Imagine someone else's heart is in your chest. They still have the power to beat the heart, so you are totally dependent on them to keep you alive. At the same time, you still have natural abilities. The decision of what you will wear today or which route you will take to work...it's up to you. So, you bear some responsibilty, but you are totally dependent on this other person's heart for your life. It's like their heart is fueling their life and your life at the same time.
Listen to what Paul says in Roman 6:11, "So you must also consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Jesus Christ." The part I want you to think about is that phrase, "in Jesus Christ." The reason we are alive to God is because we are in Jesus Christ. The life with God comes from being totally dependent upon Christ.
But listen to Romans 6:13, "Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness." When we are in Christ, we are called to do everything in our power to live for righteousness.
Christ follower, you are called to fight hard today for righteousness. But you are also called to remember that you are only able to accomplish this because you are in Christ. Let us work hard today to bring glory to the one that is responsible for the beating of our heart.
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
Monday, May 15, 2006
Who Do You Love?
In a recent discussion, I talked with some friends about how we are to serve one another. We all agreed that is was easier to serve people that had already done nice things for us. Sort of a, you scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours approach.
Our conversation turned, though, because Jesus calls us to do more than just repayment when we serve other people. Jesus says His followers should serve people that would consider them their enemies.
This is not so easy. In fact, it is not something that I naturally do not want to do. In fact, it can only happen by the work of God the Holy Spirit in my life to help me to love this way.
How can you grow to love this way? Why not start here…identify your “enemies”. That probably won’t take very long. Now, pray for them. Ask God to help them. Ask God to cause them to grow in their faith and dependence upon Him. Ask God for opportunities to love them and encourage them in the truth.
You see, Jesus is after more than just our lip-service toward our enemies. He is calling His followers to actually care about those that would be called their enemies. He did this for us. Paul says in the book of Romans that before we became Christians, we were enemies of God. And, that while we were His enemies He loved us.
Ask God to help you be made more into the image of Christ by serving your friends…and your foes.
Our conversation turned, though, because Jesus calls us to do more than just repayment when we serve other people. Jesus says His followers should serve people that would consider them their enemies.
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate
your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who
persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven.
For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the
just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward
do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you
greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even
the Gentiles do the same? 48 You therefore must be perfect, as your
heavenly Father is perfect. Matthew 5:43-48 (ESV)
This is not so easy. In fact, it is not something that I naturally do not want to do. In fact, it can only happen by the work of God the Holy Spirit in my life to help me to love this way.
How can you grow to love this way? Why not start here…identify your “enemies”. That probably won’t take very long. Now, pray for them. Ask God to help them. Ask God to cause them to grow in their faith and dependence upon Him. Ask God for opportunities to love them and encourage them in the truth.
You see, Jesus is after more than just our lip-service toward our enemies. He is calling His followers to actually care about those that would be called their enemies. He did this for us. Paul says in the book of Romans that before we became Christians, we were enemies of God. And, that while we were His enemies He loved us.
Ask God to help you be made more into the image of Christ by serving your friends…and your foes.
Friday, May 12, 2006
A Crisis of Caring
At Smiths Grove Baptist Church we have been working hard over the last couple of years to create a covenant community of believers. One of our struggles is that we are not exactly sure what a group of truly committed believers looks like. We have all read the early chapters of Acts and seen what John says about the first church, but we distort that so often because we place modern meanings on what John is saying.
I have been reading The Crisis of Caring by Jerry Bridges for an upcoming seminary class and I think it is a wonderful resource in helping us rediscover the New Testament definition of fellowship, one of the aspects of that first church. I highly recommend it for your edification!
I have been reading The Crisis of Caring by Jerry Bridges for an upcoming seminary class and I think it is a wonderful resource in helping us rediscover the New Testament definition of fellowship, one of the aspects of that first church. I highly recommend it for your edification!
Britain's Youngest Mother
This is a very interesting story about an 11-year-old girl that is expected to give birth next month in Great Britain. That's right, give birth next month.
Sunday, May 07, 2006
Patience, Pain and Grace
It has been two weeks now since our infant son, Benjamin’s, birth and passing. The pain is different now. The edge that was present the first few days is not quite as sharp anymore. The pain is still there. It rises at different times of the day and night. It is triggered by unpredictable thoughts and happenings. It is an elusive pain. I find myself thinking most about Benjamin when I’m playing with our other kids. I think about how I will never play catch with him on this side of eternity. I do hope we can get out in Heaven’s open fields and throw a baseball around. I think about how I will have to wait to hear his voice or his little laugh and see his smile. There is pain in waiting.
But, it’s teaching me to be more dependent upon God.
