"Now I appeal to Euodia and Syntyche. Please, because you belong to the Lord, settle your disagreement" Philippians 4:2 NIV
We don't know what the dispute was between Euodia and Syntyche. We just know that they were friends of the apostle Paul. We know that they were two women, and they were not getting along. Their harmony was disturbed. Not only was their harmony disturbed, their dispute was having an adverse effect on those around them.
There are probably many reasons we have disputes. We get abused, offended and hurt. We have differences of opinions. I think sometimes we are just plain looking for a fight. We lay in wait for someone to look at us the wrong way or say the wrong thing and then we move in for the kill. We have to prove our right to be right. That our way is the only way. And so on and so on...
We need to stop the madness! It's not about you and me. It's about the advancement of the Kingdom of God. Jesus is our example. He lived a life of love, putting others before Himself. He laid down His life for us. He offers us everlasting life. It's time for us to lay down our bias and pride. Let let the Holy Spirit have his way in our lives, and bring glory to God!
"How wonderful and pleasant it is
when brothers live together in harmony!
For harmony is as precious as the anointing oil
that was poured over Aaron’s head,
that ran down his beard
and onto the border of his robe.
Harmony is as refreshing as the dew from Mount Hermon
that falls on the mountains of Zion.
And there the Lord has pronounced his blessing,
even life everlasting." Psalm 133 NLT
Monday, March 30, 2009
Friday, March 27, 2009
What Are You Standing On?
"And now I entrust you to God and the message of His grace that is able to build you up and give you an inheritance with all those He has set apart for Himself." Acts 20:32 NLT
What are you standing on? I mean, what are you believing is your source of strength and salvation? Is it your abilities, bank account, the people in your life, or your circumstances? Is it your religion? Is it how much time you spend serving in the church?
I think we can, if we are not careful, forget what our true source of strength and salvation is. It is grace. Grace is defined as, God's unmerited favor, His blessings toward us, and a gift from Him to us. God's grace is for everyone. His grace was demonstrated to us by the sacrifice of Christ on the cross. He paid for our sins. All of them. His Spirit works in us to give us strength for today and hope for eternity.
Grace is a relationship with Jesus. Not a religion. Accepting Jesus as our Lord and Savior is the way we receive God's grace.
If we are standing on anything other than the love, forgiveness and acceptance that God has for us in Christ, we are standing on very shaky ground.
So, what are you standing on?
"For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of His Son while we were still His enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of His Son. So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God." Romans 5:10,11 NLT
What are you standing on? I mean, what are you believing is your source of strength and salvation? Is it your abilities, bank account, the people in your life, or your circumstances? Is it your religion? Is it how much time you spend serving in the church?
I think we can, if we are not careful, forget what our true source of strength and salvation is. It is grace. Grace is defined as, God's unmerited favor, His blessings toward us, and a gift from Him to us. God's grace is for everyone. His grace was demonstrated to us by the sacrifice of Christ on the cross. He paid for our sins. All of them. His Spirit works in us to give us strength for today and hope for eternity.
Grace is a relationship with Jesus. Not a religion. Accepting Jesus as our Lord and Savior is the way we receive God's grace.
If we are standing on anything other than the love, forgiveness and acceptance that God has for us in Christ, we are standing on very shaky ground.
So, what are you standing on?
"For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of His Son while we were still His enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of His Son. So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God." Romans 5:10,11 NLT
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Keeping It Simple
"I have had one message for Jews and Greeks alike—the necessity of repenting from sin and turning to God, and of having faith in our Lord Jesus." Acts 20:21 NLT
I think we have complicated the good news of Jesus Christ.
As a pastor, I feel that at times we have diluted the gospel so that people can swallow it without feeling bad about themselves or changing much. Is that fair? No, the truth is the truth and sometimes it hurts but we need to hear it as the Lord intended us to.
And then there is those times when we make it difficult for people to have a saving relationship with Jesus, not by hearing the true word but by making people jump through various hoops such as attending numerous classes, some with a very strong denominational bent. We make up church rules, protocol...Let's stop the madness!
The apostle Paul said he had one message for salvation; turn away from sin and turn to God, and put your faith in Jesus. I think if we could just focus on those three things, we would see God move in our lives and our world in a dramatic way.
Let's keep it simple.
"'I tell you the truth, anyone who believes has eternal life.'" John 6:47 NLT
I think we have complicated the good news of Jesus Christ.
As a pastor, I feel that at times we have diluted the gospel so that people can swallow it without feeling bad about themselves or changing much. Is that fair? No, the truth is the truth and sometimes it hurts but we need to hear it as the Lord intended us to.
