For Love's Sake

John 3:16 shares that For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotton Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

We are all familiar with this scripture text, but I wonder if we have considered what the writer meant by believeth in Him. Sure it seems plain on its face--if you believe in God then this sacrifice was made for you so that you may enjoy everlasting life. But I believe that there is more. I was talking to a dear friend yesterday and we were discussing some of the things that we do that may be outside of what we are comfortable with, but we do those things for love's sake. The Bible tells us that God is love so we can conclude that some of the things that we do as Christians may be outside of what we would normally do, but when we do them, it is to glorify God and edify His people.

When we accept God, when we believe in Him, that belief brings about a process of change. Our minds are renewed. We lay down our will and pick up God's will. We accept His yoke and learn His ways. We die and God lives through us. We begin to understand that if God Himself could make such a selfless sacrifice then He is worthy to be praised in every aspect of our lives; from trusting Him to chasing after Him; from worshipping Him for who He is to striving to conform to His holy will.

There are some sacrifices that we will take on for love's sake or to glorify God and in doing so we solidify our faith. Consider the following scripture text:

2If anyone imagines that he has come to know and understand much [of divine things, without love], he does not yet perceive and recognize and understand as strongly and clearly, nor has he become as intimately acquainted with anything as he ought or as is necessary.

3But if one loves God truly [[a]with affectionate reverence, prompt obedience, and grateful recognition of His blessing], he is known by God [[b]recognized as worthy of His intimacy and love, and he is owned by Him].

Everyday I'm realizing that love is patient and kind and doesn't puff itself up. It doesn't have to be seen or heard. It can operate totally free of bias or in spite of it. Love conquers all and endures all. Love is greater than all of my sins, my resistance to the process that God is putting me through, my doubts and fears, my ability to think or my feelings.

If God loves us so much that He gave His only Son, should we do all that we are capable of doing for His sake?

The Importance of Daily Study/Devotion

There are many daily devotionals out there today. There are Bibles meant to help you read the entire scripture text within a year, there are devotionals that provide an inspiration word everyday, there are electronic reminders for Twitter and Facebook that can keep you on track with reading the Word. Whatever method works for you, you cannot go wrong diving into the daily exploration of the Word of God.

No matter how much we attend church services there really isn't anything that can replace our daily study time with the Lord. Personally, I have noted how inspired I am when I read the Word daily compared to how much I struggle when I fail to do so. The Word is truly like a fountain springing forth and it keeps me feeling refreshed and renewed. It is better to read the Word daily then to try to turn to the Word because of tragedy, heartache or struggle. It becomes that offensive weapon that I can use to guide me through a situation when I think about whatsoever things are pure, lovely or of a good report.

In 2 Timothy 2:15 Paul advised Timothy to study the Word. Study and be eager and do your utmost to present yourself to God approved (tested by trial), a workman who has no cause to be ashamed, correctly analyzing and accurately dividing [rightly handling and skillfully teaching] the Word of Truth (Amplified). I believe that Paul understood very well that the Word is the source of our faith and belief, our hope and our strength. It is where we go to know the promises of God and in turn to confirm what has been spoken into our lives. When we hide it in our hearts we can recall it and rely on it. When we recite it and share it with others it becomes the testimonial proof that God is still performing, still healing, still revealing, still forgiving; it becomes the bridge that helps others to overcome and to escape the clutches of the enemy.

The Word brings life and light to every place in our lives that we allow it to. Throwing ourselves into a daily chase after the knowledge of God can only result in a closer relationship with Him. Commit today to reading the Word of God everyday.

Balance

Achieving balance in our Christian lives requires a great deal of self reflection and a realization that our goal is to seek out a relationship with God rather than live out a religious experience about God.

I once attended a seminar titled Knock Their Sock Off Customer Service. The speaker asked us who our customers were. Every one's answer was pretty much the same--the people who call us, the people we meet during our process of marketing our products or services etc. The speaker then said something that I still think about today. She told us that everyone was our customer!

I believe that if we take this attitude as Christians living a balanced life would come more easily for us. The Bible says in Matthew 11:29-30 29Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Many of us are exhausted, tired, sick or just plain worn out because we have been desperately striving for a religious experience rather than a relationship with God. We spend our time and energy trying to give our all to the people at our churches, when in fact everyone is our customer! What I mean by that is as a minister I often feel the burden to witness to people, to share that Christ is the answer, but sometimes I wait and wait and wait to do this until I'm at church. What's that all about? I am a witness everywhere I go. I am witness through how I'm living daily, which includes my relationships with others. I am a witness in my own home. As a matter of fact my home is my first ministry.

I believe the very reason why Jesus said to take on His yoke and learn of Him was because He wanted us to understand that a relationship with Him means involving Him in every aspect of our lives. Seeking Him first for every decision. Looking to Him first for all that we do. Relying on Him as the source of our strength and as the resource for all that we need. As we do this we grow our relationship with Him so that there is no area of our lives that doesn't involve Him. As a Christian--this is the balance that we seek to have.

