Brownie Points
After the Lord your God has driven them out before you, do not say to yourself, "The Lord has brought me here to take possession of this land because of my righteousness."
Deuteronomy 9:4 NIV
My wife gains the admiration of many people by serendipity. She doesn't exactly go and look for it, but she acquires their affection with food. One dinner or a dessert and she has scored major brownie points and secured that person’s most sincere allegiance. One taste of her food and in their eyes, she can do no wrong.
Do you think you have earned brownie points with God? Have you ever tried? I bet you have, I know I have. I think I am getting on God's good side when I put my check in the collection plate or when I spend my time in service to God and church. Spiritual shortsightedness makes me think that it is even possible to earn anything with God. I can't earn His love, I already have it. In fact, His love has been Crazy Glued all over me! There isn't anything that can separate me from His love (Romans 8:38-39). I can't earn a right standing with God, Jesus already has that covered. In fact, we can't expect anything from God based on our own righteousness because we haven't any, outside that which has been given to us from Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21 / 1 Corinthians 1:30).
We can't acquire any brownie points with God because there are none to be had. God does not show favoritism (Romans 2:11 NIV). The Lord blesses us because of His justice and righteousness alone.
Friday, July 27, 2012
Friday, July 20, 2012
I got what you need
I got what you need
Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. John 6:35
Jesus says that he has the necessities of life. Or, in other words, "I got what you need". But I wonder if some people think his message has lost its relevance. So many people live in plentiful circumstances. The things we need are readily obtainable. And the things we want are merely an Internet search and a click away. Frankly, most of us rarely expend much energy for the things we need. We glide through life with the attitude of, "We have got the needs covered. Hey Jesus, you got anything else?"
Jesus' offer seems out of step because our sense of values has gone awry. We want money; we prize the idea of a spouse and kids. These are the things we feel we need. And anything to the contrary seems inconsequential or superfluous. If Jesus seems outdated, then you may not have thought things through. A far-sighted person would have to consider one question: Do you think this life is all there is? Do you really feel there is no afterlife? I think that there is more to this life, than this life. I think we are "eternal-people". We have been designed for eternity. And how you enter eternity is entirely up to you.
I don't think that Jesus has lost his relevance, for we are still very much in need. You may not get what you want from God, but He always supplies what you need. And today, God is offering you The Way. Jesus says of himself that he is “The Way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)
If I were you, I would reconsider what you need. Better yet, think about who you need.
Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. John 6:35
Jesus says that he has the necessities of life. Or, in other words, "I got what you need". But I wonder if some people think his message has lost its relevance. So many people live in plentiful circumstances. The things we need are readily obtainable. And the things we want are merely an Internet search and a click away. Frankly, most of us rarely expend much energy for the things we need. We glide through life with the attitude of, "We have got the needs covered. Hey Jesus, you got anything else?"
Jesus' offer seems out of step because our sense of values has gone awry. We want money; we prize the idea of a spouse and kids. These are the things we feel we need. And anything to the contrary seems inconsequential or superfluous. If Jesus seems outdated, then you may not have thought things through. A far-sighted person would have to consider one question: Do you think this life is all there is? Do you really feel there is no afterlife? I think that there is more to this life, than this life. I think we are "eternal-people". We have been designed for eternity. And how you enter eternity is entirely up to you.
I don't think that Jesus has lost his relevance, for we are still very much in need. You may not get what you want from God, but He always supplies what you need. And today, God is offering you The Way. Jesus says of himself that he is “The Way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)
If I were you, I would reconsider what you need. Better yet, think about who you need.
Friday, July 13, 2012
Love may not be enough
Love may not be enough
Love the Lord you God and keep his requirements, his decrees, and his commands always. Deuteronomy 11:1
Love is a powerful thing. It gets inside of us... changes us. Love compels us outside our safe zones and into the territory where great men and women dare to tread. We know that love is kind and void of envy, jealousy and pride. We know that love never fails. The L word is so powerful that one might be tempted to think that all you need is love. But they would be incredibly shortsighted.
Imagine a spouse that only expressed love in word, but never in deed. Now imagine if that spouse gambled away the family funds and acted promiscuously but always said, "I love you". Could you believe a man or woman like that? Ones actions must accompany their words and vice-versa, ones words must be in accord with their actions. Who can trust a man or woman who does not practice the messages of their own sermons? We call those sorts of people disillusioned, hypocrites or plain old liars.
Jesus says that whoever has and obeys his commands is the one that loves him (John 14:21).
I think that Jesus is saying that a word without action is nothing more than lip service. My guess is that God is looking for people that not only say the words, but live the life. That combination of words and action are what change the world. Love may not be enough to change the world, but I but your actions coupled with love will do the trick.
