Read Acts 20:1-38
Worthy - it's a word many of us know and some ascribe to ourselves. And we do this because we believe (at times at least) like we're deserving. At times we live with an entitlement mind-set. However, we know of only One who ever lived that was truly worthy, truly entitled and deserving of our praise - Jesus Christ.
Listen the passage in Acts 20 speaks of Paul's many trials and difficulties as he was living his life fully devoted to Jesus. And what strikes me most is what he says drives him toward this life. He says it in v. 24 - I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace.
Oh how all of us should be as passionate as Paul, considering our life worth nothing unless we finish the race God's given us personally to testify to the gospel of God's grace.
Now why was Paul able to say this? It's because he understood the gospel and he understood God's grace. He had a right perspective when it came to realizing God is worthy because He sent Jesus with the good news that God's grace is available to sinners like you and me. So Paul's full devotion, his daily life was a living sacrifice and reminder to all who came into his life that God's grace is enough; that God's worthy of our worship.
Worship God this week as you moment by moment give Him thanks with your life!
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Sunday, September 19, 2010
One Life To Live
Read 2 Kings 5:1-15
We all have one life to live. The question is - how are you going to live your life?
There's a great story in 2 Kings 5 that tells us about a young servant girl who gets kidnapped. Now you'd think her life was over. You'd think her life would result maybe in bitterness and complaints, excuses and anger. But quite the opposite happens. While serving her captor's wife she said - If only my master (Naaman - commander of the army of the king of Aram) would see the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.
She does what many of us might consider at a minimum questionable. How could she consider what's in the best interest of her kidnapper? Helping him with his leprosy by advising his wife that he needs to go see the prophet in Israel. But isn't that exactly what God sent Jesus to us to do? Jesus came to do the unthinkable. Offer a solution to people like you and me who are not worthy of the solution provided. But God's love trumps all things when He sends us Jesus to cure us of our illness, much like Naaman who would eventually be cured of his sickness.
However, we're a lot like Naaman. When told what it's going to take to be cured, Naaman scoffs at going into the water and immersing himself seven times and then he'd be healed. He expects; he wants something bigger and greater than this. And so do we. We want to be able to do something for ourselves so when we're told there's one way to a right relationship with God; there's one way to being cured of our sickness we'd prefer to do it our way instead. Listen, only when we submit to God's plan of grace and mercy can we receive this greatest gift that's ever been offered to mankind.
Friends, we can learn from this servant girl and we can learn from Naaman. We have one life to live. How do we intend to live it? Live life with the understanding of God's plan that only Christ can save us from our sins; and live life with willingness to submit to His way instead of our own.
We all have one life to live. The question is - how are you going to live your life?
There's a great story in 2 Kings 5 that tells us about a young servant girl who gets kidnapped. Now you'd think her life was over. You'd think her life would result maybe in bitterness and complaints, excuses and anger. But quite the opposite happens. While serving her captor's wife she said - If only my master (Naaman - commander of the army of the king of Aram) would see the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.
She does what many of us might consider at a minimum questionable. How could she consider what's in the best interest of her kidnapper? Helping him with his leprosy by advising his wife that he needs to go see the prophet in Israel. But isn't that exactly what God sent Jesus to us to do? Jesus came to do the unthinkable. Offer a solution to people like you and me who are not worthy of the solution provided. But God's love trumps all things when He sends us Jesus to cure us of our illness, much like Naaman who would eventually be cured of his sickness.
However, we're a lot like Naaman. When told what it's going to take to be cured, Naaman scoffs at going into the water and immersing himself seven times and then he'd be healed. He expects; he wants something bigger and greater than this. And so do we. We want to be able to do something for ourselves so when we're told there's one way to a right relationship with God; there's one way to being cured of our sickness we'd prefer to do it our way instead. Listen, only when we submit to God's plan of grace and mercy can we receive this greatest gift that's ever been offered to mankind.
Friends, we can learn from this servant girl and we can learn from Naaman. We have one life to live. How do we intend to live it? Live life with the understanding of God's plan that only Christ can save us from our sins; and live life with willingness to submit to His way instead of our own.
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Lamp and Light
Read Psalm 119:105
If this Psalm is right, that God's word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path, then shouldn't the word of God be not just a top priority in my life and yours but shouldn't it be THE top priority?
All throughout God's word we're told of the benefits and success that come from hiding God's word in our heart. Joshua 1:8 says - Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
Listen if we want success in life God's word is the answer to what we need in our lives because it tells us everything about Him and everything about how He wants us to live. Spend time this week allowing God's word to be a lamp unto your feet and a light unto your path. And be creative with it. We all know there's different ways to get God's word into our lives. We can read scripture, listen to sermons and play our favorite Christian music. All are filled with God's word. Do what works for you but remember to get God's word in your life.
If this Psalm is right, that God's word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path, then shouldn't the word of God be not just a top priority in my life and yours but shouldn't it be THE top priority?
All throughout God's word we're told of the benefits and success that come from hiding God's word in our heart. Joshua 1:8 says - Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
Listen if we want success in life God's word is the answer to what we need in our lives because it tells us everything about Him and everything about how He wants us to live. Spend time this week allowing God's word to be a lamp unto your feet and a light unto your path. And be creative with it. We all know there's different ways to get God's word into our lives. We can read scripture, listen to sermons and play our favorite Christian music. All are filled with God's word. Do what works for you but remember to get God's word in your life.
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Finding Our Way
Read John 14:1-6
Jesus says He's the Way, the Truth and the Life. These are huge claims! And if true, they should change everything about our lives.
He's the Way because He's our Savior, the only one who lived a perfect, holy and sacrificial life. Therefore, able to satisfy the payment for sin by His death on the cross. He's the Truth because He's our great Teacher. His words and promises all come true. He says only what the Father wants Him to say and He wants His disciples trusting His wisdom for godly living. And He's the Life because He's our great Provider. There's this gift of the Holy Spirit He provides the powers us to spirit-led living.
Friends, God wants us Finding Our Way home. This is only possible by accepting Jesus as the forgiver of our sins and leader of our lives. Jesus says no one comes to the Father except through Him. And no one means no one!
Let's respond by letting the whole world hear of this great and good news!!
Jesus says He's the Way, the Truth and the Life. These are huge claims! And if true, they should change everything about our lives.
He's the Way because He's our Savior, the only one who lived a perfect, holy and sacrificial life. Therefore, able to satisfy the payment for sin by His death on the cross. He's the Truth because He's our great Teacher. His words and promises all come true. He says only what the Father wants Him to say and He wants His disciples trusting His wisdom for godly living. And He's the Life because He's our great Provider. There's this gift of the Holy Spirit He provides the powers us to spirit-led living.
Friends, God wants us Finding Our Way home. This is only possible by accepting Jesus as the forgiver of our sins and leader of our lives. Jesus says no one comes to the Father except through Him. And no one means no one!
Let's respond by letting the whole world hear of this great and good news!!
Friday, August 27, 2010
Love One Another
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.
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.
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.
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