John Stott said that “worship is the highest and noblest activity of which man, by the grace of God, is capable.”
What is worship?
How do you define it?
What does it look like?
How does it sound?
What does it do?
How do you worship?
gaj
Do you find yourself acting without thinking at times? I do. The results are not so desirable are they?
Check out this Scripture.
Don't act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. ~ Ephesians 5:17, NLT
Do you think things would go a lot smoother if we practiced thinking and not acting until we understand what Jesus wants us to do?
How would our lives change?
How would other’s perception of us change?
gaj
William Temple said “The Church is the only society on earth that exists for the benefits of non-members.”
What do you think would happen in our world today if every church operated and budgeted on this premise?
gaj
Check this out in the Word of God.
(James 4:13-17 NIV) "Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money." {14} Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. {15} Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that." {16} As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil. {17} Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins."
Opportunity to do good abounds today. We don’t have to look far. We can make a difference in our cities today.
Is it possible for us to plan too far ahead and miss doing good today?
gaj
God’s love amazes me.
It is unconditional.
It is unfailing.
It is complete.
It never waivers.
Desmond Tutu said “The good news is that God loves me long before I could have done anything to deserve it.”
What do you think of when you think of God’s love for you?
gaj
Jesus did not come to mix the old and the new but to bring new life to all who will follow Him.
(Luke 5:37-38 NIV) "And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. {38} No, new wine must be poured into new wineskins."
(2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV) "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!"
So are you a mixed drink or some mighty fine wine?
gaj
Faith is all about believing in what we can’t see. The devil constantly tries to get us to focus on what we can see because he knows what faith can do. Don’t fall for his tactics. Stay focused on Jesus. He will build your faith.
So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. -- 2 Corinthians 4:18
How do you stay focused?
gaj
Thousands of years ago cities were fortified with walls. This was their defense against invaders. The inhabitants of the cities could go to sleep at night knowing that they were safe. If the walls were broken down, invaders could raid the city taking hostage and even killing the inhabitants.
God’s Word says (Proverbs 25:28 NIV) "Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control."
With no self control, a person leaves themselves open to attack. They are vulnerable to fall into the same traps and make the same bad choices that have gotten them in trouble in the past.
The enemy of our soul knows our weaknesses. He has watched us and knows what temptations we have given into in the past. He knows where the walls of our defense are weak and will hit us there time and time again. Anger, pride, lust, gluttony, jealousy, gossip, addictions, an uncontrolled tongue are just some of many weaknesses people have to deal with daily.
What is one to do? Without supernatural help, one is on their own. I have often times tried to overcome on my own only to fail and fall for the same tactics of the enemy of my soul. I have ended up frustrated and depressed.
I have found a better way. A way that helps me be strong in my weaknesses. It is relying on God’s help. God’s Word says (2 Timothy 1:7 NIV) "For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline."
You may be living in fear today of falling again. You know your weakness. The devil knows your weakness. You need supernatural help. Rely on God and as you follow Christ, He gives you supernatural power to overcome temptation and be strong in weaknesses. He gives you supernatural love that helps you even love your enemies. And He gives you supernatural self-discipline that’s like a city whose walls are strong. You can sleep well at night knowing that you are protected from all invaders that the enemy of your soul may bring your way.
Control self by relying on God.
Amen!
gaj
"While I could sit in church and pray all I want, I wouldn't be fulfilling God's will unless I went out and did the Lord's work." ~ Barack Obama
Obama gets it.
What would happen if every person that goes to church would go out into their communities and minister at the point of need as Jesus did?
What would happen if every church goer would get it and do it?
gaj
What do you have that is inexhaustible?
God's love.
Nothing you can do will make God love you any less.
Nothing you can do will make God love you any more.
His love was completed for you at the cross of Christ.
And it's inexhaustible!
O Israel, put your hope in the LORD, for with the LORD is unfailing love and with him is full redemption. -- Psalm 130:7
gaj
Recent Comments