In summary of John 7:6-8 it says, ‘Jesus replied don’t rush me, “for you, anytime is fine you have nothing to lose, but now however is not the right time for me to go. The world can’t hate you, but it does me because I expose, accuse and testify that its work are evil. You go on, I’m not going, my time has not yet come.”’
Bottom Line:
Jesus replied that his time had not come yet, but any time would be suitable for them. At this point the world doesn’t hate them, however it does hate him because Jesus exposed, denounced and accused the leaders for their evil works. He told his followers to go on, but he would be staying as his time had not yet come.
What this means to me:
Jesus told his followers to not rush or pressure him into going on to a large upcoming festival. His time (or opportunity) had not yet come, however anytime would be suitable for them and the opportunity for them is ready for them at anytime. Two key elements are present here for me. 1). We shouldn't rush or be pressured to do something if the timing for us is not right. The only way for me to know the correct timing is to spend time and check in with God daily. God has a plan for me, but I can better understand that plan by hearing from him daily. 2.) Sharing about the truth and what Christ has done for me is suitable at any time. I shouldn’t be afraid of being rejected/hated outright. Many may not agree with me because I follow his truth because they have come accustomed to living to the world's standards and for themselves, however I will likely not be hated like Jesus was. The world hated him because he denounced it for its wicked works and revealed how what it was doing was evil. So he instructed them to go ahead to the feast, he would not be coming because the timing for him was not right. Typically I live my life by the calendar, going from one meeting (or conference call) to another. There is also work assignments that have time commitments. So often I get home at night and not really want to do anything else. If I reflect on Jesus, I see that he was never a hurried person. He never seemed stressed over getting things done. Jesus simply knew his father's timetable. He didn’t allow himself to be swept up into events that might distract him from his purpose or that might push him off of God’s timeline. Jesus knew he had been sent by God for a purpose, and he stuck to that purpose. Funny, as I am spending time this morning studying this verse and writing out my thoughts and trying to complete and head out to work I find myself being notified by an employee of a problem at work, my sister called asking for assistance to put together and install some Ikea furniture and one of my clients has called asking to speak to me about an existing project. Seems I’ll need to always try to manage my time. Probably the best thing for me is to continue to pursue what God has created me to be and do what he has in mind for me to do, then resolutely set out to accomplish His purpose. I can think through a typical day and write out my major activities. I can then consider which of those are in pursuit of God’s purpose for me and then what steps I can do to reduce the busyness of my life.
Thursday, August 2, 2012
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
Follow And Be Prepared To Explain
In summary of 1 Peter 3:15 it says, “In your hearts keep your attention toward Christ, setting him apart as holy and in adoration acknowledge him as the Lord of your life instead of worldly things. If you are asked about the way you live or the hope that you have, always be ready to explain or give logical defense of it, but do so with the utmost courtesy.”
Bottom Line:
Keep your focus on Christ, he is worthy of being set apart as holy and in adoration acknowledge him as the Lord and leader of your life. Be ready to explain or give logical reasoning for the way you live or the hope you have. When you do, be sure to do so in a courteous and respectful manner.
What this means to me:
I am to always keep my attention and adoration toward Jesus Christ, the holy one. I need to continuously acknowledge him as the Lord and leader of my life. I need to be ready to explain the way I live or the hope I have because of him to anyone. But when I do so, I must do so in a courteous and respectful way. To prepare for this, I need to recall all that following Christ has done for me or to compare the way I was before to how I am now. I should always be filled with the passion and happiness that my God has rescued me from going my own way with no way to pay my penalty and made me his son again, all through the living sacrifice of his Son. I need to recount what I had learned in the “Truth Project” video’s, how the world is communicating and wanting everyone to follow the biggest lie ever and that God’s truth is what is real and what should be used to base our lives on.
Bottom Line:
Keep your focus on Christ, he is worthy of being set apart as holy and in adoration acknowledge him as the Lord and leader of your life. Be ready to explain or give logical reasoning for the way you live or the hope you have. When you do, be sure to do so in a courteous and respectful manner.
