Read Romans 12:1-2
Change is one of those words that conveys so many different concepts to so many different people. Some people love it and some people run from it. But the change the Bible tells us about is necessary, no matter if we love it or run from it.
Romans 12 speaks of the change we're talking about. Change that's real, that's genuine, that makes a difference in our lives and the lives of others. Have you thought about change lately? What kind of change God has made in your life (past tense) and what kind of change God's doing right now (present tense) and what kind of change God has in store for you (future tense)?
The words that jump out at us from Romans 12:1-2 are conformed and transformed. When we are conformed we're allowing the world to change us, influence our attitudes and actions. But the change God desires comes when we're transformed, changed by the Word. There's no substitute for the Word of God because the Word is where we receive our direction and connection with God.
Think of it this way, all of us are going to change over time. Some of us will be changed for the good while others changed for the not so good. And what God wants us to realize is we are transformed when we allow our minds to be influenced by God's words and not the words of this world. Now once we are transformed God calls us to be agents of change in this world we live in.
Consider how God has changed you over time and consider how you might allow God to use you in the transformation process of others. We were meant for so much more than just living for ourselves, so let's live with expectation as God continues to do His work in us and through us and may all the glory be His.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Sunday, February 20, 2011
God's Perspective
Read Isaiah 1:1-17
So many times I think we get it wrong. We think God is just like us. Don't get me wrong we probably would never say it out loud but the way we act shows that we think we're better than we are. And the truth be told our perspective is completely different from God's perspective.
In Isaiah 1 we read how God gives the prophet this vision to speak to the people of Judah during the reign of several kings. And what's important to realize is what has God's attention is how God raised this nation as his own, they are His children yet the case against Judah is made - "they have rebelled against me." That's quite an accusation, but God builds on this charge to say the people have "forsaken the LORD" and "spurned the Holy One of Israel." Now these are serious charges, much more than a traffic violation or a misdemeanor in our day. They are serious because whenever the children of God by their words or deeds diminish the name of God there's a serious problem.
Later God reveals that it's their head and heart that are injured and afflicted; their sacrifices are "meaningless" and God simply says about all this - "my soul hates" these things. Wow! Can you imagine God's perspective being this way toward our actions and attitudes? He even says that when these people spread out their hands to pray that He will not listen to their requests.
Friends make no mistake this is God's perspective when we rebel against Him. Yet this isn't how the children of God need to relate to the Lord Almighty. He wants us 100% committed to our relationship with Him. So much so that everything else in life - our relationships, career, health, even our ministry falls into the right perspective when compared to the wisdom and knowledge of knowing our amazing God. You see our God is Holy and worthy of our praise and adoration. Let's remember God's perspective goes beyond this kind of judgment and accusation because He desires to receive our praise and honor and glory given to Him. There is no one like our God, let's make God's perspective our perspective and honor Him with our head, heart and hands.
So many times I think we get it wrong. We think God is just like us. Don't get me wrong we probably would never say it out loud but the way we act shows that we think we're better than we are. And the truth be told our perspective is completely different from God's perspective.
In Isaiah 1 we read how God gives the prophet this vision to speak to the people of Judah during the reign of several kings. And what's important to realize is what has God's attention is how God raised this nation as his own, they are His children yet the case against Judah is made - "they have rebelled against me." That's quite an accusation, but God builds on this charge to say the people have "forsaken the LORD" and "spurned the Holy One of Israel." Now these are serious charges, much more than a traffic violation or a misdemeanor in our day. They are serious because whenever the children of God by their words or deeds diminish the name of God there's a serious problem.
Later God reveals that it's their head and heart that are injured and afflicted; their sacrifices are "meaningless" and God simply says about all this - "my soul hates" these things. Wow! Can you imagine God's perspective being this way toward our actions and attitudes? He even says that when these people spread out their hands to pray that He will not listen to their requests.
Friends make no mistake this is God's perspective when we rebel against Him. Yet this isn't how the children of God need to relate to the Lord Almighty. He wants us 100% committed to our relationship with Him. So much so that everything else in life - our relationships, career, health, even our ministry falls into the right perspective when compared to the wisdom and knowledge of knowing our amazing God. You see our God is Holy and worthy of our praise and adoration. Let's remember God's perspective goes beyond this kind of judgment and accusation because He desires to receive our praise and honor and glory given to Him. There is no one like our God, let's make God's perspective our perspective and honor Him with our head, heart and hands.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Knowing God
Read Psalm 119:105
Everybody has an opinion about how to know God. But the only opinion we should really be concerned about is God's. The Bible tells us to know God, to really understand who He is We need to hear the truth of God.
