" Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ."
Great instructions on how to become the body of Christ, unless you start using only parts of the verse. When not used in it's entirety, this verse can offer us license, and provide cover for our agendas. Partial adherence can lead to either speaking the truth with no love, or not speaking the truth and using love as an excuse.
Typically there are three camps:
1. Those who can't wait to point out their brothers mistakes. This group will ignore the love requirement and are more than willing to "speak the truth" and claim this verse as license to judge
2. Those whose only goal is popularity and peace for themselves... When there is a truth that their brother needs to hear, they abdicate that responsibility in the name of "only speaking love".
3. Those who love their friends enough to tell them the truth.
In reality.....If you don't love your friend more than your friendship - then you really don't have either one. You have to care so much about another person that offending them is preferable to not helping them.
If the people around you don't know your weaknesses...if they can't provide accountability. If they never challenge you, or sharpen you - then those people are acquaintances not friends.
If there is a person around you who loves you enough to tell you the truth even when you don't want to hear it. If they encourage you, and push you to be your best. Then that person is a friend and is exceedingly rare and incredibly valuable.
Real Friendship is not for sissy's...you have to be willing to speak and hear the truth...neither of which is easy.
The best way to find a good friend - is to be one. This week, talk about stuff that matters with those you love. Try a little transparency and depth....Most important, don't let either requirement in this verse slip through the cracks. ..."Speak the Truth...and speak it in Love."
"Rare as is true love, true friendship is rarer."
Jean de La Fontaine
Tuesday, May 31, 2016
Tuesday, May 24, 2016
1 Corinthians 6:11 5/24/2016
"11 And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God."
This verse flies in the face of today's social mantra. Some of the sins referred to are considered permanent conditions today. Our culture's response to difficult temptation is to simply lower the bar, label the condition, and make the sin acceptable.
God, however, is in the business of changing people.
The early church was a collection of immoral sinners. The list included adulterers, homosexuals, thieves, drunkards, and more. But this verse states that those sins did not describe them any longer.
The verse does not say "that is what you ARE", it says
"that is what you WERE"... Past tense ... Changed by the blood of Christ.
That is the Gospel. That is the good news. No matter what you were, no matter what you've done, regardless of what the world thinks of your past... it does not define you. You have been washed by the Spirit of God. Your acceptance of the sacrifice Christ made, means you stand spotless before the Throne, and the only label you bear is "Child of The King".
The enemy would have you surrender, and accept that you are controlled by sin...and maybe you were. But not now... The Cross has set you free and literally changed your identity.
That is the essence of amazing grace. That your sins are as far from you, as the east is from the west. You are a new creation, no longer a slave to sin. That is not who you are anymore.
Live in victory, and cherish the freedom that Christ's blood purchased for you. By God's amazing grace you have been set free...Intentionally live in that grace, and offer it to everyone you meet.
"Amazing grace! how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me! I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see."
- John Newton
This verse flies in the face of today's social mantra. Some of the sins referred to are considered permanent conditions today. Our culture's response to difficult temptation is to simply lower the bar, label the condition, and make the sin acceptable.
God, however, is in the business of changing people.
The early church was a collection of immoral sinners. The list included adulterers, homosexuals, thieves, drunkards, and more. But this verse states that those sins did not describe them any longer.
The verse does not say "that is what you ARE", it says
"that is what you WERE"... Past tense ... Changed by the blood of Christ.
That is the Gospel. That is the good news. No matter what you were, no matter what you've done, regardless of what the world thinks of your past... it does not define you. You have been washed by the Spirit of God. Your acceptance of the sacrifice Christ made, means you stand spotless before the Throne, and the only label you bear is "Child of The King".
The enemy would have you surrender, and accept that you are controlled by sin...and maybe you were. But not now... The Cross has set you free and literally changed your identity.
That is the essence of amazing grace. That your sins are as far from you, as the east is from the west. You are a new creation, no longer a slave to sin. That is not who you are anymore.
Live in victory, and cherish the freedom that Christ's blood purchased for you. By God's amazing grace you have been set free...Intentionally live in that grace, and offer it to everyone you meet.
"Amazing grace! how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me! I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see."
