Being Useless

For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with goodness, goodness with knowledge, 6 knowledge with self-control, self-control with endurance, endurance with godliness, 7 godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they will keep you from being useless or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Peter 1:5-8 (HCSB)

I don't know about you but the desire of my heart is to be useful and fruitful for my King and Master.  Peter has a good word for us here.  He challenges us to grow in these character traits and then promises if we do they will keep us from being useless and unfruitful. 
We often forget that character does count and it makes all the difference in our spiritual lives.  If we want to be faithful Christ followers we need to be useful.  Faithfulness is always demonstrated by fruitfulness.  Grow to be useful to the Master!

Difficult days

God is faithful; by Him you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

1 Cor 1:9 (HCSB)

Do you ever have difficult days?  It seems lately for me there are more than I care to think about.  But I find Paul's words particularly encouraging.  It is a very simple remembrance.  He reminds us of 2 fabulous truths.  God is faithful!
God has called us into fellowship with Jesus!

That is an encouraging reminder to me and I hope it is encouraging to you today!

Light

“You are the light of the world. A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, but rather on a lampstand, and it gives light for all who are in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.

Matt 5:14-16 (HCSB)

You are the light.  Light shines.  It gives light to those who are in darkness.  Jesus reminds us that light was not meant to be hidden.  In fact when we try to hide the light it dims the light but it is still there.  Our lives are a testimony of what God can do with sinful humans.  When we hide our light we are taking away our opportunity to glorify God in our lives.  Don't hide the light but shine for all to see.

Love and Obedience

The one who has My commands and keeps them is the one who loves Me.

John 14:21 (HCSB)

Jesus has a very clear and to the point message.  The clearest indication of our love for Him is that we obey what He has commanded.  When Christ gives us His command He expects that we will keep them.  If we are not doing what He has said then it demonstrates the level of our love.

Some claim to love Him and yet if we are not obeying we really can not make that claim.  The question for us today is, are we demonstrating our love of Him through obedience to Him?

Fear God

“And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you except to  fear the Lord your God by walking in all His ways, to love Him, and to worship the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul?

Deut 10:12 (HCSB)

When we fear God it means that we stand in awe and reverence of Him.  Biblically there is a sense of fear as in being afraid, when we realize whose presence we are in.  But the word also refers to awe and reverence.  So what does the fear of God look like?  Moses describes it in Deut. 10.12.

It means we walk in all of his ways.  In other words we obey Him as He has directed in His Word.  If we are not obeying then we are not walking in His ways.  Be careful that we don't deceive ourselves.  God is not impressed with 70 or 80 or even 90% obedience.  He wants all.

To fear Him also means that we love Him.  The word actually denotes a covenant relationship.  God has chosen to love us and to express His love to us in so many ways.  What awe we should have when we realize almighty God loves us.  We should love Him back.

We also worship Him because we fear Him.  A correct view of ourselves and Him will cause us to worship Him.  When Isaiah (Isa. 6) saw and understood who God was, he could not help but to worship Him.  We will do the same.

Obey, love and worship should be every Christ followers response to an awesome God.

Dealing with Sin: Confession

Against You—You alone—I have sinned and done this evil in Your sight. So You are right when You pass sentence; You are blameless when You judge. 5 Indeed, I was guilty [when I]  was born; I was sinful when my mother conceived me. 6 Surely You desire integrity in the inner self, and You teach me wisdom deep within.

Psalms 51:4-6 (HCSB)

How do we deal with sin?  We must learn to confess our sin.  Confession is simply saying the same thing God says about it.  David teaches us some important things about confession.

• Sin is ultimately against God.  We may have done some things too others or against others, but really the transgression mostly is against God.
• We are inherently evil.  It is not that we as Human beings are born good and turn bad, but rather are born sinful and need to become a new creature to be Holy like God.
• God desires us to be righteous/Holy.  We are challenged as Christ followers to become what we are not, holy and righteous.  That happens through the process of sanctification as we submit ourselves to the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

One of the interesting and truly encouraging truths is that David, a man after God's own heart, knows about confession out of experience.  He too was sinful and needed to confess.  Don't give up Christ follower.  You are not alone!

Dealing with Sin: Acknowledgement

For I am conscious of my rebellion, and my sin is always before me.

Psalms 51:3 (HCSB)

How do we deal with sin?  For most of us, at least when we are living out of our flesh rather than the Spirit, will try to ignore or excuse sin.  We learn from King David in Psalm 51 that what we need to do is acknowledge our sin.  David called sin what it is sin.  He said I know of "my rebellion."  That's where its at isn't it?  We must recognize that no matter what word we use to describe it, it is a rebellion against the Lord.

Not for faint of heart

 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; 8 in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.

2 Tim 4:6-8 (NASB95)

Being a Christ follower is not for the faint of heart.  Paul doesn't beat around the bush with Timothy.  He reminds him that serving the King is going to require some difficult choices, circumstances and consequences.  Paul reminds us that serving means we must sacrifice ourselves willingly.  That goes against the grain for us.  We often seek comfort rather than sacrifice.

There is also required the need to get into the struggle for the Kingdom.  Kingdom living is equated to a fight or wrestling match.  Paul also describes it as running a marathon that requires endurance to finish the race no matter how much it hurts.

Yes being a Christ follower requires a commitment in which we give all but also remember the rewards.  Eternity with Him, a Crown of Righteousness and of course a, "well done, good and faithful servant."  Keep striving today in your commitment to following King Jesus!

A Good Declaration!

 I said to the Lord, “You are my Lord; I have no good besides You.”