And that starts with knowing the word of God. Now many of us dread reading, so we're not only talking about reading here. Reading the word of God is important but if you're not a reader don't fret. Simply find a way to listen to the word of God. Think about it, the earliest disciples and followers of Jesus didn't read the Bible. They listened to the word of God preached. So whatever your preference is, whether it's listening or reading, make sure you are in the word of God because it is living and active and is sharper than any double edged sword. When we are in God's word we are reminded of His great character and love for us as well as all the amazing things He's done throughout history. Truly, to know God is to love God.
Everybody has an opinion about how to know God. But the only opinion we should really be concerned about is God's. The Bible tells us to know God, to really understand who He is We need to hear the truth of God.
And that starts with knowing the word of God. Now many of us dread reading, so we're not only talking about reading here. Reading the word of God is important but if you're not a reader don't fret. Simply find a way to listen to the word of God. Think about it, the earliest disciples and followers of Jesus didn't read the Bible. They listened to the word of God preached. So whatever your preference is, whether it's listening or reading, make sure you are in the word of God because it is living and active and is sharper than any double edged sword. When we are in God's word we are reminded of His great character and love for us as well as all the amazing things He's done throughout history. Truly, to know God is to love God.
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Until the Whole World Hears
Listen - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hc8y0DL8Hr4
Casting Crowns is one of my favorite Christian musical groups today. I enjoy their lyrics which call us to focus our lives completely on Christ and this generation which needs Christ. Until the Whole World Hears tells us it's our responsibility to always be prepared to share our faith. To ready ourselves simply means to share our praises of our Lord and Savior, lifting up His name for all to hear of God's grace and mercy. And we're to do this so that as the day draws near, when Christ returns or calls us home as many as we can positively influence for eternity and for Christ will make a choice to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior.
So the question to consider this week is this - will we live lives that are impassioned with the vision of this Casting Crowns song? Will we live lives that no matter what the cost we'll do whatever it takes and whatever is necessary so the people in our world will accept Jesus as the forgiver of our sins and leader of our lives. Friends live lives this week where your praises and service reveal that your single purpose for living is sharing the gospel message of Jesus Christ Until the Whole World Hears.
Casting Crowns is one of my favorite Christian musical groups today. I enjoy their lyrics which call us to focus our lives completely on Christ and this generation which needs Christ. Until the Whole World Hears tells us it's our responsibility to always be prepared to share our faith. To ready ourselves simply means to share our praises of our Lord and Savior, lifting up His name for all to hear of God's grace and mercy. And we're to do this so that as the day draws near, when Christ returns or calls us home as many as we can positively influence for eternity and for Christ will make a choice to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior.
So the question to consider this week is this - will we live lives that are impassioned with the vision of this Casting Crowns song? Will we live lives that no matter what the cost we'll do whatever it takes and whatever is necessary so the people in our world will accept Jesus as the forgiver of our sins and leader of our lives. Friends live lives this week where your praises and service reveal that your single purpose for living is sharing the gospel message of Jesus Christ Until the Whole World Hears.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Our God Reigns
Read Psalm 47
Listening to a song this morning I couldn't help but focus on the truth we're shown and told over and over in the scriptures that our God reigns. See our God is in control, He is sovereign. Yet how many of us question and doubt this theology? Sure intellectually we'd say we believe God is in control, but how we live our lives often reveals a different story.
Read Psalm 47 and check the examples of God's control and awesome power over all creation. The Psalmist tells how we should respond to God's control - with absolute praise, worship and thanks.
All God wants from us is our devotion; our complete and unrelenting acknowledgement that He alone is God, that He alone is worthy of our praise. Let's be challenged this week to live with this one thought about our great God: that OUR GOD REIGNS!
Listening to a song this morning I couldn't help but focus on the truth we're shown and told over and over in the scriptures that our God reigns. See our God is in control, He is sovereign. Yet how many of us question and doubt this theology? Sure intellectually we'd say we believe God is in control, but how we live our lives often reveals a different story.
