Your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope. Faith produces works, love results in labor, and hope leads to endurance. These three, faith, hope, and love all come to us through Christ. When we obey, these three flow through us.
Faith in Jesus produces good works in us. Love from Jesus and for him prompts holy and righteous labor. Hope in Jesus results gives us the endurance to continue on.
As a Christ follower, the goal for me is to learn all I can and to grow all I can so that I may be available for the work God has prepared for me in advance. I don't grow for the sake of growing, I grow so that I may be useful in pointing others to Christ. Being a Christ follower means to do as he did.
He came, he healed, he taught, he died, he rose. He did that all out of love. He was and is the chosen one, the messiah. Never once did he deviate from his divine mission. He gave love because he is love. He gave hope because he is hope. He is faithful, and because of that we have faith. When we love God and love others we are love, hope, and faith to the world.
Faith in him leads to faith in others, love from him leads to loving others, hope in him brings hope to the world. Faith, hope, and love, three reasons we grow.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Trust
What is it that I and others trust in? Do we trust in the power of money? Do we trust in the power that we think money will provide us with? Do we desire the power we think money will provide? Recent economic circumstances have reduced fortunes great and small to shadows of their former glory. The answer is clear, wealth alone does not last and cannot be relied upon or trusted in.
Do we trust in our government and elected officials? This too seems to be folly, our leaders are no different from us. Vanity and ego's get in the way of potential, theirs and mine. We are more like than unlike, that makes trust tough. What then, is left to trust in? For me it's not what is left to trust in, it is who is left to trust in.
God is who he says he is. "I am who am." God does what he says he will do. God calls us to him. Do we listen for his voice, can we recognize his voice?
The Pharisees and Sadducee's were amazed by Jesus. They marvelled at his teachings and miracles. After they marvelled, scriptures tell us they left him and went away. (Mt 22:22) It's possible to marvel at Christ without following him. It's also possible to marvel and follow after him, trust this truth.
Do we trust in our government and elected officials? This too seems to be folly, our leaders are no different from us. Vanity and ego's get in the way of potential, theirs and mine. We are more like than unlike, that makes trust tough. What then, is left to trust in? For me it's not what is left to trust in, it is who is left to trust in.
God is who he says he is. "I am who am." God does what he says he will do. God calls us to him. Do we listen for his voice, can we recognize his voice?
The Pharisees and Sadducee's were amazed by Jesus. They marvelled at his teachings and miracles. After they marvelled, scriptures tell us they left him and went away. (Mt 22:22) It's possible to marvel at Christ without following him. It's also possible to marvel and follow after him, trust this truth.
Friday, February 5, 2010
Prayer
Prayer is an implicit part of the Bible in both the Old and New Testaments. There are powerful mighty prayers in the text. Solomon dedicates the temple in prayer and celebration. His prayer goes on for 29 verses it is a prayer written and delivered by the wisest man who ever lived.
Examine the gospels, make a note on how many times Jesus went off to pray. He does it frequently, often, and with out end. His dying words were a prayer. "Forgive them Father." The disciples implored him to teach them to pray. Paul says to pray without ceasing.
Why then is it so hard to pray? The Pharisees would pray often, yet it seems the only benefit to their prayers were people thought them holy. They had daily prayers one which was something like this: Thank God I am not woman, slave, or gentile (non-Jew/sinner). That doesn't seem like much of a prayer.
Is it possible prayer is confused with a shopping list for God we say in desperation? Please God, don't let him/her/my parents find out what I've done. Please don't let me be pregnant, please don't let the drugs show up on the test, please hide my failings without consequences. Almost as if we want God to hide our misdeeds from those they will hurt so we will not be forced to deal with the damage the truth will cause.
Prayer is difficult. It confronts us with a Just and Holy God, whom we have nothing in common. He is perfect we are flawed. He is righteous we are unrighteous. He is just and we are unjust. Prayer brings us into a holiness we do not deserve to enter into. In prayer we pray for patience, we don't get it though. Instead God gives us situations to be patient in so that we mature. We ask God to change someone, he says no, you're the one who needs to change. We say yeah but look at them, they need to change. God says let me take care of them.