This past week, I was praying with the Deacons of our church during a meeting. The deacon that prayed for me said something to the effect, “God, You knew this was the way it was going to be from the beginning.” That really struck me. In my head, I knew that to be true but when he prayed it out loud, there was a real weight to the statement that struck my heart.
In the following days, it caused me to think about John the Baptist leaping for joy inside his mother’s womb in Luke 1:44. I have thought about the prophet, Jeremiah, being called by God to be a prophet to the nations even while he was still in the womb in Jeremiah 1:5. I spent some time thinking about the Psalmists words in 139:16 that God has recorded all of the events of our days in His book before they even took place.
God has a plan for our lives even before the first sign of life in our mother’s womb.
Of losing an infant, some may say, “Well, at least you didn’t have time with him because that would make the loss even harder.” I don’t if that is true or not. Benjamin is as a real to God as our four year old boys and two year old girl. And, because he is real to God, he is very real to us also. So, in that same breath, then, I must acknowledge God has a plan for this baby that is now gone from us but with the Lord. I’m sad that I wasn’t more of a part of that plan in this world. But, I look forward to my part with him in the next.
May God grant us the grace to be patient and wait on the working out of His plan.
But, it’s teaching me to be more dependent upon God.
This past week, I was praying with the Deacons of our church during a meeting. The deacon that prayed for me said something to the effect, “God, You knew this was the way it was going to be from the beginning.” That really struck me. In my head, I knew that to be true but when he prayed it out loud, there was a real weight to the statement that struck my heart.
In the following days, it caused me to think about John the Baptist leaping for joy inside his mother’s womb in Luke 1:44. I have thought about the prophet, Jeremiah, being called by God to be a prophet to the nations even while he was still in the womb in Jeremiah 1:5. I spent some time thinking about the Psalmists words in 139:16 that God has recorded all of the events of our days in His book before they even took place.
God has a plan for our lives even before the first sign of life in our mother’s womb.
Of losing an infant, some may say, “Well, at least you didn’t have time with him because that would make the loss even harder.” I don’t if that is true or not. Benjamin is as a real to God as our four year old boys and two year old girl. And, because he is real to God, he is very real to us also. So, in that same breath, then, I must acknowledge God has a plan for this baby that is now gone from us but with the Lord. I’m sad that I wasn’t more of a part of that plan in this world. But, I look forward to my part with him in the next.
May God grant us the grace to be patient and wait on the working out of His plan.
Thursday, May 04, 2006
A Gift of God
Somewhere between Mark 2:14 and Mark 3:18, Jesus changes the name of Levi the tax collector to Matthew. Why would this be of interest to you? Well, as they say, it’s all in the name.
A news flash has just arrived and it appears that no one in the history of the world has ever enjoyed paying their taxes! In Jesus’ day, most tax collectors were known to be scoundrels. The taxation system in Rome was fairly loose, so as long as the tax collector could keep Caesar happy, he could get as much as he could from the citizens under his authority. Even the hypocritical Pharisees labeled tax collectors as sinners and would not allow them to enter the temple courts.
Jesus approached these sinners, though. Not only did He approach them, but He called one of them, Levi, to be one of His closest followers. And, even more than this He changed his name from Levi to Matthew, which means “a gift of God”, using this former tax collector to write the Gospel we read first in the New Testament.
What a change in direction!
We should learn that the message of Christ is for sinners. That is you and me…and even the person around you that is most despised by co-workers or other family members. Jesus saw potential in this sinner. Do you see potential in the sinners around you? You should. That sight should even motivate you to share Jesus’ call of following Him to them.
Maybe Jesus could relate to Matthew’s rejection. Not in relation to Matthew’s sin, but in the sense that Jesus was also considered an outcast by society around him. After all, Isaiah predicted that the Messiah would have, “…no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him.” (Isaiah 53:2)
I know my heart. I am amazed that God sees potential in me. I am so thankful that He moved someone into place to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with me. I am so humbled that God saved me. What about you? Shouldn’t our thankfulness, then, drive us to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with someone that is considered unsightly by the world and the “religious”? Seems to me that your conversation would bring much glory to a gracious Savior!
A news flash has just arrived and it appears that no one in the history of the world has ever enjoyed paying their taxes! In Jesus’ day, most tax collectors were known to be scoundrels. The taxation system in Rome was fairly loose, so as long as the tax collector could keep Caesar happy, he could get as much as he could from the citizens under his authority. Even the hypocritical Pharisees labeled tax collectors as sinners and would not allow them to enter the temple courts.
Jesus approached these sinners, though. Not only did He approach them, but He called one of them, Levi, to be one of His closest followers. And, even more than this He changed his name from Levi to Matthew, which means “a gift of God”, using this former tax collector to write the Gospel we read first in the New Testament.
