Showing posts with label example. Show all posts
Showing posts with label example. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
What do you long for?
The longings of many have been put into song. John Denver longed for that country road to lead him home. Ray Charles sang of thoughts and longings for Georgia. He said it was always on his mind.
Read what the psalmist has to say about longings.
Psalm 42:1
As the deer pants for streams of water, so I long for you, O God.
This describes one who is truly seeking after the Lord. To long for God as a deer for water, to know in your heart that you can't live without Him, and to feel that burning in your soul. This is a person who chases after God as though his very life depends on it, because it does.
This is what God wants from His church. Read Isaiah 30:9-11
How much of the church falls under this description. How many of us sit in congregations asking to hear "a message of hope"? How many churches are bringing people in with the good news of the gospel, but never delving any deeper? Where is the correction? Where is the guidance? The church needs this so desperately, yet the vast majority does not want it. We say the "sinners prayer". We put our name on the church roster. We sit in our pews and wait to be told how great we are for coming to church on Sunday and how God has wonderful things planned for us.
Read Isaiah 30:19-21
We have been called to wake up. We have not been listening. If we have been listening, we have not been responding. We are the church. We are God's people, citizens of heaven. Why are we choosing to die of thirst? We have but to cry out! We have but to listen! God will show us the way. He has already made the path. We just need to wake up and let him tell us where it is.
As the deer pants for streams of water, so I long for you, O God.
Do the words of the psalmist describe your heart? Do the words of the psalmist describe the church?
It is time to cry out.
It is time to pray.
It is time to open our minds and our hearts.
We have to listen.
We have to act.
Our very lives depend on it.
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Are you the real deal?
It happens to everyone at some point. We set out with the best of intentions, and try to present an honest and heart felt testimony of Christ’s love to others. Then, we face the “after effect.” The comments made on the sly while speaking, or out right challenge and contradiction once we have gone, are an attack on our character, and there is nothing new about them. Consider this from Paul.
2Corinthians 10:10
For some say, “His letters are weighty and forceful, but in person he is unimpressive and his speaking amounts to nothing.
This sort of attack can be hurtful to the individual, and down right harmful to the ministry calling that person is trying to fulfill. The amount of harm can be limited and sometimes prevented all-together if there is more to our honesty than a presentation. We must truly live the words that we speak, and the message that we share. God’s word is not just something that we pass on with a pen stroke or lip service. These are directions, warnings, and safeguards for life, and they must be adhered.
2 Corinthians 10:11
Such people should realize that what we are in our letters, when we are absent, we will be in our actions when we are present.
2 Corinthians 11:6
I do not think I am in the least inferior to those “super-apostles.” I may indeed be untrained as a speaker, but I do have knowledge. We have made this perfectly clear to you in every way.
We have nothing to fear from naysayers when we are able to respond in a similar fashion. The only way that we can enable ourselves to do this is by living in truth. We have to walk the walk, or someone will call us on it. People will only listen to lip service for so long before they want to see a living example of the life that Christians are called to. If they can’t find that example in the person speaking to them, they will often leave discouraged.
There will always be those who speak out against us, but if there is no weight to their words, they will be soon forgotten. Truth stands in the end. We must always be sure that our words and deeds are reflecting our message. When the truth comes out, let it be something to strengthen your ministry, and further the kingdom, rather than a hindrance.
2Corinthians 10:10
For some say, “His letters are weighty and forceful, but in person he is unimpressive and his speaking amounts to nothing.
This sort of attack can be hurtful to the individual, and down right harmful to the ministry calling that person is trying to fulfill. The amount of harm can be limited and sometimes prevented all-together if there is more to our honesty than a presentation. We must truly live the words that we speak, and the message that we share. God’s word is not just something that we pass on with a pen stroke or lip service. These are directions, warnings, and safeguards for life, and they must be adhered.
2 Corinthians 10:11
Such people should realize that what we are in our letters, when we are absent, we will be in our actions when we are present.
2 Corinthians 11:6
I do not think I am in the least inferior to those “super-apostles.” I may indeed be untrained as a speaker, but I do have knowledge. We have made this perfectly clear to you in every way.
