In my devotions this morning I read 2 Corinthians 9:6-15. At this time of year we anticipate seeing farmers harvesting their crops, not planting their crops. However, I was reminded that it is only as we lose our lives in Him that we find true life (Matt. 10:39).
Jesus taught us to measure our lives by what we lose rather than what we gain, by what we sacrifice instead of self-preservation, by time spent doing things for others rather than time spend for ourselves, by love that is demonstrated rather than love selfishly held onto.
When a farmer sows seed, it seems like he is throwing it away. It may seem to be lost, but it's not really gone. Because in time, the farmer gets it back - with a lot more besides.
What we have to remember as God's children is that, just like a good father, God has so much to give us. The problem is not that He can't give it to us, He is just waiting for us to give to others so that He can give us more. The principle is: God blesses those who give of their lives, resources, time and talents (2 Corinthians 9:6).
As we give the truth we know, He will give us more to give away. As you give your resources and time, you will have more. If we do not set a limit on the love that we give, we will have more love for others than before.
Solomon said in Proverbs 11:24: "One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want." It doesn't take a rocket scientist to understand that God's design is that we are to give and He will respond in kind.
Someone has said: "When you grasp, you lose; when you give to God, you gain." What are you grasping onto that God wants you to give? Remember: "He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully" (2 Corinthians 9:6)!
Friday, September 10, 2010
Friday, September 3, 2010
GOD IS AWESOME!
Wow, it has been an amazing couple of weeks. So as not to put you to sleep with the WHOLE story, let's just say, that God is AWESOME. And not only is He that, but He over and over has shown me His providence, sovereignty and overwhelming love for me.
In Proverbs 3:5-6, we find some verses that many of us memorized as children. However, sometimes it's not until we are older until we truly comprehend the words we find there. God has clearly shown Himself trustworthy over and over again.
I have seen that despite thinking that what I was doing was good, it was not the best. And God, through giving Him the situation, revealed to me beyond what my imagination could come up with. After having been dealt a negative blow, God provided an over-abundance of support, love and help. So much so, that words really don't begin to grasp what I have experienced over the last couple of weeks.
I realize that this is all so vague. But I truly believe that even if you don't know my situation exactly, you can understand exactly what I am saying. May God's Word have a powerful impact on your life today. ALLOW His word to confront your life with truth and be willing to conform to its standard.
"Trust in the Lord with ALL your heart." - Yeh, it is easy to say; not so easy to do. But when you do, hold on tight because the ride will be AWESOME!
In Proverbs 3:5-6, we find some verses that many of us memorized as children. However, sometimes it's not until we are older until we truly comprehend the words we find there. God has clearly shown Himself trustworthy over and over again.
I have seen that despite thinking that what I was doing was good, it was not the best. And God, through giving Him the situation, revealed to me beyond what my imagination could come up with. After having been dealt a negative blow, God provided an over-abundance of support, love and help. So much so, that words really don't begin to grasp what I have experienced over the last couple of weeks.
I realize that this is all so vague. But I truly believe that even if you don't know my situation exactly, you can understand exactly what I am saying. May God's Word have a powerful impact on your life today. ALLOW His word to confront your life with truth and be willing to conform to its standard.
"Trust in the Lord with ALL your heart." - Yeh, it is easy to say; not so easy to do. But when you do, hold on tight because the ride will be AWESOME!
Thursday, July 29, 2010
OUCH! That Hurts!
In 2 Corinthians 12, Paul shares with us, albeit briefly, about his "thorn in the flesh" (v. 7). There has been much controversy and discussion about what this may have been. And due to the fact that Paul does not tell us, I am not going to venture a guess.
However, Paul does tell us that it was "a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from being conceited" (v. 7). Could Paul really have become conceited? You bet. Paul was just like us and had plenty to get conceited about. The great truth about this is that God knew Paul well enough to not only give him this "thorn" but even when Paul asked Him to remove it, He did not. Instead, God responded with these popular and powerful words: "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness" (v. 9).
You see, it's not about us overcoming our "thorns" as much as it is God's desire to show His grace and power in our lives. Paul realized this as he then states: "Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities" (vv. 9-10).
