I am thinking about all the years involved in athletics and hearing coaches say, “It is my way or the highway.” Now, God is not that abrasive with us, but it might be good for us to hear that sometimes so we can, hopefully, avoid bad decision making. How often do we go our own way rather than God’s way only to have it end just like God’s Word states, “Our way seems right but in the end it leads to destruction.” God has a design and a way to meet the needs of our everyday lives.
There is a scripture found in God’s Word that states, “My God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19) All of us have needs in life that are not being met -- physical, spiritual, social, financial -- a lot of needs. So maybe you're asking, "Why does this verse not work for some of us?"
It’s not God’s fault. God does not lie. God is true to His Word. He watches over His Word to see it lived out in our lives. Could it be that we need to better understand that with every promise God makes there is a premise that we must follow in order to receive? If God met our needs without our following His way and plan, then we would abuse God with our greed with an abundance of needs. We would treat God like a big vending machine -- I need this, I need that.
What’s exciting is to know that God wants to meet all our needs regardless of what part of our lives it involves. Understand that with every promise, there is a premise. God says, "I will do this if you will do that." When I think of what God will do for us, the promise is so much greater than what He will ask us to do. I feel I need to do more, but that is the incredible God we serve; He blesses us with abundance and only asks us to obey His way.
Friday, September 25, 2009
Friday, September 18, 2009
WARNING...
Have you ever noticed the caution signs or danger signs on the roads? It lets us know things out of the norm could take place and have taken place. The signs are there because, at some point, a dangerous situation occurred that required caution or preparedness.
Times of hardness are inevitable. It’s true we have been redeemed and adopted into the family of Christ with all its perks, privileges, and promises, but don’t be caught off guard. Satan is going to challenge you and pose dangerous situations in your walk with Christ. Don’t be surprised when things get tough. Most often the only thing we will have to stand on when times get tough is our faith. It is during those times we will be speaking words of God’s promises that are contrary to the circumstance we are encountering. Paul nailed it when he challenged the follower of Christ to “walk by faith and not by sight.” Walk by what you are persuaded of, confidently assured of, rather than by what you see, hear, and experience. I am persuaded that God is love, God is great, God is powerful, God is all knowing, etc., and I am His child. This is what I call living by faith rather than trying by faith.
Living by faith is a lifestyle, not something you try. You live by faith when it is hard and when it easy. You live it all the time. You live it because you know living by faith pleases God (Hebrews 11:6). Below is a prayer that I logged in my journal in March 2000… I hope it encourages you and propels you to live by God’s promises.
Thank you, God, for your Word. Daily I read your Word and desire to walk in it. Your word sets the atmosphere, it breaks up and penetrates my hard head, skepticism, and makes my unbelieving mind doubt its unbelief. Your Word sets my heart, directs my walk, and renews my mind. Father, I love your Word. May the words of my mouth, and thoughts of my heart reflect Your Word.
Times of hardness are inevitable. It’s true we have been redeemed and adopted into the family of Christ with all its perks, privileges, and promises, but don’t be caught off guard. Satan is going to challenge you and pose dangerous situations in your walk with Christ. Don’t be surprised when things get tough. Most often the only thing we will have to stand on when times get tough is our faith. It is during those times we will be speaking words of God’s promises that are contrary to the circumstance we are encountering. Paul nailed it when he challenged the follower of Christ to “walk by faith and not by sight.” Walk by what you are persuaded of, confidently assured of, rather than by what you see, hear, and experience. I am persuaded that God is love, God is great, God is powerful, God is all knowing, etc., and I am His child. This is what I call living by faith rather than trying by faith.
Living by faith is a lifestyle, not something you try. You live by faith when it is hard and when it easy. You live it all the time. You live it because you know living by faith pleases God (Hebrews 11:6). Below is a prayer that I logged in my journal in March 2000… I hope it encourages you and propels you to live by God’s promises.
Thank you, God, for your Word. Daily I read your Word and desire to walk in it. Your word sets the atmosphere, it breaks up and penetrates my hard head, skepticism, and makes my unbelieving mind doubt its unbelief. Your Word sets my heart, directs my walk, and renews my mind. Father, I love your Word. May the words of my mouth, and thoughts of my heart reflect Your Word.
Friday, September 11, 2009
Right Equipment
Have you ever done something, hobbywise or with sports, and wish you had better equipment? It is vital to have the right equipment; it can mean the difference between success and failure. Imagine trying to play golf with a baseball bat or trying to fight a forest fire with a squirt gun. When it comes to life, the right equipment is essential. Here is good news: God has certain equipment, and He’s provided it to us so we can be successful in our faith journey.