What this means to me:
I am to always keep my attention and adoration toward Jesus Christ, the holy one. I need to continuously acknowledge him as the Lord and leader of my life. I need to be ready to explain the way I live or the hope I have because of him to anyone. But when I do so, I must do so in a courteous and respectful way. To prepare for this, I need to recall all that following Christ has done for me or to compare the way I was before to how I am now. I should always be filled with the passion and happiness that my God has rescued me from going my own way with no way to pay my penalty and made me his son again, all through the living sacrifice of his Son. I need to recount what I had learned in the “Truth Project” video’s, how the world is communicating and wanting everyone to follow the biggest lie ever and that God’s truth is what is real and what should be used to base our lives on.
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Use Your Gifts To Bless Others And Further His Kingdom
In summary of 1 Peter 4:10 it says, “God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Be a good manager and generously use them to serve one another.”
Bottom Line:
God has provided you a gift from his diverse supply of spiritual gifts. As a good steward we should use them to serve others.
What this means to me:
God has provided me with particular gifts/talents when I put my trust in him. He has equipped me with these gifts from his great and diverse supply of spiritual gifts. It is gifts I didn’t deserve, but He has given them to me to serve others. I need to be a good steward and use them to bless others and to further his kingdom. In order to be a good steward it is good to remind myself of what God has given me. They are the things coincide with my heart, my abilities, my personality and my experiences. I am responsible to use what he has provided and he will hold me accountable It’s important for me to remember these gifts are not for my benefit. As I reflect this morning, I remember that God has gifted me with the ability to teach / explain what I’m learning and to lead smaller groups/individuals. I believe he has equipped me to work with and train others, help guide them. He has also given me a bit of musical talent which I use to serve in the worship team. I need to consider those that I can work with to help mentor and consider what I can do to lead a group of people to a closer walk with God. As I am thinking through my list of those I can encourage, I can consider what I can do to help mentor them.
Bottom Line:
God has provided you a gift from his diverse supply of spiritual gifts. As a good steward we should use them to serve others.
What this means to me:
God has provided me with particular gifts/talents when I put my trust in him. He has equipped me with these gifts from his great and diverse supply of spiritual gifts. It is gifts I didn’t deserve, but He has given them to me to serve others. I need to be a good steward and use them to bless others and to further his kingdom. In order to be a good steward it is good to remind myself of what God has given me. They are the things coincide with my heart, my abilities, my personality and my experiences. I am responsible to use what he has provided and he will hold me accountable It’s important for me to remember these gifts are not for my benefit. As I reflect this morning, I remember that God has gifted me with the ability to teach / explain what I’m learning and to lead smaller groups/individuals. I believe he has equipped me to work with and train others, help guide them. He has also given me a bit of musical talent which I use to serve in the worship team. I need to consider those that I can work with to help mentor and consider what I can do to lead a group of people to a closer walk with God. As I am thinking through my list of those I can encourage, I can consider what I can do to help mentor them.
Monday, July 30, 2012
See Others As God Sees Them
In summary of Galatians 6:2 it says, “Share in and help carry/bear each other’s burdens, and in this way obey and fulfill and complete the law of Christ”
Bottom Line:
We are to help with other’s burdens, when we do so we are obeying and fulfilling the complete law of Christ.
What this means to me:
God wants me to look around me and help those who have heavy burdens and troublesome moral faults. When I do so I’m obeying Christ and observing perfectly his law. As a believer and follower of Christ, God’s word tells me to that I need to value everybody (even the ones who would insult me, put me down or I think may not be worthy of it.) The best way to do this is to see them as God sees them; people he was willing to sacrifice his Son for. When I can appreciate and affirm people around me it will automatically raise their value. To best practice this, I need to really listen to them; when I do so it communicates that I value them and what they have to say. I need to think and use positive, helpful words; ones that build them up and provide what is really needed in order to best bless them. Speaking positive words of encouragement will really minister to them (I always feel better after someone is positive with me or builds me up.) I need learn to complement good things I see in their lives to help them grow in that area. Next I can pray for them. This week, I will make a list of who can I encourage this week and start with affirming them via positive words, by listening or by just praying for them.
