Anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it. Luke 18:17
Have you ever heard children talk politics? It's one of the funniest examples of hearsay...
One day I was talking with a 10-year old about something, and the topic somehow switched into a discussion about political decisions. I was impressed with how this young person seemed so informed on the issues of budget deficits, taxes and the country's direction! He carried a STRONG opinion about how our country should be run and what needed to be done about it in the next election. A 10-Year Old!!! (Maybe he will be a presidential candidate sometime soon!)
Needless to say, it was relatively obvious that this 10-year old had his facts flavored by discussions happening at home or with adults. He hadn't lived long enough to learn it by experience, so it was planted into him from someone else. Someone with strong opinions had impressed those opinions onto this young boy, and now were being transferred by a young man with little experience. One man's opinions became a young boy's facts.
Everyone has opinions. Some are based on information (knowledge) and some are based on experiences. The problem isn't having opinions. The problem is to think our opinions are the only right answer. When we start pushing our opinions as fact, it can create problems or arrogance. We are CERTAINLY welcome to our opinions (those often drive our own decisions), and are even encouraged to express opinions to others (that's how we can learn together), but be careful to remember they are limited in scope and still OUR opinion.
I'm fascinated by this topic lately. I've noticed that many times, people share their opinions and react to the response they receive. If the receiver disagrees and says so, the opinionator may react with anger or argument. If the receiver doesn't respond or stays quiet, the opinionator thinks they are right or feels they have the upper hand. If the receiver walks away, an opinion now becomes a relational divide. Better to recognize that we all share our opinions and to respect them without BELIEVING we are always right in them.
That's where childlike faith comes in ... Jesus challenged all of us to be careful with our opinions, and remember that we are still children when it comes to personal faith. We have MUCH to learn, so don't turn our opinions into others' law. We have limited experience, so be careful how we share our opinions. Remember to approach God as the one who's opinion REALLY matters, and learn to respect His instruction like a child listens to their parent.
Many people have opinions about how to gain eternal life. But the only one that matters is the One who judges us and decides who enters. We can believe and express anything we want, but our opinion will not decide eternity for anyone.
That young boy was a great example of childlike faith --- he listened to the opinion of his authority and believed. Too bad the authority was not always accurate in their opinions. Take courage and remember that our Authority is God Himself, who's opinions are 100% accurate - forever! Believe and trust in His opinions, even above your own. That's childlike faith!
A devotional on the Grace of Jesus from reading through the New Testament. Provided by Journey Christian Church of Tracy CA - www.journeycc.net
The Greatest Temptation-08/11/12
The devil said to Jesus, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.” Luke 4:3
What is the biggest temptation in life?
Some would say sex. That with all the media attention, advertisements, and even the desires and lusts for satisfaction or attraction, sex would be the greatest temptation. But that really isn't it.
Some would suggest money. With all that money provides us, it might be a good argument. Money brings with it opportunities and influence. It opens doors to experiences and self-serving satisfactions. Even Jesus warned of its great danger, but that wouldn't be it either.
Some Biblically-intelligent people would suggest pride--and as with all sins they would be accurate. Pride is the root of every sin, and certainly would be connected to the greatest temptation. But Satan is a bit more subtle than that. He doesn't call us to be proud because we all know better. He tempts with other methods.
Based on both Adam and Jesus all of those answers would be close---even connected to the greatest temptation. In Gen 3 and Luke 4 we see Satan offer the greatest temptation to both of these guys. And it's the one he uses in us too. The greatest temptation is to make a name for yourself (or to prove yourself). The greatest temptation deals with our identity. Who are you? Who am I? With Adam it was about making a name for himself, and with Jesus it was about proving himself.
Adam fell for it and sinned. He wanted to be somebody, and not just be Gods image but be a god himself. Instead, he found himself hiding from God and becoming known more for his failure than for his success. Making a name for ourselves is Very subtle---yet its the back door to pride. Boys want to be the best so they can be known. Girls dress to be noticed. Many men make money, build companies, and collect possessions all to feel like winners. Many women pursue the next activity, beauty secret or body shaping method to be considered valuable. Not that those things are always bad, but pursuing them to improve our identity is the temptation of Satan.
Your identity was set at birth. Not only were we placed into a family and given a unique DNA, but we were created in the image of God Himself. We have nothing to prove because we are already His. The sin of man is trying to create our own identity instead of enjoying the identity we have in Christ.
