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.
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Rebuilding
Read Ezra 3
After Israel had been in captivity and they were returning to Jerusalem, there was a rebuilding project taking place. First the altar was set up, the ancient sacrifices were restored and the foundations of the Temple were laid. All this was met by the Israelites with mixed emotions. First we're told in verse 3 the people were afraid of the peoples around them. Later we read as the Temple foundations were laid (v. 12) many of the older priests and Levites and family heads who had seen the former temple, wept aloud when they saw the foundations of this temple being laid, while many others shouted for joy.
Mixed emotions often come when we're faced with rebuilding in our lives. The Israelites fear was real. Those around them weren't happy to see their enemies, the Israelites, rebuilding Jerusalem. So Israel was right to express fear. However, the people understood as Ezra writes in verse 11 the Lord is good and His love endures forever.
Whenever we're faced with times when we have something happening in our lives where rebuilding is necessary, remember who God is. Remember He is good and His love endures forever. Why is this important? Because when we're in broken times, all we got is God. You see, who He is really is all we got anyway. Isn't that true?
When we read Old Testament stories like Ezra and realize the emotions they faced are emotions we face, we can understand what really matters in life is who we know. When we know God we can face our fears. Listen, fears come when opposition exists; but no opposition can withstand the goodness and love of God. With God all things are possible.
So no matter what needs rebuilding in your life, trust what we learn in Ezra. Build on the foundation of God's goodness and love - who He is. And let's give whatever needs rebuilding in our lives to this good and loving God.
After Israel had been in captivity and they were returning to Jerusalem, there was a rebuilding project taking place. First the altar was set up, the ancient sacrifices were restored and the foundations of the Temple were laid. All this was met by the Israelites with mixed emotions. First we're told in verse 3 the people were afraid of the peoples around them. Later we read as the Temple foundations were laid (v. 12) many of the older priests and Levites and family heads who had seen the former temple, wept aloud when they saw the foundations of this temple being laid, while many others shouted for joy.
Mixed emotions often come when we're faced with rebuilding in our lives. The Israelites fear was real. Those around them weren't happy to see their enemies, the Israelites, rebuilding Jerusalem. So Israel was right to express fear. However, the people understood as Ezra writes in verse 11 the Lord is good and His love endures forever.
Whenever we're faced with times when we have something happening in our lives where rebuilding is necessary, remember who God is. Remember He is good and His love endures forever. Why is this important? Because when we're in broken times, all we got is God. You see, who He is really is all we got anyway. Isn't that true?
When we read Old Testament stories like Ezra and realize the emotions they faced are emotions we face, we can understand what really matters in life is who we know. When we know God we can face our fears. Listen, fears come when opposition exists; but no opposition can withstand the goodness and love of God. With God all things are possible.
So no matter what needs rebuilding in your life, trust what we learn in Ezra. Build on the foundation of God's goodness and love - who He is. And let's give whatever needs rebuilding in our lives to this good and loving God.
Sunday, February 19, 2012
A New Command
Read John 13:34-35
Recently I read an article by one of my favorite authors, Francis Chan. His article was all about how we treat one another. He asked the question - knowledge or love? And quoted 1 Corinthians 13:2 which says we can have the gift of prophecy, understand mysteries, have all sorts of knowledge and have faith that can move mountains but if we do not have love we are nothing. Chan summarizes, "you can be brilliant and worthless."
He goes on and raises the issue of how Christians treat one another. This made me think of Jesus' words in John 13. This world will know we are His disciples (followers) if we love one another. What happens in the family of God is often unfortunate. We take Jesus' love to the world and there's nothing unfortunate about that - in fact, God is pleased when we go to the world with His love. But what is unfortunate is when we fail to realize Jesus' command - Love one another - is given to His disciples; Jesus is saying believers love believers then this world will know you truly are my disciples.
Let's be different, let's love each other (men and women of Christ) so well that this world can't help but take notice that we are His!
Recently I read an article by one of my favorite authors, Francis Chan. His article was all about how we treat one another. He asked the question - knowledge or love? And quoted 1 Corinthians 13:2 which says we can have the gift of prophecy, understand mysteries, have all sorts of knowledge and have faith that can move mountains but if we do not have love we are nothing. Chan summarizes, "you can be brilliant and worthless."
He goes on and raises the issue of how Christians treat one another. This made me think of Jesus' words in John 13. This world will know we are His disciples (followers) if we love one another. What happens in the family of God is often unfortunate. We take Jesus' love to the world and there's nothing unfortunate about that - in fact, God is pleased when we go to the world with His love. But what is unfortunate is when we fail to realize Jesus' command - Love one another - is given to His disciples; Jesus is saying believers love believers then this world will know you truly are my disciples.
Let's be different, let's love each other (men and women of Christ) so well that this world can't help but take notice that we are His!
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Moments in Time
Read John 10:1-21
There are certain moments in time we all remember because these moments are etched in our memories. These memories seem like they'll always be there but there are times when for one reason or another we tend to miss some of the specifics as we recall these amazing moments.
Unless that is we dwell on these moments. Do you know what I mean? My lovely wife and I went to the movies the other day (for Valentines Day) and saw the movie - The Vow. It was what's come to be known as a chick-flick - and you know what I'm ok with that. It was a great movie with a great message of how we all have moments in time and we think we'll always remember but what happens if/when we don't?
We tend to have faith moments in time. Times when we remember first understanding the story and life of Jesus; times when we remember hearing about His grace and mercy and kindness and goodness and truth and love; times when we realize His moment in time, when He went to the cross was about absolute and pure love for you and for me.
But we have good forgetters. We forget because we fail to reflect on these faith moments in time; times when Jesus stood for us because He knew we could never stand alone but only on His power, passion and purpose.
Remember this week the power of Jesus' words - "I have come that they may have life and have it to the full". May our moments in time always be made by remembering this most important moment in time.
There are certain moments in time we all remember because these moments are etched in our memories. These memories seem like they'll always be there but there are times when for one reason or another we tend to miss some of the specifics as we recall these amazing moments.
Unless that is we dwell on these moments. Do you know what I mean? My lovely wife and I went to the movies the other day (for Valentines Day) and saw the movie - The Vow. It was what's come to be known as a chick-flick - and you know what I'm ok with that. It was a great movie with a great message of how we all have moments in time and we think we'll always remember but what happens if/when we don't?
We tend to have faith moments in time. Times when we remember first understanding the story and life of Jesus; times when we remember hearing about His grace and mercy and kindness and goodness and truth and love; times when we realize His moment in time, when He went to the cross was about absolute and pure love for you and for me.
But we have good forgetters. We forget because we fail to reflect on these faith moments in time; times when Jesus stood for us because He knew we could never stand alone but only on His power, passion and purpose.
Remember this week the power of Jesus' words - "I have come that they may have life and have it to the full". May our moments in time always be made by remembering this most important moment in time.
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