Bottom Line:
We are to help with other’s burdens, when we do so we are obeying and fulfilling the complete law of Christ.
What this means to me:
God wants me to look around me and help those who have heavy burdens and troublesome moral faults. When I do so I’m obeying Christ and observing perfectly his law. As a believer and follower of Christ, God’s word tells me to that I need to value everybody (even the ones who would insult me, put me down or I think may not be worthy of it.) The best way to do this is to see them as God sees them; people he was willing to sacrifice his Son for. When I can appreciate and affirm people around me it will automatically raise their value. To best practice this, I need to really listen to them; when I do so it communicates that I value them and what they have to say. I need to think and use positive, helpful words; ones that build them up and provide what is really needed in order to best bless them. Speaking positive words of encouragement will really minister to them (I always feel better after someone is positive with me or builds me up.) I need learn to complement good things I see in their lives to help them grow in that area. Next I can pray for them. This week, I will make a list of who can I encourage this week and start with affirming them via positive words, by listening or by just praying for them.
Friday, July 27, 2012
Making My Load Lighter
In summary of Psalm 55:22 it says, "Give your burdens to the Lord, he will take care of you and make that load lighter. He will support and sustain in these times. He will not permit his consistent followers to be shaken or to slip and fall into ruin."
Bottom Line:
What ever is weighing you down, don’t hold onto it. Give it to God. He has told us that if we do he will take care of you, he will help support and sustain you. God does not permit those who consistently follow him to be shaken or to slip and fall into ruin.
What this means to me:
Some translations state that I am to cast or pile my burdens unto the Lord for he will support me and take care of me. This means I can release the weight of burdens on him. He will sustain me and not allow me to fall due to the load. He will not let me, as one of his consistent followers to be shaken or to falter. So this morning I reflect and realize that there are some things I’m not taking to the Lord. I’m using my own strength to handle them. So I turn to God this morning and lay them at his feet and ask for his support. I am giving these to God and asking him to guide me through the appropriate steps that I will need to take.
Bottom Line:
What ever is weighing you down, don’t hold onto it. Give it to God. He has told us that if we do he will take care of you, he will help support and sustain you. God does not permit those who consistently follow him to be shaken or to slip and fall into ruin.
What this means to me:
Some translations state that I am to cast or pile my burdens unto the Lord for he will support me and take care of me. This means I can release the weight of burdens on him. He will sustain me and not allow me to fall due to the load. He will not let me, as one of his consistent followers to be shaken or to falter. So this morning I reflect and realize that there are some things I’m not taking to the Lord. I’m using my own strength to handle them. So I turn to God this morning and lay them at his feet and ask for his support. I am giving these to God and asking him to guide me through the appropriate steps that I will need to take.
Thursday, July 26, 2012
Don’t Expect Heaven On Earth
In summary of Ephesians 4:22-24 it says, “Throw off, change your former way of life which is corrupted by lust, deception and deceitful desires; and take on an entirely new way - a God-fashioned life in which you let the Spirit inside you renew your thoughts and attitudes. Then put on your new nature, clothe yourself with the new person, and allow this to work itself into your conduct making you more like God’s image in justice and true holiness while God accurately reproduces his character in you.”
Bottom Line:
Change your former way of living, which was corrupted by things of this world and take on a new way to live. Allow God’s Spirit in you to renew your thoughts, attitudes and ways of thinking. Then each day put on our new nature (like you would put on new clothes), allow the His Spirit to work in your life, making you more like God’s character each day.
