I'm making my way slowly through the Old Testament these days. I must admit that I had written off most of the Old Testament as unimportant and irrelevant because when Jesus came he proclaimed that the "old ways" did not apply anymore. My thinking was that if I knew Jesus and I knew what He stood for...well, then I didn't really need the rest.
In some ways, I was correct. I don't NEED the rest. I'm saved by Jesus and His love. Salvation is mine and I will go to heaven.
But I've discovered that I want to know more...even if it isn't necessary for me to have that knowledge. I want to know more, more, more about Jesus. In order to truly understand Jesus; I need to know the events that led up to His story. I need to know our story from the beginning. So now I'm on this journey through the beginning of the Bible.
I have to say, that I am surprised by the similarities to our world today. I expected to read this drab history that was not at all relevant to our lives today.
Boy! Was I wrong! Here's what I find:
People who only call out to God when times are tough and then go back to worshiping their own gods and idols after He comes in and rescues them.
Don't we all still do this? We don't call them "gods" or "idols"; because our view of a "gods" and "idols" is too narrow.
Lets redefine and idol:
Anything you worship AHEAD of God
Anything you make more important than God in your life
Anything you put more time and resources toward than you do to God
What are the "idols" and "gods" in your life?
I think if we are all honest; most of us struggle with this.
We make excuses why we:
- don't have the time
- don't have the energy
- don't have the resources
... to put God first.
And in doing so-- we are worshiping gods of "money", "sex", "power"...whatever that is that you are putting first in your life over Him.
Apparently...this is what we as a people have been doing to God since the very beginning of time. The better things are going for us; the further down the priority list God goes. Some of us live out our entire lives without ever making Him the number one priority in our life.
We are "too busy" to make time for the creator of our universe.
We have "better", "more important" things to do.
When we don't need Him, we forget Him.
How sad.
How disrespectful.
How tragic.
We as a people, since the beginning of time--have struggled with this.
We can't change history and we can't change others.
But we can change ourselves. We can impact the future generation of our own families.
We can make a stand and say that WE WILL PLACE GOD FIRST.
Not just in the bad times.
Not just when we want something from Him.
But EVERY SINGLE DAY.
What changes do you need to make in your life to do this?
I know I need to go back and reprioritize MY life and figure out what this looks like for me.
How about you?
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Are you fighting for the kingdom or hiding behind your fear?
Fear is the enemies favorite and most effective tool. When he plants the tiniest "seed" of fear into our minds-- so many of allow that seed to take over our lives to the extent that Satan doesn't even need to do anything more with us. He plants that fear and his job is done. We let it hold us back from any great works, any great ideas, any great deeds in our lives. Because we're too SCARED to try anything---even those things that God calls us to. Many of us are so scared, so afraid, so full of fear....that we can't even HEAR Gods voice because we don't ever allow Him the opportunity to be with us.
My awesome pastor, Ken Landis; said this so well today! I never it, bit once he pointed this out it was so blaringly obvious that I'm embarrassed I never realized it before. Here it is:
God steps in when you NEED Him.
It's that simple. He steps in, He takes over... when you need Him. If you allow your fears to keep you in your comfort zone and never step outside it; you won't ever need God. And He won't step into your life. So you won't feel His presence. And you will wonder where God is.
He is HERE...but if you have everything "under control", under your control, He won't take over. He won't MOVE in your life. You won't feel Him.
As Christians, we are promised Salvation. But God wants us to live while we are here on Earth, too. He has a plan for each and every one of us. We make it so easy for Satan to keep us from Gods plan for our life when we listen to the fear he plants. And what are most of us afraid of?
Fear of embarrassment.
Fear of being hurt (emotionally)
Fear of failure.
Fear of losing friends.
Fear people won't understand our decisions (will think we're nuts)
Fear we won't be "happy" with our choices
Fear of rejection
Fear we're not qualifed/not good enough
Fear. Fear. Fear.
Have ANY of those fears killed anybody?
Have any of them caused any bodily harm?
God called us to be warriors. Not sissies.
Our Biblical heroes faced huge life or death battles in Gods name.....and we aren't willing to grow in our own faith....why?
Because we're afraid of what? Embarrassment? Failure? Rejection?
How highly we must think of ourselves; that our own emotions are so important. So important, really, that we will not risk those precious emotions of ours so that we can allow God to take over our lives and MOVE us...and by moving in us...move those around us.
I never realized how closely connected fear is with self-importance.
