What God Has Been Teaching Me Lately XLIV (44)…
Greetings My Friends~
As a simple pilgrim following Jesus through the rainforests and deserts of this earthly life, I would like to humbly share some of what God has been bubbling up in my mind/heart lately.
I pray that these thoughts are cushions in your shoes, balm to your burns, umbrellas for the rain, and shade to the scorching heat as you too follow the Lord Jesus each day.
(please click on the Bible books/chapters/verses below to read the actual Scripture passages)
(December 1st–15th, 2015)
What Jesus Really Offers Us
A. Jesus didnt come to earth to merely correct us but to completely resurrect us.
Thats His offer each day & at Christmas—
not better manners but a new man and a new woman…new life! (John 3:1-15)
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B. We aren’t called to just hang out with Jesus or be acquainted with Him;
we “are called to belong to Jesus Christ” (Romans 1:6).
Does He own you?
Jesus
A. People with just problems call others for advice;
people on death-row cry out to the Governor for pardon.
Is Jesus your consultant or Savior? (Romans 6:23)
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B. Do you see you face execution without Jesus?
Have you cried out to Him for bodily resurrection or just behavioral correction?
Do you want His advice or His acquittal? (John 3:16-21)
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C. Is Jesus your Savior or self-help guru?
Do you ask Him to improve you (caterpillar) or re-birth you (butterfly)?
Do you want His advice or His atonement? (John 3:36; Romans 2:5; Hebrews 2:2-4)
Prayer
A. We “join in the struggle” of other Christians by praying for them (Romans 15:30).
Paul needed prayer 2k years ago; so do Christians today.
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B. Ball-bouncing doesnt mean we can dribble; basket-making doesnt mean we can shoot.
Word-saying doesnt mean we can pray—we must practice it!
Worry/Anxiety
All my anxiety comes from doubting God’s power & promises—
“Being fully persuaded that God had power to do what He had promised” (Romans 4:21).
Worship & Idolatry
A. Jesus is the only true Celebrity (Psalm 136:4; Psalm 86:8).
We feast our eyes & minds on “celebrities”–indeed we FOLLOW them!—
b/c we fast our eyes & minds from Christ.
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B. Much that we do & think about & give attention to is worship.
From our appearance to (bank) accounts, from athletes & actors,
we often worship what we focus on & who we follow.
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God’s Family
Real Christian fellowship–Romans1:11-12:
Longing to be together
to share spiritual gifts
to strengthen faith
& encourage each other with faith!
Patience
Waiting patiently for God when He seems far
& trusting Him when you don’t feel like it
isn’t being fake; it’s being faithful! (Isaiah 8:17)
True Obedience
Almighty God, help me to have “the obedience that comes from faith” (Romans 1:5)—
obeying You not to earn Your love but to thank You for it.
The Bible
A. It’s cool how two devices can sync info by being close via Bluetooth.
The Bible doesnt work like that–we must read & agree & obey, not just be near it (James 1:22-25).
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B. A bank account can only give dividends tomorrow
If it has had deposits made into it yesterday;
The same is true with reaping the benefits of the Bible—
we must make deposits into our minds before we make withdrawals with our hands.
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C. God’s Word is a lamp & light (Psalm119:105)—
By not reading it deeply we show that
we’re content to stumble in the dark/use it as a pen-light.
It’s our noon sun in this midnight world…
Big Sin Eclipsed By The Bigger Savior
Holy Spirit—please help us see the barren craters of our moon-like unworthiness
& eclipse us by the bigger light & fire of Jesus’ sun-like worthiness!
Shining
We’re to let our light shine thru the good deeds of serving God (Matthew 5:16).
We’re also to shine thru being with God (Moses—Exodus 34:29-31)
&praising God in suffering (Stephen—Acts 6:15, 7:54-60)
“Small Sins” Are Just As Serious As “Big” Ones
Breaking one part of the Law = breaking all of it (James 2:10).
A small hole in a fishtank has the same result as smashing it at once—water leaks, fish die.
Obstacles
Though Paul was under house arrest for two years by the Roman government,
he preached about Jesus “boldly & without hindrance” (Acts 28:31).
NOTHING hinders Jesus &His Gospel…
Go Deep With Jesus!
Feeling Biblically shallow.
Father, may Your Deep call to my deep! (Psalm 42:6-8)
Fill my lungs Holy Spirit that I may dive deep for the pearls in Your Word! (Matthew 13:44-46)