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.
Sunday, August 15, 2010
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.
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Miracles
Read Matthew 8
Jesus' miracles in the Bible seem so routine that we can miss the power and love expressed in everything He ever did. When I read through Matthew 8 recently a few things stood out about His miracles.
What I first noticed was how people came to Him to ask for His help. There was something about Him, something different about Jesus that drew people to Him. Second, I noticed Jesus' response was different each time. There wasn't a prescribed way Jesus performed His miracles. For some He touched the person He was going to heal and for others He simply spoke and the miracle happened. Lastly, I noticed the response of the people involved in every miracle wasn't the same. Some were told to go to the priests and make an offering as a testimony of the miracle. Others believed Jesus could simply speak and heal, so their trust and faith in God was praised by Jesus. And others were terrified of Jesus' power so they asked Him to leave town.
What we need to think about when it comes to Jesus' miracles is whether or not we trust Jesus has the power to perform miracles today. I know it's a tough thought but really - do we think Jesus can do the miracles of His day in ours? Friends a miracle is something only God can do. Sometimes I think we call miracles thinks that fall outside this definition of miracles. But let's remember our God is able to do anything and that His power and love is just as active today as it was in His day. So let's believe God can perform the miracle of salvation in the lives of our loved ones and trust He's going to do it. And don't forget, this trust includes our participation in doing whatever part God desires from us.
Jesus' miracles in the Bible seem so routine that we can miss the power and love expressed in everything He ever did. When I read through Matthew 8 recently a few things stood out about His miracles.
What I first noticed was how people came to Him to ask for His help. There was something about Him, something different about Jesus that drew people to Him. Second, I noticed Jesus' response was different each time. There wasn't a prescribed way Jesus performed His miracles. For some He touched the person He was going to heal and for others He simply spoke and the miracle happened. Lastly, I noticed the response of the people involved in every miracle wasn't the same. Some were told to go to the priests and make an offering as a testimony of the miracle. Others believed Jesus could simply speak and heal, so their trust and faith in God was praised by Jesus. And others were terrified of Jesus' power so they asked Him to leave town.
What we need to think about when it comes to Jesus' miracles is whether or not we trust Jesus has the power to perform miracles today. I know it's a tough thought but really - do we think Jesus can do the miracles of His day in ours? Friends a miracle is something only God can do. Sometimes I think we call miracles thinks that fall outside this definition of miracles. But let's remember our God is able to do anything and that His power and love is just as active today as it was in His day. So let's believe God can perform the miracle of salvation in the lives of our loved ones and trust He's going to do it. And don't forget, this trust includes our participation in doing whatever part God desires from us.
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Love of a Lifetime
Read Revelation 2:1-7
October 3, 1992 holds a special place in my heart because that's the day my wife and I said our "I Do's" to each other. And on that day we celebrated and danced to a kind of edgy rock ballad by a relatively unknown band Firehouse called Love of a Lifetime. I still enjoy hearing this song to this day because one of the lyrics affirms how I feel about my wife. It says - with you I never wonder will you be there for me, with you I never wonder if you're the right one for me. Listen, I'm not saying this for any other reason than it's true. My wife is the right one for me who will always be there for me; she's the right one for me.
As much as that's true in my marital relationship, God is truly the one we should never wonder about; He's always there and always the right one for us. Yet sadly, all too often, we forget Him as our love of a lifetime. We forget Him much like what's written about in Revelation 2 about the Ephesians. Read Revelation 2:1-7 and remember that God is our first and only true love of a lifetime. He wants our devotion, our passion, and our life to be all about our relationship with Him.
Take some time this week and reflect if there's anything in your life that's taking God's place as your love of a lifetime. Is there anything right now that is taking God's place in your life right now? If there is, confess it and spend time with God this week rekindling your relationship.
October 3, 1992 holds a special place in my heart because that's the day my wife and I said our "I Do's" to each other. And on that day we celebrated and danced to a kind of edgy rock ballad by a relatively unknown band Firehouse called Love of a Lifetime. I still enjoy hearing this song to this day because one of the lyrics affirms how I feel about my wife. It says - with you I never wonder will you be there for me, with you I never wonder if you're the right one for me. Listen, I'm not saying this for any other reason than it's true. My wife is the right one for me who will always be there for me; she's the right one for me.
As much as that's true in my marital relationship, God is truly the one we should never wonder about; He's always there and always the right one for us. Yet sadly, all too often, we forget Him as our love of a lifetime. We forget Him much like what's written about in Revelation 2 about the Ephesians. Read Revelation 2:1-7 and remember that God is our first and only true love of a lifetime. He wants our devotion, our passion, and our life to be all about our relationship with Him.
Take some time this week and reflect if there's anything in your life that's taking God's place as your love of a lifetime. Is there anything right now that is taking God's place in your life right now? If there is, confess it and spend time with God this week rekindling your relationship.