And then there is those times when we make it difficult for people to have a saving relationship with Jesus, not by hearing the true word but by making people jump through various hoops such as attending numerous classes, some with a very strong denominational bent. We make up church rules, protocol...Let's stop the madness!
The apostle Paul said he had one message for salvation; turn away from sin and turn to God, and put your faith in Jesus. I think if we could just focus on those three things, we would see God move in our lives and our world in a dramatic way.
Let's keep it simple.
"'I tell you the truth, anyone who believes has eternal life.'" John 6:47 NLT
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Press On
"I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us." Philippians 3:12-14 NLT
I was golfing the other day with my friend Dwayne. I'm a lousy golfer. I mean really bad. I drove the ball off the tee. It wasn't great. In fact it was barely good. I said, "I can live with that." Dwayne said that statement would make a good sermon. I know what he meant. He saw that I had become content with good, or sort of good.
We settle in life. When you start a diet and are midway through, you start to see some progress. That's when many people fall back into weight gain. They take what little success they have had, and act as though they have arrived. We settle in relationships, habits, goals, and on and on. We forsake the best, for the good. Or barely good.
The apostle Paul knew the challenge of settling. That's why he said that in his relationship with Christ, he had to press on. Paul knew that God's strength, combined with his will, made an invincible combination. And the result would be worth the effort.
What have you settled for in life? Where have you thrown in the towel? What have you arrived at, only to find your still a long way off?
Press on toward Jesus!
I was golfing the other day with my friend Dwayne. I'm a lousy golfer. I mean really bad. I drove the ball off the tee. It wasn't great. In fact it was barely good. I said, "I can live with that." Dwayne said that statement would make a good sermon. I know what he meant. He saw that I had become content with good, or sort of good.
We settle in life. When you start a diet and are midway through, you start to see some progress. That's when many people fall back into weight gain. They take what little success they have had, and act as though they have arrived. We settle in relationships, habits, goals, and on and on. We forsake the best, for the good. Or barely good.
The apostle Paul knew the challenge of settling. That's why he said that in his relationship with Christ, he had to press on. Paul knew that God's strength, combined with his will, made an invincible combination. And the result would be worth the effort.
What have you settled for in life? Where have you thrown in the towel? What have you arrived at, only to find your still a long way off?
Press on toward Jesus!
Monday, March 23, 2009
Our Strength and Shield
"The Lord is my strength and shield.
I trust him with all my heart.
He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy.
I burst out in songs of thanksgiving."Psalm 28:7 NLT
I read this the other day and was encouraged. There are so many challenges in life. Just when we think that we have victory in one area of our life, we find a challenge in another.
King David, the writer of Psalm 28, had his share of challenges. Throughout his life he faced enemy nations, internal conspiracies, a broken family, the loss of children, and a broken marriage. He found his strength and protection in the Lord.
Today as we face our challenges we, like David of old, have the same strength and protection available to us. Reliance on the Lord Jesus Christ. Let's face it, sometimes we just can't take on our challenges and have success on our own strength.
The key to victory in Jesus is faith. David trusted God with his whole heart. That takes faith. Not faith in faith, but faith in Jesus. Faith is where the rubber hits the asphalt. I'm like the man in the Bible who told Jesus he believed. But he needed God's help with his unbelief. We can trust God. The key is to trust Him with our WHOLE heart.
Once we realize that we can trust God and give Him the innermost places of our hearts, something else happens. We get the victory in areas of our lives that were overwhelming us. Our response should be to break out in thanksgiving to God.
So, where do you find your source of strength and protection? Is it working? What about Jesus?
I trust him with all my heart.
He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy.
I burst out in songs of thanksgiving."Psalm 28:7 NLT
I read this the other day and was encouraged. There are so many challenges in life. Just when we think that we have victory in one area of our life, we find a challenge in another.
King David, the writer of Psalm 28, had his share of challenges. Throughout his life he faced enemy nations, internal conspiracies, a broken family, the loss of children, and a broken marriage. He found his strength and protection in the Lord.
Today as we face our challenges we, like David of old, have the same strength and protection available to us. Reliance on the Lord Jesus Christ. Let's face it, sometimes we just can't take on our challenges and have success on our own strength.
The key to victory in Jesus is faith. David trusted God with his whole heart. That takes faith. Not faith in faith, but faith in Jesus. Faith is where the rubber hits the asphalt. I'm like the man in the Bible who told Jesus he believed. But he needed God's help with his unbelief. We can trust God. The key is to trust Him with our WHOLE heart.