When you allow fear to keep you from following through on God's plan for you--you are absolutely putting yourself first instead of God. There is no act more selfish than that.
My awesome pastor, Ken Landis; said this so well today! I never it, bit once he pointed this out it was so blaringly obvious that I'm embarrassed I never realized it before. Here it is:
God steps in when you NEED Him.
It's that simple. He steps in, He takes over... when you need Him. If you allow your fears to keep you in your comfort zone and never step outside it; you won't ever need God. And He won't step into your life. So you won't feel His presence. And you will wonder where God is.
He is HERE...but if you have everything "under control", under your control, He won't take over. He won't MOVE in your life. You won't feel Him.
As Christians, we are promised Salvation. But God wants us to live while we are here on Earth, too. He has a plan for each and every one of us. We make it so easy for Satan to keep us from Gods plan for our life when we listen to the fear he plants. And what are most of us afraid of?
Fear of embarrassment.
Fear of being hurt (emotionally)
Fear of failure.
Fear of losing friends.
Fear people won't understand our decisions (will think we're nuts)
Fear we won't be "happy" with our choices
Fear of rejection
Fear we're not qualifed/not good enough
Fear. Fear. Fear.
Have ANY of those fears killed anybody?
Have any of them caused any bodily harm?
God called us to be warriors. Not sissies.
Our Biblical heroes faced huge life or death battles in Gods name.....and we aren't willing to grow in our own faith....why?
Because we're afraid of what? Embarrassment? Failure? Rejection?
How highly we must think of ourselves; that our own emotions are so important. So important, really, that we will not risk those precious emotions of ours so that we can allow God to take over our lives and MOVE us...and by moving in us...move those around us.
I never realized how closely connected fear is with self-importance.
When you allow fear to keep you from following through on God's plan for you--you are absolutely putting yourself first instead of God. There is no act more selfish than that.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Loving People
God tells us loving people is His second greatest commandment. Loving Him is the only thing bigger than this.
So why is it so hard for us?
We want to put conditions on this love. We will only love those who are worthy, or those who are Christians, those who we like, those who love us back, those who don't offend us, those who respect us....
This IS NOT what God commanded!!
He doesn't place conditions on His love to each of us. So neither do we get to pick and chose who we are going to show love to. We need to love them all. The offensive, the rude, the judgmental, the proud, the snooty, the stinky, the mean....they all need love! The ones who we don't want to show love to are probably the ones who NEED to see that love more than anyone else. It is OUR job if we are truly followers of Christ to give it to them. If not us; then who?
It is easy to love our friends, our families (well-sometimes that can be hard, too), but we aren't called to love only them.
What keeps us from following this commandment?
I think this is the number one thing holding is back is other people. We wonder what others will think of is of we truly show love to people who don't fit inside the parameters of our own social circle.
Sure---we can DO for the poor. We can PRAY for the sinners.
But, many of us end it there.
That's not LOVE!! To love people you need to treat them as yourself. Treat them as you want to be treated. If I was struggling---I wouldn't just want a meal---I'd want someone to share it with. If I'm caught in a cycle of sin---I dont want someone to pray for me---I want someone to talk to. Are you opening your hearts as well as your wallets? Are you opening your arms or are you just paying lip service?
Why do you care if your neighbor sees you talking to the "outcast" of your development? Why do you care if your boss wonders about your "social circle" when he sees you stop and say hello? Are their opinions really more important to you than obeying the Word of God?
Love is an action word; but TO SHOW LOVE REQUIRES MORE THAN JUST ACTION---IT REQUIRES YOUR HEART.
You can't show love without actions, but you cannot love without opening your heart. I'm not saying that it's not a great deed to contribute money to an organization. There are lots of worthy causes out there that need the cash. But if that is all you are doing; you aren't following through on God's command. He didn't ask us to give to others, He asked us to LOVE others.
Don't just go through the motions of reaching out so you can pat yourself on the back
and feel good about your great deed. Love people--even the unlovable--as if they were YOU.
Another reason many of us don't love others because we are scared: we are scared we will be rejected, we are scared we will get hurt, we are scared we will hurt someone else, we are scared someone we reach out to will hurt our loved ones, we are scared it will be awkward...we are just Plain Old AFRAID.
I'm sorry if saying so offends you--but this isn't a ""fear issue"---this is a control issue!
You want YOU to pick and choose who you get to love.