Prayer causes flaws to be illuminated. We are allowed in His presence by grace, that grace is given freely. His presence is where prayer takes us. In his presence we are confronted with two truths. We see the truth about us, more importantly we see the truth of Him. If we are truly listening all prayers are always answered, sometimes we don't like the answers, yet they are answered.
Prayer allows growth.
Examine the gospels, make a note on how many times Jesus went off to pray. He does it frequently, often, and with out end. His dying words were a prayer. "Forgive them Father." The disciples implored him to teach them to pray. Paul says to pray without ceasing.
Why then is it so hard to pray? The Pharisees would pray often, yet it seems the only benefit to their prayers were people thought them holy. They had daily prayers one which was something like this: Thank God I am not woman, slave, or gentile (non-Jew/sinner). That doesn't seem like much of a prayer.
Is it possible prayer is confused with a shopping list for God we say in desperation? Please God, don't let him/her/my parents find out what I've done. Please don't let me be pregnant, please don't let the drugs show up on the test, please hide my failings without consequences. Almost as if we want God to hide our misdeeds from those they will hurt so we will not be forced to deal with the damage the truth will cause.
Prayer is difficult. It confronts us with a Just and Holy God, whom we have nothing in common. He is perfect we are flawed. He is righteous we are unrighteous. He is just and we are unjust. Prayer brings us into a holiness we do not deserve to enter into. In prayer we pray for patience, we don't get it though. Instead God gives us situations to be patient in so that we mature. We ask God to change someone, he says no, you're the one who needs to change. We say yeah but look at them, they need to change. God says let me take care of them.
Prayer causes flaws to be illuminated. We are allowed in His presence by grace, that grace is given freely. His presence is where prayer takes us. In his presence we are confronted with two truths. We see the truth about us, more importantly we see the truth of Him. If we are truly listening all prayers are always answered, sometimes we don't like the answers, yet they are answered.
Prayer allows growth.
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Christmas
So many great things have been written about Christmas over the years that by now all that needs to be said has been said. While that may be true, the audience keeps changing so the story must continually be told to an ever increasing and expanding audience.Go and make disciples.
The Christmas season is not bound and contained by the month of December. If we look close enough we can find it year round. 2009 brought many Christmas memories for me, few of them in December. But God revealed them to us through his Spirit.
In February I traveled to Africa and witnessed hunger, poverty, and despair in the slums of Nairobi. I also witnessed hope, love, and Christmas in those slums. Christmas came in the form of men and women who have dedicated their lives to sharing Jesus Christ, and providing a way out of poverty through education. These men and women have a vision of eliminating poverty and ignorance through the power of the Holy Spirit. Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hear us
As I prepared the message for Good Friday, I explored what Jesus meant when he said it is finished. Jesus forever ended our separation from him. We would never again have to be isolated or alone. Christmas came on the cross when Christ gave us the most precious gift, his life for ours. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Christmas came again to me in October as I shared the life giving message of Jesus Christ with a cancer patient days before her death. Although I do not know where she placed her faith for the majority of her life, I do know where her faith was when she went home to be with Christ.
Three days from now it will be Christmas. This year the only gift I want is the ability to always remember my role in the Christmas story, and to live it out. You will be my witnesses...
Merry Christmas
The Christmas season is not bound and contained by the month of December. If we look close enough we can find it year round. 2009 brought many Christmas memories for me, few of them in December. But God revealed them to us through his Spirit.
In February I traveled to Africa and witnessed hunger, poverty, and despair in the slums of Nairobi. I also witnessed hope, love, and Christmas in those slums. Christmas came in the form of men and women who have dedicated their lives to sharing Jesus Christ, and providing a way out of poverty through education. These men and women have a vision of eliminating poverty and ignorance through the power of the Holy Spirit. Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hear us
As I prepared the message for Good Friday, I explored what Jesus meant when he said it is finished. Jesus forever ended our separation from him. We would never again have to be isolated or alone. Christmas came on the cross when Christ gave us the most precious gift, his life for ours. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Christmas came again to me in October as I shared the life giving message of Jesus Christ with a cancer patient days before her death. Although I do not know where she placed her faith for the majority of her life, I do know where her faith was when she went home to be with Christ.
Three days from now it will be Christmas. This year the only gift I want is the ability to always remember my role in the Christmas story, and to live it out. You will be my witnesses...
Merry Christmas
Monday, November 30, 2009
Parental Advice
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.
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.
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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