Revelation 4:4-5 " Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen!"
Interesting comment to a church that appeared to be dong well.
The Church at Ephesus had just been commended for hard work, perseverance, not tolerating sin, and enduring persecution and hardship. Many would say that is a vibrant, healthy church.
Yet even after acknowledging their work, God had a problem with them. It wasn't "what" they were doing - it was "why"... They were serving with their heads, and not their hearts. They had fallen into the trap of religion.
God's response to this was direct and forceful..." I will remove your lamp stand"... in other words, I can't use you to illuminate the world, if your heart doesn't burn for me.
So the obvious question to us is - why do we do what we do? Is it from an overflow of our heart?...or have we been tripped up by religion as well?
God wants you to remember how if felt when you first understood what Christ had done for you.
He wants you to spend time reminiscing about the moment you first realized that God actually loves you. Re-kindle the amazement you had at His grace, and make sure your heart still glows with it's "first love".
Your lamp stand can only be effective if the lamp it holds burns true and bright with the gospel and the love of God. He has no need for the light of religion and tradition.
"Consider how far you have fallen". Abandon your rituals and traditions and set out today to serve God with a heart re-ignited by the love and gratitude you have for what He did on The Cross. Do the things you did before, share your love for Christ and the amazing grace that pulled you from the darkness of sin. This is the light God will elevate to illuminate the world.
“Light yourself on fire with passion and people will come from miles to watch you burn.”
- John Wesley
Monday, August 29, 2016
Tuesday, August 23, 2016
1 Corinthians 8:12 8/23/2016
1 Corinthians 8:12 "When you sin against them in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ."
The interesting thing about this verse is Paul is referring to eating meat sacrificed to an idol. An activity that he has already stated was not a sin... Sacrificing an animal to an inanimate object has no impact on the meat....Paul even states that those offended by this, are weaker in their faith.
As a society, we focus on our rights so much that it may seem to us that we should press forward in the exercise of our freedom, and let the weak learn to be stronger.
However this verse says pressing on in an apporved activity, in spite of the negative consequences to a brother, changes it to a sin ... and a sin against Christ.
So an action that by itself is allowed, can become a sin if it wounds a brother.
That is a huge concept and it should dramatically impact our thoughts and actions.
I am free in Christ, and that freedom should be cherished as it came at a great price.
However if my freedom causes a child of God to stumble I must willingly abdicate that freedom for the preservation of my brother. This requires a change in my mindset, and a redefinition of the concept of liberty.
I now must consider my language, what movies I attend, what I eat and drink, the jokes I tell...everything - to be sure it doesn't place a stumbling block in front of a weaker brother.
Not because I am not free ... but because in my freedom, I have chosen to serve the law of Love.
Jesus made it clear that if my actions offend His child...then my actions offended Him.
The paradox of the Christian faith is that our freedom allows us to be a slave to Christ, and our liberty allows us to serve others.
Evaluate your activities today. Not in an effort to defend your actions, but in an effort to make sure nothing you do hinders the ultimate goal of leading others to Christ.
The interesting thing about this verse is Paul is referring to eating meat sacrificed to an idol. An activity that he has already stated was not a sin... Sacrificing an animal to an inanimate object has no impact on the meat....Paul even states that those offended by this, are weaker in their faith.
As a society, we focus on our rights so much that it may seem to us that we should press forward in the exercise of our freedom, and let the weak learn to be stronger.
However this verse says pressing on in an apporved activity, in spite of the negative consequences to a brother, changes it to a sin ... and a sin against Christ.
So an action that by itself is allowed, can become a sin if it wounds a brother.
That is a huge concept and it should dramatically impact our thoughts and actions.
I am free in Christ, and that freedom should be cherished as it came at a great price.
However if my freedom causes a child of God to stumble I must willingly abdicate that freedom for the preservation of my brother. This requires a change in my mindset, and a redefinition of the concept of liberty.