Psalms 16:2 (HCSB)

Isn't that a great statement?  David's declaration is a complete devotion to God alone.  That is the kind of dedication and commitment we should have to our Master.  But do we really?

David was a man after God's own heart so certainly he never turned away his complete devotion from the Lord to other things.  David never sinned and broke fellowship with God, did he?  Yes we know he did and yet God still saw him as a man after God's own heart.

Well what about us?  We too find ourselves forsaking our commitment to Christ.  Rather than completely devoted and following Christ we sometimes find ourselves chasing after other things.  We find ourselves deep in sin.  But God is good, gracious and merciful.  What a great God we serve.  What a great God to give our complete devotion too.

Holy to the Lord

“Every tenth of the land’s produce, grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord.

Lev 27:30 (HCSB)

The tithe is a subject that can cause a lot of discussion and difficulty.  I am not going to write about the tithe today.  We'll not directly.  For this post at least we will settle with this agreement, that the Scripture clearly teaches the importance for the Christ follower to give.  We won't get into the debate about legalism, Old Testament, Free will etc . . .  Let's just agree for now God wants us to give.

But here is what I want you to focus on with me.  The last phrase says, "it is holy to the Lord."  Remember holy means that it is sacred.  It has a special importance to God.  It also means that it has been set apart.  When we give to the Lord (and it should be regularly) it has a special importance to Him and it has been set apart for His use in Kingdom work.  We are not paying, or paying off God but we are giving Him something that is uniquely special and set apart for His use.  What a privilege it is for us to be a part of something so important to God and His Kingdom.

I encourage you to dig into the Scripture and find out exactly what God has to say about your giving as a Christ follower.  Don't miss this Kingdom opportunity.

Kingdom First

But seek first the kingdom of God

Matt 6:33 (HCSB)

This passage reminds us that the Christ follower has a priority given from God.  Our lives are to be focused on the Kingdom before anything else.  We can be distracted by so many things.  Jesus reminds us that it should always be Kingdom first.

Today we may just need a small reminder to not be distracted by all the other "stuff" of life and to keep our focus on His Kingdom.

What do you see?

The instruction of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the  testimony of the Lord is trustworthy, making the inexperienced wise. 8 The precepts of the Lord are right, making the heart glad; the commandment of the Lord is radiant, making the eyes light up. 9 The  fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever; the ordinances of the Lord are reliable and altogether righteous. 10 They are more desirable than gold— than an abundance of pure gold; and sweeter than honey— than honey dripping from the comb. 11 In addition, Your servant is warned by them; there is great reward in keeping them.

Psalms 19:7-11 (HCSB)

When you look at the Bible what do you see?  Do you see in the Bible a bunch of rules?  Maybe it is folklore to you.  Perhaps you find it an ancient book with not much relevance to a modern person.  Well, there are many who may view the Bible in such a way.  To me, I see it as King David saw it here in Psalm 19.  Check out his description:

Perfect

Reviving

Trustworthy

makes wise

Right

makes one glad

radiant

illuminates

pure

Enduring

Reliable

Righteous

Valuable

Sweeter than honey

Warning

Rewarding

Take a look again at the Word!

Renewing the mind

Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God. Romans 12:2 (HCSB)

In today's culture there are a lot of people "preaching" the need to be careful what we put in our bodies.  We are urged to be healthy and guard what we place in our bodies through our mouths.  But what about our minds?  Are we guarding what goes into our minds.  The Apostle Paul challenges that we must renew our minds.  Check ourselves on how we think.  To guard against what we put into our minds.  Christ followers must remember to consider their spiritual diet of the mind.

I'm with Him!

For you are a holy people belonging to the Lord your God.

Deut 7:6 (HCSB)

As a Christ follower we are a holy people.  Holiness means that we are set apart for a particular reason and purpose.  We belong to Him.  God has set us apart for His purpose.  We belong to Him.  That really does make us holy.  Live today for Him as a servant set apart who belongs to the Master.

Gladness

 Serve the Lord with gladness;

Psalms 100:2 (HCSB)

How do you serve the Lord?  Did you wake up today intent and excited about serving Him.  Or has your service become a drudgery.  We sometimes begin to feel serving the Lord is a duty and it loses its excitement and appeal.  Here is a simple challenge.  Remember how good He is and serve Him with gladness!

Marks of Love

The one who has My commands and keeps them is the one who loves Me. And the one who loves Me will be loved by My Father. I also will love him and will reveal Myself to him.”

John 14:21 (HCSB)

 Our love for God is demonstrated in our obedience.  Henry Blackaby writes, "(some claim) I love God, but I'm having difficulty obeying Him in some areas of my life.  That is a spiritual impossibility."  If we love God we will obey Him.  Genuine love will produce obedience.

The question for every Christ follower is do I really love God?  Is it demonstrated in my actions.

The God We Serve!

The heavens, indeed the highest heavens, belong to the Lord your God, as does the earth and everything in it. 15 Yet the Lord was devoted to your fathers and loved them. He chose their descendants after them—[He chose] you out of all the peoples, as it is today. 16 Therefore, circumcise your hearts and don’t be stiff-necked any longer. Deut 10:14-16 (HCSB)

These verse here in Deuteronomy tell us about this wonderful God we serve.  It tells us three very important truths.  God is God of all.  The world and everything in it belongs to Him.  He is master and ruler.  Whether He is acknowledged or not He is over all.  It also tells us He loves us and chose us as His people.  Here in the Old Testament He is speaking of the Isrealites, His chosen people.  The principle also applies to us as the people of His new covenant.  He loves us and chose us all the while He gave us our free will to chose.  These verses also tell us that He expects and wants our obedience.  He wants our hearts to be right with Him and responsive to His leading and convicting.

