He’s Right Here!

Today's blog post was contributed by David Trotta:

Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? (John 14:8-10)

Have you ever been in a room with a group of people and asked where someone was, only to have them sitting right in front of you?  That just happened to me recently.  There was a gathering at my house and my daughter asked “where dad was,” at which point I raised my hand with that “duh, I’m right here” look on my face.

Based on Jesus’ response in the above verse, I wonder if He felt something like that when Phillip asked him “Lord, show us the Father.” In a beautiful display of the Trinity in action, Phillip was seeing the Father all along…through Jesus.  He just failed to make the connection.

We too are called to reflect the Father.  A little later in John chapter 14, Jesus went on to say that pretty soon He would be going away and the responsibility of reflecting the Father would be passed onto us.

Verses 19-20 reads “Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.”

As Christ followers, the very presence of God dwells in us.  Now, like Jesus, people who see us should also see the Father.  Not through our physical appearance, but by the character and heart of God displayed though our words and actions.

When someone asks you to show them Jesus, will you be able to confidently raise your hand and say “he’s right here in me” or will the lukewarm display of Jesus in your life leave you unable or ashamed to raise your hand?

Don’t let that happen.  The very presence of God dwells within you.  As a citizen of the Kingdom of God, live your life in a manner that displays His love and beauty to a world that so desperately needs to see Him.

A Different Citizenship

“Marvel not [do not be surprised, astonished] at My telling you,

 You must all be born anew (from above).”

John 3:7 (Amp)

 

Colonization: When citizens of one country inhabit a territory

for the purpose of establishing a kingdom within that territory.

Where is your citizenship?

Now some may ask me to clarify that question.

Fair enough.

Do you hold dual citizenship?

No, I am not asking if you are a citizen of two countries like the United States and Canada.

But I am asking if you were born in one country or kingdom

and born again into the Kingdom of God?

You see one is temporal and the other eternal.

I am a citizen of the United States of America.

But I am also a citizen of the Kingdom of God.

One day my citizenship in the US will cease when the US ceases to be.

The Kingdom of God will never cease.

I can bring the Kingdom of God to my spheres of influence now.

It is not a ‘...in the sweet by and by…’ work.

His life lived through me can bring the Kingdom today!

A Kingdom that has no end.

A Kingdom where God rules and reigns.

A Kingdom Jesus revealed through a life 100% surrendered to His Father.

A Kingdom of mercy, compassion, love, justice, truth and the list goes on and on.

A Kingdom where the fruit, the ‘produce’ if you will, are things like righteousness, peace and joy.

What a wonderful Kingdom to bring.

No wonder Jesus referred to it as the good news of the Kingdom.

But he said, "I must proclaim the good news of the

kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent."

Luke 4:43

So let’s challenge ourselves daily with a couple of questions.

Where is your citizenship?

What kingdom culture are you living out?

Ruling and Reigning as the King Would

“And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.”

Genesis 1:26 (KJV)

 

 

Dominion: To exercise rule or reign over a realm, sphere and or territory.

 

If you look at the same verse above as it is written in the NIV (or many other translations) you will find the word ‘rule’ rather than dominion.

That is a word we are more familiar with.

In an orderly society parents ‘rule over’ their children, teachers ‘rule over’ their classrooms and judges ‘rule over’ their courtrooms.

It does not take long to see how a less than benevolent parent, teacher or judge can bring fear, division and destruction.

But consider for a moment what Adam – before the fall – was to bring as he ruled over the earth.

Wasn’t it to be a reflection of His creator?

The attribute of His heavenly Father brought to bear in the earth.

Now imagine those parents, teachers and judges as citizens of the Kingdom of God.

How might we expect that they would rule and reign over their families, classrooms and courtrooms.

We would expect that attributes of the King of the Kingdom to be in evidence.

Love, mercy, justice, compassion, wisdom, etc…

Our homes, our classrooms and our courtrooms then become places of hope and promise.

They are places filled with the Kings’ love and His mercy.

Maybe you say – “Well, you’re describing heaven?”

Really?

What about your realm, sphere or territory?

What about the place where you live, work and play?

Consider again – and be challenged – by these words of Jesus:

“…thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven…”

Allow me a bit of flexibility by suggesting this to ponder –

Your will be done Lord – in my home, at my job and anywhere on earth my feet take me!

