If there is one thing in life I can't stand - it's a lie. In our house we call lies dirty sins - and dirty sins need to be cleaned, you can use your imagination as to how we clean them. Lies choke the truth and they choke a person's integrity making them appear not trustworthy.
Today's reading is all about the lies that we live with, whether we tell them or they are told to us makes no difference. Satan lies to us as well. He does it four different ways: temptations, Accusations, Confusion, and Obstacles.
Temptations are those things that look good on the surface but we know that they are really not good for us. We often have this view of the Devil as a red man with a pitch fork and a spiked tail. This is probably not as accurate as we would like to believe. The devil often comes to us looking good - like something that we would want and then even though we know it's wrong...SNAP! He gets us.
Then when he gets his grubby little mitts on our lives, he convinces us through a whole new set of lies that we are too bad for God to forgive. Don't believe that even for a minute. Remember: there's nothing you can do to make God love you any less! That's not a license to sin but it is a reassurance that God is always looking out for YOU!
When the temptations and accusations don't work, he'll get creative and confuse us. We are so easily confused too. He'll tell us that doing something that we know is wrong only one time really isn't that bad. The bible reassures us again that this couldn't be further from the truth. Jesus went to the cross for that ONE "little sin." He had to suffer death even for that one little sin. No sin is OK in God's eyes but through confession (admitting those wrongs to God) we are forgiven.
Finally, Satan shows his crafty side when he puts road blocks in our lives. He'll use things that happen to stop us from seeing God. He thinks, or at least he acts like he is better than God, but you and I know different. Nothing can keep us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus! (paraphrase of Romans 8:37-39) This promise is true for you and me today and always.
How have you been lied to by Satan recently? How have you lied to God and others lately? What does it mean to you that God has already DONE EVERYTHING necessary to forgive you?
Read the italicized words above from Romans 8:37-39 - What does this mean to your life today?
Monday, March 31, 2008
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Day 6 - God's Work
Today's reading in the book "A Call To Die" reminds us of God's Mystery, the Adventure of following Him, and the Passion that he calls us to live with. It's easy to let the rules and commands of life get in the way of our relationship with Christ. Rules are easy. Commands are almost comforting. We like to have things that we can measure. Rules and laws are measurable things - Relationships are not measurable.
There is nothing inherently wrong with laws and rules - they help to keep us on the road while preventing us from running people over as we live. They act like a mirror, showing us the pitfalls in life so that we don't fall into them again. And for those who follow Christ, the laws and commands can be a source of guidance to show us how Christ would have us live. But the problem we grapple with is letting these laws and commands take over our lives. God didn't give us the law to set us up for failure, but to guide us into a deeper relationship with him. He wants to be with us for service and protection.
The mystery of God is that He loved us enough to die for us even though we don't "deserve" it. One of the greatest mysteries of God is that while we were yet sinners, undeserving sinners, He sent His Son Jesus to die for our sins. In short, He loves us and His love has nothing to do with our "deserving it" it has everything to do with a love that never fails or gives up.
As we deepen this relationship with God, we will be embarking on an adventure that will renew our passion and zeal for God in a way that simply is beyond words. One of these adventures happens as we are met by God in the words of the Bible. When God comes face to face with us in the words of the Bible, we become adventurers with Him.
Today we continue our adventure of being met by God. Today my prayer for you is that the Holy Spirit would fill you inexplicable peace and joy. I pray that as you deepen your relationship with Jesus, you would become Ablaze! with the passion of being served by God. Remember it's God's work, he has simply invited us to participate - Peace for the Journey!
There is nothing inherently wrong with laws and rules - they help to keep us on the road while preventing us from running people over as we live. They act like a mirror, showing us the pitfalls in life so that we don't fall into them again. And for those who follow Christ, the laws and commands can be a source of guidance to show us how Christ would have us live. But the problem we grapple with is letting these laws and commands take over our lives. God didn't give us the law to set us up for failure, but to guide us into a deeper relationship with him. He wants to be with us for service and protection.
The mystery of God is that He loved us enough to die for us even though we don't "deserve" it. One of the greatest mysteries of God is that while we were yet sinners, undeserving sinners, He sent His Son Jesus to die for our sins. In short, He loves us and His love has nothing to do with our "deserving it" it has everything to do with a love that never fails or gives up.