I admit that this is a constant battle for me, and I continue to ask Jesus for help. I wish I could have the athletic skills of Michael Jordan or the golf swing of Tiger Woods. It dream of leading and building a ministry like Bill Hybels or Andy Stanley. And there are many role models around my life that put me to shame with their discipline, love for their family, and devotion to their work. The temptation to desire a name for myself is strong!
That's what makes Luke 4 so powerful... Jesus did not need to prove Himself, even though He WAS the son of God and could. His identity in God was enough.
Choose to live IN the image of God instead of making a name for yourself. Do whatever God gives you to do, and if God places you on a stage don't let it change your identity. Have NO other gods before you (including yourself).
What is the biggest temptation in life?
Some would say sex. That with all the media attention, advertisements, and even the desires and lusts for satisfaction or attraction, sex would be the greatest temptation. But that really isn't it.
Some would suggest money. With all that money provides us, it might be a good argument. Money brings with it opportunities and influence. It opens doors to experiences and self-serving satisfactions. Even Jesus warned of its great danger, but that wouldn't be it either.
Some Biblically-intelligent people would suggest pride--and as with all sins they would be accurate. Pride is the root of every sin, and certainly would be connected to the greatest temptation. But Satan is a bit more subtle than that. He doesn't call us to be proud because we all know better. He tempts with other methods.
Based on both Adam and Jesus all of those answers would be close---even connected to the greatest temptation. In Gen 3 and Luke 4 we see Satan offer the greatest temptation to both of these guys. And it's the one he uses in us too. The greatest temptation is to make a name for yourself (or to prove yourself). The greatest temptation deals with our identity. Who are you? Who am I? With Adam it was about making a name for himself, and with Jesus it was about proving himself.
Adam fell for it and sinned. He wanted to be somebody, and not just be Gods image but be a god himself. Instead, he found himself hiding from God and becoming known more for his failure than for his success. Making a name for ourselves is Very subtle---yet its the back door to pride. Boys want to be the best so they can be known. Girls dress to be noticed. Many men make money, build companies, and collect possessions all to feel like winners. Many women pursue the next activity, beauty secret or body shaping method to be considered valuable. Not that those things are always bad, but pursuing them to improve our identity is the temptation of Satan.
Your identity was set at birth. Not only were we placed into a family and given a unique DNA, but we were created in the image of God Himself. We have nothing to prove because we are already His. The sin of man is trying to create our own identity instead of enjoying the identity we have in Christ.
I admit that this is a constant battle for me, and I continue to ask Jesus for help. I wish I could have the athletic skills of Michael Jordan or the golf swing of Tiger Woods. It dream of leading and building a ministry like Bill Hybels or Andy Stanley. And there are many role models around my life that put me to shame with their discipline, love for their family, and devotion to their work. The temptation to desire a name for myself is strong!
That's what makes Luke 4 so powerful... Jesus did not need to prove Himself, even though He WAS the son of God and could. His identity in God was enough.
Choose to live IN the image of God instead of making a name for yourself. Do whatever God gives you to do, and if God places you on a stage don't let it change your identity. Have NO other gods before you (including yourself).
Personal Mercies-08/09/12
His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. Luke 1:50
Have you ever been in the presence of someone so "powerful" that it keeps you on your mental toes?
When I was very young, my dad was that guy. As a boy, I wanted to be around him and do everything he was doing. If he was out in the yard, I wanted to help mow the grass. If he was building something in the basement, I wanted to be down there constructing a woodworking masterpiece. Yet, if I did anything wrong, I also wanted to keep my distance and not be within "discipline" range. I had the mixture of both feelings - loving him & being scared of him - all at the same time.
One of the powerful stories in the Bible is when Peter denies Jesus 3 times, and then is reinstated into leadership by Jesus in John 21. Three times, Jesus asked Peter to affirm his love. And three times, Peter responds with devotion to Jesus. In each of those three responses, Jesus calls Peter to live out his love by caring for God's people.
What I love about that story is how Peter was so quick to jump from the boat to get to Jesus, but trying to keep his distance from Jesus in the group. That's the picture of what fearing God looks like. It's a mixture of both loving Jesus enough to drop everything in pursuit of Him, yet scared of His authority and power over you. It's both love & weakness.
In our generation, we've tried to minimize that fear factor. It's common to watch people "face their fears" in order to overcome them and be afraid. It's often taught in families that parents should not be feared by their kids - minimizing the child's fear and reducing their respect of authority. We see more shootings and gang-related violence because the fear of punishment continues to drop. People expect to receive mercy, so the fear of consequences continues to fade away. Mercy is considered a right, instead of a special gift.
