|
BLOGGING THE BIBLE
| |
|
Getting Them To See
REFERENCE: II Corinthians 4:4,6 Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don´t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don´t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God. . . .6 For God, who said, "Let there be light in the darkness," has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.
Observation: This passage gives us, at once, our challenge and our opportunity as witnessing Christians. We may wonder why non-Christian friends don´t see what is so obvious; that God is real and truly interested in their lives. We see it all around us in creation. God speaks to our hearts and lives with us day to day. Yet, they seem so oblivious to it.
Now we know why! Satan has put a bag over their heads. They are blinded, truly unable to perceive the truth about the spiritual realm. It simply does not make sense to them.
What is the good news? God can, and does bring revelation. God can cause the light of truth to shine in their hearts so that they can know who Jesus is. No human can us the reasoning of their mind alone to find God. He has to reveal Himself to them. Our mental capacities are too small.
What is our job? It is to pray and share the truth with them but, mostly, to pray. It is in prayer that we release this light, this truth, this understanding into their souls so that they can respond. Then we can be ready to share the truth that they are not ready to hear.
Application/Confession: I am guilty of not praying for my unsaved friends like I ought to. As I think about them even now, I realize how much they need a revelation of who God is. I need to be more faithful in asking God to make that happen.
PRAYER: Lord, put a deep desire in my heart to stand in faith through prayer for my friends to have their eyes opened to You. Please keep that burden on my heart and my I be faithful to fulfill it.
|
Comments (
0
) :: Post A Comment!
:: Permanent Link
|
|
What Kind Of Letter Are You writing?
REFERENCE: II Corinthians 3:3 Clearly, you are a letter from Christ showing the result of our ministry among you. This "letter" is written not with pen and ink, but with the Spirit of the living God. It is carved not on tablets of stone, but on human hearts.
Observation: Everyone of us are leaving "letters" in our wake. The peoples lives we touch are either better or worse because of our interactions with them - especially our family and children. A brilliant speaker on the subject of communication made the point; there are no neutral communication interactions. They will either add to the relationship and well being of the person we are talking to or subtract from it. There are no simply factual, non-emotional conversations.
If that is true then we need to consider carefully what we are communicating in each interaction with our words, gestures, body and facial expressions. We can not afford to lazy and pretend that it does not matter. We are writing our influence into other people. Lets make those letters ones of love and encouragement; ones that will make people better instead of worn down.
Application/Confession: I am learning to be a better listener and interpersonal communicator, but I need to learn to do even more. I want to leave a legacy of people stronger and more confident because of what I have written on their lives - especially my wife and kids.
PRAYER: Lord, put a watch over my mouth - not just so I wont say the wrong thing, but so that I will be transmitting Your grace and love to those You have put into my life. I want to be writing the best letter possible on their hearts.
|
Comments (
0
) :: Post A Comment!
:: Permanent Link
|
|
Pay Off Your Debt and Get Free!
REFERENCE: Proverbs 22:7 Just as the rich rule the poor, so the borrower is servant to the lender.
Observation: Consider this information about Credit Card debt in the United States:
According to American Consumer Credit Counseling, the total U.S. credit card debt in the first quarter of 2002 was approximately $60 billion. The average credit card interest rate is around 18.9%.
Approximately half of all credit card holders pay only their minimum monthly requirements. There are a total of 1.2 billion credit and retail cards in North America. The average American household is solicited seven times a year by credit card companies.
The Motley Fool's Credit Center features several more mind-blowing statistics:
- Total consumer credit: $1.7 trillion.
- Credit card debt carried by the average American: $8,562.
- Total finance charges Americans paid in 2001: $50 billion.
- Percent of U.S. households deemed credit worthy by the lending industry: 78%.
- Number of credit card holders who declared bankruptcy last year: 1.3 million.