When was the last time you got upset about a weakness, insult, hardship or calamity? Probably was not too long ago. And yet, when was the last time you boasted in those things so that the "power of Christ" would rest upon you? Powerful thoughts, huh?
In 2 Corinthians 11, Paul gives us a small overview of what he had experienced, those events and rights that he had in which to boast in (vv. 16-29). And yet, Paul says that he will not boast in the great things he has been able to be a part of but the "things that show my weakness" (2 Cor. 11:30).
I know that we all have something in our lives that if we had too would call our "thorn". Whatever it is for you, I know that we have a tendency to complain, gripe, get upset, and just have a bad attitude about it. But I want to encourage you, as Paul did, to "boast" in your weaknesses for the glory of Christ. Take time right now, to reflect on all those things, that keep you from being conceited and give the Lord praise and thanks instead of complaining about it. Oh, and, by the way, also take the time to thank Him for His grace that is sufficient!
However, Paul does tell us that it was "a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from being conceited" (v. 7). Could Paul really have become conceited? You bet. Paul was just like us and had plenty to get conceited about. The great truth about this is that God knew Paul well enough to not only give him this "thorn" but even when Paul asked Him to remove it, He did not. Instead, God responded with these popular and powerful words: "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness" (v. 9).
You see, it's not about us overcoming our "thorns" as much as it is God's desire to show His grace and power in our lives. Paul realized this as he then states: "Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities" (vv. 9-10).
When was the last time you got upset about a weakness, insult, hardship or calamity? Probably was not too long ago. And yet, when was the last time you boasted in those things so that the "power of Christ" would rest upon you? Powerful thoughts, huh?
In 2 Corinthians 11, Paul gives us a small overview of what he had experienced, those events and rights that he had in which to boast in (vv. 16-29). And yet, Paul says that he will not boast in the great things he has been able to be a part of but the "things that show my weakness" (2 Cor. 11:30).
I know that we all have something in our lives that if we had too would call our "thorn". Whatever it is for you, I know that we have a tendency to complain, gripe, get upset, and just have a bad attitude about it. But I want to encourage you, as Paul did, to "boast" in your weaknesses for the glory of Christ. Take time right now, to reflect on all those things, that keep you from being conceited and give the Lord praise and thanks instead of complaining about it. Oh, and, by the way, also take the time to thank Him for His grace that is sufficient!
Friday, July 9, 2010
Who Are You Bragging In?
"For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. (27) But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong. (28) God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, (29) so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. (30) He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, whom God made our wisdom and our righteousness and sanctification and redemption. (31) Therefore, as it is written, 'Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord'"(1 Cor. 1:26-31).
Who are you bragging in? As a sinner who has been saved by the grace of God, who do you brag in? Who do you credit for your salvation? Do you live and act as if you had anything to do with it? From these verses, it is clear that we had NOTHING to do with our salvation.
Why? Because once we had anything to do with it, then we could boast and brag in ourselves and do so in the very presence of God. Paul tells us in v. 30 that God is the source of our life in Christ. Not God and us or God and someone else or even God and something else. Paul is clear that it is God and Him ALONE!
As a result, we have no one to boast in except the Lord. No one to brag on than the Lord. No one to lift up except the Lord. No one to exalt, glorify, praise, adore and live for except the Lord. We have not been chosen because we are so great, but because God is so great!
As you reflect on this truth today, take time to boast in the Lord. Take time to praise the Lord for your wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption which is Christ! And remember: the path for God's glory is Christ crucified; the evidence of God's glory is His choice of the lowly!
Who are you bragging in? As a sinner who has been saved by the grace of God, who do you brag in? Who do you credit for your salvation? Do you live and act as if you had anything to do with it? From these verses, it is clear that we had NOTHING to do with our salvation.
Why? Because once we had anything to do with it, then we could boast and brag in ourselves and do so in the very presence of God. Paul tells us in v. 30 that God is the source of our life in Christ. Not God and us or God and someone else or even God and something else. Paul is clear that it is God and Him ALONE!