Healthy fear of God is not expecting mercy as a right. It's recognizing mercy is God's optional response. God doesn't OWE us mercy, nor is He boxed in and REQUIRED to give it to us. He is the authority, and we would do well to fear Him - to both long for the chance to be with Him yet respect His power & authority over our lives. Mercy isn't mercy if it's a right - it's mercy when it's given to those who HAVE no right to expect it.
What's amazing about mercy is how consistent it is for every generation. The same mercy extended to Peter as a gift from Jesus has been made available to every person in every generation - from Adam to you. It's not a right for the masses, but a personal blessing from God to you and me, specific to every situation and every sin. Jesus makes it available to us personally. But it does come with a condition - mercy is available to all of us, but it's useless if we don't accept it with fear and respect.
When you think of God's mercy, do you see it as a blanket "benefit" to all mankind, or do you see it as a personal transaction from Jesus to you? For Peter, he was fully expecting to be disqualified from leadership and reduced in his friendship with Jesus. Healthy fear put Peter into a position where mercy could be given, and he received it from Jesus with great humility and appreciation. We too need to come to grips with our sin (and our sins), and realize Jesus can choose to give us mercy or not - but if (when) He offers it, we are being blessed with a very personal gift.
Be grateful for God's specific mercies in your life - pay attention and realize just how personal and powerful they really are. YES, they are renewed every day. YES, God does offer us His mercies as a part of who He is. YES, they are for all generations. But show up in the presence of God realizing how personal His mercies are as well.
Maybe it will make us all want to jump out of our self-centered boats and swim like Michael Phelps to be with Jesus!
Have you ever been in the presence of someone so "powerful" that it keeps you on your mental toes?
When I was very young, my dad was that guy. As a boy, I wanted to be around him and do everything he was doing. If he was out in the yard, I wanted to help mow the grass. If he was building something in the basement, I wanted to be down there constructing a woodworking masterpiece. Yet, if I did anything wrong, I also wanted to keep my distance and not be within "discipline" range. I had the mixture of both feelings - loving him & being scared of him - all at the same time.
One of the powerful stories in the Bible is when Peter denies Jesus 3 times, and then is reinstated into leadership by Jesus in John 21. Three times, Jesus asked Peter to affirm his love. And three times, Peter responds with devotion to Jesus. In each of those three responses, Jesus calls Peter to live out his love by caring for God's people.
What I love about that story is how Peter was so quick to jump from the boat to get to Jesus, but trying to keep his distance from Jesus in the group. That's the picture of what fearing God looks like. It's a mixture of both loving Jesus enough to drop everything in pursuit of Him, yet scared of His authority and power over you. It's both love & weakness.
In our generation, we've tried to minimize that fear factor. It's common to watch people "face their fears" in order to overcome them and be afraid. It's often taught in families that parents should not be feared by their kids - minimizing the child's fear and reducing their respect of authority. We see more shootings and gang-related violence because the fear of punishment continues to drop. People expect to receive mercy, so the fear of consequences continues to fade away. Mercy is considered a right, instead of a special gift.
Healthy fear of God is not expecting mercy as a right. It's recognizing mercy is God's optional response. God doesn't OWE us mercy, nor is He boxed in and REQUIRED to give it to us. He is the authority, and we would do well to fear Him - to both long for the chance to be with Him yet respect His power & authority over our lives. Mercy isn't mercy if it's a right - it's mercy when it's given to those who HAVE no right to expect it.
What's amazing about mercy is how consistent it is for every generation. The same mercy extended to Peter as a gift from Jesus has been made available to every person in every generation - from Adam to you. It's not a right for the masses, but a personal blessing from God to you and me, specific to every situation and every sin. Jesus makes it available to us personally. But it does come with a condition - mercy is available to all of us, but it's useless if we don't accept it with fear and respect.
When you think of God's mercy, do you see it as a blanket "benefit" to all mankind, or do you see it as a personal transaction from Jesus to you? For Peter, he was fully expecting to be disqualified from leadership and reduced in his friendship with Jesus. Healthy fear put Peter into a position where mercy could be given, and he received it from Jesus with great humility and appreciation. We too need to come to grips with our sin (and our sins), and realize Jesus can choose to give us mercy or not - but if (when) He offers it, we are being blessed with a very personal gift.
Be grateful for God's specific mercies in your life - pay attention and realize just how personal and powerful they really are. YES, they are renewed every day. YES, God does offer us His mercies as a part of who He is. YES, they are for all generations. But show up in the presence of God realizing how personal His mercies are as well.
Maybe it will make us all want to jump out of our self-centered boats and swim like Michael Phelps to be with Jesus!
