In Romans 6: 15-18 it says "15What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! 16Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? 17But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted. 18You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness."
What is the first things your mind pictures when you hear that word slave? I picture a person bound in chains at the mercy of their master's command. In this verse Paul put forth an interesting idea about how one should live a life of obedience but not just any obedience, obedience to God! My question to you simply is "what are you a slave to?"
Why do we allow sin to be our masters? What is it about sin that we think will satisfy our heart? Sin is defined as missing the mark. How does missing the mark seem attractive? If we are honest with our selves it doesn't. In James 1:14, it says "That we are dragged away and enticed by our own fleshly desires." Why do we allow ourselves to be ruled by what we "think" we want? If you examine your desires today, what desires seem to constantly be in the forefront of your mind? Lust? Greed? Success? There is a common theme here isn't there? A self-centered attitude plagues our society like cancer! Growing sometimes undetected, it spreads to every thought, every action, every fiber of who we are. We unfortunately live in a very narcissistic society. It is all about what I want, when I want it, and I want it right now. In this age of hurry up, we tend to loose sight of why we were created to begin with. We were created to bring God glory. To bring forth His glory by being his vessels of salt and light into the world.
So how does one truly live a life of glory to God? By sacrificing our own wants to what God desires for us to do. You might say, that doesn't sound very satisfying? In your spiritual life you will find the most fulfillment, joy and pleasure in carrying out our Lord's commands! Make sure that you live a life of obedience which leads to righteousness.
When you live a life of obedience you will put others before yourself. It is the simple command in Matthew 22:39 And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' We have no problem loving our selves bu sometimes loving others is often difficult. Oswald Chambers said it like this "The example our Lord gave us here is not that of a good person, or even of a good Christian, but of God Himself. ". . . be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect." In other words, simply show to the other person what God has shown to you. And God will give you plenty of real life opportunities to prove whether or not you are "perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect." Being a disciple means deliberately identifying yourself with God’s interests in other people. Jesus says, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another" ( John 13:34-35 ).
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Who are You?
As one goes through the journey of life, he or she is always struggling with who they are to be. Can I be all things to all people? Do I need to be? Where do I find my worth? Am I constantly seeking approval of others? Do I really care what people say about me? These are all viable questions one may ask throughout the course of his or her life. The interesting thing about our life is, if we are believers, our life is not ours! (1Cor 6:19-20) Our life was redeemed by the blood of Christ!
As we live a life of worship, we must first come to see whose we are as a believer. In 1 Peter 2 this is what is said:
9" But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
10 for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
11 Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul.
12 Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation.
Sometimes it is very hard for us to accept the view that God has about us! We ARE HIS CHILDREN! We are set apart for a specific purpose. My question for you is, "Are you fulfilling the purpose that is laid out for us in 1 Peter? We find our identity not in what job we do or who we marry but in the one who has redeemed us from the eternal death that awaited us.
Sometimes I wonder if we truly see ourselves as helpless and powerless in our flesh as God designed us to be. We search and question so many things in our life and yet deny the power by which is waiting to be manifested in us because we are either too lazy to take the time to spend in the word of God or we dismiss the word all together. Where do you stand today? Do you have an accurate view of how God views you and the purpose he has for your life? Does your life have purpose? What is the longing of your heart? To have lots of money? To have a baby? To be "successful" in your job? Not that any of these things in and of themselves are bad but what comes first in your life? YOU ARE a royal priesthood, a people for God’s own possession. Your purpose is to bring HIM glory by allowing HIM to shine his marvelous light through your life.
Oswald Chambers puts it like this "
Our Lord makes His disciple His very own possession, becoming responsible for him. ". . . you shall be witnesses to Me . . ." ( Acts 1:8 ). The desire that comes into a disciple is not one of doing anything for Jesus, but of being a perfect delight to Him. The missionary’s secret is truly being able to say, "I am His, and He is accomplishing His work and His purposes through me."
Be entirely His!
As we live a life of worship, we must first come to see whose we are as a believer. In 1 Peter 2 this is what is said:
9" But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
10 for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
11 Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul.
12 Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation.
Sometimes it is very hard for us to accept the view that God has about us! We ARE HIS CHILDREN! We are set apart for a specific purpose. My question for you is, "Are you fulfilling the purpose that is laid out for us in 1 Peter? We find our identity not in what job we do or who we marry but in the one who has redeemed us from the eternal death that awaited us.
Sometimes I wonder if we truly see ourselves as helpless and powerless in our flesh as God designed us to be. We search and question so many things in our life and yet deny the power by which is waiting to be manifested in us because we are either too lazy to take the time to spend in the word of God or we dismiss the word all together. Where do you stand today? Do you have an accurate view of how God views you and the purpose he has for your life? Does your life have purpose? What is the longing of your heart? To have lots of money? To have a baby? To be "successful" in your job? Not that any of these things in and of themselves are bad but what comes first in your life? YOU ARE a royal priesthood, a people for God’s own possession. Your purpose is to bring HIM glory by allowing HIM to shine his marvelous light through your life.
Oswald Chambers puts it like this "
Our Lord makes His disciple His very own possession, becoming responsible for him. ". . . you shall be witnesses to Me . . ." ( Acts 1:8 ). The desire that comes into a disciple is not one of doing anything for Jesus, but of being a perfect delight to Him. The missionary’s secret is truly being able to say, "I am His, and He is accomplishing His work and His purposes through me."
Be entirely His!
Sunday, September 6, 2009
How to Excel in the Hardest Times
How do we as believers seem to put on the front as if everything is ok? Are we living a lie? God intends for us to be weak so that His strength may be seen in all we say and do. We try so often to live in our own power or abilities, when God desires so much more! When was the last time God has asked you to do something that seemed illogical or incredibly difficult? How did you respond? So often we will respond in fear. We fear what people around us will think or feel. We fear how it will affect our job. We fear how everything will turn out. We try to grasp on to the illusion of control. That's right all you control freaks, CONTROL IS AN ILLUSION! God is in complete control and He is the one who ordains every step for your life. The sooner we all learn that, the better off we will be. If worship is our spirit controlled response to God's revelation, Then my question to you is what has been your response lately? Are you allowing your fear of someone's thought about you to affect your obedience? Rely on his strength to guide you and be bold in his truth! A great song lyric from casting crowns says, "I can't live by what I feel but, by the truth your word reveals. I'm not holding on to you. You are holding on to me!" Allow his power to be so manifest in your life that there is no more of you left! We must decrease and His must increase!
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