Perfect Practice Makes Pefect

James 1:3 says this, Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

It is important to note and understand that in order to get to where YOU want to be in your spiritual growth perfect practice is required. What does that mean? Some people say that practice makes perfect, but if you practice something incorrectly then it doesn't make perfect, it increases the probability that you will continue in bad habits. Instead perfect practice makes perfect. When you endure and overcome so that you are living up to the standard that God has set for your life then you are able to make significant progress.

My husband is a sports fanatic! He coaches a basketball team every summer. His basketball team is excellent. It is usually a hodge-podge team of young men and young women who no body expects to win. He starts working with them, teaching them fundamentals and coaching them as they play with other teams and slowly you see the progress that takes the team to the championship game every year! One of the things that I've learned watching my husband coach is that there are two types of teams that you want to play. You want to play a team that you know that you can beat. When your team wins their confidence is built up. They are encouraged to keep working hard and striving to keep their position in the stats. But sometimes my husband has his team to practice with or to play a team that is clearly better and more skilled. You'd ask yourself why would you play a team that is much better than you--you're going to lose!

But the truth of the matter is when you are challenged is when you grow. When you play a team that out thinks you, out moves you and is more skilled than you, you have an opportunity to learn from the smack down that you just took. So the truth of the matter is you really did win because you allowed yourself the opportunity to learn through first hand experience what you may have never picked up from a speech.

Christianity is the same way--just like in James 1:3. Our faith is tried or exercised or challenged and from that we develop patience. Patience is key to the growth process. You don't need patience because patience is a part of the faith process. You need patience to be able to keep still while God works through the faith process in your life. Too often we are on the cusp of a change and a break through, but our impatience will cause us to leave before our change comes. We need that challenge so that we can learn to be still and wait on the Lord with our armor on!

Everyday is not going to be good, fair, or rosy--in fact many days are filled with challenges. Those challenges come to make us stronger. They come to teach us that God doesn't deal in fair, but He does cause all to be just. He doesn't say that everyday will be easy for you, but He does promise that all things will work together for your good. He doesn't say that He'll never chasten you, but He does tell you that if He is chastening you it is because He loves you.

Are you facing the same challenges over and over again? Good. Every time you are presented with that challenge you have a new opportunity to learn from it so that you can grow as a spiritual being; so that you can learn to depend on the Lord for the answer of what to do next; so that you can trust that God cares enough for you to never leave you or forsake you. You will begin to seek God first. You will begin to go into prayer automatically. You will come out the victor--even where you have to take some correction, rebuke and instruction.

When you are challenged today, accept the challenge!

Prayer Partners with Power!

The Bible declares that the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. What would happen if we surrounded ourselves with family, friends, children, and spouses for whom and with whom we prayed fervently? We could turn the world upside down!

Let's take a look at the story of Daniel, and his prayer partners, Hananiah (Shadrach), Mishael (Meshach) and Azariah (Abed-nego). The book of Daniel chapter 2 reveals that the wise men that were appointed by King Nebuchadnezzar were in danger of losing their lives because the King had dreamed a dream and wanted someone to not only interpret the dream, but to also tell him what he dreamed.

The magicians, astrologers, sorcerers and Chaldeans tried to explain to the King that what he was asking was impossible! Of course they were afraid for their very lives so they wanted King Nebuchadnezzar to give them a break! They said, "Tell us the dream and we will interpret it for you!" But the King was clear, he wanted to know for sure that the interpretation wasn't tainted and wasn't going to be something that they were saying to make him feel good. He insisted that they tell him the dream or all the wise men would be put to death. When Daniel heard what the King decreed, he first asked the King for some time, then he immediately went to his prayer partners and asked them to begin to pray with him that God would show mercy on them so that they would not die with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.

God revealed King Nebuchadnezzar's dream to Daniel in a night vision and Daniel blessed God! Now those are some true prayer partners! I need some friends and some prayer partners just like Daniel--how about you! When I have a problem--like King David, I can seek God through Prayer and then make some progress!

When God revealed the dream and the interpretation to Daniel, Daniel didn't take any credit when he went in before the King. He immediately said no one else could give you the information that you asked for, but there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets.

Today make an effort to find some prayer partners with power and when God answers your prayer--because He will--make sure you acknowledge Him for who He is and for all that He has and continues to do.

How to Increase in Wisdom, Stature and Favor with God and Man

Luke 2:52 is a very familiar passage of scripture that is the culmination of an important life lesson. Many of us want to get ahead. We want to move past where we are in our lives. We want to do better. We feel as if we are not where we should be or need to be. We look around and compare ourselves to others and believe that we don't have all that we deserve at this point in our lives.