What a change in direction!
We should learn that the message of Christ is for sinners. That is you and me…and even the person around you that is most despised by co-workers or other family members. Jesus saw potential in this sinner. Do you see potential in the sinners around you? You should. That sight should even motivate you to share Jesus’ call of following Him to them.
Maybe Jesus could relate to Matthew’s rejection. Not in relation to Matthew’s sin, but in the sense that Jesus was also considered an outcast by society around him. After all, Isaiah predicted that the Messiah would have, “…no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him.” (Isaiah 53:2)
I know my heart. I am amazed that God sees potential in me. I am so thankful that He moved someone into place to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with me. I am so humbled that God saved me. What about you? Shouldn’t our thankfulness, then, drive us to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with someone that is considered unsightly by the world and the “religious”? Seems to me that your conversation would bring much glory to a gracious Savior!
Tuesday, May 02, 2006
The Weak, Foolish and Lowly
What makes you wise? What makes you strong? What makes you secure?
Those questions are part of the aim of 1 Corinthians 1:18-31. The Apostle Paul's argument there is that Jesus Christ is what brings worth and security to His followers. It is not their own wisdom, but His. It is not their own strength, but His. It is not their own honor, but His.
Perhaps you're sitting at work while you're reading this...or, maybe you've just finished working with your financial software...no matter where you are, you are at just the right place to begin to think about what makes for a successful life. After all, dont' we all want to feel joy, love and contentment?
God's purpose in this world is for our contentment is for us to rest in Jesus Christ so that we will love and treasure Him. Listen to a few lines from the passage in 1 Corinthians...
Those questions are part of the aim of 1 Corinthians 1:18-31. The Apostle Paul's argument there is that Jesus Christ is what brings worth and security to His followers. It is not their own wisdom, but His. It is not their own strength, but His. It is not their own honor, but His.
Perhaps you're sitting at work while you're reading this...or, maybe you've just finished working with your financial software...no matter where you are, you are at just the right place to begin to think about what makes for a successful life. After all, dont' we all want to feel joy, love and contentment?
God's purpose in this world is for our contentment is for us to rest in Jesus Christ so that we will love and treasure Him. Listen to a few lines from the passage in 1 Corinthians...
- God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise;
- God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong;
- God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are;
What was considered foolish? Who was considered weak? Who was low and despised? Jesus Christ.
What happens to us when we begin to believe that we are wise, strong or high and mighty? For me, my pride puffs up and I begin to think much more of myself than I should. Even more than that, I begin to get a distorted picture of myself and Christ. I begin to believe, "God is sure fortunate to have me playing on His team!!" What a distortion!
In the very next verse, Paul says that God chose the foolish, weak, low and despised so that we would treasure Christ and realize His great worth. And, attached to this He chooses these people so that we will realize that our only boast is Christ. Our only boast is Christ. One more time, our only boast is Christ.
Now, take a moment to think through your goals, ambitions and ideas of what brings your greatest worth. If it is not Christ, and you consider yourself a follower of Christ, then pray and ask God to help you rightly prioritize your thinking and boasting.
What makes you wise? What makes you strong? What makes you secure?
Those questions are part of the aim of 1 Corinthians 1:18-31. The Apostle Paul's argument there is that Jesus Christ is what brings worth and security to His followers. It is not their own wisdom, but His. It is not their own strength, but His. It is not their own honor, but His.
Perhaps you're sitting at work while you're reading this...or, maybe you've just finished working with your financial software...no matter where you are, you are at just the right place to begin to think about what makes for a successful life. After all, dont' we all want to feel joy, love and contentment?
God's purpose in this world is for our contentment is for us to rest in Jesus Christ so that we will love and treasure Him. Listen to a few lines from the passage in 1 Corinthians...
Those questions are part of the aim of 1 Corinthians 1:18-31. The Apostle Paul's argument there is that Jesus Christ is what brings worth and security to His followers. It is not their own wisdom, but His. It is not their own strength, but His. It is not their own honor, but His.
Perhaps you're sitting at work while you're reading this...or, maybe you've just finished working with your financial software...no matter where you are, you are at just the right place to begin to think about what makes for a successful life. After all, dont' we all want to feel joy, love and contentment?
God's purpose in this world is for our contentment is for us to rest in Jesus Christ so that we will love and treasure Him. Listen to a few lines from the passage in 1 Corinthians...
- God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise;
- God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong;
- God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are;
What was considered foolish? Who was considered weak? Who was low and despised? Jesus Christ.
What happens to us when we begin to believe that we are wise, strong or high and mighty? For me, my pride puffs up and I begin to think much more of myself than I should. Even more than that, I begin to get a distorted picture of myself and Christ. I begin to believe, "God is sure fortunate to have me playing on His team!!" What a distortion!