- John Newton
Tuesday, May 17, 2016
1 Cor 6:18 5/17/2016
"Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body."
When this verse was written sexual sin had become so common place in Corinth that some believers had begun thinking it was acceptable. Today we face the same problem. There is a litany of "acceptable" sexual sins in our society, and we have become so confused with sexuality that we argue over points that should be self evident.
God makes it clear that there is something different about this sin ... It is more dangerous than others.
Today, pornography is readily available, promiscuity seems to be the norm, and perversion is legislated .. It is interesting to note that evil's playbook has not changed much in the last 2000 years. This is still the enemy's favorite weapon. Broken families destroyed by sexual sin are common place, and numerous ministries have been reduced to "spiritual roadkill" - dead and useless on the roadway for all to see.
We are given a clear directive when confronted with sexual sin... Run.
Some temptation you fight... this one you flee. Your natural reaction to a rattle snake is to immediately get away....spiritually this should be your reaction to immorality. It defiles you in ways that other sin does not and will destroy the sanctity of your soul.
Let's rip off the callouses that our culture has created regarding this sin, and view it as the rattlesnake it is. Guard your eyes and your thoughts. The enemy comes to" kill steal and destroy" and this sin is what he uses to do it.
Do not allow the poison of sexual sin to invade your soul, and you will protect your heart, your family, and your legacy.
"Regardless of what society says, we can't go on much longer in the sea of immorality without judgment coming."
- Billy Graham
When this verse was written sexual sin had become so common place in Corinth that some believers had begun thinking it was acceptable. Today we face the same problem. There is a litany of "acceptable" sexual sins in our society, and we have become so confused with sexuality that we argue over points that should be self evident.
God makes it clear that there is something different about this sin ... It is more dangerous than others.
Today, pornography is readily available, promiscuity seems to be the norm, and perversion is legislated .. It is interesting to note that evil's playbook has not changed much in the last 2000 years. This is still the enemy's favorite weapon. Broken families destroyed by sexual sin are common place, and numerous ministries have been reduced to "spiritual roadkill" - dead and useless on the roadway for all to see.
We are given a clear directive when confronted with sexual sin... Run.
Some temptation you fight... this one you flee. Your natural reaction to a rattle snake is to immediately get away....spiritually this should be your reaction to immorality. It defiles you in ways that other sin does not and will destroy the sanctity of your soul.
Let's rip off the callouses that our culture has created regarding this sin, and view it as the rattlesnake it is. Guard your eyes and your thoughts. The enemy comes to" kill steal and destroy" and this sin is what he uses to do it.
Do not allow the poison of sexual sin to invade your soul, and you will protect your heart, your family, and your legacy.
"Regardless of what society says, we can't go on much longer in the sea of immorality without judgment coming."
- Billy Graham
Tuesday, May 10, 2016
Matthew 28:19 Luke 10:2 5/10/2016
Matthew 28:19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
If you're bored with your life it's your own fault. If it's not fulfilling maybe it is because you are not doing it right.
Jesus gives us very specific instructions in what is called the "Great Commission"... "make disciples".....it is why you are here. You will not be fulfilled until you are doing what you were created to do.
The "big lie" is that you need more stuff to be happy....this delusion occupies people for their entire lives. In fact you often see the rich, who have achieved what others are chasing, turn to drugs and alcohol because they realize the goal was hollow.
You don't need 400 more TV channels, you don't need faster Wi-fi , or more followers, you don't need a bigger house, or a nicer car...you need to go and do what you were made to do.
You want excitement and fulfillment? Be about the business of eternity.
Live each day sharing the gospel with others. There are opportunities everywhere...your office, your neighborhood, your friends ... you just have to open your eyes, and grasp the importance of your assignment. "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few" (Luke 10:2)
We are birds walking on the ground, of course we are not fulfilled. Spread your wings and do what God created you to do and you will experience life as you never have before. The world is full of broken souls and you have the cure...go give it to them.
This week live deliberately. Ask God to open your eyes to opportunities and then be ready to love those that God puts in your path...you will experience many different things...but boredom isn't one of them.
“One faithful witness is worth a thousand mute professors of religion . . . Our faith grows by expression . . . we must share it—we must witness.”
