John 13:35 11/24/15

John 13:35
³⁵ By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

Jesus says the proof the world will use to determine whether or not you follow Him, is how you treat each other.   

Based on that criteria alone, could you be convicted of being a Christian? 

If you had to take off the Cross necklace, the  christian T-shirt, the fish sticker off your car, and couldn't point to church attendance...would a jury convict you of following Christ because of your love for others? 

Strip away all the external trappings  -  and honestly consider that question.  

If , with no other information, the jury watched how you treat your family,  how you treat the waiter at the restaurant, what you put on social media ....would they think you treat others in a way that marks you as a disciple of Christ?

Jesus says that loving each other is the only admissible evidence that the world will consider.

Let's be guilty beyond a  reasonable doubt.... Lets go out and perform acts of kindness, give to those in need, offer forgiveness to those who have hurt us.  This, and this alone validates our witness in the world's eyes, and earns us the right to be heard regarding our faith.

By the way, the world is right.  If we love God, we will love each other - and  it will show.

"You can give without loving, but you can never love without giving" - Robert Louis Stevenson

Acts 19:13-15 Joshua 24:15 11/17/15

¹³ Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, “In the name of the Jesus whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out.” ........ ¹⁵ One day the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?”

The demon's answer is interesting .  The evil spirit obviously knew Jesus.  And there is a good bible study in the question "who are you?"...  But what I want to discuss today is that fact that the evil spirit had heard of Paul.

The demon knew about Paul because he was an impact player for the Kingdom of God. Paul was preaching the Word, planting churches, and living his life completely committed to Christ. He was focused on the business of God, and was being used by God to make a difference.

Let me jump right to the challenge.  Are you living a life so filled with the power of the Cross that the enemy knows your name?  Are you a difference maker?  Do you treat your family in a way that glorifies God?  Do you conduct business with an integrity that points to Christ?  Is making disciples "your" great commission?

It all comes down to focus....Jesus said you can not serve two masters....
Are you pursuing the shallow, meaningless trinkets this world offers, or are you running with reckless abandon toward the cross?

God has given you the power to do great things.. But it's your choice.  Choose today to serve one Master, start living in a way that advances the Kingdom of God, and by God's power the gates of hell will know who you are.

.... choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve,.... But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”  Joshua 24:15

Matthew 5: 23 11/10/15

Matthew 5: ²³ “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, ²⁴ leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.

Many people interpret this passage to say that you cannot properly give an offering to God when you are alienated from others.

 While that is accurate, in context, it may mean more.  These verses speak of the importance of never leaving disagreements unsettled.   Jesus is teaching on the commandment not to kill, and adds that even those who are "angry" with their brother are in "danger of judgement".  He then highlights the importance of reconciliation and says, no matter what you're doing, even if you have begun to worship... if you remember an offence ....stop, and go fix it.

 In our culture people say that "time heals all wounds", but that is not true. Time does not heal all wounds, in fact it deepens some . Small disagreements, left untreated,  become huge divides that never heal.  There are instances where people literally don't remember the original issue, but since it was never addressed,  their relationships remain broken.

Anger and bitterness need nothing but darkness to grow.

Jesus says immediately shine light on them.

No matter what you're doing, if you remember an issue, go deal with it.  Don't let it take root. If God brings it to your mind...go do what you can to fix it.

Nothing is more painful, than the realization that you have wasted years being too prideful or busy to go to a friend or family member and try to show them that you love them too much to be apart.

whatever it is....do it now.

Mark 4:37 Romans 8:39 11/4/2015

Mark 4:³⁷ A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. ³⁸ Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” ³⁹ He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. ⁴⁰ He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid?  Do you still have no faith?”

The last question in this passage sometimes goes unnoticed as we try to comprehend a man who can tell the sea to "Be Still!".  But the question is important.

Jesus asks His disciples,  "do you still have no faith?", and I think emphasis was on the word "Still".....At this point they had lived and walked with Jesus...they had watched Him drive out demons, heal the sick, tell the crippled to walk, and much, more

...yet when danger arouse they still panicked, and questioned his plan, power, and affection for them.

How many times, when our personal worlds are threatened, do we become self absorbed -  asking "God do you not care?" ....And how many times must He think "do you STILL have no faith?" Have you forgotten the times I have blessed you?  Have you forgotten the times I have delivered you?  Have you forgotten the price I paid to redeem your soul?

We have to resist the temptation to become self centered, and dramatic in our trials.

We must remember that the One we pray to tells the storm to "Be Still!" and it obeys. We must remember the miracles performed that have brought us to this point....and above all we must remember that His love for us is undeniable and limitless...." neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:39)