Isn't it all about me? I know it is not but sometimes I really feel my thoughts and actions reflect that. When I was younger my Mom would always say that my biggest problem was "I acted before thinking." It has taken me this long to fully understand this problem. Back then she simply meant I needed to stop saying and doing foolish things. But there was and is something much deeper at the root. I spoke and acted quickly because I thought little about others and even less about God the Father.
My selfishness has switched from hurting peoples feelings at a young age and into self righteousness. I wrongly think people owe me things and I even more wrongly think God owes me things. I am faithful. I attend Church. Heck, I am a church leader! I give lots of my time weekly to bible studies and church meetings. Is it too much to ask for something as simple as a truck that works?
Here is the truth. I don't even deserve an answer to that question. But the faithful God of the Universe answered me. He said that you were not created to simply lead Bible studies or even to drive trucks that worked. I was created to worship. And Christ came to earth and suffered much so that we would be able to glorify God! (Romans 15:8-9) You see it is not about us. We want it to be, but it is not. It is about God!
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Quick thought about the Lord's Prayer
I was recently listening to a sermon by John Ortberg and he was talking about the Lord's Prayer. One of the things he was saying is that "we often say things so often and so quickly that we don't pay attention to what we are saying." I agree. We all know the Lord's Prayer, "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." There is more to it, but I wanted to stop there.
What was revealed to me was that I should not live this life the way I so often do! I find myself in a circumstance and I say to myself "man I can't wait for God to come back so this will be over." But scripture clearly states "your will be done on earth as it is in heaven" (Matthew 6:10). We should not be saying I can't wait for Christ to return simply because we don't like our situation. We can long for Christ's return, yes! But while we are on earth, our prayer should be what it is far too less. Our prayer should be God bring your Kingdom to earth, now.
God your Kingdom is void of pain, of suffering, no racism, lust free. God our prayer as your children is that your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Father usher your Kingdom from Heaven to Earth through the Church.
Are you ready? When you prayer the Lord's Prayer do you really believe His will be done on earth as it is in Heaven?
What was revealed to me was that I should not live this life the way I so often do! I find myself in a circumstance and I say to myself "man I can't wait for God to come back so this will be over." But scripture clearly states "your will be done on earth as it is in heaven" (Matthew 6:10). We should not be saying I can't wait for Christ to return simply because we don't like our situation. We can long for Christ's return, yes! But while we are on earth, our prayer should be what it is far too less. Our prayer should be God bring your Kingdom to earth, now.
God your Kingdom is void of pain, of suffering, no racism, lust free. God our prayer as your children is that your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Father usher your Kingdom from Heaven to Earth through the Church.
Are you ready? When you prayer the Lord's Prayer do you really believe His will be done on earth as it is in Heaven?
Sunday, October 7, 2007
Dedicated
I finished reading a biography on William Wilberforce a short time ago. Christian biographies are something that always minister to my soul. If you do not make it a habit to pick up a Christian biography every once in a while, I strongly recommend it. This particular one, “Amazing Grace in the Life of William Wilberforce” by John Piper was a gift from my mother-in-law.
For those of you who have never heard of the man, Wilberforce served on Parliament in England from the late 1700s into the early 1800s. Wilberforce was a champion of the faith and saw to it that one of the cruelest enterprises known to man was put to an end in his home country of England. I am of course referring to the trans-Atlantic slave trade.
Wilberforce however did not see this enterprise ended over night. He felt convictions from the Father early in his life as a believer and saw them out, shortly before his death. Wilberforce dedicated more than half his life to the abolishment of the slave trade and slavery itself. But how did such a man make such a difference, to change the course of an entire nation?
A verse that personifies Wilberforce is Matthew 5:16: “Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” Wilberforce was convinced that no man had the right to be idle. Upon giving his life to Christ as a young adult, Wilberforce sought to leave Parliament to “dedicate his life to the Lord” by becoming a minister. Thankfully he sought the advice of a very famous theologian John Newton. Newton advised him that his talents could be used by God in the public life. Wilberforce stayed in Parliament but did not function as the other members. Wilberforce knew something that most did not know then, and many still do not know today; if you are in Christ there is no such thing as a secular job. That means as a child of God, all the things you do are done for the Kingdom.
What is it you are doing for the Kingdom? We don’t all have to run out and become ministers (though some should). Most of us need to minister right where we are! Perhaps Wilberforce may have enjoyed more a life of being compensated for studying and preaching scripture, but that was not God’s plan and Wilberforce accepted that. He dedicated and used his status in Parliament to change the course of history for the Kingdom and for his Father God.
There was no easy answer for Wilberforce. The question I am sure he asked was, “How do carry myself in Parliament unto the glory of God?” But he kept asking, and what God revealed to Wilberforce was that he was not put into Parliament to make laws, but to eradicate laws that were offensive to God.
What is your job and whose glory are you doing it unto?
For those of you who have never heard of the man, Wilberforce served on Parliament in England from the late 1700s into the early 1800s. Wilberforce was a champion of the faith and saw to it that one of the cruelest enterprises known to man was put to an end in his home country of England. I am of course referring to the trans-Atlantic slave trade.
Wilberforce however did not see this enterprise ended over night. He felt convictions from the Father early in his life as a believer and saw them out, shortly before his death. Wilberforce dedicated more than half his life to the abolishment of the slave trade and slavery itself. But how did such a man make such a difference, to change the course of an entire nation?
A verse that personifies Wilberforce is Matthew 5:16: “Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” Wilberforce was convinced that no man had the right to be idle. Upon giving his life to Christ as a young adult, Wilberforce sought to leave Parliament to “dedicate his life to the Lord” by becoming a minister. Thankfully he sought the advice of a very famous theologian John Newton. Newton advised him that his talents could be used by God in the public life. Wilberforce stayed in Parliament but did not function as the other members. Wilberforce knew something that most did not know then, and many still do not know today; if you are in Christ there is no such thing as a secular job. That means as a child of God, all the things you do are done for the Kingdom.
What is it you are doing for the Kingdom? We don’t all have to run out and become ministers (though some should). Most of us need to minister right where we are! Perhaps Wilberforce may have enjoyed more a life of being compensated for studying and preaching scripture, but that was not God’s plan and Wilberforce accepted that. He dedicated and used his status in Parliament to change the course of history for the Kingdom and for his Father God.
There was no easy answer for Wilberforce. The question I am sure he asked was, “How do carry myself in Parliament unto the glory of God?” But he kept asking, and what God revealed to Wilberforce was that he was not put into Parliament to make laws, but to eradicate laws that were offensive to God.
What is your job and whose glory are you doing it unto?
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