I now must consider my language, what movies I attend, what I eat and drink, the jokes I tell...everything - to be sure it doesn't place a stumbling block in front of a weaker brother.
Not because I am not free ... but because in my freedom, I have chosen to serve the law of Love.
Jesus made it clear that if my actions offend His child...then my actions offended Him.
The paradox of the Christian faith is that our freedom allows us to be a slave to Christ, and our liberty allows us to serve others.
Evaluate your activities today. Not in an effort to defend your actions, but in an effort to make sure nothing you do hinders the ultimate goal of leading others to Christ.
"It is our duty and our privilege to exhaust our lives for Jesus. We are not to be living specimens of men in fine preservation, but living sacrifices, whose lot is to be consumed"
-Charles Spurgeon
Tuesday, August 16, 2016
Psalm 118:24 8/16/2016
Psalm 118:24
"This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it."
This verse tells us two things:
1. Today is not an accident. It was created by God, who loves you.
2. How you handle today, is your decision.
There is no "if" after this proclamation that "we will rejoice". It is a definitive statement and it relies on nothing except the fact that God is in control and has designed this day. It doesn't say I will rejoice if things go my way, or if I don't have to suffer. It simply states that I have decided to rejoice and be glad based on my knowledge of who is in control.
An athlete can rejoice in his pain, trusting his coach and knowing he is improving. A patient can rejoice trusting his doctor and knowing the treatment is making him better. Even in our darkest days, we can rejoice knowing God has created this day, is in control, and ultimately will use it to our benefit.
Everyone is fighting battles. We all have a list of things we can worry about, and a list of blessing we can rejoice in... our attitude will reflect which list we focus on....the choice is yours.
And it is a choice.
Choose today to recklessly trust God. Make the decision to rejoice and be glad today based on the promise that He loves you, and in due time will deliver you.
Someday you will see the plan, today you must trust the planner.
"The only disability in life is a bad attitude."
Scott Hamilton
"This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it."
This verse tells us two things:
1. Today is not an accident. It was created by God, who loves you.
2. How you handle today, is your decision.
There is no "if" after this proclamation that "we will rejoice". It is a definitive statement and it relies on nothing except the fact that God is in control and has designed this day. It doesn't say I will rejoice if things go my way, or if I don't have to suffer. It simply states that I have decided to rejoice and be glad based on my knowledge of who is in control.
An athlete can rejoice in his pain, trusting his coach and knowing he is improving. A patient can rejoice trusting his doctor and knowing the treatment is making him better. Even in our darkest days, we can rejoice knowing God has created this day, is in control, and ultimately will use it to our benefit.
Everyone is fighting battles. We all have a list of things we can worry about, and a list of blessing we can rejoice in... our attitude will reflect which list we focus on....the choice is yours.
And it is a choice.
Choose today to recklessly trust God. Make the decision to rejoice and be glad today based on the promise that He loves you, and in due time will deliver you.
Someday you will see the plan, today you must trust the planner.
"The only disability in life is a bad attitude."
Scott Hamilton
Tuesday, August 9, 2016
Matthew 6:24 8/9/2016
Matthew 6:24 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money."
Jesus is clear that we all serve something ...like it or not we all have a master.
You decide what...and the danger lies in not making a choice.
Many of us live a confusing, disconnected life trying to pursue two masters whose plans are diametrically opposed. Trying to please God while frantically chasing money produces conflicting emotions. Christ says you will gravitate one direction or the other. You will eventually hate one and love the other one. Perhaps this explains why some who claim God does not exist, can still harbor such animosity toward Him. Or how some who pursue Christ can be so indifferent about the treasures of this world.
The question is who do your serve? God or money?... There is no middle ground. God says you can't fluctuate ...You have to choose.
The fact is, nothing in this world will satisfy you except a relationship with Christ... If you don't believe that try it...see if what the world offers will quench your thirst. Look at those who have what you think you need and see if they are content.
You will soon realize that pursuing the purpose for which you were created is the only thing that will give you contentment, and clarify your life.