In the very next verse, Paul says that God chose the foolish, weak, low and despised so that we would treasure Christ and realize His great worth. And, attached to this He chooses these people so that we will realize that our only boast is Christ. Our only boast is Christ. One more time, our only boast is Christ.
Now, take a moment to think through your goals, ambitions and ideas of what brings your greatest worth. If it is not Christ, and you consider yourself a follower of Christ, then pray and ask God to help you rightly prioritize your thinking and boasting.
Monday, May 01, 2006
New Life in Christ
Yesterday at Smiths Grove Baptist Church we talked about what it really means to be a Christian. The key idea was that being a Christian is to be a follower of Jesus Christ every day in every way of life.
Here's the text from my final point about the new direction of life that comes from our repentance and Christ's forgiveness...
Being a follower of Jesus Christ doesn’t mean that you are just standing still until you go to Heaven one day. The life of a follower of Jesus Christ is a life of motion and action. You never stand still in life. You are either moving toward Jesus Christ or you are moving away from Him.
Those that are real followers of Jesus Christ are moving toward Him and they see their lives changed and affected by Him every day.
There are two specific examples we see in the first chapter of Mark –
Jesus immediately calls these four fishermen to follow Him in Mark 1:16-20.
-- He gives them a new role in life.
-- They leave their old life behind.
Jesus heals Simon’s mother-in-law in Mark 1:29-31.
-- She leaves her old life behind.
-- She gets up and begins to literally serve Jesus.
You need to see and understand that entering the Kingdom of God…being a part of the church… being a member of the family of God is not some cosmic experience that will only happen when you get the mantra correct or reach a certain level of enlightenment. It is not some secret knowledge that is contained in a mysterious group or a hidden document.
Being a part of the Kingdom of God is receiving forgiveness for your sins from Jesus Christ, turning away from your sinful lifestyle and following Jesus Christ. There are real, practical implications to this new way of life!
This means that music in your iPod should change.
This means that your definition of success and achievement in life should change.
This means that what you say to help or encourage people should change.
This means how you spend or save your money should change.
This means how you talk to your parents, your family, your husband, your wife, etc. should change.
This means how you play the game or work at the office should change.
Ultimately, as Paul says in 1 Corinthians, everything you do should be done for the glory of God.
The way you argue with your wife should be done for the glory of God.
The way you discipline your children should be done for the glory of God.
The way you work in school or at our job should be done for the glory of God.
The way you goof off should be done for the glory of God.
The way you choose what to read or to watch on TV should be done for the glory of God.
The way you mourn should be done for the glory of God.
The way you hope should be done for the glory of God.
Here's the text from my final point about the new direction of life that comes from our repentance and Christ's forgiveness...
Being a follower of Jesus Christ doesn’t mean that you are just standing still until you go to Heaven one day. The life of a follower of Jesus Christ is a life of motion and action. You never stand still in life. You are either moving toward Jesus Christ or you are moving away from Him.
Those that are real followers of Jesus Christ are moving toward Him and they see their lives changed and affected by Him every day.
There are two specific examples we see in the first chapter of Mark –
Jesus immediately calls these four fishermen to follow Him in Mark 1:16-20.
-- He gives them a new role in life.
-- They leave their old life behind.
Jesus heals Simon’s mother-in-law in Mark 1:29-31.
-- She leaves her old life behind.
-- She gets up and begins to literally serve Jesus.
You need to see and understand that entering the Kingdom of God…being a part of the church… being a member of the family of God is not some cosmic experience that will only happen when you get the mantra correct or reach a certain level of enlightenment. It is not some secret knowledge that is contained in a mysterious group or a hidden document.
Being a part of the Kingdom of God is receiving forgiveness for your sins from Jesus Christ, turning away from your sinful lifestyle and following Jesus Christ. There are real, practical implications to this new way of life!
This means that music in your iPod should change.
This means that your definition of success and achievement in life should change.
This means that what you say to help or encourage people should change.
This means how you spend or save your money should change.
This means how you talk to your parents, your family, your husband, your wife, etc. should change.
This means how you play the game or work at the office should change.
Ultimately, as Paul says in 1 Corinthians, everything you do should be done for the glory of God.
The way you argue with your wife should be done for the glory of God.
The way you discipline your children should be done for the glory of God.
The way you work in school or at our job should be done for the glory of God.
The way you goof off should be done for the glory of God.
The way you choose what to read or to watch on TV should be done for the glory of God.
The way you mourn should be done for the glory of God.
The way you hope should be done for the glory of God.
From these examples in Mark, we see the lives of the first disciples and the life of this ill woman drastically changed.
Jesus’ call is for you to come and follow Him in all of your life.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)