 

 

 

Bringing the Kingdom

“The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near.

Repent and believe the good news!”

Mark 1:15

 

 

 

Kingdom: a territory where the kings will, the kings culture, the kings values and the kings morals are lived out through the lifestyle of the citizens.

 

Think about that definition and then think about where you live.

Does that definition fit your neighborhood? Your city? Your region? Your nation?

Likely not.

But here is the real question we must ask if we are true disciples of Jesus Christ:

Do I bring the culture, values, morals and will of the King wherever I go?

Do I bring the Kingdom?

That is exactly what Jesus did.

That is also why He often made statements like this:

 

“If you have seen me, you have seen the Father.”

“Man does not live by bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.”

“My meat is to do the will of the Father.”

“I only do what I see the Father doing.”

 

Implied in that last statement from Jesus is a focus that is not on this world or its’ values, morals, culture or will, but instead His focus is on the Father.

Is the Father ordering your steps today?

His eyes are on you.

Are your eyes on Him?

The Kingdom of God

“For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking,

but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit,”

Romans 14:17

 

 

What do you know about the Kingdom of God?

Not, what do you know about religion, your denominational doctrines or even the church.

The truth is, Jesus spent much time speaking of, teaching about, and bringing the Kingdom of God to man when He walked on the earth.  

We all can recite the Lord’s Prayer.

In it we find these words:

“…your Kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.”

But understanding the Kingdom of God is far greater than simply repeating a phrase.

I can tell you that E=mc² because it is an equation I memorized in school many years ago, but how that specifically relates to Einstein’s theory of relativity is beyond me.

I think we often talk about the Kingdom in the same way.

Our ‘talk’ reaches far beyond our understanding of the Kingdom.

If we are to be true citizens of that Kingdom and subject to its’ King our ignorance is to our shame.

At His Place we have embarked on a season of learning about the Kingdom.

We do this, not so that we can walk around and spit out facts and figures at people but, that we might be those in whom God’s Kingdom is advanced in the earth.

Our desire is that in each of us – the image of the King of the Kingdom can be seen.

Jesus didn’t come to earth to merely tell us about the Father.

He came to show us the Father.

May we become those who show those around us the Kingdom of God!

 

 

 

 

Like a Waterfall

Today's blog post is contributed by David Trotta:

But you, Lord, are a compassionate God, merciful and patient, with unending gracious love and faithfulness. (Psalm 86:15)

No matter how many times I see it, each time I visit Niagara Falls I marvel at its power and beauty.  It’s difficult to comprehend that an estimated 600,000 gallons of water flows over the falls every second without it ever running dry.  It just keeps flowing and flowing, year after year, decade after decade, century after century.

God’s love is like that.  It’s unending and never stops flowing and it’s directed straight at you.  And, here’s the wonderful part….nothing you do can stop it.  It isn’t dependent on anything you do or say.  It just flows, continually, because He is a compassionate, merciful and patient God.

I don’t know about you, but I want a compassionate, merciful, and patient God who has to look at me every day, because if He wasn’t all those things, I would be in big trouble and so would you.

So, the next time you struggle to believe that God loves you, blemishes and all, read the above verse out loud, especially the “unending” part.

God wants to sweep you off your feet today with a revelation of just how much He continually loves you.  What an incredible privilege to be loved by God!

But, it doesn’t end there.

The human body is a great conductor of electricity.  You know how it works.  If an electrical current is flowing into you and you grab a hold of someone, there’s going to be a whole lot of shaking going on.

As your understanding of how much God loves you grows, don’t keep it to yourself.  Grab a hold of someone and pass on that love through your acts of compassion, mercy and patience toward them.

As I was writing this, I was reminded of a popular song by Chris Tomlin…

Your love is like a waterfall, waterfall
Running wild and free
You hear my heart when I call, when I call
Deep calls, too deep
Your love is like a waterfall, waterfall
Raining down on me

Where Does My Help Come From?

“I lift up my eyes to the mountains—

    where does my help come from?

My help comes from the Lord,

    the Maker of heaven and earth.”

 

 

Where does your help come from?

Does it come from the employer who signs your paycheck?