Our thoughts drift to how we should have, could have or would have if we had been provided different opportunities. We focus on what we perceive to be lack and sometimes become depressed because we want better for ourselves and our children, but feel unequipped to get to where we've imagined we should be.

But this scripture in its entirety reveals how we can obtain what we so desperately long for in our hearts. Following is how we can get there:

1. Remember that you are subject to the law of the land. Verses 1-5 and 21-25 detail how Joseph and Mary obeyed the laws that they were subject to because of where they lived and who they were.
2. God will always make a way for you by taking care of your needs and moving others in the position to be a blessing in your life. Verses 9-12 talk about how the Lord revealed to the shepherds were the family would be and what they needed to do.
3. We must learn to appreciate our now because right now is the substance that later is created from. Learn to worship God right now to reduce your feelings of regret, fear, doubt, loneliness etc. Verses 6& 7.
4. Praise Him. Verses 13 & 14 detail how the angels gave God praise for the fulfillment of the promise of a savior. We must give God praise for who He is and for all that He's done. We must be careful to prove our reference for His power through our sincere worship.
5. Follow the instructions given to you by God. Listen for God's voice. Do what He tells you to do and do it with haste! Verses 16-18.
6. Remember all that God is doing in your life and all that He has done. Make a memorial of praise to His power. That reminds you that He is your source. Verse. 19
7. God will provide you an under shepherd to guide you and to bless your life. Verses 25-35.
8. God will always provide a witness. Verses 36-38.
9. We are all accountable to be available, to give an answer and to be obedient. Even Jesus in all His authority and power had to answer to His natural parents and to God. Verses 40-51 express the importance of not checking out and doing your own thing, but to accepting the discipline that comes with subjecting yourself to the authority that God has placed over you. God has a good reason for it. He works through authority. While you are being still He is endowing you with the ability to handle the authority that He will give you.
10. All of these things develop us, mature us, allow us to self-examine and to make changes so that we become better people spiritually and naturally. As we see ourselves and make corrections we grow and as we grow and change God sees. As we take one step He takes two. He blesses us with the things that we can now handle because we allowed Him to have His perfect work in our lives. As we grow in godly things then others take note and our gifts begin to make room for us--not our pride, not our ability, not our talent, but what matters most is our humility, our obedience and our accountability.

Let's Make a Deal!

Yesterday Pastor Christine broke the Word all the way down. There was no mistaking that! She preached from John chapter 4--the familiar story of our "friend" the Samaritan woman at the well.

Pastor Christine told us the following three things:

1. Jesus comes by to tear down the wall of separation.
2. Jesus comes by to break down the wall of our physical limitations.
3. Jesus comes by to break down the wall of denial.

Pastor Christine also shared with us that sometimes we benefit from rejecting offers--while we may lose some people in the process--in the end we gain. Also, we learned the Jesus doesn't want what's in our pot because our pots can become contaminated. Rather Jesus wants to fill us with living water that springs forth.

It was interesting to me that the scripture focused on the fact that the Jews had no dealings with the Samaritans, yet Jesus was there for the purpose of dealing directly with some issues. Jesus broke down the wall of separation in more than a figurative way. He made it clear that all had access to Him.

I think what I liked the most from this sermon was the fact that Jesus came by to remove our excuses. If He has put a vision before you then He has already provided the way for you and the means for you and the provision for you. Remember that your vision won't just be handed to you on a silver platter. There are things that you must go through to bring you to your well for your meeting with the Savior.

Be clear that He is not intimidated by your sin. He wants you to admit it and move on past it. We have all sinned and fallen short. That is not the end nor is it the point. This scripture text doesn't rest on the fact that this woman had already had five husbands and was cavorting with a man that was not her husband at that present moment. Nor does it rest on the fact that she was getting water from the well at noon when the rest of the women had gotten their water in the morning time. Actually, this scripture text down plays all of her faults and highlights the fact that she became an unlikely messenger of the Word. No one expected her to be the one with the good news on her tongue. She was shunned and shamed. Jesus wants us to know that He is clear on what we've done yet He desires to have that well experience with us anyway. He is not phased by our sins or our iniquities. He simply provides the avenue to break the wall down.

The Samaritan woman accepted that Jesus told her and she shared that truth with others. I also find it interesting that when she shared what she learned with the "men" of the town, they came--so she was an effective witness! When they heard they said, "We don't believe because of what she told us, but we believe because we heard it ourselves!" Most people might become offended at that passage thinking man that was rude. This woman just shared the good news of the gospel with you and you totally ignore that she was the one that told you, but in fact we all ought to strive to be like her. It is unimportant what vessel delivers the message. Thank God for using us at all. The important thing is that people are compelled to come and see a man who told me all that I ever did! The spotlight is on Jesus--not us. He is the only one with the power to save and deliver! This lesson made that point perfectly. Jesus wants to come by where ever you are and make you an offer that you can't refuse! Where folks used to not deal with you, He wants to make the deal of a lifetime with you!