Keep by Letting Go-08/08/12
For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. Mark 8:35
Ever notice that most of the things we pursue in life happen by giving them away?
Take LOVE for instance. If we try to hold onto love and keep it for ourselves, than those we want love from tend to pull back. Perfect case in point: The summer I graduated from high school, I met a girl and hit it off. We started dating and I really enjoyed her company. But more than that, I really enjoyed her wanting to be in my company. I started chasing her to get her for myself, instead of pursuing her as a person. Our relationship became more and more turbulent, and she finally was wise enough to break off the relationship. When I was generous with love I found it ... but when I tried to keep it for myself I lost it.
Another example would be HAPPINESS. How often do we discover something that makes us happy - like a new song, or a hobby, or an experience - and we try to recreate the happiness we felt by repeating it 100 times. Somehow, going back to recreate the experience doesn't quite capture the complete measure of happiness we felt the first time, and our efforts to repeat it become more intense ... even to the point we start getting "unhappy" with those who don't help us recreate it properly. Could it be that one of the keys to finding happiness is actually to enjoy the new things we're doing instead of trying to recreate the old?
There's many other examples - but the biggest one is LIFE itself. God gave us the gift of LIFE, and we try to hold onto it, filling our life to the maximum with all we can get out of it, only to discover there's no way to ever find fullness. Something always gets left out, some experience doesn't get done, some dream never happens, and the more we try to hold on to life, the less living we get to do. That's especially true when we make this life our goal - by choosing to get the most for ourselves, we drop the purpose God intended for us, and all we get is what this life offers. But when we let go of this life to pursue God's purposes, we discover LIFE the way He intended.
That's why Jesus makes the point to His disciples: if you hold onto this life, that's all you get. But if you let it go and live for me - you get both this life & eternal life. Your choice.
Our lesson today? Stop holding onto love and give it away... stop trying to recreate happiness and let the new things of today create happiness... stop living for this life and start using this life to live for the next. Holding on will get you what you grabbed, but miss out on everything you could potentially have. Letting Go opens your hands to receive the better things God has for you.
Ever notice that most of the things we pursue in life happen by giving them away?
Take LOVE for instance. If we try to hold onto love and keep it for ourselves, than those we want love from tend to pull back. Perfect case in point: The summer I graduated from high school, I met a girl and hit it off. We started dating and I really enjoyed her company. But more than that, I really enjoyed her wanting to be in my company. I started chasing her to get her for myself, instead of pursuing her as a person. Our relationship became more and more turbulent, and she finally was wise enough to break off the relationship. When I was generous with love I found it ... but when I tried to keep it for myself I lost it.
Another example would be HAPPINESS. How often do we discover something that makes us happy - like a new song, or a hobby, or an experience - and we try to recreate the happiness we felt by repeating it 100 times. Somehow, going back to recreate the experience doesn't quite capture the complete measure of happiness we felt the first time, and our efforts to repeat it become more intense ... even to the point we start getting "unhappy" with those who don't help us recreate it properly. Could it be that one of the keys to finding happiness is actually to enjoy the new things we're doing instead of trying to recreate the old?
There's many other examples - but the biggest one is LIFE itself. God gave us the gift of LIFE, and we try to hold onto it, filling our life to the maximum with all we can get out of it, only to discover there's no way to ever find fullness. Something always gets left out, some experience doesn't get done, some dream never happens, and the more we try to hold on to life, the less living we get to do. That's especially true when we make this life our goal - by choosing to get the most for ourselves, we drop the purpose God intended for us, and all we get is what this life offers. But when we let go of this life to pursue God's purposes, we discover LIFE the way He intended.
That's why Jesus makes the point to His disciples: if you hold onto this life, that's all you get. But if you let it go and live for me - you get both this life & eternal life. Your choice.
Our lesson today? Stop holding onto love and give it away... stop trying to recreate happiness and let the new things of today create happiness... stop living for this life and start using this life to live for the next. Holding on will get you what you grabbed, but miss out on everything you could potentially have. Letting Go opens your hands to receive the better things God has for you.
Start your Day with Rest-08/07/12
Jesus said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” Mark 6:31
Have you ever got up from sleep only to feel more tired than when you went to bed? Experts talk about the various stages of sleep, and have discovered we are really not at rest during some of those stages. If we don't get enough REM sleep at night, we have not rested. Often that can be due to health issues, over-exhaustion, discomfort, or a number of other issues. Even sleeping too much can create this feeling over tiredness.