As a result, we have no one to boast in except the Lord. No one to brag on than the Lord. No one to lift up except the Lord. No one to exalt, glorify, praise, adore and live for except the Lord. We have not been chosen because we are so great, but because God is so great!
As you reflect on this truth today, take time to boast in the Lord. Take time to praise the Lord for your wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption which is Christ! And remember: the path for God's glory is Christ crucified; the evidence of God's glory is His choice of the lowly!
Friday, June 25, 2010
What Role Do You Play?
Over the last several weeks, I have been extremely burdened about the Body of Christ BEING the body; about the church doing their faith, not just talking about it. I am in the midst of a series at church that I have entitled "Practice = Maturity". The goal of this series is to awaken people to the reality that Oswald Chambers spoke about when he said, "Spiritual maturity is not reached by the passing of the years, but by obedience to the will of God."
In the church today, we have too many who live as if being saved for many years means they are spiritually mature! This mindset, I believe, is part of the reason why the world is in the situation that it is. It is because for too long the church, the body of Christ, has lived as if being saved for a long time is the key to spiritual maturity. Clearly, that is not what God had in mind.
As I said in the first message in this series, real faith is not just what we say, feel, think, or believe. Real faith is what we DO! As the Body of Christ we are to be about doing!
May these words from the song, "If We Are the Body" by Casting Crowns challenge and convict you about whether or not you are DOING!
"It's crowded in worship today
As she slips in trying to fade into the faces
The girl's teasing laughter is carrying farther than they know
Farther than they know
But if we are the body
Why aren't His arms reaching?
Why aren't His hands healing?
Why aren't His words teaching?
And if we are the body
Why aren't His feet going?
Why is His love not showing them there is a way?
There is a way
A traveler is far away from home
He sheds his coat and quietly slips into the back row
The weight of their judgmental glances
Tells him that his chances are better out on the road
Jesus paid too much high a price
For us to pick and choose who should come
And we are the body of Christ
But if we are the body
Why aren't His arms reaching?
Why aren't His hands healing?
Why aren't His words teaching?
And if we are the body
Why aren't His feet going?
Why is His love not showing them there is a way?
There is a way
Jesus is the way!"
I close with the words of Paul to the Christians in Rome: "For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them. . . " (Romans 12:4-6a).
"LET US USE THEM!" Wow, I couldn't have said it better myself!
In the church today, we have too many who live as if being saved for many years means they are spiritually mature! This mindset, I believe, is part of the reason why the world is in the situation that it is. It is because for too long the church, the body of Christ, has lived as if being saved for a long time is the key to spiritual maturity. Clearly, that is not what God had in mind.
As I said in the first message in this series, real faith is not just what we say, feel, think, or believe. Real faith is what we DO! As the Body of Christ we are to be about doing!
May these words from the song, "If We Are the Body" by Casting Crowns challenge and convict you about whether or not you are DOING!
"It's crowded in worship today
As she slips in trying to fade into the faces
The girl's teasing laughter is carrying farther than they know
Farther than they know
But if we are the body
Why aren't His arms reaching?
Why aren't His hands healing?
Why aren't His words teaching?
And if we are the body
Why aren't His feet going?
Why is His love not showing them there is a way?
There is a way
A traveler is far away from home
He sheds his coat and quietly slips into the back row
The weight of their judgmental glances
Tells him that his chances are better out on the road
Jesus paid too much high a price
For us to pick and choose who should come
And we are the body of Christ
But if we are the body
Why aren't His arms reaching?
Why aren't His hands healing?
Why aren't His words teaching?
And if we are the body
Why aren't His feet going?
Why is His love not showing them there is a way?
There is a way
Jesus is the way!"
I close with the words of Paul to the Christians in Rome: "For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them. . . " (Romans 12:4-6a).
"LET US USE THEM!" Wow, I couldn't have said it better myself!
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Know HIM More!
As you can see I have changed some aspects of my blog. Yeh, I didn't really need to, but sometimes change is a good thing. I am praying that these changes will challenge you to want to have a deeper and more intimate relationship with Christ.
