Read John 14:27-31
Jesus speaks about leaving, leaving His disciples and says He's leaving one thing with them. What He's leaving He summed up in verse 31 - He's leaving His example. Verse 31 says - the world must learn that I love the Father and that I do exactly what my Father has commanded me.
When I read this a few days ago I was struck by the power of Jesus' example. What this world and everyone in this world needs to know Jesus says in verse 31. We all need to learn that His love for the Father and His listening to His Father, always doing exactly what the Father commanded Him is the example we are called to follow ourselves.
Whenever we question our actions and direction it is important to remember this passage because Jesus wants us following His example - listening to the Father and doing exactly what He's commanded us.
Next week we're going to look at how we can do this because we're going to check out Jesus' words in John 15 - so read ahead and find out the clue to how we can live out what God commands. Here's a hint - it's the Holy Spirit. Enjoy this week and follow Him!
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Words of Jesus (1)
Read John 13:34-35
Over the next few weeks we're going to look at some of the words of Jesus from the gospel of John. His words are powerful and transformational. This week we're looking at this new command He gives His disciples in John 13.
This new command challenges us on several levels. First it's a challenge to love brothers and sisters in Christ. Second it's a challenge that when we do, this world will know by the way we love one another that we are disciples of Jesus. Now that's quite a challenge with an incredible outreach into this world. When we love one another, more than anything else we say or do, our world can't deny how we care for the family of believers.
I was struck recently by how Paul writes in Galatians 6:10 that we are to do good to all people and then he says especially to those who belong to the family of believers. It's so important that we take Jesus words - to Love God with all our heart, soul, strength and mind and follow that with loving the family of God so that this world will know how Jesus loves us by how we love each other.
Followers of Christ listen to the words of Christ and with the power of the Holy Spirit demonstrate His love one relationship at a time. Love the family of God just as the Father of our family loves us.
Over the next few weeks we're going to look at some of the words of Jesus from the gospel of John. His words are powerful and transformational. This week we're looking at this new command He gives His disciples in John 13.
This new command challenges us on several levels. First it's a challenge to love brothers and sisters in Christ. Second it's a challenge that when we do, this world will know by the way we love one another that we are disciples of Jesus. Now that's quite a challenge with an incredible outreach into this world. When we love one another, more than anything else we say or do, our world can't deny how we care for the family of believers.
I was struck recently by how Paul writes in Galatians 6:10 that we are to do good to all people and then he says especially to those who belong to the family of believers. It's so important that we take Jesus words - to Love God with all our heart, soul, strength and mind and follow that with loving the family of God so that this world will know how Jesus loves us by how we love each other.
Followers of Christ listen to the words of Christ and with the power of the Holy Spirit demonstrate His love one relationship at a time. Love the family of God just as the Father of our family loves us.
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Prepared to Worship
Read Psalm 146:1-2
Every day we can make the decision to be prepared to worship. The Psalmist wrote these words - I will praise the LORD all my life: I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.
Ever wake up with enthusiasm because you had something special planned that day? You know what that feels like, right? It's exciting because something fun, something you've been anticipating is going to happen this day. Well this is what I believe the Psalmist has in mind when he says I will praise the LORD all my life. Our lives are to sing praise to God as long as we live. And this begins with a decision every day no matter what is happening in our lives.
But let's be honest, every day we are thrown curve balls. You know what I mean? We have an enemy that doesn't want us listening to God, walking with God so we face trials and tests to our faith. This is why it is so important to have godly friends. We encourage people to be in small groups, so we have people who know us and lift us up in prayer when we are not prepared to worship.
God never intended us to go it alone in this life. That's why we have been given the Spirit of God and the people of God to help us listen and walk with God for a lifetime. Don't go it alone - go with God, go with His people and you will always be prepared to worship.
Every day we can make the decision to be prepared to worship. The Psalmist wrote these words - I will praise the LORD all my life: I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.
Ever wake up with enthusiasm because you had something special planned that day? You know what that feels like, right? It's exciting because something fun, something you've been anticipating is going to happen this day. Well this is what I believe the Psalmist has in mind when he says I will praise the LORD all my life. Our lives are to sing praise to God as long as we live. And this begins with a decision every day no matter what is happening in our lives.
But let's be honest, every day we are thrown curve balls. You know what I mean? We have an enemy that doesn't want us listening to God, walking with God so we face trials and tests to our faith. This is why it is so important to have godly friends. We encourage people to be in small groups, so we have people who know us and lift us up in prayer when we are not prepared to worship.
God never intended us to go it alone in this life. That's why we have been given the Spirit of God and the people of God to help us listen and walk with God for a lifetime. Don't go it alone - go with God, go with His people and you will always be prepared to worship.
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Faithul With Little
Read Luke 16:1-13
Jesus taught many parables. Each with significance about the Kingdom of God and each with significance for His followers to listen and learn. In this parable found in Luke 16 Jesus sums up everything with these last few verses saying whoever can be trusted with very little, can be trusted with much and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.
The story goes there was a rich man whose manager was accused of wasting his possessions. This manager is called to account and realizing he's going to lose his job decides to be prudent and collect what is owed his manager by negotiating down the amounts his master's debtors owed while at the same time gaining favor for himself with these debtors. He's thinking when I lose my job these people will welcome me into their homes.
While we may think this is dishonest, the master we're told in v. 8 commends this manager for acting shrewdly. He commends him for knowing how to be wise, using what he can in this world to gain friends for his support. Now we see that Jesus goes on to say use worldly wealth to gain friends so that when it is gone you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.
Jesus' closing point in this passage is that we can't serve two masters. We can't serve both God and Money. We will love one and hate the other. Jesus wants us to be faithful managers of what He's given us in this world for the benefit of our Master. Let's be people no matter if we have very little or if we have much who are always faithful, serving God with all we have.
Jesus taught many parables. Each with significance about the Kingdom of God and each with significance for His followers to listen and learn. In this parable found in Luke 16 Jesus sums up everything with these last few verses saying whoever can be trusted with very little, can be trusted with much and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.
The story goes there was a rich man whose manager was accused of wasting his possessions. This manager is called to account and realizing he's going to lose his job decides to be prudent and collect what is owed his manager by negotiating down the amounts his master's debtors owed while at the same time gaining favor for himself with these debtors. He's thinking when I lose my job these people will welcome me into their homes.
While we may think this is dishonest, the master we're told in v. 8 commends this manager for acting shrewdly. He commends him for knowing how to be wise, using what he can in this world to gain friends for his support. Now we see that Jesus goes on to say use worldly wealth to gain friends so that when it is gone you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.
Jesus' closing point in this passage is that we can't serve two masters. We can't serve both God and Money. We will love one and hate the other. Jesus wants us to be faithful managers of what He's given us in this world for the benefit of our Master. Let's be people no matter if we have very little or if we have much who are always faithful, serving God with all we have.
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