People talk about rest as recovery - that we're tired and need to go to sleep. That is often true... our bodies (and more often our minds) become exhausted and are in need of a new start... a refreshment... a restoration. So we look for sleep as a recovery mechanism. Sleep is a tool to find rest, but it is not always the only restoration we need.
But God built into the rhythm of life the design of rest as the FIRST action of our day. In Genesis, God created the world to start with evening, then morning - His structure started with restoration & refreshment first, then work second. Even after God created Adam & Eve on the sixth day, He gives them instructions about taking authority over the world and caring for creation, but then sets aside their first day of life to be a Sabbath rest. While it fell on the end of the week as the 7th day of creation, it was Adam's first full day of life.
Jesus saw that not only were the disciples tired physically, they needed restored for the next great ministry to come. So He instructs them to "Come with me... to a quiet place... and get some rest". So they get in a boat to cross the lake. Sailing a boat may not sound very restful to us, but it was a fisherman's favorite spot! While we might be thinking about sleep - they were restoring their souls on the quiet waters of the lake. And what's more, they had some downtime with Jesus by themselves. No more people coming & going, no rush, no urgency... just a peaceful moment to restore their spirits.
Often we need restoration that does not require sleep --- what we really need is some quiet time with God. The disciples may have caught a cat-nap, or maybe they just relaxed for a while, but either way they were getting the chance to rest before the next big activity. And BIG IT WAS - they didn't know it but Jesus would use them to feed over 5000 men with a measly 5 loaves & 2 fish!
Rest creates the capacity to do God's work. When we start our week with restoration in worship, it prepares our souls for the work ahead. When we start our day with restoration from His Word, and begin our day in Rhythm with God through prayer, it prepares us for the ministry He wants to do with us.
Sleep may help us recover, but not give us restoration. But finding a little time with Jesus, separate from the world's demands, can give us restoration that's better than just sleep! Listen to Jesus --- Come with Him to a Quiet Place, and get some rest! Start your day and your week off WITH JESUS getting your restoration. Then you'll be ready for the day's work ahead.
Have you ever got up from sleep only to feel more tired than when you went to bed? Experts talk about the various stages of sleep, and have discovered we are really not at rest during some of those stages. If we don't get enough REM sleep at night, we have not rested. Often that can be due to health issues, over-exhaustion, discomfort, or a number of other issues. Even sleeping too much can create this feeling over tiredness.
People talk about rest as recovery - that we're tired and need to go to sleep. That is often true... our bodies (and more often our minds) become exhausted and are in need of a new start... a refreshment... a restoration. So we look for sleep as a recovery mechanism. Sleep is a tool to find rest, but it is not always the only restoration we need.
But God built into the rhythm of life the design of rest as the FIRST action of our day. In Genesis, God created the world to start with evening, then morning - His structure started with restoration & refreshment first, then work second. Even after God created Adam & Eve on the sixth day, He gives them instructions about taking authority over the world and caring for creation, but then sets aside their first day of life to be a Sabbath rest. While it fell on the end of the week as the 7th day of creation, it was Adam's first full day of life.
Jesus saw that not only were the disciples tired physically, they needed restored for the next great ministry to come. So He instructs them to "Come with me... to a quiet place... and get some rest". So they get in a boat to cross the lake. Sailing a boat may not sound very restful to us, but it was a fisherman's favorite spot! While we might be thinking about sleep - they were restoring their souls on the quiet waters of the lake. And what's more, they had some downtime with Jesus by themselves. No more people coming & going, no rush, no urgency... just a peaceful moment to restore their spirits.
Often we need restoration that does not require sleep --- what we really need is some quiet time with God. The disciples may have caught a cat-nap, or maybe they just relaxed for a while, but either way they were getting the chance to rest before the next big activity. And BIG IT WAS - they didn't know it but Jesus would use them to feed over 5000 men with a measly 5 loaves & 2 fish!
Rest creates the capacity to do God's work. When we start our week with restoration in worship, it prepares our souls for the work ahead. When we start our day with restoration from His Word, and begin our day in Rhythm with God through prayer, it prepares us for the ministry He wants to do with us.
Sleep may help us recover, but not give us restoration. But finding a little time with Jesus, separate from the world's demands, can give us restoration that's better than just sleep! Listen to Jesus --- Come with Him to a Quiet Place, and get some rest! Start your day and your week off WITH JESUS getting your restoration. Then you'll be ready for the day's work ahead.
Authority changes Everything-08/06/12
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me." Matt 28:18
Authority is one of the most sought-after commodities and most abused tools of mankind. It can be the greatest power for good, and the most corrupted tool for evil---all based on how it is used. When Jesus acknowledges His God-given authority, He shows us some powerful lessons in how it is to be used.
