Galatians 1:10 "Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ."
Wow! What a convicting verse! Paul, who clearly understood his position in Christ clearly knew that it wasn't about himself or what he had done or would do. Paul knew that it was all about Christ.
A popular country song goes something like this: "it's all about me, it's all about I..." What a vivid picture of our society and the attitude of so many even in the church. We don't share the gospel because we are afraid of what people will think about us, or we don't want anyone to be offended. What a shame.
Paul acknowledged that it wasn't about him, it was all about Christ. Paul's desire was "to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death..." (Philippians 3:10).
Who are you all about? Is it all about you or is it all about Christ and what He has done for you?
Friday, September 25, 2009
Friday, September 18, 2009
Am I still looking?
Isaiah 55:6 says, "Seek the LORD while He may be found..." James 4:8 says, "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you..."
When we lose our keys or something of value, we usually start looking for it immediately and don't stop until we have found it. And thanks to a comedian, do we ever keep looking once we find it? No!
Just like the parables of the lost sheep, coin, and son, we usually don't let something of value stay lost. So, the questions that need to be asked are: Is your relationship with the Lord the most valuable relationship in your life? If it isn't, why not? If it is the most valuable relationship, are you seeking after Him like a deer pants for water?
The great reality is that the Lord desires for us to seek after Him. He promises that if we seek Him we will find Him. He also promises that as we draw near to Him, He will draw near to us. He will not leave us out there in limbo. He is like a parent who is cheering on their child who is learning to walk. The parent has their hands out in anticipating of supporting that child. I believe that God is the same. He has His arms out anticipating our walking into them for strength, support, encouragement, and love.
Are you seeking after Him? If not, what is getting in the way? It may be sin! James 4:8 continues by saying: "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded."
If we take this verse to heart, we have to admit that sin is what we need cleansed of and if we are not seeking after Him, it may be because we have more than Him (double-minded) in our thoughts.
The challenge for us then is this: Do I have more than Him on my mind? Is there any sin in my life that is keeping me from Him? Am I seeking after Him with all my heart?
When we lose our keys or something of value, we usually start looking for it immediately and don't stop until we have found it. And thanks to a comedian, do we ever keep looking once we find it? No!
Just like the parables of the lost sheep, coin, and son, we usually don't let something of value stay lost. So, the questions that need to be asked are: Is your relationship with the Lord the most valuable relationship in your life? If it isn't, why not? If it is the most valuable relationship, are you seeking after Him like a deer pants for water?
The great reality is that the Lord desires for us to seek after Him. He promises that if we seek Him we will find Him. He also promises that as we draw near to Him, He will draw near to us. He will not leave us out there in limbo. He is like a parent who is cheering on their child who is learning to walk. The parent has their hands out in anticipating of supporting that child. I believe that God is the same. He has His arms out anticipating our walking into them for strength, support, encouragement, and love.
Are you seeking after Him? If not, what is getting in the way? It may be sin! James 4:8 continues by saying: "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded."
If we take this verse to heart, we have to admit that sin is what we need cleansed of and if we are not seeking after Him, it may be because we have more than Him (double-minded) in our thoughts.
The challenge for us then is this: Do I have more than Him on my mind? Is there any sin in my life that is keeping me from Him? Am I seeking after Him with all my heart?
Friday, September 11, 2009
No "I" in TEAM!
As a big college football fan, I must admit that I love this time of year. Now that college football has begun, there is always a reporter talking about some key player(s) for a team and how those players are the "impact" players for their team. And yet, I have never watched a game when only those 2-3 players were the only ones on the field. To be a great college football team requires all 11 players on the field being committed to their role and doing their best each and every play. We all know that many games are won, not because of 10-15 great plays but because of 1-2 plays where either someone DID their job tremendously or 1-2 players did NOT do their job.
The same is true in the church. In many churches there are a few people who are constantly being seen. However, 1 Corinthians 12 is extremely clear about the importance of the whole "body." As you read these words, do not be focused on whether or not you are the "impact" player. Be more concerned that you are a "PLAYER!"
1 Corinthians 12:14-20 "Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. [15] If the foot should say, 'Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,' it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. [16] And if the ear should say, 'Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,' it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. [17] If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? [18] But in fact GOD has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as HE wanted them to be. [19] If they were all one part, where would the body be? [20] As it is, there are many parts, but one body." (Bold mine)
A great football team is successful not because everybody is the quarterback or the middle linebacker. A successful church will be such because everybody knows their role AND fulfills their role! So the question is: Do you know your role? Do you know your spiritual gift? If not, find out. If you do, then use it! And remember these words: "Only one life twill soon be past, only what's done for Christ will last!"
The same is true in the church. In many churches there are a few people who are constantly being seen. However, 1 Corinthians 12 is extremely clear about the importance of the whole "body." As you read these words, do not be focused on whether or not you are the "impact" player. Be more concerned that you are a "PLAYER!"
1 Corinthians 12:14-20 "Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. [15] If the foot should say, 'Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,' it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. [16] And if the ear should say, 'Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,' it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. [17] If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? [18] But in fact GOD has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as HE wanted them to be. [19] If they were all one part, where would the body be? [20] As it is, there are many parts, but one body." (Bold mine)
A great football team is successful not because everybody is the quarterback or the middle linebacker. A successful church will be such because everybody knows their role AND fulfills their role! So the question is: Do you know your role? Do you know your spiritual gift? If not, find out. If you do, then use it! And remember these words: "Only one life twill soon be past, only what's done for Christ will last!"
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