You think you are ENTITLED to Choose who you love and who you don't. Basically; you think you and your fears are bigger and more important than God and His COMMANDment to love. That's right---He's not ASKING you to love he is commanding you! Your sense of entitlement is taking precedence over the words of our Almighty God.
If this resounds with you, or if it offends you...you've been letting the enemy whisper in your ear and you have been allowing Satan instead of God guide your choices.
You don't get to choose who to love and who not to. We are called to love one another. Period. You need to love, accept and forgive people as God loves, accepts and forgives you. If you aren't doing this out of fear of getting hurt, you are making a statement that you and your fears are more important than the God's kingdom.
I'm not saying you can't set boundaries. But unforgiveness is not a boundary. It is a prison. Fear is not a boundary. It is a roadblock.
Yes! You might get hurt....but God is bigger than that hurt and He will heal that hurt. The gains for His kingdom and for your heart will be expanded in ways you can't even imagine.
Remember:
1-Love God
2-Love others (all of them)
3-God takes care of the rest
These are the only things that really matter.
So why is it so hard for us?
We want to put conditions on this love. We will only love those who are worthy, or those who are Christians, those who we like, those who love us back, those who don't offend us, those who respect us....
This IS NOT what God commanded!!
He doesn't place conditions on His love to each of us. So neither do we get to pick and chose who we are going to show love to. We need to love them all. The offensive, the rude, the judgmental, the proud, the snooty, the stinky, the mean....they all need love! The ones who we don't want to show love to are probably the ones who NEED to see that love more than anyone else. It is OUR job if we are truly followers of Christ to give it to them. If not us; then who?
It is easy to love our friends, our families (well-sometimes that can be hard, too), but we aren't called to love only them.
What keeps us from following this commandment?
I think this is the number one thing holding is back is other people. We wonder what others will think of is of we truly show love to people who don't fit inside the parameters of our own social circle.
Sure---we can DO for the poor. We can PRAY for the sinners.
But, many of us end it there.
That's not LOVE!! To love people you need to treat them as yourself. Treat them as you want to be treated. If I was struggling---I wouldn't just want a meal---I'd want someone to share it with. If I'm caught in a cycle of sin---I dont want someone to pray for me---I want someone to talk to. Are you opening your hearts as well as your wallets? Are you opening your arms or are you just paying lip service?
Why do you care if your neighbor sees you talking to the "outcast" of your development? Why do you care if your boss wonders about your "social circle" when he sees you stop and say hello? Are their opinions really more important to you than obeying the Word of God?
Love is an action word; but TO SHOW LOVE REQUIRES MORE THAN JUST ACTION---IT REQUIRES YOUR HEART.
You can't show love without actions, but you cannot love without opening your heart. I'm not saying that it's not a great deed to contribute money to an organization. There are lots of worthy causes out there that need the cash. But if that is all you are doing; you aren't following through on God's command. He didn't ask us to give to others, He asked us to LOVE others.
Don't just go through the motions of reaching out so you can pat yourself on the back
and feel good about your great deed. Love people--even the unlovable--as if they were YOU.
Another reason many of us don't love others because we are scared: we are scared we will be rejected, we are scared we will get hurt, we are scared we will hurt someone else, we are scared someone we reach out to will hurt our loved ones, we are scared it will be awkward...we are just Plain Old AFRAID.
I'm sorry if saying so offends you--but this isn't a ""fear issue"---this is a control issue!
You want YOU to pick and choose who you get to love.
You think you are ENTITLED to Choose who you love and who you don't. Basically; you think you and your fears are bigger and more important than God and His COMMANDment to love. That's right---He's not ASKING you to love he is commanding you! Your sense of entitlement is taking precedence over the words of our Almighty God.
If this resounds with you, or if it offends you...you've been letting the enemy whisper in your ear and you have been allowing Satan instead of God guide your choices.
You don't get to choose who to love and who not to. We are called to love one another. Period. You need to love, accept and forgive people as God loves, accepts and forgives you. If you aren't doing this out of fear of getting hurt, you are making a statement that you and your fears are more important than the God's kingdom.
I'm not saying you can't set boundaries. But unforgiveness is not a boundary. It is a prison. Fear is not a boundary. It is a roadblock.
Yes! You might get hurt....but God is bigger than that hurt and He will heal that hurt. The gains for His kingdom and for your heart will be expanded in ways you can't even imagine.
Remember:
1-Love God
2-Love others (all of them)
3-God takes care of the rest
These are the only things that really matter.
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