1) Authority requires responsibility.
When God gives someone authority, it's a temporary assignment. Authority is a responsibility to serve those you are in charge of. So when Jesus was given authority, it immediately called for His leadership and direction to those He was in charge of. His first assignment (and only assignment) to the disciples was paramount. Authority is not about having power or being in charge, it's about setting the direction and being the example.
2) Authority creates attention.
When someone is given authority, it immediately draws attention. In most cases, the person with authority is sought out for solutions to every problem and petitioned for every desire. Many under their care desire an audience with the authority for a variety of reasons - to be know, to know, to influence or to gain. How much more with Jesus! Our prayers to God often reflect the desire we have for attention from Him as our authority.
3) Authority demands choice.
With every position of authority comes a choice for those under them. And with every change in leadership comes the review of that choice. When Jesus became Lord (and not just Savior), it gave the disciples the choice of whether they were ready to follow Him. Choosing Jesus as Savior is to our advantage, but choosing Jesus to be Lord is for His advantage. Being our Savior took His sacrifice, but being our Lord calls for our sacrifice. When someone becomes our authority, it calls for a choice.
For those reasons and more, God made it clear to Jesus that He was NOW the Authority over men. When Jesus told that to the disciples, they now had the choice. Would they follow Jesus as their Lord? That same choice is ours. There is no doubt Jesus is Lord --- God has established that. The question is whether we accept Him as OUR Lord. Doing so calls us to Obey and to Pray, coming under His authority.
Authority is one of the most sought-after commodities and most abused tools of mankind. It can be the greatest power for good, and the most corrupted tool for evil---all based on how it is used. When Jesus acknowledges His God-given authority, He shows us some powerful lessons in how it is to be used.
1) Authority requires responsibility.
When God gives someone authority, it's a temporary assignment. Authority is a responsibility to serve those you are in charge of. So when Jesus was given authority, it immediately called for His leadership and direction to those He was in charge of. His first assignment (and only assignment) to the disciples was paramount. Authority is not about having power or being in charge, it's about setting the direction and being the example.
2) Authority creates attention.
When someone is given authority, it immediately draws attention. In most cases, the person with authority is sought out for solutions to every problem and petitioned for every desire. Many under their care desire an audience with the authority for a variety of reasons - to be know, to know, to influence or to gain. How much more with Jesus! Our prayers to God often reflect the desire we have for attention from Him as our authority.
3) Authority demands choice.
With every position of authority comes a choice for those under them. And with every change in leadership comes the review of that choice. When Jesus became Lord (and not just Savior), it gave the disciples the choice of whether they were ready to follow Him. Choosing Jesus as Savior is to our advantage, but choosing Jesus to be Lord is for His advantage. Being our Savior took His sacrifice, but being our Lord calls for our sacrifice. When someone becomes our authority, it calls for a choice.
For those reasons and more, God made it clear to Jesus that He was NOW the Authority over men. When Jesus told that to the disciples, they now had the choice. Would they follow Jesus as their Lord? That same choice is ours. There is no doubt Jesus is Lord --- God has established that. The question is whether we accept Him as OUR Lord. Doing so calls us to Obey and to Pray, coming under His authority.
The Best Come Later-08/03/12
His master replied, ‘Well done, good & faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!’ Matt 25:21
If you are like me, you probably hate to wait. Waiting in traffic or at stop signs can be frustrating, let alone waiting at McDonalds in line for fast food that I didn't take the time to cook!
But that isn't the hardest waiting. The hardest waiting is for things we want to do earlier than we should...like waiting to drive a car, waiting to get privileges at home, waiting to date, waiting to get married, waiting to buy a house, waiting to travel, waiting to retire, etc. Life has many things we wait on.
The problem is not waiting but rushing. Waiting is often healthy, and we tend to appreciate things more when we wait. It's the rushing that is the problem. Rushing leads to mistakes, unpreparedness, failure, and rework. By waiting we enjoy, by rushing we regret.
Often our expectation of God is to rush as well. We want the rewards now (in this life), but God wants us to wait. By being faithful and patient, God will save up the rewards so that they last eternally. By rushing, we only enjoy the rewards for our time on earth.
Jesus tells the story of the parable of talents, and the master saves up three rewards for those who patiently wait---honor, blessings, and joy. Those who work faithfully see great results, but the one who squanders what he has loses out in the end. Better to be patient and wait...
