Connecting With God

The story of Martha & Mary in Luke 10 give us a solemn and shocking truth—Sometimes serving God can get in the way of connecting with God.  Hard to imagine isn’t it?  But realize that Martha was busy preparing a meal and a house for Jesus. Yet, Mary is who we are to follow in that she was the one who truly connected with Jesus.  There are a few ways she was able to do that:

• Mary got still.  Being busy is not a virtue, just as being still is not a vice.  Jesus greatly valued being away from the hustle & bustle of life to connect to God (Mark 1:35).  Is stillness built into your life?
• Mary listened.  Mary was intently focused on Jesus, but noticed that it does not say that he was teaching.  Mary just wanted to study and get as much from the words of Jesus that she could (v. 39). Jesus still speaks to us and He still speaks many times in a day. We can hear Him in the events in a day, in the counsel of godly individuals, and most of all in His Word.  Are you listening for Jesus? What has He told you recently?
• Mary humbled herself.  Mary was at Jesus’ feet (v. 39). This was a position that was taken by most disciples to their Rabbi (Teacher).  In this position she was submitting to learn from Jesus in contrast to Martha who, although using the designation Lord, was so busy doing what she felt was best that she became “distracted” from Jesus (v. 40).

Ask God to show you ways you might mirror Mary’s example, then do it. 
• Consider what keeps you from being still before God. Are there activities that you do not need to be involved in that you are? Do you have a set time to sit quietly with the Lord?
• Consider what creates distractions to your hearing from God. Are there times in your day when you have all electronic items turned off so you can listen to God?
• Consider how humble you are before God. Do you ask God about most decisions you make in a day?  Is connecting with God one of the ‘needs’ you have in life?
I pray God’s blessing on you in this process.

Some Will Say They ‘Know’ Jesus.

“I adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preaches.” This statement, which was used by Jewish exorcists who did not believe Jesus (Acts 19:13) sounds humorous until we consider that many people make similar statements today. There are many who we come into contact with who use the name of Jesus and would even call themselves a Christian, but don’t have a relationship with Him. They know about Jesus, and have family members who are great friends of His but they don’t know Him for themselves. So, don’t set yourself up for a disappointment or an ambush from the enemy for everyone who uses the name of Jesus may not know Him.

        On the other hand, for those of us who have an intimate relationship with Jesus our use of His name should reflect our great esteem for His name, and therefore His person. This means:

• A bold use of this name to overcome evil and to see radical change in our lives and the lives of others—“even the devils are subject unto us through thy name” (Luke 10:17), and “If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it” (John 14:14).

• A respectful use of the name since “there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men, by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

• An evident submission to this name since “God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those who are in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father”  (Philippians 2:9-11).

• A sharing of this name so that others may call on it themselves and know why He is called Jesus— “for it is He who will save His people from their sins”  (Matthew 1:21).

It is my prayer that you live in the power of this name today.

“Father, bless us today as we walk in Jesus’ name. Help us to realize the power, presence, and pleasure of living in an intimate relationship with Jesus.”

A Right Relationship With God

The key issue that drove the rich young ruler to Jesus in Matthew 19:16—26 is that he wanted eternal life. He knew that it was achieved by having a right relationship with God, but he had doubts on how to obtain that right relationship.  That is why he came to Jesus.  Jesus showed clear signs that he had such a relationship with God and could tell others how they could also have such a relationship.  The problem, though, was the price—everything!  All of one’s reputation, finances, time, abilities…everything!  No wonder this young man’s pursuit of Jesus stuttered and he thought he had heard the absurd—‘sell everything, give the profit to the poor, and follow me! 

But the price of God stays the same—you must pay all. As Jesus similarly told Nicodemus in John 3 you must become as a child once more as God now parents you through life.  Telling you what is good and bad for you, rearranging your priority lists, and having the final say in everything you think and do.  Yes, the price is everything!

Yet, that is the problem we each now have in the Christian life.  We find it hard at times to be adult, yet a child.  You may presently be going through a situation where you really want something but God is not giving you an ‘okay.’  It is tough, but please remember that what you gain far outweighs the cost.  No wonder Jesus describes it in a parable as a pearl of great value that one sells everything to obtain— “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls, and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it” (Matthew 13:14—16).