Don't take for granted this wonderful, awesome God we serve.

Watching or Alert?

32 “Now concerning that day or hour no one knows—neither the angels in heaven nor the Son—except the Father. 33 Watch! Be alert! For you don’t know when the time is [coming] . 34 It is like a man on a journey, who left his house, gave authority to his  slaves, gave each one his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to be alert. 35 Therefore be alert, since you don’t know when the master of the house is coming—whether in the evening or at midnight or at the crowing of the rooster or early in the morning. 36 Otherwise, he might come suddenly and find you sleeping. 37 And what I say to you, I say to everyone: Be alert!”

Mark 13:32-37 (HCSB)

Are you watching or Alert?  You may be asking isn't it the same thing?  No in this case it really isn't.  There are many Christians who are watching for Jesus to return.  They are sitting back, and waiting.  They want to get all the information (prophecy) to know when that final hour will be like, what will happen before that day, they are anxiously waiting Jesus return.

But the Christ follow is to be Alert.  Very different!  Being alert is not passively sitting by watching the skies.  Alertness is to be busy, it is activity it is working, it is fulfilling His purpose for us because we know our King is coming.  The Christ follower is busy doing the assigned task until He returns.  What is the assigned task.  It is bringing as many into the Kingdom as we can.  Sharing the message of our King and His Kingdom until He breaks open the eastern sky.

Are you watching or Alert?

Great Lengths

When He entered Capernaum again after some days, it was reported that He was at home. 2 So many people gathered together that there was no more room, not even in the doorway, and He was speaking the message to them. 3 Then they came to Him bringing a paralytic, carried by four men. 4 Since they were not able to bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above where He was. And when they had broken through, they lowered the stretcher on which the paralytic was lying.

Mark 2:1-4 (HCSB)

A simple thought today.  What are you willing to do to get someone to Jesus?  Are you willing to work harder?  Are you willing to embarrass yourself?  Are you willing to  inconvenience yourself?  The men in this passage knew this man needed Jesus and they would not be deterred from getting him there.  What will you do today to get someone to Jesus?

The Call: A Holy Moment

 When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called out to him from the bush, “Moses, Moses!”“Here I am,” he answered. 5 “Do not come closer,” He said. “Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.”

Ex 3:4-5 (HCSB)

You will probably not see a burning bush that is not consumed.  You will probably not hear an audible voice call your name.  But if you are a Christ follower, seeking Him you will receive a call.  It may come at the strangest time, in your estimation.  It may not sound like or look like what you think it will.  But God has a plan, purpose and call for each of us.  Here's what you need to remember.  Wherever, whatever and whenever you receive that call, remember it is a holy moment.   Don't view it as, "not a big deal."  It is a big deal!  No matter what it is that God calls you too, you have been called upon by an awesome God.  He plans to do extraordinary things through ordinary you and possibly ordinary circumstances.  But it is always a holy moment.  Be ready for it!

The Call to do what you already Know

Then the king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, one of whom was named Shiphrah and the other Puah, 16 “When you help the Hebrew women give birth, observe them as they deliver. If the child is a son, kill him, but if it’s a daughter, she may live.” 17 The Hebrew midwives, however,  feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt had told them; they let the boys live.

Ex 1:15-17 (HCSB)

Usually when we talk about God calling us we are looking for the big things.  We are looking for it to be written across the sky in an amazing show of God's direction.  The Hebrew midwives teach us a valuable lesson about God's call.  Most of the time God's call is simply to do what we already know He wants us to do.  They knew what God wanted and because the feared Him they obeyed.

Today seek to do the call of the things you already know He wants for you to do and recognize His divine calling in your life today.

Choices; for His Use

Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver bowls, but also those of wood and earthenware, some for special use, some for ordinary. 21 So if anyone purifies himself from these things, he will be a special instrument, set apart, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work. 22 Flee from youthful passions, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. 23 But reject foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they breed quarrels. 2 Tim 2:20-23 (HCSB)

God wants to use you but your choices make the difference of how or if you can be used for His service.  This movie scene is a fun way to illustrate the importance of choices:


What choice will you make?  Will you avoid youthful passions and pursue righteous living?  Will you chose to be a useful vessel today?

Knowing and Obeying

In the same way faith, if it doesn’t have works, is dead by itself.18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without works, and I will show you faith from my works.

James 2:17-18 (HCSB)

James tells us that our faith is really demonstrated not in knowing (faith) but in obeying (works).  To many who claim to be Christ followers talk about know Christ but don't demonstrate their faith by the actions.  We are to be people of action.  We can not continue to claim that we know Christ and have faith and then refuse to obey Him.  Evaluate yourself are you merely knowing or are you obeying.  There really is a difference.

Right and Wrong

Remind them of these things, charging them before God not to fight about words; this is in no way profitable and leads to the ruin of the hearers.

2 Tim 2:14 (HCSB)

OK, I know we all like to be right.  It is hard sometimes to hear people spouting off and not knowing what they are talking about.  Over the years I have met many people who thought their number one goal in life was to prove these dumb Christ followers wrong.  What is even more distasteful is to discover another Christian who is so sure that their view of a certain issue or topic that they want to beat you and everyone else down with their interpretation of the Bible.

The Apostle Paul has something to say to us about that.  He says, "don't do it!"  Don't fight about words.  It is unproductive and will only damage those who hear it.  Often the damage is to innocent bystanders who are all ears when we begin to argue.  Yes there are times we must defend the truth but that can be done in a patient and constructive way.  But lets be honest.  Most of the things we fight about really aren't that important in the big picture of Kingdom life.