And come to think of it, waiting seems to bring blessing in this life too--- Every time I have waited God has given greater blessing. Maybe I will wait a little longer ...
If you are like me, you probably hate to wait. Waiting in traffic or at stop signs can be frustrating, let alone waiting at McDonalds in line for fast food that I didn't take the time to cook!
But that isn't the hardest waiting. The hardest waiting is for things we want to do earlier than we should...like waiting to drive a car, waiting to get privileges at home, waiting to date, waiting to get married, waiting to buy a house, waiting to travel, waiting to retire, etc. Life has many things we wait on.
The problem is not waiting but rushing. Waiting is often healthy, and we tend to appreciate things more when we wait. It's the rushing that is the problem. Rushing leads to mistakes, unpreparedness, failure, and rework. By waiting we enjoy, by rushing we regret.
Often our expectation of God is to rush as well. We want the rewards now (in this life), but God wants us to wait. By being faithful and patient, God will save up the rewards so that they last eternally. By rushing, we only enjoy the rewards for our time on earth.
Jesus tells the story of the parable of talents, and the master saves up three rewards for those who patiently wait---honor, blessings, and joy. Those who work faithfully see great results, but the one who squanders what he has loses out in the end. Better to be patient and wait...
And come to think of it, waiting seems to bring blessing in this life too--- Every time I have waited God has given greater blessing. Maybe I will wait a little longer ...
Is Mom standing behind me?-08/02/12
So you be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him. Matt 24:44
Being the oldest of four kids meant being put in charge when mom wasn't around. That was a blessing in learning leadership, responsibility, and working with others.... sometimes! But at other times, I used it to be controlling and push my authority around. One time I had made my younger siblings do work that was not theirs to do. Everything was great for me... not so much for them that day... until I could tell by their reactions that mom had come home at lunchtime and was standing right behind me while I'm pushing them to do my chores. Let's just say that was NOT a fun day for me after all!
Jesus said it will be the same when He comes back. People will be doing what pleases themselves and not what pleases God. And as fast as you can blink an eye, Jesus will be standing there watching us in person. Not a good day for some ... but a great day for those who continue to be faithful! So Jesus instructed the disciples to live every day as if He were coming and we won't be sorry when He does.
For most of us, we need to work on that a little. We are good at planning our lives and expecting to live a certain number of years, experiencing all the things on our bucket list, and then going to Jesus when we're done with this life. But the fact is that today is a gift and tomorrow is only a possibility. We're as close to Jesus' return as our own death - and death can happen at any time. So although we have a life to live, be faithful EVERY DAY as if it were our last. That doesn't mean we quit our jobs and wait for Jesus on a hill somewhere. But it does mean we are faithful to Him, to His commands, and continuing to be prepared.
I learned a tough lesson the day mom surprised me - to be ready for her at any minute and not get caught doing something wrong. Eventually, that just meant NOT doing the wrong thing in the first place, (what a concept!). It was good training for me, and much better for my brothers & sister.
What would your day, week, year look like if you planned every day as if our "heavenly parent" were coming home any minute? Be faithful, and we won't have to worry about Mom standing right behind us.
Being the oldest of four kids meant being put in charge when mom wasn't around. That was a blessing in learning leadership, responsibility, and working with others.... sometimes! But at other times, I used it to be controlling and push my authority around. One time I had made my younger siblings do work that was not theirs to do. Everything was great for me... not so much for them that day... until I could tell by their reactions that mom had come home at lunchtime and was standing right behind me while I'm pushing them to do my chores. Let's just say that was NOT a fun day for me after all!
Jesus said it will be the same when He comes back. People will be doing what pleases themselves and not what pleases God. And as fast as you can blink an eye, Jesus will be standing there watching us in person. Not a good day for some ... but a great day for those who continue to be faithful! So Jesus instructed the disciples to live every day as if He were coming and we won't be sorry when He does.
For most of us, we need to work on that a little. We are good at planning our lives and expecting to live a certain number of years, experiencing all the things on our bucket list, and then going to Jesus when we're done with this life. But the fact is that today is a gift and tomorrow is only a possibility. We're as close to Jesus' return as our own death - and death can happen at any time. So although we have a life to live, be faithful EVERY DAY as if it were our last. That doesn't mean we quit our jobs and wait for Jesus on a hill somewhere. But it does mean we are faithful to Him, to His commands, and continuing to be prepared.
I learned a tough lesson the day mom surprised me - to be ready for her at any minute and not get caught doing something wrong. Eventually, that just meant NOT doing the wrong thing in the first place, (what a concept!). It was good training for me, and much better for my brothers & sister.
