I've been working my way through first and second everything over the past month. This morning in 1 Chronicles I found this advice to Solomon from his father King David, I am quoting directly from the Life Application Study Bible.
1. Get to know God personally.
2. Learn God's commands and discover what he wants you to do.
3. Worship God with a perfect heart.
4. Serve God with a willing mind.
5. Be faithful.
6. Don't become discouraged.
In this season of thanksgiving, I am truly thankful for the wisdom found in God's word. My prayer for all is to have the courage to apply God's words to our lives.
Monday, November 30, 2009
Friday, November 20, 2009
Lukewarm
I have recently finished reading “Crazy Love” by Francis Chan. In the book Chan talks about lukewarm Christians and says they won’t make it into the kingdom of heaven. This statement does not sit well for many readers of the book. Chan goes on and gives examples of what it means to be a Christ follower and examines the Gospels message of Christ to us. He discusses at length lukewarm believers.
In Revelation 3:16 John writes “So because you are lukewarm-neither hot nor cold-I am about to spit you out of my mouth.” The Greek word for spit is actually the word for vomit, Jesus seems to say lukewarm Christianity literally makes him sick and he will vomit lukewarm believers out of his mouth. That is not a pleasing thought or image if one considers himself a lukewarm believer.
Matthew 7:21-23 21"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' 23Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!' Verse 24 goes on to read “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.”
Lukewarm Christians show up on Sunday and get their fill for the week. God is not thought of the other days of the week, nor is He an influence in the way lives are lead. Church is an obligation or a duty to fulfill just like any other task in our routines. Boring, mundane, next task please. That’s tepid Christianity.
God is a verb. Following Him leads to action. “He who does the will of my Father in heaven.” “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice.”
The will of God is found in Luke 10:27 He answered: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' "
Love God, serve others. There is nothing lukewarm in that.
In Revelation 3:16 John writes “So because you are lukewarm-neither hot nor cold-I am about to spit you out of my mouth.” The Greek word for spit is actually the word for vomit, Jesus seems to say lukewarm Christianity literally makes him sick and he will vomit lukewarm believers out of his mouth. That is not a pleasing thought or image if one considers himself a lukewarm believer.
Matthew 7:21-23 21"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' 23Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!' Verse 24 goes on to read “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.”
Lukewarm Christians show up on Sunday and get their fill for the week. God is not thought of the other days of the week, nor is He an influence in the way lives are lead. Church is an obligation or a duty to fulfill just like any other task in our routines. Boring, mundane, next task please. That’s tepid Christianity.
God is a verb. Following Him leads to action. “He who does the will of my Father in heaven.” “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice.”
The will of God is found in Luke 10:27 He answered: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' "
Love God, serve others. There is nothing lukewarm in that.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Point of View
Over the weekend I realized I take my faith for granted. Now I often have secretly expected that I do or have in the past. Most of do, or have, or will. Faith becomes familair, comfortable, and routinue. Yes true faith can ebb and flow like any other relationship or part of our lives, without being controversial, faith can become boring.
We meet the one, our hearts burn with desire and love, we marry, children come, the heart burning with love ebbs, the inferno becomes embers. Over time, we take people for granted, the spectacular becomes mundane. Hopefully something will reignite the old fire.
Last weekend Kelly and I met a woman who rekindle my faith. In all my life I have never heard a testimony quite like hers, she shared openly and without prodding. The testimony that rekindle my faith went like this. "There is no god." There was no room for discussion, dialogue, or debate. Simply and emphatically without any emotion she repeated herself god does not exist. You see she was taught from the time she could remember that "religion was the opiate of the masses." She was born and raised is Russia, in Russia the state teaches there is no god, she is a good Russian and listens to the state.
I/we have been blessed to live in a country and in homes that love the Lord, we were brought up that way, and we take that way for granted. I will stop. No matter how emphatically the world says god is a lie, I will not believe it. I will breathe his love and I will share his love. His love will not be tamed,or taken for granted. If we his followers don't share his love who will?
To my friend from Russia: He lived, died, was buried, on the third day he rose. I hope others tell you the same, I hope you believe them just as you believed the state.
We meet the one, our hearts burn with desire and love, we marry, children come, the heart burning with love ebbs, the inferno becomes embers. Over time, we take people for granted, the spectacular becomes mundane. Hopefully something will reignite the old fire.
Last weekend Kelly and I met a woman who rekindle my faith. In all my life I have never heard a testimony quite like hers, she shared openly and without prodding. The testimony that rekindle my faith went like this. "There is no god." There was no room for discussion, dialogue, or debate. Simply and emphatically without any emotion she repeated herself god does not exist. You see she was taught from the time she could remember that "religion was the opiate of the masses." She was born and raised is Russia, in Russia the state teaches there is no god, she is a good Russian and listens to the state.
I/we have been blessed to live in a country and in homes that love the Lord, we were brought up that way, and we take that way for granted. I will stop. No matter how emphatically the world says god is a lie, I will not believe it. I will breathe his love and I will share his love. His love will not be tamed,or taken for granted. If we his followers don't share his love who will?
To my friend from Russia: He lived, died, was buried, on the third day he rose. I hope others tell you the same, I hope you believe them just as you believed the state.
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