Love the Lord you God and keep his requirements, his decrees, and his commands always. Deuteronomy 11:1
Love is a powerful thing. It gets inside of us... changes us. Love compels us outside our safe zones and into the territory where great men and women dare to tread. We know that love is kind and void of envy, jealousy and pride. We know that love never fails. The L word is so powerful that one might be tempted to think that all you need is love. But they would be incredibly shortsighted.
Imagine a spouse that only expressed love in word, but never in deed. Now imagine if that spouse gambled away the family funds and acted promiscuously but always said, "I love you". Could you believe a man or woman like that? Ones actions must accompany their words and vice-versa, ones words must be in accord with their actions. Who can trust a man or woman who does not practice the messages of their own sermons? We call those sorts of people disillusioned, hypocrites or plain old liars.
Jesus says that whoever has and obeys his commands is the one that loves him (John 14:21).
I think that Jesus is saying that a word without action is nothing more than lip service. My guess is that God is looking for people that not only say the words, but live the life. That combination of words and action are what change the world. Love may not be enough to change the world, but I but your actions coupled with love will do the trick.
Friday, July 6, 2012
Persevere Confidently
Persevere Confidently
So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he promised.
Hebrews 10:35-36 NIV
It is a sad thing to live as if faith were the end outcome of the work of Christ. If you have grasped onto faith in God, then it is only the beginning. Think of it this way, no one is better at being you than you. You are God's masterpiece! The purpose of your faith is not only for family rights with God, but you were made alive in Christ to complete the good things he planned for you long ago (Ephesians 2:10). Your faith is not for comfort sake. Faith was never designed for our private consumption.
The steady passing of time can make us weary about doing God’s will. A bad experience makes us recoil from engaging in the work that God has planned for us. And troubles also sometimes make us forget who we belong too. But here is a very certain truth; if you have faith in God, you are among the chosen. Or another scripture calls us "Children of the promise" (Romans 9:8). We are the property of God and we have been entrusted with the good news of Christ. We have been chosen to be the aroma of Christ (2 Corinthians 2:15) in a place of need. Where ever we go, we bring a hint of God with us. And if we believers are truly doing the work God has planned for us, then when at our best, we will act as signposts that point toward God.
What does our godly work do in this world? Well, I think that we slow the moral erosion of this world. We change the world with our private prayers. We transform the world with our financial gifts into ministries that speak truth. We bring salt and light into a tasteless deteriorating and dark planet. If you testify, keep the testimony alive. If you pray, keep praying. If you love the hurting, then keep loving. Whatever your gift, keep doing what you are doing for it is what God has called you to. Don't discard your gift because of confusion and disappointments. I know that this life can wear you down. But persevere confidently so you can gain the full reward that the Lord has promised.
We keep at it not only because of the reward, but because we love God. And using our gifts for His glory is the best type of praise we can offer Him.
So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he promised.
Hebrews 10:35-36 NIV
It is a sad thing to live as if faith were the end outcome of the work of Christ. If you have grasped onto faith in God, then it is only the beginning. Think of it this way, no one is better at being you than you. You are God's masterpiece! The purpose of your faith is not only for family rights with God, but you were made alive in Christ to complete the good things he planned for you long ago (Ephesians 2:10). Your faith is not for comfort sake. Faith was never designed for our private consumption.
The steady passing of time can make us weary about doing God’s will. A bad experience makes us recoil from engaging in the work that God has planned for us. And troubles also sometimes make us forget who we belong too. But here is a very certain truth; if you have faith in God, you are among the chosen. Or another scripture calls us "Children of the promise" (Romans 9:8). We are the property of God and we have been entrusted with the good news of Christ. We have been chosen to be the aroma of Christ (2 Corinthians 2:15) in a place of need. Where ever we go, we bring a hint of God with us. And if we believers are truly doing the work God has planned for us, then when at our best, we will act as signposts that point toward God.
What does our godly work do in this world? Well, I think that we slow the moral erosion of this world. We change the world with our private prayers. We transform the world with our financial gifts into ministries that speak truth. We bring salt and light into a tasteless deteriorating and dark planet. If you testify, keep the testimony alive. If you pray, keep praying. If you love the hurting, then keep loving. Whatever your gift, keep doing what you are doing for it is what God has called you to. Don't discard your gift because of confusion and disappointments. I know that this life can wear you down. But persevere confidently so you can gain the full reward that the Lord has promised.
We keep at it not only because of the reward, but because we love God. And using our gifts for His glory is the best type of praise we can offer Him.
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