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Great and Glorious
Read 1 Chronicles 16:1-12
Music has an amazing ability to communicate from the heart. The Old Testament is filled with passages telling how Israel would praise God by singing to Him and telling of all His wonderful acts.
Recently I was listening to a new song called Great and Glorious. It's from a group I heard about from the United Kingdom. And I'll tell you it simply is a great celebration of the greatness of God. To hear the song and the musicians and the vocalists united together in praise is an amazing sound. Now this group is part of a church in the UK that has about 2,500 attenders every week. Can you imagine singing God's great and glorious together and how amazing that must be? Friends I'm sure that pales in comparison what's going on in heaven right now. Just think of the praise that must be going on right now before the throne of God! He is holy and perfect, deserving of all our praises.
If you agree with me I think we can begin praising God now, before we meet Him face to face. Spend time this week worshipping how Great and Glorious our God is.
Music has an amazing ability to communicate from the heart. The Old Testament is filled with passages telling how Israel would praise God by singing to Him and telling of all His wonderful acts.
Recently I was listening to a new song called Great and Glorious. It's from a group I heard about from the United Kingdom. And I'll tell you it simply is a great celebration of the greatness of God. To hear the song and the musicians and the vocalists united together in praise is an amazing sound. Now this group is part of a church in the UK that has about 2,500 attenders every week. Can you imagine singing God's great and glorious together and how amazing that must be? Friends I'm sure that pales in comparison what's going on in heaven right now. Just think of the praise that must be going on right now before the throne of God! He is holy and perfect, deserving of all our praises.
If you agree with me I think we can begin praising God now, before we meet Him face to face. Spend time this week worshipping how Great and Glorious our God is.
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Faith Fitness
Read 1 Timothy 4
Lately I've seen so many friends sharing how they are working toward new fitness goals. And truly it's been amazing to see how many are committed to "shaping" up for the summer. I've noticed so many who are slimming down and really feeling healthier as a result. After speaking with these friends what's also interesting is their energy level is way up and they've all shared how good they feel with their results. But they've also shared how much effort is involved as well. Simply said, it's hard work.
First Timothy 4:8 says physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. Friends, I see people everyday at the gym working so hard to get or stay in shape. And yet spiritual training we're told has value for all things. The question is - how hard are we working to get or stay in spiritual shape? What goals do we have to be spiritually healthy? Our faith fitness is so much more important than our physical fitness.
Paul tells Timothy to devote himself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and teaching the word and to not neglect his spiritual gift. He finishes by saying make sure you commit your life to sound doctrine. If we can think of Paul as a spiritual fitness trainer what we should follow from his instructions is that we must identify the spiritual gifts God has given us and then put them into practice. And we must always be sure we know the truth from God's word. In other words, the exercises we use to stay in spiritual shape should be to follow the word of God by studying His word closely and we should insist on knowing what "exercises" (spiritual gifts) work for us. God's designed us uniquely so He wants all of us to work our spiritual muscles according to His plan.
Collectively we're referred to as the body of Christ. So together we should be flexing our spiritual muscles so that God's plan of salvation can influence the body of Christ and the world we live in. Stay close to this exercise routine of studying God's word and using your spiritual gifts and you'll be sure to healthier spiritually than ever before.
Lately I've seen so many friends sharing how they are working toward new fitness goals. And truly it's been amazing to see how many are committed to "shaping" up for the summer. I've noticed so many who are slimming down and really feeling healthier as a result. After speaking with these friends what's also interesting is their energy level is way up and they've all shared how good they feel with their results. But they've also shared how much effort is involved as well. Simply said, it's hard work.
First Timothy 4:8 says physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. Friends, I see people everyday at the gym working so hard to get or stay in shape. And yet spiritual training we're told has value for all things. The question is - how hard are we working to get or stay in spiritual shape? What goals do we have to be spiritually healthy? Our faith fitness is so much more important than our physical fitness.
Paul tells Timothy to devote himself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and teaching the word and to not neglect his spiritual gift. He finishes by saying make sure you commit your life to sound doctrine. If we can think of Paul as a spiritual fitness trainer what we should follow from his instructions is that we must identify the spiritual gifts God has given us and then put them into practice. And we must always be sure we know the truth from God's word. In other words, the exercises we use to stay in spiritual shape should be to follow the word of God by studying His word closely and we should insist on knowing what "exercises" (spiritual gifts) work for us. God's designed us uniquely so He wants all of us to work our spiritual muscles according to His plan.
Collectively we're referred to as the body of Christ. So together we should be flexing our spiritual muscles so that God's plan of salvation can influence the body of Christ and the world we live in. Stay close to this exercise routine of studying God's word and using your spiritual gifts and you'll be sure to healthier spiritually than ever before.
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