So next time think about this verse from 2 Timothy, Count to ten, bite your lip or stick your sock in your mouth before you start that argument.  No one will really win!

Not out but protected

I am not prayingthat You take them out of the worldbut that You protect them from the evil one.

John 17:15 (HCSB)

In John 17 Jesus is praying for His disciples then and those in the future (us).  He is very clear.  He says, "I am not praying that you take them out of the world."  And yet the Christian community over the years has tried to find ways to get out of the world.  We have tried to legislate.  We publish advertising so that we know which businesses are "Christian."  We have established "Christian Schools."  All of this seems to contradict what Jesus said He was praying for, that we would not be out of the world.

Instead Jesus said He was praying, "that You protect them from the evil one."  Jesus plan is not to take us out but to protect us while we are in.  In order for us to be effective as light and salt we must be in regular contact with the world.  If we isolate ourselves from the world we will never be able to do our job as Christ followers and bring others into the Kingdom.

Jesus does not want you compromised or destroyed by the evil one in the world but He does want you to be a visible light and a purifying salt in the world.  Stay in and know you are protected.

Praise God in all things

As a Christ follower we know the importance of praising God.  It is easier to praise God when things go as we wish they would but it is much harder in tough times.  Watch this video and be encouraged by this Christ followers commitment to praise God in the hard times.  Since this video was made He has gone on to be with the Lord.

Revealed

The heavens declare the glory of God,and the sky   proclaims the work of His hands.2 Day after day they pour out speech;night after night they communicate knowledge.

Psalms 19:1-2 (HCSB)

Psalm 19 tells us an important truth.  God reveals Himself to us.  He reveals Himself through nature.  Nature declares His glory, power and majesty.  God is not hidden.  He is visible to all who want to see.  When we know that we might look at a sunset, the mountains or the ocean a little differently.  When we see the power and precision of nature it is revealing to us the splendor of an awesome God.

Enjoy Him today!

Happy!

How happy is the manwho has put his trust in the Lord

Psalms 40:4 (HCSB)

It is important that the Bible does not promise us to be happy.  Happiness is an emotion that can change.  God does promise abundant life, joy, peace, calls us to rejoice but not necessarily that we will be happy.  It is also important to realize that happiness is not a bad thing and shouldn't be something we hope for and look for in our lives.

Here is a great verse that reminds us that generally speaking we can find happiness simply by trusting in the Lord.  When we have the right mindset and focus, when we are putting our faith in Him alone we can be happy even in the midst of difficult things.

Trust God and enjoy today!

Breaking away from Guilt

How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven,
Whose sin is covered! 2 How blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity,
And in whose spirit there is no deceit!
     3 When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted away
Through my groaning all day long. 4 For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me;
My vitality was drained away as with the fever heat of summer. Selah . 5 I acknowledged my sin to You,
And my iniquity I did not hide;
I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD";
And You forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah. 6 Therefore, let everyone who is godly pray to You in a time when You may be found;
Surely in a flood of great waters they will not reach him. 7 You are my hiding place; You preserve me from trouble;
You surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah.
     8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go;
I will counsel you with My eye upon you. 9 Do not be as the horse or as the mule which have no understanding,
Whose trappings include bit and bridle to hold them in check,
Otherwise they will not come near to you.

Psalms 32:1-9 (NASB95)

Guilt is not necessarily a bad thing.  Like pain is serves us a warning system that something is wrong.  But if we hold on to it, Satan can use it to hinder us and render us useless in Kingdom work.  Psalm 32 gives us some help in breaking away from guilt.

First, we must understand and accept forgiveness.  (Vs. 1-2)  God forgives.  That is really great news!  So don't roll around in your guilt but enjoy and appreciate God's forgiveness.

Second, we must understand and accept conviction.  (Vs. 3-6)  Conviction can be painful and none of us really like it.  But accept it because it is evidence of God's great love for us.  He loves us so much He will not leave us in our sin but brings conviction to draw us back to Him.

Finally understand and accept your security.  (Vs. 7-9)  God is our refuge.  He loves us so much.  We beat ourselves up about our sin.  We should take our sin seriously.  There is an appropriate time for grieving over our sin.  But there is also a time to acknowledge the sin and move on, knowing that God still loves you and is with you and wants to use you.  It is good to rest secure in the love of our savior.

Don't camp in the valley of guilt.  Go through it and come out into the pasture of His love, mercy and grace.

Integrity

Vindicate me, O LORD, for I have walked in my integrity,
And I have trusted in the LORD without wavering. 2 Examine me, O LORD, and try me;
Test my mind and my heart.

Psalms 26:1-2 (NASB95)

David proclaims that he has walked in integrity.  That is an important claim.  We should walk in integrity.  That should be a desire of ours to live that kind of life.  However David doesn't just make the claim.  He takes another step.

He asks God to examine and try him, to look at his mind and his heart.  It is one thing to claim we have integrity it is another to ask God to test us, to examine us to validate our integrity to be real.  As Christ followers we need to to frequently do just that.  Ask God to examine, try and test us and help us to see where we are lacking.

We will have and maintain true integrity when we take time to be examined by our Lord and to repent when we see what is lacking in our life.

A Word for a trying Day

As I prepare to write this blog I have faced several weeks of extremely difficult and trying circumstances.  I took a long look at Psalm 13 to share some thoughts for the Christ Followers on The Disciples Journal.It was good to review it again.  I really wish I had read it before today.

Meditate on the words of the Psalm and allow the Holy Spirit to speak to your heart as He did mine.

