Tag: Faith

True Discipleship

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“Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’ Matthew 7:21-23

This is scary scripture because Jesus reveals something that most Christians don’t talk about. We believe in God’s grace, His saving grace, yet this scripture clearly tells us that we are to go and do God’s will and if not, the results are devastating. This scripture makes me think and ponder the ways in which I am doing God’s will.

Recently, a coworker told me about a conversation with another person about how to know God’s will. She stated if we are in an intimate relationship with God, then we know God’s will. I agree with that assessment. If we are seeking God, spending time with God, praying to God, then we take one step at a time with God in God’s will. God doesn’t give us a huge laid out plan of the future, He gives us one step at a time. The Holy Spirit prompts when appropriate and then there is our opportunity to follow.

Jesus is clear that we are to live a transformed life and the disobedient lifestyle is inconsistent with genuine discipleship. I don’t know about you, but seems clear to me that intentional faith development toward being a true disciple of Jesus Christ is important to our Lord Jesus. So much so, He’s willing to turn away from some and say “I never knew you”. I have a feeling this breaks Jesus’ heart as much as it broke God’s to see his Son die for the sins of all.

What are you doing today to reflect True Discipleship in Jesus Christ?

John 3:17 Verse often Overlooked

For God did not send His Son into the world that He might condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. Anyone who believes in Him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the One and Only Son of God. John 3:17-18 HCSB

Like you, I have heard John 3:16 many times over the years. Who can argue, it’s an awesome scripture that gives us the purpose of Jesus in one sentence. And it’s the most memorized scripture of all. However, I believe the following verse, John 3:17, is often overlooked. God did not send his Son into the world that he might condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. Did I just hear grace? He came to offer grace? He didn’t come to condemn me or the world? Now that will preach.

I was once condemned but then grace came and walked beside me. It covered me and showed me God’s love. It followed me and protected me before I even knew it was there. Then I realized that I needed to accept this grace that was chasing after me so I said “yes”. I said yes to accept the love of God through Jesus who died for me (and you) on the cross. Did I realize what I sinner I was, probably not so much, I was a child. However, the Holy Spirit works in ways to help you know and realize sin and this is truly the work of God. Unbelievers don’t always know they are sinning until they know God. They may feel unhappy or unfulfilled, but often times they don’t know they are doing something wrong. When we point fingers and tell people they are sinners, it’s condemning them. Why don’t we point our finger and say God loves you so much that there this thing called grace that covers all the sin you have ever committed.

I wonder, could we reach more for Christ if we offered grace through Him since God did not send him to condemn the world but to save it?

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Boomerang

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“Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults— unless, of course, you want the same treatment. That critical spirit has a way of boomeranging. It’s easy to see a smudge on your neighbor’s face and be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your own. Do you have the nerve to say, ‘Let me wash your face for you,’ when your own face is distorted by contempt? It’s this whole traveling road-show mentality all over again, playing a holier-than-thou part instead of just living your part. Wipe that ugly sneer off your own face, and you might be fit to offer a washcloth to your neighbor. Matthew 7:1 CEB

Woah! This sounds like the golden-rule we learned growing up that I don’t hear much about today. If we are going to criticize others for their failures and faults, then we better want the same treatment. What? Who wants that? The answer is none of us, but we are quick to judge others, aren’t we?

The thing I like about this version of the scriptures is how it speaks to our critical spirit and how it has a way of boomeranging. The HCSB version says, “For with the same judgment you use, you will be judged and with the measure you use.” If we are going to use harsh judgement when evaluating others, then we better expect God to use the same standard on us.

When I see sin, do I ask myself the question. Is this sin present in my life? Do I have unrepented sin in my life? I usually do because each day I wake up in this human form and have a thought or something comes out of my mouth that is not godly. I could have even taken it to bed with me the night before and fell asleep before I could get it off my chest. So I have to take a look in the mirror (God’s word) and ask God to show me ways in which I have failed him. I will say something like, “God show me ways in which I have not lived according to your word or walked according to your way”. And guess what, he will!

I can’t help but think the CEB version of Matthew 7:1 was written for women. I use a washcloth every day as most women and the next time I wash my face, I am going to think differently. I am going to reflect on my walk with God and if I am clean enough to offer a washcloth to my neighbor.

How about you? Have you wiped that sneer off your own face so that you are fit to offer a washcloth to your neighbor today?

The Password

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At that time Jesus prayed this prayer: “O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike. Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way! “My Father has entrusted everything to me. No one truly knows the Son except the Father, and no one truly knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” Matthew 11:25-30

Recently I was out of town at a conference and while I was away, my husband forgot I was gone. Here’s the story. We set the house alarm before going to bed. I am usually the first one up to turn off the alarm and let our dog outside. My husband got up and went straight to the door to let our dog out and the alarm sounded. Of course the alarm company called wanting to know the password. He proceeded to tell them the alarm code that we punch in every time we use it. They told him this was not the password and he said he didn’t know it then. He hung up and moments later, the County Sheriff arrived at the front door. They wanted to see his identification to make sure he was the homeowner before leaving the property.

I started thinking about how this relates to Jesus and knowing the password. Jesus doesn’t ask us the passcode, he asks us the password. Think of it this way, being religious represents a passcode and having a relationship with Christ is the password. Have you been religious in attending church and doing for God yet not relational with God through Jesus? Jesus invites all to know the password to come to him and once you know Jesus Christ you have the password for life here and for eternity with God.

The moral to the story is this, don’t let the Sheriff find you without the password aka the proper Identification in Christ because the passcode won’t get you into heaven.

Perfect Peace

20131012-220232.jpgIsaiah 26:3 I will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast because he trusts in you.

In 2001 I became aware of my deep spiritual need to know God better. I had accepted Christ as a teenager but something was still missing. I had a yearning for something more than salvation, a relationship. Not just any relationship, but the only relationship that fills a person’s heart….Jesus!

I have been happily married to Doug for over 22 years now and we have one son, Levi, who is a senior in high school this year. I have two beautiful step daughters, Courtney and Chelsea. Courtney is married to Dan and they have given us our precious granddaughter, Addison. Chelsea is engaged to be married to Mitch. We have a great family and this is truly a blessing.

In 2002, after spending a year with my nose in the bible, God was preparing me for something big. My mother died the end of that year after losing her battle with lung cancer. This was the hardest time of my life and I was too young (age 38) to be without my mother. At that time, my son was only 7 years old and I needed her wisdom and love in my life. The verse that got me through that time in my life was Isaiah 26:3. I needed perfect peace, I needed God and I found him trustworthy and faithful to his word.