Ephesians 5:17 NIV
Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is.
I think everyone deep down inside wants to know what's best for their own life; that is to live a good life. How can we discover this good life? It begins with God. The psalmist prayed, "Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground" (Psalm 143:10 NIV).
One prevalent misconception is that God has one perfect plan and if we stray from it, then we must settle for second or third best. At times, I have talked with a believer seeking a perfect marriage partner; an individual seeking the perfect job, perfect life, or a perfect ministry. I have observed on occasion, how they have missed out on the relationship with the Planner (God). Our life should flow out of our relationship with God. Our life should be to know Him more and to love Him forever. If the plan is our focus, then it will be doomed to failure. God begins with you where you are with Him. He has a plan for your life when you turn yourself over to His leading. You are not doomed to failure when you trust wholly and completely in Him. Peter stepped out of the boat at Jesus' invitation to come. As long as Peter was focused on Jesus he was able to walk on water. Don't let fear cause you to miss a golden opportunity of your life time.
I keep this quote nearby me in my study. "The will of God will never lead you where the grace of God cannot keep you." (unknown)
Monday, November 26, 2007
Monday, November 19, 2007
Handling Disappointments
I recently shared these thoughts from John 3: 22-30 as a devotional with our Presbytery. The verse that really caught my attention was John saying, "That joy is mine, and it is now complete" (John 3:29).
Have you ever been disappointed? If we are honest, everyone of us will answer, "yes." John the Baptist's disciples were disappointed. They had been following John. Now they were seeing people leave their group and begin following Jesus and his disciples. Both Jesus and John were now baptizing in the same area of the Jordan River. How quickly envy and jealousy can take hold of us when we see someone else being blessed in some way. John's disciples apparently had forgotten the words of John some days earlier when he had said concerning Jesus, "Behold the Lamb of God" (John 1:35). It was a defining moment in John's ministry.
The disappointment of some of John's disciples was apparent in their complaint, "The one you testified about - well, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him" (John 3:26).
How did John answer their disappointment? How did he handle the moment? He compared himself to that of a bridegroom's best man (attendant). Today in our culture, who do most people focus their attention on at a wedding? The bride. To be honest, the bridegroom is of little interest. The best man is of even of smaller importance. But John points out that his joy is complete in being the attendant to the Bridegroom.
Several things to notice about John's complete joy:
1. His joy is the result of knowing who he was not. John said, "I am not the Christ." Maybe its time for us to be authentic believers. Stop trying to be the "savior" who works out all the problems in someone else's life. Maybe it's time to acknowledge the the limits of what we can do or can't do. Maybe its time to be ourself and stop trying to be someone we are not.
2. John knew his role in the scheme of things and just did what he was suppose to do. He was an attendant to the Bridegroom. If a door needed to be opened, he did it. He was available to serve, not be served. Seeing and hearing the bridegroom was enough. Knowing that the Bridegroom was pleased with his service brought him joy. Later Jesus would say of John, "I tell you the truth: Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he" (Matthew 11:11).
3. John readily accepted one of the great paradoxes of the Kingdom of God. "He must become greater; I must become less" (John 3:30). John knew something that we all need to take and hide in our heart if we want real joy. The more we increase the less joy we have. The more we decrease the more joy we experience. Think about that for awhile and you will begin to find joy and happiness, in the middle of disappointing circumstances That will be when you will be able to say with John, "My joy is complete."
Have you ever been disappointed? If we are honest, everyone of us will answer, "yes." John the Baptist's disciples were disappointed. They had been following John. Now they were seeing people leave their group and begin following Jesus and his disciples. Both Jesus and John were now baptizing in the same area of the Jordan River. How quickly envy and jealousy can take hold of us when we see someone else being blessed in some way. John's disciples apparently had forgotten the words of John some days earlier when he had said concerning Jesus, "Behold the Lamb of God" (John 1:35). It was a defining moment in John's ministry.
The disappointment of some of John's disciples was apparent in their complaint, "The one you testified about - well, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him" (John 3:26).
How did John answer their disappointment? How did he handle the moment? He compared himself to that of a bridegroom's best man (attendant). Today in our culture, who do most people focus their attention on at a wedding? The bride. To be honest, the bridegroom is of little interest. The best man is of even of smaller importance. But John points out that his joy is complete in being the attendant to the Bridegroom.
Several things to notice about John's complete joy:
1. His joy is the result of knowing who he was not. John said, "I am not the Christ." Maybe its time for us to be authentic believers. Stop trying to be the "savior" who works out all the problems in someone else's life. Maybe it's time to acknowledge the the limits of what we can do or can't do. Maybe its time to be ourself and stop trying to be someone we are not.
2. John knew his role in the scheme of things and just did what he was suppose to do. He was an attendant to the Bridegroom. If a door needed to be opened, he did it. He was available to serve, not be served. Seeing and hearing the bridegroom was enough. Knowing that the Bridegroom was pleased with his service brought him joy. Later Jesus would say of John, "I tell you the truth: Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he" (Matthew 11:11).
