I recently started reading "A Jewel In His Crown" by Priscilla Shirer. She tells a story about a woman who purchased the best refrigerator money can buy, stacked it full of food but because she never plugged it in the refrigerator didn't work. Priscilla Shirer was talking about spending money to make ourselves look good on the outside
Sometime ago my Pastor at church talked about something similar. We can't expect the lights to work in the church if we never turn on the switch. Pastor Bowen was talking about accessing God's power in your life.
Both analogies got me thinking about how much we miss out on trying to be fake or by not calling on Jesus. God's desire is that our lives glorify Him. How can we do that if we can't be honest with the one who created us? Are we afraid He will find out we aren't perfect? Here's the thing: He already knows. He's just waiting for us to realize that.
The beauty of God is that He doesn't need us to be perfect to use us. Jonah wasn't perfect but he was still called to speak God's word to a nation. Moses wasn't perfect but he was used to free God's chosen people from Egyptian rule. David wasn't perfect but through his bloodline Jesus was born.
The Pharisees thought they were perfect but they missed the blessing of having Jesus' wisdom directly impact their lives and they were never used to do God's work.
So ask yourself this: are you going to live a life filled with perfection or a life filled with Jesus?
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Monday, July 9, 2012
What about your friends?
I Peter 4:12-16
12 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; 13 but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. 14 If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.[a] On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters. 16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.[b]
One of the recent messages by the Assistant Pastor at church was about being with Jesus. He talked about how we are known by the company we keep, in this case Jesus and how we are involved in things based on our associations. One particular part of his message struck a chord with me-the idea that we shouldn't be surprised when we go through things. Yes they will affect us simply because they occur but they shouldn't shake our foundation.
It got me to thinking about some of the situations I've come up against recently. Situations that seemed very critical to me while I was in them but I've come to realize that they were learning situations brought about because of my association with Jesus. I allowed those situations to take control of me instead of me taking control of the situation.
This message has opened my eyes to how I should handle what I go through. I've always known that some situations that come about are because Jesus wants to test how close we are to Him but now I'll try not to be shaken to the core when things come up against me. I may not always succeed but striving for the mark is always better than not trying at all.
12 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; 13 but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. 14 If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.[a] On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters. 16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.[b]
One of the recent messages by the Assistant Pastor at church was about being with Jesus. He talked about how we are known by the company we keep, in this case Jesus and how we are involved in things based on our associations. One particular part of his message struck a chord with me-the idea that we shouldn't be surprised when we go through things. Yes they will affect us simply because they occur but they shouldn't shake our foundation.
It got me to thinking about some of the situations I've come up against recently. Situations that seemed very critical to me while I was in them but I've come to realize that they were learning situations brought about because of my association with Jesus. I allowed those situations to take control of me instead of me taking control of the situation.
This message has opened my eyes to how I should handle what I go through. I've always known that some situations that come about are because Jesus wants to test how close we are to Him but now I'll try not to be shaken to the core when things come up against me. I may not always succeed but striving for the mark is always better than not trying at all.
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