What do they think?

Have you ever wondered what the world around us thinks about Christ followers? Consider the thoughts of this self professed atheist and his take on silent Christ Followers:



This should bring us to our knees with conviction. Think how we must be seen by a lost world when we say we believe but don't tell others.

His Eyes

How do we see our world? Do we see our world through our eyes. Perhaps as we begin this week we should ask to see the world through God's eyes. Think about this video:

Confidence

Then David said, “The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.” Saul said to David, “Go, and may the Lord be with you.”

1 Sam 17:37 (HCSB)

What is necessary for us to have confidence? Well I think there are several important factors.

1. We can have confidence because we are doing the right thing.
2. We have confidence because of past victories.
3. We have confidence because God is with us.

David's confidence came from these three sources. We all know people who have had confidence in the wrong things. David had confidence because God had protected him from enemies in the past. There is a big difference between a giant and a lion or bear. But they were still victories that built confidence for David.
Finally I think the most important is to learn in whom we put our confidence. Confidence put in ourselves can prove to be foolish even deadly but confidence in God will always produce victory.
If God calls and we respond we can experience victory. Have confidence in God in the challenges you face today.

You are God

Before the mountains were born, before You gave birth to the earth and the world, from eternity to eternity, You are God.

Psalms 90:2 (HCSB)

Our reflection, worship and prayers tend to focus on praising God for what He has done. There is nothing wrong with that because He has certainly done great things. His grace and mercy for us to experience salvation. We rejoice over His blessings and our abundant life. We gratefully look towards our future home in heaven. There is much to note for what He has done.

But the Psalmist reminds us that before the mountains were born He was God. In other words had God never sent Jesus to die on the cross for our salvation, had he never shown mercy, blessings or abundance, He would still be worthy of our praise. He is the eternal God and He is worthy of honor, praise and adoration because of who He is not just for what He does.

Today, take some time to praise Him for who He is before you thank Him for what He has done. He is God and is worthy of our adoration!

Worship Together

I will enter Your house with burnt offerings;I will pay You my vows14 that my lips promised and my mouth spoke during my distress.15 I will offer You fattened sheep as burnt offerings,with the fragrant smoke of rams; I will sacrifice oxen with goats.

Psalms 66:13-15 (HCSB)

As a Pastor people expect me to say that coming to worship together is very important. In fact some may think that a statement of such would be self-serving and seeking to elevate my importance. So let me take the "preacher" hat off for a moment and lets go back to God's Word as fellow Christ Followers.

The Psalmist says I will enter your house to worship. Why is that so important to him? Because He recognizes all the great and wonderful things God has done for Him and it brings Him to a place where worship is not an option to do but a necessity. When we realize all that God has done and how great He is the natural response should be to worship. And not to merely worship on our own but to proclaim to others, believers and non-believers how great God is.

Even if I were not "employed" to be in worship, I would have to be there. My heart, my conscience, my Spirit demands that I worship my great and awesome God. Let me encourage you, don't skip the opportunity to worship together with other Christ Followers this week!

Our Primary Helpmate

God is my helper;

Psalms 54:4 (HCSB)

I have taught as a Pastor and have heard others teach that a wife is to be the "helpmate" of her husband. Some have taken that as a put down. They consider the title of helpmate to acknowledge a second rate, second class position is society or in their marriage. Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact in the Scriptures like here in Psalm 54 God is given the exact same title or position.

The Psalmist says, "God is my helper;" Now would we ever claim that God is second rate or second class to us? Absolutely not! God is the sustainer of our lives. We could not survive or thrive without Him. He is absolutely essential to our lives.

Ladies next time some says you are a helpmate say thank you! What a compliment that should be. And never forget that as a Christ Follower we need our primary Helpmate. Without God we could not survive or thrive in this life.

Be Strong

Be gracious to me, Lord, for I am weak; heal me, Lord, for my bones are shaking;

Psalms 6:2 (HCSB)

We hear from many, "just be strong." In death, difficulty and trials many tell us just to be strong. But is that really the answer for the Christ Follower? Do we need strength? Absolutely! But how we get strength as a Christ Follower is recognizing our weakness. The Psalmist demonstrates the need of crying out for the Lord's strength. He cries, "be gracious to me." We would be wise to echo his cry in our own lives.

When we recognize our weakness then God's strength can be released in us and He will work through us and in us. It is really OK to admit that we are weak. When we do God will be ready to do more than we could ever imagine.

Don't forget who you are with

In those days there was again a large crowd, and they had nothing to eat. He summoned the disciples and said to them, 2 “I have compassion on the crowd, because they’ve already stayed with Me three days and have nothing to eat. 3 If I send them home famished, they will collapse on the way, and some of them have come a long distance.”4 His disciples answered Him, “Where can anyone get enough bread here in this desolate place to fill these people?”

Mark 8:1-4 (HCSB)

It is so easy to read a familiar passage of Scripture and become so familiar that you can't see the truth staring you in the face. This passage is such for me. our focus in this passage is usually on the crowd needing food, or Jesus working this awesome miracle. Even to consider the lack of faith of the disciples. Let me go even more basic. How could the disciples forget who they are talking too.

You're with Jesus! Where can we get enough bread? From Jesus. Maybe I am to distant from where the disciples are but consider all that they have watched Jesus do, miracles, healing etc . . Wouldn't it just occur to them that perhaps Jesus has a few bread and fish miracles up his sleeve.

But wait, before we get to hard on the disciples, how about us? How often do we look all around wringing our hands about our needs of "instant bread and fish?" How often do we ponder how we will ever get through this difficult challenge? Perhaps we should stop looking, pondering and wringing our hands and turn to Jesus. We just need to make sure we don't forget who we are with. Jesus!