We have nothing to fear from naysayers when we are able to respond in a similar fashion. The only way that we can enable ourselves to do this is by living in truth. We have to walk the walk, or someone will call us on it. People will only listen to lip service for so long before they want to see a living example of the life that Christians are called to. If they can’t find that example in the person speaking to them, they will often leave discouraged.
There will always be those who speak out against us, but if there is no weight to their words, they will be soon forgotten. Truth stands in the end. We must always be sure that our words and deeds are reflecting our message. When the truth comes out, let it be something to strengthen your ministry, and further the kingdom, rather than a hindrance.
Friday, October 1, 2010
Who's the Boss?
Read Ephesians 6: 1-9
Verses 1-3 echo in the ears of children the world over. Parents have them committed to memory, ready to recite at a moments notice when their young ones need reminding. Yet the truth remains. We do need reminding, and often. It would also do the parents well to remember the other side of this coin.
Ephesians 6: 4
Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.
God designed the family according to His purpose. Children are called to honor and obey their parents. Parents are to love and nurture their children. They are to grow up with the same loving care and instruction that Christ gives the church. A child should know that in obeying their parents, they will be following rules set for their benefit and protection.
At first glance, Verses 5 – 9 seem a little out of date and easy to skip over. This is far from the truth. It is all in the wording. Take into account the time in which it was written. Men and women labored at their own household or estate. If they worked elsewhere it was as a servant or slave. The modern equivalent would be the employee / employer relationship. Read it now in this perspective.
Ephesians 6: 5-8
Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free.
We are called to make every aspect of our lives a testimony to Christ. God places us in people’s lives. He puts us in situations that allow us to shine His light before those who are in need of it. It will not always be easy, but this is God’s will.
Ephesians 6: 9
And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that He who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with Him.
How many of us have had to deal with an impossible boss or supervisor? We know that we are called to be submissive, and do what is required of us, even in these situations. Those of us who find ourselves on the other side would do well to keep this in mind. God has made us the stewards of much. When we are called to lead, it is for the good of others, not just ourselves. In what way are we extending the love of the Lord to those who work for us? Are we being the type of masters that our own expects of us?
1 Corinthians 10: 31
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God
We would do well to remember this. We are all God’s children. We are all His servants. No matter our place in the between, these things do not change. We are the citizens of heaven and should be conducting ourselves as such.
Verses 1-3 echo in the ears of children the world over. Parents have them committed to memory, ready to recite at a moments notice when their young ones need reminding. Yet the truth remains. We do need reminding, and often. It would also do the parents well to remember the other side of this coin.
Ephesians 6: 4
Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.
God designed the family according to His purpose. Children are called to honor and obey their parents. Parents are to love and nurture their children. They are to grow up with the same loving care and instruction that Christ gives the church. A child should know that in obeying their parents, they will be following rules set for their benefit and protection.
At first glance, Verses 5 – 9 seem a little out of date and easy to skip over. This is far from the truth. It is all in the wording. Take into account the time in which it was written. Men and women labored at their own household or estate. If they worked elsewhere it was as a servant or slave. The modern equivalent would be the employee / employer relationship. Read it now in this perspective.
Ephesians 6: 5-8
Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free.
We are called to make every aspect of our lives a testimony to Christ. God places us in people’s lives. He puts us in situations that allow us to shine His light before those who are in need of it. It will not always be easy, but this is God’s will.
Ephesians 6: 9
And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that He who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with Him.
How many of us have had to deal with an impossible boss or supervisor? We know that we are called to be submissive, and do what is required of us, even in these situations. Those of us who find ourselves on the other side would do well to keep this in mind. God has made us the stewards of much. When we are called to lead, it is for the good of others, not just ourselves. In what way are we extending the love of the Lord to those who work for us? Are we being the type of masters that our own expects of us?
1 Corinthians 10: 31
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God
We would do well to remember this. We are all God’s children. We are all His servants. No matter our place in the between, these things do not change. We are the citizens of heaven and should be conducting ourselves as such.
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