― Billy Graham
If you're bored with your life it's your own fault. If it's not fulfilling maybe it is because you are not doing it right.
Jesus gives us very specific instructions in what is called the "Great Commission"... "make disciples".....it is why you are here. You will not be fulfilled until you are doing what you were created to do.
The "big lie" is that you need more stuff to be happy....this delusion occupies people for their entire lives. In fact you often see the rich, who have achieved what others are chasing, turn to drugs and alcohol because they realize the goal was hollow.
You don't need 400 more TV channels, you don't need faster Wi-fi , or more followers, you don't need a bigger house, or a nicer car...you need to go and do what you were made to do.
You want excitement and fulfillment? Be about the business of eternity.
Live each day sharing the gospel with others. There are opportunities everywhere...your office, your neighborhood, your friends ... you just have to open your eyes, and grasp the importance of your assignment. "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few" (Luke 10:2)
We are birds walking on the ground, of course we are not fulfilled. Spread your wings and do what God created you to do and you will experience life as you never have before. The world is full of broken souls and you have the cure...go give it to them.
This week live deliberately. Ask God to open your eyes to opportunities and then be ready to love those that God puts in your path...you will experience many different things...but boredom isn't one of them.
“One faithful witness is worth a thousand mute professors of religion . . . Our faith grows by expression . . . we must share it—we must witness.”
― Billy Graham
Tuesday, May 3, 2016
John 16:33 Romans 8:18 5/3/2016
John 16:33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Some define Peace as the absence of problems. This has confused and disappointed many, and it is not what God said.
In the verse above Jesus offers us peace, right before assuring us, we will have trouble.
He makes it clear that peace if found not in the absence of problems, but in the absence of worrying about them. This is not accomplished by minimizing your problems, but by maximizing your God.
Peace is a choice . Jesus tells us it is available "in Him", and even assures us that when the storm is raging, we can "take heart" in knowing He has already overcome the storm.
Paul talks about the Christian life as a "fight, or a race" (2 Tim 4:7). Neither are easy, and they are not supposed to be.
In Track, one of the hardest races is the Mile relay. It is both excruciating, and exhilarating. It is the last event, and winning or losing the meet often depends on it. So even though you know pain is certain, you grab the baton and run. Because the joy of victory with your brothers, is greater than the temporary pain it cost.
That is the Christian life.
Paul said it this way: I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. (Romans 8:18) In other words ... Run the race! ..fight the fight! ...it is well worth it.
A life with Jesus provides joy. And the Christian life is sweeter because of the Peace we have in Him, and the love we have for each other.
But when trouble comes, we don't panic, and we don't worry. We crawl up in our Father's lap, face the problem and "take heart"...because He Loves us dearly, and He has overcome the world.
“Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow, it empties today of its strength.”
― Corrie ten Boon
Some define Peace as the absence of problems. This has confused and disappointed many, and it is not what God said.
In the verse above Jesus offers us peace, right before assuring us, we will have trouble.
He makes it clear that peace if found not in the absence of problems, but in the absence of worrying about them. This is not accomplished by minimizing your problems, but by maximizing your God.
Peace is a choice . Jesus tells us it is available "in Him", and even assures us that when the storm is raging, we can "take heart" in knowing He has already overcome the storm.
Paul talks about the Christian life as a "fight, or a race" (2 Tim 4:7). Neither are easy, and they are not supposed to be.
In Track, one of the hardest races is the Mile relay. It is both excruciating, and exhilarating. It is the last event, and winning or losing the meet often depends on it. So even though you know pain is certain, you grab the baton and run. Because the joy of victory with your brothers, is greater than the temporary pain it cost.
That is the Christian life.
Paul said it this way: I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. (Romans 8:18) In other words ... Run the race! ..fight the fight! ...it is well worth it.
A life with Jesus provides joy. And the Christian life is sweeter because of the Peace we have in Him, and the love we have for each other.
But when trouble comes, we don't panic, and we don't worry. We crawl up in our Father's lap, face the problem and "take heart"...because He Loves us dearly, and He has overcome the world.
“Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow, it empties today of its strength.”
― Corrie ten Boon
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