How about the doctor who writes that prescription?

Is he your help?

Maybe it’s the financial adviser who leads you to retirement security.

Where does your help come from?

Does it come from any of these or a host of others?

The writer of this Psalm knew his help came from the Lord,

The same Lord who made the heavens and the earth is well able to feed you, clothe you and shelter you.

It’s easy to forget that sometimes.

We look to the visible and forget the invisible, eternal God.

The boss gives you a raise so we say the boss is our help.

But who gave you favor with the boss?

The doctor declares us healed but we must not forget who the Great Physician is.

They say there are no atheists in foxholes.

But let us also remember that He is our helper, not just when the bullets are whizzing by,

He is our helper in the good seasons as well as the bad.

I suspect many more have walked away from God on the mountaintop than the number who have abandoned Him in the valley.

Are you enjoying the blessings and provisions you need now?

Don’t forget where your help has come from – not only in the day of trouble – but also in the time of great abundance and blessings.

Where does your help come from today?

 

 

Recommit to the Lord

Today's blog post was contributed by Denise Friedman:

“At the time of the sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed:  “O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. Answer me, O Lord, answer me, so these people will know that you, O Lord, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again.” Then the fire of the Lord fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stone and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench.

– 1 Kings 18:36-38

We have recently been challenged to identify the idols in our lives and repair the altar within us.  We serve a Lord who is always faithful.  Now that he has repositioned us, we are able to call upon the Lord with a pure heart.  When we are again pure, we can offer ourselves as a living sacrifice to God.  He is encouraging you to spend time recommitting yourself to Him.  What is the Lord asking you to do today?  Ask him in faith and be assured he will answer you just as he answered Elijah immediately once the altar was rebuilt.

Precious Father, thank you that you are so merciful to purify us when we come to you to be cleansed.  We honor you today and recommit ourselves to you.  We come before you, ready to do your will as you reveal your plans to us.  Thank you always accepting our sacrifice to you when we are positioned as we should be.  We love you, O Sovereign Lord.

 

Promises, Promises

“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.”

I John 1:7

 

 

Warning!

Warning!

This verse starts with a condition: “…if we walk in the light, as He is in the light…”

Are you discerning as you read the Word?

It is easy to read past the parts requiring something of us to get right to the promise.

But meditating, memorizing or believing the promise does little if we don’t also obey.

Sure, it’s our flesh that wants something for nothing – the winning lottery ticket, the free lunch, the head of the line.

But often Gods’ promises are ours only after obediently walking in the conditions He has established.

The promise of eternal life is ours after we accept the free gift of His Son.

You argue that it is a free gift.

Who wouldn’t receive it?

Yes it is, but we all know those who push that free gift away only to declare their belief that they will ‘get into heaven’ because they have lived a ‘decent’ life.

We are choosing our way over Gods’.

We are all for the promise, but we ignore the gift of His Son that God offers in order to see that promise fulfilled.

We miss the gift held for us through our obedience.

We miss the gift of Gods’ sanctifying work, His maturing and refining work in each of us that comes, not at the receipt of the promise, but in the obedient journey to it.

The question then is not “Are you ready for the promise?”

It is: “Are you ready for the journey to the promise?”

 

Red Letter Words

 

In reading the Sermon on the Mount we find that Jesus made many particular statements and then expanded on those statements.

These statements are foundational truths we are called to live out.

Today, I want to list some of those for you.

My hope is that together we can read them and allow the Holy Spirit to speak to us individually in any of these areas that He chooses to.

Jesus said:

“Be careful not to do your acts of righteousness before men to be seen by them.”

“And when you pray…”

“When you fast…”

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth…”

“…do not worry about your life…”

“Do not judge…”

“Ask and it will be given to you, seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”

“Enter through the narrow gate…”

“Watch out for false prophets…”

Jesus did, of course, expand on each of these statements to bring greater understanding.

For example – after telling us not to judge, He used the illustration of the speck of dust in someone else’s eye and the beam in our own.

May these words, along with the expanded text, challenge and spur us on to growth in Christ.

The Gift of Today

Today's blog post is contributed by David Trotta.
It carries a similar message as yesterdays.
I value when this happens because I know that David and I do not usually discuss what each is writing so I believe the Lord is emphasizing for each of us something we need to take to heart!