Is there something that hinders you today from letting God parent you? Is there a fear, a pleasure, a status, a goal that keeps you from trusting God? As you start your day please remember that the greatest treasure is to find life in the eternal God by letting Him lead you. Only then will you experience life as He intended for you to live it.

‘Father, help us to trust you for more than just deliverance from eternal judgment. Help us this day to grow in our love and dependence on you. Make our experience in walking this way today be so wonderful that we will pursue your presence every day of our lives. Amen.’

How Do We “Honor” Marriage?

The writer of the book of Hebrews makes this strong statement—“Marriage is to be held in honor among all, and the marriage bed is to be undefiled; for fornicators and adulterers God will judge”  Hebrews 13:4-6.

        How do we “honor” marriage? Here are a few suggestions:

• Be critical of scenes that present sexual relationships outside of marriage. Don’t accept them as normal. This may include your not watching programs that repeatedly glorify these encounters.
• Reserve sexual fantasies and pleasures for one’s spouse. If you are not married, commit to reserve the same till God’s desire is made known. 
• Recognize biblical marriage & resist political pressure to legalize/acknowledge other living arrangements and sexual preferences.
• Teach children the meaning of marriage. Pray early for their eventual families & spouses.
• If you are married, reflect God’s love for us by committing to keep your marriage happy & strong. An unattractive marriage does not honor the institution of marriage.
• Pray for your spouse. Take delight in him/her.
• Attend marriage enrichment offerings of our church. Often there are groups and studies unattended as couples continue to say they desire to better their marriages.

Dwelling Together in Unity

The greatest challenge of playing on a team is that you have to depend on others in order to win. That is why some of the most gifted and talented individuals don’t excel in such team settings as sports, the academic & business worlds, churches, and families. One of the greatest reasons for this underachievement is the tendency of individuals to fight in an attempt to change others and to get their way. Many times this occurs over matters that are not significant.

Former pastor and present leadership consultant John Maxwell gives these 5 disciplines for discerning when to fight for change and when to sacrifice oneself for the team’s success:

1. Spend time with people who are different than you. You will be less likely to judge or battle others.
2. In matters of personal preference or taste, give in. Save yourself for what really matters.
3. Don’t take things too personally. Remember, hurting people hurt people, and are easily hurt by others.
4. Practice the 101% principle. Whenever possible, find the 1% you do agree on in a difficult situation, and give it 100% of your effort.
5. Be a servant leader. “If your mindset is to serve rather than to be served, you will likely encounter less conflict.”

The Psalmist is so enamored by the importance of peace & unity that he gives one whole psalm (Psalm 133) to its praise—“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity!” He knew the refreshing power of its presence.

Father, bless we your people this day to be people of unity in all the gatherings and groups we find ourselves a within. May others be refreshed by our presence.

Make a Great Impression

We may have heard that people make decisions about us based on what we say. But, do you know that God does as well? James was clear in writing that a person’s mouth reveals the type of walk he or she has with God—“If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless” (James 1:26). Here are a few other wise statements about our mouths that can help us make a great impression:

“He who restrains his lips is wise” (Proverbs 10:19).

“Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing” (Proverbs 12:18).

“Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth” (Ephesians 4:29).

“Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt” (Colossians 4:6).

Father, help us this day to be a breath of fresh air to all those we speak with. May they hear our words and think of you.

Royal Friendships

A great reason to be discerning of who we call a friend is that friends influence us. They are given the opportunity by the proximity we allow them and the privileges we give them to download their beliefs, outlook on life, attitudes, counsel, and values into our lives. It is for this reason the writer of Proverbs strongly cautions us to let the heart and character of a person determine if we give them the privilege of being called a friend. As the writer of Proverbs 22:11 states, “He who loves purity of heart and whose speech is gracious, the king is his friend.”

So, does the buddy or girlfriend you love to cut up with deserve to be at the top of your friends list? In what direction are they taking you? What keeps you in a friendship with your closest friends?