Imagine if that $50 billion could be used to expand the Kingdom of God and help the poor instead of wasted on interest. God does not want His kids to be the servant of anyone except Him. Too often we are unable to give like God would want us to. We are unable to bless our families like we would want to. We are under stress and anxiety and it is all because of the debt we carry.
There seems to be more and more evidence that God is calling His people to be free from debt and free to do as He asks us to. Next year in our church we are going to start a campaign to pay off personal and church debt. We want to be free.
Application/Confession: I currently have no ongoing credit card debt. Praise God. Now I am working on the mentality of living beneath my means instead of at (or slightly above) them. I want to live within financial margins.
PRAYER: Lord, I don´t want to be anyone´s servant but Yours. Bless me, help me and enable me to stay free from credit card debt and to live within the margins You have set out for me.
|
Comments (
0
) :: Post A Comment!
:: Permanent Link
|
|
Being Kind To The Poor Is Smart
REFERENCE: Psalms 41:1-3 Oh, the joys of those who are kind to the poor! The Lord rescues them when they are in trouble. 2 The Lord protects them and keeps them alive. He gives them prosperity in the land and rescues them from their enemies. 3 The Lord nurses them when they are sick and restores them to health.
Observation: I don´t feel like we in the church do a real good job being as kind to the poor as we ought to be. Perhaps the suburban church simply does not have the poor on its radar. They are not those that we associate with on a day to day basis.
Yet, here we discover that caring for the poor can be a great benefit, not only to them, but to us as well. If we do so, God is promising that He will rescue us from trouble, protect us, give us prosperity and restore our health. It seems like a great deal that every God-follower ought to take advantage of.
Application/Confession: I care for the poor. I personally am friends with some of them. But, I could do more and seeing what God promises to me if I do it, I have decided that I will. I give to an organization that feeds the hungry. I will give more. The church I pastor has a benevolence fund. I am going to start giving to it each month and expect a greater blessing from God.
PRAYER: Lord, I give to the poor and I am going to give more. I as You to fulfill Your Word and give me the prosperity I need.
|
Comments (
0
) :: Post A Comment!
:: Permanent Link
|
|
Who Ya Gonna Trust?
REFERENCE: II Corinthians 1:8b-9 We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it. 9 In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead.
Observation: It seems that it is only when we are totally overwhelmed that we are final willing to stop relying on ourselves and rely only on God. Unfortunately, if there is any way we can see a possibility of handling it ourselves, that is usually the route we will take.
Perhaps the reason God allows grievous trials in our lives is because that is what it takes for us to turn to Him. How sad, and how unnecessary. If we would simply choose to rely on God at all times, we would avoid a lot of trials and pain.
Application/Confession: I need to rely on God more. I know that I can reason well. I know that I can work really hard. Too often I conclude that if I think hard and work hard I can work my way out of any problem. Instead, I want to turn to God at the first sign of trouble. In fact, I want to make it a habit to rely on Him before trouble shows up. That is where real safety is.
PRAYER: Lord, I choose to be dependant on You. Forgive me for my tendency toward self-reliance and remind me that to be dependant on You is the only safe and wise way to go.
|
Comments (
0
) :: Post A Comment!
:: Permanent Link
|
|
A Life Redeemed
REFERENCE: Job 19:25 But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and he will stand upon the earth at last.
Observation: Sometimes we just need to know, in the midst of dark times, hard times, that someone is there to redeem it - to make something out of the pain that we are in. Here Job is stating in faith that he believes, he knows that God will redeem all that has happened in his life. If he can believe it, after all he dealt with, so can we.
Job calls God his redeemer. It is not just that he is expecting God to pluck him out of his problems, but that God is going to work something good out of it. We need to believe that as well. No matter how bad our lives get, God is working out something good, if we are submitted to His will.
Application/Confession: I intend to stand firm and believe that God is working out good in the midst of the pressure and anxiety. He is working out good in me in being the father of a handicapped child. He is working out good in me in the midst of financial pressures. He will not just get thorough this, if I let Him and work with Him, He will redeem it, make it all worth something. I absolutely believe that.