This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it. (Psalm 118:24)

Wait!  Does that include the day when my boss called me into my office to tell me there has been a companywide cutback and my job was impacted?  Yes.

Does that include the day my hot water heater broke and flooded my basement?  Yes.

Does that include the day my wife and I got into an argument and said some hurtful things to each other?  Yes.

If you’re like me, some days you just want forget ever happened.  You want to toss them to the scrap heap.

But God doesn’t make mistakes.  There is no random with Him.  Everything He creates is perfect and carries a specific purpose.  That includes each day of our lives.

Don’t measure the success of your day based on the number of failures or challenges you encounter.  None of those things diminish the fact that it’s still a day the Lord has made.

Sure, we can choose to focus on the negative things that occurred throughout our day.  Or, we can choose to have the mindset of Joseph, who when he came face to face with his brothers that sold him into slavery, declared “what you meant for evil, God meant for good.” (Genesis 50:20)

God is not surprised by the things that happen in your life.  He knows exactly how your day is going to play out before you roll out of bed and your feet hit the ground.  And if you trust Him, He will use it all for your good.  He will use the events of the day, good and bad, to mold and shape you into the person He wants you to be.

Will you join me in looking at every day for what it is – a gift from God, regardless of your circumstances?  Then, rejoice and be glad in it.

God gave you the gift of today, so like a child at Christmas, wake up each morning with anticipation and excitement ready to unwrap the day God has given you.

Today

“This is the day the Lord has made, we will be glad and rejoice in it.”

Psalm 118:24

 

Sometimes we read the verse above and live the verse above in two different ways.

What do I mean?

Well, we read it as it is written but we can be guilty of living it as if it said:

 

This is the day the Lord has made, I will whine and complain about it.

I will rejoice and be glad in this day

As long as it continues going my way!

We spoke yesterday of the mindset that Jesus had.

He knew that His Father was with Him and that was true regardless of the circumstances.

Some days can be pretty rough for you and me.

But I have to admit I never have woken up and faced what Jesus faced.

Still, He could rejoice in His Father’s love.

His darkest moment came, not because of His own sin, but because He took my sin and your sin upon Himself.

You and I were not there with Him on the morning of that day but I know that I know that I know Jesus did not curse that day – He rejoiced in it as He had each day before.

God was in control – no need to fear.

God is in control – no need to fear.

God will be in control.

I put my trust in a loving and unchanging God.

Can you rejoice in this day too?

 

July 16, 2015 – This is the day the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it!

 

 

The Thought Life of Jesus

What do you suppose Jesus’ thought life was like?

What was His mental attitude?

Maybe you’re thinking – “I haven’t got a clue!”

But the truth is: we don’t have to wonder.

We are told in Philippians 2:5-8 –

 

“In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

Who, being in very nature God,

    did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;

rather, he made himself nothing

    by taking the very nature of a servant,

    being made in human likeness.

And being found in appearance as a man,

    he humbled himself

    by becoming obedient to death—

        even death on a cross.”

 

I don’t think it would betray the tenure of these scriptures to say that the thought life of Jesus was such that He was always considering how He might serve His Father.

Out of that mindset came service for others.

That in itself is so in keeping with the character of His Father.

His thoughts were not thoughts of a proud, lifted up person but of a humble servant.

I could end today’s post right there and it would be enough to challenge us for a

very, very long time.

If our lives are the results of what we think we can ‘see’ Jesus’ thought life by the life He lived.

No wonder we are admonished to renew our minds.  

Becoming like Jesus demands a changed way of thinking.

Are you ready for that?

 

 

‘Finding’ God

“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast,

because they trust in you.”

Isaiah 26:3

 

Can you find God in all the circumstances of your life?

He is there you know.

If He said He would never leave us and never forsake us then that means He is with us in the midst of great victories but He also walks beside us in those moments we may feel all alone or the times when we turn our back on Him.

Sometimes we may call out “God, where are you?” but if our eyes were opened at that moment we would realize He is right beside us.

The church has seen wonderful mountaintop experiences and she has also been through many dark valleys.

Never, has the Lord left His church!

“Well, I know that” you declare.

Good!