Psalm 13

Prayer for Help in Trouble.

For the choir director. A Psalm of David.

1 How long, O LORD? Will You forget me forever?
How long will You hide Your face from me? 2 How long shall I take counsel in my soul,
Having sorrow in my heart all the day?
How long will my enemy be exalted over me?
     3 Consider and answer me, O LORD my God;
Enlighten my eyes, or I will sleep the sleep of death, 4 And my enemy will say, "I have overcome him,"
And my adversaries will rejoice when I am shaken.
     5 But I have trusted in Your lovingkindness;
My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation. 6 I will sing to the LORD,
Because He has dealt bountifully with me.

Psalms 13:1-6 (NASB95)

Confidence

The LORD is in His holy temple; the LORD'S throne is in heaven;

Psalms 11:4 (NASB95)

Confidence is needed in life.  Our confidence however, is not in ourselves but instead is in God.  The psalmist reminds us that the Lord is on the job.  He is in His temple.  He is in control.  He is on the throne.  When you face the challenges of the day remember that you are not alone.  We serve an awesome God who is all-powerful and righteous.

Live in confidence today!

Consequences of Rebellion

7 The Lord of Hosts says this: “Think carefully about your ways. 8 Go up into the hills, bring down lumber, and build the house. Then I will be pleased with it and be glorified,” says the Lord. 9 “You expected much, but then it amounted to little. When you brought [the harvest] to your house, I ruined it. Why?” [This is] the declaration of the Lord of Hosts. “Because My house still lies in ruins, while each of you is busy with his own house.10 So on your account, the skies have withheld the dewand the land its crops. 11 I have summoned a droughton the fields and the hills,on the grain, new wine, olive oil,and whatever the ground yields,on the people and animals,and on all that your hands produce.”

Hag 1:7-11 (HCSB)

I have noticed that we  have this problem, we expect God to bless us even when we rebel agains Him in our lives.  Haggai reminds us what happens when we rebel.  God removes His blessings from us (vs. 9)  It also disrupts our fellowship and relationship with God (vs. 9)  But God also witholds His blessings from us (vs. 10-11)

There's a lesson to be learned here.  God loves us, He forgives us, He shows mercy, but He does not have to bless us even when we rebel.  There are consequences to sin and rebellion.  We must keep that in mind as we make decisions in our lives.

Disaster of Disobedience

Only don’t rebel against the Lord, and don’t be afraid of the people of the land, for we will devour them. Their protection has been removed from them, and the Lord is with us. Don’t be afraid of them!”

Num 14:9 (HCSB)

Disobedience will always bring disaster into our lives.  The Israelites should have learned that.  They had a long history of disobedience that brought disastrous results.  But then again, so do we.  In this passage the people of God are challenged not to make the mistake of disobedience again.  They are given three warnings.

Don't rebel against God.  How simple is that and yet it was so hard for them to acknowledge.  It is for us as well.  Rejoice if you have someone willing to speak into your life these words, "do not rebel against the Lord."

Second, is do not fear.  Fear is a great distractor from obedience.  For the Isrealites it was fear of the people in the land.  For us we have different life challenges.  But the challenge is still the same, "do not fear."  There is also a reminder that God will be with us.

Last, is the challenge not to reject the plans of the Lord.  God had a plan.  He had already promised deliverance and victory.  What was required to walk forward and take the Land in obedience.  Will we follow His plan or try to find our own?

How do you present yourself?

Therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your spiritual worship.

Romans 12:1 (HCSB)

Today's thought is very simple.  If we are to present ourselves to God as a living sacrifice.  How will you present yourself today?  The verse goes on to say holy, pleasing to God.  Are you living a Holy life?  Are you pleasing to God?  If not we are not presenting ourselves to God as we should.  It is a simple challenge of obedience.

Prepared

Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 To please the recruiter, no one serving as a soldier gets entangled in the concerns of everyday life. 5 Also, if anyone competes as an athlete, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. 6 It is the hardworking farmer who ought to be the first to get a share of the crops.

2 Tim 2:3-6 (HCSB)

I was never a boy scout, but I understand that the boy scout's motto is "be prepared."  This should be the motto of the Christ follower as well.  As Paul writes to Timothy his suggestions of preparation are slightly different.  Perhaps we could even say Paul is telling Timothy to expect certain things as a Christ follower.

The first is to expect suffering.  As a Christ follower, or soldier of Jesus we should be prepared to suffer.  Expect it.  It goes agains the grain of what our expectations are.  We think that if we are serving Jesus we should be happy and everything will be good.  The problem is that never in the Bible is that suggested to us.  Rather, we are told to be prepared for suffering.

Second is to be prepared to play by the rules.  In other words we need to know how to play the game.  The Christ follower is really not playing a game but we must understand clearly what the "rules" are.  I think God's word is clear about life and God's expectations for us.  We live with a different World view and we must always keep that in mind.

Last we should prepare to reap a harvest.  There is a reward.  We like that expectation!  We harvest lives changed.  But we also harvest a reward that is beyond this world.  It is very possible, perhaps even likely that you will never see the reward in this life, but Heaven holds a cornucopia of rewards.

Be prepared for all that you should expect as a Christ follower.

Tithe

 I also discovered that the portions of the Levites had not been given them, so that the Levites and the singers who performed the service had gone away, each to his own field. 11 So I reprimanded the officials and said, "Why is the house of God forsaken?" Then I gathered them together and restored them to their posts. 12 All Judah then brought the tithe of the grain, wine and oil into the storehouses.

