Read Matthew 9:35-38
It's easy for us to forget what mattered most to Jesus. It's clear in our passage this week that what mattered most to Jesus is a few things: teaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness of the people. You see, people mattered to Jesus. He saw them as sheep without a shepherd. So as He traveled He spoke about the kingdom of God; He cared about their spiritual and physical needs. And then what He said next must stand out to us - He said "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.
What mattered to Jesus must matter to us. People are so important to God that He sent His Son to teach us what we need to know about the kingdom of God, to go and help people spiritually and physically.
The question to personally consider is this - am I willing to be God's worker in the harvest field? God desires we all would realize our role and responsibility when it comes to seeking people who are lost and matter so much to the living God.
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Ministry Handoff...
Read 1 Kings 19:15-21
The prophet Elijah is commanded to anoint several people to several different roles and responsibilities. The first was to anoint Hazael king over Aram; then Jehu as King over Israel; then Elisha to succeed Elijah.
Do you ever wonder what Elijah must have been thinking after he's told to anoint Elisha? The first two, Hazael and Jehu, they were easier I'm sure for him to accept. But Elisha was going to replace him. And that meant something new and different was going to happen with Elijah.
We're told in v. 21 that Elisha becomes Elijah's attendant, meaning he was going to serve alongside Elijah until the time when the Lord would call Elijah home. And it means Elijah would need to prepare Elisha for replacing him in ministry.
The question we should ask ourselves is who are we preparing to follow us in ministry. Who are we in the process of helping to serve God in our place when it's time for us to pass on our faith to the next generation?
God makes it clear to Elijah and I believe He makes it clear to us, we are to be intentional with preparing the next generation to follow God. And it's important for us to realize this begins with how we are following God ourselves. If we're not following God the way God intends and desires then we'll be passing on something, but not what God wants us to pass on. Let's begin this week with entrusting ourselves to our heavenly Father so when it's time to pass on our faith and ministry to another, we're ready.
The prophet Elijah is commanded to anoint several people to several different roles and responsibilities. The first was to anoint Hazael king over Aram; then Jehu as King over Israel; then Elisha to succeed Elijah.
Do you ever wonder what Elijah must have been thinking after he's told to anoint Elisha? The first two, Hazael and Jehu, they were easier I'm sure for him to accept. But Elisha was going to replace him. And that meant something new and different was going to happen with Elijah.
We're told in v. 21 that Elisha becomes Elijah's attendant, meaning he was going to serve alongside Elijah until the time when the Lord would call Elijah home. And it means Elijah would need to prepare Elisha for replacing him in ministry.
The question we should ask ourselves is who are we preparing to follow us in ministry. Who are we in the process of helping to serve God in our place when it's time for us to pass on our faith to the next generation?
God makes it clear to Elijah and I believe He makes it clear to us, we are to be intentional with preparing the next generation to follow God. And it's important for us to realize this begins with how we are following God ourselves. If we're not following God the way God intends and desires then we'll be passing on something, but not what God wants us to pass on. Let's begin this week with entrusting ourselves to our heavenly Father so when it's time to pass on our faith and ministry to another, we're ready.
Sunday, December 5, 2010
The Word of God
Read 2 Timothy 3:16-17
What does the phrase word of God mean to you? Recently I had a conversation with someone who claims faith in Christ yet during our conversation it became clear the word of God wasn't something that he believed could be known to be from God. In fact many people today doubt the word of God is in fact from God. They believe it's just something men passed down to one another, kind of like whisper down the lane. Therefore, the word of God for them isn't a matter of this is what the Lord God Almighty says, it's just something men passed down from one generation to the next.
So the question arises, if it isn't the word of God then what is it? More pointedly, then what is it we believe? If we belive it's not the word of God, then what do we believe?
The truth is if we follow this line of reasoning our faith is not much more than you and I believing what we think is right. And that puts us in the position of God - doesn't it? Where what we believe ought to be is what we base our life on and so our lives are nothing more than following ourselves.
Take a look at how Scripture was carefully handed down from God to man and then from one generation to the next and it's hard to believe we can come to the conclusion that the word of God isn't the word of God. From how we got the Bible to Jesus' own words where He quotes the Scripture as the very word of God it is hard to come to the conclusion that we can't trust the word of God as the Word of God.
