Prov 24:27 Finish your outdoor work and get your fields ready; after that, build your house. NIV
I’ve been thinking a lot about ways to share Jesus with our community, and as I was reading Father’s Word this morning, this scripture jumped out at me. Although the obvious and primary application of it was referring to a people who’s occupation was primarily agricultural, it’s wisdom speaks also to us today about our life focus.
Too many of us are backwards to the way this scripture instructs us to be- we focus our primary energies on building up our lives, our homes, our families. This focus is not wrong; we should be attentive to these things. However, it is not to be THE thing in our lives.
The stress that threatens to overwhelm us as we try to fulfill multiple roles in life- spouse, provider, good employee, student, Christian worker, ect is the result of a wrong focus, and it makes us feel like the Dutch boy that keeps sticking fingers in the leaking dike. It’s a truly futile effort that if not corrected in time, will lead to all that stress building up to a breaking point until it bursts out of us in ways that will bring great damage to our lives and testimonies.
However, if our focus is on Jesus, none of this will be a burden or even feel like work to us if the Son of God is what we have our eyes on. Jesus is to be the first, middle, last and all encompassing focus of our lives. If that is the case, all the other aspects of life that we are responsible for will fall into place naturally.
That is one of the best evangelic tools we have- the peace of God in what seems to be a very busy and hectic life. We have the Blood of the Lamb covering our sins, the word of our testimony going before us and defining who we are, and everyone sees that these first two premises prove the third- we do not love this life so much as to shirk from death. We can’t be afraid of death, we have already died and have been risen in Christ! We shouldn’t be drawn to the things of this world, we are ambassadors of another realm. Our focus on Jesus makes us dead to hardship, as the joy of our risen Lord strengthens us. This is the secret to living the overcoming life.
The world is crying out for something to give them that kind of joy, peace, and fulfillment. Will your witness in the way you live your life show them that “something”, or better yet, “someone”?
Ask yourself today- where is my focus? The answer will determine how you live not only this day, but your life.
Love and blessings!
Friday, July 30, 2010
Friday, July 16, 2010
Thought for the Day- July 16th, 2010
"You are witnesses of these things. I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high." (Luke 24:48-49)
"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." (Acts 1:8)
I was in prayer a few weeks ago with the rest of the pastoral staff. On Tuesdays, we spend about an hour seeking God and praying for our church and it’s attenders. That day, we had a deep spirit of intercession come on us, and I felt compelled to pray and ask God, “Lord, where is the power you promised us? We are filled with the Holy Spirit, we do our best to live concecrated lives. We work tiressly for your kingdom, but we don’t (very often) see the miracles. We don’t see the sudden healing of people with all kinds of hurts. What are we missing as shepherd leaders of your people?”
The Lord’s answer was instantanious- “You can’t have the power of Jesus without having His heart.”
I was very humbled by God’s response. I admit, because of my primary livelyhood as a paramedic, my heart can be very hard at times. I tell myself that it’s a defense mechanism, something that has to be in place to deal with the tragedy I see. Unfortunately, it’s not what God wants in His children, no matter what the reason.
Jesus’ heart was defined by two primary focus’- He loved God with all of His heart, soul, mind, and strength. After that, He loved the people around Him.
Such a simple way to live. It’s so simple that we can’t comprehend it. We look for things we can do, things we can study, things we can add to our spiritual resume’ that will make us more spiritual. Jesus kept it very simple- Love the Lord your God with all of your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself (Mark 12:29-31).
Why do we want spritual power in our lives? Is it to proclaim God’s goodness to the world? Is it to relieve spiritual and physical suffering in others, or is it to draw attention to ourselves?
Do we really love God and others to the point of being willing to live a crucified life, or are we content with the trickle of presence and power that we have now?
Some questions to ponder…
Love and blessings!
"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." (Acts 1:8)
I was in prayer a few weeks ago with the rest of the pastoral staff. On Tuesdays, we spend about an hour seeking God and praying for our church and it’s attenders. That day, we had a deep spirit of intercession come on us, and I felt compelled to pray and ask God, “Lord, where is the power you promised us? We are filled with the Holy Spirit, we do our best to live concecrated lives. We work tiressly for your kingdom, but we don’t (very often) see the miracles. We don’t see the sudden healing of people with all kinds of hurts. What are we missing as shepherd leaders of your people?”
The Lord’s answer was instantanious- “You can’t have the power of Jesus without having His heart.”
I was very humbled by God’s response. I admit, because of my primary livelyhood as a paramedic, my heart can be very hard at times. I tell myself that it’s a defense mechanism, something that has to be in place to deal with the tragedy I see. Unfortunately, it’s not what God wants in His children, no matter what the reason.
Jesus’ heart was defined by two primary focus’- He loved God with all of His heart, soul, mind, and strength. After that, He loved the people around Him.
Such a simple way to live. It’s so simple that we can’t comprehend it. We look for things we can do, things we can study, things we can add to our spiritual resume’ that will make us more spiritual. Jesus kept it very simple- Love the Lord your God with all of your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself (Mark 12:29-31).
Why do we want spritual power in our lives? Is it to proclaim God’s goodness to the world? Is it to relieve spiritual and physical suffering in others, or is it to draw attention to ourselves?
Do we really love God and others to the point of being willing to live a crucified life, or are we content with the trickle of presence and power that we have now?
Some questions to ponder…
Love and blessings!
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