What would your day, week, year look like if you planned every day as if our "heavenly parent" were coming home any minute? Be faithful, and we won't have to worry about Mom standing right behind us.
How to be COOL-08/01/12
“Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read, ‘From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise’?” Matt 21:16
Coolness is often the deciding factor on what people act like. If we think it's cool to be funny, we'll try to make jokes. If we think it's cool to be aloof, we'll act like "The Fonz" (showing my age on that example). If it's cool to tease or be sarcastic, that's exactly what will come out of our mouth. People buy certain clothing, decorate their bodies with tattoos, wear specific hairstyles, buy the latest gadgets, and live certain lifestyles all to be "cool" ... at least cool in our own minds.
But I noticed something after going through years of effort trying to be "cool" in grade school --- Coolness CHANGES! What was cool for a period of time becomes "uncool" later. Look at some of the examples of coolness from my younger years: bell-bottom jeans, feather hairstyles, girl's big hair, smoking cigarettes, converse hightops, cassettes, fuzzy dice, gas-guzzling cars, ... you get the idea. Although some of those things come back in style for a season, most people would LAUGH at pictures from our yearbook or cringe when looking at some of the things we thought were cool then. Coolness doesn't last when it's based on our opinions.
God has something He thinks is cool - and because He is eternal, it DOES last. He thinks it's cool when we worship Him unabashedly. God loves it when we seek to please Him, and when we pursue obedience purely out of love.
The day Jesus strolled into town (actually, He rode into town but it was the speed of a stroll), people were falling over themselves to bring Him praise. They were being "uncool" in the minds of the leaders and Pharisees. But Jesus thought it was cool! He recited a verse from centuries earlier that said: 'when you worship me with the passion and joy of a child, I don't care how foolish it looks to the so-called adults - it's COOL to me!' God thinks it's cool when we worship Him freely.
How sad, then, when I care more about what people think around me in church than caring about what God thinks regarding my expression of worship. It's UNCOOL to try and "act cool" in God's eyes --- He wants us to let go of our inhibitions and put our focus on Him completely, expressing our gratitude & love to Him, no matter what others do around us --- that's COOL to Him.
So join the eternally COOL crowd! Let go of your concerns about appearances... raise your hand in praise once in a while... sing out with all you have... express your love & joy like a child would toward his/her parent... Stop trying to be cool to people around you, and be cool in the eyes of your God.
Coolness is often the deciding factor on what people act like. If we think it's cool to be funny, we'll try to make jokes. If we think it's cool to be aloof, we'll act like "The Fonz" (showing my age on that example). If it's cool to tease or be sarcastic, that's exactly what will come out of our mouth. People buy certain clothing, decorate their bodies with tattoos, wear specific hairstyles, buy the latest gadgets, and live certain lifestyles all to be "cool" ... at least cool in our own minds.
But I noticed something after going through years of effort trying to be "cool" in grade school --- Coolness CHANGES! What was cool for a period of time becomes "uncool" later. Look at some of the examples of coolness from my younger years: bell-bottom jeans, feather hairstyles, girl's big hair, smoking cigarettes, converse hightops, cassettes, fuzzy dice, gas-guzzling cars, ... you get the idea. Although some of those things come back in style for a season, most people would LAUGH at pictures from our yearbook or cringe when looking at some of the things we thought were cool then. Coolness doesn't last when it's based on our opinions.
God has something He thinks is cool - and because He is eternal, it DOES last. He thinks it's cool when we worship Him unabashedly. God loves it when we seek to please Him, and when we pursue obedience purely out of love.
The day Jesus strolled into town (actually, He rode into town but it was the speed of a stroll), people were falling over themselves to bring Him praise. They were being "uncool" in the minds of the leaders and Pharisees. But Jesus thought it was cool! He recited a verse from centuries earlier that said: 'when you worship me with the passion and joy of a child, I don't care how foolish it looks to the so-called adults - it's COOL to me!' God thinks it's cool when we worship Him freely.
How sad, then, when I care more about what people think around me in church than caring about what God thinks regarding my expression of worship. It's UNCOOL to try and "act cool" in God's eyes --- He wants us to let go of our inhibitions and put our focus on Him completely, expressing our gratitude & love to Him, no matter what others do around us --- that's COOL to Him.
So join the eternally COOL crowd! Let go of your concerns about appearances... raise your hand in praise once in a while... sing out with all you have... express your love & joy like a child would toward his/her parent... Stop trying to be cool to people around you, and be cool in the eyes of your God.
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