Continue to walk in that knowledge so that you are always able to ‘find’

God no matter the circumstances of life.

Lose your job over your faith?

God has not left you.

Been to the doctor and the diagnosis is not good?

He remains by your side.

He is faithful.

We are not always so.

The renewed mind has disciplined itself to find God in even the darkest moments.

It is focused on Him and not on the circumstances.

Jesus mind was ‘fixed’ or ‘stayed’ on the Father.

That is why, despite the battle, He could declare in the

Garden of Gethsemane “not my will by yours be done.”

Keep your eyes, your heart and your mind fixed on Him who is by your side!

 

Please click on the link below to be encouraged by "Fix My Eyes" by For King and Country

 

https://youtu.be/NM-Bf9gE0gw

A ‘Pet Hair Roller’ Thought Life

"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what

God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

Romans 12:2

 

A renewed mind is an occupied mind.

“Occupied with what?” you may ask.

Occupied with doing the will of the Father.

The renewed mind sets a guard on its thought life.

Like the sentry on duty at the military base allowing only authorized people to enter, the renewed mind filters and allows those thoughts beneficial to God’s purposes in.

An un-renewed mind may be filled with many things.

The un-renewed mind that is allowed to wander will pick up thoughts

contrary to the things of God.

It can be like one of those pet hair rollers that will pick up anything that sticks!

It does not discriminate well.

Not exactly the picture of a well-disciplined thought life.

While lint on a roller meant to pick up pet hair may be harmless the thoughts a ‘wandering mind’ pick up can be very destructive.

Hmmmm’ – destructive thoughts – I wonder where those originate from?

Any thoughts on that, class?

Of course the enemy would love to do nothing more than fill our heads with toxic, deadly, fearful thoughts.  

His purpose is to not only thwart Gods’ plans for our lives but as Jesus said he comes to “…steal and kill and destroy.”

That is the end result of thoughts he gives.

Jesus came to give us abundant life.

His words to us build us up, encourage us and bring us that life as we learn to meditate on them.

So is your thought life guarded by a sentry or is it like a pet hair roller?

Lord

Help us to follow the counsel of your words that we might think on those things that are good.

Forgive us when the meditation of our hearts has been the result of a wandering mind.

May we place the sentry of your word at the entrance to our minds.

Help us, by your Holy Spirit, to entertain only those thoughts that move us toward you!

We ask this in Jesus Name.

Amen.

Which road are you following?

Today's blog post is contributed by David Trotta:

“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” (Matthew 7:13-14)

Does the above verse scare you?  I’ll be honest, it scares me.  The verse in no uncertain terms says that “only a few” will find eternal life.  That means a lot of people who think they are on the path to eternal life are on the wrong road!

Did you ever drive down a road thinking it led to a certain place, only to find out it didn’t?  I sure have, more than I care to admit.  It can be very frustrating and a bit hurtful on the ego, but in the big scheme of things, it’s not very serious.  You just stop, find the right road and be back on your way.  No harm done.

It’s a lot different when talking about eternal life.  We have to make sure we are on the correct road now while we are on this side of heaven.  We only have this one life to make sure we are headed in the right direction.  If we wait until we die, there’s no turning around.

So, how do we “enter through the narrow gate” and stay on the right road.  In John 14:6, Jesus said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Jesus is the gate!  And, and it’s narrow because it’s only wide enough for Him and those who follow closely behind.  Closely following Jesus is the only way into heaven.  Not our good works, not our tithes and offerings, not even the miracles we perform (see Matthew 7:22-23).

We want to make Jesus broad.  Anything goes.  Everything is all right.  Our society teaches us to be tolerant of sin.  We don’t repent.  We rationalize our sin instead of hungering and thirsting for righteousness.

Sadly, the bible is pretty clear.  Many will miss eternal life.

So, don’t follow the crowd down the wrong road.  As you travel through life, be among the few who follow Jesus down the narrow path by continually surrendering your heart to Him and only Him.