PRAYER: Lord, teach me to trust you. Teach me to say, with Job, "I know that my redeemer lives". Teach me to see life with eyes of faith.
|
Comments (
0
) :: Post A Comment!
:: Permanent Link
|
|
Enthusiastic and Effective Service
REFERENCE: 1 Corinthians 15:58 So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.
Application/Confession: Perhaps this verse is just for me. There are times when I am feeling anything but strong and immovable. It is an encouragement to remember that nothing I do for the Lord is ever useless. On those days that I feel like I am just spinning my wheels - trying hard but not getting much done for the kingdom, I am glad that God knows my heart and not just my output.
PRAYER: Lord, I always need Your strength. The only way I am going to be immoveable and enthusiastic is if You make me so by Your grace. Lord, help me! I am so thankful that You know my heart and my commitment to serving you. Help me to have the joy that comes doing Your will.
|
Comments (
0
) :: Post A Comment!
:: Permanent Link
|
|
It´s God´s Fault!
REFERENCE: 1 Corinthians 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them - yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.
Observation: How do we change? How do we come what we are supposed to be? Is it through trying harder, turning down the screws and "making" ourselves different? Paul says here that he is what he is by the grace of God. We can see that statement in two ways;
1. When Paul needed to change, when we need to change, it is the grace of God (a gift from Him) that brings that change. So, instead of taking responsibility to make the change happen our job is to put our selves closer to the one who has the power to change us. It certainly involves our will. God wants to know that we really want to change, He never violates our will. Yet, our will is necessary, but far from sufficient. We need to look to Him, to lean on Him, for change.
2. We are what we are because God has made us as we are. We may wish that we were more articulate, outgoing, or gifted but God knows what He is doing. Our call is to relax in what God has made us and to do what He has given us to do with our gifts.
Application/Confession: Paul´s statement "I am what I am by the grace of God" is, at once, a great comfort and a great source of distress. Comfort because I can realize that God does not expect more from me than what He has gifted me to do. That is far less than the expectations I put on myself. Distress because I want to be so much more!! I want to be more gifted. I want to accomplish so much more for God´s Kingdom and I have to realize that it is in God´s hands and not mine. That is frustrating but ultimately, if I can get my heart around it, totally freeing.
PRAYER: Lord, thank You for what Your grace has made me. Teach me to live in that calling with great peace and joy. Help me to give up trying to be more than Your grace has made possible.
|
Comments (
0
) :: Post A Comment!
:: Permanent Link
|
|
Proper, Orderly and Powerful!
REFERENCE: I Corinthians 5:39 So, my dear brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and don´t forbid speaking in tongues. 40 But be sure that everything is done properly and in order.
Observation: Why can't the church find this simple and beautiful balance the Paul suggested? Either we distain supernational "stuff" like prophecy, feeling that it is too dangerous or that too many people simply get it wrong, or we forget about doing things "properly and in order" and just let people do what ever they feel like doing in the name of the Holy Spirit in the church service.
How great when we get it right. Especially as a pastor I need to make sure that the church is eager to prophecy--that the prophetic is accepted and encouraged in our services. Yet it needs to be done in a way that does not push away the unbeliever or uninitiated. These so-called power gifts can have tremendously positive results in people's lives as they discover that God cares enough about them to talk to them and give them direction.
On the other hand, an "anything goes" atmophere, without pastoral wisdom, is a recipe for turning people off and turning them away from God. We need, as the church, true power with great wisdom, discernment and discretion.
Application/Confession: I am constantly asking God to raise up the prophetic in me. I want to live out an attitude of desire to see God move in power in the church gathered and I want to be a part of it. I also always want to have the wisdom and courage, as a pastor, to gently but firmly deal with things when ever they become improper or disorderly. It takes guts, but it is important if the church is going to experience the moving of the Holy Spirit without undue division or strife.
| | |
