Connect

I hope you were in church this weekend to hear Ben speak on the importance of being connected in a small group or class with others. This truth resonates in our souls, we are created to exist in community with others. We instinctively crave connections with others. Without community we suffer physically, mentally, and spiritually. Over the weekend I read The Prodigal God, by Timothy Keller. In it he writes:

Christians commonly say they want a relationship with Jesus; they want to “get to know Jesus better.” You will never be able to do that by yourself. You must be deeply involved in the church, in Christian community, with strong relationships of love and accountability. Only if you are a part of a community of believers seeking to resemble, serve, and love Jesus will you ever get to know him and grow into his likeness.

I think this is an excellent summary of what we know to be true. As group leaders you are making it possible for others to get to know Jesus and to grow in his likeness.

I had two interesting conversations this weekend with “mature” Christians. Two men, both who love and serve the Lord, and neither one of them are currently plugged into a group. What surprised me is that I assumed they were both in groups, they have been in the past and know that’s where growth and real life transformation takes place. The lesson for me was simple. Be proactive, ask and invite, encourage everyone to be in a group, especially the ones we think already are.

Thanks for your time and effort to make this semester’s Group Life launch successful.

Enlist

Rev 19:14
The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean.

I've come to realize, that although I have never registered to serve in our nations military, I am enlisted in the army. The armies of heaven... When we choose to follow Christ with our lives we become part of his heavenly army. Substitute your name for the word armies.

(Your name here) of heaven was following him, riding on a white horse and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. As a Christ follower we are in his army. Our uniform is the finest linen, of the brightest white. A battle has been fought on our behalf and we have been made clean and bright.

I've never been in the military but I do understand marching orders.
You will be my witnesses.
Go and make disciples.
Take care of widows and orphans and do not become corrupted by the world.

The you is plural, it includes all followers of Christ. We have our orders, time to march.

Purge

For many the Old Testament is merely a collection of stories and wise sayings. They find no 21st century application in those writings. Yet, if they would look a little closer they would awaken to the truth, wisdom, and guidance found in those pages.

Josiah became king at the tender age of eight. 2Chron 34:2 "He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD and walked in the ways of his father David, not turning aside to the right or to the left."

Josiah's father and grandfather were wicked in the eyes of the LORD. He did not have a role model or a father figure to follow. He simply looked at the kingdom and knew that something was wrong, and he knew he was going to change that. Josiah began to destroy an desecrate all the temples and high places used for idol worship. He went through out the land removing the vile practices. He did all of this without knowing the law.

God's law had been hidden in the temple. His father nor grandfather heeded the law, they had no need for it. It lay hidden in plain view, out of sight and out of mind. When the book of law was found and read Josiah greatly grieved, he realized how far the nation of Israel had strayed from God.

Do we too hide the law in the temples of our homes? Is the LORD's will and word hidden in plain view on the shelf we keep our bibles? Isn't an unused bible hidden? Josiah didn't have the law, yet he knew something was terribly wrong and he purged the land.

Where are the altars and temples in our lives that need purging and destruction? Can we see those blindspots apart from God? God reveals his will to us in his word. May his decrees never be hidden in a temple of our own making, may we never hide his word in plain view, may we never hide God's word in a temple of our own making.

Hatred and Enemies

James 4:4 reads: You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.

Tough words, tough times, tough world, because so many only focus on the here and now. Valuing the things the world esteems is hatred towards God. All the world has to offer adds up to nothing, it won't last. Those things will fade and rust away long before forever. The world's offerings and finest goods come with expiration dates, built in obsolescence. What can't last forever won't

Befriending the world, allying with the world is a declaration of war on God. We become his enemy. We go to war without ever sizing up the opposition.

While we were still sinners, that is to say enemies of God, Christ died for us. We fail to size up God because we cannot fathom the unfathomable. We cannot comprehend the mind of God. Us, enemies with him, at war with Him, and yet while we wage war, He died for us. The world will never offer that, yet God has.

Two Wisdoms

The world contains wisdom. The wisdom of the world clings to us like the strands of a spider web accidentally wandered into. It's like the odor of smoke, it permeates the fabric of our lives. We are surrounded and immersed in a wisdom that says, "Me first", "If it feels good it can't be that bad", "If it feels good do it."

The wisdom of the world can only carry us so far or so long. That wisdom last about 75 years. The same wisdom tells us the bible is a compilation of stories and essays that make a good read, and that's all.

Heaven's wisdom is far different. It is pure, just as God is pure. There is no stain or odor on the fabric of heaven's wisdom. Wisdom from heaven loves peace. It's not quarrelsome or argumentative, it doesn't have to have the last word. The wisdom from heaven is simply the word. Wisdom from heaven is considerate-it's not the hammer and we're the nail. It's considerate of all our short comings; it knows our desires. Heaven's wisdom is submissive to God's will, as we are when we submit to wisdom.

Heaven's wisdom is full of mercy. Overflowing mercy, saturating, permeating, mercy that penetrates the fabric of our lives. Heaven's wisdom produces good fruit. It promotes and encourages placing others first, wisdom from heaven eases suffering. Heaven's wisdom is impartial, no favorites or favoritism allowed. Heaven's wisdom is is sincere, it's from the heart, God's heart. This wisdom last without end. This wisdom is given in love and is love, God's love for all.

Sliding

Psalm 73, 2-3
(2)But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold. (3) For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

What happens when we take our eyes off the goal of eternity Christ? The psalmist says we loose our footing, we trip up, we slip, we loose our foothold. When our focus switches from God to the world, we envy. We envy the prosperity of the wicked. We become discontent with who we are, with where we are, with who we are with, with what we have. We give up God's standards for man's standards. We give up the eternal for the temporary.

Power, beauty, fame, and fortune, these are the things the world values. We stumble over the prosperity of the wicked. Power weakens, beauty fades, fame flees, fortunes dwindle. Distracted we become discontented, discontented we become self centered. Suffering follows.

Who will feed the hungry? Who comforts the uncomforted? Who will defend the defenseless? The one who has heard "love others as yourself." In disobedience we envy. In obedience, we give the things the world values a passing glance. In obedience alone, are grace and mercy found. When we find them, we can give them. When we give them, God's ways are our ways.

Knowing Jesus

To know Jesus is to sit under his teaching.
To know Jesus is to follow his teachings.
To know Jesus is to be Jesus to others.
To know Jesus is to serve others.
To know Jesus is to rise up others.
To know Jesus is to lose self importance.
To know Jesus is to live.
To know Jesus is to know God.

The great mystery in knowing God is found in knowing Jesus. Knowing Jesus begins with a step in faith.