Who is in your circle of influence?

As Christians, we tend to think that our Christian duty is to go to church on Sunday, volunteer, and give money. Christianity is far more than that.

In Mark 2:16, the religious leaders of the day ask the following question: "Why does He (Jesus) eat with tax collectors and sinners?" That may be the wrong question... the question should be:

Why would sinners eat with Jesus?

The one thing that we know about Jesus was that He was very truthful. If you were a sinner, He would tell you to stop. If there was an area that you struggled with, He addressed it head on, like He did with the rich young ruler.

So, why would sinners flock to Jesus? If we take an honest look at today's society, most people that the church views as sinners aren't given the opportunity to talk to Christians because most Christians avoid them.

Maybe it's time that we start living our life like Jesus did and spend some time with those that don't know who He is. Let's build relationships where we can sow the Word of God into their lives rather than spending 5 minutes sharing something then leaving to never see them again.

Jesus said that he came for the sick because those who are well don't need a physician. Let us struggle to open our eyes to those who are lost and struggling so we can share with them the hope that we have in Christ.

Losing the draft...

I went to see my first live NASCAR race this past Sunday. There was this interesting phenomenon that happened that I became fascinated with. Drafting. Not so much drafting, as much as the consequences of losing the draft.

Losing the draft happens when one of the cars loses touch with the pack, and as a result - regardless of how fast they drive - the cannot catch up with the other cars. As a matter of fact, within a few laps, the other cars actually catch up!

There's a benefit that comes in working together where regardless of how hard you work, you just cannot catch up on your own.

What does this have to do with Christianity? Everything!

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. (Hebrews 10:24-25, ESV)

There is power in meeting together. When you get together with like-minded people, you feel encouraged to try harder, strive more fervently. So... let us struggle to not lose the draft and let us work together in order to be all that we can be in Christ!

When is the truth a lie?

There are times when you read things in the Bible so many times that you completely miss the importance of what is being said.

God said, "Let us make man in our image."

Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”So God created man in his own image,
in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them. And God blessed them. - Gen 1:26-28

The lie that satan told Adam and Eve was that if they ate the fruit, they would be like God.

So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. Gen 3:6

Did you catch that lie? God created man in His image, but satan said "If you do this, you will be like God."

Are there areas in your life where satan is attacking the truth in your life by telling you lies? Lies like: you're not worthy, you're not good enough... the list goes on.

Let us struggle to remember what the word of God says about us. Le us not get sidetracked by distortions of the truth.

Are you a stick in the mud?

Have you ever seen a stick standing in the mud? They kind of look like a tree, except they're dead. There is no root structure, they aren't alive, but there they are standing... as if they are pretending to be a tree.

To be totally honest, there are times when I feel like I could be a stick in the mud, and other times where I know that I'm rooted and grounded and bearing fruit.

That's our struggle, right? Or am I in this alone?

I think the key is in who you surround yourself with... is your "support system" made up of people that delight in the Lord? Are there people that you can discuss the law of the Lord with? Do you meditate on the words of God day... and night? If so, you will definitely be more like a tree yielding its fruit in season.

Let us struggle to not to find ourselves in a forest of sticks in the mud.

Blessed is the man

who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,

nor stands in the way of sinners,

nor sits in the seat of scoffers;

but his delight is in the law of the Lord,

and on his law he meditates day and night.

He is like a tree

planted by streams of water

that yields its fruit in its season,

and its leaf does not wither.

In all that he does, he prospers.

The wicked are not so,

but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Psalm 1:1-4

What defines your life? What do you value?

If you ask someone what the most important thing is in their life, then watch how they live their life - you will usually see a disconnect. What's they ideally say is important, is not usually where they spend their time, effort, or money.

I've seen a lot of people say that their family was important to them, but they spent all their time at work trying to provide the material thing and they've missed the relationship with their family, which most would argue is far more important.

I have seen people say that the most important thing to them was their health. When you look at them on the outside, they appear to eat healthy and exercise, but they also smoke and drink too much - which arguably could have a negative impact on their body.

If you ask a Christian, they most likely will tell you that God is the most important thing in their lives, but is you ask them to explain salvation, or articulate what they believe, it's really difficult. And when you look at their lives, the expectation of seeing them live their life as Jesus lived his... well, let's just say a lot of things may be lacking.

In Philippians, Paul makes a bold statement.

For me to live is Christ, to die is gain. Phil 1:21

When you look at Paul, you know the most important thing in his life was sharing the Gospel. He grasped one this one idea that is spread consistently throughout the New Testament.

 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I liv by faith in the Song of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Gal 2:20

Jesus explains the same idea this way:

They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in the truth. John 17:16-19

So, the question of the morning is... how are you living? What do you value?

For you to live is.......

Who's in charge, anyway???

Sometimes, kids can be funny. I remember when my youngest child was a toddler - he was getting into something that he shouldn't, so as a typical parent, I told him to stop. I will never forget the first time he looked at me, very sternly and said "No, you stop!"

The first time it happens, it's really kind of cute, but after that... not so much. I remember thinking - how can this child, that can't tie his own shoes, prepare a meal for himself... this child that is so dependent upon me for everything really think that he can tell me what to do?

When you think about it, sometimes that mirrors our own relationship with God. Have you ever prayed where you're basically telling God what to do? Is that the way that it's supposed to work? The Bible is very clear that God knows what we need at any particular time - so I'm not saying that we shouldn't ask... the Bible is very clear that we should ask.

The question is... what should we be asking?

When the disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to pray, He was very clear:

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.

Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

 Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil (Matthew 6:9)

The main point of this model pray is that God's will be done on earth. Our desire is that God's will should be done. Everything else is a reminder of His word - that He would supply our need - like He did when the Children were in the wilderness... God Provided manna... daily. God is faithful to believe. God has no desire that we sin or perish...

This week, let us spend time reading the Bible to understand the character of God, and pray that His will is done in our lives.

 

 

 

 

Is there an alternative?

Within the past few months, Hollywood lost two young stars that had the whole world in front of them. Lee Thompson Young, was a child star that was in my children's favorite Disney show, The Famous Jett Jackson and successfully made the transition into stardom as an adult. Cory Monteith found his fame in both movies and television. I know many people who would have gladly traded places with the lives that these two had.

One dies by suicide and the other in a drug induced stupor.

Many times, people look at Christians with disdain. They can't believe that we trust in an invisible God, but the question is - where is the hope? These two people who apparently had everything had no hope and in their own way, just gave up hope.

I wonder if there were any Christians in their lives that wanted to share the hope that God offers but didn't?

In Ezekiel 18:32 the prophet is yelling out to the people:

For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord God; so turn, and live.

When people don't see any other way, or when life just seems to get too heavy, or the mistakes of the past well up like an insurmountable wave, people loos hope. But God wants us to Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed, make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. Then asks the question Why will you die? (Ezekiel 18:31)

There are a lot of people out there that do not know the hope that God has for them. Let us struggle to share with others the hope that we hold dear.

Selah