Thursday, December 30, 2010

Devoted

In Acts 2:42 The early followers of Jesus devoted themselves to the teachings of the apostles, and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. What followed? Awe, wonder, needs were met and real friendships were made. I think there is a difference between fellowship and friendship. I believe the "breaking of bread" speaks to friendship rather than acquaintances. This along with devoted prayer are missing ingredients to most churches today. In the end (Acts 2:47) we see the people praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people in the community. We also read that the LORD added to their number daily those who were being saved.
DEVOTION is what is missing at most churches today. Often we are half-hearted to the teachings, fellowship, eating and prayer. Consequently, little is happening and the watching world is confused; because if we really believed we would live differently! *IT was such devotion that was turning the world upside down (Acts 17:6). Olympic athletes are devoted. Top students are devoted. Real lovers are devoted. Real Christians need to be devoted to the teachings, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Most churches try to do this through Sunday School, small groups in homes are on a church campus in some fashion. It won't be for real until the people are genuine (take off the masks) and truly devoted. Maybe this year's resolution could be to properly place your devotion. If so, get ready for the awe, wonder, and a fresh breath of life.

Who?


We've got a new year coming up, and that makes us think about restarts or restops. We like to stop something we said we were going to stop last year, but picked back up month one, two or some where along the way. We have things that we were going to start and dropped in month one, two or some where along the way. You get my drift. We're people and that's how we roll. ---One thing that is important for followers of Jesus (specifically) is the idea of helping someone else grow in the faith. Perhaps someone helped you, and if they didn't chances are you wish now that someone had helped you grow spiritually. ---Look around. Who is someone that you could help grow in the faith this year? We should be intentional about that. I've got a guy I'm discipling right now, and it is just as much for me as it is for him. We had a great time this morning going through Scriptures that we read the week before in our own respective quiet times. It was unbelievable, as we had to watch the clock and still went over and would probably still be talking and praying from what we gathered from God's Word. Indeed, iron sharpens iron. We learn what God is teaching the other through life and Scriptures. Deeper growth and life transformation is certainly taking place slowly but surely. We're not speed-reading the Bible. We're stopping at the places God speaks the loudest and listening. We're chewing those passages like a cow chewing cud...slowly getting every bit of nutrient and taste out of God's Word. ---But if there wasn't a Who, then we both could easily be distracted and consequently not being nourished for such growth. --- So who will you disciple in 2011? It is as much for you as it is for them.---Don't be a dead-beat Christian. Share.

Good Samaritan

Loving the neighbor (who is sometimes someone you don't care for) is the tough part of love. He literally had to care for someone he wouldn't even like in normal circumstances. That is part of our every day challenge. It is risky. But it is the kind of love God has shown us through Jesus. If we want to ever grow, we must love like this. Yes, it calls us to die to self.
---Lk.10

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Large Group

Much is said about Jesus sending out the Twelve disciples, but little attention is given to the larger group Jesus also had following him. In Luke 10 we read where Jesus gave some simple instructions to send the 72 out in pairs ahead of him preaching and healing. He told them to pray for help, and take nothing with them, and don't greet anyone along the way (stay focused on the mission at hand; don't get distracted and off course). Give the message about the Kingdom of God being near to those that would listen, and leave behind the ones that don't want to hear it. Woe to them if they reject the message! These miracles were signs that the kingdom of God was near. *These guys were ecstatic that even the demons submitted to them in the name of Jesus. Jesus was happy for them, but also sent a subtle reminder (perhaps he sensed pride welling up in them for this ability); he told them that he had seen Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Implications: Jesus had been around. Satan fell because of pride. Suggestion: rejoice that your names are written in the Book of Life in heaven, not that you cast some demons out.---Stay low. Stay humble. Know that whenever we do something great in Christ; it is done in Christ, not us. Pride goes before a fall. ---Jesus spent some time with the large group. There were more than twelve followers of Jesus. The Son chooses to whom he will reveal the Father to. Wrap your brain around that. ---Thank God your name is in the book. Read Luke 10:1-24

Saturday, December 18, 2010

The Whole Neighborhood Was Blessed


As I sat and listened to David Crowder sing "You Are My Joy" on itunes, I looked away from the Bible I had before me and reflected on the mess in my room. Wrapping paper and "not-yet" wrapped gifts surrounded me. It reminded me of a conversation I had with a friend recently. If indeed there were as many as a thousand people in the Magi Caravan that came to visit the toddler Jesus, there had to have been a ton of gifts. They were ecstatic to be welcoming the new baby king to the world. Of course, we have the three gifts mentioned that were symbolic of King, Priest, Savior. But surely with the massive excitement of this caravan came many gifts. My friend posed the question, "What do you think Mary and Joseph did with all the gifts?" Wow. I was stunned. I thought I knew every thing (just kidding). Surely, we don't know for sure; but I'm betting it was looking good for the neighborhood that had been kind to the poor newlyweds. When Jesus comes around, flowers bloom, people are healed, resurrected! Some noise is made. Angels made noise in the fields before the shepherds. The Magi made a dusty trail from the East. ---Lights are on roofs, around the hedges, families get together, people are nicer, closets are stashed with gifts, mommas are baking goodies...the landscape is transformed because something huge happened 2000 years ago. ---Don't miss out. God sent Angels to announce what He already had in print...He has spoken to people through dreams...and all this Scripture was fulfilled in public. ---Herod and the religious Jews weren't even curious enough to follow the caravan to see Jesus. Instead, they expected them to come back to tell them what they should have already known.---It is worth checking Jesus out. HIsStory is the only one filled with mystery and wonder that is true. ---And once you know Him, you and your house will be blessed...and hopefully your whole neighborhood.

Thursday, December 9, 2010

4 Quarters


There are so many sports analogies that are good applications for life: finish strong, prepare, work hard, give it all you've got, do the fundamentals well, etc. It's always amazing to see when one team is really winning big early in the game, even to the point that a fan like me yawns or tunes out; but then a fan like me checks back in later just to see...and sure enough the other team has come back from a large margin. Logic says that all the team with the lead had to do was keep doing what it had been doing and coast in for the win. That is exactly why so many coaches of losing teams preach to their team that they have to play 4 quarters or all 60 minutes. Games are won and lost in the last quarter or seconds even. You have to play to that last whistle. So what happened to that team (the one that lost that huge lead)? ---It's the same thing that happens to us, when we lose daily battles to sin (no matter how little or big it may seem). We start going through the motions of life...we stray from the basics...the fundamentals...we forget our purpose...we fall back to our default status; and default status is almost always about making us happy. These guys start shooting the ball to pad their stats (or in football start taking it easy), and forget the team game that gave them the big lead. As Christians we temporarily take our eyes off the prize and seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness; and live for our kingdom and look to our own righteousness. ---Break your day down. When does the tempter come calling? Surely it is different for all of us. I know for me I need to start slowly, stay steady and finish strong. Focus on Jesus and keep healthy spiritual habits, because the enemy doesn't take breaks; plus we're capable of taking breaks on our own and resetting to default status. And our default status is all about us. Keep your status: in relationship with Jesus Christ. Finish!