Repairing the altar

Today's blog post is contributed by Denise Friedman:

Elijah took twelve stones, one for each of the tribes descended from Jacob, to whom the word of the Lord had come, saying, “Your name shall be Israel.” – 1 Kings 18:31

After the difficult assignment from yesterday, we are ready to repair our altar today!  When we were challenged with this in our service Sunday, I was unclear exactly what this meant.  After spending some time with the Word researching this, I think I have a better understanding.  Do you remember a time when you were on fire for the Lord?  Perhaps you spent hours in His presence, seeking His face, asking what He wanted from you.  Perhaps, over time, this excitement seemed to fade, quieted by your business, His voice lost in distractions of each passing day. 

Sometimes repairs seem a bit overwhelming.  We see things as they are and remember how they once were.  It can feel impossible to ever restore back to what things once were.  Sometimes, it seems easier to just go out and replace with something new.

The good news is today is a day to turn back and repair what we have let fall into disrepair!  God is not asking us to create a new altar, he values the temple he originally gave to us.  Today, he wants to repair the temple, all we need to do is ask him.   Reread that sentence, today HE wants to repair the temple, all we need to do is ask him. 

Heavenly Father, I come to you today with a repentant heart.  Please forgive me for letting my altar to you fall into a state of disarray.  I call upon you Jesus, to repair all that is broken within me.  Rekindle the fire of your Holy Spirit that I may advance your Kingdom on earth.  Thank you for your faithfulness today and every day.  Amen!

Identify the idols

 

Today's blog post was contributed by Denise Friedman.

 

Today we will be focused on 1 Kings 18:30.  Prior to this passage, Elijah presented a challenge to Baal’s prophets, asking them to call on the name of their God. Elijah indicates he will call on the name of the Lord.  “The Lord who answer by fire – he is God.” Scripture tells us the prophets of Baal called on the name of Baal from morning to noon, with no response.  This continued until the evening, with no response. 

Verse 30 continues, “Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come here to me.”  They came to him, and he repaired the altar of the Lord, which was in ruins.

Elijah knew before he could call upon the name of the Lord, he needed to repair the altar.  The altar had been destroyed and was no longer being used for its original purpose – offering sacrifices to the one true God.  The altar had been broken down and was being used to make sacrifices to Baal. 

Today we find ourselves in a similar predicament.  Daily we are faced with the challenge of worshipping our one true King or worshipping to the many idols of this world.  While we may not have a golden calf in our homes, we do have idols in the form of money, work, and material possessions, to name a few. Our challenge today is to identify the idols which may be filling the places in our heart belonging to the Lord.  I encourage you to day to take some time to reflect and ask Holy Spirit to point these areas out to you.  Do not be afraid, God already knows your heart and it is His desire to help you clean your heart. 

Might I suggest you pray this prayer as you spend time identifying what needs to be repaired, “Create in me a pure heart, O Lord, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”  God is faithful; He will create a pure heart within you. 

Turn

“From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.”

Matthew 4:17

 

 

It is important, I think, to note that the word ‘repent’ is actually the first word spoken by Jesus as recorded in Matthews’ gospel as Jesus begins His public ministry.

Let’s give it the emphasis it deserves!

Someone once defined the word ‘repent’ like this:

“changing your mind to the degree that it changes your behavior.”

I think that is a good way to define it.

After all, we change our minds a lot –

some might say we change are minds far more than we change our clothes!

As a matter of fact, if we change our minds in such a way that our behavior changes 180 degrees (in other words, to the extent that we are now heading in a direction completely opposite of where we were heading before) it is not at all uncommon for us to change our minds again and reverse the amended direction back t the original.

That is not true repentance.

True repentance causes us to turn from that behavior not to return to it.

While we all fail from time to time, that is not what we are talking about here.

Rather, it is the willful, deliberate and sustained return to our old habits.

That return to our sin would certainly not be the mark of true repentance.

Have you repented?

Have you turned from your old ways?

Have you turned to Christ who gives us the victory over sin?

He’s waiting.

He is longing for you to turn to Him today.

Will you?

 

A Round Tuit

“As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.”

At once they left their nets and followed him.

Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets.

Jesus called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.”

Matthew 4:18-22

 

As I read the verses above I was reminded of a wooden ‘coin’ I came across several years ago much like the one in the image above.  It was called a ‘Tuit’ and it was round.

It was play on the phrase “When I get a-round to-it”

On one side of the wooden con were the letters spelling out T-U-I-T and on the other sde of the coin it was imprinted with these words:

“No More Excuses

Let’s Get it Done!”