Paul, a great Christ-follower, wasn't concerned about what others thought of him or any praise of men. Paul was solely concerned with knowing Christ more. Why? It's simple: Paul not only understood the sacrifice that Christ had made for him, but he also realized that the ONLY response to that sacrifice was a life sold out for Christ.
Take time right now to read Philippians 3:1-15. Really, open your Bible and read those 15 verses.
You just read that Paul didn't even consider his own heritage something worth having. He counted it all as "rubbish" (ESV). It was worthless, something that should be thrown in the trash and never seen of again. That is EXACTLY what Paul thought of the stuff that could have gained him prestige and honor.
No, instead, he was striving for the knowledge of, comprehension of and application of Christ's suffering, death and resurrection. Paul wanted to know what enabled him to be a Christ-follower as he came to know that it was simply by grace through faith that he had what he did have and knew where his eternity would be spent.
Last week I was asked about why people weren't coming to church. My answer: ultimately it is not about the excuses we give, it is ultimately about the fact that we don't appreciate the death, burial and resurrection of Christ, we don't want to know Him more, and show Him how much what He did for us means to us!
So what does this mean for me?
Well, you must decide whether or not you truly, deeply, honestly appreciate the sacrifice Christ made for you and the home He is making for you right now. If it is important and does mean something to you, then you will count everything as loss to know Christ. You will be setting aside yourself (your goals, dreams, passions, desires, and wants) to get to know Christ more.
"But what does that look like in my life?" It will find you:
> In church for Sunday school, worship service, Bible study, and small groups
> In the Word of God on a daily basis
> In prayer seeking out the will of God in every matter
> In praise for ALL that He has done for you
> In search of opportunities to share the love and hope of Christ
> In love with God so much so that you are overflowing with JOY
Well, there it is. There is what we are to be about. As Paul said, "press on toward the prize. . ." (Phil. 3:14). Press on and know HIM more!
Paul, a great Christ-follower, wasn't concerned about what others thought of him or any praise of men. Paul was solely concerned with knowing Christ more. Why? It's simple: Paul not only understood the sacrifice that Christ had made for him, but he also realized that the ONLY response to that sacrifice was a life sold out for Christ.
Take time right now to read Philippians 3:1-15. Really, open your Bible and read those 15 verses.
You just read that Paul didn't even consider his own heritage something worth having. He counted it all as "rubbish" (ESV). It was worthless, something that should be thrown in the trash and never seen of again. That is EXACTLY what Paul thought of the stuff that could have gained him prestige and honor.
No, instead, he was striving for the knowledge of, comprehension of and application of Christ's suffering, death and resurrection. Paul wanted to know what enabled him to be a Christ-follower as he came to know that it was simply by grace through faith that he had what he did have and knew where his eternity would be spent.
Last week I was asked about why people weren't coming to church. My answer: ultimately it is not about the excuses we give, it is ultimately about the fact that we don't appreciate the death, burial and resurrection of Christ, we don't want to know Him more, and show Him how much what He did for us means to us!
So what does this mean for me?
Well, you must decide whether or not you truly, deeply, honestly appreciate the sacrifice Christ made for you and the home He is making for you right now. If it is important and does mean something to you, then you will count everything as loss to know Christ. You will be setting aside yourself (your goals, dreams, passions, desires, and wants) to get to know Christ more.
"But what does that look like in my life?" It will find you:
> In church for Sunday school, worship service, Bible study, and small groups
> In the Word of God on a daily basis
> In prayer seeking out the will of God in every matter
> In praise for ALL that He has done for you
> In search of opportunities to share the love and hope of Christ
> In love with God so much so that you are overflowing with JOY
Well, there it is. There is what we are to be about. As Paul said, "press on toward the prize. . ." (Phil. 3:14). Press on and know HIM more!
Friday, May 14, 2010
Trusting In God's Silence
Read: John 11:1-10
Can you believe that? Jesus, knowing about Lazarus being sick, doesn't immediately respond! What kind of God is He? Doesn't He care? I mean, isn't Jesus the one that said, "cast all your care upon Him, for He careth for you?" Didn't Jesus weep as He looked over Jerusalem? Isn't He the one that healed the lame, the blind, and many others? Why wouldn't Jesus immediately head toward Bethany? Or why, didn't He just heal Lazarus from where He was? He did it for the centurion in Matthew 8?