Neh 13:10-12 (NASB95)

Why is the tithe so import for Christ followers to practice?  You may be asking that question yourself.  It is a practice not done as regularly as it should.  Understand that God does not require a portion he requires it all.  That is stewardship.  God owns it all and we give as He asks of us.  He may ask for 10, 20 or 50 percent.  That is another lesson for another blog.  Again why is the tithe so important?  There are two important aspects to the tithe.

First, is personal for an individual Christ follower.  When we tithe or choose not too it speaks to our obedience and to our priorities.  It tells us whether we have placed something in a position of importance greater than God.  If we understand God expects us to give and yet we refuse to do so we have made it clear that God is not first in our lives.  He is at best second or third, or fifth, you get the idea.  It also speaks to our priorities.  If serving God in obedience or financing Kingdom work is not important enough to do it shows us that our priorities are not where they ought to be.  A Christ follower will place obedience to God and priority of Kingdom work above personal aspirations and desires.

Second lesson for us is corporate or has to do with body of Christ.  We tithe so that God's Kingdom work can be done.  God has made a decision that through our tithe, our giving, He will finance the work of the Kingdom.  Here Nehemiah is distraught because Kingdom work is not able to be done because the tithe has been forsaken.  If every Christ follower were to give a minimum of 10% of their income can you imagine the work that could be done, the missionaries that could be sent and the ministries supported.  There would never be a lack for finances in Kingdom work.

So Christ follower that is why we tithe: obedience, priorities and Kingdom work.  Are you being faithful with the money God has entrusted you with?

The Cross for the Condemned

"For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. 18 "He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

John 3:17-18 (NASB95)

Jesus went to the cross not to condemn us but because we are already condemned.  We are condemned not because God sent Jesus to the cross but because we are sinners.  Our Human propensity to sin is what causes are judgment and condemnation.  Jesus came to the cross so that we could be freed from that condemnation.  It is a mistake to say that if God is a loving God He won't send anyone to Hell.  God is a loving God and that is why Jesus went to the cross.  God wants to save us from our condemnation.  It is not God who sends us to Hell, we send ourselves with our sinfulness.

Today, Good Friday is a good day to be reminded or to hear for the first time that, yes, we are condemned but God has made a way for us to be freed from that condemnation.  It truly is a Good Friday!

The Cross an Expression of Love

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

John 3:16 (NASB95)

Jesus went to the cross because God wanted you to know how much He loved you.  What an awesome expression of His love.  That He would send His only begotten Son so that we could have eternal life.  I have to be honest, that is a love I do not understand.  I accept it.  I believe it.  I am grateful for it.  But it is just a wonderful expression of love for us more than my mind can comprehend.

The Cross for Our Belief

"As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; 15 so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life.

John 3:14-15 (NASB95)

Why did Jesus have to go the cross?  That is such an ugly way to die, so inhuman, so vicious.  I am sure to the Israelites in the wilderness the "Serpent on the Stick" that Moses lifted up wasn't a pretty picture either.  But if we are going to turn to Jesus lifted up on a cross, we are going to come believing.  After all if we had our choice we would turn to something beautiful, sweet, something that gives us warm fuzzies.  There is nothing warm or fuzzy about the cross.

The cross challenges us to true belief.  Every Christ follower must understand that there is a difference between true belief and mental consent.  Many mentally consent to the idea of Christ on the cross.  But true belief is more than just acknowledging that something has occurred.  True belief shakes us and challenges us to the core and causes us to do something because of what we know or believe. 

That is the difference isn't it.  True belief calls upon us to live a different way because of our belief.  Jesus on the cross call us to true belief not just acknowledging an event in history.

The Cross to Discover Our Need

As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up;

John 3:14 (NASB95)

Have you ever wondered why Jesus had to go to the cross?  It is a good question.  It can also be a mind blowing question.  One reason Jesus went to the cross is found in this verse for today.  The reason Jesus went to the cross is so that we will discover our need.

Jesus uses an Old Testament illustration from the Exodus.  Do you remember the story.  The Isrealites had sinned again and the consequences of that sin was snakes.  Serpents came from everywhere and when they would bite the people they would die.  Moses cries out to God for help.  God tells Moses to make a serpent and place it on a pole.  When anyone was biten by a snake if they would look to the serpent on the pole they would be healed.

Why did God give this consequence?  Because He wanted the Isrealites to realize the severity of thier sin, the cost of disobedience and that salvation or healing comes only from Him.

When Jesus went to the cross there was a similiar lesson to be learned.  When we think of Jesus on the cross it should help us to realize that sin has severe consequences.  It seperates us from God and if left to our own resources and answers we will die in our sin and spend eternity seperated from God in Hell.  When we think of Jesus on the cross it reminds us that the cost of our sin is pain, suffering and death.  When think of Jesus on the cross it reminds us that only Jesus has the ability to pay our debt and save us from our sin.  Salvation can come only through Him.

I hope that this week as every Christ follower looks toward Easter (Resurrection Sunday) we will be reminded of our great need and that Jesus has stepped in to save us when we could not save ourselves.

Fear of Kingdom work

So I was afraid and went off and hid your talent in the ground. Look, you have what is yours.’26 “But his master replied to him, ‘You evil, lazy  slave! If you knew that I reap where I haven’t sown and gather where I haven’t scattered, 27 then you should have deposited my money with the bankers. And when I returned I would have received my money back with interest.

Matt 25:25-27 (HCSB)

This is an interesting parable (Matthew 25.14-30).  The most striking thought came to me from the verses above.  Here is a slave, a supposed servant who was afraid.  However, the master did not acknowledge the problem as fear but rather a problem of evil and laziness.  I really thought about that.  For many Christ followers as we hear the call to Kingdom work shrink back and say I just can't!  I'm afraid!  But I wonder if Jesus doesn't see laziness rather than fear.

