The belief in Christ is supposed to be a simple decision. Jesus said in Matthew 11:30, "For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." Coming to this belief might take some time, but the choice itself is not that complicated. How is it then that so many churches make the decision for Christ to be so complicated and legalistic? It is not the will of our Lord to burden us down with more than we can handle. Yet how many churches burden their members with more than they can handle, often to the point of burn-out. Is this what our responsibility calls for? Even more, is this what God desires for us? Would it not be better to spread the needs around? Everyone pitching in together. When everyone works together just a little, the overwhelming burdens become light.
I used to think that witnessing and "bearing fruit" for Christ meant that I had to be a door-to-door salesman, 'selling' the gospel to others. What a lie I had believed! To go from a life without Christ, to a life with Him is fairly straight-forward.
First, you must believe the bible (God's word) is 100% true. You can't believe in some of it, while rejecting the rest. It is not a "smorgasbord" of truths and half-truths. The bible is either 100% true, or 100% false. We are instructed to be either "hot" or "cold" (Revelation 3:16), that is, to believe or not to believe. Christ talks about us being definitive in Matthew 5:37, "But let your statement be, 'Yes, yes' or 'No, no'; anything beyond these is of evil". This applies to every area of our lives.
Second, if we accept the bible as being 100% true, then we must next decide of whether to obey it. This is the most important step of the believer's life, to obey God or not. So then why don't we obey it? That's a question you must answer and it is only between you and God. You will be accountable for your decisions made in this life, and you will only be accountable to God.
Third, it comes down to motive. What is the motive of your heart? Do we want what is best for us, or for others? Are we dead to ourselves, or are we still living for ourselves? Do we take care of our families, or do we deny our children our time and attention? Are we seeking selfish ambition in this world, or are we seeking unselfish love for eternity? Do we want to serve God, or this world? We can't serve both (James 4:4).
Friday, January 23, 2009
Are we living for Him or us?
This ties in with the other post of being dead to self. It is a question that we've all asked ourselves at least once, "what I'm I living for, or why am I here?". Throughout scripture, God shows us He has a purpose and plan for our lives. We we're NOT put here by mistake, and we are NOT wasted time and space. I can't give you the answers to all of life's questions, or why bad things happen to good people, but I can share with you the words of our creator.
In Psalm 139, David was speaking, or singing of God's Omnipresence and Omniscience. The fact that God can be anywhere, anytime, and that He knows ALL things. He knows our thoughts before we think them, He knows our hearts and motives for EVERYTHING we do. With that said, why do we try to "run" from God? Why do we hide ourselves? Do we actually think He can't see us in everything we're doing, in the dark and in the light?
David was also speaking of God's plan for your life, before you were born. He sings to God, "For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother's womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth. Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; And in Your book were all written, The days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was not one of them." Psalm 139:13-16 (NASB).
Read the entire chapter of Psalm 139 to see that you are not a mistake in this world, regardless of what you've been through, or how you came here. It's not your fault for some of the bad things that have happened to you on this earth. At the same time, it is not God's fault either. God gives us what we all want in life, free will. With that comes pain and suffering. People may hurt us, but ultimately it is the power of evil forces who are the originators.
Remember, the devil, satan, is the ruler of this worldly earthy environment. In Ephesians 6:12 we read, "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places." (NASB)
So now the question is, why do we try to live for ourselves, after our own selfish motives? Are we dead in Christ to OUR selfish wants, or are we trying to walk on both sides of the fence? Do we seek God's Will for our lives, or not?
Psalm 139, Ephesians 6:12
In Psalm 139, David was speaking, or singing of God's Omnipresence and Omniscience. The fact that God can be anywhere, anytime, and that He knows ALL things. He knows our thoughts before we think them, He knows our hearts and motives for EVERYTHING we do. With that said, why do we try to "run" from God? Why do we hide ourselves? Do we actually think He can't see us in everything we're doing, in the dark and in the light?
David was also speaking of God's plan for your life, before you were born. He sings to God, "For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother's womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth. Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; And in Your book were all written, The days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was not one of them." Psalm 139:13-16 (NASB).
Read the entire chapter of Psalm 139 to see that you are not a mistake in this world, regardless of what you've been through, or how you came here. It's not your fault for some of the bad things that have happened to you on this earth. At the same time, it is not God's fault either. God gives us what we all want in life, free will. With that comes pain and suffering. People may hurt us, but ultimately it is the power of evil forces who are the originators.
Remember, the devil, satan, is the ruler of this worldly earthy environment. In Ephesians 6:12 we read, "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places." (NASB)
So now the question is, why do we try to live for ourselves, after our own selfish motives? Are we dead in Christ to OUR selfish wants, or are we trying to walk on both sides of the fence? Do we seek God's Will for our lives, or not?
Psalm 139, Ephesians 6:12
What does it mean to be dead to self?
In Matthew 16:24, we see that Jesus is talking about Discipleship. Jesus said, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me" (Matthew 16:24 NASB). What exactly does this mean? Is it so simple of an idea that we have tried to make it complicated? Are we trying to avoid what we know we must do as a NEW creation in Christ? Have we really counted the cost? Do we know what we're getting ourselves into? The scriptures below deal with Discipleship and accountability. What are your thoughts?
Matthew 10:38-39, 16:24-26, Mark 8:34, Luke 9:23, 14:27.
Accountability to Discipleship: "A New life in Christ"
Psalm 62:12, Proverbs 24:12, Ecclesiastes 5:8, Matthew 12:36, Romans 2:6 & 16, 14:12, 1 Corinthians 3:13, 2 Corinthians 5:10, Ephesians 6:8, Colossians 3:25, 1 Peter 4:5, Revelation 2:23, 20:12, 22:12,
Matthew 10:38-39, 16:24-26, Mark 8:34, Luke 9:23, 14:27.
Accountability to Discipleship: "A New life in Christ"
Psalm 62:12, Proverbs 24:12, Ecclesiastes 5:8, Matthew 12:36, Romans 2:6 & 16, 14:12, 1 Corinthians 3:13, 2 Corinthians 5:10, Ephesians 6:8, Colossians 3:25, 1 Peter 4:5, Revelation 2:23, 20:12, 22:12,
Friday, January 16, 2009
What do you believe?
As Christians, we often must ask ourselves the question, "Do we really seek the truth, or are we seeking what makes us feel more comfortable, accepted and loved?" Do we offend for the sake of the Word of God, or do we stand on the Word, in love, by obeying the commands of our Lord, Jesus Christ? That is the topic for this post. So, let's get into scripture and read what God says...
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