Read Psalm 47 and check the examples of God's control and awesome power over all creation. The Psalmist tells how we should respond to God's control - with absolute praise, worship and thanks.
All God wants from us is our devotion; our complete and unrelenting acknowledgement that He alone is God, that He alone is worthy of our praise. Let's be challenged this week to live with this one thought about our great God: that OUR GOD REIGNS!
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Bragging Rights
Read 1 Kings 20:1-13
Bragging rights are reserved for those who win, but we all know there are people that boast before the competition. However much bragging is done before the event, time will always tell who has bragging rights.
Reading through 1 Kings I came across something that made me laugh. The King of Israel at the time was Ahab and he was being attacked by Ben-Hadad King of Aram. At one point in the conflict King Ahab sends this message to King Ben-Hadad, "One who puts on his armor should not boast like one who takes it off."
I laughed because so often we brag about things we're going to do, yet it doesn't happen. We may make great claims but all too often we come to realize we are not in control of the outcome. See the Lord promised Ahab that if he stood up to Ben-Hadad he would most certainly win the battle. And we're told in verse 13 this would happen so that Israel would know who the LORD is.
Too often we experience times when we want to take things into our hands and sometimes we get all puffed up with what we're going to do, how we're going to handle situations. Truth is we need to take everything to God because in the end only He has bragging rights as LORD of Lords and King of Kings.
Bragging rights are reserved for those who win, but we all know there are people that boast before the competition. However much bragging is done before the event, time will always tell who has bragging rights.
Reading through 1 Kings I came across something that made me laugh. The King of Israel at the time was Ahab and he was being attacked by Ben-Hadad King of Aram. At one point in the conflict King Ahab sends this message to King Ben-Hadad, "One who puts on his armor should not boast like one who takes it off."
I laughed because so often we brag about things we're going to do, yet it doesn't happen. We may make great claims but all too often we come to realize we are not in control of the outcome. See the Lord promised Ahab that if he stood up to Ben-Hadad he would most certainly win the battle. And we're told in verse 13 this would happen so that Israel would know who the LORD is.
Too often we experience times when we want to take things into our hands and sometimes we get all puffed up with what we're going to do, how we're going to handle situations. Truth is we need to take everything to God because in the end only He has bragging rights as LORD of Lords and King of Kings.
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Time Is Ticking Away
Read Ephesians 5:14-16
It's been said "to waste time is a sin against God." So think about it - how do you spend your time?
Recently I was challenged, actually convicted about this. And I responded by spending time listening to a message by one of my favorite pastors and his message was called - Prayer: Our Time Saver. Ever think of prayer that way? He said God has given us all the time we need every day to pray, study His word, serve and worship Him. But the question is - do we make the best use of our time every day and deepen our relationship with God this way?
Ephesians 5:14-16 tells us to be careful how we live, making the most of every opportunity. Listen time is precious, it's a gift from God. And while God doesn't want us so busy that we miss out on probably what a lot of us do with our time - we keep so busy we neglect to rest. Rest is a wise investment in time. Think of it this way, of the top 10 Commandments God uses one of them to tell us to take a day off.
Yet most of us realize time is ticking away and agree we should make the most of our time. But how? Let's start by asking God in prayer, talking with Him how He wants us spending our time, what He wants us doing. Then believe everything else will fall into it's place because we're spending our valuable time talking and listening to our great and glorious God.
It's been said "to waste time is a sin against God." So think about it - how do you spend your time?
Recently I was challenged, actually convicted about this. And I responded by spending time listening to a message by one of my favorite pastors and his message was called - Prayer: Our Time Saver. Ever think of prayer that way? He said God has given us all the time we need every day to pray, study His word, serve and worship Him. But the question is - do we make the best use of our time every day and deepen our relationship with God this way?
Ephesians 5:14-16 tells us to be careful how we live, making the most of every opportunity. Listen time is precious, it's a gift from God. And while God doesn't want us so busy that we miss out on probably what a lot of us do with our time - we keep so busy we neglect to rest. Rest is a wise investment in time. Think of it this way, of the top 10 Commandments God uses one of them to tell us to take a day off.
Yet most of us realize time is ticking away and agree we should make the most of our time. But how? Let's start by asking God in prayer, talking with Him how He wants us spending our time, what He wants us doing. Then believe everything else will fall into it's place because we're spending our valuable time talking and listening to our great and glorious God.
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