This week, let's put to memory 2 Timothy 3:16-17 - - All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
What does the phrase word of God mean to you? Recently I had a conversation with someone who claims faith in Christ yet during our conversation it became clear the word of God wasn't something that he believed could be known to be from God. In fact many people today doubt the word of God is in fact from God. They believe it's just something men passed down to one another, kind of like whisper down the lane. Therefore, the word of God for them isn't a matter of this is what the Lord God Almighty says, it's just something men passed down from one generation to the next.
So the question arises, if it isn't the word of God then what is it? More pointedly, then what is it we believe? If we belive it's not the word of God, then what do we believe?
The truth is if we follow this line of reasoning our faith is not much more than you and I believing what we think is right. And that puts us in the position of God - doesn't it? Where what we believe ought to be is what we base our life on and so our lives are nothing more than following ourselves.
Take a look at how Scripture was carefully handed down from God to man and then from one generation to the next and it's hard to believe we can come to the conclusion that the word of God isn't the word of God. From how we got the Bible to Jesus' own words where He quotes the Scripture as the very word of God it is hard to come to the conclusion that we can't trust the word of God as the Word of God.
This week, let's put to memory 2 Timothy 3:16-17 - - All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Had Enough?
Read 1 Kings 19:1-18
Ever notice in ministry how there's as many ups as there are downs? That God is always growing our faith even when we're beginning to doubt?
The prophet Elijah, after challenging the most wicked King of Israel, Ahab is now running scared; fearing Ahab's wife Jezebel is going to kill him. So he pleads with God in v. 4 - take my life, I have had enough. Ever feel that way? You've been faithfully following God and yet you are exhausted, tired and wondering if you even want to go on any longer? Elijah is at an all-time low; he wants it all to stop, to be done with the ministry God has called him to. The question is - why is he feeling this way?
He believes he's the only one left who is zealous for the LORD God Almighty and that "The Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword." He says "I'm the only one left and now they are trying to kill me to."
God replies - that's not true. We may feel like Elijah, that we've given it all we've got and that we're all alone. But God is saying to us what He's saying to Elijah - that's not true. You are not alone. I am with you and there are others who are faithfully following the true God of Israel.
If you're feeling discouraged and feel like you've had enough please read this story and hear the gentle whisper of God. Since we're not dead, we're not done. God has more for you and me to do. And until we breathe our last breath, let's believe God is with us and that there are more faithful followers trusting and serving the living God of Israel and we're not alone. If God is for us, who can be against us!
Ever notice in ministry how there's as many ups as there are downs? That God is always growing our faith even when we're beginning to doubt?
The prophet Elijah, after challenging the most wicked King of Israel, Ahab is now running scared; fearing Ahab's wife Jezebel is going to kill him. So he pleads with God in v. 4 - take my life, I have had enough. Ever feel that way? You've been faithfully following God and yet you are exhausted, tired and wondering if you even want to go on any longer? Elijah is at an all-time low; he wants it all to stop, to be done with the ministry God has called him to. The question is - why is he feeling this way?
He believes he's the only one left who is zealous for the LORD God Almighty and that "The Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword." He says "I'm the only one left and now they are trying to kill me to."
God replies - that's not true. We may feel like Elijah, that we've given it all we've got and that we're all alone. But God is saying to us what He's saying to Elijah - that's not true. You are not alone. I am with you and there are others who are faithfully following the true God of Israel.
If you're feeling discouraged and feel like you've had enough please read this story and hear the gentle whisper of God. Since we're not dead, we're not done. God has more for you and me to do. And until we breathe our last breath, let's believe God is with us and that there are more faithful followers trusting and serving the living God of Israel and we're not alone. If God is for us, who can be against us!
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Learning in the Valley (pt 2)
God does not want negative elements from the past to lie around our lives and cause us trouble. Each of us is the temple of the Holy Spirit, and He wants us to be clean and usable vessels. We have no reason to allow the rubbish of the past to remain in our lives for years---old memories, haunting temptations, the baggage of unresolved hurts and unreconciled relationships. The Lord desires that we free ourselves of anything that might keep us in inner bondage, whether mentally, emotionally, psychologically, or spiritually. When we become complacent in accepting the hurts of the past as part of who we are, the Lord may bring a little adversity to lead us to pursue instead who we might be in Christ Jesus.
