God's will for my life and now here it is. Always be joyful, pray without ceasing and be thankful in all situations. Now I don't know about you but I've been through some pretty tough times in my life, so when I read this passage it really catches my attention. Maybe it's caught your attention too.
But I believe God calls us to this way of living for Him for two reasons. First, it really is God's will for our lives. And second, He doesn't expect us to be able to accomplish this on our own. We're given the Holy Spirit, the third person of the trinity, that empowers us to focus our lives on the joy we have in Christ because of His sacrifice for us; empowers us to talk with God at all times about everything that's happening in our lives; and empowers us to realize, even when we don't understand, that God will use all our circumstances for His glory.
So let's submit to God's will for our lives and realize nothing is impossible with God. Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. Amen.
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