The Bible says in Hebrews, “God will equip you with all you need to do His will.” One piece of equipment God has given us to navigate through life and strengthen our faith is the Bible -- God’s Word. Not only do we have His Word, but there are other pieces of equipment He has communicated to us that are needed to walk faith out.
Another piece of equipment I hope you see as a necessity -- a spiritual family. God has placed people around you. God knew we needed supportive relationships if we were going to make it through life and grow in our relationship with Him. We can see from the beginning of time -- in a perfect environment -- God makes this statement: “It is not good for man to be alone.” We were made to live in relationships.
The church is the spiritual community that God designed to be a supportive foundation, a place where you can develop into the person God wants you to be. Our walk with Christ is not only a matter of believing but also a matter of belonging. Let me ask you a question: Are you attending a church service, or are you belonging to a church family?
Last thought… Does God want church to be a place you go to, or does He want church to be a family you are a part of? That is why church, spiritual community, body of believers, Christ followers -- whatever we want to call it -- becomes a valuable piece of equipment to the development and growth of our faith.
The Bible says in Hebrews, “God will equip you with all you need to do His will.” One piece of equipment God has given us to navigate through life and strengthen our faith is the Bible -- God’s Word. Not only do we have His Word, but there are other pieces of equipment He has communicated to us that are needed to walk faith out.
Another piece of equipment I hope you see as a necessity -- a spiritual family. God has placed people around you. God knew we needed supportive relationships if we were going to make it through life and grow in our relationship with Him. We can see from the beginning of time -- in a perfect environment -- God makes this statement: “It is not good for man to be alone.” We were made to live in relationships.
The church is the spiritual community that God designed to be a supportive foundation, a place where you can develop into the person God wants you to be. Our walk with Christ is not only a matter of believing but also a matter of belonging. Let me ask you a question: Are you attending a church service, or are you belonging to a church family?
Last thought… Does God want church to be a place you go to, or does He want church to be a family you are a part of? That is why church, spiritual community, body of believers, Christ followers -- whatever we want to call it -- becomes a valuable piece of equipment to the development and growth of our faith.
Friday, September 4, 2009
Lonely and Looking...
Did you know that loneliness has reached epidemic proportions in our country? Our fast-moving lives have wreaked havoc on our relationships. We don’t feel nearly as connected to each other as people did just a single generation ago.
Yet we were created for relationships. In fact, the first thing God said was, “It’s not good for man to be alone.” God said that humans were not made for isolation. We were made for connection. Why? We were created in the image of God. The Bible says God is love, and to love, you’ve got to have somebody to love.
One of the crucial purposes of the BODY OF CHRIST is to help solve this sense of disconnection. In the New Testament, there are word pictures given that show the necessity of being connected. These metaphors tell us a lot about why God wants us to connect with one another. They give us a picture of what the church should be – and how it should solve the plague of disconnection in our society.
The Bible says that being spiritually connected means:
We’re built like a building. “In Christ you are built together spiritually into a dwelling place for God.” (Ephesians 2:22 NRSV). We are meant to fit together like bricks in a new building. It’s essential that the parts of a building fit together. You aren’t safe otherwise because there’s no support. Likewise, those who aren’t connected to a church family in any meaningful way have no support. Life is tough. We all need the support of people who care about us. A church may not be required, but it is needed; it's needed to provide us with community.
Let’s advance in relationships. Let’s begin now. This is a major purpose God designed us for. Let’s make every effort to connect with people. Find a small group; begin a small group. At Celebrate we call them Life Groups, where people are simply DOING LIFE TOGETHER.
Yet we were created for relationships. In fact, the first thing God said was, “It’s not good for man to be alone.” God said that humans were not made for isolation. We were made for connection. Why? We were created in the image of God. The Bible says God is love, and to love, you’ve got to have somebody to love.
One of the crucial purposes of the BODY OF CHRIST is to help solve this sense of disconnection. In the New Testament, there are word pictures given that show the necessity of being connected. These metaphors tell us a lot about why God wants us to connect with one another. They give us a picture of what the church should be – and how it should solve the plague of disconnection in our society.
The Bible says that being spiritually connected means:
We’re built like a building. “In Christ you are built together spiritually into a dwelling place for God.” (Ephesians 2:22 NRSV). We are meant to fit together like bricks in a new building. It’s essential that the parts of a building fit together. You aren’t safe otherwise because there’s no support. Likewise, those who aren’t connected to a church family in any meaningful way have no support. Life is tough. We all need the support of people who care about us. A church may not be required, but it is needed; it's needed to provide us with community.
Let’s advance in relationships. Let’s begin now. This is a major purpose God designed us for. Let’s make every effort to connect with people. Find a small group; begin a small group. At Celebrate we call them Life Groups, where people are simply DOING LIFE TOGETHER.
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