The effective lesson leads to change in behavior
Teachers often prepare behavioral objectives for their classroom lectures. These objectives list in concrete and measurable form the behaviors that the teacher desires for a student to display as proof that the student has learned the lesson. The lessons that the Lord teaches us through adversity are ultimately for that purpose: a change of behavior, including a change in the belief that prompted the behavior.
It isn't enough that the Lord gets our attention or that we engage in self-examination. We can see a problem and know ourselves thoroughly, but unless we change our response to God in some way, we will never benefit fully from adversity or grow as a result of it.
Self-examination may feel painful. But remember, whatever you find within yourself, Jesus Himself came to help you carry that burden to the cross and deal with it there, once and for all. He has your best interest in mind. He knows that pain sometimes paves the path to complete healing and restoration.
If you are willing to allow God to surface the inner rubbish of your life, and if you are willing to change what needs to be changed, you will emerge from adversity closer to Christ, more mature as His child, and with far greater potential to reflect the love of God to the world around you.
Devotional written by Jim Runkle (parts adapted from Charles Stanley's In Touch Ministries)
The effective lesson leads to change in behavior
Teachers often prepare behavioral objectives for their classroom lectures. These objectives list in concrete and measurable form the behaviors that the teacher desires for a student to display as proof that the student has learned the lesson. The lessons that the Lord teaches us through adversity are ultimately for that purpose: a change of behavior, including a change in the belief that prompted the behavior.
It isn't enough that the Lord gets our attention or that we engage in self-examination. We can see a problem and know ourselves thoroughly, but unless we change our response to God in some way, we will never benefit fully from adversity or grow as a result of it.
Self-examination may feel painful. But remember, whatever you find within yourself, Jesus Himself came to help you carry that burden to the cross and deal with it there, once and for all. He has your best interest in mind. He knows that pain sometimes paves the path to complete healing and restoration.
If you are willing to allow God to surface the inner rubbish of your life, and if you are willing to change what needs to be changed, you will emerge from adversity closer to Christ, more mature as His child, and with far greater potential to reflect the love of God to the world around you.
Devotional written by Jim Runkle (parts adapted from Charles Stanley's In Touch Ministries)
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Learning In the Valley (pt 1)
Read Psalm 25
"We Learn More In Our Valley Experiences Than On Our Mountaintops"
Adversity, anguish, trial, tribulations, and heartaches operate as lessons in the school of experience. They bring us to a place of new insight and understanding; they can alter our perception of the world and of God, and lead us to change our behavior. The Lord, of course, is the ultimate Teacher. He is the One to whom we must look for the meaning of any lesson related to adversity.
God allows adversity for different reasons:
God uses adversity to get our attention
The Lord uses a wide variety of methods to gain our attention when necessary; adversity is one of them. One of the best responses I know to adversity that strikes us suddenly---and yet obviously---with a God-intended message is to turn to Psalm 25 and make it our personal prayer:
1 O Lord, I give my life to you.
2 I trust in you, my God!
Do not let me be disgraced,
or let my enemies rejoice in my defeat.
3 No one who trusts in you will ever be disgraced,
but disgrace comes to those who try to deceive others.
4 Show me the right path, O Lord;
point out the road for me to follow.
5 Lead me by your truth and teach me,
for you are the God who saves me.
All day long I put my hope in you.
6 Remember, O Lord, your compassion and unfailing love,
which you have shown from long ages past.
7 Do not remember the rebellious sins of my youth.
Remember me in the light of your unfailing love,
for you are merciful, O Lord.
Psalm 25:1-7
Don't delay in responding to the Lord when He moves to get your attention. Respond quickly and humbly. Hear what He has to say to you.
Adversity leads to examination
At times God sees fit to allow adversity into our lives to motivate us to self-examination. The winds of adversity blow away the surface issues and force us to cope with things on a deeper level. Adversity removes the cloak of what we are supposed to be reveal the truth of who we are. The "real us" shows through.
We are to regularly examine both our faith and ourselves. Paul encouraged the Corinthians, "Let a man examine himself" (1 Cor. 11:28). In other words, "Take an inquisitive look inside and discover what is driving you, motivating you, and enticing you."
Devotional written by Jim Runkle (parts adapted from Charles Stanley's In Touch Ministries -Part 2 of 2 will be available next week)
"We Learn More In Our Valley Experiences Than On Our Mountaintops"
Adversity, anguish, trial, tribulations, and heartaches operate as lessons in the school of experience. They bring us to a place of new insight and understanding; they can alter our perception of the world and of God, and lead us to change our behavior. The Lord, of course, is the ultimate Teacher. He is the One to whom we must look for the meaning of any lesson related to adversity.