What this means to me:
This scripture instructs me to to get rid of my former nature (my old self / way of thinking), which characterized the way I had lived before (it was corrupted by lusts and desires that sprang from the world's ways), and instead be constantly renewed by the fresh mental and spiritual attitude, putting on a new regenerated self, one that is created in God’s image in justice and true holiness. There is a difference between taking on God’s character versus being like God. I often try to take on God’s role by trying to control my circumstances, the future or people around me. I can never be God and he doesn’t want me to be. Instead he wants me to become godly, taking on his values, attitudes, and character - “take on an entirely new way of life.” I must realize that God’s ultimate goal for me here on the Earth is not comfort, but rather character development. He wants me to grow and become more like Christ, but still within my own uniqueness. It’s about transforming my character not my personality. Life can often be difficult, it’s this way to grow me. I have to remember Earth is not Heaven! Having an abundant life is not having it easy and using God as my personal genie who grants me what I want. I must not forget that life is not about me, and that I exist for God’s purposes. My time here on earth is my training ground to build strength and character for later in Heaven. So today I will focus on taking on and displaying God’s character in my thinking, while still being my own unique personality. I will open for how God wants to use me today.
Bottom Line:
Change your former way of living, which was corrupted by things of this world and take on a new way to live. Allow God’s Spirit in you to renew your thoughts, attitudes and ways of thinking. Then each day put on our new nature (like you would put on new clothes), allow the His Spirit to work in your life, making you more like God’s character each day.
What this means to me:
This scripture instructs me to to get rid of my former nature (my old self / way of thinking), which characterized the way I had lived before (it was corrupted by lusts and desires that sprang from the world's ways), and instead be constantly renewed by the fresh mental and spiritual attitude, putting on a new regenerated self, one that is created in God’s image in justice and true holiness. There is a difference between taking on God’s character versus being like God. I often try to take on God’s role by trying to control my circumstances, the future or people around me. I can never be God and he doesn’t want me to be. Instead he wants me to become godly, taking on his values, attitudes, and character - “take on an entirely new way of life.” I must realize that God’s ultimate goal for me here on the Earth is not comfort, but rather character development. He wants me to grow and become more like Christ, but still within my own uniqueness. It’s about transforming my character not my personality. Life can often be difficult, it’s this way to grow me. I have to remember Earth is not Heaven! Having an abundant life is not having it easy and using God as my personal genie who grants me what I want. I must not forget that life is not about me, and that I exist for God’s purposes. My time here on earth is my training ground to build strength and character for later in Heaven. So today I will focus on taking on and displaying God’s character in my thinking, while still being my own unique personality. I will open for how God wants to use me today.
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Obedience Unlocks God’s Power
In summary of Ephesians 4:23 it says, “Always be renewed in your thinking, let the Spirit change the way you think.”
Bottom Line:
Let the Spirit renew you and influence your way of thinking.
What this means to me:
God wants his Spirit living in me to constantly renew my mind, giving me a fresh mental and spiritual attitude. So I should let his Spirit help me each day. God’s word has taught me that the Holy Spirit releases his power the moment I take a step of faith. It is only after I take that step forward in obedience and faith that I can truly see unlock this power. God will not pressure me, he wants me to act first. So I need to learn to not wait until I feel powerful or confident, but to move ahead in my weakness, doing what is right in spite of any fears or how I feel. In the long run moving forward in obedience and faith need to become my default habitual act (what comes naturally.) So today, I really need to spend some time focusing on what area in my life I need to take a step of faith and move forward regardless of fears/feelings.
Bottom Line:
Let the Spirit renew you and influence your way of thinking.
What this means to me:
God wants his Spirit living in me to constantly renew my mind, giving me a fresh mental and spiritual attitude. So I should let his Spirit help me each day. God’s word has taught me that the Holy Spirit releases his power the moment I take a step of faith. It is only after I take that step forward in obedience and faith that I can truly see unlock this power. God will not pressure me, he wants me to act first. So I need to learn to not wait until I feel powerful or confident, but to move ahead in my weakness, doing what is right in spite of any fears or how I feel. In the long run moving forward in obedience and faith need to become my default habitual act (what comes naturally.) So today, I really need to spend some time focusing on what area in my life I need to take a step of faith and move forward regardless of fears/feelings.
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