As we deepen this relationship with God, we will be embarking on an adventure that will renew our passion and zeal for God in a way that simply is beyond words. One of these adventures happens as we are met by God in the words of the Bible. When God comes face to face with us in the words of the Bible, we become adventurers with Him.
Today we continue our adventure of being met by God. Today my prayer for you is that the Holy Spirit would fill you inexplicable peace and joy. I pray that as you deepen your relationship with Jesus, you would become Ablaze! with the passion of being served by God. Remember it's God's work, he has simply invited us to participate - Peace for the Journey!
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Hard Words
It's never easy to hear those hard words in life. Whether they come from a parent, a boss, a spouse, a friend or even from God - those hard words really tend to make you feel down and out. But is that their intent? Are those hard words intended to make you feel bad about yourself or your accomplishements?
God doesn't speak these hard words to break our morale. He does it to break down the barriers that surround our hearts. Sometimes, in order to hear him, we need the fears, desires, and passions of our lives removed before we can really see God at work. It all goes back to the idea of just BEING with God. If we are not BEING with God, no matter what we DO we'll never have a solid relationshiop with him. It's just not possible to have a strong relationship with someone that you don't know.
The bible reading for today's section of the book is from John 6 and it reminds us of some Hard Words from Jesus. He claimed to be something that the people of his time could not accept. It was just too big of a challenge - it was too hard. He said that he was the bread of life. He also talked about the body and blood of the Son of Man. This is our communion in the church today. It's an intimate feast with God! When we gather at HIS table, we are able to feast on God and the forgiveness and love that He freely gives us.
What are some hard words that Jesus speaks to you today? What is God calling you to get rid of? Where has God been pushed from your life? He wants your heart not just a piece of it. Are these hard words?
God doesn't speak these hard words to break our morale. He does it to break down the barriers that surround our hearts. Sometimes, in order to hear him, we need the fears, desires, and passions of our lives removed before we can really see God at work. It all goes back to the idea of just BEING with God. If we are not BEING with God, no matter what we DO we'll never have a solid relationshiop with him. It's just not possible to have a strong relationship with someone that you don't know.
The bible reading for today's section of the book is from John 6 and it reminds us of some Hard Words from Jesus. He claimed to be something that the people of his time could not accept. It was just too big of a challenge - it was too hard. He said that he was the bread of life. He also talked about the body and blood of the Son of Man. This is our communion in the church today. It's an intimate feast with God! When we gather at HIS table, we are able to feast on God and the forgiveness and love that He freely gives us.
What are some hard words that Jesus speaks to you today? What is God calling you to get rid of? Where has God been pushed from your life? He wants your heart not just a piece of it. Are these hard words?
Monday, March 17, 2008
Journey of Life
Today marks the beginning of a journey that we are taking as a church. Today we embarked on a Journey of Life. This journey will take us through the time of Jesus' death and then to Easter for a celebration of His resurrection and new life.
Throughout this journey we will be studying the bible together as a church - ALL OF US! Our journey began on Palm Sunday (March 16th) with a church-wide prayer for direction, strength and dedication to the journey. Throughout the week before Easter we will be reading small snipits of the Bible together as we walk with Jesus to the cross and then out of the tomb. This week's readings are:
- Monday: Isaiah 29:13; Matthew 20:17-19
- Tuesday: Numbers 21:4-9; John 3:13-21
- Wednesday: Matthew 26:1-5
- Thursday: Matthew 26:26-29
- Friday: Isaiah 26:19-21; Matthew 27:45-56
- Saturday: Matthew 27:62-66
- Sunday: Matthew 28:1-10
Take some time this week to read through the selected passages in whatever bible version you feel most comfortable. Please note that the reading for Sunday will be basis for my message on Easter Sunday.
The Journey Continues...
On the Monday after Easter we will continue the Journey of Life by reading a book titled: A Call to Die by David Nasser. This will begin the official 40 day Journey of Life. The Journey of Life and the book will focus our attention back on Christ and away from all of the hustle and bustle of the world around us.
Each day we will be reading a small section of the book and answering the questions at the end. Be sure to check back here for an ongoing conversation that will help us apply Jesus' message for our journey. It's time to pack those bags because we're off!
I will leave you with a thought from David Nasser's book -This journey will allow us to fast from the world while we feast on God. Let's get ready to dig into God's truth over the next 40 days.
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