I'm not sure that we can really claim fear as a Christ follower.  I'm not suggesting we don't face scary circumstances in serving Christ.  But if we believe His promises and His Word, is there really anything to fear?  Is there ever a legitimate fear to hinder us from serving Christ?  There may be fear but knowing what we know, and serving whom we serve does that fear excuse us or are we just unwilling?  

Be careful that we do not excuse ourselves from true service expecting the master to buy our excuse!

The Cost

Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.

Luke 14:27 (HCSB)

 Milifred Minatrea writes, "Authentic discipleship is costly -it accepts responsibilities."  Jesus said our responsibilities were to bear our own cross, come after Him.  That is a heavy responsibility.  Jesus has a cross, or perhaps we would state differently, a plan for each of our lives.  If we are truly to bear that cross we must do two things:  Understand what the cross is.  Accept the difficulty it may bring.

Jesus never said it would be easy.  But we should remember the second part of what Jesus said, follow Me.  But Jesus went to the cross.  He was willing and prepared to lay it all down on the cross.  We too better be ready if we are claiming to be His disciple to follow Him by willingly laying ourselves on the line for His Kingdom.

It is a heavy cost.  But we are Christ followers!

Ready

“Then the kingdom of heaven will be like 10 virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the groom. 2 Five of them were foolish and five were sensible. 3 When the foolish took their lamps, they didn’t take oil with them. 4 But the sensible ones took oil in their flasks with their lamps. 5 Since the groom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep.6 “In the middle of the night there was a shout: ‘Here’s the groom! Come out to meet him.’7 “Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps. 8 But the foolish ones said to the sensible ones, ‘Give us some of your oil, because our lamps are going out.’9 “The sensible ones answered, ‘No, there won’t be enough for us and for you. Go instead to those who sell, and buy oil for yourselves.’10 “When they had gone to buy some, the groom arrived. Then those who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet, and the door was shut.11 “Later the rest of the virgins also came and said, ‘Master, master, open up for us!’12 “But he replied, ‘ I assure you: I do not know you!’13 “Therefore be alert, because you don’t know either the day or the hour.

Matt 25:1-13 (HCSB)

Are you ready for Christ's return?  Many Christ followers are anticipating Christ's return.  I was visiting one of the members of our congregation in the hospital the other day.  His room mate made it a point to tell me he too was a believer and that he thought Jesus was coming back any time.  Many Christ followers are taking the "I'm just waiting for Jesus!" approach.

While we are to be watching we are also to be ready.  This parable tells of 10 Virgins (young ladies) who were waiting for the grooms return.  Here's what we need to understand.  They were waiting but they had a purpose, a job, for when the groom returns.  The virgins were friends of the bride.  They were to watch for the groom and light the path for him and his party as he returns to begin the feast.  5 of these virgins were ready to light the path and 5 were not adequately prepared to light the path.

I firmly believe Jesus is returning.  The Bible is clear.  Every Christ follower should be waiting.  But while we wait we have a job to do.  We are to be telling others about the groom, Jesus.  Are you doing your job?  Are you ready?

What we Should learn in Grief

Then Job answered the LORD and said, 2 "I know that You can do all things,
And that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted.
3 'Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?'
"Therefore I have declared that which I did not understand,
Things too wonderful for me, which I did not know."
4 'Hear, now, and I will speak;
I will ask You, and You instruct me.' 5 "I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear;
But now my eye sees You; 6 Therefore I retract,
And I repent in dust and ashes."

Job 42:1-6 (NASB95)

Have you ever truely been grief stricken?  When it seems that everything has gone against you, have you ever cried out to God?  Maybe accused Him?  Maybe asked, "Why Lord?"  When we are in the midst of grief, and at some point all of us will be, what should we learn?

Job points out several lessons we should learn.

1. God can do all things and there is nothing we can do to stop His plans and purposes.  In situations of grief it is obvious that these are things happening to us that we really didn't ask for and probably don't want.  But trust Him, He does have a plan. 
2. We may never understand His plans and purposes.  But because He is God we recognize that His ways are higher and greater and we can only trust Him.
3. We should just be quiet and let God teach us what we need to learn.  I don't know about you but sometimes I just can't be quiet and let God speak.  Grief has a way of getting our attention.
4. It is in grief that we really get to know God intimately.  We may know of Him but in grief as He comes to comfort and care for us we know Him at a deeper level than ever before.
5. We should humble ourselves and repent of our attitudes and actions.

If you are experiencing grief, allow God's Spirit to minister to you and teach you.  Yes it is a difficult time but as Pastor Rick Warren is known to say, "God doesn't waste any of our experiences."

Revive Us

For this reason I remind you to kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.

2 Tim 1:6 (NASB95)

Our church just had a weekend of revival services.  Why do we do this?  It is one of those church things we do that sometime are done without thinking of the why.  Revival doesn't just happen because we have a set time of services.  It happens because we say to God, "Lord, I need to be renewed in my walk with you.  Revive me!"  It may happen during "revival services" or it may happen as you commit to some time with Him.  Either way we need that time.

That is exactly what the Apostle Paul was saying to Timothy.  Timothy revive the gift of God in your life.  Renew your heart, mind, body and spirit to the masters call.  "Kindle afresh", sounds like revival to me.

Do you need to be renewed in your commitment and walk?  Do you need to be refreshed and rekindled in your passion for Him.  It starts in your heart.  You don't have to have a set schedule of worship services to do.  Just spend some quality time with Him.  He will renew you if you come before Him expecting and open to the work of His Holy Spirit.