Once we realize that we can trust God and give Him the innermost places of our hearts, something else happens. We get the victory in areas of our lives that were overwhelming us. Our response should be to break out in thanksgiving to God.
So, where do you find your source of strength and protection? Is it working? What about Jesus?
Friday, March 20, 2009
Whose Fault?
"'The person who sins is the one who will die. The child will not be punished for the parent’s sins, and the parent will not be punished for the child’s sins. Righteous people will be rewarded for their own righteous behavior, and wicked people will be punished for their own wickedness.'" Ezekiel 18:20 NLT
Have you ever wondered if you were being punished or cursed for something your parents did wrong? We complain that certain sins run in our family. We even settle into accepting moral sins, addictions, bad habits and godlessness as our lot in life.
But do we have to?
The Bible is clear that each person has a choice. The choice to turn from a life of sin, and follow Jesus or continue on a self destructive course. The choice is personal. It's your's and mine. Christ offers forgiveness, healing and salvation to everyone that turns to Him. It doesn't matter what your past has been like.
It's easy to blame our family of origin for the problems in our lives. It's easy to settle into accepting a self destructive lifestyle. It's easy to do a lot of things. But Jesus did the hardest thing. He willingly laid down His life to pay the penalty of our sins, yes your's, and mine. He loves us, and offers us everlasting life.
So, what will you do?
“'Do you think that I like to see wicked people die? says the Sovereign Lord. Of course not! I want them to turn from their wicked ways and live. Put all your rebellion behind you, and find yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O people of Israel? I don’t want you to die, says the Sovereign Lord. Turn back and live!'" Ezekiel 18:23,31-32 NLT
Have you ever wondered if you were being punished or cursed for something your parents did wrong? We complain that certain sins run in our family. We even settle into accepting moral sins, addictions, bad habits and godlessness as our lot in life.
But do we have to?
The Bible is clear that each person has a choice. The choice to turn from a life of sin, and follow Jesus or continue on a self destructive course. The choice is personal. It's your's and mine. Christ offers forgiveness, healing and salvation to everyone that turns to Him. It doesn't matter what your past has been like.
It's easy to blame our family of origin for the problems in our lives. It's easy to settle into accepting a self destructive lifestyle. It's easy to do a lot of things. But Jesus did the hardest thing. He willingly laid down His life to pay the penalty of our sins, yes your's, and mine. He loves us, and offers us everlasting life.
So, what will you do?
“'Do you think that I like to see wicked people die? says the Sovereign Lord. Of course not! I want them to turn from their wicked ways and live. Put all your rebellion behind you, and find yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O people of Israel? I don’t want you to die, says the Sovereign Lord. Turn back and live!'" Ezekiel 18:23,31-32 NLT
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Everlasting Joy
"The poor will eat and be satisfied.
All who seek the Lord will praise Him.
Their hearts will rejoice with everlasting joy." Psalm 22:26 NLT
What are you seeking? What keeps eluding you? What do you hunger for?
Think about this. Everything that you desire, need, and are longing for can be found in a relationship with God. Jesus loves us more than we can fathom. He looks out for our good. In fact He looks out for our best. He describes His love for us as a husband passionately in love with his wife. Like a father who loves his child.
My challenge is that I start looking to this fallen world and myself to fill my greatest needs and desires. I'm always disappointed when I follow that course of action. When we start with God, we find that He gives us the desires of our hearts. When we pursue God, He moves in our lives with His Spirit. He gives us the gift of joy.
We live in a world that isn't full of much joy. Our joy is found in Christ. His joy is our strength. He pours out His love into our hearts. The wonderful part is that the bottom won't fall out. There is no time limit on God's joy for us. His joy in our lives is everlasting.
So, where are you seeking?
All who seek the Lord will praise Him.
Their hearts will rejoice with everlasting joy." Psalm 22:26 NLT
What are you seeking? What keeps eluding you? What do you hunger for?
Think about this. Everything that you desire, need, and are longing for can be found in a relationship with God. Jesus loves us more than we can fathom. He looks out for our good. In fact He looks out for our best. He describes His love for us as a husband passionately in love with his wife. Like a father who loves his child.
My challenge is that I start looking to this fallen world and myself to fill my greatest needs and desires. I'm always disappointed when I follow that course of action. When we start with God, we find that He gives us the desires of our hearts. When we pursue God, He moves in our lives with His Spirit. He gives us the gift of joy.
We live in a world that isn't full of much joy. Our joy is found in Christ. His joy is our strength. He pours out His love into our hearts. The wonderful part is that the bottom won't fall out. There is no time limit on God's joy for us. His joy in our lives is everlasting.
So, where are you seeking?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)