3. John readily accepted one of the great paradoxes of the Kingdom of God. "He must become greater; I must become less" (John 3:30). John knew something that we all need to take and hide in our heart if we want real joy. The more we increase the less joy we have. The more we decrease the more joy we experience. Think about that for awhile and you will begin to find joy and happiness, in the middle of disappointing circumstances That will be when you will be able to say with John, "My joy is complete."
Saturday, November 10, 2007
Pursue Wisdom
James 3:13-17
You might want to read this passage from several different Bible versions. It adds a great deal of perspective as to what james wants the reader to glean from this passage.
There are two kinds of wisdom available to us: earthly wisdom and heavenly wisdom.
Earthly wisdom (wisdom of man) produces envy, selfish ambition, pride, and lies. The result of such earthly wisdom is disorder and evil practices.
Heavenly wisdom (wisdom of God) produces good life, good deeds and humility. The results of God's wisdom includes, purity, peace, consideration, submissiveness, mercy, good fruit, impartiality, and sincereity.
It's pretty obvious which wisdom we want to be at work in our daily life. But how do we go after, pursue, or obtain Godly wisdom (heavenly wisdom)?
King Solomon is known as the wisest man of men mentioned in Scripture. Indeed, the Scriptures tell us that not only was he the wisest man to have lived, but that there is none as wise as he was since then. Solomon wrote most of the book of Proverbs and all of the books of Ecclesiastes and Song of Songs. Therefore, we need to look at his life to begin to understand how to obtain wisdom for ourselves. Rather than study his whole life, we will begin to look at the moment of his rising to leadership as king over Israel. A key phrase can be found in the final verses of Ecclesiastes that sheds light on Solomon's wisdom: "Fear God and keep his commandments."
Read 1 Kings 3:1-28 (a parallel passage can be found in 2 Chronicles 1:1-17). As you read answer these questions:
1. Why did Solomon want wisdom?
2. By God giving more than Solomon asked, God was saying what?
3. In what situations did Solomon feel the need for wisdom?
4. Do you pursue heavenly wisdom? How? You may want to read Proverbs 8:1-21 and 9:1-6. Try reading these verses from The Message. Also look at Proverbs 2:1-8.
The world looks first to prosperity, power, and prestige as the means for gaining wisdom. That's an earthly wisdom which leads us down the wrong path. Heavenly wisdom seeks after God and his wisdom. Once heavenly wisdom is found, God gives to those who fear Him, prosperity, power and prestige (Matthew 6:33).
5. What has been your toughest decision this past year? What prevailed? Your feelings? Other's advice? Your circumstances?
6. What do you need more of?
Jesus said:
"The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon's wisdom, and now one greater than Solomon is here." Matthew 12:42 NIV
James wrote:
"If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him." James 1:5 NIV
You might want to read this passage from several different Bible versions. It adds a great deal of perspective as to what james wants the reader to glean from this passage.
There are two kinds of wisdom available to us: earthly wisdom and heavenly wisdom.
Earthly wisdom (wisdom of man) produces envy, selfish ambition, pride, and lies. The result of such earthly wisdom is disorder and evil practices.
Heavenly wisdom (wisdom of God) produces good life, good deeds and humility. The results of God's wisdom includes, purity, peace, consideration, submissiveness, mercy, good fruit, impartiality, and sincereity.
It's pretty obvious which wisdom we want to be at work in our daily life. But how do we go after, pursue, or obtain Godly wisdom (heavenly wisdom)?
King Solomon is known as the wisest man of men mentioned in Scripture. Indeed, the Scriptures tell us that not only was he the wisest man to have lived, but that there is none as wise as he was since then. Solomon wrote most of the book of Proverbs and all of the books of Ecclesiastes and Song of Songs. Therefore, we need to look at his life to begin to understand how to obtain wisdom for ourselves. Rather than study his whole life, we will begin to look at the moment of his rising to leadership as king over Israel. A key phrase can be found in the final verses of Ecclesiastes that sheds light on Solomon's wisdom: "Fear God and keep his commandments."
Read 1 Kings 3:1-28 (a parallel passage can be found in 2 Chronicles 1:1-17). As you read answer these questions:
1. Why did Solomon want wisdom?
2. By God giving more than Solomon asked, God was saying what?
3. In what situations did Solomon feel the need for wisdom?
4. Do you pursue heavenly wisdom? How? You may want to read Proverbs 8:1-21 and 9:1-6. Try reading these verses from The Message. Also look at Proverbs 2:1-8.
The world looks first to prosperity, power, and prestige as the means for gaining wisdom. That's an earthly wisdom which leads us down the wrong path. Heavenly wisdom seeks after God and his wisdom. Once heavenly wisdom is found, God gives to those who fear Him, prosperity, power and prestige (Matthew 6:33).
5. What has been your toughest decision this past year? What prevailed? Your feelings? Other's advice? Your circumstances?
6. What do you need more of?
Jesus said:
"The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon's wisdom, and now one greater than Solomon is here." Matthew 12:42 NIV
James wrote:
"If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him." James 1:5 NIV
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