At this time of the year, be considerate for those that may struggle with a pleasure that for them may cost them everything.
A person may come to the conclusion that their Christian freedom gives them a right to make a reasonable choice of consuming alcohol, a simple pleasure to them, without the danger of consequences. For others, that choice can be a fatal thing. While in their presence, are we to limit our self, not for our own sake, but for the sake of the one that could fall?
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Emotions of the moment
Mark 10:17-22
The young aristocrat, in the moment of overflowing emotions, came running and fell at the feet of Jesus, desiring to know what he must do to inherit eternal life. Replying that he had obeyed the laws and had never harmed anyone, but Jesus looked at him and loved him and said “Go and sell everything and follow Me.” The young rich man walked away grieved, because he had many possessions.
How many times have I run to Jesus filled with the emotions of the moment, only to walk away when the moment has passed? Have I fallen at His feet, desiring His touch, His counsel, only to limit Him as to where He may touch or lead?
I believe that Jesus was saying to the young ruler, “It’s not about what you have done, but what have you done for others?” If we keep all the laws, yet do not love one another then we have failed at the very essence of what it means to follow Christ.
Jesus looked at him and loved him. I believe it was a look of grief. Jesus saw the man deliberately choose not to be what he had within him to be. W.B. wrote, Jesus looks at us with the appeal of love and with the challenge to live the Christian life. God grant that He may never have to look at us with sorrow because we have refused to be what we might have been.
The young aristocrat, in the moment of overflowing emotions, came running and fell at the feet of Jesus, desiring to know what he must do to inherit eternal life. Replying that he had obeyed the laws and had never harmed anyone, but Jesus looked at him and loved him and said “Go and sell everything and follow Me.” The young rich man walked away grieved, because he had many possessions.
How many times have I run to Jesus filled with the emotions of the moment, only to walk away when the moment has passed? Have I fallen at His feet, desiring His touch, His counsel, only to limit Him as to where He may touch or lead?
I believe that Jesus was saying to the young ruler, “It’s not about what you have done, but what have you done for others?” If we keep all the laws, yet do not love one another then we have failed at the very essence of what it means to follow Christ.
Jesus looked at him and loved him. I believe it was a look of grief. Jesus saw the man deliberately choose not to be what he had within him to be. W.B. wrote, Jesus looks at us with the appeal of love and with the challenge to live the Christian life. God grant that He may never have to look at us with sorrow because we have refused to be what we might have been.
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
In the Waiting
I wish that God spoke to me like He spoke to Moses, “mouth to mouth”. I desire to be certain that I have heard His voice. Sometimes we hear only to see things not fulfilled in our timing. Like Abraham, who was promised that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars, looked upon the night sky and had to wonder, “Did I not hear, was I wrong?” because he remained fatherless. A.S. Peake wrote, “The courage to abandon work on which one’s heart is set and accept inaction as the will of God is of the rarest and highest kind and can be created and sustained only by the clearest spiritual vision.”
As we wait, the time can be best spent strengthening our relationship with God by hearing, from the reading of His word and through prayer to bring into focus our spiritual vision.” Lord, give us that rarest and highest form of faith, to believe when our eyes, for the moment cannot see.
Friday, December 10, 2010
ROCK and SAND
In Matthew 7:24-27, Jesus teaches about the foundation built upon the rock and not the sand. Only a life built on foundations that are firm can withstand the storms. I believe we should listen and do, to strengthen our foundation.
The power in learning is not the words that are said in public or what is mentally heard by reading, but in the listening. We learn, when we take ownership of what we are hearing, when it becomes personal. A relationship with Christ cannot be what others have told you, but what have you experienced for yourself. Jesus said, “Who does the world say that I am? But most important “Who do you say I am?”
We listen and then we do. Knowledge only has value when it is translated into action. William Barclay wrote, “Knowledge must become action; theory must become practice; theology must become life. What good is Christian knowledge if we do not love, forgive, or try to conform to the likeness, in character, of our Lord.
The storms are not eliminated, but in the listening and the doing, we can learn to withstand. We will bend but we will not break. Even as I say these words about bending and not breaking, Lord, I believe, but help me with my unbelief that I could break.
The power in learning is not the words that are said in public or what is mentally heard by reading, but in the listening. We learn, when we take ownership of what we are hearing, when it becomes personal. A relationship with Christ cannot be what others have told you, but what have you experienced for yourself. Jesus said, “Who does the world say that I am? But most important “Who do you say I am?”
We listen and then we do. Knowledge only has value when it is translated into action. William Barclay wrote, “Knowledge must become action; theory must become practice; theology must become life. What good is Christian knowledge if we do not love, forgive, or try to conform to the likeness, in character, of our Lord.
The storms are not eliminated, but in the listening and the doing, we can learn to withstand. We will bend but we will not break. Even as I say these words about bending and not breaking, Lord, I believe, but help me with my unbelief that I could break.
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
The Gift
A gift given to the disciples in Mark 3: 14-15, was to preach, heal, and cast out demons. In Mark 9:25-29 they were unable to do so. When asked why they could not heal a boy, Jesus responded that prayer was needed.
If you have been given a gift, you must maintain a close contact with God or it may wither and die. If the gift is used only for you, then the virtue will soon go out of it.
If you have been given a gift, you must maintain a close contact with God or it may wither and die. If the gift is used only for you, then the virtue will soon go out of it.
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