This is also an important reason to get involved in our kid’s list of friends. In the New Testament we are given a strong warning in 1 Corinthians 15:33—“Be not deceived, evil company corrupts good morals.”  Are their friends encouraging or discouraging what you desire to see in the life of your children?

Givers & Takers

The second important characteristic of true friends that the writer of Proverbs notes is that they Give & Take. They lend benefits to the relationship and are not just in it to see what they can get from you.

Proverbs 19:4— Wealth adds many friends, but a poor man is separated from his friend.

Proverbs 19:7— All the brothers of a poor man hate him; how much more do his friends abandon him! He pursues them with words, but they are gone.

Do you give your friends a chance to contribute to your friendship? Do you have friends that seek to both give & take as occasions arise? Or, do you have takers only? Remember, don’t set yourself up to be disappointed by not reserving the word ‘friend’ for those who truly understand this important characteristic.

Stickers

As we noted yesterday it is very important in a modern society that is always redefining our basic concepts that we understand what we are looking for in a ‘friend.’ The writer of Proverbs gives us some great characteristics to look for. The first of these characteristics is that Friends Stick.

We all need to raise our standards for friends & never lower them! The writer of Proverbs is clear that a true friend takes on a state of permanency and commitment that is akin to that of family relations. As family members can’t ‘un-family’ you, so a true friend stays/sticks even through your most difficult times.  As the latter part of Proverbs 17:17 is translated in the Contemporary English Version—“Relatives are born to share our troubles.” 

• Prv 17:17—“A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.”

• Proverbs 18:24—“A man of too many friends comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”

Do you have friends who have stuck over the test of time? If not pray for some.

Even Better When Served…

The Golden Rule is not only radical in how we are to treat those we don’t get along with (our enemies), but it also gives an incredible boost to relationships we enjoy.

“Treat others the same way you want them to treat you” (Luke 6:31).

Or in a shortened version—

“Do as you desire done to you.”

Try it and see.

A New App.

Here’s a great application from our focus on Joshua 9 that was presented in an email to me yesterday:

“I went back and read Joshua 9 and saw the Gibeonites as ‘taking the shortcut.’  Thats a term we use in our house with our kids because that seems to be their choice when they just don’t want to do the right thing.  They come up with a ‘short-cut’ and it’s usually because they will lose something or miss out or in the case of the Gibeonites, there is just pure fear,  if they do the right thing.  The short-cut usually leads to more disaster as my kids always find out in the end and that’s what happened in the case of the Gibeonites.  They didn’t “trust” in this “god” they heard about.  They took a shortcut.”

It is great when the Body tailor’s the application of God’s Word to meet its needs.

Our Vision/Destination:
A Church Family where the Triangle will see, hear, & touch the diversity of God’s grace.

Enter This Way

I have a confession to make. Until studying the Joshua 9 text in order to preach it, I had always viewed the actions of the Gibeonites favorably. To tell you the truth, I thought they were quite wise and shrewd in their approach to dealing with the Israelites. I guess that reveals how much I still need to renew my mind from my fleshly ways.

I hope you saw yesterday that the actions of the Gibeonites ended in slavery and bondage because of sin. God is consistent, deception is counter to His character and those who seek a relationship with Him must approach Him in line with who He is.

Our Vision/Destination:
A Church Family where the Triangle will see, hear, & touch the diversity of God’s grace.

You’ve Got The Power

In Matthew 18:21—35 we noted that the power to forgive for a Christian is based on the realization that we can forgive others because God’s forgiveness of us has been so great and so complete. Paul notes this in such passages as Ephesians 4:32 “Forgive one another as quickly and thoroughly as God in Christ forgave you;” and Colossians 3:13-14 “Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.”

I cannot tell you how important it is for true biblical forgiveness to be practiced in relationships for them to be what God & we desire for them to be. There are relationships of friends, spouses, family members that are ebbing away or have already died because this type of forgiveness is not practiced.

I pray that today will be the first day of your letting go of past hurts or resolving to live in an attitude of forgiveness so that you will never let an offense take control of your life.

Our Vision/Destination:
A Church Family where the Triangle will see, hear, & touch the diversity of God’s grace.