Peter, Andrew, James and John didn’t wait until they got around to answering the call of Jesus.

Their responses were labeled as “at once” and “immediately”.

They left behind their livelihood and their family to follow Him!

They left all behind for they knew not what.

Jesus did not lay out the future for them in that call.

Their response demanded faith.

And they responded in faith.

Faith does not need every question answered.

Just ask Abraham, Joseph or David.

Our faith is not in something, it is in someone.

The disciples responded to the Lord.

We can read and consider all that happened after they responded to that call.

They did not have that luxury.

Perhaps today God is calling you to follow Him on a path that is unclear.

Don’t focus on what is not clear.

Focus, instead, on the one who says: “Follow me…”.

Not tomorrow, not when you get all your ducks in a row, not when you get around to it but immediately and at once follow Him.

He will never lead you astray!

 

In the same way

Today's blog post is contributed by David Trotta:

I remember being in high school and so hoping my teacher graded on a curve.  When it came to school work, I needed all the help I could get.  For me, getting an “A” was about as common as snow in Florida, so the more forgiving the standard of measure used by the teacher, the better chance I had of passing.

Do you find yourself unconsciously “grading” the lifestyle of others?  Do you observe their actions and give them a pass or fail?

When looking at the weaknesses and failures of others, do you judge them harshly or do you look at them through the eyes of unconditional love with a desire to see them gently restored?

It’s an important question, because God will use the same standard of measure when judging us.

Matthew 7:1-2 says “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

I don’t know about you, but I want God to grade on a big curve filled with lots of unconditional love, grace, and mercy.  One way to ensure that will happen is to use that same standard of measure when looking at others.

So, what standard of measure should we use?  How about the standard that says…

“For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them.” (2 Corinthians 5:19)

It is Written

“Teach me knowledge and good judgment,

    for I trust your commands.”

Psalm 119:66

 

 

“It is written…”

“It is also written...”

“It is written...”

Three attempts by the tempter.

Three strikes and he was definitely out!

I suppose if anyone was ‘qualified’ to engage the devil in a verbal back-and-forth battle it would be Jesus.

But He didn’t.

This post began with Jesus’ three responses – one for each recorded temptation.

He didn’t say: “I think” or “Maybe we should” or not even “I would…”

In the very personally tailored temptation His only response was the Word of God.  

Do you know the Word?

Not as a club to hit people with but as a firm foundation for your faith?

When the enemy comes to sow seeds of doubt, fear or confusion do you respond with a welcome mat or do you respond with words wisely spoken that strengthen your spirit and refute the devils lies?

Take away the welcome mat for the enemy.

Become a student of the Word.

Jesus did not simply ‘pick out any old promise’,

He skillfully combatted the deception of the enemy with the Truth of the Word.

He ‘rightly divided’ the Word.

We are called to be wise.

We are not called to ignorance.

We are told to ‘…get understanding…’

Jesus did.

So must we.

The times demand we have answers, not opinions, feelings or generalities.

May we all grow in our understanding of…

…it is written!

Who Gets to Decide?

“God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world,

but to save the world through him.”

John 3:17

 

Who gets to decide what’s right and what’s wrong?

Is it majority rules?

How about cliché’s and bumper stickers?

Do they set the moral compass for your life?

Is it all about what feels good or doesn’t hurt anybody?

Maybe it’s a case of letting the stars (Hollywood or celestial) be your guide.

Let me make it easy for you.

Right and wrong are already determined.

Not by the ‘created’ but by the Creator.

Oh, you don’t believe in a Creator?

That doesn’t change a thing.

You may think that changes everything.

You may think, “I’m going to live my life as I please!”

You are free to do that.

You can spend your entire life thumbing your nose at God.

But eternity belongs to Him.

Here’s the thing, though.

He loves you and wants to spend eternity with you.

Ultimately it is not so much a question of ‘right and wrong’ as it is a question of what you will decide concerning the Creators’ free gift to you.

Eternal life is waiting for you.

Abundant life is waiting for you.

Not a set of rules but a relationship with the one who loves you beyond what you or I can comprehend.

And that choice you get to make…you get to decide!

Choose wisely...