Roots

For I am mindful of the sincere faith within you, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am sure that it is in you as well.

2 Tim 1:5 (NASB95)

Not all of us have them but those of us who do should be grateful.  What am I talking about?  Roots!  Some of us have not grown up in Christian home.  Some of us do not have the legacy passed on of serving the King by our family.  But for those of us who do we should rejoice.

Paul reminds Timothy, a young Christ follower, who was serving as a pastor, of his roots.  He had been raised by a godly grandmother and mother.  They gave to him a foundation to build his life upon.

Today rejoice and say thanks for the godly roots that you have.  If you came from a background without those roots make a commitment to yourself and to the master to lay that foundation for your family.  You be the beginning root in your family tree.

The trap of "rewards"

 "For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. 2 "When he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius for the day, he sent them into his vineyard.3 "And he went out about the third hour and saw others standing idle in the market place; 4 and to those he said, 'You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.' And so they went. 5 "Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did the same thing. 6 "And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing around; and he said* to them, 'Why have you been standing here idle all day long?'7 "They said* to him, 'Because no one hired us.' He said* to them, 'You go into the vineyard too.'
8 "When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said* to his foreman, 'Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last group to the first.' 9 "When those hired about the eleventh hour came, each one received a denarius . 10 "When those hired first came, they thought that they would receive more; but each of them also received a denarius. 11 "When they received it, they grumbled at the landowner, 12 saying, 'These last men have worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the scorching heat of the day.' 13 "But he answered and said to one of them, 'Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for a denarius? 14 'Take what is yours and go, but I wish to give to this last man the same as to you. 15 'Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with what is my own? Or is your eye envious because I am generous ?' 16 "So the last shall be first, and the first last."

Matt 20:1-16 (NASB95)

We all like rewards.  It feels good to be rewarded for hard work or a good job.  Yet in Kingdom living the Christ follower needs to evaluate and be careful that we are working for the master for the right reason.  In Kingdom living and Kingdom work it should not be about the reward but about serving the master.

Jesus told this parable to remind his followers that He decides who serves where, for how long and what the rewards will be.  There are really no big servants and rewards or little servants or rewards.  The idea that the Kingdom is comprised of Super Christians and normal Christians is just not accurate.  The real test is are we obedient and faithful.

Rewards are nice and they are promised.  But the Christ follower must beware of the trap of looking for the reward rather than loving and serving the master.

Qualified

When they observed the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed and knew that they had been with Jesus.

Acts 4:13 (HCSB)

Are you qualified to do great things for God?  I have talked with many Christians who struggle as a Christ follower because they don't think they are qualified.  They think they don't know enough.  The feel inadequate to effectively be used by God.  When we have those thoughts we just need to go back to the Scripture.  Story after story in the Old Testament as well as the new we show us the error of our thoughts.

This verse from the Acts is a prime example.  Peter and John were doing great things.  They were bold and those opposing them were surprised and impressed.  Why were they impressed?  Because they realized that they were uneducated and untrained men.  Now note that it was the opposition that discovered the "why."  It was that they had been with Jesus!

So back to our initial question, are you qualified to do great things for God?  Have you been with Jesus?  Are you spending time growing in your relationship with Him?  Are you spending time in His Word so that He can teach you?  If so, get ready because you can do great things!  If not, there is a very simple solutions.  START!

A Bad Attitude

All the sons of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron;

Num 14:2 (NASB95)

Is a bad attitude a sin?   When we become negative we find ourselves falling into a trap that will lead us to nothing good or godly.  A bad attitude and grumbling is just the first step that will lead us to fall into sin.  Usually accompanying grumbling will be other negative actions that lead to sin.

When we grumble we also find ourselves in despair.  We cry, belly ache and complain.  With despair we struggle to see anything positive.  But in reality for the child of God, there are many, many blessings that we should remember.

We also find ourselves longing for the good old days.  There is an important reality to remember.  It is that rarely are the good old days as good as we remember them.  The Israelites wanted to return to Egypt, yes Egypt.  It seems they forgot the whips, cruelty, the bricks and all that went with their slavery there.

The Israelites also found themselves blaming God.  Can you imagine that.  Blaming God for what?  Hasn't God rescued them from their captivities?  Hasn't God provided for them food miraculously?  Hasn't God brougth them through the Red Seas and saved them miraculously from the Egyptian military breathing down their necks?  Yes that God who did great things for them they blame for their troubling situation.

Finally after grumbling, despair, longing for the good old days and blaming God we find ourselves rebelling against God.  We must be careful of our bad attitudes and the sin it will draw us into.  Christ followers must guard against negativity and grumbling.  Don't grumble but  thank God for the opportunity to serve Him today!

God's Will

Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.

Romans 12:2 (HCSB)

My Money

But those who want to be rich fall into temptation, a trap, and many foolish and harmful desires, which plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and by craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains.

1 Tim 6:9-10 (HCSB)

That is something for every Christ Follower to think about!

Quiet Time

In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and was praying there.

Mark 1:35 (NASB95)

How quiet is your quiet time?  If we are not careful our time with the Lord will become part of the routine or a hurried obligation.  We need quiet.   Even Jesus needed a quiet time.  We do too.  We can learn from Jesus example about quiet time.

Jesus went when He knew He could get away.  For Him it was early morning.  He had a place that was out of His ordinary routine.  He went to a place that was secluded.  He practiced the spiritual disciplines of Solitude and prayer.

The most important aspect of a quality quiet time is being able to get away and be quiet.  God says to us, "Be still and know that I am God."  Try it today it will make a huge impact in your life.