God allows adversity for different reasons:
God uses adversity to get our attention
The Lord uses a wide variety of methods to gain our attention when necessary; adversity is one of them. One of the best responses I know to adversity that strikes us suddenly---and yet obviously---with a God-intended message is to turn to Psalm 25 and make it our personal prayer:
1 O Lord, I give my life to you.
2 I trust in you, my God!
Do not let me be disgraced,
or let my enemies rejoice in my defeat.
3 No one who trusts in you will ever be disgraced,
but disgrace comes to those who try to deceive others.
4 Show me the right path, O Lord;
point out the road for me to follow.
5 Lead me by your truth and teach me,
for you are the God who saves me.
All day long I put my hope in you.
6 Remember, O Lord, your compassion and unfailing love,
which you have shown from long ages past.
7 Do not remember the rebellious sins of my youth.
Remember me in the light of your unfailing love,
for you are merciful, O Lord.
Psalm 25:1-7
Don't delay in responding to the Lord when He moves to get your attention. Respond quickly and humbly. Hear what He has to say to you.
Adversity leads to examination
At times God sees fit to allow adversity into our lives to motivate us to self-examination. The winds of adversity blow away the surface issues and force us to cope with things on a deeper level. Adversity removes the cloak of what we are supposed to be reveal the truth of who we are. The "real us" shows through.
We are to regularly examine both our faith and ourselves. Paul encouraged the Corinthians, "Let a man examine himself" (1 Cor. 11:28). In other words, "Take an inquisitive look inside and discover what is driving you, motivating you, and enticing you."
Devotional written by Jim Runkle (parts adapted from Charles Stanley's In Touch Ministries -Part 2 of 2 will be available next week)
Sunday, November 7, 2010
By Faith
Read Colossians 2:6-7
When so much can be said with so few words there's something to be said about the power of the point being made. Colossians 2:6-7 points out probably the most powerful words we've ever heard.
Paul, writing to the Colossians says just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him. There it is! We receive Christ as the forgiver of our sins and the leader of our lives by faith. So just as we received him Paul writes continue by faith to walk in Him. Simple message, difficult to accomplish. But only difficult to accomplish if we try and go it alone. The Holy Spirit was given to us as a helper, a comforter who will come and live within us (that's why Jesus said it was better for us that He goes so that the Spirit may come and indwell us). And as we walk by faith in relationship with Christ the Holy Spirit will enable us with His power and guidance and correction and instruction to rooted and built up and strengthened in our faith.
There's no other way for followers of Christ to continue in faith than by allowing the power of the Holy Spirit to walk with us as we desire to be in relationship with our Heavenly Father. Our God gives us everything we need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1) so we are fully capable with His provision to live in a powerful relationship with our Creator and Sustainer God. His plan is that by faith we'll walk with Him, talk with Him, enjoy Him, be with Him and give glory to Him. This week be reminded that our walk of faith begins and continues with this simple plan of God - that we would trust in our Almighty God every step of every day of our lives.
When so much can be said with so few words there's something to be said about the power of the point being made. Colossians 2:6-7 points out probably the most powerful words we've ever heard.
Paul, writing to the Colossians says just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him. There it is! We receive Christ as the forgiver of our sins and the leader of our lives by faith. So just as we received him Paul writes continue by faith to walk in Him. Simple message, difficult to accomplish. But only difficult to accomplish if we try and go it alone. The Holy Spirit was given to us as a helper, a comforter who will come and live within us (that's why Jesus said it was better for us that He goes so that the Spirit may come and indwell us). And as we walk by faith in relationship with Christ the Holy Spirit will enable us with His power and guidance and correction and instruction to rooted and built up and strengthened in our faith.
There's no other way for followers of Christ to continue in faith than by allowing the power of the Holy Spirit to walk with us as we desire to be in relationship with our Heavenly Father. Our God gives us everything we need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1) so we are fully capable with His provision to live in a powerful relationship with our Creator and Sustainer God. His plan is that by faith we'll walk with Him, talk with Him, enjoy Him, be with Him and give glory to Him. This week be reminded that our walk of faith begins and continues with this simple plan of God - that we would trust in our Almighty God every step of every day of our lives.
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