So, why did Jesus stay two more days? Was it because He didn't care? NO! Jesus reminds us of His reason in verse 4: "This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God's glory so that God's Son may be glorified through it" (John 11:4).
Oswald Chambers says this, in regards to this passage: "Has God trusted you with a silence - a silence that is big with meaning? . . . Think of those days of absolute silence in the home at Bethany! Is there anything analogous to those days in your life? . . . His silence is the sign that He is bringing you into a marvellous understanding of Himself. . . . If God has given you a silence, praise Him, He is bringing you into the great run of His purposes."
Even Solomon understood that sometimes there is a need for silence, when he said, "There is . . . a time to be silent" (Eccl. 3:1,7). There are times, in God's sovereignty that silence is necessary for us. The reason we don't like it, is simply because we are not used to silence. We are a people consumed and overwhelmed with noise. Just think about what it is like when there is a "moment of silence" somewhere. What do you usually do after a few seconds? You do what most people do, they start looking around. Why? Because we are uncomfortable with silence.
And yet, within God's plan for our lives are times of silence. Times when trusting in His silence is difficult but necessary.
A.W. Tozer, in his book, In the Pursuit of God, says this about silence: "Whoever will listen will hear the speaking Heaven. This is definitely not the hour when men take kindly to an exhortation to listen, for listening is not today a part of popular religion. We are at the opposite end of the pole from there. Religion has accepted the monstrous heresy that noise, size, activity and bluster make a man dear to God. But we may take heart. To a people caught in the tempest of the last great conflict God says, 'Be still, and know that I am God,' (Psalm 46:10) and still He says it, as if He means to tell us that our strength and safety lie not in noise but in silence."
God wants our activity, but we need His silence!
Can you believe that? Jesus, knowing about Lazarus being sick, doesn't immediately respond! What kind of God is He? Doesn't He care? I mean, isn't Jesus the one that said, "cast all your care upon Him, for He careth for you?" Didn't Jesus weep as He looked over Jerusalem? Isn't He the one that healed the lame, the blind, and many others? Why wouldn't Jesus immediately head toward Bethany? Or why, didn't He just heal Lazarus from where He was? He did it for the centurion in Matthew 8?
So, why did Jesus stay two more days? Was it because He didn't care? NO! Jesus reminds us of His reason in verse 4: "This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God's glory so that God's Son may be glorified through it" (John 11:4).
Oswald Chambers says this, in regards to this passage: "Has God trusted you with a silence - a silence that is big with meaning? . . . Think of those days of absolute silence in the home at Bethany! Is there anything analogous to those days in your life? . . . His silence is the sign that He is bringing you into a marvellous understanding of Himself. . . . If God has given you a silence, praise Him, He is bringing you into the great run of His purposes."
Even Solomon understood that sometimes there is a need for silence, when he said, "There is . . . a time to be silent" (Eccl. 3:1,7). There are times, in God's sovereignty that silence is necessary for us. The reason we don't like it, is simply because we are not used to silence. We are a people consumed and overwhelmed with noise. Just think about what it is like when there is a "moment of silence" somewhere. What do you usually do after a few seconds? You do what most people do, they start looking around. Why? Because we are uncomfortable with silence.
And yet, within God's plan for our lives are times of silence. Times when trusting in His silence is difficult but necessary.
A.W. Tozer, in his book, In the Pursuit of God, says this about silence: "Whoever will listen will hear the speaking Heaven. This is definitely not the hour when men take kindly to an exhortation to listen, for listening is not today a part of popular religion. We are at the opposite end of the pole from there. Religion has accepted the monstrous heresy that noise, size, activity and bluster make a man dear to God. But we may take heart. To a people caught in the tempest of the last great conflict God says, 'Be still, and know that I am God,' (Psalm 46:10) and still He says it, as if He means to tell us that our strength and safety lie not in noise but in silence."
God wants our activity, but we need His silence!
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