Then you can stop being double minded, and go out in this dark, confused, world, and be the light you were created to be.
Choose whom you will serve, and then do something about it.
"Conversion is a change of masters. Will we not do as much for our new master, the Lord Jesus, as we did once for our old tyrant lusts?"
- Charles Spurgeon
Jesus is clear that we all serve something ...like it or not we all have a master.
You decide what...and the danger lies in not making a choice.
Many of us live a confusing, disconnected life trying to pursue two masters whose plans are diametrically opposed. Trying to please God while frantically chasing money produces conflicting emotions. Christ says you will gravitate one direction or the other. You will eventually hate one and love the other one. Perhaps this explains why some who claim God does not exist, can still harbor such animosity toward Him. Or how some who pursue Christ can be so indifferent about the treasures of this world.
The question is who do your serve? God or money?... There is no middle ground. God says you can't fluctuate ...You have to choose.
The fact is, nothing in this world will satisfy you except a relationship with Christ... If you don't believe that try it...see if what the world offers will quench your thirst. Look at those who have what you think you need and see if they are content.
You will soon realize that pursuing the purpose for which you were created is the only thing that will give you contentment, and clarify your life.
Then you can stop being double minded, and go out in this dark, confused, world, and be the light you were created to be.
Choose whom you will serve, and then do something about it.
"Conversion is a change of masters. Will we not do as much for our new master, the Lord Jesus, as we did once for our old tyrant lusts?"
- Charles Spurgeon
Tuesday, August 2, 2016
Titus 3:3,4 8/2/2016
Titus 3:3 "At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another."
The old saying "there but for the grace of God go I" should actually say "There but for the grace of God am I"...because we've all gone there....if you're not there now, it is because He moved you.
All of us were once slaves to sin.
This is an important point because it should impact how you view others. If you look with disdain on another person because their offense falls outside of your accepted sinfulness, you only prove that you are a hypocrite with a short memory.
All sin carries the death penalty, and is overpowering. We have all been enslaved by it before. The next verse in Titus says "But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not by the righteous deeds we had done, but according to His mercy."
That changes things. We have been granted the ultimate mercy - not because of - but in spite of - our deeds...only the blood of Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit can break those chains.
Our world is full of people "being hated and hating each other". Sin is the reason. We can't accept or condone that sin, but we can love the slave that is being destroyed by it.
Never stop standing against sin...not because you're too good for it, but because you know all too well it's destructive power. When you see people who openly embrace sin, or who openly embrace hate...remember that is your past...and you have been freed by God's grace.
Never lower the bar, but never ridicule those who can't clear it yet. They already know how to hate and be hated, we should show them another way.
“You contribute nothing to your salvation except the sin that made it necessary.”
― Jonathan Edwards
The old saying "there but for the grace of God go I" should actually say "There but for the grace of God am I"...because we've all gone there....if you're not there now, it is because He moved you.
All of us were once slaves to sin.
This is an important point because it should impact how you view others. If you look with disdain on another person because their offense falls outside of your accepted sinfulness, you only prove that you are a hypocrite with a short memory.
All sin carries the death penalty, and is overpowering. We have all been enslaved by it before. The next verse in Titus says "But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not by the righteous deeds we had done, but according to His mercy."
That changes things. We have been granted the ultimate mercy - not because of - but in spite of - our deeds...only the blood of Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit can break those chains.
Our world is full of people "being hated and hating each other". Sin is the reason. We can't accept or condone that sin, but we can love the slave that is being destroyed by it.
Never stop standing against sin...not because you're too good for it, but because you know all too well it's destructive power. When you see people who openly embrace sin, or who openly embrace hate...remember that is your past...and you have been freed by God's grace.
Never lower the bar, but never ridicule those who can't clear it yet. They already know how to hate and be hated, we should show them another way.
“You contribute nothing to your salvation except the sin that made it necessary.”
― Jonathan Edwards
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